Gay Desert Guide: Week of Aug. 10, 2020 - Gay Desert Guide Palm Springs

Nearly 30 men Zoomed on Saturday evening for our All Ages Virtual Speed Dating, one of many virtual events from the new Fun & Games Dept. of GayDesertGuide. This weekend, it’s the women’s turn as you’ll read below.

Chill Bar has reopened with their Kitchen Takeover concept, but not without controversy. While many are supportive, some are leery of the distancing seen in photos. The plan was city approved and marks a big shift from Sunday Funday and go-go dancers.

As other business owners see that we are in this for the long haul, they are looking at ways to adapt and reopen. We hear that Blackbook is in the process of reconfiguring their space for a relaunch around Labor Day. The Roost Lounge is Cathedral City has also reopened with food from nearby restaurants. And The Maze at All Worlds is set to reopen later this month with weekend passes. As they say, “Crawl before you walk!”

Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide

Big Gay Scavenger Hunt

The Fun & Games Dept of Gay Desert Guide presents Shann Carr’s Big Gay Scavenger Hunt on Tuesday, August 11 at 7:00 p.m. Let’s have some fun at home! Join us for this virtual scavenger hunt where everything you need to win is within your home or apartment. Rolls of toilet paper, potted flowers, photo albums, cleaning products and more are all in play for a hilarious night of fun and conversations! Once we post an item you will have 15 seconds to find it. Each item found will result in points for prizes! As with all our virtual events, all you need is a device with a camera and microphone. No need to download Zoom but it does help.
Use Code GDG50 for 50% off the Ticket Price! Get tickets

DBA Networking Mixer with Raymond Gregory

Join the Desert Business Association (DBA) for a Virtual Networking Mixer on Monday, August 10 at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. They will start off talking with Cathedral City Mayor Pro Tem Raymond Gregory about local business impacts and other issues facing Cathedral City. Then, a bit of sharing about what is going on within our business community, and then expand to our communities in general. Plus roundtable chat and a one minute check-in by each participant. More info

Census Deadline Moved One Month Earlier

The 2020 Census is underway and due to the U.S. Census Bureau’s recent announcement that the deadline to complete the survey has been moved one month earlier to Sept. 30, it is now more important than ever that every household move quickly to submit their response. A high Census turnout can lead to millions of dollars in federal funding for local education, healthcare and hospitals, and important infrastructure that will help shape the future of our area for generations to come. More info

Virtual Events at The Center

Looking for connection in this time of self-isolation? The LGBT Center of the Desert continues to connect people, using the technology of group-meeting platform Zoom, which you can use on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Here’s just a taste of the programs they are hosting:

Social Caring in the Face of Quarantine with Alexis Ortega – Mondays at 11:00 a.m.

Zumba for Beginners with Shaun Samaro – Mondays at 10:00 a.m.

Knit Together with Doug Morris – Mondays & Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m.

Managing Emotions During a Pandemic with Jill Hingston, Ph.D – Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m.

Dating and Sex in the Age of COVID with Arlen Keith Leight LCSW, Ph.D – Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m.

Conversational Spanish – Tuesdays at 2:00 p.m.

Virtual Beginner Tap with Keith Mottola – Tuesdays at 5:00 p.m.

Prostate Cancer Support Group – 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m.

Trans Tuesdays with Jill Hingston, Ph.D – Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.

LGBTQ+ Youth Virtual Hangout with Miguel Navarro – Wednesdays at 3:00 p.m.

Seated Wellness with Lynn Simonson – Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.

Women’s Chat with Kim Kieler – Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.

Men’s Chat with Stuart Huggins – Fridays at 10:30 a.m.

Who Cares: Caregiver Support Group with Perry Wiggins – Fridays at 3:00 p.m.

Full list of The Center’s Zoom programs [here]

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Fun & Games with Shann Carr

The Fun & Games Dept of Gay Desert Guide, along with TheMenEvent.com, has a whole month of virtual events hosted by Shann Carr, from Trivia and Game Nights on Tuesdays to Speed Dating Saturdays where you could meet a date, a friend, or a business connection!

Speed Dating Events (also hosted by Shann):

Zoom That Tune: Divas Showdown

Gay Desert Guide’s Fun & Games Dept, along with TheMenEvent.com present Zoom That Tune Virtual Gay Game Show: Divas Showdown on Wednesday, August 12 at 4:15 p.m. on Zoom. It’s a blast! Lots of laughing, socializing and Type A competitiveness as you test your knowledge of music in this fun interactive event. Songs will all be from the world of DIVAS: Rock, Pop, Broadway, R&B and more. Earn extra points by answering bonus questions. DJ Stevie Beat is famous for his gay Zoom That Tune games and this event promises to get you laughing and interacting with the other players. Get tickets

Palm Springs Dance Academy Grand Opening Week

Palm Springs Dance Academy is celebrating the opening of a brand-new state of the art dance studio from August 8–15 daily from 4:00–7:00 p.m. at their Palm Springs facility on South Palm Canyon Drive. Meet Artistic Director Michael Nickerson-Rossi and faculty in small groups of up to 10 at a time, with a reserved 1-hour tour for your safety during the COVID-19 pandemic. More info

Communication Challenges When Wearing Face Masks

The LGBT Center of the Desert and Eisenhower Health presents Communication Challenges When Wearing a Face Mask on Wednesday, August 12 at 5:30 p.m. While individuals in our community are doing their part to slow the spread of coronavirus by wearing face coverings, the masks we are wearing muffle our voices and can make communication frustrating. This is true for everyone right now, but especially so for people with hearing loss, who rely on visual cues like facial expressions and lip reading to help understand what people are saying. Please join Sherry Ewing, Speech Language Pathologist, to learn how to make your voice heard. More info

Theatre Thursday: Broadway Singalong

CVRep’s popular monthly Singalong returns to Theatre Thursday this week with a Broadway Singalong on Thursday, August 13 at 6:00 p.m. Host Ron Celona will introduce you to the night’s very talented singers. Janna Cardia, Perry Ojeda and Randy Brenner will sing the songs from some of your favorite Broadway musicals. Lyrics will be available on CVRep’s website, for those who want to sing along. More info

Among Friends Virtual Happy Hour

Join Among Friends for their ongoing Thursday “Kickoff to the Weekend” Happy Hours, on Zoom from 5:00–6:30 p.m. every week. Come for the laughs, games and fun, and if you don’t want to be on cam, you don’t have to, you can still attend. And hey, no Uber needed! More info

Drive-In Experience at Palm Springs Cultural Center

The Palm Springs Cultural Center has turned their parking lot into a temporary Drive-In Experience, complete with concessions like popcorn and frozen treats and radio-tuned sound! Looking ahead to this weekend, Aug. 14–16, films include: South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut, Cabaret & Chicago Double Feature, and Pitch Perfect. Get tickets

Chill Bar Reopens

Chill Bar Palm Springs has reopened with a brand new kitchen, in which guest chefs will do a “takeover” during the day from noon to 6:00 p.m., and then they will serve elevated California fare from 6:00 p.m. to closing. More info

I Love Gay Palm Springs Podcast – Episode 57

Hosts John Taylor and comedian Shann Carr are joined by Brad Fuhr of GayDesertGuide.com, Jimmy Boegle of CVIndependent.com, Lex Ortega of TheCenterPS.org, Rob Giesecke of ChillBarPalmSprings.com and Jeff Hocker of HockerProductions.com as we try to make the most of the new normal in our arid little hamlet. (well, as normal as we can be!) [Listen] or [Watch]

**Use discount code GDG10 to save 10% when you order from our podcast sponsor Out & About CBD.**

THIS WEEKEND

Speed Dating for Women of All Ages

Hot on the heels of our successful Men’s Speed Dating event this past weekend, the Fun & Games Dept of Gay Desert Guide presents Speed Dating for Women of All Ages, hosted by Shann Carr, on Saturday, August 15 at 7:00 p.m. Speed dating has never been more fun! We will make introductions, and you go on several short one-on-one dates (each lasting 5-6 minutes) then mingle with everyone with a fun game and have real conversation about dating. This event is exclusively for women of ALL Ages (see our other speed dating events for other ages and themes). You could end up with a date, a friend or a business connection! Get tickets

LOOKING AHEAD

Outbook Book Club Returns Sept. 2

The Palm Springs Cultural Center is excited to announce the return of their LGBTQ monthly book club OUTBOOK, starting Wednesday, September 2 from 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm on Zoom. Connect with your fellow bibliophiles the first Wednesday of every month, starting with “There Will Be No Miracles Here,” by Casey Gerald. Subsequent selections include: “The Crime Writer” by Jill Dawson (Oct. 7), “Secret Historian: The Life and Times of Samuel Steward, Professor, Tattoo Artist, and Sexual Renegade” by Justin Spring (Nov. 4), and “On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous” by Ocean Vuong (Dec. 2). More info