Gay Desert Guide: Week of Aug. 3, 2020

August is upon us and it’s going to be a long, hot month. Keep you and your friends occupied with our new series of Virtual Events! We are proud to host (with Hugh Hysel of The Men Event in NYC) a series of new online events for the LGBT community, each with a virtual eye towards meeting a wide variety of interests, activities and themes.

These events range from game nights (Big Gay Trivia, Zoom That Tune, Big Gay Dating Game, Gay Game Night), Gay speed dating (many themes and age groups including All Ages Men and All Ages Women speed dating), tours and performances (including Big Gay Game Night and Gaylarious Comedy Show, Greek Mom’s Advice Show).

These events run on the zoom app and participants only need a device with a screen and microphone.

 Shop for a Cause on Friday, August 7

You can support local retailers and the Boys & Girls Club of Palm Springs at the same time on Friday, August 7 from 3:00–8:00 p.m. Participating retailers will donate a percentage of retail sales to the Boys & Girls Club for desperately needed funds to help general operations as well as additional costs incurred for safety protocols. Most retailers offer curbside pickup, and participants include: Christopher Kennedy, Destination PSP, Just Fabulous, Peepa’s, PS212, and many more! Check our link for [more info]

National Farmers Market Week

August 2–8 is National Farmers Market Week, and even amidst a global pandemic they continue to play a pivotal role in providing goods to consumers in their communities. Farmers Markets contribute about $9 billion to the U.S. economy every year! [Learn more]. Be sure to visit the Palm Springs Certified Farmers’ Market, Saturdays from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Pavilion. More info

Aging with Pride

The Aging with Pride: IDEA program is a federally-funded project testing a program designed to improve quality of life for LGBTQ people experiencing memory loss, and their care partners. Participants meet with a coach to learn exercises and strategies related to memory loss. The program includes 9 in-person sessions with the coach over 6 weeks, with follow-up phone calls, and participants are compensated for their time. Learn more

Participate in a COVID-19 Study

Desert Oasis Healthcare has partnered with Altura to offer an important study of the impact of COVID-19 in the Coachella Valley now, and going forward. Answer questions every two weeks about your testing status and results, access to healthcare and other necessities, and preventive measures, and you’ll have the option of being entered into a drawing for a gift certificate. More importantly, you’ll be helping the fight against COVID-19 with the most important weapon of all–information. Learn more and Sign up here

Positive Life Series for August

The Positive Life Series is monthly community HIV/AIDS seminar series presented by HIV + Aging Research Project Palm Springs. On Tuesday, August 4 at 6:00 p.m., Nelson Vergel will give an update on ARV’s & Weight Gain, Nandrolone, New HIV Meds and more. In addition, Dr Foltz from DAP will provide a brief COVID-19 update. More info

Covered California Enrollment Extended Through August

Due to the recent surge in COVID-19 cases throughout the state, Covered California announced on Wednesday that it would give consumers additional time to sign up for health care coverage during the pandemic by extending the current special-enrollment deadline to the end of August. Covered California initially responded to the COVID-19 emergency by opening the health insurance exchange to any eligible uninsured individuals who needed health care coverage from March 20 to June 30, which was then extended to July 31. Learn more

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Fun & Games with Shann Carr

The Fun & Games Dept of Gay Desert Guide, along with TheMenEvent.com, is planning a fun-filled 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!

• Shann Carr’s Big Gay Trivia – Tue Aug 4 at 7:00 p.m.
• Shann Carr’s Big Gay Scavenger Hunt – Tue Aug 11 at 7:00 p.m.
• Shann Carr’s Big Gay Game Night – Tue Aug 18 at 7:00 p.m.
• Shann Carr’s Big Gay Trivia – Tue Aug 25 at 7:00 p.m.

Speed Dating Events:

• Speed Dating for Men of All Ages – Sat Aug 8 at 7:00 p.m.
• Speed Dating for Women of All Ages – Sat Aug 15 at 4:00 p.m.
• Speed Dating for Men Ages 55+  – Sat Aug 22 at 7:00 p.m.
• Speed Dating for Men Ages 30s/40s – Sat Aug 29 at 7:00 p.m. 

New Officers Named to Palm Springs Rodeo Board

At their most recent virtual meeting, Palm Springs rodeo association members elected new officers to sit on the Greater Palm Springs Rodeo Corp. board of directors. Read the full article [here].While fundraising & social events are necessarily suspended, the organization continues full speed with administrative functions and is developing plans for Palm Springs Hot Rodeo 2021, the weekend of April 30–May 2, 2021.

Virtual Cinema at Palm Springs Cultural Center

The Palm Springs Cultural Center is now streaming Helmut Newton: The Bad and the Beautiful. One of the great masters of photography, Helmut Newton made a name for himself exploring the female form, and his cult status continues long after his tragic death in a Los Angeles car crash in 2004. Newton’s unique and striking way of depicting women has always posed the question: did he empower his subjects or treat them as sexual objects? [view trailer and get your V-ticket].

I Love Gay Palm Springs Podcast – Episode 56

Join John Taylor and comedian Shann Carr as #ILoveGayPalmSprings welcomes special guest Palm Springs Mayor Geoff Kors, Brad Fuhr of GayDesertGuide.com, Jimmy Boegle of CVIndependent.com, and a medical reality check with Dr. Laura Rush. Learn mental health strategies with theCenterPS.org therapist Jill Hingston. We’ll talk cars with LGBT car club GreatAutos.org liaison DeeAnn Hopings, and a musical moment of beauty from virtuoso cellist Andrew Cook. [Listen] or [Watch]

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

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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

He Loves & She Loves: Broadway’s Golden Era

CVRep’s Theatre Thursdays presents He Loves & She Loves – An Evening of Favorite Love Songs from the Golden Age of Broadway on Thursday, August 6 at 6:00 p.m. Join Brent & Erika Schindele for a delightful evening of some of their favorite songs, from “Boy Meets Girl”, through “I do, I do!” to “And Then There Were Three.” Brent and Erika’s love story began when they met during a production of Stephen Sondheim’s musical play Merrily We Roll Along and their lives have continued to be filed with music. Free event, registration required. 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!  Films for the weekend of Aug 7–9 : American Graffiti, Heavy Metal and Cool World (double feature), and Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. Get tickets

State Route 60 Weekend Closure

A full closure of Westbound State Route 60 between Gilman Springs Road in Moreno Valley and Route 60’s interchage with Interstate 10 at Beaumont will take place from Friday, August 7 at 9:00 p.m. through Monday, August 10 at 6:00 a.m. One eastbound lane will be closed nightly from 9:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m. More info