Gay Desert Guide Weekend: Feb 22–24, 2019

Let us be your Gay Desert Guide to the Weekend!

Modernism Week is wrapping up this week, and CAMP is your central hub. We are looking forward to the Modernism Yard Sale on Sunday! Also this weekend: Deborah Cox with Stars Among Us, Black History Month Parade, Hollywood’s Biggest Awards Show, Addicted to Americana, McCormick’s Collector Car Auction, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, and some great HOT DEALS and Happy Hour highlights!

Modernism Week Continues Through Feb 24

Modernism Week 2019 continues through Sunday, February 24. The full list of events can be found by following our link.

Modernism Week’s CAMP (“Community And Meeting Place”) provides a central hub for “Modernistas” (fans of Modernism Week). Located at 230 Museum Way (directly across from the Palm Springs Art Museum in the
future Downtown Palm Springs public park space), CAMP includes an information desk, a box office, a café and bar by Cheeky’s, the Modernism Week merchandise store by Destination PSP, a theater and many interactive sponsor booths. Learn more

The Modernism Yard Sale takes place on Sunday, February 24 from 8:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., presented by Modern Bear, and hosted by H3K Home. This annual sale has become one of Modernism Week’s most popular free events, with carefully curated vendors offering their highly coveted mix of vintage Midcentury decorative furnishings, fashion, and collectibles. ~ you may score a deal or a total steal, or at the very least enjoy the free coffee and donuts. Learn more

Desert X Continues

Modernism fans and art enthusiasts alike will be drawn this week to check out the once-every-two-years art exhibition, Desert X, now open and featuring an expanded footprint this year. There are three hub locations across the valley: Palm Springs, Palm Desert and Indio, with exhibits stretching from Palm Springs to the Salton Sea. Also featuring multiple programs, performances, and a three-day “unsymposium.” Exhibition runs February 9–April 21. More info

Stars Among Us Gala

This Friday, February 22, The Mizell Senior Center presents the 14th Annual Stars Among Us Gala, from 5:30–9:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Air Museum. The evening’s featured entertainment is “I Will Always Love You: Celebrating the Music of Whitney Houston,” with a spectacular performance by Deborah Cox, a Grammy® nominated recording artist for her own R&B and dance hits, who starred on Broadway in “The Bodyguard”, a musical based on the film. Get tickets

Deborah Cox recently joined John Taylor on KGAY 106.5 to talk about her music and her upcoming performance at the Mizell Stars Among Us Gala! Listen now

Black History Month Parade & Town Fair

The Palm Springs Black History Committee (PSBHC) and the City of Palm Springs James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center present the 32nd Annual Black History Month Parade and Town Fair on Saturday, February 23, from 11:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. at Frances Stevens Park. The parade steps off at 11:00 a.m. and the fair will start at noon with great food, on-field performances, musical renditions, on-stage shows, and specialty booth displays. This year’s theme is Black Migrations and Urban Realities. More info

“Hollywood’s Biggest Awards Show” this Sunday

D’Place – Mary Pickford Theatre presents comedian Shann Carr as she returns for a 3rd year to host a raucous big-screen viewing of the Academy Awards, Hollywood’s Biggest Awards Show on February 24, 2019. This year, Shann’s co-host is the fabulous performer Ethylina Canne! Enjoy a complimentary glass of champagne plus passed appetizers and desserts all night long as they are brought to your chairs. Shann and Ethylina will fill the commercial breaks with fun, games and prizes while being mindful that you wanna see the show! Benefits Variety Children’s Charity and Desert AIDS Project. Get tickets

New Theatre Production: The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas

Palm Canyon Theatre presents The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, opening Friday, February 22 and running through Sunday, March 10. This hit musical comedy features Miss Mona, in charge of The Chicken Ranch, a brothel located just outside the fictional town of Gilbert, Texas. Miss Mona and the local sheriff, Ed Earl Dodd, have a mutual agreement to co-exist, and things are pretty much as they have been for 58 years – until Melvin P. Thorpe, a Houston TV reporter and do-gooder, sets out to spoil everybody’s fun. Get tickets

Charles Phoenix Book Signing at Peepa’s

On Friday, February 22 from 4:00–6:00 p.m., Charles Phoenix, known as the Ambassador of Americana, will be signing copies of his book, Addicted to Americana at Peepa’s. This riotously colorful book, replete with Charles’s collection of vintage Kodachrome slides, celebrates his lifelong quest to unearth the best of classic and kitschy American life and style. More info

McCormick’s Palm Springs Collector Car Auction

Celebrating its 33rd year, McCormick’s Palm Springs Collector Car Auction takes place Friday, February 22 through Sunday, February 24 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Friday is free preview day, with auction all day Saturday and Sunday. Free happy hours on Friday and Sunday too! More info

Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival

Running now through Sunday, February 24, the Riverside County Fair and National Date Festival offers an exciting line-up of Headliner entertainment in the Fantasy Springs Concert Pavilion including Randy Houser, Ramon Ayala, Salt-n-Pepa, Kool & the Gang and Mariachi Sol de Mexico de Jose Hernandez. More info

LOOKING AHEAD

Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival

Celebrate the wildflower bloom–which promises be a great one this year–at the Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival on Saturday, March 2 from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. at a new location this year: Palm Desert Civic Center Park. The festival features a variety of outdoor and educational activities for the entire family, with wildflower displays, a 5k Fun Run, Kids’ Zone, and a climbing wall. Sign-ups will be taken at the festival for interpretive hikes to take place later in the month at the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center in Palm Desert. More info

Purple Reign at The Show

On Saturday, March 23 at 8:00 p.m., The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa presents Purple Reign, which captures the imagination and seamlessly recreates the blistering performances and raw energy of Prince in his prime and returns audiences to the era that made “The Artist” an international superstar. Also featuring a tribute to Morris Day and The Time, this show is a must-see for “Purple Rain” movie fans and live music fans alike. Get tickets

KGAY 106.5 Giveaway

Don’t you just love the new KGAY 106.5, Pride of the Valley radio? Make sure you also “Like” the KGAY page on Facebook, and find out how you could WIN two hot tickets to the Red Dress Dress Red party on March 9!

Don’t delay, “Like” KGAY today!

We have two Happy Hour highlights from Cathedral City this week, and this is a good time to mark your calendars for Cathedral City’s LGBT Days Pride festival (Featuring the 5th annual Bed Race and much more), March 29–31, just five weeks from now!

Runway (Just outside CCBC Resort) has recently launched a special Happy Hour menu from 2:00–7:00 daily with deals like $3.50 beer, wine, and cocktails, plus great eats like sliders for $1, ahi nachos for $3 and chicken tenders for $3.50. And every Friday, enjoy $6 signature drinks and buy one entree and get one free! Get Happy at Runway

Trunks Bar features Happy Hour from 10:00 a.m.–6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday with $5 shots, $4 well drinks, and $3 beer! Check out their Tuesday night Country Line Dance Classes so you can kick up your heels at Saturday’s Country Night, or come for Karaoke Wednesdays or Drag Show Fridays. And you can’t miss with Sunday’s $2 Beer Bust. Get Happy at Trunks

Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge is definitely a locals favorite, offering a friendly, welcoming atmosphere for any meal of the day! They were recently featured in Locale Magazine as a great place to get a “Bangin’ Breakfast,” and with this HOT DEAL you can enjoy Ina’s Scottish Breakfast Saturdays & Sundays (or use it anytime) for 40% off! Get a $25 gift certificate for just $15. Get Your Deal

Oscar’s Cafe & Bar is celebrating their anniversary of bringing you The Bitchiest Brunch, with endless queens and endless attitude! This Sunday will be the brunch from hell with Drag Brunch Beesh – 1 Year of Attitude at 11:00 a.m. Make brunch even more fierce with this HOT DEAL of a $25 gift certificate for only $15.  Get Your Deal

• Modernism Week 2019
  Thu, Feb 14–Sun, Feb 24
• Mizell’s Stars Among Us Gala 2019
  Friday, February 22, 5:30–9:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Air Museum
• McCormick’s Palm Springs Collector Car Auction
  Fri, Feb 22–Sun, Feb 24 at the Palm Springs Convention Center
• March For Our Lives Palm Springs
  Fri, Mar 1 from 6:00–7:30 p.m.
• White Guy on the Bus
  Mar 1–10 at the Pearl McManus Theater
• Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival
  Sat, Mar 2 at Palm Desert Civic Center Park
• Palm Springs Dance Festival
  Thu, Mar 7–Sun, Mar 10 at the Annenberg Theater at PS Art Museum
• Red Dress Dress Red Party
  Sat, Mar 9 from 8:00–11:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Air Museum
• Purple Reign at The Show
  Sat, Mar 23 at 8:00 p.m. at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa
• NCLR Palm Springs Garden Party
  Sat, Apr 6 from 4:00–6:00 p.m.
• Desert X – 2019 Art Exhibition
  Feb 9–Apr 21
• White Party – 30th Anniversary
  Fri, Apr 26–Mon, Apr 29, 2019