First Friday on El Paseo: A Plain Guide for Anyone Thinking About Moving to Palm Desert

Moving to the desert is a big decision, and a listing photo cannot tell you what an ordinary Friday evening feels like. One first Friday on El Paseo can.

I am not saying one night will decide anything for you. I am saying it gives you a real evening in Palm Desert to hold up against the picture in your head.

What First Friday on El Paseo is

First Friday is the monthly art walk along El Paseo in Palm Desert. Galleries along the avenue open their doors in the late afternoon and early evening, often with artist receptions and live art demonstrations. In past seasons there has also been a classic car cruise on El Paseo around the same time.

In past seasons the walk has run from 4 to 7pm and has been free to attend. The Gardens on El Paseo, 73545 El Paseo, has hosted the car show and a lot of the energy.

When it runs

It happens on the first Friday of the month, and the season runs through April. This year the first Friday of November lands on Nov 6. Details shift from year to year, so check the schedule on ShopElPaseo.com or Discover Palm Desert before you plan a trip. I would rather you hear "check first" from me than drive two hours for a night that moved.

Why I would use it as a test drive

A first Friday packs a lot of small tests into about three hours.

• Parking and traffic. How easy is it to arrive, park and walk in?
• The pace. Is this the amount of people and noise you want near home?
• The walk. Can you stroll from a gallery to dinner without getting back in the car?
• The food. Look at a couple of menus. That tells you what an ordinary dinner costs here.
• The evening air. November in the desert is a different thing from August. Notice how it feels at 6pm.

How to do it if you are coming from the coast

Get there around 4pm so you see it before the crowd builds. Walk one side of El Paseo, then the other. Pick a few galleries instead of trying to do them all. If you care about one specific restaurant, book a table ahead, because busy nights fill up.

If you can, stay the night. Walk the same area Saturday morning in daylight. You will learn more from seeing it twice than from seeing it once.

What it tells you about where to live

El Paseo is a shopping and dining district, not a neighborhood you buy into by itself. But how close you want to be to nights like this changes which part of Palm Desert makes sense. Some people want to walk to dinner. Some want quiet streets and a short drive. Neither is wrong. If you are not sure which one you are, one evening here helps you find out.

If you want a second opinion

Once you have been, I am easy to reach. No pressure and no pitch, just a straight answer about what you saw and what it could mean for where you look. If you would rather read first, my guides are open, no form and no email needed: desertrealestatepartners.com/guide-resources

Laura Lake | Your Desert Real Estate Partner | DRE #01455311