Day three of our California adventure began early—partly thanks to still being on East Coast time, but mostly because the desert sun doesn’t exactly believe in sleeping in.
I got up, showered, dressed, and headed to the courtyard armed with my laptop and a cup of coffee. It was already pushing 90 degrees, with just enough of a breeze to remind me of that T-shirt featuring a skeleton leaning on a cactus: At Least It’s a Dry Heat.
I found a shady spot by the pool and opened my laptop. Between sips of coffee, the idea for this very blog took shape. About 20 minutes later, I had outlined the site structure and brainstormed content ideas. Just then, my wife appeared, asked what I was up to, laughed when I told her, and announced it was time for breakfast. Laptop closed—priorities realigned—we set off in search of sustenance.
🥯 Townie Bagels – Fuel for the Day
The couple we met at the pool the night before had recommended a spot: Townie Bagels. A quick check with Android Auto confirmed it was just six minutes away.
When we pulled up, I knew we were in the right place. Even early on a Sunday morning, people were already lined up out the door. We waited, doing our best not to end up like the skeleton on the T-shirt, until finally stepping into the blessed air conditioning.
The line moved slowly, but at last, it was our turn:
- Me: The Sunny Dunes (sausage, egg, and American cheese) on a pretzel bagel + a large white chocolate mocha.
- Her: The Beckie (bacon, egg, and American cheese) on a French toast bagel + water (always water).
We grabbed two stools by the window and devoured what can only be described as bagel bliss.
🏠 Boulevards & Mid-Century Modern Icons
“What’s next on the agenda?” I asked as I tossed our trash.
My wife smiled. “Palm Springs is full of mid-century modern architecture. I want to see it.”
I nodded, blissfully unaware of just how much walking “seeing it” entailed. But it was worth every step.
We strolled through neighborhoods where the ghosts of Hollywood’s golden age still linger—past homes once owned by Frank Sinatra and Liberace, and countless examples of sleek, sun-drenched mid-century modern design.
By the time we circled back, I was hot, footsore, and totally hooked. It was a great morning that not only inspired a recipe (The Boulevards of Palm Springs), but also set the stage for my misadventure with the hotel gate.
👉 Stay tuned—Day 3 heats up baking our heroes like potatoes.