Rancho Mirage, CA: Our community is answering the call to give back and support our very own Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert (CDMOD) as they plan their reimagining and reopening! On Friday, February 11, 2022, at 5:00 PM, the owners of Willie’s Modern Fare, Willie Rhine and Chad Gardner, are hosting a Sneak Peek Fundraising event with proceeds benefitting the shuttered and much-loved museum. Willie’s Modern Fare is located at 69830 Highway 111, Rancho Mirage, 92270. Tickets can be acquired through Eventbrite and are limited, the cost is $100.
“Willie, Chad and team are so very generous to select the museum to be the beneficiary of the sneak peek event. The excitement surrounding the restaurant is vibrant – you can feel the anticipation and we expect a sell-out event! With the help of our community, the museum will reopen reimagined this year. We are working with the original exhibitry company to bring new bright experiences and thoughtful programming that our community expects and deserves. CDMoD plays an important role in the community with plans to again offer informal learning activities to inspire creativity and encourage families to interact in unique ways. We take our three decades of rich history seriously and are excited to reopen with experiences that are designed for a broader audience and are reflective of our modern world.”– Cindy Burreson, CEO of Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert
CDMoD has been closed to the public since the stay-at-home order was issued in March 2020. The Museum board made the decision to reopen the museum in a new, reimagined way and have been fundraising with staff ever since. In phase one, Building One/The Main Gallery, is being renewed to create a whimsical, creative, and exciting space for our 0-8-year-olds. The space will include creative ways to imagine, express, move, experiment, explore and dream and will be comprised of over 40 new exhibits. Long term, there are five phases to include a reimagination of all three buildings, a building expansion and new construction, as well as an exterior plan. The goal is to expand experiences and programming to include all ages and family members.
“I am super excited to have our very first event at Willie’s a fundraiser for The Children’s Discovery Museum. This is a win-win, we get to help a local charity and we can showcase what we have done with space, as well as give our neighbors and future guests a taste of our amazing chefs’ cuisine.” – Willie Rhine, Owner, Willie’s Modern Fare
This Sneak Peek Fundraiser is open to the public and attendees are encouraged to get their tickets quickly. There are many ways to support the museum’s reopening efforts at www.CDMoD.org
About Willie’s Modern Fare:
Willie’s Modern Fare combines the elegance of fine dining with the warmth and conviviality for which its founders are best known. Recognized for 1501 Uptown Gastropub and numerous solo projects, co-owners Willie Rhine and Chad Gardner from the Gardner Hospitality Group invite guests to savor classic cuisine with a modern twist, along with creative cocktails and a carefully curated wine list.
About CDMoD:
The Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert is a valuable community resource for children and families to experience the joy of learning about themselves and the world around them. The museum inspires personal growth by engaging curiosity and creativity through hands-on explorations of exhibits and programs.
Learning: We value being a place that nurtures thoughtful, hands-on learning in a creative and engaging environment that celebrates learning as an innately joyful activity.
Family: We value being a place where multigenerational family members can grow their relationships through comfortably exploring, sharing, and learning together.
Community: We value being a community resource and a welcoming place where people of all ages and backgrounds can come together to share experiences while learning about themselves and our world.
