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| Rudy de la Mor and his legion of fans at Pura Vida |
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| Party-goers at David Reid's Pura Vida |
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| Palm Springs' fabulous fitness trainer and HER devotees! |
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| Oh my! Cannon Balls! |
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| Pura Vida's towel holding hotelier (l) with Mr. Hottie, aka Cannon Balls |
David Reid kicked off the new year by holding a grand opening party for his newly-completed Pura Vida Spa resort with a Sunday afternoon party for locals, out-of-town visitors and to almost everyone’s delight, one stark naked hottie. Mr. Hottie was apparently a clothing optional activist, protesting against Pura Vida's conservative, NO Clothing Optional Policy.
Pura Vida is the latest mens hideaway to open in the Warm Sands neighborhood of central Palm Springs. Its eight rooms are large, ranging in size from 325 to 525 square feet, and all include flatscreen TV's, iPod docking stations, fireplaces, large walk-in showers, desert-tone travertine floors and bathrooms and private outdoor spaces. Two suites also have large spa tubs and the largest suite even has a patio with a spa pool. Let’s just say David’s added 5-stars and 5-diamonds to overnight accommodations in our dear small town.
Naked Cannon Balls became the star attraction and eclipsed the gentle chatter of Palm Springs' who's who that drank and chatted poolside- mostly re-telling stories about battling the devastating winds, flying palm fronds and blowing sand from Saturday’s freak weather event. Not looking any worse for the wear were city councilwoman Ginny Foat, Girl Bar's impresario Sandy Sachs, insurance executive Ernie Santora, Palm Springs Art Museum’s Bob Bogard, fundraiser extraordinaire Kenny Cassady, and gaggles of gays and straights from the Warm Sands neighborhood and beyond.
While guests were enjoying a gorgeous desert sunset, the melodies of pianist and funnyman Rudy de la Mor and tasty nibbles from caterer Lynn Hammond, one striking, tall and oh-so-handsome hottie dashed out of a guestroom and into the swimming pool butt- naked. Even the full-frontal view would not have been such a surprise -especially in this ‘hood- except for the fact that Pura Vida is not skivvies-optional. Mr. Hottie was greeted poolside with a towel- make that a two towel-holding hotelier David Reid- and covered up and rushed back into a room.
Now dear readers, Mr. Hottie had not gone unnoticed by yours truly. We chatted just moments prior to the naked dive and he asked me if I had tried the “red hot olive” from the crudite platter. I had not, but I looked and couldn’t find any. Could a “red hot olive” have turned Mr. Hottie into one red hot firecracker in need of a naked dip? Who knows? Who cares? He was a visual feast amongst a platter of cocktail tidbits.
