- Ann Chen
San Francisco - Antonio Friscia
San Diego - Mariano Gonzalez
Central Valley - Barbara Cook Overton
North Coast - Daniel Mickelsen
Orange County - Dan Weitzman
Sacramento, Gold Country - Trey Foshee
San Diego - Leslie Goff
San Diego - Jennifer Morrison
High Sierra - Jeff Phillips
Central Coast - Heidi Barrett
San Francisco Bay Area - Jay Lay
Los Angeles - Jody Savin
Pasadena, L.A. - Brian Talley
Arroyo Grande - Jennifer Burke
Healdsburg
Activities/Hobbies, of favorite ways to spend time?
It’s a two-way split for me because of my work schedule I like silence and reclusive behavior, and then the complete opposite—dinner and time out with friends. When I finish my HGTV work, I dash to Palm Springs, hide, and when I emerge I go out to have dinner. Sometimes I also love to jump in the car, drive to the El Paseo shopping district in Palm Desert, do some shopping and have lunch.
How would you spend the perfect afternoon in your city?
I’ve traveled a lot within the States—there are places that might look or feel like Palm Springs, but nowhere else has the same atmosphere…It’s a clever combination of “small town” feel with “large town facilities,” and I never cease smiling about the sunlight. I’m a great animal lover and animal activist, so when it’s not too hot, I walk the dogs, hang out in the coffee shop, have a nap, have a swim — which to an English person is a constant thrill — drink a cup of tea out by the pool, and just literally enjoy the mountains and the enjoy the slow pace. Palm Springs is the perfect antidote to the hectic show business world.
Top food/restaurant favorites/best thing to eat where you live?
One of my favorite things to do is go to the Thursday night Villagefest, a weekly open air market on Palm Canyon Drive, and I’ll just pick a restaurant that evening. I love the spontaneity of that… coming from London and moving to Los Angeles, Palm Springs gives me that ‘small town feel’ with an enormous amount to do.
One of my absolute favorite restaurants is Copley’s in Palm Springs. Andrew Copley is a friend and English chef, and everything on the menu is excellent. There’s also a link to show business because the restaurant used to be Cary Grant’s estate. Although it’s hard for me to narrow them down, I love Wang’s in the Desert — I think it’s a lot of fun. I also love LG’s Steakhouse, The Chophouse, Zin American Bistro, Azul, the Blue Coyote and the new restaurant, Tropicale. I also like John Henry’s — I just discovered it the other day.
First place you’d take an out-of-town visitor?
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, the Villagefest and El Paseo.
Your favorite local drink right now (besides your own)?
A dirty gin martini with two blue cheese olives.
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