This Weekend in #ILoveGayPalmSprings
This weekend, we celebrate St. 
Patrick's Day while planning ahead for The Dinah and Cathedral City LGBT Days. We also have opportunities to hear from author Viola Shipman and 50's heartthrob Tab Hunter, enjoy food trucks gathering in Palm Springs for one night only, and celebrate the life of Arenas Road legend Dick Haskamp. Cheers!
St. Patrick's Day is Saturday March 17
St. Paddy's Day falls conveniently on a Saturday this year, and here are a couple of parties to make your weekend green! Celebrate in a Rock 'n' Roll way at the Hard Rock Cafe's Shamrock 'N' Roll, a first-annual St. Patrick’s Day Benefit Concert for "Music Heals," A non-profit organization providing music therapy for special needs children.
Shamrock 'N' Roll Tickets
Or take a slightly diffrent approach and get lucky at Chill Bar as they launch their monthly Too Much C*** party! Features green beer, 8 hot go-go dancers and Grabby Award-winning adult actor Jimmy Durano. No cover! More info
The Dinah and Cathedral City LGBT Days are Nigh
The world famous Dinah Shore Weekend is now just two weeks away (March 28 through April 1). This is the largest lesbian event in the world, with comedy shows, singles events,
concerts, celesbians, parties, and more. Get Dinah Tickets here. On the same weekend, Cathedral City will be presenting their 4th annual Cathedral City Community LGBT Days (Mar 30 through April 1), a free festival with drag, drama, cabaret, live music, dancing, and the wild and wacky LGBT Days Bed Race. Get all the LGBT Days deets here.
Dick Haskamp: Celebration of Life
We are mourning the loss of one of the pioneers of gay-owned businesses in Palm Springs, Dick Haskamp. Dick passed away at home on Sunday, March 4. His memorial is set for March 17th at 3:00 pm. at Eight4Nine Restaurant and Lounge. Click here to learn more about this beloved community leader. (Pictured here, on the left, with Gay Desert Guide's Alex McCune)
Wade Rouse (aka Viola Shipman) to discuss "The Recipe Box"
Author of several successful memoirs Wade Rouse will be at the Palm Springs Public Library on Wednesday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss his latest novel “The Recipe Box” which will be released the day before on March 20th and is the third book by Wade writing as Viola Shipman; his pen name in homage to his grandmother. This book follows last year’s novel “The Hope Chest” and the very successful release of his first novel “The Charm Bracelet” two years ago. To date, these ‘heirloom’ novels written under his pen name focus on what's most important in life: Family, faith, friends, fun, love and a passion for what you do.
More info
Rancho Mirage Speaker Series Presents Tab Hunter
Mr. Hunter is not only a heartthrob from the 1950's 
and 60's, but an accomplished actor, singer, best-selling author and an award-winning producer. The doors open on Tuesday March 20 at 6:00 PM at the Annenberg Center for Health Sciences at Eisenhower Medical Center. There is an option to purchase a VIP Reception catered by Wally's Desert Turtle. Get tickets for Tab here
Palm Springs Food Truck Mash-Up
On Saturday March 17 at 6:00 pm, food trucks gather from all over the state of California! Spa Resort Casino presents live music featuring Night Ranger (show begins at 7:30 pm) Also, including fun activities, family, friends and the best food and drinks around – ONE NIGHT ONLY!
Food Truck Mash-Up tickets available here.
We’ve made changes to our Happy Hour Finder calendar on the home page to now include all Nightlife! The main calendar will have non-bar events such as fundraisers, art shows, community events and our signature events like White Party. The right side calendar is now “Happy Hours & Nightlife” where you can search by day for happy hours, drag shows and our Featured bar’s special nights.
Tool Shed
Get your leather gear jocks out this weekend and head over to Tool Shed for their Bearcules Dark Ally St. Patricks Day Party! With Gogo studs and the sound of DJ Corey from 9pm-2am! Check in your clothes at the bar for FREE! Happy hour specials available all weekend long!
TRUNKS bar is where prices are low and spirits are high for happy hour Monday-Friday. From $5 shots to $2.50 beers they’ve got something suitable for everybody’s taste buds! This weekends festivities include Disco Night, Country Night, and a Sunday Funday T Dance at 5pm!
We pay tribute to Dick Haskamp on Saturday afternoon. I've been speaking to community leaders, his staff, patrons, friends and business owners who all have glowing things to say about the man who made Arenas Road "gay". The memorial will be overflowing, as will Streetbar itself. Stacy's staff will be bartending at Streetbar so employees can attend the memorial. I spoke with owner Stacy Louis. He was visibly touched by the GoFundMe page set up to help his staff. We'll bring you Facebook live coverage from Eight4Nine.
Neighboring businesses to Streetbar were all affected by the fire at Bongo Johnny's and remain closed as of this writing.
Bongo Johnny's is awaiting the go ahead to clean up and start rebuilding. Mischief and Palm Springs Piercing Company are also closed. We will keep you updated.
We would like to invite you to take a new survey about your opinions and preferences, from an LGBTQ perspective.
There's power in our Pride! Participating in this study helps open doors-and minds-around the world, and influences positive changes for our community. Previous surveys have yielded 45,000 respondents from 150 countries! You may have seen Community Marketing & Insights quoted in the New York Times, USA Today, Wall Street Journal, etc.
Click here to start the survey, or paste the following into your browser:
http://survey.communitymarketinginc.com/se/359D342B1FBF9E7B?CMID=206
How do you feel about traditional homemade Italian food? Because Chef Teresa at Il Giardino Ristorante Italiano specializes in homemade Italian/Sicilian foods according to traditional recipes of her birth family and uses her experience acquired over the years to personally prepare the dishes on the menu. Try homemade Gnocchi, Ravioli, Noodles, Sauces, Gravy, Fresh Vegetable Soups, and Desserts that are cooked throughout the day for 40% off with this amazing hot deal! That’s only $15 for $25 worth of food and drinks!
Pinocchio in the Desert is a Palm Springs favorite among visitors and locals alike! A definite stable on a Sunday morning! Take advantage of this amazing hot deal where you can get $25 worth of food and drinks for only $17.50. Check out Sunday Brunch and their famous (infamous) bottomless glass of bubbly or stop by in the afternoon and enjoy their beautifully decorated and relaxing bistro setting with outdoor patio that is both heated and air cooled.
Top Five Bookmarks of the Week on GayDesertGuide.LGBT
- New Transitional Housing Facility For LGBT Foster Youth Opens In Palm Springs
- Cousins Maine Lobster, The Grilled Cheese Co. Food Trucks Heading to Palm Springs
- 12 St. Patrick's Day-Approved Irish Cocktails to Sip in SoCal
- 13 Must-Eat Appetizers in Greater Palm Springs
- Marijuana Lounges Will Soon Be Popping Up In Cathedral City Dispensaries
Bookmarks are articles from news sources around the globe, which have featured stories about the Coachella Valley and the great things that happen here. So follow us on social media and keep up with news from sources far and wide.