Lots of good stuff for locals to do this week if you should feel like escaping the obsessives of Modernism Week out there. Learn to shake an attacker three times your size, or enjoy a dark comedy farce about the responsibility of voting, or how much that rare car is in the window!
LGBT Clear Defense Course: Street Defense for Extreme Situations
Gay Desert Guide is partnering with Desert Rocks Indoor Climbing Gym to present this LGBT self-defense course, Saturday Feb 24 from 10:30am-2pm. The Clear Defense method can be used by almost anyone. It's been taught to teens and to "little old ladies with heart conditions.' Learn how to trigger the mind and body to fight like a wild animal in an instant.
The course is taught by Harry Legg (That is his name!), owner of New Jersey Tai Chi and NJ/NYC Regional Instructor for Master Richard Clear. Master Clear developed this method over 25 years through real street attack experiences. Training aspects taught in this course include how to keep from panicking so you never freeze up under pressure; how to win a confrontation morally and in a way that can be defended legally; and my favorite, how to use an ink pen for self defense, because whether mightier or not, it generally is more accessible than the sword.
Local Theatre of the Week
On Golden Pond at Desert Theatreworks
On Golden Pond is a humorous and heartwarming play about a long-married elderly couple, Norman and Ethel, spending yet another summer at their beloved cottage on a lake in Maine. When their estranged daughter arrives with her fiancé and his son in tow, Norman and Ethel agree to host the young boy for the duration of the summer. As they come to terms with the realities of life's twilight years, reexamining the past and worrying over the fleeting future, they discover how precious time really is. Don't miss this great show presented by Desert Theatreworks.
CONTAINS SOME ADULT LANGUAGE AND THEMES
Recommended ages 10 and up
The matinees (Sundays and Saturday, February 17th) start at 2:00 PM
Election Day at Desert Theatre Ensemble Company
The Desert Theatre Ensemble Company presents a second weekend of the farce Election Day by Josh Tobiessen. It's Election Day, and Adam knows his over-zealous girlfriend will never forgive him if he fails to vote. But when his sex starved sister, an eco-terrorist, and a mayoral candidate willing to do anything for a vote all show up, Adam finds that making that quick trip to the polls might be harder than he thought. Election Day is a hilarious dark comedy about the price of political (and personal) campaigns.
At the Pearl McManus Theatre in the Palm Springs Woman's Club through Feb 25. Friday and Saturday at 7pm, Sundays at 2pm.
Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival
The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival is presented by Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. Gates are open 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. from Friday-Monday and noon-10 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday. For more information, call 800.811.FAIR or visit www.datefest.org where you can buy and print your Fair tickets at home.
Lou Gramm, founding member of Foreigner, will perform at the Fair with Foghat on Saturday, Feb 24th at 7pm. Gramm became one of the most successful rock vocalists of the late 1970s and 1980s with Foreigner; hit songs included “Feels Like the First Time,” “Cold as Ice” and “Hot Blooded.” Foghat is truly a timeless band with hits like “Slow Ride,” “Fool for the City” and “Third Time Lucky.” Foghat has earned eight Gold records, one Platinum and one Double-Platinum record. On Sunday, Super Fiesta will pack the house with excitement. Performing in the Fantasy Springs Concert Pavilion at 3pm is Los Tequileros de Ramon Jimenez, Banda Pachuco and Carmen Jara.
KMC CHAT Podcast with Brad Fuhr
On his Palm Springs podcast, Keith chats with Gay Desert Guide founder Brad Fuhr, about Palm Springs, Chicago, radio, LA and of course Gay Desert Guide! Fuhr just won the City of Palm Springs Human Rights Commission Community Service Award for "Promoting Universal Human Rights Closer to Home" and talks about his plans to springboard that into a new community service group that is near and dear to his heart called 'Gay For Good'.
McCormick's 64th Palm Springs Classic Car Auction
McCormick's holds its 64th Classic Car Show & Auction of 580 classic, exotic & special interest vehicles, running Feb 23-25 at the Palm Springs Convention Center. General public & dealers welcome. Prices from just $2,000 to over $250,000. Friday is FREE admission, Saturday & Sunday $15 per day or $25 for both.
Palm Springs Chamber February Mixer Tuesday
This month's Palm Springs Chamber Mixer will be held Tuesday, Feb 20 from 5-6:30pm at La Serena Villas boutique hotel. Every month Palm Springs Chamber members gather after hours to catch up, meet new members, do a bit of networking and get an inside glance at a local business. Mixers provide an opportunity for members to get to know each other and share business contacts. Free for members – $15.00 for guests.
Desert Outlook's OUTBook Club Meets Tuesday
Desert Outlook's new OUTBook Club has its second meeting on Tuesday Feb 20 to discuss Christopher Bollen's "The Destroyers." Beverages and discussion start at 6:30pm at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. This is a free event.
Desert Outlook magazine launched OUTBook Club as a part of its commitment to connecting the LGBTQ community and celebrating the joy and tradition of sharing our stories. Desert Outlook book critic and columnist J. Corbett Holmes will lead discussions around each month’s selection, in tandem with his book reviews published each month in the magazine. And when possible, featured authors will join the conversation. Each book selection will be announced the previous month in the magazine. The OUTBook Club will meet the third Tuesday of each month.
To join Outbook, simply pick up and read our month’s selection. Follow Desert Outlook on Facebook or Twitter for book club updates.
Eisenhower "Below the Belt" Lecture Series Continues with Gay Men's Guide to Sex
Join Dr. Alex Del Rosario for a broad overview of gay male sexual practices in the medical aspect on Wednesday, Feb 21 at 5:30pm at the McDonald/Wright Building downtown. An in-depth question and answer session will follow (so to speak). This is a FREE event but space is limited, and reservations should be made. Eisenhower's Below the Belt lecture series continues every other Wednesday through March.
Call 760-423-4855 for information and reservations or click here to register.
Seaplane's Double Down Party
You thought they had a lot of fun shirts before? Head to Seaplane Shirts this Thursday, Feb 22 to fête the *doubling* of Seaplane's Palm Springs inventory! (Mayor has just confirmed for 5:30pm!) Drop by for a glass of wine and check out Seaplane's newest FUN SHIRTS. Seaplane Shirts on Palm Canyon is open 11-6pm seven days a week.
Go to their site for more info and a massive catalogue.
See you later in the week and we'll preview what the weekend has in store!