Gay Desert Guide Weekend: May 8–10, 2020 - Gay Desert Guide Palm Springs

It was just before 10 pm Thursday night when I tuned to the Palm Springs City Council meeting. Lisa Middleton yawned; Dennis Woods went off camera for a presumable bathroom break, but unlike the Supreme Court proceedings, there was no toilet flush. I got there just in time for the final few minutes and got info I was looking for: Golf, tennis and pickle ball are no longer solo sports! Pools will be subject to the county’s looser restrictions (everyone stay in their lane!). And some retail will be allowed to do carryout. The patchwork of federal, state, county and local restrictions takes a legal scholar to figure out, but we’re slowly starting to reopen.

This is (was) California Tourism Month. The forecast is not good, but there is a plan from Visit California that I heard on a call with the CVB this week. I’m happy to report that the plan is well designed to slowly bring tourism back starting first with the concept of “Staycations”, then a statewide initiative as travelers get more comfortable with the concept of leaving home. That’s followed by a regional Western states campaign and finally next Spring (next Spring??!!), a full tilt boogie toward promotion tourism to the world again.

We’re looking forward to safely welcoming visitors again and will do our part at GayDesertGuide.LGBT to promote this world-class destination and get our economy restarted. For now, we’re still providing you with our LGBTQ-friendly directory of local businesses, including restaurants open for carryout and delivery, We’re curating the best in virtual events from around the globe and bringing you curated LGBTQ news.

Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide

I Love Gay Palm Springs Podcast – Episode 44

Join hosts John Taylor and comedian Shann Carr, GayDesertGuide.com’s Brad Fuhr, Jimmy Boegle from CVIndependent.com and Dr. Laura Rush as we look ahead to the next challenges we’ll all face together as a community. Dr. Rush debunks medical myths. Brad Fuhr has news on the tourism industry’s response to the coming new normal. Jimmy is a coloring book mogul…and Shann Carr is moonlighting as a mermaid! Just in time for Mother’s Day “take out shout outs” to restaurants with pickup and delivery specials. [Listen] or [Watch]

This week’s Take Out Shout-Outs include: Michael Holmes’ Purple Room Supper Club, Cuistot, Johannes, John’s, Shabu Shabu Zen, and Lulu, Eight4Nine, Trio, and don’t forget our Updated Carryout & Delivery listing of LGBTQ-friendly restaurants [here] on GayDesertGuide.com!

Virtual Graduation for LGBTQ Students

The Human Rights Campaign and the GLSEN will hold a Virtual Graduation Ceremony to honor the LGBTQ+ high school and college class of 2020 on Friday, May 8 at 1:00 p.m. Pacific time. Many institutions are canceling or postponing their graduation ceremonies. This virtual event will include many traditional elements of a graduation ceremony, including an official welcome from the HRC President Alphonso David and GLSEN Executive Director Dr. Eliza Byard, a commencement address, valedictorians for exceptional dynamic LGBTQ+ students, music and more. You can register as a graduating student or audience member. More info.

Online Shows from Outlandish Performers

Some of your favorites from the Outlandish performance series are hosting live shows now, including:

Varla Jean Merman – Spend an evening with the video vixen as she cleans out her drawers and presses play on some of her classic shorts, video rarities and hilarious misfires with “Varla Drops Her Shorts,” on Friday, May 8 at 6:00 p.m. Pacific time. More info

AirOtic – The sexy and sensual gay circus act will perform “Quarantena” on Saturday, May 9 at 5:00 p.m. live from their warehouse in Barcelona. Six members of the cast will perform new breathtaking routines—from the backyard, the garage, and even their kitchen and bedrooms! More info

Miss Richfield 1981 – The Palm Springs favorite invites you to watch and play along with “Bingo Bonanza!” on Monday and Thursday nights at 5:00 p.m. on Facebook Live. Miss Richfield 1981 will turn your living room into a church basement; remember you’re never alone when you play Bingo Bonanza with Miss Richfield. All ages welcome. More info

Theatre Thursday: Musical Showstoppers

Join CVRep on Thursday, May 7 at 6:00 p.m. for another educational evening of musical theatre. In Glenn Rosenblum‘s second lecture in the series, he will bring to life some of Broadway’s biggest showstoppers – from Impossible Dream to Send in the Clowns! Glenn’s extensive knowledge of musicals and the history of their development are presented in a fun and informative 1-hour talk. More info

Next week: “CARE-ie-okie” Show Tunes Singalong on Thursday, May 14

Among Friends Virtual Happy Hour

Join Among Friends for their ongoing Thursday “Kickoff to the Weekend” Happy Hours, on Zoom from 5:00–6:30 p.m. every week. There are fun and games, prizes by beardedshirts.com, and if you don’t want to be on cam, you don’t have to, you can still attend. And hey, no Uber needed! More info

HUMP! Film Fest Livestream

HUMP! Film Festival has been bringing audiences a new kind of porn since 2005. If you missed this year’s edition when it was in Palm Springs this year on February 29, you can now catch the same lineup of hot, sexy, creative, and kinky short films in an online livestream with dates from May 9 through June 12. Hosted by Dan Savage. More info

ShortFest 2020 Moves Online

The Palm Springs International Film Society has announced that their 2020 ShortFest will be a virtual event this year. The Official Selection will be announced in early June, with a selection of those films available for screening on their website for free from June 16–22, the original dates of the festival. There will also be virtual classes and panels with industry guests as part of the ShortFest Forum. More info

Virtual Events at The Center

Looking for connection in this time of self-isolation? The LGBT 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 the programs they are hosting:

Social Caring in the Face of Quarantine with Alexis Ortega – Monday at 11:00 a.m.

Chair Yoga with Lynn Simonson – Tuesday at 10:00 a.m.

Managing Emotions During a Pandemic with Jill Hingston, Ph.D – Tuesday at 11:00 a.m.

LGBTQ+ Youth Virtual Hangout with Miguel Navarro – Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.

Knit Together with Doug Morris – Monday & Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.

Women’s Chat with Kim Kieler – Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Who Cares: Caregiver Support Group with Perry Wiggins – Fridays at 3:00 p.m.

Virtual Games, Friends and Fun with Lorenzo Taylor – 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month at 3:00 p.m.

Palm Springs Certified Farmers’ Market is Open

The Certified Farmers’ Markets in La Quinta and Palm Desert have closed for the season, but the Palm Springs Market is still open for business, Saturday from 8:00 a.m.–12:30 p.m. next to the Palm Springs Cultural Center. The same great produce that you love is still available but the way we shop has changed to protect the health and safety of everyone during the COVID-19 pandemic. Follow the link for more info and for their 5 Tips for Shopping the Certified Farmers’ Market in Uncertain Times: Learn more

Virtual Cinema at Palm Springs Cultural Center

The Palm Springs Cultural Center’s Virtual Cinema gives you the ability to view new films that are Palm Springs premieres, along with favorites from film festivals in the comfort of your own home. Added this week: Saint Frances. Flailing thirty-four-year-old Bridget finally catches a break when she meets a nice guy and lands a much-needed job nannying six-year-old Frances. But an unwanted pregnancy introduces an unexpected complication. Making matters worse, she clashes with Frances and struggles to navigate a growing tension between Frances’s moms. [View Trailer] and Get your V-Ticket

Genuine Movie Theatre Popcorn Curbside Pickup

Mary Pickford Theatre – D’Place Entertainment continues to offer freshly popped Movie Theater Popcorn Friday & Saturday, from 5:00–7:30 p.m.. Guests can get their fix of movie theater popcorn and a selection of other movie night snacks (drinks, candy) with convenient curbside pickup. 100% of proceeds go to support staff at D’Place during the COVID-19 shutdown. Email and phone ordering ahead of time with pre-payment is available. More info

LGBTQ Community Survey

If you haven’t already, please take part in the Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) 14th Annual LGBTQ Community Survey. For over a decade, this survey has provided free data to help non-profits, universities, and organizations better understand and serve the LGBTQ community. 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. Think of it as the gay census! [Click here] to start the survey

Looking Ahead: Investing in an Uncertain Market

Join Edward Jones Financial Advisor Sean K. Heslin for Investing in an Uncertain Market on Wednesday, May 13 at 11:00 a.m. This Zoom workshop will cover: setting realistic expectations, three specific investment strategies, and staying the course. More info