One of the unsung events that happens rather quietly each year in Banning is the Hot Rodeo. The organization provides scholarships and donations to many of our local non-profits and works year-round in the community. You may see the members dressed in their pressed white shirts and donning cowboy hats.
This weekend’s events brings in participants from far and wide. Parties are open to all, so find a way to support them this weekend! How does that saying go? “Ride a…”
Happy Mother’s Day weekend! I’m celebrating with my mother in Michigan, and am fortunate to have her in my life for her unwavering support, unconditional love and great baking skills!
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Palm Springs Hot Rodeo
The 2022 Palm Springs Hot Rodeo is this weekend, May 6–8. Rodeo Weekend activities begin on Thursday, May 5 with a Country Dance Contest and Welcome Party at Trunks Bar in Cathedral City, and continue Friday, May 6 with a Pool Party and contestant registration at the host hotel (Quality Inn Palm Springs Downtown). Friday night will feature happy hours and mixers in Palm Springs and Cathedral City bars; and Dancing Under the Stars on Saturday Night, May 7 is sponsored by Oscars Palm Springs. Rodeo action will be held at the A.C. Dysart Equestrian Park in Banning on Saturday and Sunday, May 7 & 8. More info
Peace by Chocolate – Ukraine Fundraiser
The Desert Film Society presents Peace By Chocolate – Ukraine Fundraiser on Saturday, May 7 at 10 am at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Jonathan Keijser’s narrative feature film debut, Peace by Chocolate, is based on an inspiring true story of a family who immigrated to Canada after their chocolate factory was bombed in the Syrian war. Raise money for the people of Ukraine as 100% of money raised will be donated to help those affected by the Ukraine war. More info
Mother’s Day is Sunday
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 8 and if you’re looking for an LGBTQ-friendly place to take your mom or favorite mother figure out for Mother’s Day Brunch, check out the Gay Desert Guide Dine & Sip Directory “Brunch Places” section for some great options! More info
“Call Your Mother” Comedy Show
Jason Stuart headlines a “Call Your Mother” Comedy Show on Saturday, May 7 from 8:30–10 pm at The Rustic Theatre in Idyllwild. Also featuring Melissa Greenberg, with Mina Hartong serving as MC for this hilarious comedy night. More info
Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week
The fifth-annual Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week takes place April 29–May 7. Bars and restaurants across the Coachella Valley create a special craft cocktail or highlight one of their existing craft cocktails; the participants then donate a portion of the proceeds from the sales of that special craft cocktail to DAP Health’s Food Depot and the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert’s Community Food Bank. See our event detail page for a list of participating bars and restaurants! More info
ShortFest Passes on Sale Now
The 28th Palm Springs International ShortFest will be back with in-person screenings at the Palm Springs Cultural Center from June 21–27, and passes are on sale now. Passholders who have reserved in advance will continue to have priority access to seating at the venue for each show. Tickets go on sale to the public on Wednesday, June 8. Designated by AMPAS, BAFTA, BIFA and Goya Awards as an award-qualifying festival, and accredited by the International Short Film Conference, the Palm Springs International ShortFest & Short Film Market is one of the most acclaimed short film showcases in the world! More info
Wilson Phillips at The Show
The Show at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage presents Wilson Phillips on Saturday, May 7 at 8 pm. Since the beginning of their union in 1990, Wilson Phillips have won the Billboard Music Award for Hot 100 Single of the Year for the now iconic single “Hold On,” were nominated for four Grammy Awards, as well as two American Music Awards. After a 10-year hiatus, Wilson Phillips reunited and were back to business releasing albums and making appearances. In 2011, they appeared in the blockbuster hit comedy “Bridesmaids” and starred in a TV Guide Network reality show: Wilson Phillips: Still Holding On. Get tickets
Bouschet and PS Air 3rd Anniversary Party
Bouschet & PS Air invite you to their 3rd Anniversary Party on Saturday, May 7 from 10 am–6 pm. Drop in to enjoy free wine and spirits tastings entertainment and 15% off all day. More info
CVRep Online Silent Auction
CVRep presents the “Tropical Celebration Honoring Ron Celona” – Online Silent Auction with bidding open until 10 pm on Monday, May 9. You can choose to bid on golf packages at exclusive clubs, entertainment, tours, and a resort stay in Mexico! Proceeds support CVRep’s ongoing operations, and to continue to provide a range of community-oriented performances and events. More info
The Secret Movie Club’s Palm Springs Getaway Weekend
The Secret Movie Club (SMC) is screening three classic films on 70mm in the Palm Springs Cultural Center’s Historic Camelot Theater this weekend. The SMC is a community of movie lovers and movie makers based in Los Angeles and they are gathering to enjoy the Cultural Center’s large screen, with 70mm film delivering an incredibly rich visual experience, revealing details and color dimensions not seen in traditional formats. Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey screens Friday, May 6 at 8 pm; David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia is Saturday, May 7 at 8 pm, and Robert Wise & Jerome Robbins’ West Side Story is Sunday, May 8 at 2 pm. There will also be pre- and after-parties and a vintage swap meet. More info
Palm Desert Brew at the Zoo
Palm Desert Brew at the Zoo returns with a new format on Saturday, May 7 from 6:30–9:30 pm. Guests are invited to enjoy craft beer and delicious wine at bars located throughout the Zoo, delight in culinary creations from onsite eateries, listen to a variety of live music performances, explore the Rhino Savanna boardwalk and African Safari trail, catch a glimpse of giraffe, cheetah, and rhino, take in the sunset, play giant yard-games, and more. Get tickets
Films in the Gardens at Sunnylands
Tales of child and adolescent adventure will rule the night when Sunnylands Center & Gardens revives its Films in the Gardens movie series for three Fridays in May. The public is encouraged to bring a blanket or lawn chairs for the free, outdoor screenings of the following film classics: May 6: Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971), May 13: Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989), and May 20: Jumanji (1995). All films begin at 8 pm with the Sunnylands gates open at 7 pm. Admission is free. Films in the Gardens are presented in partnership with the Palm Springs International Film Festival. More info
Cinco de Mayo and Luche Libre Wrestling at Agua Caliente
On Saturday, May 7 at 7 pm, Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City will host Luche Libre wrestling matches at the Agave Caliente Terraza in Cathedral City. In addition to the Luche Libre performance, roaming Mariachi bands will be playing for guests at all three of the Agua Caliente Casinos locations all weekend. The bands will play in the evenings and include Mariachi Rivera at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage and Mariachi Del Toro at both Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs and Agua Caliente Casino Cathedral City. Dancers will be a part of the Cathedral City mariachi performances as well for guests to enjoy. More info
LOCAL THEATRE
Mid-Century Moderns the Musical
The Desert Rose Playhouse presents Mid-Century Moderns – A New Musical, running through May 8. The fabulous hits of ’66 come to life in this delightful tale of a plucky Wisconsin widow who transforms from frump to fabulous when she finds herself at the center of modernity in Palm Springs. Featuring the music of Tom Jones, Petula Clark, Lesley Gore, Frank & Nancy Sinatra, The Association, The Monkees and many more! Get tickets
Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner?
Desert Theatreworks presents Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner, running through May 8. It is 1967 in San Francisco, California. Joanna is surprising her parents with a visit home and a fiancé. Making that first introduction to the parents is never easy, and even more so when the whirlwind romance is set against the backdrop of the ’60s and involves a young mixed-race couple. Both families are forced to reckon with their ideas and prejudices in the face of pending nuptials. Get tickets
Coming Soon in Local Theatre:
- Into the Woods from Palm Canyon Theatre, May 13–22
- Mae West Double Feature: Sex and The Drag from Desert Rose Playhouse, May 25–June 5
Hadestown and Tootsie Reviewed
Our Gay Desert Guide theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh recently took in a double-feature of national touring musicals in Los Angeles. First up was a matinee performance of Hadestown, followed by Tootsie that evening. One of them was a “great theatrical experience,” and the other one was…”nice.” Read the reviews to get the whole story!
[HADESTOWN] – [TOOTSIE]
2022 LGBTQ Community Survey Now Open
Please take part in the Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) 16th Annual LGBTQ Community Survey! Participation in this survey gives important feedback to our LGBTQ community media and organizations, and provides data to companies interested in serving our community, sponsoring our charities, and supporting their LGBTQ employees. The survey should take about 12 to 15 minutes to complete. Make your voice heard!
[Click here to take the survey]
LOOKING AHEAD
Call for Volunteers: Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast
The Harvey Milk Coachella Valley Diversity Breakfast takes place on Wednesday, March 11 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. This inspiring event brings together all who support equality and justice in celebration of this influential civil rights activist. YOU can help make it happen by volunteering with Gay4Good Palm Springs! They especially need help on the day of the event: directing guests to tables, picking up donation forms, taking down decorations and other duties. Sign up to volunteer today!
Another way to help: You can buy a “Send a Student” ticket to the Breakfast and donate it so that a local student may attend, and you can count it for a 100% charitable contribution! Get tickets
Oasis Music Festival
The Oasis Music Festival is an all-genre music festival presenting its inaugural run from Wednesday, May 11 through Sunday, May 15 at over 60 venues throughout the Coachella Valley. The festival aims to revive the storied past of the musical playground that made Palm Springs famous. From the 1950s performances of the Rat Pack to today’s indie rockers, musicians of all genres, from all over the world, have found inspiration here in the desert. A portion of the proceeds from this festival will help in the efforts to restore the historic 800-seat Plaza Theatre in downtown Palm Springs. Check our event listing for links to artists performing, daily schedule, venues, and tickets: More info
Modernism Week in May
Modernism Week is launching Modernism Week — May, a special four-day event featuring a limited edition of exclusive tours, evening programming, and more, running Thursday, May 12–Sunday, May 15. There will be exclusive tours of Modernism Week Showcase Home, Casa Tierra, a newly remodeled hillside estate in Palm Desert by Bobby Berk, design expert and Emmy-nominated host of Netflix’s Queer Eye. In addition to tours of Casa Tierra, participants may also purchase tickets to various historical walking tours in Palm Springs, craft cocktail mixology classes, exciting dinner and live music experiences, and special “Top Ten” tour excursions highlighting Desert Modernist architecture in Palm Springs. Get tickets
Palm Desert Concerts in the Park
The City of Palm Desert is hosting a series of free, weekly concerts at the Palm Desert Civic Center Park amphitheater, Thursdays in May from 6:30–8 pm. Scheduled to perform: May 12: Flashback Heart Attack, May 19: Kelly Rae Band, and May 26: Legends of Classic Rock. There will be plenty of free parking, food trucks, and games for kids. More info
On the Air at KGAY 106.5
YOU CAN WIN 2 nights in Prague and then 7 nights on board the Amadeus III cruising the Danube River brought to you by Brand g Vacations, plus $2,500 airfare credit provided to fly from Palm Springs International Airport. Listen to KGAY 106.5 EVERY WEEKDAY at 8:20 am and 4:20 pm for the KGAY Danube River Cruise Keyword of the Day, enter that word on the KGAY Contest Page and you’ve got an entry! The more days you listen, the more chances to win! BONUS: You can get an extra Keyword every Friday in our Gay Desert Guide Oasis Insiders e-newsletter, so subscribe today!
KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide have your chance to win 2 VIP Passes to Out in the Vineyard’s “Gay Wine Weekend,” July 15–17 in beautiful, pastoral Sonoma County. This is a full weekend of wine & celebration with winemaker dinners, winery tours and events benefiting Face To Face, Sonoma County HIV/AIDS Network. Enter to win on the KGAY 106.5 Contest Page
- Palm Springs Hot Rodeo
May 6–8 at Quality Inn, Trunks, The Roost, Oscar’s, and A.C. Dysart Equestrian Park - 5th Annual Palm Springs Craft Cocktail Week
April 30–May 7, throughout the Coachella Valley - Mid-Century Moderns – The Musical from Desert Rose Playhouse
Apr. 20–May 8 - Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? from Desert Theatreworks
Apr. 22–May 8 - Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast
Wed. May 11 from 8:30–11 am at Palm Springs Convention Center - Annual All-Valley Multi-Chamber Networking Mixer
Wed. May 11 from 5:30–7:30 pm at the Palm Springs Air Museum - Modernism Week – May
May 12–15 - Jane Monheit at The Purple Room Supper Club
Fri. & Sat., May 13 & 14, dinner at 6 pm, show at 8 pm - Oasis Music Festival
May 11–15 at various locations throughout the Coachella Valley - 3rd Wednesday Speaker Series: Preserving Everyone’s Right to Vote
Wed. May 18 from 6–7:30 pm at Mizell Center - REAF-PS House Party PS – Red Hot Broadway
Sat. May 21 from 5–8 pm - Ceremony Pool Party and Unity Closing Party
May 29 at AsiaSF and The Sonoran
- Celebrating Mother’s Day in Greater Palm Springs
- Restaurant News Bites: Farmers’ Markets to Enter Summer Slumber; a Palm Springs Cat Café; and more!
- On April 28 We Dined Out For Life…Together
- “The Chase” 2022 Enthralls Audience and Raises Funds
- LGBT Older Adults to be Recognized on National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day May 16
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 Men’s Grooming Spot, Zin American Bistro, Revel Public House, Kitchen 86, Desert Mischief, Il Giardino, 1501 Uptown Gastropub, Trevor Wayne Gallery, Oscar’s, Lulu California Bistro, The Purple Room, Bear Wear, Boozehounds, and more! See All Deals
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.