Gay Desert Guide Weekend: Aug 10–12, 2018 - Gay Desert Guide Palm Springs

This Weekend in #ILoveGayPalmSprings
August 10–12, 2018

Let us be your Gay Desert Guide to the weekend! For the second time this summer, Splash House is landing in town with hot tracks and cool pool parties, Outlandish tickets are on sale now, and you know these will sell fast. You can beat the heat by heading up to Idyllwild for Jazz in the Pines, or head indoors to revisit The Beales of Grey Gardens with special guests. We also look ahead to celebrating the Women of Rodeo at Chill Bar, Big Bear Romp, the Palm Springs International Animation Festival, and CalComMen's “Graduate” Camp! Make a note of these and our HOT DEALS and cool Happy Hour highlights, this week in your Gay Desert Guide!

Splash House is Here This Weekend!

Splash House is back this weekend, taking place Aug 10–12 at The Renaissance, The Riviera, and The Saguaro hotels in Palm Springs. Though the event has sold out, a fan-to-fan ticket exchange is now open if you missed out on general ticket sales. The best of house music will set the stage for this epic pool party with after hours events at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Watch for Gay Desert Guide coverage on Twitter and Instagram. More info

And speaking of fabulous pool parties…

Gay Desert Guide and Hotel Zoso will soon be announcing details for an official Palm Springs Pride 2018 Pool Party on Friday, November 2! As a kickoff to Pride weekend, “Dip Into Pride” will feature top LA DJs and live performance by a special guest. Mark your calendars and watch this space for more info!

Big Bear Romp is Next Weekend – Discount Available!

Big Bear Romp 2018 is just a week away, August 16–19 at Big Bear Lake, and we have a Special Promo Offer for Gay Desert Guide readers:

Save $20 off Big Bear ROMP VIP weekend pass! Use code: GDG, valid through 8/11 at bigbearromp.com

While the host hotel has sold out (with wait list), you can still stay with a friend or find other accommodations and join the festivities (try Big Bear Vacations for other options). While the desert summer is often under heat advisory, the mountains are always cooler and it's a great short drive from Palm Springs up to Big Bear! Don't miss 2018 Headliner Amber, plus a Mountains of Laughs Comedy Night featuring Shawn Pelofsky, Leather Dance Party, Pool Parties, Beer Bust and BBQ, Bitchy Bingo Brunch with self-proclaimed sass-hole Mariam T, and more! Discount drink cup sales benefit the Big Bear Wildlife Animal Rescue – think of it as helping those critters one cup at a time. More info

The Beales of Grey Gardens

On Saturday, August 11 at 6:00 p.m., The Filmmakers' Gallery at the Palm Springs Cultural Center will host a cocktail party, book signing, and screening of The Beales of Grey Gardens, followed by a conversation with Jerry Torre and Tony Maietta, authors of “The Marble Faun of Grey Gardens: A Memoir of the Beales, the Maysles.” Albert Maysles and David Maysles took the unused footage from their 1975 documentary Grey Gardens and came up with a follow-up film, released in 2006. As with the first, we take a look at Big Edie and Little Edie, the relatives to Jackie Onassis who lived in an estate that was pretty much ran down and which they shared with a various of creatures including cats and raccoons. More info

Jazz in the Pines This Weekend

The 25th annual Jazz in the Pines takes place this weekend, August 10–12, featuring over two dozen bands. Performers and fans of jazz, blues, and R&B have a breathtaking mountain campus to themselves before the start of the next semester of the Foundation’s residential high school, Idyllwild Arts Academy. Though the Cranston fire came dangerously close to the campus, they did not sustain any burn damage and the show will go on, this year as a benefit for those affected by the fire. More info

Monthly Chill Bar Dance

On Thursday, August 16 from 7:30–10:00 pm., the Palm Springs Chapter of the Golden State Rodeo Association is “Celebrating the Women of Rodeo” along with Chill Bar at the Monthly Chill Bar Dance. This is a fundraiser for the Palm Springs Chapter of Hot Rodeo. More info

Animation Festival and Comic Con are Coming Too

The Palm Springs International Animation Festival and Expo, taking place August 22–25 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center/Camelot Theatre, is a global competition in animation and exhibition of the most talented artists in animation styles including 2D, 3D, Hand Drawn, Painted, Watercolor, Sand, Paper, Experimental, Stop-Motions, VFX, and more. Get tickets

The original and biggest Comics Convention in Palm Springs is back for the 3rd year from August 24–26 at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Don’t miss the definitive comic experience at CCPS, bringing together all your favorite artists, creators, celebrities, and cosplayers to one explosive annual event. Get tickets

“Outlandish” Tickets on Sale Now

You can now purchase Tickets to all six Outlandish shows at a 10% discount plus reduced ticketing fee!

Outlandish, a live performance series that debuted in Palm Springs last year, returns to the Palm Springs Cultural Center this fall with an expanded lineup. Produced by Logo TV Founder Matt Farber and the Palm Springs Cultural Center, the series will feature six iconic acts known in the LGBT community and beyond, including: John Waters, Randy Rainbow, Miss Richfield 1981, Pam Ann, Bob The Drag Queen, and San Francisco's famed gay male revue, Baloney. The series begins with John Waters on Friday, October 26 and concludes with Baloney on Saturday, December 8. More info

CalComMen's “GRADUATE” Community Camp

California Community of Men presents “Graduate” Community Camp from Friday, August 31–Monday, Sep 3, 2018. What can you do at “Graduate?”:
— Graduate from boy to man
— Graduate to be an even better man
— Graduate to a better place in your life
— Graduate to less fear & anxiety
— Graduate to more meaningful connections
— Graduate to a more engaged life
Like-minded, heart-centered men 18-91+ of all colors, sizes, shapes & differing abilities will gather to enjoy a safe, supportive and drug, alcohol, smoke and electronics-free space…4500 feet up in the San Jacinto Mountains. More info

A NEW CHAPTER FOR TOUCANS??

We learned of the pending sale of Toucans Tiki Lounge to F10 Creative, the owners of Alcazar, Birba, Cheekys, Mr. Lyons and other establishments. What that means for the venerable LGBT establishment is now the topic of speculation. According to the letter sent to us, the staff and programming at Toucans will remain the same.
Owner Michele Cinque sent the letter with the announcement earlier this week, and the transfer of liquor license sign is already posted in the window.

Michele wrote:

“Toucans began almost 17 years ago as a local gathering spot with a tight knit group of desert rats who saw the need for a friendly, open, carefree, judgement free gathering space that became a communal living room of sorts. It didn't matter if you had been buddies with Lee or Frank or ran with the party crowd or preferred to be a wallflower, you were welcomed within the front doors of Toucans and into the open arms of Eddie and Jason. And soon word caught on that there was this place in town where you could let your hair down and no one would think twice about it. Joining the first few that called Toucans their family, there were the weekenders, the snow birds, and the curious. And everyone was considered family.

Toucans was inspired by Eddie's love of the Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland. What could be more magical and wondrous than a space filled with brightly painted exotic birds? Perhaps the second happiest place on earth. Toucans is about letting go, even if just for a few moments or a few hours. And as the years have passed, our wider, more inclusive clientele shows that happiness knows no boundaries.”

Her brother, Eddie, started Toucans and August 31st is the anniversary of his passing. Michele literally picked up the torch to keep Toucans alive. She writes, “I have always tried to take care of Eddie’s bar keeping in mind his wish for Toucans to be a place where everyone is welcome. A place where staff, performers and customers feel cared for and appreciated. A place you could always come home to. I always tried to do what Eddie would have done. I know he would be proud of Toucans and all of us who have continued to keep his dream alive.”

We'll keep you updated as we learn more and have the full text of the letter available shortly.

NEW LGBT FRIENDLY BUSINESSES & PARTNERS
Welcome Purrfurred Pet Sitters

Purrfurred Pet Sitters is the leading provider of pet care services in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley, with a commitment to “Exceeding Pet Parents Expectations.” They offer in-Home pet care services including dog walking, cat sitting, over night stay and resort pet sitting with a Pet Care Specialist to provide you with extra attention your pet requires, and the peace of mind that comes with a care provider who is licensed, bonded, and insured. More info

Gay Wedding Institute Survey

Would you mind completing this
quick nationwide survey about LGBTQ weddings?
It's now 3 years post-marriage equality in the U.S. and it's time for a new survey of LGBTQ wedding trends. The data collected from this survey is used to educate wedding and travel professionals on how to effectively and respectfully serve LGBTQ couples. Thank you!

Enjoy an exotic night out at Watercress Vietnamese Bistro with $25 of food and drinks for 40% off with this HOT DEAL! You pay just $15 and you get $25 to spend on Wok Fried Noodles, Pork Belly Buns, or Grilled Lemongrass Shrimp Wraps, just to name a few of the tasty items on the menu. Get Your Deal

You can go gourmet shopping for 1/3 off with this HOT DEAL at On the Mark — You get a $15 Gift Certificate 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. Be sure to check out their regular “Unwined” wine & hors d'oeuvres tasting events! Get Your Deal

Streetbar – Happy 27th this weekend
Streetbar is known for top-quality Top Shelf drink specials every day of the week, daily domestic beer special of $3.75 all day and night, and this weekend they celebrate their 27th Anniversary with an all-day party featuring fun, food, and entertainment including Robbie Wayne with special guest Ruth Braun, and Brian Scott. A Donation from the Proceeds of the Anniversary Party will benefit the Palm Springs Animal Center. Get Happy at Streetbar

Wang's in the Desert
Join Wang's Daily for their Happy Hour from 3:00 PM to 8:00 PM, whether it's for Taco & Tequila Tuesdays, Wang's Wings Wednesdays, or Thirsty Thursdays, not to mention the hot music and men on the patio for Friday Boy's Night Out. They also feature live entertainment every weekend!
This weekend, Saturday August 11 at 6:00 p.m., Allison Annalora has invited the beautiful Keisha D to share the stage. Come enjoy award winning Asian Fusion Food and spectacular drinks in the comfort of the air conditioned dining room. Get Happy at Wang's

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