R Mthe Magazine of Rancho Mirage
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The Magazine of Rancho Mirage R M The Magazine of Rancho Mirage SCOTT AND RACHEL WHITE GOLF IN RANCHO MIRAGE HAMBURGERS AND HIGHBALLS THE WHITES A Destined Journey SWINGING CITY Golf in Rancho Mirage HAMBURGERS AND HIGHBALLS Some Delicious Samplings 2016 20 16 SCOTT AND RACHEL WHITE Premium Steaks, Sustainable Seafoods, & Spectacular Soufflés IMAGINE IMAGERY, Photography by Chris Miller • Modern Californian Cuisine • 5-Star Wine List & Bar 760-568-9321 www.WallysDesertTurtle.com 71-775 Highway 111 | Rancho Mirage Welcome R M WELCOME TO THE THIRD ISSUE OF R/M MAGAZINE, and we’re happy the Whites have chosen Rancho Mirage as the official magazine of the City of Rancho Mirage. Funded their home base. by the city and distributed free of charge to all Rancho Two features turn back the clock as we explore the history Mirage residents, businesses, and resorts, this annual of golf in Rancho Mirage (where the golf cart was introduced) publication aims to define our great city for residents and and revisit the creation of Bing Crosby’s Blue Skies Village, the visitors alike. The magazine’s mission is to communicate our nation’s first luxury mobile home community (pages 40 and legendary story and evolving luxury lifestyle, highlighting 70 respectively). not only the people and organizations that contribute This year’s featured home (page 76) is a one-of-a-kind tremendously to our wonderful community spirit but also Moroccan Modern estate in Thunderbird Heights that’s the local restaurants, retailers, and service establishments been beautifully restored down to the finest details by its that make Rancho Mirage a wonderful place in which to live. current owners. In the pages that follow, you’ll meet some of the inspiring men Of course, we can’t neglect the many upscale establish- and women who live and work in Rancho Mirage. In “Making ments in Rancho Mirage that nourish and refresh us. a Difference” (page 20) we highlight nine individuals whose Discover some of the best burgers the city has to offer in contributions make our city a more interesting, cultural, and “Hamburgers: Redefining an American Classic” (page 116). special place. Whether we’re talking about delicious homemade Just be forewarned: Doing so on an empty stomach might Italian sausage, our nationally recognized writers festival, or a result in serious cravings. Or, check out some of the craziest — friendly face that greets you at the door at a favorite restaurant, and tastiest — cocktail concoctions in “Hometown Highballs” these are creations envisioned and brought to fruition by (page 124). remarkable people who have helped make Rancho Mirage a We hope you enjoy this year’s issue of R/M magazine. This place we’re proud to call home. publication serves as a testament of our unparalleled blend of Our cover story (page 28) features Scott White, the world-class establishments and forward-thinking individuals, President and CEO of the Greater Palm Springs Convention and we’re so pleased to be able to share it with you: the and Visitors Bureau, and his wife, Rachel, the North residents, visitors, and businesses who make our city so special. American Sales Director for a prestigious golf resort in — The Editors, on behalf of Scotland. Both are globe-trotters in the business of travel, The Rancho Mirage City Council 1 GOLFER-IN-CHIEF At Sunnylands Center & Gardens, the former 200-acre Annenberg Estate, golf and presidents go hand-in-hand. The first leader of the free world to tee it up on Walter and Leonore Annenberg’s private course was Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1966. Richard M. Nixon kept a set of golf clubs (pictured) on the property, now on display in the lobby of the Center, and also donated a magnolia tree to the estate, which still grows on the seventh hole. Ronald and Nancy Reagan rang in the new year there for 18 consecutive years. Today, President Barack Obama is among the lucky golf enthusiasts to receive invitations to play the nine- hole course. To learn more about the links at Sunnylands as well as golf’s unique history in Rancho Mirage, turn to page 40. 2 GARDENS & SUNNYLANDS CENTER DAVIDSON/COURTESY MARK Contents 5/THE SCENE Resort boutiques, Desert European Motorcars, and the new Rancho Las Palmas Shopping Center in Rancho Mirage provide luxury retail therapy for desert dwellers. 14/IT TAKES A CITY Rancho Mirage High School principal Dr. Ken Wagner believes community involvement impacts a student’s success. 16/CHILD’S PLAY Carol Scott, the new CEO of Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert, has big plans for the future. 18/EN POINTE Dance teacher Valerie Mahabir brings grace and movement to Rancho Mirage. 20/MAKING A DIFFERENCE Meet nine men and women who help make Rancho Mirage a cultural centerpiece of the Coachella Valley. 28/THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME For globe-trotting professionals Scott and Rachel White, Rancho Mirage is their favorite destination. 32/EIGHT OF HEARTS The generosity of eight remarkable women make Rancho Mirage — and the world — a better place. 33/LANDSCAPES FORE-EVER Artist Graeme Baxter has been canvassing golf’s greatest landscapes for more than a quarter century. 40/A CITY WITH SWING In fewer than seven decades, Rancho Mirage has gone from a desert to an internationally renowned golf destination. 48/A WORLD OF WELL-BEING AWAITS At The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa, Six Pillars of Wellness — feel well, work well, move well, eat well, sleep well, and play well — stand strong for both guests and the community. 56/THE BENEFITS OF BEING LOCAL Rancho Mirage residents can enjoy the offerings at Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa all year-round. 64/THE BEAUTY OF SUSTAINABILITY At the Sunnylands Center & Gardens, we watch the desert change and envision what’s to come. 70/NOTHING BUT BLUE SKIES Bing Crosby’s Blue Skies Village was designed as an exclusive mobile home park for millionaires. 76/MOROCCAN MODERNIST ON THE COVER Two styles meld into one at this one-of-a-kind Thunderbird Heights estate. Rachel and Scott White with their rescue dogs, 90/THE VIEW FROM HERE Bella (left), and Spencer. Dentists Robert Strain and Laura Wittenauer bring a new perspective to an often fear-inducing practice. Photography: MARC ROYCE Styling: SUSAN STEIN 98/DOGGONE CRAZY On Rachel: Diane von Furstenberg ice pink a-line Our four-legged friends live the good life in Rancho Mirage. dress from Saks Fifth Avenue, Palm Desert. 105/ALL IN A DAY’S WORK Roberto Demeglio pale pink ceramic “Domino” bracelet with diamond link, and diamond dome Larry Abel and Raymond McCallister, Jeff L. Grubbe, Charlie Martin, Dr. Mark Sofonio, and Doug Watson contribute to the success of Rancho Mirage. ring and diamond drop earrings from Frasca Jewelers, Palm Desert. Shoes, her own. 110/THE ART OF A GOOD PARTY On Scott: Flowered shirt by Sand, Saks Fifth Residents Sheldon and Susan Good share their recipe for a fabulous dinner party. Avenue. Suit, his own. Hair and Makeup: MONICA VALASQUEZ 116/HAMBURGERS: REDEFINING AN AMERICAN CLASSIC OF J. RUSSELL! THE SALON Here are some of the city’s best, from fast food chains to the finest of fine restaurants. Location: OMNI RANCHO LAS PALMAS 124/HOMETOWN HIGHBALLS RESORT & SPA No. 1 rule in the desert: Stay hydrated. The great news is ... cocktails count! 132/CULINARY DELIGHTS To receive the R/M INSIDER and R/M MAGAZINE Rancho Mirage restaurants serve up a variety of dishes that satisfy any craving. in your email, visit www.RanchoMirageCA.gov, scroll to the bottom of the home page, and 136/ADEPT AT HANDLING CHANGE subscribe. Follow us by clicking the social media icons at the top of the home page. Lauren Bacall and the only parking meter ever erected in Rancho Mirage. 3 R M RANCHO MIRAGE CITY COUNCIL Mayor G. DANA HOBART Mayor Pro Tem TED WEILL Councilmember RICHARD W. KITE Councilmember IRIS K. SMOTRICH Councilmember CHARLES TOWNSEND CITY STAFF City Manager R ANDAL K. BYNDER City Attorney STEVEN B. QUINTANILLA City Clerk CINDY SCOTT Director of Administrative Services ISAIAH HAGERMAN Library Director DAVID BRYANT Director of Public Works MARK SAMBITO Director of Marketing/Public Relations ROBERT BARRETT CITY OF RANCHO MIRAGE 69-825 Highway 111 Rancho Mirage, CA 92270 760-324-4511 www.RanchoMirageCA.gov www.RelaxRanchoMirage.com www.RanchoMirageED.com www.RanchoMirageLibrary.org Publisher FR ANKLIN W. JONES Chief Financial Officer JOSEPH HINMAN Editorial Director JULIE SINCLAIR Editor WINSTON GIESEKE Art Director STUART FUNK Managing Editor OLGA REYES Assistant Editor MADELINE EWLES Editorial Assistant MIR ANDA CAUDELL Production Manager LAURA REYES Digital Imaging MARCO MORACHA MIS/Internet Director TODD MAY Digital Content Developer JERRY SULLIVENT CONTRIBUTING WRITERS June Allan Corrigan, Michaeleen Gallagher, Lisa Marie Hart, Robert Kaufman, Kay Kudukis, Tom Mackin, Christy Majors, Judd Spicer, Daniel Vaillancourt, Stewart Weiner, Marissa Willman CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Dan Chavkin, Mark Davidson, Jon Edwards, Laura Hunt Little Images, Ethan Kaminsky, David A. Lee, Chris Miller, Elena Ray, Marc Royce ©2016 DESERT PUBLICATIONS INC. Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of information provided in this publication. Desert Publications Inc. makes no guarantee of the accuracy of information supplied by this publication, advertisers, organizations, or individual contributors. The publisher is not responsible for loss or damage to unsolicited editorial or photography. Desert Publications Inc., 303 N. Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92262, 760-325-2333; FAX: 760-325-7008; www.desertpublications.com 4 The Scene SHOPPING 18-karat gold-plated hammered cuff with blue chalcedony and cubic zirconia by Marcia Moran, $215, at Omni Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa by MADELINE EWLES Rancho Mirage is home to some of the most prominent resorts in Southern California — and their shops should not be overlooked.