Barbie the movie has so many Palm Springs angles. From Trixie Mattel showing us the ‘KGAY Retro Lunch” iterations of Barbie in “Decade of Dolls: The Eighties” to the set itself which pays an homage to our Coachella Valley, it’s another notch for Palm Springs.
From KESQ: “According to Architectural Digest – the Barbie production crew took inspiration from Palm Springs mid-century modernism including Richard Neutra’s 1964 Kaufmann House.”
Manager Drew Brandt says that the Trixie Motel is getting extra visitors. And everyone is wearing their best pink at the gym, the bars and of course at the theatre . The movie theatre was a good respite from the weekend heat, dust and humidity.
And the movie also overcame a “crush” of right-wing outrage that attempted to derail the film’s popularity. Oh, and there’s even a new AI-generated song by a fake Johnny Cash. What is this world coming to when AI collides with Barbie? Oh, she’s not real, is she?
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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2023 DBA Impact Awards
The Desert Business Association (DBA) will hold their annual Impact Awards on Monday, July 24 at 5 pm in the Cascade Lounge at the Agua Caliente Casino Palm Springs. They will honor business leaders, community leaders and organizations who have been examples of strength and foresight in our communities. [Get tickets] This year’s honorees are:
- Business of the Year: Blackbook Bar, Palm Springs
- Business Person of the Year: Dan Gore, Oscar’s Palm Springs
- Outstanding Community Service Organization: Palm Springs Front Runners & Walkers
- Outstanding Community Service Leader: Ted Guice, G-Force Workout
- The DBA will also recognize their recent LGBTQ Youth Educational Scholarship awardees.
Recap: Season 8 RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, Episode 12
Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent Dante Noto has published his recap of the season finale of RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 8 with Episode 12: Grand Finale. Dante asks “Who will snatch the Queen of the Fame Games crown? And who will be crowned the winner of the season and become $200k richer? Keep reading! My library is still open!” Spoiler alert, obviously, but if you’re ready to find out who won or you already saw it and you want to relive the experience alongside Dante, read all about it in Dante’s full recap of Episode 12 [here].
The Center Social at Chill Bar
Join the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert on the 4th Wednesday of each month for The Center Social, a mixer of fun, community, and happy hour! This month, the July Center Social is on Wednesday, July 26, from 5:30–7 pm at Chill Bar Palm Springs. Spread the word—everyone is invited! MeTV 103.1 fm is happy to be this month’s media sponsor. More info
CVRep Summer Cabaret Series: Christia Mantzke
CVRep presents their Summer Cabaret Series on Thursdays at 7 pm, and this week, it’s Christia Mantzke on Thursday, July 27. Mantzke sings some of her favorite songs from productions over her past thirty years as a Broadway performer and Billboard Award-winning EMI recording artist. She will share vocal snapshots of her theatrical career, along with stories from the road. With songs like “Proud Mary,” “I Get a Kick Out of You,” and “I Don’t Know How to Love Him,” the audience will be taping their feet, singing, laughing, and, perhaps, shedding a few tears as they join her along this musical walk down memory lane. See our event listing to see the variety of talent lined up in this series: Get tickets
Vote for Mitch! – Favorite Chef
Palm Springs’ own Mitchell Battersby is still in the running for the prestigious Favorite Chef competition, presented by celebrity chef Carla Hall. In this tournament-style competition, competitors go through rounds, and those with the most votes in those rounds move on. To win Favorite Chef, one must leverage the power of social media and word-of-mouth advertising to garner the support of the public to vote. From a humble group of over 100 talented chefs, Mitch has challenged himself to prove time and again that his culinary skills are unrivaled. As he continues to work toward the finals, you can help Mitch win by voting daily, and if he wins the competition, he’s donating $5,000 to Palm Springs Pride to help keep Pride free for everyone. Vote today
Cocktail Cinema Summer Film Series: Selena
The Palm Springs Art Museum presents the “Cocktail Cinema” Summer Film Series during the museum’s Thursday Night Sessions with free admission from 5–9 pm. The series features films with iconic soundtracks that reflect their time and place, and each film will be paired with a specially crafted cocktail prepared by That’s The Spirit Mobile Bar. On Thursday, July 27 at 6 pm, the film will be Selena (1997), the true-story rise of singer Selena who found success in the Spanish-speaking market and then sought mainstream stardom, only to be tragically murdered at the age of 23. The soundtrack features some of her most popular songs which have been credited as helping to redefine Latin music and its subgenres Tejano, cumbia, and Latin pop. Although the film begins at 6 pm, attendees are encouraged to get to the museum at 5 pm to purchase and enjoy one of the specialty drinks. Free event, registration required. More info
Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce Summer Speaker Series
The Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce presents a Summer Speaker Series held the last Thursday of each month through August, from 11:30 am–1:30 pm at Mission Hills Country Club. This Thursday, July 27, get the Tourism Spotlight with Palm Springs International Airport and Visit Greater Palm Springs: Tourism is key to the valley’s success. Hear from Executive Director, Harry Barrett, Jr. AAE, of the Palm Springs International Airport, to learn more about the latest flights and airlines coming to the destination. Then, Visit Greater Palm Springs will give an update on their tourism efforts, results and plans for the future here in the Coachella Valley. Wrapping up the Summer Speaker Series next month: Housing Update with Lift to Rise (8/24). More info
Wine & Weenies
Wine & Weenies is taking place every Friday in July from 5–7 pm at PSBS (Palm Springs Bottle Shop). Admission gets you two glasses of wine, a hot dog, a bag of chips, and a whole lotta fun! Come cool off on Friday evenings with good people, cold wine, and hot dogs with a chance to shop late at PSBS and Mojave Flea Trading Post. A portion of ticket sales benefits the Palm Springs Animal Shelter. Get tickets
Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage
Taste of Summer Rancho Mirage 2023 is going on now through August 13. For just $10, your event wristband opens up a world of exclusive summer specials at participating Rancho Mirage restaurants so you can savor the best of the Rancho Mirage culinary scene, such as Willie’s Modern Fare, BluEmber, Las Casuelas Nuevas, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, Dragon Lili Boba Bar, Krispy Kreme, State Fare at the Ritz-Carlton, and more. See our event listing for a link to the full list of participating restaurants and their exclusive Taste of Summer offers. Wristbands can be picked up at a variety of local non-profits. More info
