As we approach Memorial Day weekend and the unofficial start of summer, I was asked this morning about when summer actually begins. Memorial Day to Labor Day is what we have experienced as summer – with school typically going into June and intruding on our fun.
But then there’s the Summer Solstice which is June 20th at 8:32 PM. That’s when the Sun reaches its highest and northernmost points in the sky. This event marks the start of summer in the northern half of the globe.
And to confuse things even more, the season on summer is considered June, July and August. Take your pick – heck even combine all three for the maximum number of summer days! We’ll be here to keep you updated on bar and nightlife events in our new “After Dark” section, plus community events, news you can use and our signature directory of LGBTQ-friendly businesses.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide
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Remembering the Golden Girls: Sold Out and Second Show Added!
The Fun & Games Dept of Gay Desert Guide presents An Evening on the Lanai: Remembering the Golden Girls on Thursday, May 27 at 7:00 p.m. at Oscar’s, with season one writer Stan Zimmerman and fun trivia, clips from favorite episodes, prize giveaways, sing-alongs, and Q&A. Hosted by on-air personality Alexander Rodriguez from On the Rocks with Alexander and a regular guest on the #ILoveGayPalmSprings podcast. SOLD OUT
This Just In! – A second show of Evening on the Lanai: Remembering the Golden Girls has been added on June 24 at 7:00 p.m. – Get your tickets before this one sells out too!
Atomic Bingo Mondays with Ethylina Canne
Wilma and Frieda Palm Springs and Ethyl’s Place present Atomic Bingo every Monday starring Ethylina Canne. Reserve your table ahead of time (required) for an evening of great food, mid century vibes and 5 games of BINGO with Ethylina to make you smile and forget your cares! Doors open at 5:30 p.m. and Bingo starts at 6:30 p.m. More info
Palm Springs Police Chief Reyes Announces Retirement
Chief of Police Bryan Reyes, leading the Palm Springs Police Department for the past six and a half years, has announced that he will retire, effective August 23, 2021. His service for the Palm Springs police spans 27 years as an Officer, Detective, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain, and ultimately Chief. We thank him for his commitment to our community!
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Let’s Talk About Race
The LGBTQ Center of the Desert presents Lets Talk About Race: Community Conversations hosted by Lex Ortega on Thursday, May 27 at 12:00 p.m. on Zoom. This is a virtual space for ALL of our LGBTQ+ community members to come together, talk with one another, and move through the conversation about race. The discussion will focus on one year post the murder of George Floyd, and reflect on the “Speak my Words, Tell My Truth” piece by Lorenz Qatav. Registration required. More info
Wyld Womxn Monthly Bike Outing
Join Wyld Womxn for their monthly recurring biking activity on the last Thursday of every month, this Thursday, May 27 at 5:30 p.m. This monthly bike ride is a public community wellness resource and is open for anyone interested! Meet at Dead or Alive bar and come back for a glass of wine on the patio. Founded in 2016, Wyld Womxn is an intersectional feminist community organization based in the Coachella Valley, comprised of women and non-binary artists and activists. More info
Virtual Events at The Center
Looking for connection in this time of self-isolation? The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert continues to connect people, using the technology of group-meeting platform Zoom, which you can use on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Here’s just a taste of the programs they are hosting:
Social Caring in the Face of Quarantine with Alexis Ortega – Mondays at 11:00 a.m.
Zumba for Beginners with Shaun Samaro – Mondays at 10:00 a.m.
Managing Emotions During a Pandemic with Jill Hingston, Ph.D – Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m.
Fifty+ Fit with Lynn Simonson – Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m.
Prostate Cancer Support Group – 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 4:00 p .m.
Trans Tuesdays with Jill Hingston, Ph.D – Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Seated Wellness with Lynn Simonson – Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.
Women’s Chat with Kim Kieler – Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
Men’s Chat with Stuart Huggins – Fridays at 10:30 a.m.
LGBTQ+ Youth Virtual Hangout with Miguel Navarro – Fridays at 2:00 p.m.
Who Cares: Caregiver Support Group with Perry Wiggins – Fridays at 3:00 p.m.
Full list of The Center’s Zoom programs [here]
15th Annual LGBTQ Community Survey
Please take part in the Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) 15th 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]
I Love Gay Palm Springs Podcast – Episode 98
In this week’s podcast: John Taylor, comedian Shann Carr, and Gay Desert Guide Brad Fuhr welcome special guests Jeff Witthuhn of Peepa’s, arts and culture reporter Brian Blueskye from The Desert Sun, Dr. Laura Rush, food blogger Charles Drabkin, and Scot Howard from the NAGAAA Cup Softball tournament.
The #ILoveGayPalmSprings Podcast is broadcast on Facebook Live, Fridays at 11:00 a.m. The#ILoveGayPalmSprings Podcast is also available on Apple TV, Roku TV, Amazon, FireTV and Android devices via OutAt.tv. Tune in Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. (or later on-demand) to stream us to your TV. You can also listen on Apple Podcasts, iHeartRadio and more!
THIS WEEKEND
NAGAAA Cup Softball Tournament 2021
What is NAGAAA? Gay Desert Guide is proud to be a sponsor of the North American Gay Amateur Athletic Alliance’s 2021 NAGAAA Cup Invitational Softball Tournament, this Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-30! The event will bring more than 500 players and fans to Palm Springs for 3 days of competition and celebration, here for the first time in its 10 year history. All games will be played at Big League Dreams on Date Palm Drive. Our local Palm Springs Rounders, sponsored by Hunters Bar, are the defending NAGAAA Cup Champions and will be competing to keep the title NAGAAA Cup Champions. A Home Run Derby will take place on Friday, May 28 at 6:30 p.m., followed by the Tournament Kickoff Party on Friday at 9:00 p.m. at Hunters. Official host bars also include Tool Shed, Eagle 501, Streetbar, and Blackbook. The Closing Ceremonies and Trophy Presentations take place Sunday, May 30 from 6:00–9:00 p.m. at Chill Bar. More info
Annual Memorial Day Celebration & Flower Drop
The renowned Palm Springs Air Museum Memorial Day Flower Drop & Air Fair returns with retooling for COVID protocols: instead of only one day, it will occur over two days: Sunday, May 30 and Monday, May 31, from 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. both days. Salute and honor those who made the ultimate sacrifice with a 1:00 pm ceremony followed by a Missing Man formation and dropping of red and white carnations from a vintage warbird. There will also be music, food, flight exhibitions, warbird rides, and more. On Monday, May 31 at 10:00 am, there will be a special unveiling and dedication for the new Tuskegee Airmen Statues with special guests. All tickets must be purchased online in advance. Get tickets
SOL Beach Club at the Sonoran
SOL Beach Club is an evening of Art, Fashion, Music & Margaritas at The Sonoran on Saturday, May 29 at 5:30 p.m. The evening will feature acclaimed celebrity fashion designer and former Miss World, Jacqueline Aguilera of Venezuela, Couture Hat Designer Arturo Rios of Mexico, and introducing MY CLUB Resort Wear & the latest men’s swimwear fashions. The evening will also feature a one-of-a-kind fashion masterpiece presentation highlighting international costume designers Erick Bendaña of Nicaragua, costume designers Inoe Vargas of Mexico, & KICKA Custom Design of Sweden. Art exhibit by ArtFX Palm Springs. It’s also an opportunity to wear your own favorite hat or fascinator! Get tickets
Joshua Tree Music Festival Spring Concerts
The Joshua Tree Music Festival continues their pod-based, physically distanced, limited capacity outdoor Spring Concert Series with Con Brio (Bay Area band playing energetic soul, psych-rock and R&B) this Friday and Saturday, May 28 & 29, at Joshua Tree Lake Campground. On Sunday, May 30, the show features Las Cafeteras (A uniquely Angeleno mash-up of punk, hip-hop, beat music, cumbia and rock). Enjoy these amazing artists in a safe and spacious outdoor setting in the main music bowl, with tickets sold by the pod, with each pod accommodating up to four people. Get tickets
Desert Theatricals Live Cabaret Series: “Doris & Me”
The City of Rancho Mirage presents Desert Theatricals Live Cabaret Series as dinner theater, featuring Scott Dreier’s tribute to Doris Day, “Doris and Me” on Saturday, May 29 at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater. Purchase a table for 4 to include a meal and glass of wine per attendee and complimentary valet parking. Gates open at 6:15 p.m., dinner is served at 7:00 p.m. and show begins at 8:00 p.m. Wait List Only