A Notoriously Single Girl Spring Break for the BIRDS!
Marilyn in Palm Springs
Time change, spring forward, and temps in the 80’s only warrant a break. A spring break that is! Where to go what to do with a blessed 1 week off and a budget to adhere to? In my possession I fortunately hold keys to a castle. Well not really a castle, but a nice 1400 square ft. home belonging to my parents in the beautiful desert of Palm Springs!
In the early 1990’s, Palm Springs was a Spring Break playground, and all I remember from those days are ‘super soakers,’ girls with G-string bikini bottoms riding on motorcycles, and lot’s of crazy people! Today, the crazies come out for Coachella, Snow Birds come in from Canada, and a giant Marilyn is striking a pose on Palm Canyon drive.
As soon as I hit highway 111 coming off the 10 Freeway curving by the mountainside, I can feel the energy change. The Los Angeles frenetic stress is instantly replaced by the easy going laid back desert vibe. As I park my car in the garage neighbors come out to greet me. Happy people wave as they walk by with their dogs. I feel like I have walked into a movie or a street called ‘Happy Town USA!’ I smile as I look toward the mountains close my eyes and breathe in the clean desert air.
Workshop Kitchen +Bar
Where to go and what to do? On my first evening in town, I stop to have a drink and some cool conversation at one of my favorite restaurants ‘The Factory Kitchen.’ I love the clean concrete design of this place along with old school cocktails served in 70’s throw back glasses. My favorite: the Champagne cocktail with bitters. Sweet yet tangy down to the last drop!
Champagne cocktail with bitters
A special treat, French fries fried in duck fat with duck egg on top. The duck egg is soft boiled, where with just a slice with a knife unleashes an ooey gooey yumminess of golden yoke that runs like a waterfall through the fries with a light cilantro garnish. Now I know what the true purpose for that wacky show ‘Duck Dynasty is. For these fries!
French Fries fried in duck fat with soft boiled duck egg
After another day of sun (with my hat on and 70 SPF sunblock on my face), reading, and shopping, I decide to go to the movies at the Camelot theaters. As luck would have it there was a 50th anniversary showing of Hitchcock’s “The Bird’s” with a special Q and A by Tippi Hedren. One of my favorite movies, I sat with many snowbirds and watched the anxiety filled thriller.
It was interesting to see how chauvinistic the movie was. And how the women had to wait for the male hero “Mitch” to save the day! The birds in the film are portrayed as the bad guys, but so is Melanie, the playgirl who stalks Mitch all the way to Bodega bay and brings him a pair of lovebirds. Much like Eve from the biblical tale, Melanie is then blamed for starting the whole angry birds attack! Wow, what power! To all the single ladies out there never buy a man a pair of lovebirds, and never stalk him! Let him come to you or you will be blamed for the end of the world! Why are the woman always blamed for everything?
At the end of the film, Tippi Hedren came out and talked about her Lion and Tiger reserve Shambala, and how Hitchcock was a pig who mentally sexually harassed her! Finally, Tippi recounted how she stood up to him, and walked out of her contract with threats of never working again in Hollywood! She stated her happiness was much more important to her than constantly being harassed! Bravo Tippi, a true heroine at a very male dominated time in history! To make a stand in what she truly wanted and believed in!
Blurry pic of Tippi Hedren
The next morning, I decided to check out CHEEKY’s for breakfast. After waiting 20 minutes, I hear the owner call out “Ursula” which is probably me, since I don’t see the wicked sea witch from the Little Mermaid anywhere. I totally love the tchotchke’s at this place, a small milk bottle for my cream, my miniature French press pot, and mini glass log cabin full of syrup! All I need are some Barbie’s and everything would be complete! I ordered the cornmeal waffles and fried chicken. Very yummy except that I’m a white meat kind of gal, and their seemed to be mostly dark! Nonetheless, paired with a mimosa, it was delicious!
Corn meal waffle and chicken
After another day of sun, it was time to go home. Feeling ultra relaxed, I was ready to drive back into the Los Angeles smog. With a smile on my face, I waved goodbye to my happy town neighbors. I looked in my rear view mirror and thought of ‘The Birds’ and if they could launch an attack? Nah, women have vagina’s made of steal now, and Hitchcock is dead!
notoriouslysinglegirl 
7 Responses to “A Notoriously Single Girl Spring Break for the BIRDS!”
Ursula!! Ursula!! Lol jk.. Love your writing .. Next time I wanna go with u to palm springs!!
LOL…. Thanks so much Maria!! Def….. We shall have a ‘slumber party’, watch mean girls, and give each other mud facials by the pool! Fun!
We were just there. We love the Desert, the stars at night are so bright and there is really a lot to do. It always amazes me when it is so very warm in the city and you look to the mountains and they are covered with snow. You have to try Idyllwild on your next out of town mini-vacation.
Yes Denise, PS is one of my favorite escapes and I try to do something diff every time I’m there! Either try a new restaurant, a new hiking trail, or discover an old movie stars home! I was @ a writing retreat in Idyllwild last year! Loved it, but want to try it in the summer! Also on my list is Pioneer Town, stay tuned!! Thanks for reading!!:)And yes… glad my blog made you hungry!! The fries…. oh .. I dream about them sometimes… seriously I do!
Just let me know when you want to go up in the summer. We have a house that just sits most of the time.
Sounds great!! I may just take you up on it!! 🙂
Oh, and now I’m hungry, thanks.