November Events Include Armenian Food, Lots of Wine and … Shag!
The Armenian Cultural Festival returns to St. Garabed Armenian Apostolic Church of the Desert, 38905 Monterey Ave., in Rancho Mirage, on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 9 and 10. Enjoy a selection of traditional Armenian cuisine, Armenian coffee and other treats, as well as entertainment and cultural experiences. Admission to the festival is just $5; food and drink are not included in the admission price. For more information, click here.
The Palm Springs Food and Wine Festival is back at the Palm Springs Stadium Pavilion, 1901 E. Baristo Road, in Palm Springs, on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 9 and 10. This event features celebrity chef demos, local restaurants and wine tastings. One- and two-day passes and a VIP experience are available, with general-admission passes starting at $125. (Full disclosure: I help run this event.) Learn more at palmspringsfoodandwine.org.
On the Mark is collaborating with the Shag House for Taste of Shag House from 3 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 16. See this only-in-Palm Springs property, at 660 S. Compadre Road, in Palm Springs, while enjoying the various boutique food and wine vendors featured at the store. General admission tickets start at $125. Get those tickets and find out more at Eventbrite.
Restaurants Closing and for Sale
Wangs in the Desert, at 424 S. Indian Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, has closed yet again; if you are interested in the soap opera-like history, take a look at our archives. … The Haus of Poke at 111 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, is no more, although the Rancho Mirage location remains open. … The Beer Hunter, at 78483 Highway 111, in La Quinta, closed rather suddenly. … The owners of the French Miso Café, at 19 La Plaza, in Palm Springs, decided not to reopen after their summer hiatus. Good luck to them! … Peppers Thai in Palm Desert, at 72286 Highway 111, is closed and up for sale. The owners tell me the Palm Springs location will remain open, which is good news for me, as it is my go-to Thai restaurant. … Bubba’s Bones & Brews, in Cathedral City at 68525 Ramon Road, has been listed for sale.
In Brief
Celebrity chef Richard Blais has opened Kestrel at the Indian Wells Golf Resort, 44500 Indian Wells Lane, in Indian Wells. Blais is known for his time on Top Chef and for being on Next Level Chef. The menu offers Blais’ spin on California cuisine, focusing on sustainability and local sourcing. Learn more at kestrel.kitchen. … Last month, I wrote that Detroit-style pizzeria Black Cat Pizza, at 72795 Highway 111, in Palm Desert, was opening soon. Well, “soon” ended up being Oct. 24. Watch instagram.com/blackcatpizza_pd for updates. … Monarca Mexican Restaurant has opened at 68100 Ramon Road, in Cathedral City. It looks like standard Mexican fare, although online reviews point out that they make their own tortillas and have some great salas. Get more info at www.instagram.com/monarca_mexrestaurant. … Sol y Sombra at The Paloma Hotel, at 67670 Carey Road, in Cathedral City, has reopened. I’ve gotten conflicting information on when it’s open, although most of people I have spoken to at the resort agreed that the website was not correct as of this writing. Your best bet is to call 760-864-1177 before heading over for dinner. … The space formally occupied by Rio Azul Mexican Bar and Grill, at 350 S. Indian Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, has a banner up for Desert Moon California Cuisine. The Alcohol Beverage Control website shows a filing for a beer and wine license in September. We’ll tell you more when we know more. … Chef Corey Baker has taken over the kitchen at Boozehounds, at 2080 N. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. The menu now has a pan-Asian bent, with Japanese, Korean and Filipino ingredients taking center stage. Get the details at boozehoundsps.com. …The Palm Springs location of Sprouts Farmers Market is about to open at 5200 E. Ramon Road. Known for offering affordable organic, gluten-free, plant-based, non-GMO products, Sprouts will be a nice addition to Palm Springs’ grocery-store options. The company plans a ribbon-cutting and giveaways on Friday, Nov. 8, starting at 6:45 a.m. Giveaways and product samples will continue all weekend long. Get more information at sprouts.com.
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