There are many hidden gems in the desert. You can think of them almost as ‘mirages’ to keep with the desert lingo. In the middle of the shifting sands, up pops a beautiful resort, a golf course (or nature preserve in the case of OLT), or a Mid-century modern home.

On Thursday, “the media” were guests of the newly renovated Desert Island Country Club in Rancho Mirage for the unveiling of their new restaurant, The Penney. I sometimes get jaded by virtue of how many of these media events have been more like a desert than an oasis.

I sat with Susan Stein, fashion editor from Palm Springs Life and creator of Animal Samaritans “Handsome Hounds” event. Each course was amazing as Susan and I marveled at the tastes and presentation. Who would of thought that a sleepy country club in RM would have such a great new restaurant! A shoutout to Chef Jon Butler, who made his way back to his native Coachella Valley.

Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs 

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Oscar’s T-Dance Hot Summer Swimsuit Contest

Oscar’s is the “the scene of downtown Palm Springs” with their famous Sunday T-Dance, from 5–9 pm. It gets even hotter for the next month, as the T-Dance will include a Hot Summer Swimsuit Contest every week from now until Labor Day weekend. One winner will receive $250 in cash and prizes each Sunday! Then on Sunday September 4, a Grand Prize winner will win $1000 worth of cash and prizes. More info

Summer Sing-A-Long: Little Shop of Horrors

The Summer Sing-a-Long series continues at the Palm Springs Cultural Center on Saturday, July 30 with Little Shop of Horrors. Love and business bloom at a hilarious yet bloody cost as shy Seymour and brave Audrey’s lives are changed with the arrival of the exotic, blood-thirsty plant, “Audrey II.” Come early for the Schmigadoon happy hour at 5 pm upstairs in the VIP Lounge, then 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 concludes on Saturday, August 6 with Mamma Mia 2! Get tickets

Richard Marx at The Show

The Show at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage presents Richard Marx on Saturday, July 30 at 8 pm. Marx says, “I approach my live shows as if I were attending a concert by someone else. If all they’re going to do is ably replicate the music they’ve recorded, I can just stay home and listen to the recordings. I want to be entertained. I want to feel like I’m getting a glimpse into the PERSON I’m watching up there. Over time, my stories and banter with the audiences became crucially important to the point where I now feel that the ‘show’ is what happens in-between the songs.” Get tickets

RuPaul Recap: All Stars Season 7 Finale

Our Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent, Dante Noto, has published his “Finally the finale” recap of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 7 (See all of his RuPaul Recaps here). There is one final Runway, “Grand Finale Eleganza,” where the queens bring out their best, and then the Smackdown: multiple match-ups of Lip Sync battles for the Queen of all Queens title (as well as the the Queen of She Done Already Done Had Herses crown). Read the full recap of Episode 12: Lip Sync LaLaPaRuZa Smackdown [here].

The Carol Burnett Show Live on Stage Final Performance

Desert Theatreworks is presenting a “summer full of fun” with shows on Sundays. The final performance of The Carol Burnett Show Live on Stage is on Sunday, July 31 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

Agua Caliente Jukebox featuring The Dreamboats

The Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City presents a free concert: Agua Caliente Jukebox featuring The Dreamboats on Saturday, July 30 at 8 pm. Dance to all your favorite ’50s and ’60s tunes under the desert stars as The Dreamboats take the stage! More info

Joshua Tree Summer Theatre Under the Stars

WindWalkers Medicine Wheel presents an original play by Howard Shangraw, Tonight in Spoon River, running 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

Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage Continues

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 Willie’s Modern Fare, Dickie’s Barbeque Pit, Las Casuelas Nuevas, Norma’s Italian Kitchen, and Haus of Poke, to Krispy Kreme, Brandini Toffee and many more. It not only helps local restaurants during slower months, your $10 wristband is also a fundraiser for local nonprofits. More info

Greater Palm Springs Realtors Food Drive

The Greater Palm Springs Realtors (GPSR) are running a food drive to benefit The LGBTQ Center of the Desert’s Community Food Bank. Non-perishable food items are accepted at the GPSR office from 9 am–5 pm on Mondays and 8 am–5 pm on Tuesday–Friday. There will also be special Saturday drop-offs on Saturday, July 30 from 8 am–10 am and again on Saturday, August 13. More info

Heads Up: DUI Checkpoint Friday

The Palm Springs Police Department will hold a DUI/Drivers License Checkpoint on Friday, July 29, from 8 pm–3 am at an undisclosed location within the city limits of Palm Springs. Checkpoint locations are chosen based on a history of DUI crashes and arrests. The primary purpose of checkpoints is not to make arrests, but to promote public safety by deterring drivers from driving impaired. During the checkpoint, officers will look for signs that drivers are under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs.

LOOKING AHEAD

Modernism Week October Tickets on Sale August 1 at Noon

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 is now available and tickets will go on sale Monday, August 1 at 12 noon PST. More info

Palm Springs Leather Pride Tickets on Sale Now

The Palm Springs Leather Order of the Desert presents Palm Springs Leather Pride 2022 – Eruption: Meat in Heat from October 27–30. Early sale packages are available now: choose from the Explosion or Discharge packages to gain admission to pool parties, parking lot cruise parties and vendor mart, cigar social, Mr. Palm Springs Leather competition, Victory Dance, the closing party and celebration at host Hotel Zoso. Packages also include the Leather Pride 2022 t-Shirt and pin. The formal Leather Pride Dinner is included in the Explosion package, or you can buy tickets to events a la carte and still get early bird prices as well. Get tickets

Registration Open for Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk

Registration is open now for the Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk, taking place the morning of Saturday, November 5. The race is proudly hosted by Palm Springs Front Runners & Walkers, a local chapter of International Frontrunners, an informal network of LGBTQ running groups around the world. Beneficiaries of the event’s fundraising are The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert and The Transgender Health and Wellness Center. Registrations will not be accepted on race day, so plan ahead and register early to make sure you get your commemorative t-shirt, too! 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

  1. Splash House 2022 Leads 19 Things to Do in the Desert in August
  2. The Most Beautiful Old Hollywood Houses In Palm Springs
  3. Coachella Valley Firebirds Unveil Inaugural Season Schedule
  4. RuPaul’s Drag Race: 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Judge Ross Mathews
  5. Preservation Group Acquires Languishing Mesquite Golf and Country Club Land
  6. Restaurant News Bites: Eight Local Restaurants Get Grants; Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage Continues

Coachella Valley Coffee Co. is family-owned and operated, and great coffee is their mission, their craft, and their passion. Every morning at their roastery in the Coachella Valley, they brew a few selections of their latest roasts, sip & savor. Even after 26 years in the coffee business, they still marvel at the wonderful sensations a great cup of coffee provides, and with our HOT DEAL you, too, can marvel for half-price! Get $20 worth of coffee or tea from Coachella Valley Coffee Co. for just $10! Get Your Deal

We have Hot Deals at Just Fabulous, Giuseppe’s Pizza & Pasta, 1501 Uptown Gastropub, Runway, Destination PSP, Desert Mischief, Lulu California Bistro, Eight4Nine, Grand Central, Revel Public House, Men’s Grooming Spot, Zin American Bistro, 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)