If you’re a “local” – and that term has expanded in scope since COVID – you know to relish this weather we’re having. Cool nights give way to breezy hot (but not too hot) days. Enjoy while it’s below 120…
Off we go into Memorial Day weekend with lots going on in #ILoveGayPalmSprings. Keep up with everything when you listen to KGAYPalmSprings.com at 106.5 FM or online and with us here at Gay Desert Guide.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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RuPaul Recaps are Back for All-Stars Season 7!
Our Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent, Dante Noto, is fresh off his trip to RuPaul’s DragCon and back on the beat of recapping the latest season: RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 7, which premiered last Friday with two brand-new episodes dropped at once! As Dante put it, “In a television event dreamed about for years, the long-awaited All Winners Season is upon us. Eight previous winners of Drag Race and All Stars will compete in All Stars season 7 for the title of “Queen of All Queens.” Check out his recaps of both new episodes: Episode 1: Legends, in which we meet the queens in contention for the title, and Episode 2: Snatch Game, where the queens are tasked with not one but two celebrity impersonations each! See all of Dante’s RuPaul Recaps [here].
Mae West Double Feature at Desert Rose Playhouse
The Desert Rose Playhouse presents Mae West Double Feature: Sex and The Drag from May 25–June 5. The play that brought Mae West to the world after her arrest made national news, Sex premiered in 1926, and was deemed by a grand jury to be such “obscene, indecent, immoral, and impure drama” that it might corrupt “the morals of youth.” This forward-thinking work centers around Margy LaMont, a sharp-witted sex worker who struggles to find a better life. The Drag opened in out-of-town previews in 1927 in New Jersey and Connecticut, but was later forced to close for its portrayal of homosexuality and cross-dressing. West claimed that the inspiration behind the play came from the homosexual young men that she knew around that time who, according to her, desperately wanted to be open about their relationships with their male companions. The final scene consists of a giant Drag Ball. Get tickets
May Center Social at The Saguaro
Join the LGBTQ Center of the Desert for their monthly Center Social at The Saguaro Palm Springs on Wednesday, May 25, from 5:30–7 pm. Look forward to community vibes, connection, and a tasty happy hour. Media partner Coachella Valley Independent (CVI) is co-sponsoring this month. More info
Tourism Foundation Golf Tournament
The second annual Tourism Foundation Golf Tournament will take place Wednesday, May 25 from 11 am–8 pm at the PGA West Greg Norman Course in La Quinta. Enjoy a fun afternoon of golf followed by a reception with awards, silent auction, raffle and more to raise much needed funds for student scholarships and training for those in the hospitality industry. More info
I Heart Mac & Cheese Job Fair
I Heart Mac & Cheese, a fast-casual restaurant concept that offers traditional mac & cheese, and sandwiches with health-conscious options, announced that the new Palm Springs location will hold a drop-in job fair on Wednesday, May 25 from 8 am–4 pm in the executive suites next door to Koffi Central. They are looking to fill potentially 50 positions and are committed to providing opportunities for applicants that are often overlooked, including people with special needs, seniors, veterans, people on Social Security, and people from ‘second chance’ programs including persons who have previous criminal convictions. More info
Palm Springs Art Museum: Current Exhibits
The Palm Springs Art Museum is always a great option for indoor adventures on a sizzling summer (or summer-like) day, open from Thursday through Sunday from 10 am–5 pm, plus extended hours to 7 pm on Thursdays. Current shows include: Mexican artist Gonzalo Lebrija‘s “Miracle of the Eternal Present,” running through October 2 and Modern Mexican Art Beyond Borders: Selection of Works on Paper from the Collection runs through July. The Palm Springs Art Museum Architecture and Design Center (open the same hours) presents Pattern Play: The Contemporary Designs of Jacqueline Groag through November 20, and the work of the innovative painter Leon Polk Smith is on display at the main museum through August 28. Visitors are recommended to make reservations online before arriving at the museum. Free admission during Thursday’s extended hours of 5–7 pm is first come first served.
This Week at The Alibi
The Alibi Palm Springs is a great place to go for music, food & cocktails, with fresh entertainment every week. On Wednesday, May 25, Joshua Ray Walker takes the stage at 8 pm, and Friday, May 27 it’s An Evening with Hermanos Gutierrez at 9 pm. Sunday, May 29 has Friends in Low Places present Rob Leines + Lasers Lasers Birmingham, Nick Mudd and Ben Reddell at 5 pm and on Monday, May 30 (Memorial Day) it’s Planet Booty at 8 pm. Get tickets
Theatre Thursdays Live on Stage at CVRep
CVRep’s Theatre Thursdays are back, and they are no longer Zoom events, back to being “Live on Stage.” Come see a different cabaret, concert or entertaining event each Thursday at 7 pm through September 1. This week (Thursday, May 26) Eileen Barnett performs “You Must Believe in Spring.” Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh has a preview of some highlights of this series [here], and see our event listing for the full lineup of performers! Order ahead and save with 5 shows for the price of 4. Get tickets
Palm Desert Concerts in the Park
The City of Palm Desert is hosting a series of free, weekly concerts at the Palm Desert Civic Center Park amphitheater, wrapping up the series on Thursday, May 26 from 6:30–8 pm when Legends of Classic Rock take the stage. There will be plenty of free parking, food trucks, and games for kids. More info
2022 LGBTQ Community Survey
Please take part in the Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) 16th Annual LGBTQ Community Survey! Participation in this survey gives important feedback to our LGBTQ community media and organizations, and provides data to companies interested in serving our community, sponsoring our charities, and supporting their LGBTQ employees. The survey should take about 12 to 15 minutes to complete. Make your voice heard!
[Click here to take the survey]
Click it or Ticket
This year’s Click it or Ticket campaign is from Monday, May 23–Sunday, June 5. During this time, the Palm Springs Police Department will have additional officers on patrol actively looking for drivers and passengers who are not wearing a seat belt. This includes vehicles where children are not secured in child safety seats. Buckle up!
THIS MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND
Desertopia
Desertopia returns for a second year for Memorial Day Weekend, May 27–29, at Infusion Beach Club and spilling out to AsiaSF and Chill Bar. This “very queer celebration of music, dance, and art” is a uniquely Palm Springs experience: a caftan-laden pool party, a club night of extravagant proportions and an outdoor afternoon festival featuring the finest in queer talent and music under the sun and stars in the majestic backdrop of Mt San Jacinto. See our event listing for the full rundown of pool parties and nightlife events! Get tickets
Pioneertown International Film Festival
The Pioneertown International Film Festival will take place May 27–29 at various locations around Pioneertown. This celebration of Western and Indie cinema in an iconic town, brings the past into the present with a BANG and a WHINNY. Former Sundance programmer Todd Luoto has curated a collection of new and classic western films including the opener, The Last Manhunt, produced by Jason Momoa (Aquaman) along with live music, and special presentations such as spotlighting Native Americans in “The Indigenous Image in Westerns.” Get tickets
Betti & Bruce: Trapped in Palm Springs
Betti & Bruce: Trapped in Palm Springs! will debut on Friday, May 27 at 7 pm at Oscar’s. Betti Blumenthal & Bruce Delmonico are world-renowned lounge singers, an old school singing, dancing, schtick-ing, oversharing, and over-belting nightclub act that have played every music hall, mega church and steak joint you can think of. Merging high class singing with low brow musical comedy chops, Los Angeles based performers Rayna Hickman and Jason Winfield pay ridiculous homage to lounge and nightclub acts of old with their alter egos, Betti & Bruce, who are sure to make you spritz your pants, gaze in wonder and possibly ask for more. Get tickets
Memorial Day Air Fair and Flower Drop
The Palm Springs Air Museum presents their annual Memorial Day Air Fair and Flower Drop on Monday, May 30 from 10 am–5 pm. A brief memorial service at 1 pm is dedicated to all of our fallen comrades. In their honor, the service includes a fly-by and flower drop of over 3,000 red and white carnations from a CH-47 Chinook Helicopter. Visitors are welcome to pick up a flower to take home. Flight exhibitions & activities are scheduled all day long, plus music from Heatwave Jazz Band, food for sale, plane rides and more. Get tickets
Purple Reign: The Prince Tribute Show
The Show at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage presents Purple Reign: The Prince Tribute Show on Saturday, May 28 at 8 pm. Featuring Jason Tenner as Prince, Purple Reign captures the imagination and seamlessly re-creates the blistering performances and raw energy of prince in his prime and returns you to the era that made “the artist” an international superstar. Featuring a tribute to Morris Day and the Time, this show is a must-see for “Purple Rain” movie fans and all live music fans alike! Get tickets
The Mis-Adventures of Sherlock Holmes
Desert Theatreworks is presenting a Summer Full of Fun with shows on Sundays. First up is The Mis-Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, on Sunday, May 29 at 2:00 pm. This live radio play of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous sleuth is a behind-the-scenes old fashioned radio show that pairs an exhilarating murder mystery with backstage antics, radio jingles and live sound effects to bring this exciting mystery to life. Future shows include Old Jews Telling Jokes on June 5, 12, 19, & 26, and The Carol Burnett Show Live on Stage on July 10, 17, 24, & 31. Get tickets
CalComMen Pool Party
Join the always-wonderful men of CalComMen at their first Pool Party of the year on Sunday, May 29 from 12–6 pm to celebrate. This event is clothing-optional, drug, alcohol, smoke and electronics-free. Potluck assignments will be sent to all confirmed RSVPs. Trophies will be awarded for Best Dressed & Best Undressed, and capacity is limited to 100 vaccinated men. More info
LOOKING AHEAD
WeHo Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival
The WeHo Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival runs for 40 days, from Harvey Milk Day, May 22, through the end of Pride month, June 30, at various locations throughout the City of West Hollywood with some online programs. Check out our bookmark for more details. Each year, the City of West Hollywood celebrates the artistic contributions of the LGBTQ community with its vibrant LGBTQ Arts Festival, which is now known, starting in 2022, as the WeHo Pride LGBTQ Arts Festival. The theme for 2022 is With Liberty, Diversity, Inclusion, and Progress For All. More info
Save the Date: Out on the Mountain
The date is set for Friday, September 9 from 6 pm–midnight for Out on the Mountain 2022 at Six Flags Magic Mountain. The entire park goes gay for the night, which provides a safe and inclusive environment of fun for the LGBTQ community, with rides, dance parties, and performers. Out on the Mountain is the creation of Six Flags Magic Mountain with Ray Rhodes and Out Ventures back in 2008. Over 5,000 people are expected to attend while the entire park is closed to the general public for this private LGBTQ party. More info
On the Air at KGAY 106.5
Gay Wine Weekend
KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide have your chance to win 2 VIP Passes to Out in the Vineyard’s “Gay Wine Weekend,” July 15–17 in beautiful, pastoral Sonoma County. This is a full weekend of wine & celebration with winemaker dinners, winery tours and events benefiting Face To Face, Sonoma County HIV/AIDS Network. Enter to win on the KGAY 106.5 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 pool party music! Listen Online
- Mae West Double Feature: Sex and The Drag
May 25–June 5 at Desert Rose Playhouse - Ceremony Pool Party and Unity Closing Party
May 29 at AsiaSF and The Sonoran - Annual Memorial Day Air Fair and Flower Drop
Mon. May 30 from 10 am–5 pm at the Palm Springs Air Museum - Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week
Jun 3–12 at various bars & restaurants across the Coachella Valley - LA Pride! In the Park
Sat. Jun 11 at LA State Historic Park - The Official LA Pride Parade
Sun. Jun 12 at Hollywood and Vine
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.