Palm Springs International Film Festival continues, plus: Positive Life Series, Maria Schafer Quartet, Beginner Tap, Nutrition and Aging, Own Your Future Workshop, a look ahead to the weekend and beyond!
Kristin Chenoweth to Headline Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards
Desert AIDS Project (DAP) has announced that Kristin Chenoweth will headline its 26th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards on Saturday, February 8 where Hank Plante, Garry Kief and Ambassador Deborah L Birx, M.D. will be honored for their work in removing roadblocks to human potential. Read more
Palm Springs International Film Festival Continues
The Palm Springs International Film Festival continues daily through Monday, January 13, celebrating excellence in film from around the world. It is one of the largest film festivals in North America, welcoming over 135,000 attendees each year for its lineup of new and celebrated international features and documentaries. Produced by the Palm Springs International Film Society, the Festival offers 12 days of events and film screenings featuring over 200 films from 60+ countries, with screenings at venues in Palm Springs and Cathedral City. Check out the Queer Cinema Today category among the film listings on the festival website. The full schedule is available online and passes or tickets to individual screenings are now on sale! Get screening tickets
Positive Life Series: Medicare Overview
The Positive Life Series is a monthly community HIV/AIDS seminar series presented by HIV+ Aging Research Project Palm Springs (H+ARP), and the topic for Tuesday, January 7 is “Overview of the Medicare Program,” presented by Brian Bilhartz of the Bilhartz Desert Insurance Agency. Light supper is served at 6:00 p.m. with program beginning at 6:30 p.m. in the Sinatra Auditorium at Desert Regional Medical Center. RSVP not required. More info
Beginner Tap at The Center
Keith Mottola‘s Beginner Tap class continues on Tuesday afternoons through the end of January, from 5:00–6:00 p.m. at the LGBT Community Center of the Desert. Come make some noise with your feet! Bring hard sole shoes before investing in tap shoes. More info
Aging, Eating, and Meds: Oh My
Come and join Bec McDorman, MS, RDN with Eisenhower Health for “Aging, Eating, and Meds: Oh My” on Wednesday, January 8 from 5:30–6:30 p.m. at the LGBT Community Center of the Desert for this informative talk to learn how to manage your diet to best fit your needs. As we get older we often end up on medications that can affect how and what we eat. Reservations requested. More info
Maria Schafer Quartet at Jazzville
Jazzville Palm Springs presents the Maria Schafer Quartet on Wednesday, January 8 from 7:00–9:30 p.m. at Wang’s in the Desert. She’s got a voice from the 40s with finger-snapping swing. To paraphrase a review: this Downbeat darling is just the right tonic for jaded jazz ears. Schafer comes in with a wildly swinging set that reminds you thrushes can walk the daddio line as well. Get tickets
Own Your Future! Workshop Series
The LGBT Community Center of The Desert and PALS – Planning Ahead for LGBTQ Seniors presents Own Your Future!, a series of workshops to create the documents needed to control your health care decisions and safeguard your assets. This Saturday, January 11, from 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. the topic is Health Care Directive – A legal document that (1) helps you make some proactive health care decisions about yourself and, (2) names a decision-maker who will advocate for you. Future topics: Durable Power of Attorney on Jan. 25 and The Will on Feb. 22. More info
THIS WEEKEND
Clint Holmes at the Purple Room
Las Vegas legend Clint Holmes performs at The Purple Room on Friday, January 10, accompanied by musical director Christian Tamburr. More than just a great singer, Holmes is a consummate entertainer, performer, recording artist, and one of the country’s finest vocalists. Whether he is singing selections from the Great American Songbook, contemporary classics, or stirring original pieces, every performance is a one-of-a-kind mesmerizing and unforgettable experience. Dinner at 6:00 p.m., Show at 8:00 p.m. Get tickets
Trish, Hans and Phil
If you like Manhattan Transfer, you’ll love Trish, Hans & Phil at the Purple Room on Saturday, January 11. In addition to their unique and superb musicianship, they bring with them a joyous and exhilarating sense of showmanship to the stage. They have a novel approach to The Great American Songbook classics, from Cole Porter and the Gershwins to Lennon and McCartney, with clever, three-part vocals! Dinner at 6:00 p.m., Show at 8:00 p.m. Get tickets
Bears on the Prowl: Happy Nude Year
Shed the stress of the holidays and celebrate in your birthday suit with the bears at CCBC Resort for Bears on the Prowl: Happy Nude Year, Friday through Sunday, January 10–12. Welcome the year 2020 all weekend with pool parties, happy hours, and late-night cruising. Check out the full schedule of events at our link: Get tickets
Book Launch: “The Day Before I Died”
On Saturday, January 11 at 9:30 a.m., meet the author and celebrate the launch of “The Day Before I Died”, an intensely personal memoir about overcoming the scars of war, disfigurement, emotional abuse, sexual orientation, and bullying, written by JF Whitaker. Meet and greet will be followed by a reading and book signing, at the LGBT Community Center of the Desert. More info
New Cowboy Night at Trunks
Palm Springs Rodeo is introducing Cowboy Night at Trunks, a monthly social & fundraising event with the best in continuous country-western music by acclaimed Trunks DJ Stephen, starting Saturday, January 11 at 7:30 p.m. For a $5 donation (or more) to Palm Springs Rodeo, enjoy any domestic draught or bottled beer for $2. There will also be other drink specials, a cash prize raffle, video from Palm Springs Hot Rodeo 2019, and a Barn Dance. More info
Snoop Dogg at The Show
The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa Rancho Mirage presents Snoop Dogg with Special Guest Warren G on Saturday, January 11 at 8:00 p.m. Snoop Dogg is one of the most recognizable faces and voices in the entire genre of hip-hop music. After decades of a successful music career, Snoop has branched into acting, appearing in several films and TV series and made investments in the burgeoning cannabis business with his own line of cannabis products launched in 2015. He has the distinction of having the most Grammy nominations of any musical artist (17 to date) without having won one. But as Snoop Dogg shows few signs of retiring, don’t write him off just yet. Get tickets
WEEKEND THEATRE
Daniel’s Husband premieres this week, along with Beehive, The 60’s Musical, and Camelot is coming soon!
Dezart Performs presents Daniel’s Husband, a new American drama by Michael McKeever, running from January 10–19. Daniel and Mitchell are the perfect couple. Perfect house, perfect friends – even a mother who wants them married. They’d have the perfect wedding, too, except that Mitchell doesn’t believe in gay marriage. A turn of events puts their perfect life in jeopardy, and Mitchell is thrust into a future where even his love may not prove to be enough, in this bold reflection of love, commitment, and family in our perilous new world. Get tickets
Desert Theatreworks presents Beehive, The 60’s Musical from January 10–26. Relive the heyday of pop queens like Aretha Franklin and Janis Joplin to glamorous girl groups like The Supremes and The Shirelles as Beehive pays tribute to a time on the charts when women artists were all the buzz. This retro revue is packed with timeless tunes like “My Boyfriend’s Back,” “One Fine Day” and “Respect,” as well as authentic costumes, and plenty of wigs! Get tickets
The Palm Canyon Theatre presents Camelot from January 17–February 9. An idealistic young King Arthur hopes to create a kingdom built on honor and dignity, embodied by his Knights of The Round Table. His ideals, however, are tested when his lovely queen, Guenevere, falls in love with the young Knight, Lancelot and the fate of the kingdom hangs in the balance. Music by Lerner and Lowe with such songs as “If Ever I Would Leave You,” “I Loved You Once in Silence,” “The Lusty Month of May,” and of course, “Camelot.” Get tickets
LOOKING AHEAD
Acqua Monday Musicals: “The Fantasticks” – Jan. 13–Feb. 10
The City of Rancho Mirage presents the world’s longest-running musical, “The Fantasticks,” on Monday evenings at 6:00 p.m. from January 13 through February 10 at Acqua California Bistro. Starring alumni of David Green’s Musical Theatre University, Broadway “friend” Sal Mistretta (Evita and Sweeney Todd) and more. You get an entertaining show and delicious 3-course dinner all for $54.50. Doors open to Acqua’s gorgeous river room at 5:00 p.m. Make reservations
New Support Group: Adult Adoptees
The LGBT Community Center of the Desert presents a peer support group for Adult Adoptees, on the second Monday of every month, from 3:00–5:00 p.m. The experience of being an adoptee is incredibly unique. Adult adoptees can face challenges, questions, and difficulties that other adults may not be able to identify with. Having the support of a community with similar experiences can be incredibly healing and rewarding for adoptees. More info
Walk of the Stars Honors Keisha D – Jan. 17
The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce, City of Palm Springs, and fans alike will gather to honor Keisha D as she receives the 438th star on the Walk of Stars on Friday, January 17 at 11:00 a.m. at 193 S. Palm Canyon Drive. Keisha is a popular performer in the Coachella Valley’s vibrant music scene for the last 11 years performing at all of the best spots including Wang’s in the Desert, the Purple Room, Chill Bar, AMP Sports Lounge, on the festival stage at Palm Springs Pride and that’s just naming a few. More info
Ray Parker Jr. at Grooves at the Westin – Jan. 18
Ray Parker Jr. performs for the first time at Grooves at the Westin along with special guest Kevin Toney on Saturday, January 18 from 7:00–9:30 p.m. The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa is calling all Ghostbusters fans, as Parker will performing his hit song “Ghostbusters” along with some of his other hits. The resort will be holding a Ghostbusters costume contest and the winner will win a one night stay and a meal at Pinzimini complimentary of the resort. Get tickets
The Center’s Info-A-Go-Go 2020 – Jan. 22
Looking for just the right place to get plugged in and involved in the local LGBT community in the new year? Save the date for Info-A-Go-Go 2020, on Wednesday January 22 from 3:00–6:00 p.m. at the Riviera Hotel. Meet representatives from LGBTQ clubs and organizations across the community and discover where you want branch out in 2020! More info