Hecklina’s tribute over the weekend was a call to action to those she left behind. To quote Liza Minelli’s Cabaret:
“What goods permitting
Some prophet of doom?
To wipe every smile away
Life is a cabaret, old chum
So come to the cabaret…
Come taste the wine
Come hear the band
Come blow your horn
Start celebrating
Right this way your table’s waiting”
Friends and fans gathered to honor the drag queen who got her start in San Francisco, but had moved to Palm Springs to enjoy life. Heklina’s untimely – and yet cause unknown – death was a shocker. As many spoke of her lust for life, they gave that call to action to live life to the fullest.
That’s something I try to do as I approach the bewitching 65 this year. I have many friends who have had health scares recently, so I’m taking Liza’s song to heart! Especially the “come drink the wine” part…
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Palm Springs International ShortFest
The Palm Springs International ShortFest runs from Tuesday, June 20 through Monday, June 26 at the Camelot Theatres (Palm Springs Cultural Center). This year’s festival will showcase an impressive selection of 299 films from 65 countries, including 53 World Premieres, 10 International Premieres, 33 North American Premieres, and 18 U.S. Premieres. The films were curated from over 6,000 film submissions. ShortFest Forum will return with classes and panels featuring industry representatives, filmmakers and additional guests. Awards and cash prizes worth $25,000, including five Academy Award-qualifying awards, will be announced on Sunday, June 25. The Best of the Fest shorts will screen on the final day, Monday, June 26. Check our listing for links to the schedule of screenings and a handy film finder where you can search by genre, country of origin, director and more: Get tickets
Coachella Valley Firebirds: Calder Cup Final
The Coachella Valley Firebirds have made it to the Calder Cup Final in their inaugural season! They began play in the 2022-23 American Hockey League with the brand-new Acrisure Arena as their home ice, as an owned-and-operated affiliate of the Seattle Kraken. They’ve emerged victorious from the Western Conference Finals, and are now in the the Calder Cup Finals (best of 7 games) against the Hershey Bears, winning the first two games and losing the next three, so the series returns to the Coachella Valley for a must-win Game 6 on Monday, June 19 and if they win that, the final game in the series will be Wednesday, June 21. Get tickets
Beyond Inflammation
Dr. Patrick Angelo presents a lecture, Beyond Inflammation, on Wednesday, June 21 from 8:30 am–12 pm at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Angelo is a renowned research expert, corporate leader, and award-winning philanthropist, sharing his patented blueprint to beat inflammation and recapture vitality at this invitation-only gathering. It is chronic inflammation if you are struggling with your weight, specifically around your waist. Inflammation is the culprit and is eroding your physical and mental health. You have but one body and one brain. Invest in a new strategy to defeat inflammation. More info
Max Mitchell – Full Length and Uncut
Runway Bar & Restaurant presents Max Mitchell – Full Length and Uncut, an evening of standup comedy and fun songs on Friday, June 23 at 8 pm. Top comedians Max Mitchell, Shann Carr and Evan Warner perform together along with musicians Chip Prince and Dwane Hathorn. Spend a memorable night with friends laughing at side splitting jokes and listening to fun songs by Cole Porter, Noel Coward, Kander & Ebb, Sandy Wilson, Jacque Brel, Fats Waller, Sheldon Harnick, Noble Sissle, Eubie Blake, and Rogers & Hammerstein. Get tickets
Recap: Season 8 RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, Episode 7
Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent Dante Noto has your latest recap for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 8, Episode 7: Forensic Queens, and “this week’s maxi challenge is to improv in a new Ru-crime series, “Forensic Queens.” The episode is entitled “Wha-ha-happened to Lil’ Poundcake,” the drag puppet daughter of Alaska Thunderf*ck and Lineysha Sparx from season 5.” Find out how the improv played out, who threatened to quit, and who is just not having all these dramatics when you read Dante’s full recap of Episode 7 [here].
Native American Arts Festival
Idyllwild Arts Foundation presents its annual Native American Arts Festival Week from Sunday, June 18 to Friday, June 23 at the Idyllwild Arts campus. The week-long event, which has run each summer for over two decades, is designed to enhance and enrich the Idyllwild Arts Summer Program with Native American arts-based programming including an invitational exhibition, demonstrations, Native food tastings and the Michael Kabotie Lecture Series. All festival week events are free and open to the public. More info
Desert Stonewall Democrats June Membership Meeting
The Desert Stonewall Democrats’ June Membership Meeting is on Tuesday, June 20, at 6 pm in the Mizell Center Community Room, and on Zoom. This meeting’s topic is Celebrating Pride LGBTQ+ Rights At Risk at Home and Abroad, addressing the anti-LGBTQ+ laws and legislation that are surfacing in the United States and abroad. Come at 5:30 pm for refreshments and some social time. More info
OutFest Tickets & Passes on Sale Tuesday, June 20
OutFest Los Angeles is the largest LGBTQ+ film festival in the world and the 41st Annual Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ+ Film Festival is set to take place July 13–23 at various locations around Los Angeles. Tickets and Passes for OutFest 2023 go on sale Tuesday, June 20. The festival will open with Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, directed by Aitch Alberto, and the 11-day event will close with Chasing Chasing Amy, directed by Sav Rodgers. The Opening Night Gala will screen at the Orpheum Theatre, with the Closing Night Gala screening at The Montalbán Theatre. More info
Book & Movie Salon for Women: Parched
Lesbians of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley and beyond present a monthly B.A.M. Salon (Book and Movie Salon) for women hosted by Flynn Sylvest and Irma O’Dell on Tuesday, June 20 from 7–8:30 pm on Zoom. B.A.M. Salon looks to develop and deepen LGBTQ+ community and connection through stimulating and informative conversations about books and movies that highlight women authors and women’s stories and experiences. This month, the featured film is Parched, written and directed by Leena Yadav. More info
Poetry with Pride Performance Event
The First Annual Poetry with Pride Performance Event will take place Wednesday, June 21 at 5:30 pm at the Cathedral City Public Library. Brittny Roberts, poet, podcaster and Lez Out Loud favorite, will host, featuring comedian Chris Fidler and more local poets. Admission is free. More info
CVRep Summer Cabaret Series: Christiane Noll
CVRep presents their Summer Cabaret Series on Thursdays at 7 pm, and this week, it’s Christiane Noll on Thursday, June 22. Nominated for both the 2010 Tony Award and Drama Desk Award, she won a Helen Hayes Award for her portrayal of Mother on Broadway in the Kennedy Center Revival of Ragtime. She made her Broadway debut starring in Jekyll & Hyde, creating the role of Emma. Ms. Noll received an Ovation Award for her comedic turn as Hope Cladwell in the National Tour of Urinetown, wowed audiences again as Vanna Vane in the new musical The Mambo Kings, soared as Jane Smart in the American premiere of The Witches of Eastwick, and most recently received another Drama Desk nomination for her work in Chaplin. See our event listing to see the variety of talent lined up in this series: Get tickets
Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce Summer Speaker Series
The Rancho Mirage Chamber of Commerce presents a Summer Speaker Series held the last Thursday of the month, May through August, from 11:30 am–1:30 pm at Mission Hills Country Club. This Thursday, June 22, get the Latest Economy News: Stay up to speed on some of the most closely watched economic statistics and trends that influence decisions of government officials, business people, and individuals with this update by Raymond James. Upcoming Summer Speaker Series topics include: Tourism Spotlight with Palm Springs International Airport and Visit Greater Palm Springs (7/27), and Housing Update with Life to Rise (8/24). More info
Boyz Night Out
On Friday, June 23—and every Friday night!— Zoso Fun presents Boyz Night Out at Hotel Zoso from 4 pm–8 pm. This legendary pool party and happy hour is hosted by Snatch and features music from K-Gay’s own multi award-winning deejay Vincente Corrales as DJ Galaxy! Come and enjoy go-go boys, awesome drink specials, pop up drag events, PS Flaggers and more, and kick off the weekend! More info
Country Dance Fridays
Dance Ranch Palm Springs presents Country Dance Fridays, a great night of country western dancing, including two-step, waltz, shadow, East and West Coast swing and line dances, every Friday from 7–9:30 pm at Step by Step. The dance lesson is at 7 pm with dancing from 7:30–9:30. Dance Ranch Palm Springs is a country western dance group serving the LGBTQ+ community and its friends. Country dancers of all levels are welcome. More info
For all events check out the GayDesertGuide.com
