Gay Desert Guide: The Last Week of 2020 - Gay Desert Guide Palm Springs

The countdown to the end of this year continues as we move closer to 2021. Can it end soon enough? I don’t know about you, but my Christmas week was certainly subdued and spent with much less human interaction than ever in my life. And now we ring in 2021 in the same way – quarantined, masked and distanced. The next month or so will continue to tax our health care system. Let’s do what we can to help.

I just restarted my Noom subscription. It was about a year ago that I was at my heaviest and wanting to trim down for an upcoming Atlantis cruise “down under”. Two months later and I had achieved my target weight. And that was when I was still attending mixers, going out for many meals and doing my duty in checking out the valley’s nightlife. So I’m thinking I can do it this year – if I don’t eat myself silly from boredom.

Stay Safe and Stay Home (except to shop and order carryout).

Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide

#ILoveGayPalmSprings
#ILoveGayCatCity
#ShopLocal and … #WeArePalmSprings

Turning of the Year, A Show of Hope

Say farewell to 2020 and get ready for 2021 with Turning of the Year, A Show of Hope on Wednesday, December 30 at 6:00 p.m. on Zoom. This hour-long program will unite performers from Broadway and the best of Palm Springs to reflect, heal, and hope on the turning of the year. Donations of any amount will benefit Desert AIDS Project. Among those scheduled to appear: Karen Mason, Jim. J. Bullock, Keisha D, Ben Zook and Joe Dietl, Jerome Elliott, Ron Pass, Modern Men Coachella Valley Men’s Chorus, David Green’s Musical Theatre University, Palm Springs Dance Project, Charles Peery, Kristin Olson, and Dan the Mixologist for an evening of performance and creative engagement. More info

Fun & Games Dept Events in January

Mark your calendar for these Gay Desert Guide Fun & Games Dept. events early in the New Year! We are adding some fun twists to the Virtual Speed Dating format with themed nights hosted by Alexander Rodriguez, and presenting our first in-person event in a long time: a safely distanced “walk in the park” with Comedian Shann Carr, and much more!

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New Year’s Eve Gourmet to Go

Celebrate the end of the year and support Brothers of the Desert with their New Year’s Eve Gourmet to Go dinner and dance party on Thursday, December 31 at 8:30 p.m. This four-course gourmet experience will be delivered to your door, featuring: charcuterie and sparking line from Bouschet, salad by private chef Michael Taylor, entrees by 1501 Uptown Gastropub (a new restaurant collaboration between chef Chad Gardner from 533 Viet Fusion and Willie Rhine from restaurant 849), and dessert from chef Andre Carthen. After dinner, the virtual dance party kicks off with house music from famed dance clubs around the country, with entertainment and opportunities to interact with other party-goers. Support Brothers of the Desert in their mission to empower Black gay men and allies, while enjoying a fabulous, safe New Year’s Eve celebration! Get tickets

Big Gay Trivia: “I Need Time Away From My Family” Edition

Gay Desert Guide’s Fun & Games Dept. and TheMenEvent.com present Big Gay Trivia “Get Me Away From My Family” Edition on Tuesday, December 29 at 4:00 p.m. on Zoom. When you find yourself a little tired from being around your family too much, get together with The Gays for a night of fun and lunacy! Our Trivia contests are so entertaining because we make the questions easy and enjoyable for everyone. TheMenEvent founder Hugh Hysell will be your host for this evening that you can enjoy from the comfort of you home. More info

Tour the Tom of Finland Exhibit

Join Stonewall National Museum & Archives on Tuesday, December 29 at 6:30 p.m. for a virtual tour of the Tom of Finland exhibition at Galerie Judin in Berlin. Tom of Finland’s drawings of well-built men in rugged attire and his depictions of man-to-man lust shaped a strong image of gay identity. He drew males having sex without shame, proud and full of confidence. This event is free and open to the public, registration required. Former Creative Director of Bruno Gmunder Books, Mischa Gawronski, will be leading the tour, with Stonewall National Museum Executive Director Hunter O’Hanian. Be sure not to miss it! More info

Virtual Studio Visit with Phillip K. Smith III

Join artist Phillip K. Smith III and Palm Springs Art Museum’s Chief Curator & Director of Curatorial Affairs and Programs, Rochelle Steiner on Tuesday, December 29 at 5:00 p.m. for a virtual visit to Smith’s Palm Desert studio and a discussion of his artistic practice. Smith and Steiner will have a dialogue about his unique artistic output in this public program presented by the museum. More info

Calling all Photographers (And Models!)

We would love to feature local photographers on our #ILoveGayPalmSprings Instagram feed, please [check it out] and direct message us there if you are interested in having your work featured in our gallery! We are especially looking for #MCM (#ManCrushMonday) and #WCW (#WomanCrushWednesday) candidates from the Coachella Valley. We’re especially interested if you’ve done something of note – whether it be volunteering, publishing a book or blog or whatever your connection is to the Coachella Valley.

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.

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

Conversational Spanish with Guillermo Biro – Tuesdays at 2:00 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.

Making Connections During COVID: Men’s Discussion Group with Arlen Keith Leight, LCSW, Ph.D
1st and 3rd Saturdays at 11:30 a.m.

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

I Love Gay Palm Springs Podcast – Episode 77

John Taylor, comedian Shann Carr, and Brad Fuhr of GayDesertGuide.com are joined by DJ Galaxy, volunteer holiday meal maker Vincent Corrales of vjcproductions.com …author and poet Lorenzo Taylor has a special 2020 “Visit from Saint Anthony (Fauci) version of ’Twas the Night Before Christmas…Shann has her top LGBTQ+ holiday movie picks…Brad runs down events in the Gay Desert Guide: This Week in #ILoveGayPalmSprings newsletter …and we are treated to a virtual holiday carol by a chorus of local entertainers including Ron Pass, Jeffrey Barnett, Michele Weiss, Mark Richards, Carol Kamenis, Mark Lee, Charles Herrera, Steve Knill, Tommy Dodson, Jerome Elliott and Alexander Rodriguez of ontherocksradioshow.com

[Listen] or [Watch]

The I Love Gay Palm Springs Podcast is now available on Apple TV, Roku TV, Amazon FireTV and Android devices via OutAt.tv. Tune in Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. to stream us to your TV! (Also available on demand after it airs).

Now available on iHeartRadio too!