Gay Desert Guide Weekend: Oct. 30–Nov. 1, 2020

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We hold our collective breath in anticipation of Tuesday’s election results. While many presidential elections have been touted as consequential to LGBTQ rights and our movement as a whole, this one takes the proverbial cake. I remember the bittersweet victory by Barack Obama in 2008 with the loss on Prop. 8. But we persevered and marriage equality is the law of the land – for now.

On this week’s podcast, we dive in to learn about how out of state phone banking has been going with Joy Silver. And we welcome a new resident to the desert – one who is getting quite the notoriety from one Dolly Parton. You’ll see why.

Halloween would normally top our coverage this weekend. There are a few events on tap – including at The Living Desert, Cultural Center and some of our local bars including Chill Bar and Runway in Cathedral City. No Halloween on Arenas this year…

Light Up the Night is your opportunity to show your #PalmSpringsPride this year. We’re giving away Alaska Airlines flights if your display is posted on Facebook and chosen as one of the best. No matter how big or small yours is (Light display), please join us next week in participating. Details on GayDesertGuide.LGBT and on our Facebook page on Monday!

#ILoveGayPalmSprings
#ILoveGayCatCity

Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide

I Love Gay Palm Springs Podcast – Episode 69

John Taylor and comedian Shann Carr are joined by Brad Fuhr of GayDesertGuide.com, Jimmy Boegle of CVIndependent.com, and Dr. Laura Rush for a discussion/support group! We’ll talk Election 2020 with Joy Silver, a visionary CEO activist and advocate for the causes of social and environmental justice. Joy is the original organizer for the Courageous Resistance and Indivisible 36! And we welcome new #ILoveGayPalmSprings resident musician/singer Steve Knill who appeared on The Voice season 17. Recently featured in glamour magazine/YouTube. Instagram @steveknillmusic Tik tok @steveknill Twitter: realsteveknill. Steve shares his special Dolly Parton moment! [Listen] or [Watch]

**Use discount code GDG10 to save 10% when you order from our podcast sponsor Out & About CBD.**

** Desert AIDS Project Offers Free At-Home HIV Tests: [Get Yours] **

Modernism Week Fall Preview Concludes This Weekend

Modernism Week presents a Fall Preview Online Experience available as online video programs concluding October 31. The pre-recorded video programs and one livestream social event will include a guided home tour series of five significant Palm Springs residences; an entertaining driving tour of Palm Springs with Charles Phoenix; “The Best of Mod with a Twist,” humorous and informative presentations about midcentury pop culture; conference sessions from “Fast Forward: Designing the Future of Palm Springs”; two new documentary-style films about the preservation of architectural landmarks in Palm Springs: “Preserving Modernism: The Town & Country Center”, and “The Restoration and Stabilization of the Cornelia White Residence” in Palm Springs, and a Zoom-based happy hour. Get tickets

Frightful Tour of the Metropolitan Museum

Gay Desert Guide’s Fun & Games Dept and TheMenEvent.com present a Frightful Tour of the Metropolitan Museum on Saturday, October 31 at 11:00 a.m. In the obscure and hidden corners of the Metropolitan Museum there’s a world of strange, unusual and sometimes chilling artifacts—things you’d never imagine are hiding in plain sight. Learn about ancient Egyptian vases for storing mummified entrails, New Guinea’s headhunters, African power figures stuck full of nails, and more; you’ll realize that in addition to celebrating beauty, art also explores anxiety, death, violence and our darkest fears. Get tickets

Halloween Double Feature with Masked Costume Contest

The Palm Springs Cultural Center is presenting a Halloween Double Feature on Saturday, October 31. This “Cinema Under the Stars” experience features a trick-or-treat bar, with picnic tables and “bring your own” chairs, and a Masked Costume Contest with prizes. There will also be two short trivia contests with prizes before the first film, 12 Hour Shift, and intermission as well as an announcement of the “secret” second film…will it be a Trick or a Treat?! More info

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Palm Springs Jewish Film Festival

The 7th Annual Palm Springs Jewish Film Festival takes place November 1–4, as a combination of Drive-In Double Features at the Palm Springs Cultural Center, and streaming movies. Presented by Temple Isaiah in conjunction with The Jewish Federation of the Desert, the festival films have been chosen to create community and strengthen consciousness of Jewish identity, history, and culture; provide a dynamic and inclusive forum for exploration of the expansive diversity of Jewish experiences as well as films for sheer entertainment. Individual tickets and All-Access Passes available. Get tickets

Palm Springs Pride: Light Up the Night

Palm Springs Pride is just around the corner, November 6–8, and Gay Desert Guide invites you to participate in our Light Up the Night display and contest by decorating your home or business with pink or rainbow lights. The best display could win you air travel for two on Alaska Airlines and other great prizes. So get your pink or rainbow lights today and start planning your display! Have it ready to show off by Friday of Pride weekend and stay tuned to our Facebook page for details on how to participate in the contest. More info

And [click here] for a rundown of all the Palm Springs Pride 2020 events, including:

Virtual Pride 5K Run & Walk (Nov. 6–8)
Palm Springs Pride Flag Raising (Fri Nov. 6 at 10:00 a.m)
Interfaith Pride Kabbalat Shabbat (Fri Nov. 6 at 6:30 p.m.)
“Cured” at the Drive-In (Fri Nov. 6 at 5:30 p.m.)
Lesbo Expo Night at the Drive-In (Sat Nov. 7 at 5:30 p.m.)
Virtual Pride Tea Dance (Sun Nov. 8 at 4:00 p.m.)

Halloween Wine Tasting

Join the crew at Bouschet for a special Halloween Wine Tasting on Saturday, October 31 at 2:00 p.m. on Zoom. Wine tasting includes a gourmet food sampling, the wine samples, tasting notes and 10% off featured wines. You can pickup or Dennis “The Wine Bandit” can deliver within Palm Springs, then join the party on Zoom for tasting notes! More info

October is LGBT History Month:
31 Days, 31 Icons

LGBT History Month celebrates the achievements of 31 lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender Icons. Each day in October, a new LGBT Icon is featured with a video, bio, bibliography, downloadable images and other resources. Come back to our LGBT History Month Page each day to learn something new! [See today’s Icon Here]

The Community Food Bank @ The Center

The Community Food Bank @ The Center is located at 610 S Belardo Rd, Palm Springs and is open for distribution every Thursday from 5:00–7:00 p.m. Regular hours for Food Bank donation drop-offs are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10:00 am to Noon. NEW! – Curbside drop off hours: Thursdays from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Collecting barrels will be available in front of the food bank facility for easy drive by – drop and go! More info

Daylight Saving Time Ends Nov. 1

Time to “Fall back” and return to standard time this weekend. Turn your clocks back one hour at 2:00 a.m. early Sunday morning (or before you go to bed Saturday night) and enjoy an extra hour of sleep!

LOOKING AHEAD

Election Day Nov 3 Vote

Election Day is Finally Here

Election Day is Tuesday, November 3, check out this Palm Springs Voter Information Article for details on Voter Assistance Centers and Ballot Drop-Off Locations.

Free COVID Testing

Free COVID testing will be available at the Palm Springs Convention Center November 3 & 4 from 8:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. on both days, provided by the Riverside University Health System. If you are insured, insurance information will be collected and your insurance company will be billed. You will not be responsible for any co-pay or other charges. For information about the test please call 800-945-6171 or visit www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus. Testing is encouraged for those that do not have symptoms, not just those with symptoms. No walk-ins, so make your appointment here: http://bit.ly/PSConvCen113-420

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 – 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.

Conversational Spanish with Guillermo Biro – Tuesdays at 2:00 p.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.

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

Seated Wellness with Lynn Simonson – Thursdays at 10:00 a.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.

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

Making Connections During COVID: Men’s Discussion Group with Arlen Keith Leight, LCSW, Ph.D
1st and 3rd Saturdays at 11:30 a.m.

Full list of The Center’s Zoom programs [here]

The Economic Future of the Coachella Valley

A free webinar series from the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership, Palm Springs Life, and SBEMP Attorneys continues on Wednesday, November 4 at 2:00 p.m. to explore the question of how the Coachella Valley will bounce back from the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. In this installment, “Nonprofits and Philanthropy,” presenters Laura Fritz (Eisenhower Health Foundation) and Debbie Espinosa (FIND Food Bank) discuss how nonprofit organizations are tuning their programming and fundraising strategies for the COVID era. More info

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We also have Hot Deals at Il Giardino, Runway, Peepa’s, Pinocchio, Dickey’s, Destination PSP, Palm Springs Fine Men’s Salon and more! See All Deals

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