Several guests at Los Arboles have recently asked if we might consider stocking some snacks, candy, soft drinks, and such for times when those times when a full meal at El Mirasol is more than they need. We considered ... and agreed that it was indeed a great amenity to add for our customers. Starting today, guests will have access to Doritos, Cheetos, Pringles, Mentos, gum, candy, and a variety of soft drinks for sale at the Los Arboles front desk "pantry" area. Open daily from 8:30am until El Mirasol closes in the evening, the "pantry" is there when a snack attack hits.  We are lis...

Through August 3, a series of films starring Marilyn Mornoe will be screened outdoors at the Forever Marilyn sculpture at the corner of Palm Canyon Drive and Tahquitz Canyon Way ... just a 10 minute walk from Los Arboles. Film Schedule July 20: Some Like it Hot. Directed by the great Billy Wilder, this was Monroe’s most successful comedy film with scenes filmed at the iconic Hotel del Coronado.  Co-starring Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon.July 27: How to Marry a Millionaire.The 1953 romantic comedy starring Monroe, Betty Grable and Lauren Bacall.&...

On Saturday, August 11, 2012 the annual night sky show known as the Perseid Meteor Shower will commence around 11:00PM or so and run ... until dawn or you fall asleep. Whichever comes first. The Perseids are kind of a big deal in Astronomy circles but this year is kind of a mixed bag. The bad news: light from the moon will somewhat lessen the visibility of the meteors after 1:30AM ... but it should still be pretty good viewing. The good news: night sky experts Joe and Laurie McMenamin will forego their annual trek to some remote dark sky location and instead join us at Los Arboles to help us i...

It really felt like summer today in the Coachella Valley ... around 105 degrees. Pretty toasty for the week before Memorial Day Weekend. But the new hi-pressure misting/fan system dropped the temperature on the El Mirasol Los Arboles Patio by at least 15 degrees. This new system is so effective at cooling the outdoor space that you no longer have to be from Germany or the U.K. to sit outside for lunch in Palm Springs during the summer season! Outdoor dining in Palm Springs has never been more comfortable, or scenic. More off season improvements to Los Arboles on the way. Check back for updates...

Nopal. Nopalito. Prickly Pear Cactus. The instantly recognizable image of the Nopal Cactus is often associated with our neighbor to the south and even appears on the Mexican Flag. But it can be found in many yards, open spaces and hillsides throughout Southern California as well. The Nopalito sold in jars and used in Mexican salads is not very appealing to most gringos. A tad bitter and not too visually appetizing either. However, when picked fresh, grilled over an open flame and included in braised meat dishes with roasted chiles and tomatoes … the lowly Nopal takes on a delicious flavor that...

Amazing live music. Great BBQ. A lively little corner of the desert not often seen by visitors to Palm Springs. Pappy and Harriet's has been serving it up in Pioneertown since 1982. Owners Linda and Robyn are keeping American food and music traditions alive at Pappy and Harriet's with their eclectic mix of live bands (Jesika & Todd of Joshua Tree band Gram Rabbit pictured here) and road house style hospitality. At around a half hour from Los Arboles Hotel (31 miles), Pappy and Harriets is an easy way to expand the scope of a visit to Palm Springs beyond the city limits. Don't worry … the p...

Most kids have an instinctive liking for nature … our job is simply to get them outdoors in a natural setting, keep it relatively safe … and mother nature will do the rest. But it seems like we might not be putting them in the right places to appreciate the natural world. Nature Deficit Disorder, a term coined by Richard Louv in his 2005 book "Last Child in the Woods" refers to the trend that children are spending less time outdoors. Louv claims that causes for the phenomenon include parental fears, restricted access to natural areas, and … the big one … the lure of the screen (big, small and...

    Both locations of El Mirasol Cocina Mexicana are proud to support HIV/AIDS services at Desert AIDS Project by participating in the Dining out for Life fundraising program taking place April 26 throughout the Coachella Valley. This year the Desert AIDS Project will have over 40 restaurants participating in Dining Out for Life. We hope you join us at either El Mirasol location for lunch, dinner, drinks ... whatever. Your patronage will help support client services at Desert AIDS Project -- and there's nothing extra you need to do, other than show up at El Mirasol on Thursd...

1) The people in the kitchen are passionate about quality Mexican food. 2) The people in the kitchen are passionate about quality Mexican food. 3) The people in the kitchen are passionate about quality Mexican food. 4) The people in the kitchen are passionate about quality Mexican food. 5) The people in the kitchen are passionate about quality Mexican food. 6) The people in the kitchen are passionate about quality Mexican food. 7) The people in the kitchen are passionate about quality Mexican food. 8) The people in the kitchen are passionate about quality Mexican food. ...

With a name derived from a legendary 1950 Mexican film starring the beautiful Maria Felix, the in-house hot sauce at El Mirasol delivers a big palate of flavors well suited to its fiery name. Doña Diabla Sauce is spicy and powerful while still retaining the deep, rich, smoky flavors of the Chiles Chipotles which are its’ main ingredient. At the end of the chile growing season in Mexico, some Jalapeños are left to naturally ripen and turn bright red on the vine. When these deep red chiles have lost much of their moisture, they are harvested and the process of making Chiles Chipotles begins...

Stunning scenery, 50+ miles of hiking trails and fresh, crisp air awaits those who take the express elevator to the edge of this amazing wilderness area.  None other than the legendary naturalist John Muir called the views from San Jacinto “sublime.”    Most visitors to the tram never stray more than a few hundred yards from the upper tram station. There certainly are plenty of fun ways to enjoy a trip up the tram with out hiking. That amazing view of the Coachella Valley from the viewing deck, restaurants, the view toward Joshua Tree and beyond and a well stocked bar. But if...

The upper poolside deck at Los Arboles is going to be transformed into a night sky viewing area on Saturday, March 24, 2012 when we run our first stargazing event of the season. Palm Springs may not have the darkest skies of any desert community and the giant, 10,800 foot high slab of granite known as Mount San Jacinto might block the western skies just a little … but our expert night sky guides Joe McMenamin (PhD, Stanford) and wife Laurie are confident that their powerful computer driven telescope will be able to get a nice view of lots of interesting celestial bodies.    We wil...

Hecho a mano. Hand made. It’s a phrase that implies craftsmanship, small-scale production and an investment of time and energy by human hands to get a product to completion.   I have to admit that I have enjoyed quite a few machine made corn tortillas in my day … hot off the end of the line with a pat of butter they are warm, inexpensive and very tasty.  However these thin, symmetrically perfect machine made tortillas just don’t seem to have quite the same flavor or the resilience to stand up to holding or reheating.   While hand made corn tortillas have a thicker, more dura...

Good old-fashioned American comfort food has a new home in Palm Springs at 1260 South Palm Canyon ... the Brushfire Grille and 911 Saloon. Friendly, casual and fun with a focus on big, hearty plates of food that will be very familiar to the American palate. Brushfire Grille opened without a lot of fanfare in early February to allow time to train staff and fine tune the fare. According to GM Tex Seiberling, the Brushfire tune up period is over and he gave us the green light to spread the word about his new roadhouse style restaurant and bar. Bring your appetite because big plates of fried chic...

Mexican Cuisine has a variety of dishes that are fairly straightforward, and when the ingredients are fresh, are delicious and relatively easy to prepare. Think your uncle’s super bowl Sunday Guacamole or maybe a Carne Asada steak prepared on the backyard grill.  The Chile Relleno ... is definitely not such a dish. The skin needs to be charred just so to ensure that it peels off without damaging the flesh of the fresh Pasilla Chile Pepper. Seed removal and insertion of the cheese “Monito” needs to be done gently to preserve the integrity of the chile. And the finesse required to whip the ...

Food. It fuels our daily activities and provides a healthy dose of enjoyment and pleasure to even the most challenging of days. Napoleon knew to keep his troops fueled and motivated, he needed to keep them well fed. Hotels have long known that providing food service to guests is not the most lucrative aspect of running an lodging operation. In fact serving food and drinks  on a schedule convenient to hotel guests can sometimes be a impediment to robust financial performance. However, like soldiers on a long campaign who look forward to quality meals to keep their spirits up, hotel guests ...