THE END YUCCA VALLEY

It’s rare to find such a unique collection of “cool stuff” (for lack of better words) but especially rare to find it along an empty stretch of highway, deep in the high desert outskirts of Palm Springs.

The End is a curated collection of vintage clothing, textile art - OMG the macramé wall hangings are incredible beyond words - local jewelry and fashion finds, as well as and the owner’s personal collection of mixed media paintings. It’s truly a place to wander and discover, a tiny bungalow of several rooms filled to the brim with incredibly unique and colorful finds. Each vignette is artfully arranged, combing vintage and handmade curiosities. All are vibrantly patterned and somehow all fit together in this shop. It’s an eclectic mix that the owner has put together, and it matches the eclectic free spirit of Joshua Tree. It’s artistic, bohemian, beautiful and quirky.

I was enamored by the high desert and this eclectic town, enamored by the raw desert beauty and colorful artisic spirit. Enamored by the pioneering bohemians who chose to live in this fairly harsh desert climate, miles away from “normal civilization.”

The town feels like a relic from a bygone era, an era where the “wild west” was a place for exploration, cowboys and pioneers, rather than Hollywood resorts and gold courses. I loved the vibe of Joshua Tree and Yucca Valley, feeling like I was on a cross country roadtrip deep in the American southwest, but in fact only 40 miles from Palm Springs.

"The End" captured this artistic vibe, selling products from the 70's mixedw ith artisinal crafts of today. I see the creative visions of its craftsmen, looming macrame well gangings and tie dyeing fashionable caftans. I will defintely have to go back, preferably not after a full day of Joshua treet sighseeing and when I'm not melting in 110 degree heat.

YUCCA VALLEY ROAD TRIP

CONCERT HALL DETAILS

CONCERT HALL TOUR

The Walt Disney Concert hall is a Los Angeles landmark, a pivotal building that set the revitalization of Grand Avenue in motion.

I’m an architecture nerd, but even for non architects I think it’s a pretty powerful tour. The interior of the concert hall is a unique, sculptural “treasure” box of organic forms. Whether the main auditorium, the stage, the patterns on the seats or even the carpet, every detail is designed and bold. I work right by the building, but don’t often venture inside. So, I was especially excited to join the super informative tour and see the auditorium, learn the inspiration behind the design and the process, as well as walk around the gardens and lobby spaces. It’s definitely an exuberant building, one that celebrates music and community.

I’ve seen a few concerts inside, but it’s nice to tour the building during the day in a relatively uncrowded environment. I could appreciate how the light reflects off the curved titanium, how the tiled rose sculpture contrasts against the metallic façade. I enjoyed looking at all the visitors, seeing tourists who might have traveled around the world to see this ground breaking building. It’s funny to have such a monumental building live 1 block away from corporate America, jutting out defiantly from the high-rise towers and power suits.

For LA locals: catch the tour! It’s free, offered daily, and shows off a building that truly is a piece of Art.

WALT DISNEY CONCERT HALL

It's easy to take for granted something that is a block away from work. Luckily, my coworkers organized a field trip to appreciate such an incredible building steps away from our everyday lives. The Disney Concert Hall holds free docent led tours almost daily, and we had an insightful lunch learning about Frank Gehry's masterpiece.