by Don Weberg

Mention Palm Springs and all kinds of images pop to mind. Sunglasses, palm trees, gorgeous blue skies backset by the towering San Jacinto Mountains, modern style homes, friendly people, gobs of sunshine to bask in by large crystal blue swimming pools, and shops, lots and lots of shops. Celebrities might also come to mind, especially Frank Sinatra.

Rat Packer extraordinaire, Sinatra called Palm Springs, California home since 1947 when he built his first house there only a few minutes from the main drag downtown. Relaxing and partying when not performing, Palm Springs couldn't have been a better place for the crooner to unwind. With the exception of the summer, when temperatures surpass 100-degrees Fahrenheit, the remaining nine months of the year are relatively mild, lending to a relaxed lifestyle. The laid back people who populated (and populate, the attitude is still the same) Palm Springs were happy to have the celebrity in town, but really didn't make a fuss over it. One of the many reasons Frank felt so at home in the desert.

Many locals who recall Frank's presence in town often say one thing in common, that he brought a lot to the town, that he really helped shape the allure of Palm Springs. If this is true, then one might feel inclined to travel in the way Sinatra might prescribe.

The Del Marcos Hotel

Tripping to the desert oasis and finding a nice spot to weekend in is easy, but finding Palm Springs Rat Pack style takes a little more work, but is well worth the effort. To do something Frank, we registered with the Del Marcos Hotel and got a hold of a Cadillac XLR Roadster for the trek. The Caddy would more than likely have been Frank's style; an extremely stylish, powerful convertible wrapping up an interior of supreme comfort. Somehow, it's very Sinatra. For us, the convertible aspect was like icing on the cake, however, the weather had other ideas in mind and provided inches upon inches of rain for the weekend. Nonetheless, the XLR was a superb ride, a car seemingly unmatched in many ways.

The Del Marcos Hotel, built in 1947, was designed in the modern style, post and beam construction with lots of floor to ceiling glass space lending to a very open, airy feeling, a sort of trademark style for the city. Lovingly restored, the Del Marcos has been brought back to its former Atomic Age glory with period furniture, paint tones, and artwork lending to an almost eerie feeling that you are back in the 1950's, that you might actually stroll from the hotel to Palm Canyon Drive a block away and bump into Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin. Even the manager, Joe Kelley, resonates the feel of the place through his personal style and demeanor. A cool cat, Joe, naturally laid back and sharply casual, is usually found in the lobby sitting on one of the super cool retro sofas chatting with guests or regulars, occasionally sipping a glass of wine. In a way, his charm reminds one of a cross between Dean Martin and Telly Savalas. (CONTINUED...)