Gay Desert Guide Weekend: Feb. 26-28, 2021

#ILoveGayPalmSprings
#ILoveGayCatCity
#ShopLocal and … #WeArePalmSprings

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I Love Gay Palm Springs Podcast – Episode 86

Join John Taylor, comedian Shann Carr, Brad Fuhr of GayDesertGuide.com physician Dr. Laura Rush, journalist Jimmy Boegle of CVIndependent.com and special guests: Palm Springs 19th Mayor Ron Oden, the first black openly gay man to be elected mayor of a U.S. city. GayDesertGuide.com Food blogger Charles Drabkin checks in at King’s Highway, Rebecca Rizzo – Director of Membership, Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce and Daniel Meier – Deputy Director of Aviation, Marketing & Air Service at Palm Springs International Airport.

The #ILoveGayPalmSprings podcast is broadcast on Facebook Live at its new time, Fridays at 11:00 a.m.! Our podcast is brought to you by We Are Palm Springs, inviting locals to support local business!

The I Love Gay Palm Springs Podcast is also available on Apple TV, Roku TV, Amazon FireTV and Android devices via OutAt.tv. Tune in Friday mornings at 10:00 a.m. (or later on-demand) to stream us to your TV. Listen on Apple Podcasts and now available on iHeartRadio too!

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McCormick’s 70th Palm Springs Exotic Car Auction

McCormick’s 70th Palm Springs Exotic Car Auction is this Friday through Sunday, February 26–28 on the grounds of the Palm Springs Convention Center. This is a live, in person auction of classic, vintage and muscle cars in the usual outdoor setting, operating under all CDC guidelines to protect guests and staff alike. Prices range from just $3,000 to over $250,000 and the general public as well as dealers are welcome. Friday admission is FREE, Saturday & Sunday $15 each or $25 for both days. More info

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Palm Springs Caravan Through African American History

The Palm Springs Black History Committee presents Caravan Thru African American History on Saturday, February 27 from 10:00 am.–12:00 p.m. This free tour will introduce you to Black pioneers of our city whose talents and perseverance overcame the prejudices of earlier times. Those taking the tour will drive themselves along the route while listening to an audio transmission inside their cars. See the works of renowned architect Paul R. Williams, and learn about land developer and city planner Lawrence Crossley, visit the Crossley Corners trailer park, the Dream Homes enclave he designed, and the neighborhood that now bears his name. The tour will conclude at Desert Highland Gateway Estates, with First Baptist Church and Ajalon Baptist Church and ending at the James O. Jessie Desert Highland Unity Center, the social, cultural, and recreational hub of the Palm Springs area. More info

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Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus Spring Fundraiser & Wine Tasting

Bouschet Gourmet Food & Wine will be hosting a fundraising wine tasting event to benefit the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus on Friday, February 26 from 5:30–7:00 p.m., both in-person and virtually. Roth Mendoza, (Wine Representative, Browne Family Vineyards) and Lisa Wherry (Certified Wine Specialist, Wine Gal Consulting), will provide insight into the wines and how to pair the varietals, while comparing their uniqueness to other wines in the marketplace in their style, how they are blended, and the regions the grapes are grown. Zoom and in-person attendees will also be treated to a charcuterie sampling. For Zoom attendees, the tasting package can be picked up prior to the event. More info

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Dining Review: King’s Highway at The Ace Hotel

Gay Desert Guide food critic Charles Drabkin is back with his “Dining Out(Side)” series, as he explores the world of outdoor dining in the Greater Palm Springs area (the only “dining out” allowed under current Covid restrictions). This time, he visits King’s Highway at the Ace Hotel, with an eye toward Covid-safety measures as well as the food, service, and atmosphere in general. Don’t miss his take on the beans and fish, pork chop, maitake mushrooms, and much more! Banana toffee pie, anyone? Read the full review

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Black Gay Film Directors’ Showcase

Brothers of the Desert encourage you to join them for the Black Gay Film Directors’ Showcase, Thursday and Friday, Feb. 25 & 26. On Friday February 26 from 6:00–8:30 p.m., log on for a free virtual screening of director Patrik Ian-Polk‘s feature film, Blackbird, starring Mo’Nique, Isiah Washington and Julian Walker. The evening will include a “live” discussion with lead actor Julian Walker and author of the book, Blackbird, Larry Duplechan. More info

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 Scandals and Secrets of the Metropolitan Museum

Gay Desert Guide’s Fun & Games Dept. and TheMenEvent.com present Scandals and Secrets of the Metropolitan Museum on Saturday, February 27 at 11:00 a.m. Join Professor Andrew Lear to discover the artworks in the Met that caused scandals and hid secrets, works that shocked and titillated viewers then and now! Learn about the bad boys of ancient Greek art, the slow striptease that led to female nudes, the way Biblical and mythological stories covered for racy pictures, the subtle signs that identify scandalous women, how Courbet shocked Paris with frank naturalism and how a trans painter hid herself in her paintings, and more. Get tickets

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Essential Conversations: Let’s Talk About Money

PALS – Planning Ahead for LGBT Seniors presents Let’s Talk About Money: Tips, Resources, and Emotion on Saturday, February 27 from 10:00–11:00 a.m. The Financial Conversation is one of the Seven Essential Conversations you must have in order to Own Your Future. Register in advance for this seminar. More info

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 Queer Music from Schubert to Sylvester

Gay Desert Guide’s Fun & Games Dept. and TheMenEvent.com present Queer Music from Schubert to Sylvester on Sunday, February 28 at 11:00 a.m. Join Nick Collinson and Dan Vo as they create a Billboard style countdown of the best in queer music from across time: Elton John, Freddie Mercury, David Bowie, Sylvester, and a look at composers from the classical world too, with Schubert, Tchaikovsky, Chopin and more. The countdown will also delve into iconic black women Ma Rainey, Bessie Smith and Tracy Chapman and a few contemporary performers too like Kim Petras and Chris from Christine and the Queens. The countdown is sure to be controversial as your hosts dare to decide who takes the crown! Get tickets

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Have you been following our Gay Desert Guide crushes on social media? Every Monday and Wednesday we are highlighting our man and woman crushes, which vary from local to global. Our Man Crush Monday this week is Tysen Knight and Woman Crush Wednesday is Viola Davis!  She plays a bisexual blues singer in the acclaimed “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom”. Click their image here to see a fun slideshow, and to keep up with all our crushes, follow @GayDesertGuide on Facebook and Instagram

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Modernism Week Online Experience Continues

It’s the final weekend of the Modernism Week Online Experience! It’s not too late to watch these popular programs, available for online purchase until February 28. Once purchased, you can stream these programs until March 31. While Modernism Week has rescheduled in-person events from February to April, the Online Experience is taking place throughout February, with a curated line-up of more than 20 new video programs created specifically for Modernism Week, like a Charles Phoenix Virtual Tour of “Palm Springsland” to name just one! More info

Shann Carr’s Big Gay “March Gladness” Game Night Party

On Friday, March 5 at 6:00 p.m., celebrate the start of a new era and make new friends with the March Gladness Big Gay Game Night, presented by the Fun & Games Dept. of Gay Desert Guide and hosted by funny lady comedian Shann Carr. Take a break from all the craziness and join new friends for our virtual fun and games night. We’ll have several rounds of easy competitions featuring things like Hangman, Easy Trivia and A Friendly Feud! Your host will lead the group through the games and have some fun conversations too! Get tickets

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12th Annual Spring Fling

Join Bloom in the Desert Ministries UCC on Friday, March 5 from 6:30 to 8:15 p.m. for their 12th Annual Spring Fling, with the theme “Blooming Together.” The virtual gala will feature entertainment by Musical Theater University; an online, real time silent auction for unique, multi-themed “Easter Baskets”; and a raffle for $500 in Amazon gift cards. Bloom will also be presenting the 7th Annual Community Justice Award to Keisha D, and also the 3rd Annual Compassion Appreciation Award. Register now to preview the auction and bidding starts Monday, March 1 at noon. More info

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 WildLights Makes a Spring Return

The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens has announced that WildLights will return to the Zoo – with a spring twist! WildLights of Spring will take place nightly, March 15–28, 2021. Guests will take an illuminated journey around the Zoo with enchanting assortments of lighted animal sculptures and vantages of select habitats including the emus of the Australian Adventures. A portion of the African Safari loop will be open for guests to see cheetahs, zebras, African wild dogs, and other animals. The event also will feature new music for the light zones, and guests can take a spin on the carousel and make s’mores around a fire, for an additional fee. Food and refreshments will be available for purchase. Tickets are on sale now and advanced purchase is required. Get tickets

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Mark Your Calendar: Club Skirts’ The Dinah Shore Weekend 2021

Mariah Hanson and the team from Club Skirts’ The Dinah recently announced the rescheduling of this year’s event, now set to take place September 29 through October 3, 2021. The event date is still tentative given the uncertainty around COVID-19, but organizers are hopeful and tickets purchased now will come with a 15% credit in addition to the value of your ticket to be used at a future Dinah. And tickets do not expire! More info

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Next Week: Virtual Events at The Center