Issue #11: A Winter Visit to Sunnylands
My visit to the Annenberg estate in Rancho Mirage, five stylish Oakland homes built in the 1960's, and recent Bay Area happenings.
The Silvert Lining is a place where I talk about real estate, cool homes for sale, things I’m looking forward to, and how I’ve been spending my time. In addition to this newsletter, I also post regularly on Instagram. You can follow me at Dan Silvert Homes.
While I fully acknowledge that Bay Area winters qualify as summer weather in some places, I still like to plan weekend trips to warmer locales this time of year. Palm Springs is a favorite destination of mine as I love the desert landscape and mid-century modern architecture.
On a recent visit to Palm Springs, I ventured to nearby Rancho Mirage to tour Sunnylands. The Annenberg estate has an incredible history and is often called the "Camp David of the West" as Walter and Leonore Annenberg were very wealthy and connected political movers and shakers. In 1963, the Annenbergs commissioned the mid-century modern architect A. Quincy Jones to design a winter home on their 200-acre property. In 1966, the 25,000-square-foot house was completed. The estate houses an impressive collection of art, books, and historical memorabilia. The property also includes three guest houses, multiple lakes, a swimming pool, a tennis court, and a golf course.
Once the home was completed, the Annenbergs began hosting a long list of presidents, foreign heads of states, and celebrities. Walter Annenberg was the United States Ambassador to the United Kingdom from 1969 to 1974; he became friends with Queen Elizabeth II during his ambassadorship, and then hosted the Queen and Prince Philip at Sunnylands in 1983. Frank Sinatra married his forth and final wife, Barbara, there in 1976. Numerous presidents, including George H.W. Bush and Barack Obama, hosted foreign leaders and diplomatic summits at the estate. I love attending (and winning!) at trivia nights, and the Sunnylands tour definitely gave me some gems that I hope come in handy.
You can buy tickets to tour the Sunnylands’ main home and grounds; tickets tend to sell out so I recommend booking in advance. Another recommendation if you’re a fan of mid-century modern architecture is Palm Springs’ Modernism Week, which will be held February 13 to 23. There are some incredible events on the itinerary this year.
I’m saving my comprehensive guide to Palm Springs for a future issue, but I will share a few recommendations. For hotels I like the Korakia Pensione and the Ace Hotel; the drinks at Bootlegger Tiki are exceptional; dinner at Birba is a must; and I highly recommend venturing to Pioneertown to have dinner and see live music at Pappy and Harriet’s.
Since Sunnylands was built in the 1960’s, I thought it would be fun to look at Bay Area homes that were built during the same era. Perhaps you want to take a page from the Annenbergs and host your own VIPs in peak mid-century style.
Let me know if you are looking for a new home, and I can create a customized search based on your wants and needs that will email you homes that meet your search criteria. You can schedule time with me to discuss your search for a new home or selling your current home by emailing me at DanSilvertHomes@gmail.com. DRE #01963734
Last week I saw the new film The Brutalist in 70mm at the Alamo Drafthouse. The 3.5 hour epic (there is an intermission) stars Adrien Brody as fictional architect László Tóth who, after surviving the Holocaust, moves to Philadelphia where he meets a wealthy industrialist (played by Guy Pearce) who commissions him to design an epic building. In many respects, the film is the spiritual sequel to the 2002 film The Pianist, which starred Brody in his breakout role. The Brutalist hit home for me in that it captured the essence of what my people (Eastern European Jews) faced when immigrating to the United States in the early 20th century, compounded by the stark realities of 1930s Europe and the onset and escalation of the Nazi party in Germany and beyond. The movie is not always pleasant, but it is an exceptional and compelling watch.
Last night I stopped by Bottles Beerzaar for a beer and takeout. The El Sobrante establishment is a grocery store, craft beer taproom, and Punjabi restaurant. I had been there a number of times before Soleil Ho featured Bottles Beerzaar in the San Francisco Chronicle, and consider it some of the best Indian food the Bay Area.
This weekend Noir City commences at Oakland’s Grand Lake Theatre. I will be there on opening night for the double feature of The Narrow Margin and Hell’s Half Acre both screening in 35mm. Let me know if you’re also attending, and I’ll make sure to find you and say hello!
I’ve been meaning to try Bottles Beerzaar so I can tell my dad about it. We lived in El Sobrante when I was very young and he would have loved a place nearby with craft beer and Indian food!