Desert Oasis: A Neighborhood Guide to Palm Springs

—by Lisa Rosen Chuck Yates moved to Palm Springs about 11 years ago, and within a year the actorwriterdirector founded the not-for-profit professional theater company Coyote Stageworks, now in its 10th year. “I act, I direct, I produce all of the shows. I do everything except park cars,” Yates joked recently during a break in rehearsals. The company keeps him busy from October to May, but when the season ends and summer rolls around, he takes time to catch up with friends—when he’s not enjoying the pool. DIVING IN “In the summer, I try to be in the pool as much as possible. I eat out a lot, doing business and seeing friends. I love Lulu California Bistro because they have happy hour all day and a great bar menu. I usually get the curried chicken salad. (200 S. Palm Canyon Dr., 760.327.5858) Trio is also a very hot, welcoming hangout, with delicious food. They have a terrific Yankee pot roast and a wonderful early evening prix fixe menu.” (707 N. Palm Canyon Dr., 760.864.8746) PLAY TIME Photo: Lance Gerber “Our company holds performances at the Annenberg Theater, on the lower level of the Palm Springs Art Museum. (101 Museum Dr., 760-322-4800) They have a terrific collection and an annex at the Architecture and Design Center, nearby. (300 S. Palm Canyon Dr., 760.423.5260) Coyote Stageworks (101 Museum Dr., 760.325.4490) also holds free staged readings called Play Dates at the Palm Springs Cultural Center (2300 E. Baristo Rd., 760.325.2582) about once a month, so you get to see actors reading plays.” UP AND AWAY “The Aerial Tramway rises over two miles from the valley to the top of Mount San Jacinto State Park. There’s a restaurant, hiking, easy walks, and a gift shop. It’s beautiful, especially at night when you can look down at the lights of Palm Springs. “Bring warm clothes; it’s chillier at the top of the mountain.” (1 Tram Way, 888.515.8726) HIT THE HEIGHTS Photo: Laure JolietKimpton Rowan Palm Springs “There’s a new vitality to downtown, and part of that is right across the street from our theater, at the Rowan Hotel. It has a rooftop pool with a bar and views of Palm Springs that you don’t have in other places downtown because there aren’t a lot of tall buildings. After a show we have drinks with all of Palm Springs below us.” (100 W. Tahquitz Canyon Way, 800.532.7320) Explore available properties to make Palm Springs your neighborhood.