Let us be your Gay Desert Guide to the Weekend!
March 1–3, 2019
This weekend in #ILoveGayPalmSprings – March for Our Lives comes to Palm Springs, the Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival is in Palm Desert, Desert X presents an Un-Symposium, Michael Childers celebrates Midnight Cowboy‘s 50th, Rick Steves speaks in Palm Springs, Craig Chaquico performs at Grooves at the Westin, and we have new theatre productions opening: White Guy on the Bus this week, and Hairspray next. We also look ahead to Yappy Hour, Le Chien, BNP Paribas and the NCLR Garden Party, plus HOT DEALS and Happy Hour highlights!
March For Our Lives Palm Springs
Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival
Celebrate the wildflower bloom–which promises be a great one this year–at the Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival on Saturday, March 2 from 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. at a new location this year: Palm Desert Civic Center Park. The festival features a variety of outdoor and educational activities for the entire family, with wildflower displays, a 5k Fun Run, Kids’ Zone, and a climbing wall. Sign-ups will be taken at the festival for interpretive hikes to take place later in the month at the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center in Palm Desert. More info
Desert X “Un-Symposium”
- Thursday, Feb. 28 – Special Panel
- Friday, Mar. 1 – Parallel Narratives
- Saturday, Mar. 2 – Nature + Politics Collide
- Sunday, Mar. 3 – Siting Oneself
50th Anniversary of Midnight Cowboy with Michael Childers
Michael Childers and the Palm Springs Cultural Center present the 50th Anniversary of Midnight Cowboy on Saturday, March 2 from 6:00–9:00 p.m. Michael Childers, Photographer and Assistant Producer of the film, will share insight, recollections and photographs from the making of Midnight Cowboy, which was directed by his late partner John Schlesinger. Includes VIP Reception, Gallery Opening, Q&A, and more. Get tickets
Palm Springs Speaks Presents Rick Steves
On Sunday, March 3 from 3:30–5:00 p.m., Guidebook author and travel TV host Rick Steves will take the stage at the Richards Center for the Arts to explain how there’s more to travel than good food and fun in the sun. Travelers who “travel as a political act” can have the time of their lives and come home smarter, with the greatest of all souvenirs: a broader perspective. Brought to you by the Palm Springs Speaks series (a collaboration of the Palm Springs Cultural Center and the Friends of the Palm Springs Public Library). Get tickets
Grooves at the Westin – Craig Chaquico
Mark your calendar for Wednesday, April 10 for An Evening with John Tesh. This final performance of the season for Grooves at the Westin will benefit Qchella Media, KGAY 106.5 and the American Heart Association. Get tickets
Theatre Roundup
We have a powerful new production opening this weekend with White Guy on the Bus, the musical comedy The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas continues, and we look ahead to the upcoming opening of Hairspray in Indio. Get tickets now!
Dezart Performs presents White Guy on the Bus, a new drama by Bruce Graham at the Pearl McManus Theater, opening Friday March 1 and running through Sunday March 10. — Week after week, a wealthy white businessman rides the same bus, befriending a single black mom. As they get to know one another, their pasts unfold and tensions rise, igniting a disturbing and crucial exploration of race. Get tickets
NEXT WEEKEND
LOOKING AHEAD
Palm Springs Yappy Hour at the Riviera
Fashion Week: Le Chien
BNP Paribas Opens March 4
The largest international tennis tournament outside of the four Grand Slams takes place at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden from Monday, March 4 through Sunday March 17, when the tennis world focuses its spotlight on the BNP Paribas Open. This is tennis paradise! Get tickets
NCLR Palm Springs Garden Party
At RetroRoom Lounge, Happy Hour is available EVERY DAY until 7:00 p.m. with a gay bar atmosphere that is welcoming to everyone. Weekly specials include Martini Madness Mondays, Top Shelf Tuesdays, and half-price Wine Down Wednesdays. Join Big Bitch Bingo with Diva on Saturdays at 3:30 p.m., then Karaoke at 7:00 p.m., and the Diva & Friends Drag Show at 10:00 p.m. Get Happy at RetroRoom
AMP Sports Lounge features Happy Hour from 2:00–9:00 p.m. and a Late Power Hour from 9:00–midnight with $1.00 off everything all week. They “AMP it up” with Inferno and Fireball Fridays, featuring DJ Trend spinning the best in 90’s–2000’s & today’s hit music. And on Saturdays, it’s AMP’D up Karaoke, the funniest and most entertaining Karaoke in Cat City! Get Happy at AMP Sports Lounge
- March For Our Lives Palm Springs
Fri, Mar 1 from 6:00–7:30 p.m. - White Guy on the Bus, presented by Dezart Performs
Mar 1–10 at the Pearl McManus Theater - Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival
Sat, Mar 2 at Palm Desert Civic Center Park - Palm Springs Dance Festival
Thu, Mar 7–Sun, Mar 10 at the Annenberg Theater at PS Art Museum - Hairspray: The Musical, presented by Desert TheatreWorks
Mar 8–24 at the Indio Performing Arts Center - Red Dress Dress Red Party
Sat, Mar 9 from 8:00–11:00 p.m. at the Palm Springs Air Museum - Purple Reign at The Show
Sat, Mar 23 at 8:00 p.m. at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa - NCLR Palm Springs Garden Party
Sat, Apr 6 from 4:00–6:00 p.m. - Desert X – 2019 Art Exhibition
Feb 9–Apr 21 - White Party – 30th Anniversary
Fri, Apr 26–Mon, Apr 29, 2019
- Review: For Desert X 2019, I drove 198 miles to see 19 artists’ work. Here’s the best
- 55 Things to Do in March 2019 in Greater Palm Springs
- Restaurant News Bites: The Palm Desert Food and Wine Fest Brings Star Power
- A True Renaissance Man: Michael Childers Celebrates the 50th Anniversary of ‘Midnight Cowboy’ While Preparing for His Star-Studded ‘One Night Only’
- The first same-sex marriage in the U.S. now officially happened in 1971