Hats off to Dr. Laura Rush and all the frontline healthcare workers who are now fighting a losing battle with the pandemic until mass immunization takes place. On the final #ILoveGayPalmSprings podcast of 2020, she gave us a grave assessment of the pandemic’s impact first hand from the front lines. One in 1,000 Americans have now died of COVID-19. We also had a lot of fun saying a fond “F.U.” to the year from hell and had some laughs playing a new LGBTQ game.
Counter that with the movement to reopen our restaurants for outdoor dining in order to keep jobs and those very businesses alive. There’s a call to scrap the new park’s completion and funnel that money to local restaurants and retailers. What’s the right answer at this critical time?
At the very least, please support our locally-owned restaurants with carryout orders as often as you can afford. We offer a number of discounted gift cards on our HOT DEALS section. We want you to order above and beyond the face value of the gift cards and remember to tip well.
New year: new relationship? Our Fun & Games Dept. brings Alexander Rodriguez in to host Gay Virtual Speed Dating this Friday – see below for details! Don’t forget to follow us across social media and use the hashtags below to share the love!
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide
#ILoveGayPalmSprings
#ILoveGayCatCity
#ShopLocal and … #WeArePalmSprings
Gay Virtual Speed Dating for Men of ALL Ages Hosted by Alexander Rodriguez
The Fun & Games Dept of Gay Desert Guide and TheMenEvent.com present Gay Virtual Speed Dating for Men of ALL Ages Hosted by Alexander Rodriguez on Friday, January 8 at 7:00 p.m. Speed dating has never been more fun! We will make introductions, and you go on several short one-on-one dates (each lasting 5-6 minutes) then mingle with everyone with a fun game and have real conversation about dating. This event is exclusively for Gay men of ALL Ages (see our other speed dating events for other ages and themes). Get tickets
Wonder Woman 1984 Drive-In Experience
Mary Pickford Theatre – D’Place Entertainment presents one of the most highly-anticipated films of the year to experience on a big drive-in screen thru Thursday, January 7. Wonder Woman 1984 fast-forwards to the 1980s as Wonder Woman’s (Gal Gadot) next big screen adventure finds her facing an all-new foe: The Cheetah (Kristen Wiig). Watch the trailer, check showtimes, and get your tickets [here].
Modernism Week 2021 Tickets on Sale Now
Modernism Week 2021 has announced an exciting array of in-person events taking place April 8–18. Tickets for these events are available for purchase as of Friday, January 1 at 12:00 p.m. Events include home tours, the Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale and Modern Design Expo, walking architectural tours, an outdoor garden tour, talks, and other programs specifically designed to allow for social distancing and safety protocols. Newly-created online programs will also be offered during the Modernism Week Online Experience, February 1–28, as well as during the April festival dates. More info
Positive Life Series
The HIV+ Aging Research Project Palm Springs presents the Positive Life Series on Tuesday, January 5 from 6:00–8:00 p.m. on Zoom. This month’s topic: “Interacting with your Doctor”–a panel with patients & providers on the challenges of today’s healthcare environment. Registration required. More info
Marvelous Monologues from CVRep
To kickstart the new year, CVRep will present Marvelous Monologues on Thursday, January 7 at 7:00 p.m., the new time for their Theatre Thursdays. Join in for an evening of incredible monologues followed by a Q&A session, presented by actors who have previously graced the CVRep stage: Arah Mokhtar, Eric B Anthony, Ivy Jones, Andrea Gwynnel, Anna Nicholas, and Vince Gatton. More info
PALS Cafe Wednesdays
PALS (Planning Ahead for LGBTQ Seniors) CAFE is a virtual & completely safe place where you can enjoy a heaping piece of hearty laughter, lots of homemade conversations, and helpful insights while getting to virtually visit with many of your PALS. It’s for seniors and future seniors, for planning ahead prior to a health issue. Conversations create personal network; personal networks create a community that cares. Upcoming topics include:
- Wednesday, January 6 at 4:00 p.m. – Living authentically as LGBTQ
- Wednesday, January 13 at 4:00 p.m. – Spending time on hobbies and tinkering
- Wednesday, January 20 at 4:00 p.m. – COVID/Vaccine update by Dr. Rick Loftus
More info on PALS Cafe meetings [here].
A Walk in the Park with Shann Carr
On Saturday, January 9, 10:00 a.m., join Comedian Shann Carr for A Walk in the Park! Palm Springs’ DeMuth Park, that is. Do you actually have a spectrum of LGBTQ+ friends, or mostly friends from the same letter? If we wanna have community, we have to make community, so let’s have some fun doing it. Come walk distanced and masked, and be paired with a series of different people over a 1 hour, 2 mile loop in this Gay Desert Guide Fun & Games Dept event! More info
More Fun & Games Dept Events in January
Get your tickets now 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!
- Gay Virtual Speed Dating for Men of All Ages, hosted by Alexander Rodriguez – Fri Jan 8 at 7:00 p.m.
- A Walk in the Park with Comedian Shann Carr…Demuth Park That Is! – Sat Jan 9 at 10:00 a.m.
- Bowties and Bears Virtual Speed Dating, hosted by Alexander Rodriguez – Sun Jan 24 at 1:00 p.m.
- Gossipy Potluck and Recipe Swap with Comedian Shann Carr – Sun Jan 31 at 1:00 p.m.
- Star Trek Virtual Speed Dating for Men, hosted by Alexander Rodriguez – Wed Feb 3 at 6:00 p.m.
[the_ad_group id=”12644″]
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.
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 78
NSFW! Adults Only! Contains Graphic Language! We’re blowing up 2020 with F-bombs! John Taylor, comedian Shann Carr, Brad Fuhr of GayDesertGuide.com, Jimmy Boegle of CVIndependent.com, and Dr. Laura Rush give 2020 the boot! Sometimes sad, sometimes serious and sometimes silly, the year-end episode winds up with a round of the hilarious card game The Queer Agenda from fitzgames.com
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!
LOOKING AHEAD
Fun & Games: Inauguration Kick-Off Game Night
On Friday, January 15 at 6:00 p.m., the Fun & Games Dept of Gay Desert Guide and TheMenEvent.com present an Inauguration Kick-Off Game Night, hosted by Comedian Shann Carr on Zoom. This is a politics and cocktails version of our popular Big Gay Game Nights, celebrating the Pre-Inauguration of President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President Elect Kamala Harris! Shann will host a series of fun online games, with prizes for the winners. Get tickets
Fairy Tale Castles LGBTQ Palace Tour of Europe
Gay Desert Guide’s Fun & Game Dept. and TheMenEvent.com present a Fairy Tale Castles LGBTQ Palace Tour of Europe on Sunday, January 10 at 11:00 a.m. Come learn the LGBTQ stories behind some of Europe’s most spectacular castles and palaces on this 75-minute Zoom with Professor Andrew Lear. Castles and palaces are the stuff of dreams, and though they are often rather queeny, we tend to assume that their histories are straight. NOT!!! In fact, lots of castles and palaces have LGBTQ stories! Learn the secret stories behind the palaces of Roman Caesars, Renaissance papal nephews, Louis XIV’s brother, and more. Get tickets
Lesbian Artists of the Desert First Virtual Art Exhibit
On Sunday, January 10 at 10:00 a.m., Lesbian Artists of the Desert present their First Virtual Art Exhibit on Zoom. Eight artists will present a wide variety of pieces: from glass to photography and wire to paint, there will be something to interest everyone. Lesbian Artists of the Desert a growing group of local queer women artists that meet the second Sunday of the month for camaraderie, sharing, swapping, and showing our art. More info
Mental Amusements from Dezart Performs
The first live streaming event from Dezart Performs is set to begin Wednesday, January 13 at 7:00 p.m., when award-winning mentalist Vinny DePonto welcomes you to “Mental Amusements,” his magnificently crafted carnival designed exclusively for the virtual stage. Imagine having your mind controlled, your secret thoughts revealed and predictions made about your imminent future — all through the screen and from your own home! Performances run through January 31. Check out the trailer [here] and get tickets [here]
BNP Paribas Open Postponed
The 2021 BNP Paribas Open will not be held March 8–21 as originally scheduled. The tournament is proactively working with the ATP and WTA Tours as well as title sponsor BNP Paribas to confirm dates later in the year to hold the event. Details will be released in the near future as plans are finalized.