Gay Desert Guide Weekend: Apr 13–15, 2018 - Gay Desert Guide Palm Springs

This Weekend in #ILoveGayPalmSprings
April 13–15, 2018

This weekend in your Gay Desert Guide: Coachella takes over the Empire Polo Club and surrounding area in Indio, and we've got some fun links to learn more and plan your festival experience; there's a Luau at The District; Dining Out For Life is right around the corner: plan ahead for that, White Party and Meet the Museum on the same weekend, plus some great upcoming theatre, Evening Under the Stars, and Gay Wine Weekend advance passes, all on sale now!

Coachella 2018 is Here

The Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival is taking place this weekend and next, April 13–15, and April 20–22 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. "Coachella" has the biggest names in music as well as the hottest up-and-comers. If you are among the 250,000 expected to attend this year, or if you are just curious to know more about, it we've gathered some helpful bookmarks for you:

More Coachella-related bookmarks

#GaysofCoachella

Gays of Coachella is the perfect place to connect with other LGBTQ Coachella Festival Goers. Check their feed and get the latest in Coachella trends and news. Get announcements on upcoming events, meet-ups, and pre-parties. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter!

www.facebook.com/groups/GaysofCoachella/
www.instagram.com/GaysofCoachella
www.twitter.com/GaysofCoachella

Dining Out For Life: Make Reservations Now

Dining Out For Life 2018 is less than two weeks away, Thursday, April 26, and it's time to make your reservations now. Visit our Dining Out For Life Channel where you can browse participating restaurants, each of which is donating at least 33% of their sales on that day to support the Desert AIDS Project. GayDesertGuide.LGBT is proud to sponsor this event and provide this channel featuring the best places to dine and drink! Watch this informational video where Patrick Price tells us how one meal can change lives. There's even a bit of friendly nationwide competition with other top markets (Last year, Coachella Valley was #3 out of over 50 participants).

Meet the Museum is Back

Now is also the time to secure tickets for the return of Meet the Museum, the only White Party event celebrating LGBT artists, at the Palm Springs Art Museum on Friday, April 27 at 6:00 p.m. Enjoy both the Warhol and Childress Exhibitions, in addition to a bar, food, and DJ. VIP Tickets (includes valet parking in the North Parking lot and a one-year museum membership) are $150 and include a private preview and reception from 5:00 to 6:00 PM. General Admission is $75. Get tickets

White Party Weekend is April 27-30

White Party 2018 is also just two weeks away (April 27-30), and we've your go-to guide with just the facts, man: the who, what, where, when, and how to be a part of the world's premier dance festival. VIP Weekend Passes are almost sold out, and limited quantities of regular weekend passes remain.
Read: White Party: A Guide

White Party events by day: Fri – Sat – Sun

Upcoming Theatre: Jewtopia, Dare, 2 Across

Starting next week, check out these fresh new offerings from local theatre companies; plan ahead and get your tickets now!

Desert Theatreworks presents Jewtopia starting Thursday, April 19 and running through Sunday, April 29 at the Indio Performing Arts Center. This is a story of two 30 year old single men (one gentile, one Jew) who team up on a quest to marry a Jewish girl (for different reasons). Stereotypes collide, cultures clash and chaos ensues! Get tickets

The Desert Rose Playhouse, the Coachella Valley’s LGBTQ+ Stage Company, will present the world premiere of a new play, Dare, by Allan Baker, opening Friday, April 20, for a four-week run ending Sunday, May 13. Gerontologist Josh has been sent to interview 82-year-old gay activist and stage director Jack to see why he wants to end his life. Jack illustrates in flashbacks the fantastic and inspired tale of his activist life, his one great love, and his plan to stage his “Curtain Call” as carefully and beautifully as he has staged his plays. Get tickets

Coachella Valley Repertory Theatre presents 2 Across, from Wednesday, April 25 through Thursday, May 20. Two strangers alone on a train, each is married, both are doing the New York Times crossword. She’s an organized, sensible psychologist. He’s a free-spirited, unemployed ad exec. Two opposites in an enclosed space, attacking each other’s values but also being swayed and intrigued by them. Get tickets

TryOUT Tuesday: Atomic Budz

Looking ahead to next week: we offer you a unique opportunity to meet and mingle at our next TryOUT Tuesday event, this time at the cannabis dispensary Atomic Budz, on Tuesday, April 17 from 4:00–6:30 p.m. No, they won't be giving out free samples per se, but you can enjoy some great food and drink, including gourmet sandwiches and tasty side dishes. Also available: uninfused bite size edibles to give you an idea of what the products taste like. Best of all, you can pick up your 20% discount card for your next visit! More info

Close Out Luau at The District

The District at the Edge and Desert Outlook invite you to a luau party on Saturday, April 14 at 5:00 p.m. at the Edge Pool Cabana to celebrate the sale of the last remaining homes in this exciting new development. Enjoy music, food and drinks. RSVP requested. More info

25th Anniversary of Evening Under the Stars

Gladys Knight is one of greatest singers in the world, period. Evening Under the Stars is not only a great fundraiser, it’s also a great show. This year, on May 5 at 5:30 p.m., this premier fundraiser for AAP Food Samaritans celebrates its 25th Anniversary and event organizers are pulling out all the stops to make this iconic Palm Springs event extra special. Festivities will begin with an extended sunset cocktail hour on the grounds of the O’Donnell Golf Club against a backdrop of the majestic San Jacinto Mountains, widely regarded as one of the most festive cocktail receptions of the season. A short awards program will recognize a few inspirational honorees, followed by a delicious dinner, and the performance by the incomparable Gladys Knight. Get tickets

Gay Wine Weekend Passes on Sale Now

A good time to head north to Sonoma, when the days are warm and the nights usually cool off nicely, would be July 20–22, for Gay Wine Weekend 2018. This world-class wine tasting weekend in the prestigious Sonoma Valley winegrowing region is three full days of events, and Advance Purchase VIP Passes are on sale now at $100 off the regular price. Passes include admission to the following: EXCLUSIVE VIP Welcome Reception, LGBT Business Expo & Wine Tasting, Twilight T-Dance (plus VIP Reception), Apres T After Party, Big Gay Wine Auction & Recover Brunch and a Sunday Pool Soiree. Get passes

If you love Mexican food and tasty Margaritas combined with a great atmosphere then Rio Azul is the place for you! Join them for Rio Happy Hour and indulge in $5 Margaritas and appetizers under $8.And on Street Fair Thursdays, join them after shopping for $2 crispy tacos and 2 for 1 Margaritas!

Streetbar on Arenas has one of the best happy hours in town! They’re known for their Top Shelf daily specials such as Makers Mark bourbon, Grey Goose Vodka and Jack Daniel’s Whiskey! This weekend you can enjoy these amazing Top Shelf specials with entertainment like DJ Mr. Dan on Friday the 13th from 8-12pm!

Find Your Happy Hour

Zach & Evan Fall in Love with #ILoveGayPalmSprings!
The YouTube couple Zach & Evan make their pilgrimage to Palm Springs from Pittsburgh to plan their wedding with the help of Gay Desert Guide and Married in Palm Springs, our LGBT wedding channel.
Read more about their visit here.

Welcome New Partner:

Mark Hawk, Realtor

Welcome Mark Hawk! Mark brings to Tarbell, Realtors the qualities he developed during his 33 years as an Emergency/Trauma/Critical Care RN & Nurse Practitioner which are: 1) an excellent knowledge base, 2) keen assessment skills, 3) the ability to multi-task, and 4) Attention to Detail! Call Mark today to list your property and/or find your perfect desert home!"

Welcome New Partner:

Lappert's Premium Gourmet Ice Cream

Orange Whip? Orange Whip? Welcome Lappert's Premium Gourmet Ice Cream…legendary ice cream (boasting 125 distinctive, unique, rotating flavors), or you can also treat yourself to an award-winning DATE SHAKE (Voted “TOP 5 BEST” Date Shake of the Coachella Valley by the Desert Sun). LGBT-owned!

Luxurious and deli aren’t often mentioned in the same sentence unless you’re talking about Manhattan in the Desert, where a delicious meal of lox and bagels or a mile-high corn beef sandwich can be had at an equally delicious discount. Enjoy $25 worth of food for just $17.50. That’s a 30% discount! If it were our choice, we’d use it all at the bakery. The bakery selection is as expansive and delectable as the atmosphere. Get a taste of Manhattan in Palm Springs or Palm Desert where the meal will be as exciting as this great deal.

How do you feel about doing some gourmet shopping for 1/3 off the price? We are offering a $15 gift card for On the Mark for only $10! On The Mark is a one-of-kind gourmet food market and deli, where you can find all sorts of artisan craft goods and high-quality specialty foods that you can't find at your local grocery store. Talk about a deal that gives you quality AND quantity!

Get Your Hot Deals

Top Five Bookmarks of the Week on GayDesertGuide.LGBT

Bookmarks are articles from news sources around the globe, which have featured stories about the Coachella Valley and the great things that happen here. So follow us on social media and keep up with news from sources far and wide.