Well slap me silly and butter my biscuits! We are through the Oscars, but the controversy surrounding that “slap seen ’round the world” will endure. As John Taylor highlighted on KGAY 106.5, it was a great night for LGBTQ+ women of color and that speech by Ariana DeBose brought tears to many of our collective eyes!
Speaking of women, I was honored to attend the L-Fund Starlight Soiree Saturday where we provided Melissa Etheridge tickets for the auction. I learned that The Dinah’s last hurrah is this week as the Chevron Open moves to Texas next year. But not to worry, Mariah Hansen still has the Club Skirts/Dinah Shore weekend in the fall. Remember to download our latest calendar of events from the homepage of Gay Desert Guide.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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KGAY 106.5 Welcomes Melissa Etheridge
KGAY 106.5 is proud to welcome iconic rocker and LGBTQ-trailblazer Melissa Etheridge to the McCallum Theatre on Tuesday & Wednesday, March 29 & 30 at 7 pm. Known widely for her commercial success with hits like “I’m the Only One,” “Come to My Window,” and “I Want to Come Over,” Melissa’s latest album (and the tour) is called One Way Out. The 9-track album is a collection of songs Etheridge wrote in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s that never made the cut….until now! The time is finally right, and fans will finally get a deeper glimpse to who Melissa was then. Get tickets
KGAY 106.5 is offering a special last-minute chance to win tickets to see Melissa! Come to Jolene’s in Palm Desert on Wednesday, March 30, opening at 4 pm with host Mina Hartong for a special afternoon of mixing & mingling with your gay and lesbian neighbors, and a drawing to win tickets to Melissa Etheridge performing at the McCallum Theatre that same night! Drawing to take place just after 6 pm, for the 7 pm show. More info
GrubHub, NGLCC, DBA Grants
GrubHub and the National LGBT Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC) are coming to the Coachella Valley to celebrate the resilience of LGBTQ business by presenting grants to six members of the Desert Business Association (DBA) on Monday, March 28 at 5 pm at Oscar’s. This special grant is meant to assist small and diverse restaurants and bars that serve food. We have six local recipients, including Hunter’s, Bouschet/PS Air, Wilma & Frieda, and Oscar’s in Palm Springs; and Runway and AMP Sports Lounge in Cathedral City. More info
Jack Daniel’s Premium Whiskey Tasting at The Purple Room
The Purple Room presents a special event, Brown Forman Jack Daniel’s Premium Whiskey Tasting on Monday, March 28 from 6–8 pm. Experience the best Brown Forman and Jack Daniel’s have to offer as they showcase some of their Premium Whiskey at ‘Frank’s Bourbon Bar’ located inside Purple Room Supper Club. More info
The Chevron Championship
The Chevron Championship takes place March 28–April 3 at the Mission Hills Country Club in Rancho Mirage. This is one of the five Major championships of professional women’s golf on the LPGA Tour. The official name of the trophy is “The Dinah Shore Trophy.” The trophy is named in honor of the television, film and recording star Dinah Shore, who was probably the single greatest influence in helping the Ladies Professional Golf Association achieve the prestige it enjoys today. More info
Glow in the Park: A Spring Lantern Festival
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens present Glow in the Park: A Spring Lantern Festival, open from 6:30–10 pm, nightly through April 29. This brand-new and larger-than-life illuminated experience will feature intricate, immersive, and truly awe-inspiring animal and nature-scape lantern creations representing wild places from around the globe. Dozens of displays featuring illuminated lanterns and light displays will create unforgettable moments and experiences. Get tickets
RuPaul’s Drag Race Recap: Season 14, Episode 12
Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent Dante Noto has recapped the latest episode from RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 14, and this week, the queens perform in the romantic “Moulin Ru: The Rusical.” Who will play the plum lead role of Saltine? “Bosco and Lady Camden.. put their four stilettoed feet down that they will not relinquish this star-making opportunity.” Find out how it all plays out! Read Dante’s full recap of Episode 12: Moulin Ru: The Rusical, [here].
Palm Springs International Dance Festival: “Time. Space. Energy.”
The Palm Springs International Dance Festival presents “Time. Space. Energy.” on Tuesday, March 29 at 7 pm. This program explores how the deepest natures of reality, as revealed by science, can be utterly strange and unintuitive. Much of the universe operates in ways far outside of our common sense. The familiar transforms into something quite unfamiliar. In this process, there is room for artistic exploration. This music ensemble also features vocals from our locally celebrated artists Raymond Del Barrio, Kellee McQuinn, and Christine Tringali Nunes. Social hour precedes the performance. Get tickets
Luminary Luncheon Honoring Michael Childers
CVRep presents a Luminary Luncheon honoring iconic and legendary photographer Michael Childers on Wednesday, March 30 at 12:00 pm at the Westin Mission Hills. Announcing this exclusive entertainment and fundraising event will be renowned voice-over artist Gary Shaw. Peter Daut, Weekday Anchor and Reporter at KESQ-TV, will interview Michael Childers. Guests will also hear from Stefanie Powers, Bob Mackie, Julie Garnye, Todd Schroeder, Greg Gorman and David Zippel. Get tickets
AARP Tax-Aide Assistance
The AARP Foundation provides free tax assistance to those who need it most through their Tax-Aide program, presented by the Mizell Center on Tuesdays through April 5. Schedule your 20-minute appointment by phone or in person at the Mizell Center; a limited number of time slots are available, so don’t delay in making your appointment! More info
Endeavor with Jase
Group fitness instructor Jase Nagaia presentes Endeavor, a low impact aerobic/body conditioning hybrid course for all ages and fitness levels on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7 am and Saturdays at 8 am at Demuth Park. This free class (donations optional) offers an inclusive, diverse and non-competitive environment, allowing you to focus on what’s most important, reaching your fitness goals. More info
Treating and Surviving a Stroke
Eisenhower Health and The Center present Treating and Surviving A Stroke on Wednesday, March 30 from 4–5 pm via Zoom. Join ”Al” Alfandy, NP for a discussion around optimizing your stroke recovery and quality of life. Stroke is a medical emergency that requires immediate attention. In the United States, about 800,000 people each year suffer a stroke and approximately two-thirds of these individuals survive and require rehabilitation. More info
Salton Sea Community Update
Help shape the future of the Salton Sea on Wednesday, March 30 from 6–8 pm by joining a virtual meeting to learn more about projects to protect air quality and revitalize the environment and discuss the State’s efforts in this area. The meeting will also include an overview of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and how it relates to the Salton Sea Management Program. More info
Streetbar Presents Billy Wilson as Carol Channing
Join Streetbar on Thursday, March 31 as they present Billy Wilson as Carol Channing. Come and enjoy the show and then stay for karaoke afterwards. Spring back with Carol! More info
Jazzville: The Jive Aces
Jazzville, the live jazz scene presented by Barry Martin/DJ Baz and Take Five, takes place at the vibrant Cascade Lounge inside Agua Caliente Casino in Palm Springs. Experience the hottest acts in jazz and step back in time to when all the cool cats came to play and put Palm Springs on the map! This Thursday, March 31 from 7–9 pm, it’s The Jive Aces, the U.K.’s number 1 jive & swing band, renowned worldwide for their high-energy spectacular showmanship. Cocktails, wine and delicious small bites will be available while bopping to the tunes of the evening. Get tickets
Palm Springs Comedy Mashup
On Thursday, March 31 at 9 pm, it’s the Palm Springs Comedy Mashup at The Heyday at the Hilton Palm Springs. This live comedy evening hosted by Maggie Hyde will feature Dawn Brodey, Craig Applbaum, Jessica Winther, Max Mitchell, Helen Shepard, Meryl Klemoow, JoLane Rae, Those Klein Boyz, Mattio Martinez and a surprise celebrity guest. Get tickets
Performing with Empathy
The LGBTQ Center of the Desert presents Performing With Empathy, an eight-week in-person program starting on Friday, April 1 from 1–4 pm. Facilitator Dr. Johnny Warriner will combine elements of acting, singing, and dancing, while engaging the psychological system of The Enneagram as the main focal point to this exciting and educational class. No performance skills are required, but rather, a strong desire to gain empathy toward others by delving into the fascinating dynamic of characterization. More info
Cathedral City Senior Center Rummage Sale
The Cathedral City Senior Center hosts their annual Rummage Sale on Saturday, April 2 from 8 am–12 pm. You will find all kinds of household items. Best of all, the proceeds of the sale help support senior center programming and operations. Have stuff you want to get rid of? Donate your items to the Senior Center and let them use the proceeds. Donations can be dropped off during regular business hours between 9 am and 5 pm on Thursday, March 31 and Friday, April 1. More info
LOCAL THEATRE
One Weekend Only: Cyrano de Bergerac
Palm Canyon Theatre presents Cyrano de Bergerac from March 31–April 3. Cyrano de Bergerac is a brash, strong-willed man of many talents. In addition to being a remarkable duelist, he is a gifted, joyful poet and is also a musical artist. However, he has an obnoxiously large nose, which causes him to doubt himself. This doubt prevents him from expressing his love for his distant cousin, the beautiful and intellectual Roxane, as he believes that his ugliness would prevent him the “dream of being loved by even an ugly woman. Get tickets
Every Brilliant Thing
Dezart Performs presents Every Brilliant Thing from April 1–10 at the Pearl McManus Theater. You’re six years old. Mom’s in the hospital. Dad says she’s “done something stupid.” She finds it hard to be happy. So you start to make a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything that’s worth living for. 1. Ice cream. 2. Kung Fu movies. 3. Burning things. 4. Laughing so hard you shoot milk out your nose. 5. Constructions cranes. 6. Me. You leave it on her pillow. You know she’s read it because she’s corrected your spelling. Soon, the list will take on a life of its own. A play about depression and the lengths we will go for those we love. Get tickets
Little Shop of Horrors
Desert Theatreworks presents Little Shop of Horrors, running through April 10. A deviously delicious musical send-up of ‘50s B movies, Little Shop of Horrors has devoured the hearts of theatergoers for more than 30 years, telling the story of a geeky florist shop worker who is secretly harboring a man-eating plant (voiced in this production by singing sensation Keisha D). His conundrum grows out of control as the sounds of early ’60s rock, doo-wop and Motown numbers fill the air. Get tickets
Palm Springs Musical – Born to Sparkle
The Desert Rose Playhouse presents Palm Springs Musical – Born to Sparkle through April 10. This world premiere is a brand new musical set in present day Palm Springs. Two passionate women leave their successful lives in Hollywood to fulfill a deathbed promise to revive The Fabulous Follies. With a colorful cast as diverse as Palm Springs itself, complete with a 7–foot-tall drag queen, this musical is clearly…Born to Sparkle! Get tickets
All This Intimacy
Desert Ensemble Theatre presents All This Intimacy by Rajiv Joseph through April 3. In this sex comedy gone wrong, Ty Greene is a normal guy with three very big problems. In an unprecedented (for him) run of promiscuity, Ty has managed to impregnate three women in the span of one week. As the women converge and figure out what’s happened, Ty realizes his life is adrift and that he only has a limited time to try to piece it back together. Get tickets
THIS WEEKEND
Palm Springs Escape
For four days, April 1–4, The Kimpton Rowan will be partnering with AN/A Brand Closet Showroom Social to transform the Palm Springs property into Palm Springs Escape, a first-of-its-kind spacious oasis filled with curated tranquility, wellness programs, sustainability-focused practices, and artistic creations from the best of LGBTQI artists, female and Black entrepreneurs, and enduring luxury goods. Guests will have complimentary access to a diverse range of classes (stargazing, wellness rituals, and artistry), sponsored product sampling, wine and spirits tastings, and an exclusive private showroom filled with art, jewelry, bespoke designers, and fashion. Get tickets
Faux Fur Ball – All You Need is Love
The Friends of the Palm Springs Animal Shelter present the return of their signature event, the Faux Fur Ball, on Saturday, April 2 starting at 6 pm with a welcome reception, craft cocktails, tantalizing bites reminiscent of the hipster days, and silent auction. At 7:30 pm, grab your love beads and head on over to the main event, an awards presentation and spirited live auction. Finally, get your groove on as cocktails continue to flow and the dance floor is open as cool vibes take you into the night. Proceeds provide critical funds to the shelter’s life-giving mission as the original public shelter in the Coachella Valley operating under the no-kill philosophy and giving compassionate care to all animals. Get tickets
Indian Wells Arts Festival
The Indian Wells Arts Festival takes place April 1–3, from 9 am–4 pm each day at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. Established in 2003, the Festival ranks as the nation’s 32nd Best Fine Arts Show from thousands, and has also been ranked as one of the nation’s Top 100 Best Fine Art Shows of the Decade. The show attracts upwards of 10,000 festival-goers each year with major collectors local to the desert cities and Southern California, and coming from as far abroad as Canada, Germany, and Sweden. This juried show limits its showcase of artists to 200 across an average of 30 categories of art. Get tickets
Salon Rouge “Ballroom Bash”
The Palm Springs Dance Festival presents Salon Rouge on Friday, April 1 from 6–7:30 p.m. This ballroom bash will feature the award-winning Nickerson-Rossi dance team and ballroom instructors Beverly Durand and Curtis Collins. Learn basic social dancing, hit the dance floor to strut your moves and be ready to move! Any level of dance is welcome. There will be also be a professional performance by Beverly and Curtis, and additional performances featuring dancers of the Coachella Valley. More info
Palm Springs Dance Festival Gala
The 2022 Gala performance of the Palm Springs Dance Festival will be Saturday, April 2 with a matinee performance at 3 pm and an evening performance at 7:30 pm, preceded by a reception at 6:30. Witness the beauty, power, and passion of Nickerson-Rossi Dance with their exceptional and eclectic 2022 line-up promising to entertain the most unforgiving of dance connoisseurs. With an audience of only 100, everyone feels like they have a front row seat! Line-Up includes: McKeever Dance Theatre (Palm Desert) performing Tap & Jazz, Rangoli Dance Company (Los Angeles) performing Classical Indian, Nickerson-Rossi Dance (Palm Springs) performing Modern Dance, and “The Chosen” Artist Fuse Dance Company (Orange County) performing in the Contemporary style. Get tickets
Cocktails & Dance Fundraiser for HER HRC
Palm Springs Crave presents Cocktails and Dance, a fundraiser for HER HRC on Saturday, April 2 from 7–10 pm at V Wine Lounge. Music will be provided by KGAY 106.5’s own DJ Galaxy. Come out and show your support for HER and HRC! More info
Western Xposure: Spring 2022
Western Xposure Spring 2022 Bear Weekend is March 31–April 4 at CCBC Resort. This is a free-flowing weekend event for the gay bear community, as well as the men who love and admire them. The chill atmosphere is meant for going at your own pace with the entire resort open 24 hours so you can just enjoy yourself. The beauty of Western Xposure events: You can go as hard or as easy as you want. Due to Covid they have scaled back some things but will still have a free lunch BBQ and DJ’s spinning all weekend poolside, with DJ Carrera, Bulldog, JPMe, and BoyShapedBox. Get tickets
Beautiful: The Carole King Musical
Back by popular demand, the Tony and Grammy Award-winning Broadway hit Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, returns to the McCallum Theatre for five performances, from Friday, April 1–Sunday, April 2. The show follows Brooklyn girl Carol Klein as she fights her way into the record business and eventually becomes the legendary and groundbreaking singer/songwriter Carole King. More info
Patricia Welch at Indian Wells Resort Hotel
Broadway Legend Patricia Welch performs a season farewell on Saturday, April 2 from 6–9 pm at Indian Wells Resort Hotel. While she continues to perform at other venues, galas, and special events in the Coachella Valley year-round, this will be the final performance to experience a unique dinner and show setting in the quaint IW Live restaurant and lounge. Welch is well-known for her starring roles and featured soloist acts with Robert Goulet, Yul Brynner, and Wayne Newton. Get tickets
On the Air at KGAY 106.5
KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide are proud to welcome Melissa Etheridge to the McCallum Theatre for her One Way Out tour on March 29 & 30, and we are giving away last-minute pair of tickets on Wednesday, March 30 for that night’s performance, during an LGBTQ Happy Hour at Jolene’s! More info
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! Brought to you by the John White Real Estate Group. Ask your smart speaker to “Play K-G-A-Y Palm Springs.”
- KGAY 106.5 Welcomes Melissa Etheridge
Tue. Mar. 29 & Wed. Mar. 30 at 7 pm at the McCallum Theatre - Little Shop of Horrors – presented by Desert Theatreworks
Mar. 18–Apr. 10 - Palm Springs The Musical: Born to Sparkle – presented by the Desert Rose Playhouse
Mar. 24–Apr. 10 - Palm Springs International Spring Dance Festival
Mar. 26– Apr. 2 at Nickerson-Rossi Dance Theater - Eisenhower Health’s Community Cancer Awareness Day
Thu. Mar. 31 from 5:30–6:30 pm on Zoom - MOGO Silent Disco Tours
Fri. and Sat. evenings, from 6:30 pm–7:45 pm in downtown Palm Springs - Indian Wells Arts Festival
Apr. 1–3 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden - Palm Springs Animal Shelter Faux Fur Ball – All You Need is Love
Sat. Apr. 2 at 6 pm at the Palm Springs Air Museum - Palm Springs Escape at the Kimpton Rowan
Apr. 1–4 - Rock the Park Concert: Kenny Metcalf as Elton The Early Years
Wed. Apr. 6 from 5:30–9 pm at the New Downtown Palm Springs Park - Every Brilliant Thing – presented by Dezart Performs
Apr. 1–10 at the Pearl McManus Theater - Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus Presents Razzle, Dazzle, Shine!
Fri. Apr. 8 at 7 pm at the Annenberg Theater - The Chase: The 28th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards
Sat. Apr. 9 from 5–10 pm - Modern Men Present Sounds of the 60s
Sat. & Sun., Apr. 23 & 24 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center
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!
