WGA and SAG-AFTRA’s strike may have a chilling effect or worse for the 2024 Palm Springs International Film Festival, according to an article in the The Desert Sun. While festival passes go on sale this week, the strikes are showing little signs of settlement. Both sides know the clock is ticking for not only our film festival, but for other awards shows.
I saw WGA member and photog extraordinaire David A. Lee at last week’s Center Social. He and his husband Daniel Vaillancourt (a frequent private commenter on my blogs) have been protesting and commented for the story. Streaming is the main sticking point and rightly so!
Speaking of the Center Social, I’m proud to announce the next event will be at Hunters Nightclub on Wednesday, August 23rd. Jennifer Seymour’s storied bar is celebrating its 25th anniversary and Gay Desert Guide turns 10. We’ll also be welcoming back Mike Thompson as CEO of The Center that night. I hope you’ll join us!
And the elephant in the room is what happened with Boyz Night Out at Hotel Zoso. The good news is that our DJ Galaxy won’t miss a proverbial beat, and will be at The Sonoran (formerly AsiaSF) again this Friday.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Tears for Fears – The Tipping Point Tour Part II
Tears For Fears: Roland Orzabal and Curt Smith with special guest Cold War Kids bring The Tipping Point Tour Part II to Acrisure Arena on Tuesday, August 1 at 7:30 pm. Tears For Fears are one of the most iconic bands of the ‘80s, selling over 30 million albums worldwide with singles such as “Shout,” “Everybody Wants To Rule The World,” “Mad World,” “Sowing The Seeds Of Love,” and “Woman In Chains” acknowledged as classics. In 2022, the band released their latest studio album, The Tipping Point, which garnered critical acclaim and has already become a fan favorite. Get tickets
Modernism Week October Tickets on Sale Aug. 1
Tickets will go on sale Tuesday, August 1, at 12 noon for Modernism Week – October, the Fall Edition of Modernism Week, the annual festival that highlights midcentury modern architecture, art, interior and landscape design. This mini-Modernism Week event runs October 19–22, offering nearly 50 events over four days, including many free and low-cost programs. In addition to beloved returning favorites, there are many new events slated for the October festival, including: “Legendary Palm Springs Commercial Architecture Bus Tour,” “Desert Glamour: The Crockett Residence Tour,” “Celebrate the Restoration of the Iconic Plaza Theatre,” and more! Get tickets
PrimeTimers of the Desert Weekly Mixer
The PrimeTimers of the Desert welcome you to their weekly mixer with mature gay males and their admirers on Monday, July 31 from 5–7 pm. Enjoy a drink in a relaxed environment. Escena is the perfect establishment for this. PrimeTimers of the Desert is a social club for mature gay males, providing opportunities for its members to meet, socialize and make new friends. More info
OutBook Club August Meeting
The Palm Springs Cultural Center and the Palm Springs Public Library present the OutBook Book Club on the first Wednesday of the month from 6:30–8:30 pm (with the first half hour being a social mixer) in the upstairs VIP room at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Selections are chosen by group members and highlight a mix of new LGBTQ+ releases and influential classics. The selection for the Wednesday, August 2 meeting is Palimpsest: A Memoir by Gore Vidal. More info
CVRep Summer Cabaret Series: Glenn Rosenblum
CVRep presents their Summer Cabaret Series on Thursdays at 7 pm, and this week, it’s Broadway Showstoppers with Glenn Rosenblum and Friends on Thursday, August 3. Rosenblum is a cabaret star and entertainment storyteller, and welcomes special guests Broadway’s Alix Korey and award-winning Broadway and Hollywood actor, director, choreographer, acting coach and writer Joshua Finkel to perform iconic songs that have made Broadway great. See our event listing to see the variety of talent lined up in this series: Get tickets
Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage
Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage 2023 is going on now through August 13. For just $10, your event wristband opens up a world of exclusive summer specials at participating Rancho Mirage restaurants so you can savor the best of the Rancho Mirage culinary scene, such as Willie’s Modern Fare, Ben & Jerry’s, Brandini Toffee, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Maracas Mexican Cantina & Grill, Pastry Swan, Waters Cafe, and many more. See our event listing for a link to the full list of participating restaurants and their exclusive Taste of Summer offers. Wristbands can be picked up at a variety of local non-profits. More info
Vote for Mitch! – Favorite Chef
Palm Springs’ own Mitchell Battersby made it to the quarterfinals in the prestigious Favorite Chef competition, presented by celebrity chef Carla Hall. In this tournament-style competition, competitors go through rounds, and those with the most votes in those rounds move on. To win Favorite Chef, one must leverage the power of social media and word-of-mouth advertising to garner the support of the public to vote. From a humble group of over 100 talented chefs, Mitch has challenged himself to prove time and again that his culinary skills are unrivaled. As he continues to work toward the finals, you can help Mitch win by voting daily, and if he wins the competition, he’s donating $5,000 to Palm Springs Pride to help keep Pride free for everyone. Vote today
Country Dance Fridays
Dance Ranch Palm Springs presents Country Dance Fridays, a great night of country western dancing, including two-step, waltz, shadow, East and West Coast swing and line dances, every Friday from 7–9:30 pm at Step by Step. The dance lesson is at 7 pm with dancing from 7:30–9:30. Dance Ranch Palm Springs is a country western dance group serving the LGBTQ+ community and its friends. Country dancers of all levels are welcome. More info
Lazy Bear Week
Lazy Bear Fund, Inc. presents their annual signature event, Lazy Bear Week, from Monday, July 31–Monday, August 7 in Guerneville, the heart of Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley. This is one of the largest and most successful bear gatherings in the world, going for over 25 years. Attendees enjoy pool parties, dance parties, campfires, live entertainment and amazing DJs. Most Lazy Bear Week revelers stay in local lodges, campgrounds and cabins, or avail themselves of any number of options in nearby towns and cities. More info P.S. Don’t forget to stop by and support Equality Vines, the LGBTQ+ operated tasting room in the downtown corridor.
Indio Food Truck Fridays
The City of Indio presents a weekly Food Truck Fridays event, from 5–10 pm at Towne Street and Bliss Avenue. Check out the array of food served by the finest food trucks in the area, including Mariscos El Berrinche, Tacos al 100, Nick’s Pizza, Krazy Daisy, Pupuseria 503, Cool Cactus Candles, the Green Truck, and many more! Regardless of what you are craving, Food Truck Fridays has you covered. More info
PALS Death Cafe
PALS (Planning Ahead for LGBTQ Seniors) presents a Death Cafe on Thursday, August 3 from 2–3 pm on Zoom. A Death Cafe is a group-led open conversation about death and dying; and in doing so to live life more fully. It is not a counseling or bereavement group; and there is no agenda, specified topics, or designated outcomes. Join the conversation. Bring your curiosity and questions and engage in a discussion about the aspects of death and dying that interest you. More info
Palm Springs Public Library Passport Fair
The Palm Springs Public Library is having a Passport Fair on Saturday, August 5 from 10 am–4 pm for people who need to apply for a passport for the first time. (No renewals). Just bring your completed paperwork, proof of citizenship, and identification. Staff will review all documentation and once complete will submit your application to the State Department for processing. To learn more about the needed forms, acceptable forms of identification, and fees, go to the library’s website prior to your visit. Passport photos are also available at the library for an additional fee (proceeds to benefit the Friends of the Palm Springs Library). More info
THIS WEEKEND
Long Beach Pride
Long Beach Pride takes place Friday–Sunday, August 4–6 at Marina Green. The three-day event features the famous Long Beach Pride™ parade, live music by headline artists Mya, Laura Leon, Edith Márquez, La Diva Lucia Mendez, and Symon and many more favorites, with a Fiesta Caliente Stage, Urban Soul Stage, Country Stage and Dance Stage, plus food and drink, 150+ arts/crafts vendors, DJ’s and dancing, drag shows, parade, games, giveaways and more. The parade goes down E. Ocean Blvd from 10:30 am to 1 pm on Sunday, August 6. More info
Beneath the Desert Sky: Barrett Martin
The Joshua Tree National Park Association presents Barrett Martin’s One Man Show on Saturday, August 5 from 7:30 to 9 pm at Indian Cove in Joshua Tree National Park. The show features an enthralling combination of storytelling, film, and live musical performances by the Grammy-winning producer, author, and esteemed drummer of Screaming Trees, Mad Season, and Tuatara. Barrett also holds a master’s degree in ethnomusicology and linguistics and has studied and practiced Zen for over 25 years. This extraordinary event promises to take you on a captivating journey around the world of music. Get tickets
Broadway to the BIG SCREEN – Little Shop of Horrors
Every Saturday this summer, the Palm Springs Cultural Center presents the great musicals that made it from Broadway to the BIG SCREEN (and sometimes back again). On Saturday, August 5 at 4 pm, the featured film is Little Shop of Horrors. When a hungry space alien meets a nerdy florist, the result is a tale filled with home grown horror, side eye humor and some great B Movie music. The action happens in skid-row, where meek flower shop assistant Seymour (Rick Moranis) pines for co-worker Audrey (Ellen Greene). During a total eclipse, he discovers an unusual plant he names Audrey II, which attracts the attention of everyone including Audrey! The growing plant also attracts a great deal of business to the previously struggling flower shop, but it’s growing appetite for human flesh and blood threatens everyone’s idea of a happy ending! MeTV 103.1 fm is a proud media sponsor of the Broadway to the BIG SCREEN Film Series! Get tickets
Sing Along With Us – Singin’ in the Rain
The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents classic movie musicals in the Sing Along With Us Film Series all summer long, on the largest screen in the valley at the Historic Camelot Theatre. The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus will lead the singing. On Sunday, August 6 at 3 pm, come sing along to Singin’ in the Rain. In this beloved musical, a silent film star falls for a chorus girl just as he and his delusionally jealous screen partner are trying to make the difficult transition to talking pictures in 1920s Hollywood. Gay Desert Guide and KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs are proud media sponsors of the Sing Along With Us This Summer Film Series! Get tickets
🙌 You can enter to win tickets to Sing Along With Us on the KGAY Contest Page! 🙌
Visitor Map & Guide Summer Edition
The Summer 2023 edition of our Gay Desert Guide Visitor Map & Guide (great for locals too) is available now around town and online! We help you find everything you need to know while visiting or living in the Coachella Valley, featuring the top places for Food & Drink, Nightlife, Shopping, Attractions, Gay Resorts with passes, Dispensaries and other services. You can also view it online, and download the PDF [here].
LOOKING AHEAD
The Purple Room Autumn Season Opens Labor Day Weekend
The Purple Room Supper Club is bringing back favorites and some new names too for their Autumn Season, including season opener Debby Boone in her first performance at the Purple Room on Labor Day Weekend. The fall season features performances from Brenna Whitaker, Debby Holiday as Tina Turner, Jonathan Karrant, Sharon McNight, Meghan Murphy, Lorna Luft, The Black Market Trust, Lee Squared, Liz Callaway and more. Tickets go on sale Monday, July 31. More info
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Annual Maintenance Closure
The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will close for annual maintenance beginning Monday, August 7, with a tentative reopening date of Friday, September 1. This is a time for the Tramway to perform annual State-permit testing, as well as updating control systems, rebuilding the gearbox and testing the cables. The last day to ride the Tram before the annual maintenance closure is Sunday, August 6. More Tram Info
Dezart Performs New Season Packages Now Available
New Season Packages are now on sale for Dezart Performs‘ upcoming 16th season of theatre, featuring a Pulitzer Finalist, Drama Critics Circle Award Winner, and a first ever Broadway play written by a Native American. The season will consist of The Thanksgiving Play (November 3–12), What the Constitution Means to Me (January 19–28), A Case For the Existence of God (March 1–10), and Mr Parker (April 12–21). Season Flex passes are also now available and new Sunday evening performances have been added. Single show tickets will go on sale September 12. Read here for a synopsis of each play and purchase season packages here.
Click below to sign up for our Gay Desert Guide Oasis Insiders Newsletter to get our Weekly Blog, Top 3 Events for the weekend, Hot Deals and Cool Events all delivered to your inbox every Friday!
On the Air: KGAY 106.5
Win Big Bear ROMP Passes
You can WIN a pair of Big Bear ROMP 2023 Weekend Passes with KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide! You’ll find mountains of men and mischief this August 17–20 at The Lodge at Big Bear Lake. Big Bear ROMP is one of southern California’s most unique weekend events for eight years running, featuring 15-plus hours of pool parties, dance parties, glow bowling, bitchy bingo brunch and other great social events in the cool mountain air. This year’s comedy headliner is Taylor Williamson from America’s Got Talent. Enter to win passes on the KGAY Contest Page!
Win Tickets to Out on the Mountain
KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide have your tickets to Out on the Mountain, taking place Friday August 18 at Six Flags Magic Mountain! Get your gay thrills on with lots of rides, dance music, and entertainment. It’s the annual Six Flags Magic Mountain private party for the LGBTQ community. Enjoy a full park private party of entertainment and inclusive fun for 5,000+ LGBTQ and friends from 6 pm–12 am , as well as with general public from 10:30 am–6 pm. Enter to win on the KGAY Contest Page!
Vacaya Resort Sweepstakes
You can WIN 7 nights at an all-inclusive resort vacation for 2 during VACAYA’s Mexico Resort Takeover! The complimentary room includes: Beautiful accommodations for 7 nights at Hilton Vallarta Riviera, unlimited standard drinks for length of stay, delicious food in 7 restaurants, including a bountiful buffet open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, plus a fitness center, pool and beach volleyball, kayaking & snorkeling on site, yoga classes, and of course, all the VACAYA signature activities, parties, and entertainment! SIGN UP TO WIN
Win Summer Sing Along Tickets
Musicals are back on the big screen this summer at the Palm Springs Cultural Center and you can WIN tickets from KGAY 106.5 & Gay Desert Guide! Your favorite Broadway musicals that made it on the big screen are on the biggest screen in the valley (with hot buttered popcorn and your favorite beverage) on Sundays at 3 pm, with the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus leading the Sing Along. More information on the series here and you can enter to win tickets on the KGAY Contest Page!
The KGAY 106.5 Retro Lunch airs Monday through Friday at noon, with DJ Galaxy (Vincent Corrales) and DJ Eric Ornelas playing an hour of their high-energy throwback mixes. On Sundays, we put all five hours together for the Retro Sunday Brunch from 11 am–4 pm. Perfect party music! Listen Online.
The KGAY Sunday Tea Dance with DJ Modgirl airs every Sunday from 4–6 pm (right after the Retro Brunch). DJ Modgirl (AKA Kellee McQuinn) is all about “Music! Dancing! Fashion! Fun!” and she throws down the most irresistible, uplifting beats each week! Listen online. She’s also appearing at The Rowan Window Bar on Thursday from 7–10 pm.
On the Air: 103.1 MeTV fm
103.1 MeTV fm is KGAY’s sister station, featuring a unique mix of timeless and memorable music incorporating a wide variety of classic hits, deep tracks and softer sounds spanning several decades of popular music, including the ‘60s and ‘70s with a touch of the ‘50s and ‘80s. Listen online
- Vote for Mitch – Favorite Chef Mitchell Battersby
Daily voting through Aug 7 - Big Bear Romp 2023
Aug 17–20 at The Lodge at Big Bear Lake - Out on the Mountain 2023
Fri. Aug 18 from 6 pm–12 am at Six Flags Magic Mountain - Odesza -The Last Goodbye Tour
Wed. Sep 20 at 6:30 pm at Acrisure Arena - Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend
Sep 20–24 at Margaritaville Resort - Pride Under the Pines 2023
Sat. Oct 7 from 12–9 pm in Idyllwild - Palm Springs Modernism Fall Show
Fri.–Sun. Oct 20–22 at the Palm Springs Convention Center - Madonna -The Celebration Tour
Thu. Jan 11 at 8:30 pm at Acrisure Arena
Welcome New Partners!
At Desert Zen Day Spa they will help you relax, renew and rejuvenate. They offer full spa services for men and women: tanning, massages, facials, body scrubs and all waxing services for men and women, including Manzilians and Brazilians. Their state-licensed and board-certified team has over 21 years of experience. Visit them in Bermuda Dunes or check out their website. Learn more
At SEEK Personnel Staffing, their clients and candidates are at the heart of everything they do. Their mission is to provide the best possible staffing solutions, ensuring that their clients find the top talent they need to succeed, and that candidates find fulfilling and rewarding careers. So if you’re looking for a job or if you’re looking to hire, Coachella Valley’s Talent Matchmaker is SEEK Personnel Staffing.com. Learn more
- Restaurant News Bites: Go Taste Summer in Rancho Mirage; Luchow’s Closes Again; and More!
- ‘Barbie’ Is the Wonderful Summer Comedy We All Needed
- Meet Lisa Vossler Smith, the Modernism Week CEO Creating a Magical Miniature Barbie World in Palm Springs
- ‘I’m Home’: Mike Thompson Returns as CEO, Executive Director of The Center
- Outfest 2023: And the Winners Are…
Boozehounds is an expansive restaurant and lounge featuring a dog-friendly open-air atrium, along with a cabana bar and patio. The main indoor dining room, main bar, and lounge face the picturesque San Jacinto Mountain Range. Their Southern California menu with a Japanese influence consists of locally sourced and seasonal ingredients that can be paired with a large selection of specialized beers, wine, and unique craft cocktails. You can save big at Boozehounds with our HOT DEAL: Get a $50 gift card for just $35! Get Your Deal
We also have Hot Deals at Destination PSP, Rick’s Desert Grill, Hunters Nightclub, Trevor Wayne Pop Art, Kitchen 86, Coachella Valley Coffee Co., Palm Springs Fine Men’s Salon, Papa Dan’s Pizza and Pasta, Men’s Grooming Spot, V Wine Lounge & Martini Bar, Desert Mischief, Jolene’s Bar & Lounge, Zin American Bistro and more! See All Deals
Find out what’s happening on any given day by browsing our Gay Desert Guide Online Event Listing Calendar, and for the big picture, take a look at major upcoming events in our 2023 Coachella Valley Calendar of Events.
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, followed by DJ Modgirl spinning the KGAY Sunday Tea Dance from 4–6 pm.
Don’t miss “This Way Out,” Sundays at 6:30 a.m. on KGAY 106.5. “This Way Out” is the only internationally distributed weekly LGBTQ radio program, currently airing on some 200 local community radio stations around the world. Listen to the latest episode as a podcast on our streaming page (click “Podcasts” in the upper right hand corner)