This week in #ILoveGayPalmSprings – It's time for Valentine's Day and we've got some great dining and entertainment options for you! You can also expect great entertainment from the Boys of Runway, or you can get down to business with the DBA Mixer at Playoffs, or learn about the Somatic Effects of Homophobia at The Center.
A little thing called Modernism Week also kicks off 11 days of fabulosity this Thursday! Read on for more Modernism Week details as well as a preview of what's coming up this weekend. Happy Valentine's Day, dear readers, we love you ♥
Valentine's Day is Thursday
The Purple Room Supper Club will offer a special Valentine's Day three-course menu with starters like Purple Pear Salad, Scallops, and Endive Boats, main dishes like Lobster Linguini, Beet Risotto, and Surf & Turf, and desserts like Molton Cake, Manga Pannacotta, and Gelato! Entertainment will be "An Evening of Romance" with Jasmine Tommaso and Lorenzo Grassi. Make reservations
Join TRIO on Valentine's day from 3:00 p.m. for delicious dinner choices like Wedge Salad Trio Style, Pan-Seared Chilean Sea Bass, and TRIO Special Roasted USDA Prime Rib in a romantic atmosphere, with an orange rose for each of the "ladies!" Make reservations
Oscar's Cafe & Bar presents An Evening with Roberta Linn on Valentine's Day, from 7:00–8:30 p.m. Come see Ms. Roberta Linn, backed by a live band, and celebrate the heart of song with your sweetheart! Make reservations
Lulu California Bistro offers a Valentine's Day Menu from 4–10 p.m. with options like Maine Lobster Bisque, Strawberry Mint Salad, Chicken Madeira, Lobster Ravioli, Triple Chocolate Cake and Hibiscus Tart! Make reservations
DBA Mixer at Playoffs Sports Lounge
The Desert Business Association presents a Networking Mixer at Playoffs Sports Lounge in Desert Hot Springs on Monday, Feb. 11 from 6:00–8:00 p.m. Hosts Eric and Ann-Sofie have created a friendly and eclectic sports oasis in DHS, where the last Wednesday of each month is Rainbow Night to support the LGBTQ community from DHS and beyond. They have food, their usual great drink prices, and a wonderful drag show hosted by Anita Rose. Diversity DHS, the grassroots group that puts on DHS Pride every year, will be there too! More info
The Boys of Runway
Runway Restaurant and Bar presents The Boys of Runway every Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. Enjoy $4 drafts, $1 shots on the hour, and late night food specials, as well as Andrew Christian giveaways! More info
Homophobia Somatic Workshop at The Center
The LGBT Community Center of The Desert presents: A Workshop for All Queers: How has Homophobia and/or Transphobia Impacted Your Body? on Saturday February 16 from 1:00–4:00 p.m. This is an introduction to how mind / body (somatic) work can be a resource for addressing the lingering effects of homo/transphobia and gender oppression. Facilitator Constance Clare-Newman will introduce awareness practices, skills that build resilience and resources for grounding and presence in the body. More info
Coming Up
Modernism Week Begins Thursday Feb 14
Totaling 11 days, Modernism Week 2019 runs from Thursday, February 14 through Sunday, February 24, and the full list of events can be found by following our link. Here's a few highlights you won't want to miss!
The 19th Annual Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale will feature 85 premier national and international dealers offering furniture, decorative and fine arts representing all design movements of the 20th century. Admission is good for return entry all weekend, along with a show catalog, and includes admission to the 2nd Annual Palm Springs Modern Design Expo. More info
The Opening Night Preview Gala benefiting Modernism Week will be held from 6:00–9:00 p.m. on Friday, February 15. Preview tickets include full open bar, hors d’oeuvres, complimentary valet parking, live music, and the opportunity to be the ‘first’ to shop the show before it opens to the general public. CLICK HERE to purchase preview gala tickets.
On Friday, February 15 at 2:00 p.m., a star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars will be dedicated when friends, family and former colleagues gather outside the Architecture + Design Center to honor Arthur Elrod, Palm Springs' most influential interior designer. Special guests and friends of Mr. Elrod will speak about his important role in desert modern design and the legacy of his iconic design projects.More info
On Saturday, February 6 from 2:00–4:00 p.m. Just Fabulous presents a book signing of Mod Mirage, with Melissa and Jim Riche. Mod Mirage reveals in photos and stories the historic homes and communities of Rancho Mirage that make up its significant midcentury heritage. The book documents the architecturally innovative homes and communities that were built on and adjacent to the historic Thunderbird and Tamarisk Country Clubs from 1950 to 1970. This is the first book to focus solely on Rancho Mirage’s rich architecture while also discussing its influential social history. More info
Martinis on the Mountain is held Sunday, February 17 and Monday, February 18, from 6:00–9:00 p.m. both nights. This fundraiser for Mizell Senior Center's Meals on Wheels program features live music, complimentary martinis and appetizers, and the best views of the Coachella Valley, from the historic O'Donnell House. Designed by artist and architect William Charles Tanner, this Mediterranean Revival-Monterey home was completed in January 1925 and featured in 1928 in House Beautiful. In 2000, the home was acquired by the present owners and restored to its original glory with a fine collection of mission-style furnishings. Get tickets
Her HRC Palm Springs 2019
On Saturday, February 16 from 2:00–4:00 p.m, the Human Rights Campaign presents the 3rd Annual Her HRC event, at a beautiful private residence, whose address is given upon RSVP. The mission of Her HRC events is to gather women to celebrate and build a greater sense of community, while learning about the importance of engaging in the LGBTQ civil rights movement. Guest speaker Sarah McBride was the first Transgender person to speak at the National Democratic Convention. Open to all guests regardless of gender identity or expression, and Gay Desert Guide is proud to be a community sponsor of this event! Get tickets
Palm Springs Speaks: Jane Fonda
Palm Springs Speaks presents: Jane Fonda on Saturday, February 16 from 7:30–9:00 p.m. at the Richards Center for the Arts. We don't need to tell you why this is a hot ticket, and indeed it is SOLD OUT. Tickets are still available for the last speaker in this series: Guidebook author and travel TV host Rick Steves, appearing on Sunday, March 3 from 3:30–6:30 p.m.
Palm Springs Air Museum's Annual Gala
On Friday, February 15 from 5:30–10:00 p.m, the Palm Springs Air Museum presents their Annual Gala, featuring cocktails amid vintage aircraft, appetizers, live music, hosted drinks and a gourmet dinner among heroes surrounded by history and honor. Get tickets
Art Palm Springs
From Friday, February 15 through Monday, February 18, Art Palm Springs will take place at the Palm Springs Convention Center. This is the premier art fair in the Southwest presenting post-war and contemporary art. This year's edition will brings galleries from Asia, Europe, North and South America representing hundreds of artists. Since its early editions, Art Palm Springs has been a draw for curators, collectors, designers and celebrities. More info
Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival
Running from Friday, February 15 through Sunday, February 24 this year, the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival offers an exciting line-up of Headliner entertainment in the Fantasy Springs Concert Pavilion including Randy Houser, Ramon Ayala, Salt-n-Pepa, Kool & the Gang and Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez. More info
My Fair Lady Back on the Big Screen
Audrey Hepburn has never looked more radiant than as Eliza Dolittle in this breathtaking recent restoration in honor of the 50th anniversary of My Fair Lady, showing two nights only, Sunday, February 17 at 5:00 p.m. and Sunday, February 20 at 3:00 p.m. at D'Place Mary Pickford 14 in Cathedral City. Get tickets
Desert Winds Freedom Band: Isn't It Romantic
On Sunday, February 17 from 4:00–7:00 p.m., the Desert Winds Freedom Band's annual Jazz Band Concert is combined with their annual fundraiser for "Isn't It Romantic," an evening of food, entertainment, and a silent auction, and also featuring performances from Ken Chicosky, Keisha D, Melba Miller, the Paul Kay Trio, and Vocolacity. Get tickets
Theatre This Weekend
This is it! The final weekend of performances for Some Enchanted Evening, For a Reason and White, plus a special one-night-only performance of Dear Anita Bryant.
The Palm Springs Cultural Center and The L-Fund present the world premiere of Dear Anita Bryant on Friday, February 15 from 7:00–10:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. This one-act play by Ronni Sanlo is based on her experience as a lesbian affected by the late 1970's Florida law declaring that lesbians and gay men were not fit to be parents, causing her to lose custody of her two young children. Years later, she wrote a letter to anti-gay crusader Anita Bryant, which became the backdrop for this play chronicling her journey of pain, love…and forgiveness. Get tickets
Desert Ensemble Theatre Company presents For a Reason, a new comedy by Tony Padilla, from Friday, February 8 through Sunday, February 17 at the Pearl McManus Theater. This fascinating four-person character study focuses on the reasons people come into our lives, and the often-surprising consequences that result from their interactions. Get Tickets
The Desert Theatreworks presents Some Enchanted Evening from Friday, February 8 through Sunday, February 17 at the Indio Performing Arts Center. The legendary musical theater duo Rodgers and Hammerstein provide the inspiration for this intimate night of beautiful music in a sparkling song and dance tribute. You’ll hear more than 30 tunes including numbers from Carousel, The King and I, Oklahoma, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, Cinderella and more. Get Tickets
CVRep presents White, by James Ijames, through February 17 at CVRep at The Atrium in Rancho Mirage. Gus is an artist. Vanessa is an actress. Gus wants to be presented in a major exhibition for artists of color, so he hires Vanessa to perform as Balkonaé Townsend, a brash and political artist that will fit the museum’s desire for “new voices.” Everything is great, until Balkonaé takes over and Gus has to deal with the mess he’s made. This play spins out of control as it explores issues of race, gender, sexuality, and art. Get tickets
Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh describes White as "a dark comedy which is both laugh-out-loud funny and has much to say about the act of artistic creation, the many forms that racism and prejudice can take, as well as questions of identity and how we perceive ourselves…" Read the full review here.
Next Weekend: Stars Among Us Gala
Mizell Senior Center presents the 14th Annual Stars Among Us Gala – I Will Always Love You: Celebrating the Music of Whitney Houston. Guests will be transported to Miami to an exciting night at the iconic Fontainebleau Hotel with a spectacular performance by Deborah Cox, a Grammy® nominated recording artist for her own R & B and dance hits, who starred on Broadway in “The Bodyguard”, a musical based on the film starring Whitney Houston. Benefits Mizell's Meals on Wheels program. Get tickets