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Friday, June 19 | ☀️ 97°/69°
TGIF folks! Tonight's the night for a free evening at the ballpark — the City of Palm Desert has teamed up with Palm Springs Power to host Night at the Ballpark, and Palm Desert residents and city employees are invited to bring the whole family out to Palm Springs Stadium at 7 p.m. Admission is free, and the first 350 Palm Desert attendees will score a hot dog, drink, chips, and a Palm Desert koozie — just remember to bring proof of residency or your City ID at the gate. Head to PalmSpringsPowerBaseball.com for more details, and enjoy the game!
🎶 Setting the mood: "Tortured Poets Department" by Taylor Swift
Leading Off
Sharon Tuverson, owner of Tuverson & Co. and grande dame of desert style, made the difficult to decision to close her namesake store earlier this year. (Photo: Brett Hillyard, @HillyCollective)
After 50 years, El Paseo's Tuverson and Co. closes its doors
One of El Paseo's longest-standing boutiques has closed, ending a more than half-century run that helped shape Palm Desert's signature shopping district into a destination for curated sophistication.
Driving the news: Tuverson and Co., the luxury homeware boutique founded by Sharon Tuverson in 1974, closed at the end of May after more than 50 years on El Paseo. The store was among the first boutiques on the palm-lined boulevard and specialized in fine tableware, linens, bedding, bath items and gifts.
The community responded with a bittersweet rush of support during the going-out-of-business sale, purchasing nearly all of the remaining inventory within weeks.
Looking back: Sharon Tuverson and her late husband, Art Tuverson II, fell in love with the area and settled nearby on Bursera Way before opening the store. Over the decades, she built the boutique into a fixture for high-society milestones, with generations of local families registering for weddings there.
Celebrity clientele over the years included Lucille Ball, Bob and Dolores Hope, Arnold Palmer, Faith Hill and Tim McGraw.
Why it matters: In an era of online retail and one-day shipping, independent brick-and-mortar boutiques face mounting challenges — a reality that factored into Tuverson's decision that the time had come to close.
Sharon Tuverson declined to visit the store during its final sale, telling her granddaughter, Andrea Tuverson-Ewell: "I can't go in the store. It makes me so sad… I just don't want to see it empty."
The legacy: The family name endures across five generations, from the late Art Tuverson II to Art Tuverson V, now in high school.
Briefly
Fashion Week El Paseo has evolved into a nine-day event that attracts more than 14,000 guests from around the world. (Photo: Fashion Week El Paseo)
🎪 Palm Desert council moves to boost El Paseo event funding
The Palm Desert City Council voted 4-0 recently to pursue a new sponsorship agreement with Palm Springs Life that would raise the city's annual contribution to two El Paseo events from $300,000 to $450,000, with Councilmember Karina Moreno abstaining.
The current three-year agreement, worth $300,000 annually, expires June 30. Palm Springs Life cited $320,000 in new and increased costs, including a $20,000 annual sheriff's presence and a new $35,000 hosting fee at The Gardens on El Paseo.
Bottom line: Staff was directed to return with a proposed agreement based on the $450,000 ask, or as close to that figure as possible after further cost negotiations. Palm Springs Life also proposed a third event — the Palm Desert Design Summit — for March 2027.
📅 Featured Events
Your Hometown Zoo Days
Today through June 30 | 7 a.m. | The Living Desert
Coachella Valley residents receive special hometown pricing through June 30, with discounted tickets. Proof of residency and an eligible zip code are required. Celebrate World Giraffe Day on Sunday. ($20)
Palm Desert Aquatic Center Dive-in Movie Nights
Today | 7:30 p.m. | Palm Desert Aquatic Center
Gates open at 7:30 p.m. with movies beginning at sundown; bring towels, blankets, and swimsuits for a night under the stars.
College of the Desert Street Fair
Saturday | 8 a.m. | College of the Desert.
The College of the Desert Street Fair returns to campus.
Dads Pizza Party at The Shops
Saturday | 2 p.m. | The Shops at Palm Desert
Celebrate Dad with a family pizza party at The Shops at Palm Desert, featuring live music, face painting, and surprise giveaways.
John Doe & Bob Dylan & Lucinda Williams
Saturday | 7 p.m. | Acrisure Arena
Three American music icons — John Doe, Bob Dylan, and Lucinda Williams — share the bill at Acrisure Arena. ($77-$200)
Star Party at the Monument
Saturday | 7:30 p.m. | Santa Rosa & San Jacinto Mountains Visitor Center
Members of the Astronomical Society of the Desert lead sky tours and direct telescope observations at this family-friendly event; minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.
Evening 5k and 5-Mile Road Run
Tuesday | 6 p.m. | Lululemon Palm Desert
Community running event at El Paseo with 5K and 5-mile routes for all paces and run styles.
✨ And Finally …
Image: Shutterstock
Palm Desert is looking for its next official voice — the kind who can write a poem for the State of the City without putting anyone to sleep.
Driving the news: The city is accepting nominations for its Poet Laureate for the 2026–2028 term, an honorary two-year position that comes with civic duties, a creative mandate, and a $3,500 annual honorarium.
About the role: The laureate will represent Palm Desert through ceremonial, educational, and community events promoting poetry, spoken word, and the literary arts — with a term beginning in October.
Among the responsibilities: mentoring a junior poet laureate from a Palm Desert elementary, middle, or high school.
Who's eligible: Nominees must be at least 18 years old, have lived in Palm Desert for at least one year, and plan to remain a primary resident throughout the appointment.
Candidates should demonstrate published work, a connection to the literary community, excellence in promoting poetry, and the ability to engage audiences.
How to nominate: Applications must be submitted by June 30 at 11:59 p.m. They can be emailed to [email protected] or mailed to 73300 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert, CA 92260.
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