“Be Thankful for What You Got” was a 70’s era disco song by William DeVaughn. And after participating in the Christmas Day Community Breakfast at Oscar’s, I’m counting my blessings.
I was so moved by the gratitude expressed by those who attended – for a hot meal, a pair of socks – or just being heard and seen. Each person who attended has a story – some expressed to me and others who lent a listening ear.
John Taylor interviewed a few of the attendees on KGAY as we broadcast live. Stories of one bad choice, or a circumstance that took a person from comfortable living to being on the street were all too common. A few were living in their cars trying to get back on their feet. It brought into focus the housing crisis we’re facing. And the fractured way in which non-profits, government agencies and others try to help is just pathetic.
As we approach the end of 2022, I’m truly thankful for what I have and will be more mindful of our homeless/unhoused/food insecure neighbors who need a helping hand. Thanks to all of you who volunteered there, at the Convention Center or who just did a good deed over this time of giving.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Wildlights at The Living Desert – Final Week
Wildlights is at The Living Desert Zoo & Gardens, wrapping up its run with final nights: December 26–30, from 6–9 pm each night. Celebrating its 30th anniversary this year, Wildlights is a magical winter wonderland, complete with twinkling lights, dazzling light displays, and holiday fun, recognized in the Top 5 Best Zoo Lights by USA Today. Follow illuminated pathways on a journey around the Zoo with endless awe-inspiring sights and festive photo opportunities. Guests can go for a spin on the carousel, enjoy themed treats, take a free souvenir photo with Santa, and much more. In true WildLights tradition, the G-scale model trains, with more than 3,300 feet of track, will be decked out for the holidays. Advance reservations required. Get tickets
Win Tickets to Boozehounds’ Studio 54 New Year’s Eve Party!
KGAY 106.5 wants you to WIN a pair of tickets into Boozehounds New Year’s Eve: Studio 54! This is the most stylish party celebrating the golden age of Disco…with a night at Studio 54. Get ready to hit the dance floor and dress for the era in your best disco attire! Tickets include: Premium Open Bar, Specialty Welcome Cocktail, Signature Small Bites, Dedicated Table & Service, DJ, Disco, Dancing & Midnight Toast! Enter to win on the KGAY 106.5 Contest Page
CV Philharmonic: Romantic
The fall collection of the CV Philharmonic Society Chamber Series continues on Tuesday, December 27 from 6–8 pm at the Palm Springs Cultural Center with music from the Romantic period, featuring Jeannie Angeletti (Flute), Michael Adams (Clarinet) and Nunzio Sisto (Bassoon). The Chamber Series features soloists and small ensembles whose proceeds support local musicians, Youth Training Orchestra’s educational programs and PSCC’s Theatre 3 Expansion. Get tickets
Palm Springs International Film Fest 2023 Tickets + Giveaway
The Palm Springs International Film Festival has released the lineup and schedule for the 2023 festival, which runs January 5–16. General Public ticket sales are open as of December 22 [More info]. Passes are also available, and KGAY 106.5 has your chance to WIN a 4-pack of passes! This is one of the largest film festivals in North America featuring twelve extraordinary days of screenings and special events with celebrity appearances and post screening discussions. Enter to win on the KGAY 106.5 Contest Page
Mid-Century Moderns at Oscar’s
The hit Palm Springs 1960s jukebox musical Mid-Century Moderns is at Oscar’s on Thursday and Friday, December 29 and 30 at 7:30 pm. The sensational hits of ‘66 come to life in the delightful tale of a plucky Wisconsin widow who transforms from frump to fabulous when she finds herself at the center of modernity in Palm Springs. Get tickets
Desert Blues Revival: The Disciplez
Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs presents the Desert Blues Revival every Wednesday at 8 pm in the Cascade Lounge. On Wednesday, December 28, The Disciplez take the stage. Each week, come enjoy great bands playing authentic Blues, Soul, R&B, and Rock from all over the globe right here in your backyard. Get tickets
Jazzville: Brian Swartz Quartet
Jazzville invites you to experience the hottest acts in jazz and step back in time to when all the cool cats came to play and put Palm Springs on the map! on Thursday, December 29 from 7–8:30 pm, The Brian Swartz Quartet performs a curated selection of music from the “Great American Songbook” and skillfully crafted originals. Swartz pays homage to the lineage of great jazz trumpeter/vocalists like Louis Armstrong, Chet Baker, Kenny Dorham, Clark Terry & Jack Sheldon but with a style that’s all his own. Get tickets
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THIS WEEKEND – NEW YEAR’S EVE
Boozehounds New Year’s Eve Party 2023: Studio 54
The Golden Age of Disco hits Palm Springs for A Night at Studio 54 NYE 2023 on Saturday, December 31 from 8 pm–1 am at Boozehounds. This upscale party promises to be a night dripping in glamour and debauchery so fabulous even Halston would approve. The champagne will be flowing and disco will be pumping as you travel back to a time of wild opulence, invigorating music, and unbeatable fashion. Enjoy a premium open bar, guest DJ spinning vinyl, tray passed bites, surprise entertainment, and a champagne toast at midnight. Get tickets
New Year’s Eve Legacy Gala: Mask’d Ball
Brothers of the Desert present their fourth annual New Year’s Eve Legacy Gala: Mask’d Ball on Saturday, December 31 at 8 pm at Margaritaville Resort. The idea for Brothers of the Desert started on New Year’s Eve in 2017 and each year they commemorate achievements and intention for the future with an annual fundraiser to continue their mission and support their growth. Entertainment includes headliner Niki Haris, plus DJ Liv and Ralph Cole Jr. Your ticket includes a 3-course dinner with wine and a champagne toast at the stroke of midnight. Get tickets
Light It Up New Year’s Eve at Agua Caliente Casinos
Agua Caliente Casinos presents three New Year’s Eve dance parties on Saturday, December 31, one for each of their locations in Rancho Mirage, Palm Springs, and Cathedral City. In Rancho Mirage, it’s a Dance Party at The Show with Zowie Wowie and DJ Boba, starting at 9 pm. Meanwhile, DXSKO performs on the Casino floor from 7 pm–2 am. In Palm Springs, the New Year’s Eve Block Party features Pop Vinyl and DJ Lady Kate starting at 8 pm, with a Fireworks Extravaganza at the stroke of midnight. In Cathedral City, you can Party Under the Stars with outdoor bars and food trucks, and Haute Chile performing on the Agave Caliente Terraza, with Alf Alpha on the casino floor from 8 pm–2 am. Enjoy free party favors, Free Play, prizes, plus food and drink specials at all three locations. More info
Maroon 5 New Year’s Eve at Acrisure Arena
Maroon 5 will perform a very special concert on New Years Eve (Saturday, December 31) at Acrisure Arena with special guest PJ Morton, starting at 8 pm. To date, the universally renowned Los Angeles band have achieved multiple Grammy Awards and become the most successful duo or group on the Billboard Hot 100 chart this century; with 32 records charted and 15 Top 10 singles. Maroon 5 holds a Top 40 record for the most #1 hits among pop duo or groups with eleven entries and have earned Twenty-Two Top 10 entries on the chart. Get tickets
Doce Uvas: New Year’s Eve at Reforma Palm Springs
Reforma Palm Springs celebrates its first annual New Year’s Eve with the tradition found throughout Latin America, the twelve grapes of luck, on Saturday, December 31 from 6 pm–2 am. Choose the decadent prix fixe dinner and celebrate until 2 am or purchase a ticket to skip dinner and join the party starting at 9 pm. The midnight hour features a Champagne toast. Three internationally known DJs work the dancefloor, while hostess Ongina oversees the festivities. Get tickets
On the Air at KGAY 106.5
We’re kicking off 2023 with a new show on KGAY 106.5: The KGAY Sunday Tea Dance with DJ Modgirl starts Sunday, January 1 at 4 pm (right after the Retro Brunch) and continues every Sunday! DJ Modgirl (AKA Kellee McQuinn) is not only the life of the party, she’s also a cover girl on magazines and billboards, a television entertainer, and an award winning producer, director, lyricist and performer. Her moniker is “Music! Dancing! Fashion! Fun!” and she throws down the most irresistible, uplifting beats each week on the KGAY Sunday Tea Dance from 4–6 pm.
KGAY 106.5 has your tickets to the Freestyle Explosion Throwback Jam concert event on March 24, 2023 at Acrisure Arena! Performers include Stevie B, Lisa Lisa, Taylor Dayne, The Cover Girls, Lil Suzy, The Jets, Trinere, Rob Base, Freestyle, and MC Shy D. Enter to win on the KGAY 106.5 Contest Page
Ross Mathews is back and gayer than ever! After a honeymoon hiatus, his popular weekly radio show on KGAY 106.5 airs on Saturdays from 11:00 am–2 pm. That’s 50% more Ross because now it’s a three-hour show! Ross is a part-time Palm Springs resident and currently working on The Drew Barrymore Show, RuPaul’s Drag Race and many other projects. He will bring celebrity gossip and news, plus a rundown of what’s happening each weekend in #ILoveGayPalmSprings as he plays some of his favorite dance hits each weekend on KGAY. Listen Online
The KGAY 106.5 Retro Lunch airs Monday through Friday at noon, with DJ Galaxy (Vincent Corrales) and DJ Eric Ornelas playing an hour of their high-energy throwback mixes. On Sundays, we put all five hours together for the Retro Sunday Brunch from 11 am–4 pm. Perfect party music! Listen Online
- Boozehounds New Year’s Eve 2023: Studio 54
Sat. Dec 31 from 8 pm–1 am - Rock the Park: The Kings of Queen
Wed. Jan 4 at 7 pm at the Palm Springs Downtown Park - Palm Springs International Film Festival 2023
Jan 6–16 at various theaters in Palm Springs and Cathedral City - A Bright New Boise presented by Dezart Performs
Jan 13–22, 2023 at the Pearl McManus Theater - Modernism Week
Feb 16–26, throughout Palm Springs
Welcome New Partner!
Palm Mountain Resort & Spa is located in the heart of Palm Springs, offering scenic grounds with a newly renovated, perfectly chilled pool, sunning terrace, misters to keep you cool, a courtyard space ideal for gathering, fire pits and a new hot tub for cool evenings. Palm Mountain is also the ideal spot for a productive meeting, relaxing retreat, or intimate wedding. The resort’s indoor event space and spacious outdoor patio are ideal for gatherings of any kind. And don’t forget the fabulous onsite spa—or should we say spahhh. Learn more
- Gay or Nay? New LGBT Theater Company The Bent Ponders the President’s Sexuality With ‘The Lincoln Debate’
- 8 New Restaurants to Check Out This Season in Greater Palm Springs
- Hiking With T: The South Lykken Trail Is Near Downtown Palm Springs—yet It’s a World Away From Life’s Distractions
- ET’s Kevin Frazier and Nischelle Turner to Co-Host 2023 Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards Gala
- Modernism Week 2023 Offers Wide Range of Educational Programs and Films
Trevor Wayne Pop Art mines familiar references, drawing on totems of consumerism and mainstream entertainment that are well-known to American audiences including horror movies, Barbie dolls, reality television, and classic Hollywood cinema. In addition to paintings and prints, you can get Trevor Wayne’s art on greeting cards, mugs, hats, coasters, puzzles and more! With our HOT DEAL you can get $20 worth of gift cards at Trevor Wayne Gallery for only $12.50! Get Your Deal
We also have Hot Deals at Eight4Nine, V Wine Lounge, Il Giardino, Rick’s Restaurant, Grand Central, Boozehounds, Destination PSP, Kitchen 86, AMP Sports Lounge, Revel Public House, Giuseppe’s Pizzeria, Monster Shakes, Desert Mischief, Jolene’s and more! See All Deals
Find out what’s happening on any given day by browsing our Gay Desert Guide Online Event Listing Calendar, and for the big picture, take a look at major upcoming events in our 2022 Coachella Valley Calendar of Events.
Listen to KGAY 106.5 over the air, stream it [here], or listen on TuneIn Radio with Alexa or Siri by saying “Play K-GAY 1065 from Tune In Radio.” Ross Mathews is on Saturdays from 11 am–2 pm, John Taylor is on mornings 6–10 am and program director Chris Shebel is on afternoons. Our Retro Lunch with DJ Galaxy and DJ Eric Ornelas is now heard on Sundays as the Retro Lunch & Sunday Brunch from 11 am–4 pm.
Don’t miss “This Way Out,” Sundays at 6:30 a.m. on KGAY 106.5. “This Way Out” is the only internationally distributed weekly LGBTQ radio program, currently airing on some 200 local community radio stations around the world. Listen to the latest episode as a podcast on our streaming page (click “Podcasts” in the upper right hand corner)