The Galleries Of Highway 62

Romantic that I am, Valentine's is top 'o the list. I'd begun searching for cards and gifts several weeks in advance but I hit paydirt when I got on highway 62 going north from Palm Springs.

In Morongo Valley the Gallery at Covington Park is, to understate it, off the beaten track. There's a large brown sign, like those for National Monuments, Forests & the BLM, for the Morongo Valley Preserve and The Park that marks "the turn." Keep going past the Preserve, it's not far, but from the sand on the road you'd not expect a gallery nearby. It's in the long building adjacent the park restrooms. I didn't see any posted hours and it was closed the next day, Tuesday, I think,  when I went back for more.

Rainbow Stew at the south end of Yucca Valley has an incredible collection of hand-crafted jewelry, much of which incorporates gems and minerals from the area. They also have an extensive selection of cards created by many of the artists whose paintings are also offered.

Farther up the road, a few blocks before the junction with highway 247, is ArtFx.

Celebrating five years of extantness, Carlos said he grew up in New York City, got tired of being a COO and moved to Yucca Valley when he was 21.

On his annual trips to Bali he commissions artworks to sell in his gallery. Every other year he organizes a 17-day tour for 6 people for $3k each (contact him in Dec of 2018 for the one in July 2019). He also has an amazing selection of crafts and objets d' art from Thailand and Cambodia including this canoe which, he pointed out, includes anatomically correct rowers.

For those who disdain the blandness of Tom's or the proletarian Nike, he has these....

Only 20 pairs as of 2/8/17. $85.00.




And finally, demonstrating the fine art of "how it's done," now lovingly known as The Lurpak....