We’re honored to be honored! The Greater Palm Springs Rodeo group which produces the Hot Rodeo each year is presenting the Gay Desert Guide content team with an award for keeping the community informed during the COVID crisis. Buck Beal phoned me this week and they’ve set Thursday at 4:30 PM at Roost Lounge in Cathedral City for the presentation. You’re welcome to come by and have a happy hour drink with us.
We’re still not out of the pandemic woods yet, but I was pleasantly surprised to see a number of families wearing masks outside on the streets of Palm Springs this week.
San Diego Pride marches forward this weekend and continues with most activities planned for next weekend. According to organizers, “Rather than our typical Pride Parade which would start in Hillcrest’s Pride Plaza and travel down to Balboa Park, this year we will meet in Balboa Park and march into Hillcrest.” If you’re heading to San Diego to beat the heat, you can check our events calendar for a complete schedule of events.
One of the cool indoor events happening each Thursday this summer is “Jazzville”, as concepted by Barry Martin (DJ Baz), a member of our community. The venue is perfect: The Cascade Lounge at Agua Caliente Casino in downtown Palm Springs.
For more weekend recommendations, see our Top 3 list below and remember you can click on any day on the EVENTS page of GayDesertGuide.LGBT to get a rundown on everything happening in Greater Palm Springs.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide
#ILoveGayPalmSprings
#ILoveGayCatCity
#ShopLocal and … #WeArePalmSprings
A Night on Broadway with Desert Rose Playhouse
The Desert Rose Playhouse presents A Night On Broadway, Friday, July 9 at 8:00 p.m. and Saturday, July 10 at 2:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m., featuring some of the greatest musical hits in Broadway history. For one weekend only, come watch this all star cast cover show-stopping music from hits like A Chorus Line, Rent and Wicked. Don’t miss this live magical event featuring some of the hottest young talent Coachella Valley has to offer, starring Ceisley Jefferson, Haley Izurieta, Laura Leo Kelly, Christian Quevedo, Scott Clinkscales and Van Angelo. Get tickets
Cowboy Night (Cowgirls, Too!) at Trunks
Palm Springs Hot Rodeo announces the return of Cowboy Night (Cowgirls, Too!) at Trunks Bar in Cathedral City on Saturday, July 10 from 7:00–11:00 p.m. Highlights include continuous Country-Western music with a live DJ, rodeo video program featuring the Faces of Palm Springs Rodeo, drink specials, and a cash prize raffle. Dance the two-step, swing, waltz, and line dances! More info
Certified Farmers’ Market Continues Indoors for the Summer
Considering the extreme heat this weekend it’s a good time to remember the Palm Springs Certified Farmers’ Market is still going strong in their summer location, indoors at the Palm Springs Pavilion, Saturdays from 8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. through September. The market features a variety of California Farmers and Value Added Vendors who will be selling fresh summer fruits, vegetables, meats, eggs, cheeses, honey, organic coffee, flowers, rugelah, prepared foods, soups, herb-infused chocolates, soaps, and more! The two sister markets in Palm Desert and La Quinta are closed for the summer, set to return in October. More info
You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown!
Palm Canyon Theatre presents their return to live staged productions with You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown The Musical, opening Friday, July 9 and running through Sunday, July 18. Charles M. Schultz’ popular comic strip characters jump off the page in this musical comedy based on the Peanuts gang. Charlie Brown, Snoopy, Linus, Lucy, Sally and Schroeder experience the joys and perils of childhood in a fun, musical romp. Get tickets
Summerific Sing-A-Long: ALADDIN
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 every Saturday. This week, July 10, the evening’s movie musical is Disney’s live-action version of Aladdin with Will Smith as the Genie – At 6:00 p.m., pop on upstairs to the VIP Lounge for a social hour 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
San Diego Pride 2021
San Diego Pride season kicks off this weekend with a number of events planned, including a Pride: Together Again Art Exhibition, She Fest and Pride Ride on Saturday, July 10 and a Resilient Community March on Sunday, July 11. Events continue through the week and into the following weekend, July 17–18, with a Hillcrest Block Party, Pride BBQ, Several pool parties, and even a virtual pride celebration, SD Pride Live. With all the in-person events, (minus an actual parade) 2021 marks a return to something closer to SD Pride’s normal celebrations in July. Learn more
Oscar Wilde in New York: A Gay Superstar in the Making
The Fun & Games Dept of Gay Desert Guide and TheMenEvent.com present Oscar Wilde in New York: A Gay Superstar in the Making on Sunday, July 11 at 11:00 a.m. Wilde historian, blogger, lecturer and tour guide John Cooper has the rare distinction of being able to appeal not only to those merely curious about Oscar Wilde, but also to the most informed Wilde scholar. His talk explores a formative period of Wilde’s life, long before his dramatic successes in London and Paris, when the Irish poet, dramatist, wit, and eventual gay superstar, spent an entire year in America conducting an extended lecture tour across the continent. Get tickets
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Wing Tasting Fundraiser at Dickey’s
On Friday, July 9 from 11:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m., Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Rancho Mirage is hosting a Wing Tasting and Fund Raising Event for Team Mom Charities, supporting the Unity Ride for the Homeless. You can also donate to the Unity Ride at local UPS Store Locations in Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs, Yucca Valley, and Palm Desert!
The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute
The Show at the Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage presents The Fab Four: The Ultimate Tribute on Saturday, July 10 at 8:00 p.m. The Emmy Award Winning Fab Four is elevated far above every other Beatles Tribute due to their precise attention to detail. With uncanny, note-for-note live renditions of Beatles’ classics such as “Can’t Buy Me Love,” “Yesterday,” “A Day In The Life,” “Twist And Shout,” “Here Comes The Sun,” and “Hey Jude”, the Fab Four will make you think you are watching the real thing. Their incredible stage performances include three costume changes representing every era of the Beatles ever-changing career! Get tickets
RuPaul Recaps
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 the review of Episode 4, “Halftime Headliners,” [here], Episode 3, “Side Hustle” [here] and see all of Dante’s recaps [here].
DAP Health Opens Free Sexual Health Clinic
On Tuesday, July 6, DAP Health opened the doors to The Orange Clinic, a sexual wellness resource welcoming all people. This judgment-free space will offer services including STI testing — gonorrhea, chlamydia and syphilis — and treatment; pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP; post-exposure prophylaxis, or PEP; and HIV and hepatitis C testing. More info
American Sign Language for Beginners
The LGBTQ Center’s popular ASL program is back with an 8-week course of American Sign Language for Beginners, hosted by Itai Cardona, starting Saturday, July 10 at 9:30 a.m. This 8-week course, presented via Zoom, is for those who want to learn another language and communicate with members of the Deaf Community. During these classes, students will actively engage with exciting activities so that learning another language becomes fun again. For the Beginners class, no experience is necessary! More info
Desert Oasis Healthcare Marks 40th Anniversary with Extra Giving
In four decades of service, Desert Oasis Healthcare (DOHC) has grown its commitment of annual giving to local nonprofits, and to mark their 40th year, they are giving even more, having invited the community to vote for the organizations they feel are most deserving of a greater share of an extra $40,000 in giving set aside by DOHC. Palm Springs Animal Shelter came out in first place with the most votes, followed by FIND Food Bank, Shelter from the Storm, and Sanctuary Palm Springs. See all 10 winners and read more about DOHC’s 40 for 40 [here].
LOOKING AHEAD
Stand Up Comedy Workshop Series
If you always wanted to try comedy, now you can! The LGBTQ Center of the Desert presents a 6-week Stand Up Comedy Workshop Series on Zoom, starting Friday, July 16 and running through August 21. Professional Emcee and Comedienne Mina Hartong (Curve Magazine America’s Funniest Lesbians) will guide you, no experience necessary, starting with your story ideas, followed by joke structure and delivery, and finishing with your polished three minute comedy set. Support your classmates by giving each other encouragement and feedback along the way. The last class is a live comedy show where you can invite your friends to celebrate your debut. More info
FREE Tuesday Tadasana Yoga at Agua Caliente
Agua Caliente Casinos is offering a free weekly Tadasana Yoga class, Tuesdays from 8:00–9:00 a.m. through July 27. The class is powered by Power Yoga Palm Springs at the Agave Terraza outdoor pavilion space at Agua Caliente Cathedral City. Book your (free) space ahead of time! Attendees will also receive coupons and promos. More info
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]
Welcome New Partners!
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Cold Nose Warm Heart is the only locally owned and operated pet boutique in Palm Springs, with gifts for dogs and the people who love them. First established in 1997, and purchased in 2018 by Wallie the Pug and her two Dads, Kristjan and Mike, it is their goal to continue to bring the Best in Show to the Coachella Valley and beyond! Learn more
Kat & Cody is a cheeky modern boutique in downtown Palm Springs, offering a uniquely curated collection reflective of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. They have apparel and accessories for cocktails, games & BBQ by the pool, fur mamas and papas, mid-century modern, music festivals, and cheeky gifts. Kat & Cody will make you laugh, blush, and want to come back again! Learn more
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It’s time for Grand Central! Located in the heart of downtown palm springs, they serve seasonally fresh, California cuisine with fun twist. Offering breakfast, lunch, dinner and full bar, Grand Central Palm Springs is your favorite locals spot. Save 40% with this HOT DEAL: Get a $25 gift card to Grand Central Palm Springs for just $15! Get Your Deal
We also have Hot Deals at Thai Smile, Desert Mischief, Destination PSP, Palm Springs Fine Men’s Salon, Monster Shakes, Dickey’s, Bear Wear, Eight4Nine and more! See All Deals