Diana Phillips Blog

February 20th. The Sinatra House in Palm Springs.

What better place to gather to fund raise for the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation?  The theme was classic mid-century (of course) with a an aqua/blue/silver color scheme inspired the the painter’s palette pool. I served Hawaiian sea salt caramels in silver and blue dark chocolate shells, a nice foil for those Twin Palms martinis.

“Dear Diana,

On behalf of the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation Board of Directors: Tracy Conrad, Stewart Weiner, “Kip” Serafin, Gary Johns, Patrick McGrew and Dog Hudson, we would like to express our sincere appreciation to you for providing the chocolates for our Retro Martini Fundraiser ath the Twin Palms Estate. As you know this year’s event was a ‘re-branding” of our traditional party into a smaller, more sophisticated affair.

Both during and after our event, we received overwhelming compliments about your chocolates. Our guests thought the party a quintissential 1950’s Palm SPrings cocktail party and your chocolates helped make the even extra special.

Sincerely,
Ron Marshall. President”

Designed in 1947 by Stewart Williams for Frank Sinatra and his first wife, Nancy Barbato, Twin Palms is a spectacular example of mid-century contemporary architecture in the heart of Palm Springs’ Movie Colony community.  Located just around the corner from residences once owned by Al Jolson, Jack Benny and Cary Grant, this estate boasts both luxury and historical significance.

If these walls could talk… indeed, the 4,500 square foot home was host to some of the valley’s most glamorous parties with Hollywood’s brightest stars, including Bob Hope, Joan Crawford, Phil Silvers, Mary Livingston, George Burns, Gracie Allen, and even the reclusive Greta Garbo.  The home was also witness to some of Sinatra’s most memorable bouts. One of the most outrageous was when Frank threw then-wife Ava Gardner’s possessions onto the driveway after she appeared at the house in an attempt to catch him with Lana Turner. You can still see the chip in the sink where Frank through a bottle in a rage.