Maggie Downs, Author at Palm Springs Life https://www.palmspringslife.com/author/maggiedowns/ Your Guide to Greater Palm Springs Sat, 27 Dec 2025 03:54:33 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://www.palmspringslife.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/cropped-favicon-5121-32x32.png Maggie Downs, Author at Palm Springs Life https://www.palmspringslife.com/author/maggiedowns/ 32 32 Why Words Matter: 5 Authors Discuss the Power of Language https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/why-words-matter-5-authors-discuss-the-power-of-language/ Sun, 28 Dec 2025 18:00:00 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=782023 In an age when words travel faster than understanding, language demands more care than ever. Words document what happened, imagine what could be, and set the terms for how we interpret the world we inhabit. They can clarify history or distort it, deepen understanding or oversimplify it. It’s easy to forget how much weight a single sentence can hold.

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]]> Tod Goldberg Finds Humor in Crime With New Novel https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/tod-goldberg-finds-humor-in-crime-with-new-novel/ Thu, 25 Dec 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=778825 Tod Goldberg is grinning, eager to tell me about the ashes of a rock star’s mother. He won’t let me print the rocker’s name — “I’ll get in trouble,” he warns — but that detail isn’t important anyway. What matters is that these ashes have been sitting for decades in a law firm’s safe deposit box, tucked away with all the other things the wealthy and powerful don’t want the feds to see.

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]]> Chef Nyitre Rodgers Elevates the Menu at The Edge Steakhouse https://www.palmspringslife.com/restaurants/chef-nyitre-rodgers-elevates-the-menu-at-the-edge-steakhouse/ Sat, 22 Nov 2025 22:00:00 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=777475 Long before she stepped into a professional kitchen, Nyitre Rodgers already had a guiding culinary philosophy. At dinner one night in Aruba with friends, she watched a companion push ingredients from her entrée to the side, as if removing the decoration.

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]]> Palm Springs Air Museum Backs Search for Amelia Earhart https://www.palmspringslife.com/history/palm-springs-air-museum-backs-search-for-amelia-earhart/ Sun, 02 Nov 2025 17:04:13 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=776154 Deep in the jungles of  Papua New Guinea, the rainforest swallows history whole. Rusted fuselages and twisted propellers hide beneath vines so dense that even a B-17 bomber can disappear in the tangle. “You can’t believe how overgrown it is until you’re there,” says aviation researcher Michael Carra, who has spent years hacking through this terrain in search of downed aircraft and their ghosts.

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]]> The Art of Desert Living, According to Cindy Crawford https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/celebrities/cindy-crawford-on-the-art-of-living-well-in-palm-springs/ Wed, 24 Sep 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=772967 She’s influenced fashion and pop culture for decades. Now, Cindy Crawford channels that same discipline into mindful living. At her desert home, she prioritizes slowing down, embracing the moment, and lounging poolside with her favorite people.

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]]> Ketamine Therapy: A New Path Through Darkness for Anxiety, PTSD https://www.palmspringslife.com/wellness/ketamine-therapy-a-new-path-through-darkness-for-anxiety-ptsd/ Thu, 17 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=770444 Once used only as an anesthetic, ketamine is now among the fastest-acting tools in mental healthcare. Administered in small, controlled doses, it is primarily used by people struggling with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, panic disorder, and PTSD. Unlike traditional antidepressants that work on serotonin or dopamine, ketamine targets glutamate, the brain’s primary messenger, involved in about 90 percent of all brain activity — it plays a big role in mood, memory, and learning.

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]]> How to Find the Right Therapy for You, According to Local Psychiatrist https://www.palmspringslife.com/wellness/how-to-find-the-right-therapy-for-you-according-to-local-psychiatrist/ Wed, 16 Jul 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=770615 Therapy can be a lifeline. But with options ranging from CBT and EMDR to high-tech treatments like MeRT and ketamine therapy, finding the right fit can feel overwhelming. So where do you begin?
According to Dr. Dakota Carter, a psychiatrist at Eisenhower Health in Rancho Mirage, it starts with showing up for an assessment — not to commit to medication or a specific treatment plan, but to open a dialogue.

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]]> The Benefits of Magnetic Stimulation (MeRT) for Mental Health https://www.palmspringslife.com/wellness/the-benefits-of-magnetic-stimulation-mert-for-mental-health/ Tue, 15 Jul 2025 20:32:26 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=770452 If traditional therapy isn’t working, Magnetic e-Resonance Therapy (MeRT)  may offer a literal spark of  hope.
“MeRT uses magnetic pulses to gently stimulate underperforming areas of the brain,” says Dr. Jeralyn Brossfield, functional medicine specialist and founder of  the Brain Treatment Center in Rancho Mirage.

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]]> Former Miss Palm Springs Vicki McDermott Stars in Chazlyn Boot Campaign https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/former-miss-palm-springs-vicki-mcdermott-stars-in-chazlyn-boot-campaign/ Sun, 29 Jun 2025 01:42:58 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=769621 It’s a crisp, cobalt-skied afternoon at Spencer’s Restaurant in Palm Springs, and Vicki McDermott is midstory. She’s laughing about the time she accidentally whacked a city councilman in the head with a shovel during a photo-op: “It wasn’t my fault! They  told me to throw the shovel over my shoulder!” The next moment, she’s sharing stories about Modernism Week parties and that time Spencer’s Restaurant hired her to do some redecorating — after hours,  so they never missed a dinner service.

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]]> How Architect Robert Stone Is Changing the Palm Springs Modernism Narrative https://www.palmspringslife.com/home-design/how-architect-robert-stone-is-changing-the-palm-springs-modernism-narrative/ Tue, 27 May 2025 21:00:00 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=767485 Robert Stone isn’t here to play the nostalgia game. He grew up in Palm Springs, yes, but not in the Rat Pack fantasy version that shows up on souvenir coasters. His dad built houses throughout the Coachella Valley: clean-lined, sun-bleached, quintessential desert. The family lived in a revolving door of them, often packing up and moving on as soon as the next one was ready.

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]]> Disco-Chic Wedding at Ingleside Estate With Broadway Glam and Kermit https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/wedding-planner/disco-chic-wedding-at-ingleside-estate-with-broadway-glam-and-kermit/ Mon, 26 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=764553 Tequila shots in place of petals. A mirrored ceremony stage. A Broadway-meets-Rat Pack soundtrack capped off with a surprise duet featuring Kermit the Frog. Justen and Travis’  nuptials at the Ingleside Estate were anything but conventional, fusing classic Hollywood sensibilities with campy irreverence.

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]]> Cavallo Ranch Wedding With Pool Jump, Private Vows, and a DJ Set https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/wedding-planner/cavallo-ranch-wedding-with-pool-jump-private-vows-and-a-dj-set/ Fri, 23 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=764558 Some weddings are beautiful. Others are legendary. Caroline and Chasen’s was both.
Their love story began with an Instagram story. Caroline spotted a birthday post from Chasen and immediately asked a mutual friend for his number

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]]> 29 Palms Inn Wedding With Ranch Dressing, Pizza, and Movie Night Vibes https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/wedding-planner/29-palms-inn-wedding-with-ranch-dressing-pizza-and-movie-night-vibes/ Mon, 19 May 2025 19:08:21 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=764555 Phoebe and Drew’s big day was more than a ceremonial tying of the knot. It was a celebration steeped in family history and intimate moments, beginning with the selection of the 29 Palms Inn as their venue.

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]]> Midcentury Wedding at Indian Wells With Disco Balls and a Baby Blue Lincoln https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/wedding-planner/midcentury-wedding-at-indian-wells-with-disco-balls-and-a-baby-blue-lincoln/ Fri, 16 May 2025 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=764560 Set against the timeless beauty of the Coachella Valley, Caroline and Margo’s big day bloomed beneath the sun with plenty of personal touches and color. The couple’s love story began in college at ages 18 and 19, but life took them in different directions — Margo transferring schools for hockey, Caroline building a life in Boston.

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]]> Burning Man–Inspired Wedding in Palm Springs With Persian Traditions https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/wedding-planner/burning-man-inspired-wedding-in-palm-springs-with-persian-traditions/ Mon, 12 May 2025 23:17:22 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=764562 When Layla envisioned her wedding to Alex, she imagined the most epic party outside of  the Black Rock Desert. So, with the Coachella Valley serving as the backdrop for their shared love of desert revelry, the couple’s Burning Man–inspired celebration pulsed with bohemian vibes, festival music, and endless joy.

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]]> Sinatra Estate Wedding With Old Hollywood Glam and a Joshua Tree Finale https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/wedding-planner/sinatra-estate-wedding-with-old-hollywood-glam-and-a-joshua-tree-finale/ Tue, 06 May 2025 23:53:44 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=764551 Some love stories start with grand gestures, others with a simple “Heyy” waiting patiently in an inbox for five years.
Chicago natives Reilly and Joanna met at a summer concert on a ski hill, where Reilly casually mentioned that he had once reached out to Joanna on social media. She laughed it off — until she found the message, which had sat unopened since 2013.

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]]> La Vie en Rose: Behind the Gates at Marrakesh Country Club https://www.palmspringslife.com/home-design/la-vie-en-rose-behind-the-gates-at-marrakesh-country-club/ Fri, 28 Mar 2025 03:02:03 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=756638 Golden hour spills across Marrakesh Country Club like molten honey,  coating  the façades of  the villas and casting long, languid shadows over the clubhouse terrace. The air feels thick with anticipation, as if the desert itself is holding its breath, waiting for the night to unfold. Inside the clubhouse, the bar hums — glasses clink, gossip tumbles, and debates unfold with the urgency of  a  Jeopardy!  lightning  round, or a last-call confession

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]]> A Taste of Ixtapa: Chef Felipe Meneses Pelayo Connects Palm Desert and Mexico Through Flavor https://www.palmspringslife.com/restaurants/a-taste-of-ixtapa-chef-felipe-meneses-pelayo-connects-palm-desert-and-mexico-through-flavor/ Thu, 27 Mar 2025 03:01:23 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=757506 Palm Desert Food & Wine’s Sunday Brunch unfolded like a love letter to Ixtapa-Zihuatanejo, as chef Felipe Meneses Pelayo invited guests on a sensory journey through Palm Desert’s sister city — places separated by geography but united in spirit. For Pelayo, the executive chef and visionary behind Angustina Mezcal y Cocina in Zihuatanejo, this was an opportunity to share a story through food. His ability to weave ancestral techniques with contemporary flair has not only defined his culinary philosophy but also secured his place in the 2024 and 2025 Guía México Gastronómico (a prestigious guide celebrating Mexico’s top 250 restaurants).

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]]> Free “Hockney + You” Event Lets Coachella Valley Kids Get Artistic https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/free-hockney-you-event-lets-coachella-valley-kids-get-artistic/ Wed, 26 Feb 2025 22:26:40 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=755404 From the moment visitors stepped onto the grounds of Old Town Artisan Studios on Feb. 22, color was everywhere — splashed across paper, dripping from paintbrushes, and swirling in the minds of children. This was the first in a series of four Hockney + You events, an invitation to immerse in the vibrant imagination of pop artist David Hockney.

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]]> The Living Desert Visits Mongolia to Aid in Conservation Efforts https://www.palmspringslife.com/arts-culture/the-living-desert-visits-mongolia-to-aid-in-conservation-efforts/ Fri, 31 Jan 2025 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=754397 Worlds apart, researchers in Palm Desert and Mongolia are sharing conservation strategies to protect vulnerable landscapes and the communities that depend on them.

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]]> The Fight to Save California’s Endangered Desert Tortoise https://www.palmspringslife.com/outdoors/environment/the-fight-to-save-californias-endangered-desert-tortoise/ Thu, 26 Dec 2024 18:33:47 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=753379 How The Living Desert and its partners are championing efforts to save the endangered desert tortoise.

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]]> Global Wildlife Conservation Begins With Community at The Living Desert https://www.palmspringslife.com/outdoors/environment/global-wildlife-conservation-begins-with-community-at-the-living-desert/ Fri, 29 Nov 2024 14:00:00 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=752634 More than a local attraction, The Living Desert fosters global wildlife conservation efforts through international community engagement.

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]]> More Than a Zoo: How The Living Desert Impacts Global Conservation Efforts https://www.palmspringslife.com/outdoors/environment/more-than-a-zoo-how-the-living-desert-impacts-global-conservation-efforts/ Sun, 27 Oct 2024 13:00:00 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=751481 Behind the scenes, The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens’ conservationists work locally and abroad to safeguard animal species, restore critical desert habitats, and encourage sustainable behaviors for the betterment of our planet.

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]]> Top Things to Do in Twentynine Palms, the Gateway to Joshua Tree National Park https://www.palmspringslife.com/the-guide/things-to-do/top-things-to-do-in-twentynine-palms-the-gateway-to-joshua-tree-national-park/ Sun, 13 Oct 2024 21:00:00 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=751083 The trendy High Desert city is home to a growing food scene, fun attractions, and unique places to stay, plus plenty of nature to explore.

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]]> Life Lessons We Learned From the Agave Plant https://www.palmspringslife.com/outdoors/environment/life-lessons-we-learned-from-the-agave-plant/ Wed, 11 Sep 2024 17:11:39 +0000 https://www.palmspringslife.com/?p=750150 Survival secrets from a desert icon, revealing nature’s strategies for enduring and thriving in the harshest environments.

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