This Week in #ILoveGayPalmSprings: Remembering the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, Our statement against Measure C, Coffee Tasting, Interactive Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Cocktail Party, Sexual Health in a Fetish World, Center Social, Last chance to see the Warhol exhibit, and looking ahead: Memorial Day Weekend, Warm Sands Open House, and a new Marriage Equality documentary!
Harvey Milk's Memory Lives On
The 2018 Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast was held on Friday, May 18 in a sold-out ballroom at the Palm Springs Convention Center. With moving speeches by honorees Cleve Jones and Mandy Carter, and powerful displays of solidarity, the spirit of Harvey Milk was brought to life for future generations. Enthusiastic volunteers from Gay For Good Palm Springs were there to help with set up and tear down of the event too! (The official Harvey Milk Day this year is Tuesday, May 22.)
We Love Palm Springs
We rarely dip our toes in the water (or sand) on matters of politics or controversy. But with Measure C, I feel that the lifeblood of our tourist town is in jeopardy if it passes. That’s why I’m mentioning it in our blog this week and have been actively working on the No On C campaign.
I love Palm Springs and in my opinion, this is a ban on vacation rentals that have been a part of the accommodations we have been offering our tourists for decades. Tourists are our economy and I believe we will see a severe decline in what are now booming restaurants and stores.
Yes, there were issues with the enforcement of some problem houses. That all changed a year ago when very tough regulations were put in place. I keep reading in social media about party houses, but the city has transparent data records that don’t support these statements in the last year. They’ve either stopped being vacation rentals on their own or the city shut them down.
When we lose vacation rental tourists dollars, the city also loses more than it can cover and it’s proposing 8-13% department-wide cuts, or giving our no-kill animal shelter back to the county (not a no-kill facility), giving our library back to the county or some combination of these.
Measure C is bad for business, bad for our economy and sends the wrong message to those who are looking to visit.
Brad Fuhr
Gay Desert Guide
On Wednesday, May 23 from 5:00–7:00 p.m. the We Love Palm Springs – No on C campaign will be at 533 Viet Fusion during Happy Hour for food and drinks to unite supporters and raise funds for the campaign. Various support levels available. Space limited, RSVP requested. More info
Coffee Brewing & Tasting at Wabi Sabi
Join Wabi Sabi Japan Living on Wednesday, May 23 from 12:00–4:00 p.m. for demonstrations of the syphon and pour-over coffee brewing methods. Featuring Coachella Valley Coffee Company artisanal small batch roasted coffee beans. The demonstrations will run continually throughout the afternoon and, of course, will include tastings. Attendance and participation are free! More info
Priscillla Interactive Movie Event & Cocktail Party
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to watch Priscilla, Queen of the Desert in a Rocky Horror fashion style show? Wonder no more! Join the Among Friends Community on Wednesday, May 23 for this interactive movie event. The evening begins at 6:00 p.m. with a cocktail party featuring a Pop Up Drag show with DJ GALAXY spinning the hits, and an appearance by the giant glittering "Shoe Bus" by Rainbow RV. Hosts Bella da Ball and Manny the Movie Guy will introduce the film, starting at 8:00 p.m. This event will sell out, so… Get Tickets
50 Shades: Sexual Health in a Fetish World
Eisenhower Health and The Center present the latest in the Sexual Health and Wellness Lecture Series on Wednesday, May 23 at 5:30 p.m. Join Jonathan Bechard, MD, for a sex-positive discussion around common medical risks associated with fetish play, how to avoid them, how to talk about them with your doctor, and how to bring a health positive voice to your desires and exploration. This is a FREE event but space is limited. Registration is requested. More info
The Center Social – May 2018
The Center Social will be held this month at Toucans Tiki Lounge on Wednesday, May 23 at 5:30 p.m. Help create vibrant community by connecting with old friends and making new ones. More info
Valley Plumbing Celebrates 65 Years
On Thursday, May 24th, Valley Plumbing in Bermuda Dunes invites you to celebrate 65 years of service to the Coachella Valley community with two catered events: a morning celebration from 10:00 a.m. –12:00 p.m. with elected officials and dignitaries, plus facility tours. Then an evening celebration/mixer with facility tours from 5:00–7:00 p.m. Both events held at 78886 Avenue 41 in Bermuda Dunes. Please RSVP by May 21 to kathleen@resortmktg.com or (760) 416-0052
Warhol Exhibition After-Hours Celebration
If you haven't seen it yet, you're running out of time to take in Andy Warhol: Prints From The Collections Of Jordan D. Schnitzer and His Family Foundation. The exhibition officially closes on Monday, May 28. But first: this Friday, May 25, from 5 p.m. until midnight, the museum is hosting an after-hours party with J Minus spinning tunes, a cash bar and snacks by Dead or Alive Bar, giveaways, and a printmaking lab. The event is free to members and $5 for non-members. More info
Wine Tasting Promo Code for Gay Desert Guide Readers
On the Mark Fine Foods & Provisions is offering a special discount code for Gay Desert Guide readers! Use Promo Code GDG10 to get 10% off the price of admission to their UNWINED: An Elevated Wine Tasting Experience events on May 25, June 7, and June 21. The tasting includes an official "On The Mark" wine glass, where you can taste a range of 6-8 organic wines along with several hors d'oeuvres to elevate the tasting experience. More info
Memorial Day Weekend at Hunters
Get your Memorial Day Weekend plans ready, as @Dj Rockstar will be making his grand return to Hunters Nightclub on Friday, Saturday and Sunday May 25–28 also Dj John Joseph will be outside garden on Saturday 26 spinning the tunes. More info
A Walk on the Warm Side
Mark your calendars for Tuesday, June 5 from 4:00–7:00 p.m. when the Warm Sands Neighborhood Organization hosts the first-ever Walk on the Warm Side, an opportunity for locals to discover the neighborhood's hospitality gems. Stroll along quiet, palm tree fringed streets and choose which resorts you wish to visit from a map you will receive along with a wrist band at the registration table. Gay Desert Guide is the primary media sponsor of this special event! Your donation to participate ($10 suggested) will go to health and safety improvements in our community. Pre-Register Today
"US v Windsor" Film Comes to Palm Springs
The illuminating new documentary “To A More Perfect Union: U.S. V. Windsor” will be coming to 150 screens nationwide, beginning on June 7, 2018 with Los Angeles, New York, Chicago, San Francisco, D.C., Denver, Atlanta, Austin, Palm Springs, San Diego, etc. timed to the anniversary of this landmark Supreme Court decision. The film chronicles unlikely heroes — octogenarian Edie Windsor and her attorney, Roberta Kaplan, on their quest for justice. More info