It’s mid-December, and I am fully ensconced in the Yuletide season, reveling in every bough of holly, jingle bell, Hallmark movie, and ugly sweater to come my way! Read on for five festive things I’m especially loving in the desert, including a fabulously Christmassy Just Fabulous, a delectable hot chocolate treat, and a Home Alone-themed window display!
xo, Lindsay
THE HEYDAY’S S’MORES HOT CHOCOLATE
Craving a sugary treat? Head straight to The Heyday to snag the burger joint’s specialty holiday drink, a S’mores Hot Chocolate, offered each Friday through Sunday throughout the season. A true culinary delight, the cocoa-ey confection consists of rich hot chocolate accompanied by a Lotus Biscoff cookie and a marshmallow topping toasted in spectacular fashion via a blowtorch! Being diabetic, I was only able to sample a small bit, but let me tell you, it was worth the extra insulin!
HAPPY ALLEY
Happy Alley, the colorful art installation tucked off Miles Avenue in downtown Indio, has been given a holiday-themed glow-up, its usual rainbow-hued umbrellas swapped out for red and green versions. The merry pass-through, which is the work of the city’s Human Resources and Public Works departments, makes for a vibrant and thoroughly festive photo-op that, befitting of its name, sparks some serious Christmas joy!
JUST FABULOUS
The downtown Palm Springs gift shop Just Fabulous is always a good time, but the store really comes alive at Christmas with decorations galore, including a display of more than 40 trees, each vividly bedazzled, flocked, and decked with highly curated collections of cheeky ornaments. On display are faux firs and pines inspired by such themes as the Royal Family, fast food favorites, mid-century architecture, outer space, Pride, and high fashion! There’s literally something for everyone!
CANDY CANE LANE
In a feat of exterior illumination that would make Clark W. Griswold proud, Minerva Road in Cathedral City is transformed into Candy Cane Lane each Christmas! A sight to behold, the scant one-block, easily walk-able enclave of about 40 homes is a glimmering wonderland, complete with towering candy canes lining the sidewalk, a wide array of inflatables, a charming “Santa’s Workshop” garage diorama, and a staggering amount of twinkle lights! It’s a beaut, a real beaut!
PEEPA’S WINDOW DISPLAY
While wandering in downtown Palm Springs recently, I happened upon the whimsical Home Alone-inspired front window display at Peepa’s (one of my favorite local shops), which thrilled this movie lover’s heart to no end! Perfectly executed, the set-up features paint cans, scattered Micro Machines, a Christmas tree, a train, and Kevin’s Battle Plan sketch! All that’s missing is a lovely cheese pizza from Little Nero’s!