About Us

Since our first issue debuted in March 1958, Palm Springs Life has been Southern California’s premier Palm Springs lifestyle magazine and source for arts, architecture and design, entertainment, golf and tennis, fashion, society, music, and celebrity happenings in and around Greater Palm Springs. We continue to inspire readers to indulge in and celebrate the bright and sophisticated desert lifestyle.

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1947

The Villager Debuts

A precursor to Palm Springs Life, The Villager launched in February 1947. Billed as “Palm Springs’ Monthly Feature Magazine,” the publication was sold for 15 cents and featured singer, saxophonist, and Palm Springs homeowner Rudy Vallée on the cover. “We believe that the reading public is more interested in reading about personalities in their own community than any other subject,” the issue reported.

1958

Palm Springs Life Debuts as a Weekly

Originally established as a weekly and sold for 20 cents, the first issue of Palm Springs Life was 12 pages and dated “for the week ending March 20, 1958.” The cover featured an illustration by Earl Cordrey teasing the second annual Palm Springs Invitational Tournament. The magazine soon moved to a monthly publishing cycle.

1960’s

Readership Grows

During the 1960s, readership flourished, gaining popularity among celebrities and socialites who appeared in the magazine’s pages. Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, and Dinah Shore were among the stars who graced the cover. Surveys of the time indicated half the readership were millionaires who owned four or more automobiles, had million-dollar homes and many investments, shopped at high-end stores, and held a valid passport.

1977

Hardbound Issue Debuts

Palm Springs Life released the first hardbound “Annual Desert Living” edition in September 1977. The tradition continues today — every September issue is available as a hardbound, perfect for permanent display on your coffee table.

1986

Desert Grafics Opens

In 1986, Desert Grafics (the commercial division of Desert Publications) was reorganized to better serve the sales staffs for our various publications and to make available to the advertisers in these publications low cost “concept to completion” graphic design. This department is also responsible for internal promotional pieces, sales tools and in-house forms used for day-to-day business.

2006

Fashion Week El Paseo Begins

Since its inception in 2006 with two locally focused runway shows, Fashion Week El Paseo has blossomed into a weeklong extravaganza showcasing diverse and forward-thinking designs, from swim and resort wear to haute couture. Now billed as the largest direct-to-consumer runway experience on the West Coast, the event happens at The Gardens on El Paseo in Palm Desert.

2010

Inaugural Palm Desert Food & Wine

The annual culinary festival, held at The Gardens on El Paseo in Palm Desert, centers around two days of Grand Tastings with samples from a diverse cast of local restaurants alongside top regional, national, and international vintners, brewmasters, and distilleries. Celebrity chefs host cooking demonstrations and dinners, and participants over the years have included Dominique Crenn, Tyler Florence, and Curtis Stone.