‘Twas the week after Thanksgiving and all through the House (and Senate)…
They were on break and not dealing with pandemic relief.
And we’re going into a few weeks of uncharted territory as our collective movements across the Valley and across the country may trigger even more COVID cases. Let’s remember to support the various food drives happening now – we have them listed on our EVENTS calendar – and see if we can spare a few dollars for Giving Tuesday this week. Oh, and SHOP LOCAL!
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide
#WearADamnMask
#ILoveGayPalmSprings
#ILoveGayCatCity
Holiday Wreath Auction
The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert’s Virtual Holiday Wreath Auction will stream live on Monday, November 30 at 5:30 p.m. Check out the incredible hand made wreaths online and bid on them to brighten up your holiday season. You can preview and bid on wreaths beforehand, and then join the live auction of some wreaths and a special show! Event is free. More info
World AIDS Day is Tuesday
World AIDS Day is honored annually every year on December 1. Recognized since its inception in 1988, World AIDS Day is an international day dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourning those who have died of AIDS. Join The LGTBQ Center of the Desert on Tuesday, December 1 at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom for a sacred virtual place to read names of those we’ve lost. More info
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Paws n Claus Drive-Thru Pet Food Drive
The LGBTQ Center of the Coachella Valley presents Paws n Claus Returns–as a Drive-Thru on Wednesday, December 2 from 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. at the Center’s Food Bank. Pets deserve extra love at Christmas, and you can help by donating wet or dry cat & dog food. Dress yourself and your pets in holiday fare and come get a drive-thru, COVID-safe, holiday snap in your car as their Santa elves unpack your donations. More info
New Home for Palm Desert Farmers’ Market
Palm Desert’s Certified Farmers’ Market is moving to a new location starting Wednesday, December 2. San Pablo Avenue will be closed between Alessandro Drive and San Gorgonio Way every Wednesday morning for the market, which runs from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., October through April. The move capitalizes on San Pablo’s recently reimagined pedestrian and bicycle friendly design and will begin to realize the centrally located street’s potential as a new outdoor community event space. The market gives you the chance to safely shop for a wide variety of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables from local vendors, with a mouthwatering selection of natural products such as eggs, cheese, honey, coffee, flowers, chocolates, soaps, and more. More info
Creating For the Stage with Dezart Performs
Dezart Performs presents a special free virtual series, Creating for the Stage: Discussions with the People that Make Shows Happen, online every Wednesday through December 2. Featuring actors, designers, creatives, playwrights and directors from their sold out 2019-20 season, the series is optimistic proof of the group’s mission this year: Still Here … and Dreaming. On Wednesday, December 2 at 5:30 p.m., Meet the director and cast of SWEAT: actors Desireé Clarke and Cortez Johnson and director Michael Shaw. More info.
Palm Springs 2020 Virtual State of the City
Residents and business owners are invited to join the City of Palm Springs for its annual “State of the City” on Thursday, December 3 from 11:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m. via Zoom, presented by the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce. Mayor Geoff Kors and the four additional members of the Palm Springs City Council will review the city’s accomplishments and share exciting upcoming milestones for 2021. More info
Shades of Romance with Tim Connell
CVRep’s Theatre Thursday presents “Shades of Romance” with Tim Connell on Thursday, December 3 at 6:00 p.m. Tim Connell, along with Musical Director James Followell, take you on a musical journey through the emotional colors that romance ignites. The program includes “Skylark,” “My Foolish Heart,” “Superstar,” “I Am What I Am” and “American Tune.” Free event, registration required. More info
I Love Gay Palm Springs Podcast – Episode 73
Happy Thanksgiving from #ILoveGayPalmSprings hosts John Taylor, comedian Shann Carr and Brad Fuhr of GayDesertGuide.com We’ll catch up with Jimmy Boegle of CVIndependent.com Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce CEO Katie Stice (ranchomiragechamber.org), and Pop Art fun with Trevor Wayne of trevorwayne.com
[Listen] or [Watch]
The I Love Gay Palm Springs Podcast is now available on Apple TV, Roku TV, Amazon FireTV and Android devices via OutAt.tv. Tune in Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. to stream us to your TV! (Also available on demand after it airs).
Thanks to our sponsor:
** Desert AIDS Project Offers Free At-Home HIV Tests: [Get Yours] **
Help a Homebound Senior This Holiday Season
Mizell Senior Center is collecting donated personal care items to fill over 450 care packages for homebound seniors this holiday season. They need everything from shampoo and shaving cream to soap and toilet paper. Call ahead and you can arrange a contactless drive-through pickup. More info
Virtual Events at The Center
Looking for connection in this time of self-isolation? The LGBT 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.
Conversational Spanish with Guillermo Biro – Tuesdays at 2:00 p.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.
LGBTQ+ Youth Virtual Hangout with Miguel Navarro – Wednesdays at 3:00 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.
Who Cares: Caregiver Support Group with Perry Wiggins – Fridays at 3:00 p.m.
Making Connections During COVID: Men’s Discussion Group with Arlen Keith Leight, LCSW, Ph.D
1st and 3rd Saturdays at 11:30 a.m.
Full list of The Center’s Zoom programs [here]
LOOKING AHEAD
11th Annual Men of the Desert Fashion Show
Join Animal Samaritans for the 11th Annual Men of the Desert Fashion Show “Backstage and on the Runway” on Friday, December 4 at 7:30 p.m. on Local CBS2 TV. Our local Desert handsome hounds will have the opportunity to choose from an extraordinary array of chic designs at Saks Fifth Avenue before modeling the latest trends in men’s fashion. Among the dozen featured men are Raju Mehta from El Paseo Jewelers in Palm Desert, photography icon and Boo2Bullying activist Dimitri Halkidis, and Eisenhower Hospital’s David Renker. Proceeds directly benefit the Adoption Alliance Animal Rescue Program, which focuses on rescuing at-risk animals from shelters who have not been able to institute no-kill policies and finding them safe refuge and eventual homes. More info
Palm Springs Art Museum’s Art Party Gala
Palm Springs Art Museum is pleased to announce its signature fundraising gala, Art Party, will be held virtually in your home on Friday, December 4 at 6:00 p.m. This online event will feature the world premiere of a new performance art piece by internationally acclaimed artist Jeffrey Gibson, as well as a behind-the-scenes studio tour showcasing highlights of his creative process. The evening will be capped off with a celebrity MC and performances by guest entertainers. These include Jamie Lee Curtis, David Zipple and Steve Tyrell. Get tickets
Christmas in Palm Springs Drive-In Edition
The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus is presenting “Christmas in Palm Springs Drive-In Edition” on Saturday, December 19 at 5:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. They will be premiering the song “Christmas in Palm Springs,” written by Joel Baker, and the show also includes Ann Hampton Callaway as the special guist with Lenny Broberg as auctioneer. This socially distanced special event is sure to sell out! Get tickets