Nov. 25 Daily Briefing: Real estate report, Modernism auction, library find, and more

Welcome to Monday, where the holidays are in full swing. This week sees us celebrate Thanksgiving and look ahead to more than a month of events in the city and around the desert. We’re putting the finishing touches on our annual holiday guide to help you navigate everything, and you’ll want to make sure to have some festive music playing as you do. For that, you can turn your radio dial to 103.1 FM. As noted below, the crew at the station is in full Christmas mode right now! 

🎶 Setting the mood:  “I Got a Right To Cry” by Mose Allison

LEADING OFF

Home prices, sales decline amid mixed market trends

The Desert Housing Report for October 2024 shows a mixed picture for the Palm Springs  market, with declining prices and sales despite a slight uptick in inventory.

Driving the news: The report highlights a continuing trend of decreasing home prices and sales in Palm Springs and across the Coachella Valley, with the city experiencing an 8.7% drop in the median price of detached homes year-over-year. 

• In Palm Springs, the average home price is down to about $1.13 million, while the median price for detached homes in the Coachella Valley has fallen to $634,990, marking a six-month decline.

State of play: Palm Springs recorded 91 home sales over the past three months, a slight decrease from the previous year, but still shows robust activity compared to neighboring areas. 

• Inventory levels in the city have seen an increase, with 2,824 units available across the Coachella Valley as of Nov. 1.
  
  
• Despite the increase, inventory levels remain below pre-pandemic figures, suggesting a market still in adjustment.

Zoom in: Homes in Palm Springs are spending an average of 46 days on the market, a sign of a slowdown that aligns with regional trends.

Dive deeper with our complete story

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BRIEFLY

🏠 Modernism Week celebrating anniversary with unique auction

Modernism Week is set to celebrate its 20th anniversary by hosting the “Best of Modernism – Holiday Edition” online auction from Dec. 1-8. The auction will feature over 100 unique items and experiences, including VIP tickets, access to sold-out events, and rare modernist finds.

• Highlights of the auction include a private tour of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater, a stay in a Wright-designed house from 1958, and a spot on the sold-out “Modernism In Havana, Cuba” tour in March 2025.
  
  
• Art enthusiasts have the opportunity to bid on original, signed, and certified photographs by Julius Shulman, featuring iconic modernist homes. These items represent a unique chance to own a piece of architectural history.
  
  
• Bottom line: The auction, live on the Modernism Week website on Dec. 1 , serves as a fundraiser for the 501(c)(3) charity that supports scholarships for Palm Springs students in architecture and design, as well as grants for the preservation of modernist architecture in California.

🎄 Drummer, TV host will lead annual parade

The 32nd Annual Palm Springs Festival of Lights Parade, set for Dec. 7, will be led by celebrity grand marshals Matt Sorum of Guns N’ Roses fame and Turner Classic Movies host Dave Karger. 

• Fashion influencer Kelly Golightly, along with Coachella Valley Firebirds broadcasters Gino LaMont and Grant Fuhr, will serve as community grand marshals. Actress Mädchen Amick has been named the honorary grand marshal.
  
  
• Details: The event, a highlight of the city’s holiday celebrations, will start at 5:45 p.m. The festivities will kick off with a tree lighting ceremony at Frances Stevens Park on Friday, Dec. 6, starting at 5:15 p.m. The parade itself will be broadcast live on NBC Palm Springs at 6 p.m.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Travel Writing Workshop
2 p.m. | Mizell Center
Have you ever thought about becoming a travel writer? Travel writer and award-winning journalist Kathy Condon will provide students with the essential tools to navigate the exciting world of travel writing. ($30-$45)

Alzheimer’s/Dementia Support Group
3 p.m. | Mizell Senior Center
This weekly support group offers a safe, confidential, supportive environment for individuals caring for a loved one with Alzheimer’s Disease or Dementia. 

CalComMen’s Monday Coffee
5 p.m. | Play Lounge & Cafe
Join us for coffee, chat & chew! Drop in … no RSVPs. See old friends, make new ones.

Mon Petit Salon
5 p.m. | Cultural Center
Come on up and enjoy an evening of live music from the award-winning team from the high desert: Mon Petit Mojave ($22)

Parks and Recreation Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The Commission typically meets on the fourth Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m. It functions in an advisory capacity to the City Council on matters relating to parks and recreational services and facilities.

PALS Circle
6 p.m. | Virtual
PALS (Planning Ahead for LGBTQ+ Seniors) Circle is an informal weekly Zoom drop-in for connection and support. There is no agenda, no topic – like getting together with friends every week. Reach out to the organizer at billymoss.pals@gmail.com for Zoom instructions.

Director’s Choice Movie
6 p.m. | Cultural Center
Celebrate iconic filmmaker Billy Wilder on the BIG Screen with a showing of “Sunset Boulevard.” ($12)

Fabulous Bingo
7 p.m. | Kings Highway at Ace Hotel
Join the “hostess with the mostest,” Bella Da Ball, for this weekly game at the Ace Hotel and you might come home with prizes! ($30 minimum purchase)

SAVE THE DATE

• 2024 Wild Turkey Trot in Downtown Palm Springs on Thursday.
  
  
• Martha’s Village & Kitchen’s Thanksgiving Day 5K in Palm Desert on Thursday.
  
  
• Friendsgiving at Play Lounge & Cafe on Thursday.
  
  
• WildLights at The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens starts on Friday.
  
  
• 2024 Dance with Miss Lindsay at Annenberg Theater on Saturday and Sunday.
  
  
• Mary Poppins at Palm Canyon Theatre starts on Sunday.
  
  
• World AIDS Day Celebration at Palm Springs Art Museum on Dec. 1.
  
  
• Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus Holiday Spectacular starts on Dec. 19.

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AND FINALLY …

Want a serving of serendipity? Turn no further than a full-circle moment at Palm Springs Public Library earlier this month.

Driving the news: On Nov. 7, Miss Chelsea, the new library assistant, made her debut leading a story time session, filling in for Miss Nancy. On the same day, a serendipitous discovery was made in a box of pictures being searched by library staff — a photo of Chelsea as a child attending a library event!

Zoom in: Chelsea is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree in Library and Information Science, embarking on a professional journey in the library world.

• “We are excited to be with her on this journey to see what other magical moments will happen in her library career,” library staff wrote in a social media post.