Tag: Kurt Russell

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Armando’s in the Desert

This past weekend, while vacationing in Palm Springs, I dragged my boyfriend and my parents to Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell’s fave Mexican restaurant in the Desert called Armando’s Dakota Bar and Grill. I’ve heard from several friends who live in the Palm Springs area that the Hollywood couple dine at Armando’s every Sunday evening during Palm Springs’ high season. I’ve blogged about Armando’s once before, but at the time had yet to eat at the restaurant. So this weekend I was determined to hit the place up.

Unfortunately, we didn’t spot any celebs while lunching there this past Sunday, but according to our super-friendly waiter Jeffrey, aka “Duke”, anyone who’s anyone has eaten at Armando’s. Besides regulars Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, who always eat outside on the restaurant’s front patio even though people constantly walk by and gawk at them, Duke also recently served Nikki Hilton who came in to grab a bite to eat, while her sister Paris sat outside in the car the entire time talking on her cell phone. LOL Heiresses are so strange! According to Duke, during the “Season” in Palm Springs, Armando’s turns into celeb central. So if you want to dine next to a celeb, your best bet is to hit up Armando’s during the months of October through February.

Every since discovering Don Antonio’s Restaurant in West LA (much thanks to Speidi!), I have fancied myself something of a Mexican food connoisseur. But I can rarely find a restaurant that is even on the same playing field as my beloved D.A.’s. I must admit, though, that Armando’s was really, really yummy! I would say that it ranks a very close second to Don’s and is the perfect place to get your Margarita on if you can’t make it out to West LA. I highly recommend stalking Armando’s if you ever find yourself in Palm Desert – as much for the food as for the celeb sightings.

Until next time, Happy Stalking! 🙂

Stalk It: Armando’s Dakota Bar and Grill is located at 73-260 El Paseo in Palm Desert. If you get a chance, also hit up She She, an adorable little boutique across the street at 73-999. I picked up a fab shirt on their “Super Sale Rack” for $9.99 and a super cute Hamsa bracelet for $10.

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Vacation Homes of the Stars

Since the early 1930’s, Palm Springs has been a favorite desert oasis for the Hollywood elite.  With its perfect winter and springtime weather, fabulous shopping, and beautiful desert ambiance, it’s not very hard to see why.  While visiting the desert this weekend, I dragged my boyfriend on my very own little stalking tour of Downtown Palm Springs.  Much to my boyfriend’s delight, the Palm Springs Visitors’ Center was kind enough to provide a free Map of the Stars’ Homes to act as our guide.  🙂

Sidney Sheldon’s HouseOur first stop was the home of Oscar winner, best-selling author, and Hollywood producer Sidney Sheldon.  Sheldon was a top television and movie producer back in the 1960’s, creating such hits as I Dream of Jeannie, The Patty Duke Show and The Bachelor and The Bobby-Soxer.  His home looks like it is straight out of the 60’s and is very reminiscent of the Brady Bunch home in Studio City.  Unfortunately, the house appears to be in serious disrepair and needs a little TLC. 

img_2091.jpgThe next home we hit up was Kirk Douglas’ 1960’s style beauty just down the road from Sidney Sheldon’s house.  Before selling this house in 1999, Kirk spent many a weekend here with his wife.  My boyfriend absolutely fell in love with this house and all of its mid-century splendor.  The house definitely has a Palm Springs/Old Hollywood feel to it and has been perfectly maintained.  I am actually surprised the house hasn’t been used as a filming location, as it has a definite “Rat Pack” vibe to it.

img_2096.jpgDown the road from Kirk and Sidney, is the home Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn used to vacation at.  I was shocked at the normalcy of this house – especially the lack of a gate or foliage to hide the property from stalkers and prying eyes.  I am guessing they owned this home long before Kate Hudson became a household name and paparazzi favorite. 

img_2098.jpgJust a few blocks away is Marilyn Monroe’s former desert home.  I absolutely love this house!  It looks as if it hasn’t been touched since Marilyn lived there in the 1950’s.  The home, like most on the Palm Springs movie star tour, is very stalker-friendly, with no gate or wall hiding it from view. 

img_2101.jpgLast, but not least, we stalked two former Elvis Presley homes.  The first is the honeymoon home of Elvis and Priscilla – they lived here from May of 1967 to early 1968.  It was while living in this house that the two fell in love with Palm Springs and decided to purchase another home located in the Little Tuscany section of Palm Springs.  While I am not a huge fan of 1960’s architecture, I must admit that this house is definitely not short on charm.  It is just so “Elvis”!  🙂  I think it is extremely cool that the owners have chosen not to remodel or change the exterior of the home and have left it looking almost exactly as it did in Elvis’ day.

img_2105.jpgThe last home we stalked was the Little Tuscany abode Elvis and Priscilla purchased in the late 1960’s.  At the time of his death, this home, along with Graceland, were the only two properties owned by The King.  While Elvis’ honeymoon home is charmingly reminiscent of Old Palm Springs, this Little Tuscany house is absolutely hiddy and a total eyesore!  The perimeter of the home is actually surrounded by large rocks painted white, resembling snow.  It’s pretty atrocious!!

Until next time, Happy Stalking!  🙂

Stalk It:  The city of Palm Springs is located 110 miles east of Los Angeles.  You can stop by the Palm Springs Visitors’ Center, located at 2901 N. Palm Canyon Drive, for your very own free Map of the Stars’ Vacation Homes.  Via Lola Street is chock full of stars’ homes, including the former homes of Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell at 550 Via Lola, Kirk Douglas at 515, and Sidney Sheldon at 425.  Marilyn Monroe’s former house is located just a few blocks away at 1326 Rose Avenue.  Nat King Cole lived for a time at number 1258.  1350 Ladera Circle is the home Elvis and Priscilla Presley lived in when they first got married.  845 Chino Canyon is the Little Tuscany home Elvis owned at the time of his death.