It’s National Coming Out Day – and I believe we can all remember our coming out story. Some of us had good experiences and some not so good. But for the generations coming up behind us, this day has new meaning.
Don’t forget to vote in the Coachella Valley Independent Best of where KGAY and our peeps are nominated four times! We especially are proud of DJ Eric Ornelas and DJ Galaxy who spin the Retro Lunch and Retro Sunday Brunch!
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Gay Desert Guide Fall Pride 2021 Map & Guide is Out Now!
Our latest Fall Pride 2021 edition of the Gay Desert Guide Map & Guide is hot off the presses and available where you’ll find brochures at hot spots all over town! Pick up your hard copy today or check out our online version to find all the top places for Food & Drink, Nightlife, Shopping, Attractions, Gay Resorts with passes, Dispensaries and other services. Check it out
DBA Networking Event at Stinky Leaf Dispensary
Join the Desert Business Association for an in-person networking event on Monday, October 11 from 5:30–7:00 p.m. at Stinky Leaf Dispensary. A new DBA member, Stinky Leaf is striving to be the best dispensary in Palm Springs for anyone and everyone who beats to their own drum. This networking event will be mostly outside, with tours available. Please bring proper identification. More info
Modernism Week Fall Preview 2021
The Modernism Week Fall Preview takes place Thursday, October 14 through Sunday, October 17. This four-day long “mini-Modernism Week” features more than 50 events, including tours, talks, and parties in unique locations not regularly open to the public. 🎟 Check out this article with details on events with tickets still available! 🎟
The Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale Fall Edition Opening Night Preview Party is Friday, October 15 from 6:00–8:00 p.m., offering attendees a cocktail reception, live music and an exclusive first chance to shop at the show before it opens to the public. The Show & Sale continues Saturday, October 16 from 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. and Sunday, October 17 from 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Convention Center and will feature more than 40 premier national and international decorative and fine arts dealers. More info
“Pride Under the Pines” Comes to Idyllwild Oct. 23
Palm Springs’ LGBTQ Community is invited to join Pride Under the Pines at the mile-high town of Idyllwild overlooking the Coachella Valley on Saturday, October 23 from 12:00–9:00 p.m. PS HomeBoys is bringing desert heat to the cool gay heights for a day of out-and-proud food, fun and fabulous entertainment, including an interactive screening of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, hosted by Rosemary Galore. Consider it a Palm Springs Pride Pre-Party. A round-trip Palm Springs to Idyllwild luxury party bus is available. Proof of full vaccination and masks are required for the bus and for the interior film screening. Get tickets
🙌 You can win tickets to Pride Under the Pines this week! 🙌
Just come to Runway at CCBC on Thursday, October 14 between 4:30–6:00 p.m., enjoy a happy hour drink, and register to win tickets that include the round-trip bus transportation, courtesy of Gay Desert Guide and KGAY 106.5. The winner will be drawn live by Charles Herrera, singing your favorites at 6:00 p.m. More info
8th Annual Reel Women’s Film Festival
Now in its eighth year, the Reel Women’s Film Festival is available to watch at your leisure anytime between October 11–23, streaming online. The festival is championed by a committee that works to bring diverse and inspiring films about women to the screen. This year’s virtual film festival includes headliner film SISTERS, #metoo film WORKING WOMAN, and international choice film BLANKA. All proceeds benefit Planned Parenthood of the Pacific Southwest, serving Riverside, San Diego, and Imperial counties. More info
VillageFest Fall Hours, Full Footprint Return
Palm Springs’ popular weekly Thursday night street fair, VillageFest, has returned to its fall hours, beginning at 6:00 p.m. and concluding at 10:00 p.m. Consistently voted the best weekly street fair in the Coachella Valley, over the last 30 years VillageFest has attracted thousands of visitors from all over the world with vendor booths featuring eclectic art, handcrafted items and unique food. Nearby shops, restaurants and galleries also stay open late. VillageFest has also returned to its regular pre-COVID layout from Amado Road to Baristo Road, along Palm Canyon Drive. More info
Big Gay Golden Girls Virtual Trivia Party
Gay Desert Guide’s Fun & Games Dept. and TheMenEvent.com present Big Gay Golden Girls TV Trivia Party on Wednesday, October 13 from 4:00–5:00 p.m. on Zoom. Which of Dorothy’s relatives slept with her ex-husband? Whose ring did Sophia steal? Play with fellow fans in this evening that promises to be a hoot and a holler, hosted by celebrated gay comic Oscar Aydin, a self-professed Golden Girls expert. Get tickets
Prehab and Rehab for Knee Replacement
Eisenhower Health and The Center present Prehab and Rehab for Knee Replacement Surgery: What You Should Know on Wednesday, October 13 from 4:00–5:00 p.m. on Zoom. Join Ken Zaparinuk, PT, to learn the specifics on what to expect from your surgical prehab and rehabilitation plan that can improve strength and function after surgery and potentially decrease hospital stay times, and improve long term function. More info
Non-Traditional Interment Options
PALS (Planning Ahead for LGBT Seniors) presents Non-Traditional Interment Options For Mavericks, Free-Thinkers & Eco-Warriors Alike on Saturday, October 16 from 10:00–11:00 a.m. on Zoom. Learn about all the innovative, eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative interment (aka burial) options now available, because it’s never too soon to plan ahead for when it’s your time to go! Speaker: Lorraine Carlson, PALS. More info
Jazzville Palm Springs: Rumproller Organ Trio
Jazzville, the live jazz scene presented by Barry Martin/DJ Baz and Take Five Entertainment, presents Rumproller Organ Trio on Thursday, October 14 at 7:00 p.m. at the vibrant Cascade Lounge inside Agua Caliente Casino in Palm Springs. The famous trio is now a quintet: Jazz, soul and funk featuring Carey Frank, James Anchor, Kevin Stevens, Woody Mankowski and Ben Thomas. If you’ve experienced them before you know their shows always sell out, bring down the house and get the room dancing. Cocktails, wine and delicious small bites available. More info
LGBT Dine Out at Wilma & Frieda
LGBT Dine Out Group of the Coachella Valley‘s October dinner will take place at Wilma & Frieda Palm Springs on Thursday, October 14 from 6:30–8:00 p.m. This is a great way to try out new restaurants and meet new friends in the LGBT community as well as visitors to the valley. Open to all…Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer and our Straight Supporters. No host event, RSVP required. More info
Helen Frankenthaler Exhibit Opens
The Palm Springs Art Museum presents Helen Frankenthaler: Late Works, 1990–2003, opening Thursday, October 14. As a second-generation postwar abstract artist, Frankenthaler played a key role in the transition from Abstract Expressionism to Color Field painting beginning in the 1950s with her soak-stain technique which involved pouring thinned paint directly onto unprimed canvas. The juxtaposition of amorphous fields of color and gestural brushstrokes produced a vigorous rhythm of activity that are conveyed in the surface textures of her mark-making. More info
Among Friends Interactive Screening: Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
Among Friends presents an Interactive Screening of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert on Thursday, October 14 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Get your costume ready for the cocktail party starting at 6:00 p.m., with two full bars, a Priscilla Marketplace, Pop-Up Drag, Desert Flaggers, and more. At 8:00 p.m., take your seat inside the Historic Camelot Theatre to watch Priscilla in a Rocky Horror type of viewing experience. Best costume wins the Golden Shoe Award! Get tickets
Your Favorite Wiener Schnitzel is Back!
“Eat well, live better” is the motto of chef Johannes Bacher, whose award-winning European cuisine has been satisfying discerning taste buds at Johannes in downtown Palm Springs for more than two decades, and Bacher is looking forward to welcoming back guests as they reopen on Friday, October 15 for dinner at 5:00 p.m. More info
An Evening with Emily West
Mary Pickford Theatre in Cathedral City presents An Evening with Emily West, live in concert for two performances: Friday, October 15 and Saturday, October 16 at 7:00 p.m. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Emily West was a singer act from Season 9 of America’s Got Talent and finished the season as runner-up of the entire competition [Get tickets]. To support music education in public schools, Emily will also be performing on the steps of City Hall with the Cathedral City High School Jazz Band at their homecoming celebration on Thursday, October 14 at 5:00 p.m. More info
THIS WEEKEND
Casual Concours Car Show
Casual Concours XII takes place Saturday, October 16 from 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. at the Desert Princess Country Club. This annual gathering of significant post-war automobiles features over 100 museum-quality cars on display and is considered the finest midcentury car show in the Coachella Valley. Casual Concours reflects the unique collector car culture of Palm Springs, with dominant displays of rarely seen luxury cars of the 1950s–80s and a focus on styling, color, luxury features, historical significance and showroom condition—in other words, midcentury glamour! More info
East Coachella Valley Pride
East Coachella Valley Pride will be having a virtual film fest on Friday, October 15 at 6:00 p.m., followed by a small ECV Pride Gathering at Veteran’s Park in Coachella on Saturday, October 16 at 1:00 p.m. to decorate vehicles for a route around Coachella, with prizes for the best decor. Afterward, reconvene at the park and enjoy time and music together. Masks and social distancing required. More info
Gladys Knight at Fantasy Springs
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino’s Special Events Center presents the incomparable Gladys Knight on Saturday, October 16 at 8:00 p.m. Originally scheduled for March of this year and postponed for COVID-related reasons, The Gladys Knight show will go on, with all tickets for the original performance honored. But there are tickets still available too! Get tickets
PS We Love You Scavenger Hunt
The Palm Springs Animal Shelter presents the PS We Love You Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, October 16 from 10:00 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Compete for a cause as an individual or a team to win points toward being the top dog as you seek clues through an app-based scavenger hunt which will wind around the City of Palm Springs as you visit some of our favorite landmarks and local businesses, along with solving virtual clues. The chase wraps up at Palm Springs Animal Shelter with food trucks, vendors, and sponsored tables as well as an awards ceremony for top fundraisers and game winners. More info
A Tribute to George Michael
The Desert Rose Playhouse presents A Tribute To George Michael starring Robbie Wayne on Saturday, October 16 at 8:00 p.m. Robbie will be accompanied by Jaci Davis, with special guests Ben Reece, Christian Quevedo, Lizzie Schmelling, and Christine Tringali-Nunes. Get tickets
Martinis & Moxie: Celebrating Frank Sinatra
Palm Springs Point Of View and the Palm Springs Cultural Center present Martinis and Moxie, A “My Way” society revue celebrating the life and music of Frank Sinatra on Saturday, October 16 from 6:00–9:00 p.m. Come raise a drink to the “Chairman of the Board,” Frank Sinatra, and listen to the soothing sounds of Alan Kraemer & Claudia Ried. Get tickets
LOOKING AHEAD
McCallum Theatre Adds Bernadette Peters, Melissa Etheridge, and More
Four exciting performances have been added to the roster of the McCallum Theatre’s 2021-2022 Grand Reopening season, including The Doo Wop Project on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, and Celtic Thunder on April 8, 2022. Legendary Broadway performer Bernadette Peters will take the stage on Tuesday, February 1, 2022 and Melissa Etheridge brings her tour to town on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 29 & 30, 2022. More info
- Modernism Week Fall Preview 2021
October 14–17 at Various Locations throughout Palm Springs - Jazzville Palm Springs: Rumproller Organ Trio
Thu. Oct. 14 at 7:00 p.m - Hiding in Plain Sight: Breaking the Gay Code in Art
October 4, 11, and 18 on Zoom - The Producers by Desert Theatreworks
October 8–31 - Center Stage Celebrates 20 Years of The Center
Fri. Oct. 22 at 5:30 p.m. at the Palm Springs Air Museum - Mount: Men’s Bonding Pop-Up Event
Oct. 22–23 at CCBC Resort - Pride Under the Pines
Sat. Oct. 23 from 12:00–9:00 p.m. in Idyllwild - Girlfriend, The Smash Hit Rock Musical presented by Dezart Performs
October 27–30 Outside at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater - Palm Springs Leather Pride 2021
October 28–31 at Various Locations throughout Palm Springs - DAP Health Desert AIDS Walk 2021
Sat. Oct. 30 from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m. at Ruth Hardy Park - Palm Springs Halloween on Arenas Road
Sun. Oct. 31 from 4:00–10:00 p.m. - Palm Springs Pride Festival 2021 – Downtown Palm Springs
Sat. Nov. 6 from 11:00 a.m.–9:00 p.m. & Sun. Nov. 7 from 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. - Desertopia Pride Weekend
Sat. Nov. 6 at Infusion Beach Club and Asia SF, Sun. Nov. 7 at The Sonoran - Front Runners Pride 5K Run & Walk 2021
Sat. Nov. 6 at 8:00 a.m. In-Person at Old Las Palmas Neighborhood and Virtually
Final Round Voting for Best of Coachella Valley
The finalists have been selected in the Coachella Valley Independent’s 8th Annual Best of Coachella Valley, and we are thrilled to have four nominations associated with KGAY 106.5! Both DJ Galaxy and DJ Eric Ornelas, of the KGAY Retro Lunch at Noon, have been nominated for Best Local DJ, and KGAY Morning Host John Taylor is up for Best Local Radio Personality! Last but not least, KGAY 106.5 is itself nominated for Best Radio Station! The final round of voting will run online at CVIndependent.com through Monday, October 25. Vote Today