Sexy-nomics. A new word I coined so you would read beyond today’s topic word “economics”. There’s really nothing sexy about economics, yet at Thursday’s Coachella Valley Business Conference and Economic Forecast, even the young people from the Desert Sands District FFA (who were sitting at our table) were paying attention.
The truth is, the economy, and all the economic indicators are really quite good. Dr. Christopher Thornberg has been studying the tea leaves, and his recent blog is “Despite Headlines, California is doing OK”. But there’s this huge gap between the narrative – driven by attention-grabbing headlines – and reality.
It’s easy to pick up on a stat that is pushed onto our feeds and think that that state is going to hell in a hand-basket. But slide after slide countered that narrative. And while events like White Party and Coachella are not hitting their attendance records from year’s past, they are still helping bring tourism to the Coachella Valley. And more visitors spending more money is certainly “sexy-nomically” good for us!
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Fire Island Film Festival
The Filmmakers’ Gallery presents The Fire Island Film Festival on Saturday and Sunday, April 20 & 21 at the Mary Pickford Theatre in Cathedral City. This 2-day film festival celebrates the history, culture, and significance of Fire Island, New York with documentaries, comedies, shorts, and dramatic feature films, a panel discussion with author/activist Mark Okun, author Jill Langham and more. See our event listing for the full schedule! The festival also includes an opening night film screening of the adult classic Boys in the Sand at Barracks Bar, and a closing night party (with complimentary massages!) at Men’s Grooming Spot, all in Cathedral City. One-Day Passes and All-Inclusive VIP Passes are available. Get tickets
Coachella Valley Symphony: “Pixar in Concert”
The Coachella Valley Symphony presents a FREE concert celebrating 25 years of the music and animation of Disney and Pixar films on Saturday, April 20 at 7:30 pm at the Rancho Mirage Amphitheater. Pixar in Concert will feature music and visuals from 15 classics, including Pixar’s inaugural full-length computer animated film Toy Story (1995), and the Academy Award®-winning films Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Ratatouille, WALL-E, Up, and Coco. More info
Modern Men Chorus: Greatest Hits!
Join Modern Men as they celebrate their 10th anniversary with a Greatest Hits concert on Saturday, April 20 at 7 pm and Sunday, April 21 at 3 pm at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. These concerts will celebrate the chorus’ ten years of bringing stunning performances to the Coachella Valley with a repertoire selected by the singing members of the chorus and featuring a reprise performance of their acclaimed commission MOMENTum. Get tickets
Drive the Plaza Theatre Into the Future
The Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation presents Drive the Plaza Theatre Into the Future on Friday, April 19 from 5–8 pm at The Prescott Collection Hanger in Palm Springs. This exclusive venue houses more than 100 rare and vintage automobiles owned by collector Brad Prescott. It includes renowned luxury marques such as Cadillac, Lincoln and Packard as well as “orphan makes” including Nash, Rambler and Studebaker. Mingle with these beauties while enjoying cocktails and hors d’oeuvres and helping to restore the Plaza Theatre to its original splendor. Get tickets
Adopt Love at Blackbook
Blackbook on Arenas is hosting an Adoption Event for the Palm Springs Animal Shelter on Saturday, April 20 from 11 am–2 pm. Plan to come out for a great lunch, music, and some cocktails. Enjoy a Saturday afternoon opportunity to meet dogs of all sizes and ages available for adoption. More info
Coachella Weekend 2
The Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival returns after a short 4-day breather for Weekend 2, this Friday–Sunday, April 19–21 at the Empire Polo Club in Indio. With a capacity of 125,000, total annual attendance for the Coachella festival is estimated at a quarter of a million people over the two weekends. This year, headliners Lana Del Rey, Doja Cat, and Tyler, the Creator are bringing their unique styles to the desert stage, with dozens of acts across multiple stages filling out the weekend of wall-to-wall music. Watch for street closures and additional traffic through April. More info
Desert Gold
The Ace Hotel and Swim Club presents the second weekend of Coachella-adjacent Desert Gold, a “sacred ceremony of far-out sound alongside Coachella,” this Thursday–Sunday, April 18–21. This year’s lineup includes LA’s own Hood Rave, setting it off in the Amigo Room, followed by an all-weekend poolside showcase by Franchise. More info
Goldenvoice Surf Club
Also alongside Coachella, and produced by the same company as the big event, is the Goldenvoice Surf Club, on Saturday & Sunday, April 20–21. This curated music program takes place in the music amphitheater of the new Palm Springs Surf Club, with parkwide wellness activities and all attractions open, including a wave pool, a heated lazy river, and additional surrounding pools. Add to the fun an incredible roster of festival talent, world renowned DJs, and live entertainment! Get tickets
Sherlock Holmes Confidential
Desert Ensemble Theatre presents Sherlock Holmes Confidential, playing Fridays–Sundays, April 12–21. This sparkling comedy was a great success at DET’s 2022 Summer reading series. In an alternative version of the Holmes origin story, a spurned romance leads to someone threatening to unmask the young detective as a fraud. – Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh says, “Even the most rigid Sherlock Holmes purist should still enjoy this clever revisionist take on how he became the Great Sherlock Holmes.” Read his full review and Get tickets
Mr. Parker
Dezart Performs presents Mr. Parker, a new play by Michael McKeever, writer of Daniel’s Husband, Fridays through Sundays, April 12–21. At 54 years old, Terry Parker finds himself at a crossroads in his life. After the loss of his partner of 30 years, he finds himself suddenly single and unable to adjust to a world that has moved on without him. After a night of heavy drinking, he wakes up with a 28-year-old bartender-slash-Uber-driver. Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh says this is Dezart’s best offering of the season, and “For anyone who has been in a long-term relationship that ended in an untimely fashion, this play will hit home in a way that few plays do. It will make you laugh in in recognition and will also bring some tears to the eyes for that very same reason.” Read his full review and Get tickets
An Evening with Lillias White
The Purple Room Supper Club presents An Evening with Lillias White on Friday and Saturday, April 19 & 20 (dinner at 6 pm, show at 8 pm). Described by The New York Times as a “one-of-a-kind performer who combines the sass of a classic blues mama with the skill of a Broadway star,” Lillias White is world-renowned for her “glorious” voice and “slightly superhuman” ability to communicate the heart of a song (The New York Times). Her performance in Cy Coleman’s Broadway musical, The Life, won her the TONY® Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She was nominated for a second TONY® Award for her brilliant work in Fela. Get tickets
Coming Up at The McCallum Theatre
- Open Call Talent Project | Sat. & Sun. Apr 20 & 21
- Guys and Dolls, presented by College of the Desert | Fri–Sun, May 3–5
- Bianca del Rio | Mon. May 6
- The Boy Who Cried Wolf | Sat. May 11
- Tribute to Taylor Swift | Sat. Jun 1
- Wanda Sykes | Wed. & Thu. Jun 5 & 6
- Samara Joy | Sat. Jun 15
- See the full schedule for April at the McCallum on our event listing
Nice Work If You Can Get it
CVRep presents George & Ira Gershwin’s Nice Work If You Can Get It, playing Wednesdays through Sundays, April 10–28. Additional dates have already been added due to high demand, hitting the CVRep stage with Gershwin songs you’ll be humming the whole way home. This screwball comedy features romance, high-spirited production numbers, and a Tony Award winning script that pokes fun at class snobbery in the prohibition era. Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh says “As the central couple, Jennifer Knox and Hayden Stanes are charmers blessed with wonderful voices and bring a sense of romance to “S’ Wonderful”, their long dance number which recalls Fred & Ginger as they danced their way to romance.” Read his full review and Get tickets
The Boys in the Band
Palm Canyon Theatre presents The Boys in the Band, playing Thursdays through Sundays, running through April 21. In his New York City apartment, Michael throws a birthday party for Harold, a self-described “thirty-two- year- old, pockmarked, Jew fairy,” complete with a surprise gift: “Cowboy,” a street hustler. As the evening wears on-fueled by drugs and alcohol-bitter, unresolved resentments among the guests come to light when a game of “Truth” goes terribly wrong. Get tickets
Glow in the Park at The Living Desert
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens presents Glow in the Park on select nights through April 28. Step into a magical world of lights with more than a hundred Chinese lanterns hand crafted by artisans. Glow in the Park showcases the wonders of wildlife from across the globe and throughout time, featuring larger-than-life displays inspired by the beauty of nature, dozens of interactive installations, fantastic photo ops, and, of course, the fan-favorite “magic” smoke bubbles. Get tickets
Michael Childers – AI Photography Tea & Talk
Internationally acclaimed photographer Michael Childers will exhibit his “AI Photography” (Artificial Intelligence) at Melissa Morgan Fine Art with a special artist talk on Sunday, April 21 from 1–3 pm. Childers will discuss his work along with Stephen Baumbach, moderated by Steven Biller, as the three offer captivating presentations and interactive discussions delving into the landscape of photography in the digital age, the potential of AI creativity, and explore the intersection of traditional craftsmanship and digital innovation. More info
Garden Cocktail Party at Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms
The Palm Springs Art Museum’s Art Events presents a Garden Cocktail Party at Frank Sinatra’s Twin Palms Estate on Sunday, April 21 from 2–5 pm. Tour the iconic Twin Palms Estate and imagine the parties hosted by Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner. You’ll be transported to a time where parties were playful and the fun never stopped. Enjoy entertainment by Nickerson-Rossi Dance, fabulous bites and beverages set against the backdrop of the infamous piano pool and legendary grounds of Twin Palms. Get tickets
Earth Day Clothing Swap
Upcycle your style and go green at the Earth Day Clothing Swap on Saturday, April 20 from 9 am–12 pm at the Palm Springs Certified Farmers’ Market. Bring up to 10 fabulous clothing items to swap (quality over quantity here), including accessories, jewelry, scarves, handbags and shoes. Pre-registration required. More info
