Gay Desert Guide Weekend: July 23-25, 2021

We’re in the throes of Summer with warm temps and humidity – and even some thunder, lightning and rain thrown in for good measure.  A good time to reacquaint yourself with some of our indoor treasures like the Palm Springs Art Museum.
And there’s no shortage of “summer stock”, and I don’t mean that derogatorily!  From Desert Rose Playhouse to opera, sing-alongs and performances at The Show, there’s plenty to occupy your hot summer nights.
Next week marks the return of The Center Social, re-emerging at the Saguaro.  We can’t wait but thinking that masking is certainly making a comeback.  I had a COVID scare myself this week, and reading Jimmy Boegle’s Indy Digest gives one pause about how we’ve let our guard down.
Don’t forget to sign up for this blog as a weekly newsletter delivered to your inbox by clicking on the link at the top of the page.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide 
#ILoveGayPalmSprings
#ILoveGayCatCity
#ShopLocal and … #WeArePalmSprings

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“The Great American Trailer Park Musical” Opens

The Desert Rose Playhouse presents “The Great American Trailer Park Musical,” opening Thursday, July 22 and running through Sunday, August 8. It explores the relationships between the tenants at the Armadillo Acres Trailer Park in Starke, Florida, particularly between Pippi, “the stripper on the run,” the Dr. Phil-loving agoraphobic, Jeannie, and Jeannie’s tollbooth-collector husband, Norbert. “Armadillo Acres” is a come-as-you-are kind of trailer park, where personalities and predilections might be noisy, but hearts are soft and true. ​Get tickets

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Brothers of the Desert Speaker Series: Gamal Palmer & Emil Wilbekin

Brothers of the Desert’s Speakers Series presents Won’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now: Navigating Our Intersectional Identities with Gamal J. Palmer and Emil Wilbekin, on Saturday, July 24 at 10:00 a.m. on Zoom. Palmer, a Global Diversity and Inclusion Specialist, and Wilbekin, founder of Native Son, will encourage members of Black, gay and allied communities to think critically about our intersectional identities, and how to be gentler with ourselves and others, to cultivate an environment that is truly safe and inclusive. This Town Hall style conversation will be a combination of breakout room discussions, story sharing and Q+A. More info

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Guided Nature Walks at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Guided Nature Walks are a wonderful way to learn about the natural environment at the top of the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. Mount San Jacinto State Park Volunteers conduct these walks Saturdays and Sundays through the summer, up to September 5. These walks feature a choice of two easy trails–the Desert View Trail, a 1½-mile route beginning at 11:00 a.m. and the Long Valley Nature Trail, a ¾-mile loop beginning at 1:30 p.m. (Note that the Tramway will be closing September 7 for annual maintenance, set to reopen in early October). More info

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Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience

The Show at Agua Caliente Rancho Mirage presents Theresa Caputo Live! The Experience on Saturday, July 24 at 8:00 p.m. – Caputo, from TLC’s hit show, Long Island Medium, will share personal stories about her life and explain how her gift works. She will deliver healing messages to audience members and give people comfort knowing that their loved ones who passed are still with them, just in a different way. “The Experience” brings Theresa face-to-face with her fans, as she lets spirit guide her through the audience. A video display ensures everyone in the venue has an up-close-hands-on experience regardless of seat location. Get tickets

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Summerific Sing-A-Long: MARY POPPINS ☂

The Palm Springs Cultural Center and The Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus present The All Summer Long Snazzy Sassy Songsational Summerific Sing-A-Long. This week, on Saturday, July 24, the evening’s movie musical is the Disney classic “Mary Poppins” – At 6:00 p.m., come for social hour in the VIP Lounge upstairs, to mingle with your fellow movie musical enthusiasts and enjoy cocktails, mocktails & soda; spontaneous singing encouraged! Dress for the songsational occasion, and at 7:00 p.m. join host Rosemary Galore and songleaders from the Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus for an evening filled with film, fun, and song. The Summerific Sing-A-Long series is a joint fundraiser for Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus and Palm Springs Cultural Center and continues with a different film every Saturday through September 11. Get tickets

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CVRep Presents: The Palm Springs Opera Guild Concert

CVRep’s Summer Classical Music Series Presents: The Palm Springs Opera Guild Concert ~ Featuring Jacquelynne Fontaine on Sunday, July 25 at 2:00 p.m. at the CVRep Playhouse in Cathedral City. World-renowned opera singer Jacquelynne Fontaine takes the stage at CVRep for an exceptional afternoon. Fontaine is a multi-award-winning performer and this 60-minute performance by the talented Fontaine will delight. Get tickets

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Marx on Marx Cabaret

ACT for Multiple Sclerosis (ACT for MS) presents Marx on Marx Cabaret on Sunday, July 25 at 5:00 p.m. at The Classic Club in Palm Desert. Performing together are renowned composer, pianist and author, Bill Marx and new Desert resident & nephew, Gregg Marx, an emmy-award winning actor and cabaret singer. Social hour begins at 4:00 p.m., and a buffet dinner follows the performance. Celebrate the summer with relaxing entertainment and camaraderie while helping improve quality of life for clients of ACT for MS. More info

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RuPaul Recaps by Dante

Our Special Drag Correspondent Dante Noto is faithfully watching and reporting on all the weekly victories and defeats in the world of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 6. Check out his review of the latest episode, “Ru-Merican Horror Story: Coven Girls,” [here] where “on the main stage, the runway category is ‘Oh My Goth!’ The queens are swathed in black, except Kylie, who is basically nude, wrapped in criss-crossed black bands.” And see all of Dante’s recaps back to the season premiere [here]

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Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage

The heat is ON and that means Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage is back, July 15 through August 15. Here’s how it works: Purchase your $10 wristband online or in person at various locations, then visit participating restaurants to enjoy their Taste of Summer offers and deals on appetizers, drinks or desserts. Not only do you benefit from the savings, the proceeds from the sale of wristbands go to help the Chamber of Commerce, the Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory Foundation, and the charity you choose from the list. It’s a win/win all the way around! More info

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LOOKING AHEAD

Center Social Returns Wednesday July 28

Mark your calendar because The Center Social is coming back! Join your friends at The Saguaro on Wednesday, July 28 from 5:30–7:00 p.m. for the first Center Social since the COVID pandemic shut everything down. Beat the heat with cool vibes, refreshing drinks, and an even cooler community in AC luxury overlooking the Jacinto Lawn and the amazing pool area. Celebrate community and connection and spread the word–this happy hour is for everyone! More info

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Last Laugh Wednesdays at Oscar’s

National headliner Poppy Champlin kicks off a new stand-up comedy series, Last Laugh Wednesday, at Oscar’s Palm Springs on Wednesday, July 28 at 7:00 p.m. and continuing the last Wednesday of every month. Poppy’s observational humor tackles tough subjects with ease. In her hands we laugh at life’s most formidable perils… and laughter that ravages fear is the best kind of all. This month’s performance also features comedians Selene Luna and Jim Barnes. Hosted by local comedian Max Mitchell. More info

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Next Week: Virtual Events at The Center
The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert continues to connect people, using the technology of group-meeting platform Zoom, which you can use on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Here’s just a taste of their programs:
Social Caring in the Face of Quarantine with Alexis Ortega – Mondays at 11:00 a.m.
Zumba for Beginners with Shaun Samaro – Mondays at 10:00 a.m.
Managing Emotions During a Pandemic with Jill Hingston, Ph.D – Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m.
Prostate Cancer Support Group – 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 4:00 p.m.
Trans Tuesdays with Jill Hingston, Ph.D – Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Women’s Chat with Kim Kieler – Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
Men’s Chat with Stuart Huggins – Fridays at 10:30 a.m.
LGBTQ+ Youth Virtual Hangout with Miguel Navarro – Fridays at 2:00 p.m.
Who Cares: Caregiver Support Group with Perry Wiggins – Fridays at 3:00 p.m.
Full list of The Center’s Zoom programs [here]