Cookies, Cocktails, & Crazy Sweater, Ryan Cassata, Transgender Day of Remembrance, Greater Coachella Valley Small Business Expo, Big Queen Bingo, HPV Preventative Care, Michael Nava, Winewomen Dinner, Sandra Booker at Jazzville, Hollywood at Home in Palm Springs, PS Chamber Mixer at V, plus a weekend preview!
Cookies, Cocktails, and Crazy Sweaters
Fresh on the high heels of the very popular Cat City Drag Race, a new contest is taking place at six bars in Cathedral City: Cookies, Cocktails and Ugly Sweaters will feature an “Ugliest Sweater Contest” with celebrity and audience judges, with prizes each week leading up to a Golden Pass prize valued at $600. The evening is hosted by Cat City Drag Race Winner Angelique VaGorgeous, with music by DJ Galaxy. Week 1 takes places at Trunks Bar on Monday, November 18 at 6:00 p.m. Next week: The Roost Lounge on Monday, November 25. See our link for the full schedule of locations, running through December 23. More info
An Evening with Ryan Cassata
The Transgender Health and Wellness Center presents An Evening with Ryan Cassata & Silent Auction on Tuesday, November 19 at 7:00 p.m. Proceeds will benefit the Transgender Day of Remembrance Resource Fair and Vigil, to be held on Wednesday, November 20 at Palm Springs City Hall. Cassata will serve as guest speaker for this event as well. He is a singer, songwriter, actor and activist who has appeared on Larry King Live and The Tyra Banks Show. He has performed at LGBT music festivals and at popular music venues such as Whisky a Go Go, The Saint, The Bitter End, SideWalk Cafe, Turf Club and Bowery Poetry Club. He will speak on his journey to be accepted by family and loved ones, and the need to support Transgender Equality. Get tickets
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Demystifying the Virus: HPV and Preventative Care to Help Prevent Cancer
The LGBT Community Center of The Desert and Eisenhower Health presents Demystifying the HPV Virus on Wednesday, November 20 from 5:30–6:30 p.m. at the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert. Join Jon Colbert, NP for a discussion to find out what you can do to help decrease your chances of getting HPV and the different types of cancer linked to it. You will get answers to common questions about HPV, HPV infection, and how HPV testing is used. This is a FREE event but space is limited. Registration is required. More info
Author Lecture: Michael Nava
This Lambda Literary Award winning author Michael Nava will be at the Palm Springs Public Library on Wednesday, November 20 from 6:30–8:00 p.m., discussing “Carved in Bone,” his latest crime fiction book that features gay, Latino criminal defense attorney Henry Rios. More info
Big Queen Bingo Benefiting the L-Fund
Come on caller, make me holler! Big Queen Bingo is at Oscar’s Cafe & Bar on Wednesday, November 20 from 5:30–8:30 p.m. Enjoy great food, drink specials, comedy, songs, and prizes galore, hosted by the lovely & talented Tommi Rose, this time benefiting the Lesbian philanthropic group, The L-Fund. More info
Winewomen PSP Dinner to Benefit Animal Samaritans
Reserve Now: On Sunday, November 24 from 5:00–9:00 p.m, Winewomen PSP presents a Winemaker Dinner at the Renaissance Palm Springs. The evening starts on the patio and moves to a four-course dinner in the Dining Room. See the full food and wine pairing menu here. Proceeds to benefit Animal Samaritans, pre-paid reservations must be made by Wed, November 20. RSVP today
Sandra Booker at Jazzville
Jazzville Palm Springs welcome back the Sandra Booker/Morgan Jones Quartet On Wednesday, November 20 at 7:00 p.m. at Wang’s in the Desert. Sandra is regarded as one of the best voices on the modern jazz scene. She truly wowed everyone in the room at Jazzville last June. Get tickets
Greater Coachella Valley Small Business Expo
The Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce presents the GCV Small Business Expo Presented by the City of Indio on Thursday, November 21, from 3:00–7:00 p.m., at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Attendees will enjoy local flavors and food samples while learning about products and services, networking with other industry professionals, and connecting first-hand with merchants. Gay Desert Guide will be there, stop by and say hi! More info
Compensatory Memory Strategies for Memory Loss
Join Eisenhower Health at the Mizell Senior Center on Thursday, November 21 from 1:00–2:00 p.m. for an insightful discussion on memory strategies, led by Sherry Ewing, CCC-SLP, Speech Language Pathologist. Discussion to include information about how we store and retrieve information as well as strategies that may assist in compensating for memory decline/impairment. Please RSVP. More info
Let’s Talk – Hollywood at Home in Palm Springs
The Palm Springs Historical Society presents “Hollywood at Home in Palm Springs,” with Jim Cook and Vinny Stoppia on Thursday, November 21 from 6:00–7:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Discover the celebrity stories behind the doors of iconic Palm Springs architecture, exploring big names such as Valentino, Sinatra, and Hope…from Thomas Edison and Nellie Coffman to Dinah Shore and Kirk Douglas…from the Silent Era to Blockbusters. Get tickets
Chamber Mixer at V Palm Springs
The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce presents their November Mixer on Thursday, November 21 from 5:00–6:30 p.m. at V Palm Springs Elixir Bar. Free for members, $15 for guests. More info
UPCOMING: Chris Isaak at The Show
On Friday, December 13 at 8:00 p.m., Chris Isaak takes the stage at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa Rancho Mirage. Isaak is called “Rockabilly’s Greatest Ambassador” by Rolling Stone, and his career as a recording artist, songwriter, and actor goes back 34 years. His breakthrough classic “Wicked Game,” remains one of the most covered songs in music. His new album, just released this month, is called First Comes the Night. Isaak’s film soundtrack credits include Wild at Heart, Blue Velvet, True Romance, and Eyes Wide Shut, and the California native has also done extensive work in front of the camera, including The Silence of the Lambs, That Thing You Do! and more. Get tickets
THIS WEEKEND
The Desert Winds Freedom Band kicks off their concert season with “All Gershwin!” featuring the exciting music of George & Ira Gershwin, on Saturday, November 23 at 7:00 p.m. at the Jewish Community Center. The program will include such favorites as Strike Up the Band, American in Paris, Embraceable You and Selections from Porgy and Bess. The highlight will be Rhapsody in Blue featuring pianist Dr. Dennis Siebenaler, professor at California State University, Fullerton. The jazz band will feature favorites like Lady Be Good, You Make Me Feel So Young and Our Love is Here to Stay with guest vocalists Todd Murray and Kim Schroeder Long. Get tickets
Balloon Glow Concert
It’s time for the annual Balloon Glow Concert at the Westin Mission Hills Resort, on Friday, November 22 from 7:00–9:00 p.m. A dozen hot air balloons provide a spectacular backdrop for this music, wine, and dancing event: Listen and dance to the smooth sounds of Legendary Jazz Vocalist Barbara Morrison and Trumpet man Ron King and an allstar band. Cocktails and food available onsite. Get tickets
This event is part of the three-day Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival and Food Truck Fiesta, featuring a balloon launch and race, balloon rides, health fair and more.
McCormick’s Palm Springs Classic Car Auction
This weekend, from Friday, November 22 through Sunday, November 24, McCormick’s Palm Springs will hold their 67th Palm Springs Classic Car Auction, featuring 580 cars crossing the block, going for prices that range from $3,000 to over $250,000. Friday is FREE to the public from 12:00–8:00 p.m., with the first 180 cars going up for auction. Saturday hours are 8:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m. with 225 cars, and Sunday is 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. with 175 cars. $15 each weekend day or $25 for both. More info
Randy Rainbow Closes Outlandish Palm Springs Series
Randy Rainbow makes his triumphant return as a 2019 Emmy Nominee to the Outlandish Palm Springs performance series on Saturday and Sunday, November 23 & 24. Performing four shows (sold out, sorry) this year with a live band, the influencer and Internet sensation’s viral comedy videos receive millions of views across all social media and digital platforms. His fresh take on politics and current events has led to interviews/profiles by venerable media outlets such as The Washington Post, The New York Times, ABC News, OUT, People, Entertainment Weekly and NPR. More info
Palm Springs International Jazz Festival
The inaugural Palm Springs International Jazz Festival will be held on Saturday and Sunday, November 23 & 24 at the Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Art Museum. Performers include Stacey Kent, Arturo Sandoval, Marshall Hawkins Trio, Tierney Sutton, Rene Marie and John Beasley’s Monk’estra. Get tickets
On Friday, November 22, from 4:00–7:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, get your jazz weekend off to a great start with a preview screening of Jim Burns’ just completed documentary, “She’s Got Jazz,” plus a special reception featuring a live performance by SoCal jazz sensation Lia Booth. “She’s Got Jazz,”is a brand new documentary that spotlights the music of four rising young jazz stars – all women and all under 35 – who are changing the face of jazz in the 21st century. Get tickets
Props & Hops Craft Beer Festival
Join the Palm Springs Air Museum for the Props & Hops Craft Beer Festival on Saturday, November 23 from 1:00–5:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Air Museum. This fun afternoon features local craft beer tastings while surrounded by vintage aircraft. This 8th annual festival shines a light on Southern California craft beer, with dozens of West Coast breweries, food vendors including In ‘n Out Burger, and a DJ and live music. Airplane rides available for an additional charge. Get tickets
A Miracle on El Paseo
Celebrate this holiday season in a winter wonderland at A Miracle on El Paseo on Saturday, November 23 from 5:00–9:00 p.m. at The Shops on El Paseo. Palm Desert’s most popular shopping district is transformed into a magical family fun zone featuring a five-story Ferris wheel, live entertainment, happy snaps with Santa Claus, a fashion presentation, and the ceremonial lighting of the 60 ft. Christmas tree. Plus, savor delicious bites and spirits offered by over 25 local restaurants and vendors, all included with admission. Get tickets