Mayor Christy Holstege appears on the KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs morning show with John Taylor on Monday. She will also be the first voice you’ll hear on the airwaves with our new public services campaign, K-GAY Cares!. We’re providing airtime to our Coachella Valley non-profits to talk about their services. There’s other “mayor” news to report – a fun project we got wind of and will be revealing here later this week.
Happy anniversary to Jerry Keller’s LULU, celebrating 10 years here. Willie Rhine from Eight 4 Nine was the first manager I remember meeting when LULU opened. It’s great to see successful restaurants and businesses come back after COVID! Jerry even reopened Acqua at The River.
And “sex” always sells, so I bring your attention to the topic that’s under discussion this week when Eisenhower and The Center present “A Gay Man’s Guide to Sex”. It’s free (the seminar, that is)!
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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To celebrate 10 years of delicious food, generous cocktails, and all around fun, Lulu California Bistro is saying “thank you” by making a gift of $10,000 to DAP Health. Through their support of the annual Dining Out for Life and many other contributions over the years, Lulu and Acqua California Bistros have given more than $400,000 to DAP Health. You can join Lulu in giving this coming weekend: for your gift of $100 to DAP Health on August 21 & 22, Lulu will give YOU a $15 gift card to party at Lulu. [Give here]. Finally, to make their birthday just a little more festive, Lulu will also serve free cotton candy to every table this weekend!
Big Bear Romp
Bears, cubs and a diverse group of men convene for an amazing 4 days in Big Bear from Thursday, August 19 through Sunday, August 22 for the Big Bear ROMP at Wolf Creek Resort. It’s a weekend of fun and adventure, featuring mixers, dances, special events & pool parties. All main events will be outdoors, held in large venues exclusive to Big Bear ROMP attendees. Events include a live comedy show with Shawn Pelofsky, ROMP in the Dark with your leather and gear, pool party with live DJ and campy games hosted by Babette Schwartz, Wild in the Woods dance event, even Bingo Brunch on Sunday! Get tickets
Gay Days Anaheim – Get Your Discount Now
On September 17–19, Gay Days Anaheim returns to the Disney parks and this is the final day they are able to offer guests the opportunity to stay at the Disney property hotels with a discount better than any rate you’ll find elsewhere (Deadline for the discount is Monday, August 16). Also be sure to plan to have proof of vaccination and mask-wearing at all indoor spaces within the parks as well as at Gay Days shows and parties, including shows with Chita Rivera, Audra McDonald, Jackie Cox, Nina West, Jan Sport and the Kingdom dance party. More info
Desert Stonewall Democrats August Meeting
Desert Stonewall Democrats August Virtual Membership Meeting presents “Gerrymandering – Not Just a Drag Name!” on Tuesday, August 17 from 5:45–7:00 p.m. on Zoom. Every 10 years, following the census, states go through the process of drawing new district boundaries ostensibly to equalize representation on the basis of population. In many states, the district lines are drawn by the legislature and both Democratic and Republican legislatures have taken advantage of the opportunity to draw new boundaries that favor their own party. You have a role to play in the California redistricting process. Learn how you can help. More info
Walk & Hike with Kim
The LGBTQ Center of the Desert presents Walk and Hike with Kim, occasional treks for women led by Kim Kieler. On Tuesday, August 17 join Kim at 6:00 a.m. for a hike in Rancho Mirage. Meet in the upper parking lot behind Rancho Mirage City Hall (corner of 111 and Frank Sinatra). Hike is 3 miles with 500 ft elevation gain. Physical distancing is required. Bring a liter of water. More info
Family Law: After the Love is Gone
The LGBTQ Center of the Desert and Carolyn Martino, Esq present Family Law: After the Love is Gone on Wednesday, August 18 from 10:00–11:00 a.m. on Zoom. This Business Partner presentation will cover the basics of seeking a divorce or legal separation in California, including an overall explanation of the process and what you can expect. Also covered: property characterization and asset division issues, how partner support and family support is calculated, and custody and visitation. Free event, registration required. More info
Gay Man’s Guide to Sex
The LGBTQ Center of the Desert and Eisenhower Health present the Gay Men’s Guide to Sex on Wednesday, August 18 from 4:00–5:00 p.m. on Zoom. Join Alex del Rosario, MD, for a broad overview of gay male sexual practices in the medical aspect. An in-depth question and answer session will follow. Free event, register today. More info
Outfest LA 2021
Celebrating its 39th anniversary, the 2021 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival is taking place now and wraps up Sunday, August 22 for a total of ten days of world-class films, panels, and events celebrating the queer experience. The festival returns with outdoor events, indoor screenings for vaccinated attendees, and is available via streaming for those who wish to experience the festival from their own home. Both the community and creators have opportunities to participate in various events, workshops, masterclasses, and panels, to provide networking opportunities and filmmaker development. The Closing Night Gala features “Fanny: The Right to Rock,” including a performance from the film’s subject, all-female rock pioneer band Fanny. More info
Virtual Events at The Center
The LGBTQ Community 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 their programs:
Social Caring in the Face of Quarantine with Ortega – Mondays at 11:00 a.m.
Zumba for Beginners with Shaun Samaro – Mondays at 10:00 a.m.
Managing Emotions During a Pandemic with Jill Hingston, Ph.D – Tuesdays at 11:00 a.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.
Women’s Chat with Kim Kieler – Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
Men’s Chat with Stuart Huggins – Fridays at 10:30 a.m.
LGBTQ+ Youth Virtual Hangout with Miguel Navarro – Fridays at 2:00 p.m.
Who Cares: Caregiver Support Group with Perry Wiggins – Fridays at 3:00 p.m.
Full list of The Center’s Zoom programs [here]
RuPaul Recaps by Dante: All-Stars Season 6
Our Special Drag Correspondent Dante Noto is faithfully watching and reporting on all the weekly victories and defeats in the world of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 6. Read all of Dante’s recaps back to the season premiere [here] and check out his recap of the latest episode, in which “the maxi challenge is for the queens to visit Ru’s animated World of Wonder series ‘Drag Tots.’ Each will transform herself into a magical live action character with a name, backstory, magical powers and look…” Read it!
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Agnes Pelton Exhibit Final Weeks
Agnes Pelton: Desert Transcendentalist, the first major exhibition since 1995 of the under-recognized American modernist painter who worked in Cathedral City, is at the Palm Springs Art Museum through Sunday, September 5. Don’t miss your chance to see it before time runs out! Although she painted conventional landscapes and portraits, Pelton (1881–1961) is most celebrated for her abstract compositions that reflect her interest in esoteric subjects and occult philosophies, including numerology and Agni Yoga with its principal focus on fire as a guiding force. More info
Greater Palm Springs Summer Eats Pass
Want to save on the best of Greater Palm Springs restaurants with a free and easy-to-use passport that lives on your phone and doesn’t even require a special app? The Summer Eats Pass helps you save and discover new ways to savor summer as you explore the deals offered by participating restaurants, from special prix fixe menus to free items with purchase and more. And just by using it to check in, you are automatically entered in a weekly drawing for a $50 gift card! Get yours
LOOKING AHEAD
Splash House is back, taking place across two weekends, Aug.13–15 and Aug. 20–22, at the Renaissance Hotel, Margaritaville Resort and Saguaro Palm Springs. Each resort is a full takeover hosting a poolside stage, rooms, and balconies that are all part of the fun. Weekend Two performances include Bob Moses, Camelphat, Gorgon City and more! After-hours programming at the Palm Springs Air Museum will also return. Following the requirements set forth by the City of Palm Springs, all attendees will be required to show proof of a negative COVID-19 test result or proof of full vaccination. Get tickets
The Palm Springs Cultural Center and The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus present The All Summer Long Snazzy Sassy Songsational Summerific Sing-A-Long. This week, on Saturday, August 21, the evening’s movie musical is “West Side Story,” the 1961 modern-day (and yet today, retro) musical re-telling of Romeo and Juliet, starring Natalie Wood. At 6:00 p.m., come for social hour in the VIP Lounge upstairs, with film at 7:00 p.m. with Rosemary Galore and songleaders from the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus hosting an evening filled with film, fun, and song. Continues with a different film every Saturday through September 11. Get tickets
Palm Springs Pride Call for Artists & Parade Entries
The Palm Springs Pride Festival, taking place Friday & Saturday, November 6 & 7, wants to encourage the work of self-representing artists by providing reduced cost display space at the festival. Showcase your work within the well-trafficked vendor marketplace and participate in the good vibes of Pride! To get started, fill out the interest form [here].
Palm Springs Pride is also currently taking applications for parade entries, for the return of the traditional parade down Palm Canyon Drive on Sunday, November 7 from 10:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. The deadline for Early Bird Registration is Wednesday, September 1. Visit the Palm Springs Pride site [here] and click on “Participate.”
Cat City Drag Race Accepting Applications
The date is set for the return of the Cat City Drag Race! The competition will take place October 4 through November 1 along the “111 Catwalk” at Trunks, AMP Sports Lounge, The Runway, The Barracks, and One Eleven Bar. Which of 10 queens Will Survive the Shadiness? Could be you! Applications are now being accepted, and the application period ends when they have received 20 entries, or on September 24, whichever comes first. Download an application on their website [here].