February 2026 – Girl Who Would be KING on Life, Style and INSPIRATION.

An Incredible Evening at Parr House

This is the final weekend of Palm Springs Modernism 2026 – the 11‑day celebration of mid‑century modern architecture, design, and culture that fills the desert with home tours, talks, parties, and exhibitions.

With Jen from @musetheshop – gorgeous vintage clothing – some worn on *Palm Royale*.

On Wednesday, I had the pleasure of spending an unforgettable evening at the Parr House, located within Cotino – the first Storyliving by Disney community in Rancho Mirage.

It’s a place with its own fascinating origin story, and being there during Modernism Week made it feel even more alive. It was a rare evening of witnessing the beginning of something special.

The next day a few of us were able to tour the Cotino site. While the community is still very much under construction, the vision is already taking shape. The floor plans are on display, and we walked through several finished (and nearly finished) homes. Even in their incomplete state, you can feel the intention behind the design: clean lines, generous light, and that blend of nostalgia and newness that fits so seamlessly with the spirit of Modernism Week. I love the indoor/outdoor living concept.

An Overview of Parr House from the second floor.

With Mathew Mitchell – Editor of *Oasis* – a gorgeous new Palm Springs magazine

With Alison Martino – Writer, TV Producer, Historian.

The Parr house itself is a standout. Parr House is inspired by a superhero family’s mid-century modern home in Pixar Animation Studios’ “Incredibles 2.” The home is designed to be rented out exclusively for special events and gatherings. Our evening there felt wonderfully curated – an excellent jazz trio playing in the background, an open wine bar, and delicious hors d’oeuvres being generously passed around. It was a bonus to see some people I know and other familiar faces.

What struck me most about the Parr House wasn’t just the architecture – though the mid‑century lines and playful details are unmistakably Pixar. It was the feeling of stepping into a space that blurs fiction and reality. You can sense the whimsy of The Incredibles woven into a real, livable home. The mix of design and storytelling made the exprience feel a little magical.

As Cotino continues to rise from the desert floor, it’s clear that the Parr House is more than just a showpiece – it’s a promise of what this community is striving to become. Experiencing it during Modernism Week, surrounded by people who appreciate both design and imagination, made the whole project feel especially meaningful.

There’s something exciting about watching a place come to life in real time, and I’m looking forward to seeing how Cotino grows into the vision it’s already hinting at. A few photos:

More about the Parr House (written by Karlee Dutton, Public Relations Manager) here:

https://disneyparksblog.com/storyliving/first-look-inside-the-incredible-parr-house-coming-soon-to-cotino-the-first-storyliving-by-disney-community/

Pics: d. king

Art & Culture

The First Lady of Modernism

There are moments at Modernism Week that feel like stepping into a time capsule – and then there are moments that feel like stepping into history itself. Like when you get to meet a Modernism icon.

My signed “Palm Springs Life” cover – a keeper!

I was wandering through the Modernism Show at the Palm Springs Convention Center when I met Nelda Linsk – a prominent Palm Springs fashion figure, art dealer, and former owner of the Kaufmann House – better known as the First Lady of Modernism and forever remembered as ‘the lady in yellow’ from Slim Aarons’ Poolside Gossip.

The image is celebrated for capturing the glamorous mid-century modern lifestyle of the era. Yellow is such a magnetic color – warm, bold, impossible to ignore. It’s the color of joy, of desert mornings, of the kind of optimism Modernism was built on. No wonder the world noticed her first in that shade. There was a lot of beauty in that iconic photograph, but all eyes centered on Nelda.

I can only imagine what it must feel like to be hanging in so many people’s homes.

Nelda is having another mod moment. Her relevance and glow seems to never fade, as she’s gracing the February cover of Palm Springs Life Magazine and has just received a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Fame.

In Poolside Gossip, the yellow dress became a symbol of Modernism’s optimism – bright, confident, sun‑soaked. But when I met her, dressed in understated cream, she carried the same light. It reminded me that Modernism wasn’t just about color or architecture. It was about people who embodied a certain kind of brightness. The kind once attributed to a dress was really the brightness of a woman who helped define an era.

Walking away from the show, I kept thinking about that shift from yellow to cream – from the bold brightness of youth to the softer, steadier glow of someone who has carried an era forward.

Modernism may be defined by its architecture, but its spirit lives on in people like Nelda Linsk, who remind us that true radiance doesn’t fade. It simply changes hue.

Here is another post I wrote last year – the first time I met Nelda and more about the photograph and the person who took it:

Slim Aarons: from bombs to bombshells

Modernism is on until Sunday, February 22, 2026.

Outside the Convention Center Below are some pics from what’s waiting inside. Photos: d. king

Auction coming up of *The Estate of Joanna Carson* (wife of Johnny Carson)- March 3, 2026. John Moran Auctioneers & Appraisers. Shown here is a sampling.

So many beautiful vintage buys besides furniture and art at this show – as with the “***Curated Vintage Event.***“

https://modernismweek.com/2026/

Art & Culture

Artist Center Palm Desert

Last week, my friend Kathy and I attended a reception celebrating a dynamic collection of juried artworks presented by the Artists Council of Coachella Valley.

The event took place at The Galen – an elegant 8,400‑square‑foot, LEED‑certified art venue (recognized for its environmentally conscious design) in Palm Desert near El Paseo.

The stunning space set the perfect tone for an evening devoted to creativity.

Several of our friends had pieces on display (and for sale), selected from more than 700 submissions by Artists Council members. The range of work was impressive, and it was wonderful to see familiar names among the chosen artists.

Our friend Libby sold her piece that evening. She works with a unique form that revolves around using refined organic cotton material, which Libby then transforms into sculptured ethereal compositions. The only surviving record and reminder of it is via photograph. The original materials are recycled for other creations. One small piece may be used in many ways for different creations…signifying there is a place for everything. No waste.

The Artists Council is an independent non-profit dedicated to elevating artists throughout the Coachella Valley and beyond. Their mission comes to life through exhibitions, professional development opportunities, and meaningful community engagement. They offer a robust lineup of programs – everything from art and business‑of‑art classes to workshops, lectures, critiques, salons, and social gatherings.

Friend Mandy Main with her husband and son next to her art piece.

At the heart of their work is a belief in the transformative power of art – both in its creation and in the experience of viewing it.

It was a lovely evening filled with art, conversation, and hors d’oeuvres, and a reminder of how vibrant and supportive our local arts community truly is. Photos: d.king

https://www.artistscouncil.com/

They have a very nice gift shop too with books, gift cards and several very Palm Springs framed prints.

THINKAboutit

Musings: Local Luxe Reset

For anyone dreaming of an indulgent spa retreat somewhere far‑flung, but lacking the time, budget, or desire to hop on a plane – I want to share an idea a friend recently gave me.

AI generated photo – *trying it out* (not bad).

Why not curate your very own 3-day personal spa staycation right where you live? Unless you’re truly off-grid, chances are you can find local spots offering massages, facials, or other treatments that feel luxurious without requiring a passport. That said, you should always have a passport handy cause you never know what can come up.

It’s a surprisingly great alternative to traveling. No time off work needed (although if you have an extra day or two – even better), no pet‑sitting logistics, no airport stress. And the money you save on flights and hotels can go straight into things that actually restore you: spa treatments, yoga classes, nourishing meals, or simply quiet time.

I’m taking my friend’s advice (with a few tweaks) and planning my own mini‑retreat. Day one: a really good latte, a yoga class, a special spa treatment, lunch somewhere lovely, and then a book and some downtime. Day two – repeat (with different service). Day three – repeat (with different service). My treatments will include a foot/reflexology massage, a facial, and a body scrub/massage.

For less than the cost of airfare, you can still give yourself a few days of real pampering, without leaving your home town.

What about you? Would your ideal DIY retreat be more structured, like a mini wellness program, or more free‑flowing, letting you follow your energy each day?

beauty

Lip Lab

I finally had my first cosmetic treatment – and it didn’t hurt a bit. No, it wasn’t Botox, but it was all about enhancing the lips.

I spent the afternoon at Lip Lab in Palm Springs, where you can customize your own lip shades from scratch. Think of it as the grown‑up version of playing with crayons: you mix, test, tweak, and try again until you land on the color that feels most “you.”

I’d never heard of Lip Lab before, but they have locations in Austin, Boston, Napa, Vegas, Nashville, and Toronto’s Distillery District. The concept is simple but clever: a highly rated (and admittedly pricey – starting around USD $60) interactive experience where a color expert helps you create a custom lipstick, gloss, or balm. You choose the finish – matte, satin, or glossy, then the tube, the scent (or no scent), and even the engraving. We were like kids in a candy store.

I went with a satin shade in a gold case, rose‑scented (though pomegranate almost won), engraved in a brush script that reads girl king. They also offer bundle packages if you want to create more than one product.

It made for a fun girls’ outing, and afterward we kept the theme going with tailor‑made cocktails at a spot called “Tailor Shop.”

Do you see where I’m going with this? Everything these days seems to be about personalization – beauty, drinks, experiences. We’re living in the era of the bespoke – made for you, not the masses.