In the foreground, we’re making our way through another hot Summer in the Coachella Valley. (sounds a little cooler than “in the desert”, but that’s where we live!) In the background, plans are in full swing for the “season”.
I’m spending lots of time scheming fun stuff for our Arenas Road stage at Palm Springs Pride, making plans for The Dinah, Modernism Week and the myriad events that brings millions to our destination.
Yesterday, I saw a recap of the past year and a look at things to come from the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism. The numbers were very good as we emerged from one phase of COVID. Rob Hampton, Kimber Foster and the team do an amazing job of promoting our destination to the world! “A rising tide lifts all boats!”
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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The Essence of Whitney
The Show at the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage presents Gennine Francis in The Essence of Whitney on Friday, July 22 at 8 pm. Gennine Francis has been singing at venues in Palm Springs since 2002 and she quickly became known as the singer who looks and sounds like Whitney Houston. Shortly after Whitney’s passing, it became evident that she should consider doing a Whitney Houston Tribute. By this time, Gennine had built quite a following. Fast forward to today and she now has one of the best Whitney tributes in the country. Get tickets
Christmas in July at The Roost
It’s the culmination of a month-long Christmas in July celebration at The Roost Lounge, on Sunday, July 24. First there’s a Drag Brunch Fundraiser from 11 am–2 pm, featuring Delta Work, Ethylina Canne, & Morgan McMichaels. The Holiday Dinner is at 6 pm, with performers David Hirsch, Abigail Carter, Bill Lohnes, and Keisha D, plus raffles and the popular Holiday Wreath Auction. Proceeds benefit Tools for Tomorrow and the children of Rio Vista Elementary School. More info
Summer Sing-A-Long: Annie
The Summer Sing-a-Long series is back at the Palm Springs Cultural Center with returning favorites and new classics. On Saturday, July 23 the series continues with Annie, the musical about a fiery young orphan girl who must live in a miserable orphanage run by the tyrannical Miss Hannigan (Carol Burnett!). Annie’s situation changes when she is selected to spend a short time at the residence of the wealthy Oliver Warbucks, whose offer to help Annie find her long-lost parents inadvertently puts Annie in great danger. Come early for the Schmigadoon happy hour at 5 pm upstairs in the VIP Lounge. Head into the theater for the sing-a-long at 7 pm, with songleaders from the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus leading the out-loud voices! The series continues for two more Saturdays: July 30 with Little Shop of Horrors, and August 6 with Mamma Mia 2! Get tickets
The Carol Burnett Show Live on Stage
Desert Theatreworks is presenting a “summer full of fun” with shows on Sundays. The July production is The Carol Burnett Show Live on Stage on July 24, & 31, with performances at 2 pm. “The Carol Burnett Show” ran for 11 years and is known as one of the most brilliant television shows of all time. You’ll love this opportunity to see some of the best classic comedy sketches from the program re-created for the stage performed by some of DTW’s favorite performers. Get tickets
Speaking of dining out, there are many joys of dining out in the desert during the summer: specials like the Taste of Summer (above), dining outdoors under water spray misters, and oftentimes reservations are less necessary when things are less busy in the off-season. However, make sure you check ahead on social media or their website to make sure the restaurant you’re planning to visit has not taken a summer hiatus!
OutFest LGBTQ+ Film Festival
Celebrating its 40th anniversary, the 2022 Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival kicked off Thursday, July 14 and will continue through Sunday, July 24. The world’s leading LGBTQ+ festival returns with outdoor events, indoor screenings for vaccinated attendees, and also available via streaming for those who wish to experience the festival from their own home. The festival provides both the community and creators opportunities to participate in various events, workshops, masterclasses, and panels, both to provide networking opportunities and filmmaker development. Get tickets
Joshua Tree Summer Theatre Under the Stars
WindWalkers Medicine Wheel presents an original play by Howard Shangraw, Tonight in Spoon River, opening Friday, July 22 and running for nine performances through Sunday, August 7. Based on Spoon River Anthology written by Edgar Lee Masters, the play takes place on a hillside cemetery where we meet the ghosts of the small fictional town Spoon River. Masters wrote the epitaphs of the dearly departed as a remembrance of the “fair, tender-hearted souls” he recalled from his home town of Lewiston, Ohio, where he lived as a young boy (and, ironically where his book was banned!). Get tickets
Brothers of the Desert Book Club
The Brothers of the Desert Book Club (BODBC) is offering members and allies an opportunity to meet bi-monthly to discuss their community’s literary history, meeting on Zoom twice a month: the second and fourth Saturday afternoons, this weekend on Saturday, July 23 at 3 pm. The selection for July and August is All Boys Aren’t Blue: A Memoir-Manifesto by George M. Johnson. This series of personal essays by Johnson, a prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist, explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. The BODBC is more than a book club, it’s a social and networking event as well as an opportunity to become better individuals and be the change you want to see in the world. More info
RuPaul Recap: All Stars Season 7, Episode 11
Our Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent, Dante Noto, has published his latest chatty recap of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 7 (See all of his RuPaul Recaps here). This week the queens compete in a variety extravaganza to benefit the charity of their choice, and they also sit down for the traditional Tic Tac Chit Chat with Ru and Michelle Visage. Plus, there’s a twist that prompts Dante to say: “Everyone is shook, but mostly me. I’m the Queen of Shooketh!” Read the full recap of Episode 11: Drag Race Gives Back: Variety Extravaganza [here].
Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage
Grab your friends and your passport to new adventures with Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage, running from now through Friday August 12. Come hungry! Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage is an annual tradition of sizzling specials and tantalizing treats for the community to enjoy. Participating restaurants run the gamut from State Fare at the Ritz-Carlton, Willie’s Modern Fare, Las Casuelas Nuevas, and Haus of Poke, to Krispy Kreme and many more. It not only helps local restaurants during slower months, your $10 wristband is also a fundraiser for local nonprofits. More info
LOOKING AHEAD
Modernism Week – October
Modernism Week, the annual festival that highlights midcentury modern architecture, art, interior and landscape design, will offer Modernism Week – October from October 13–16. While smaller in scope than the 11-day festival held annually each February, the October event offers more than 50 events during 4-days, including several free and low-cost programs. A full schedule of events will be available starting Monday, July 25 and tickets will go on sale August 1 at 12 noon PST. More info
On the Air at KGAY 106.5
KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide have your passes to Splash House 2022, taking place August 12–14 & August 19–21. We’re giving away a pair of passes for each weekend, getting you into the host resorts, hopping on the festival shuttles for FREE and attending all the pool parties and performances during the day! Enter to win on the KGAY Contest Page
KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide also have have your chance to WIN tickets to Out on the Mountain at Six Flags Magic Mountain! The event takes place Friday, September 9 from 6 pm–midnight. The entire park goes gay for the night, which provides a safe and inclusive environment of fun for the LGBTQ community, with rides, dance parties, and performers. Enter to win on the KGAY Contest Page
KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs is “The Pride of the Valley,” and you can show your Pride by proudly wearing our rainbow logo! Check out our selection of apparel and other items emblazoned with the best radio station call letters: KGAY! Shop now
The KGAY 106.5 Retro Lunch airs Monday through Friday at noon, with DJ Galaxy (Vincent Corrales) and DJ Eric Ornelas playing an hour of their high-energy throwback mixes. On Sundays, we put all five hours together for the Retro Sunday Brunch from 11 am–4 pm. Perfect pool party music! Listen Online
- Summer Sing-A-Long Series: Annie
Sat. Jul 23 at 7 pm at the Palm Springs Cultural Center - The Roost Lounge Presents Christmas in July
Jul 5–24 - How to Perform CPR
Thu Jul. 28 at Mizell Center - The Carol Burnett Show Live on Stage
July 24 & 31 at Desert Theatreworks - Splash House August Weekend One
Aug 12–14 at the Saguaro, Renaissance, Margaritaville resorts + PS Air Museum - Boy George & Culture Club
Sat. Aug 20 at 8 pm at The Show at Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage - Out on the Mountain
Fri. Sep 9 from 6 pm–midnight at Six Flags Magic Mountain - Club Skirts Dinah Shore Weekend
Sep. 21–25 at Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs - Pride Under the Pines
Sat. Oct 1 from 12–9 pm in Idyllwild
- Explainer: What is the Deal with Gay Men and Monkeypox?
- DAP Health and Revivals Stores Named Non-Profit of the Year by Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce
- Good Company: A Palm Springs Dance Studio Provides Transformative Experiences for Performers, Audiences, and its Founder
- Anti-LGBTQ+ Calif. Congressman Changes Tune When Facing Gay Challenger
- Hiking With T: Don’t Be a Rescue Statistic; Take Precautions, and Plan Your Hike
At AMP Sports Lounge, it doesn’t even matter what type of balls you’re into, or if you just like a good puck, you’ll feel right at home. And if sport is not your thing, they have everything from bingo to disco, too! Their casual, festive and funky atmosphere suits all who choose to come and play, drink, enjoy a snack from the bar menu, and make new buddies. Get our HOT DEAL and enjoy $40 of beer, wine, or signature cocktails for just $20! Get Your Deal
We have Hot Deals at Grand Central, Revel Public House, Men’s Grooming Spot, Zin American Bistro, Just Fabulous, Giuseppe’s Pizza & Pasta, Willie’s Modern Fare, Runway, Coachella Valley Coffee Co., Trevor Wayne Pop Art, Lulu California Bistro, Eight4Nine and more! See All Deals
Find out what’s happening on any given day by browsing our Gay Desert Guide Online Event Listing Calendar, and for the big picture, take a look at major upcoming events in our 2022 Coachella Valley Calendar of Events.
Listen to KGAY 106.5 over the air, stream it [here], or listen on TuneIn Radio with Alexa or Siri by saying “Play K-GAY 1065 from Tune In Radio.” John Taylor is on mornings 6–10 am and program director Chris Shebel is on afternoons. Our Retro Lunch with DJ Galaxy and DJ Eric Ornelas is now heard on Sundays as the Retro Lunch & Sunday Brunch from 11 am–4 pm.
Don’t miss “This Way Out,” Sundays at 6:30 a.m. on KGAY 106.5. “This Way Out” is the only internationally distributed weekly LGBTQ radio program, currently airing on some 200 local community radio stations around the world. Listen to the latest episode as a podcast on our streaming page (click “Podcasts” in the upper right hand corner)