The week begins with a dichotomy of what’s happening and what’s not. Performing arts are in full swing, while things like Sunnylands and the libraries are shuttered due to Omicron. We keep you updated below and online. You can also hear what’s happening with KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs each and every day!
In just one week, two LGBTQ candidates have announced for Palm Springs City Council and a third is seeking re-election. Jeffrey Bernstein, DestinationPSP owner and Measure J Oversights Commission chair, has announced for District 2 and Ron DeHarte, CEO of Palm Springs Pride and former chair of the Human Rights Commission has announced for District 3. Grace Garner is seeking re-election in District 1.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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The Dinah Announces 2022 Dates
The Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend is set to take place September 21–26, 2022 at the Margaritaville Resort (formerly the Riviera). With 400 rooms, it means more standard rooms available and it’s going to be like a Dinah Disneyland! Reserve your room now, tickets will be available soon. The Dinah is the largest Queer/Lesbian/Non-Binary event in the world. More info
DBA Virtual Networking Mixer
The Desert Business Association (DBA) Networking Mixer is going virtual for another couple of meetings, until the current wave of the COVID-19 Omicron variant subsides. Join them on Zoom on Monday, January 24 at 5:30 pm to find out the latest happenings at DBA, upcoming business trainings, and other activities. More info
RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: Season 14, Episode 3
Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent Dante Noto has new a recap for you: RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14, Episode 3 (Read all of Dante’s recaps here). Find out what happens when the remaining 12 queens meet each other for the first time (with some surprises) and then participate in a maxi challenge of two fashion balls with three looks required of each queen. Learn about the new candy bar twist this season and read Dante’s full recap of Episode 3: A Pair of Balls here.
Long Term Survivors: Gay Men Living with HIV
The next session of the Long-Term Survivors Support Group for Gay Men Living HIV and AIDS starts on Wednesday, Jan 26 from 6–7:30 pm offered via Zoom by The LGBTQ Center of the Desert. This group, facilitated by Clay Sterzik LMFT, will explore issues related to healthy aging and overcoming challenges specific to living with HIV. This is a closed group that will run for 12 weeks. More info
Fantasy Springs Job Fair
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino is looking to hire over 90 team members at their Job Fair on Thursday, January 27 from 2:00–6:00 pm at the Special Events Center. The first 50 job seekers that complete an in-person application will receive a $50 gift card. Managers will be on hand to personally interview candidates for exciting careers in a variety of positions including Restaurant Server, Sous Chef, Restaurant Manager, Baker, Cook, Cash Ops, Cage Cashier, Main Banker, Table Games Dealers and Floor Supervisors, etc. More info
Life X 3 Opens Tuesday
CV Rep presents Life X 3 by Yasmina Reza from January 25–February 6. As witty and acerbic as ‘Art’, Reza’s enormous worldwide success, Life X 3 contrasts man’s ability to analyze and map the outermost reaches of the universe with his total inability to respond rationally to the most trivial domestic mishap, and examines how the slightest random event can effortlessly derail the most elaborately laid plan. Get tickets
Southwest Arts Festival Starts Thursday
The Southwest Arts Festival® Indio returns to the Empire Polo Club from January 27–30, open from 10 am–5 pm daily, featuring a variety of traditional, contemporary, and abstract fine works of art, jewelry and quality crafts from over two hundred artists, exhibiting over four days. The festival’s reputation for first-class quality and professional integrity make it one of the country’s finest juried art festivals, brought to you by the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the City of Indio. Get tickets
Diversity Shabbat
Congregation Beth Shalom invites the entire community to celebrate Shabbat Services on Friday, January 28 at 7:45 pm. Services and interactive discussion will conducted by Rabbi Dr. J.B. Sacks, one of the first openly gay rabbis in the Conservative Jewish Movement, and services will be followed by a festive Oneg Shabbat Dessert Reception celebrating the Diversity of Our Community. More info
Note: Due to the current spike in COVID cases, please check ahead when making plans over the next few weeks as many events may possibly be canceled, attractions may temporarily close or have hours scaled back. For example Sunnylands is closed temporarily through Wednesday, February 2 , and City of Palm Springs indoor facilities are temporary closed as well.
THIS WEEKEND
Fiddler on the Roof
The McCallum Theatre presents Fiddler on the Roof for five performances: Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, January 28–30. Audiences across North America are toasting this new production, rich with musical hits you know and love, including “Tradition,” “Sunrise, Sunset;’ “If I Were A Rich Man;’ “Matchmaker, Matchmaker” and “To Life (L’Chaim!),” It’s a heartwarming story of fathers and daughters, husbands and wives, and life, love and laughter. Featuring a talented cast, lavish orchestra and stunning movement and dance from Israeli choreographer Hofesh Shechter, based on the original staging by Jerome Robbins. Get tickets
Carol Burnett at The Show
The Show at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage presents Carol Burnett on Friday & Saturday, January 28 & 29. (Friday was added because Saturday sold out). During “An Evening of Laughter and Reflection,” Burnett will take questions from the audience and show video clips from her shows in a format that harkens back to the legendary openings of ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ where her studio audience had an unfiltered opportunity to engage Carol with questions and receive spontaneous answers. “I love the spontaneity of these evenings,” said Carol. “I never know what anyone is going to ask, or say, or do, so it keeps me on my toes!” Get tickets
Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck at the Cole Hotel
The Cole Hotel will be hosting the Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck on Saturday, January 29 from 2–7 pm. Cousins Maine Lobster has been operating in Orange County and the Inland Empire since October 2018 with lots of fanfare, and they’ve served 200+ apartment communities, office parks, breweries, and local events from La Habra to San Clemente to Indio. This is your chance to partake in Maine Lobster here in Palm Springs. Get a pool pass or a day bed and make an afternoon of it! More info
Les Miserables
Palm Canyon Theatre presents Les Miserables from January 28–February 13. Set in early 19th-century France, Les Misérables is the story of Jean Valjean, a French peasant, and his desire for redemption, released in 1815 after serving nineteen years in jail for stealing a loaf of bread for his sister’s starving child. Valjean decides to break his parole and start his life anew after a bishop inspires him with a tremendous act of mercy, but a police inspector named Javert refuses to let him escape justice and pursues him relentlessly. Get tickets
Artificial Morality
Desert Ensemble Theatre Company presents the final weekend of performances of Artificial Morality, January 28–30 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. This world premiere by award-winning playwright Tony Padilla centers on the character of Rufus Foster, who lands an entry-level job at a publishing house. What will he say or do in his insatiable desire to advance his career? Padilla states: “Artificial Morality looks at how technology is shaping our character in the 21st century. It questions the limits of ‘free speech’ and examines our rapidly changing moral values. The play was inspired by actual events that made me question where our society is heading when we no longer suffer the consequences of our actions.” Get tickets
Always, Patsy Cline
Desert Theatreworks presents Always, Patsy Cline playing through February 6 at the Indio Performing Arts Center, based on the true story of one wild night in 1961 Houston, when single mom Louise Seger became fast friends with her idol, Ms. Patsy Cline. Louise recreates her evening and correspondence with Patsy, as well as many of the singer’s highlights, in this touching, down-home country musical comedy. Featuring a live band, this rollicking musical tribute includes many of Cline’s unforgettable hits such as “Crazy,” “I Fall to Pieces,” “Sweet Dreams” and “Walkin’ After Midnight.” Get tickets
Upcoming Theatre Productions
Here’s a glance ahead at more local productions taking the stage soon!
- The Drag from Desert Rose Playhouse, Feb. 16–Mar. 6
- The Mountaintop from Dezart Performs, postponed to Mar. 4–13
- Mid-Century Moderns from Desert Rose Playhouse, postponed to Apr. 20–May 8
“Satur-Gays” with Ross Mathews
Saturdays with Ross Mathews is on KGAY 106.5 every Saturday at 10:00 am on the FM dial in the Coachella Valley and streaming worldwide online! With RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14 now underway, listen for Ross to weigh in on the latest episode with his insider’s perspective! Brought to you by the John White Real Estate Group. Ask your smart speaker to “Play K-G-A-Y Palm Springs.”
- Fiddler on the Roof at the McCallum Theatre
Jan. 28–30 - Always, Patsy Cline – presented by Desert Theatreworks
Jan. 7–Feb. 6, 2022 at the Indio Performing Arts Center - Life X 3 – presented by CVRep
Jan. 25–Feb. 6 - A Special Valentine’s Day Evening at AsiaSF Palm Springs
Feb. 14 at 6:30 pm - Modernism Week 2022
Feb. 17–27, 2022 at various locations throughout Greater Palm Springs - International Bear Convergence (IBC) 2022
Feb. 24–28, 2022 at Hotel Zoso
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.” 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 And Saturdays at 10:00 am, it’s Coachella Valley resident Ross Mathews with his very own radio show!
