The first shall be last and the last shall be first, to paraphrase a bible verse. The first Pride of the season happened over the weekend at Cathedral City, and the last is our Palm Springs Pride in November. We celebrate both in the Coachella Valley and we are basking in the afterglow of Cathedral City LGBT Days.
I’m busy behind the scenes getting ready to launch another radio station this week on the former ChannelQ KQPS 103.1 FM. We’re welcoming those listeners to KGAY 106.5 with a new format debuting Wednesday!
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs,
For the latest, follow our socials @GayDesertGuide and @KGAY1065 and listen to KGAY Palm Springs wherever you may be!
#ILoveGayPalmSprings #ILoveGayCatCity #ILoveGayTravel #ILoveGay #SayKGAY (and win!)
Listen in for New Format for 103.1 FM
As you may have heard, 103.1 FM, the Coachella Valley radio station currently known as “Channel Q” has been purchased by us at KGAY 106.5 and for a short time starting Monday, March 6, will be simulcasting KGAY programming, so you’ll be able to hear John Taylor in the morning and Chris Shebel in the afternoon, plus Retro Lunch with DJ Galaxy and DJ Eric Ornelas on 103.1 FM. We invite all former Channel Q listeners to come on over to KGAY 106.5 on the FM dial or stream online. On Wednesday, March 8, a new format will emerge on 103.1, so tune in to find out what the valley’s new radio station will be!
Palm Springs Yappy Hour
Animal Samaritans presents Yappy Hour on the second Thursday each month from November through April, and this month’s event is on Thursday, March 9 from 4–6 pm at the Margaritaville Desert Rose Garden. Gay Desert Guide and KGAY are pleased to sponsor the event this month! Enjoy an exciting evening with other animal lovers and their canine friends, bring your friendly, leashed dog and enjoy treats for your pet and hors d’oeuvres and wine for you. Proceeds benefit Animal Samaritans’ life-saving programs. More info
BNP Paribas Open Begins
The BNP Paribas Open is underway, March 6–19 at the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. This is the largest two-week combined ATP & WTA professional tennis tournament outside of the four majors. The player field this year includes defending champions Iga Swiatek, the current World No. 1, and World No. 8 Taylor Fritz, plus Carlos Alcaraz, Aryna Sabalenka, Jessica Pegula, and many more. When it comes time to take a break from the non-stop tennis action, Tennis Paradise has you covered with unrivaled amenities throughout the grounds. Daily live entertainment, top-shelf retail stores and luxurious dining options await you at every turn. And with 20 easily accessible practice courts, the opportunities are endless to encounter tennis’ hottest rising stars and most legendary icons as they prepare to take center stage in the desert. If you can’t make it in person, nearly 120 hours of live coverage is planned. Get tickets
White Party Palm Springs 2023 Single Event Tickets on Sale Now
White Party Palm Springs, the largest LGBTQ+ dance music festival in the world, has just announced their individual ticket passes are on sale now, at a special price for a limited quantity. Taking place May 12–14, this year’s festival is being reimagined to offer a more modern, fresh, and innovative experience. More than just a dance music festival, White Party Palm Springs is a celebration of the LGBTQ+ community and a symbol of unity, love, and inclusivity, with stunning pool parties and electrifying nighttime events that feature top-tier talent and DJs ranging from Lady Gaga, Ariana Grande, RAYE, Paula Abdul, and Offer Nissim, from previous years. This year’s festival promises to be a once-in-a-lifetime experience that revelers from all over the globe will never forget. More info
Desert X is Here
After welcoming a total of more than 1.25 million to all three previous iterations in the Coachella Valley, Desert X returns for their fourth exhibition, running now through Sunday, May 7. The exhibition of site-specific installations by acclaimed international artists examines social and environmental themes with a focus on the changes that give form to a world increasingly shaped by climate crisis, globalism, and the political and economic migrations that follow in their wake. Free and open to the public, stop in at the Desert X hub at the Ace Hotel or download the app for information on artists, a map to find the installations, and interactive content. More info
Cheeky Charity March Events
HARP-PS Positive Life Series presents Anal Cancer and You on Tuesday, March 7 at 6 pm. Come hear Cheeky Charity’s public health director, Yale grad and Columbia PHD, Alex Borsa, discuss anal cancer, its risk factors, symptoms, and what you can do to ensure it doesn’t become a life changing (or ending) disease for you and your loved ones [More info]. Also from Cheeky Charity in March: a clothed hike series every Sunday at 10 am at the South Lykken Trail, and nude (clothing optional) hikes every Tuesday and Thursday from 8 am–11 am, meeting in Palm Desert to travel to Mecca for the hike. There will also be several Cheeky Charity events at The Barracks, an Eisenhower Health panel discussion, and a Sassy Soiree on March 31 to officially launch Cheeky Charity, whose mission is 100% focused on enabling the early detection of colorectal cancer. More info
Sand, Stars & Guitars: Special Consensus
The Bluegrass Standard Magazine and the Palm Springs Cultural Center have put together a dynamite Bluegrass series called Sand, Stars & Guitars – the first of its kind in Southern California. See Grammy® nominated Special Consensus for one night only on Monday, March 6 at 8 pm at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Get tickets
Friends of Philharmonic Present Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
The Palm Springs Friends of Philharmonic, as part of their 2022-23 subscription series, will present the Academy of St Martin in the Fields on Monday, March 6 at 7:30 pm at the McCallum Theatre. The first mandolin soloist to be nominated for a classical Grammy, guest artist Avi Avital has been compared to Andres Segovia for his championship of his instrument and to Jascha Heifitz for his incredible virtuosity. See the full program in our event listing: Get tickets
Once
CVRep presents Once, playing now through Sunday, March 11. (Due to popular demand, CVRep added seven additional performances!) Once is a love story reminding us of how the language of music is universal. Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Once tells the story of Guy, an Irish songwriter who spends his days fixing vacuums in the Dublin shop he runs with his father. While on the verge of giving it up altogether, along comes a girl who convinces Guy to believe in love, music, and the courage to carry on. Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh says Once is “a total joy from the moment you enter the theatre until it lovingly sends you on your way home.” Read his full review [here] and Get tickets
The Lincoln Debate
The Bent Theater Company presents The Lincoln Debate on Tuesday, March 7 at 7 pm at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. This new play takes a funny, touching and historically honest look at the relationship between Abraham Lincoln and Joshua Speed, a man he shared a bed with for four years. Did they have an intimate relationship? Did one of the greatest men in American history have a letter under the LGBTQ banner that fit him? You will leave armed to draw your own conclusions. Upcoming performance will be on Tuesday, March 14. Get tickets
The Swingin’ Sixties Show
The Award-Winning Tribute Artists from Premeditated Productions bring all your favorite performers from the Sixties back in one great show with The Swingin’ Sixties Show on Tuesday, March 7 from 1:30–3 pm at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Swing out to this tribute to great songs and performers of the ’60s including Dusty Springfield, James Brown, Simon & Garfunkel, Wilson Pickett & more. Get tickets
Let’s Talk Oscars
The Palm Springs Public Library presents Let’s Talk Oscars on Wednesday, March 8 from 6–7:30 pm. Get ready for the Academy Awards (on March 12th) by joining Movie Librarian Scott Biegen as he leads us through all things Oscar! From the snubs and surprises (like Andrea Riseborough in Best Actress) to the favorites and all the drama in-between, we’ll talk about what happened last year, how nominees and winners are selected and we’ll make predictions for this year’s winners [More info]. The Palm Springs Library will also present free screenings of two of the films being considered for Academy Awards on Friday, March 10. The films will be Elvis at 10:10 am, and Tár at 2 pm. More info
Movies in the Park: Gigi
The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents Movies in the Park – Season 2 at the New Downtown Palm Springs Park on select Wednesdays. This week: On Wednesday, March 8 at 7 pm, the film will be Gigi, starring Leslie Caron and Maurice Chevalier. Gaston (Louis Jourdan) is a restless Parisian playboy who moves from one mistress to another, while also spending time with Gigi (Leslie Caron), a precocious younger friend learning the ways of high society. Dine early Downtown or pick up takeout and picnic in the park! Wine and beer will be available to purchase at the event. More info
The Show: John Secada, Daniel Tosh, Dancing w/The Stars
The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa Rancho Mirage presents John Secada with the Desert Symphony on Wednesday, March 8 at 8 pm. Then on Friday, March 10, it’s comedian Daniel Tosh at 8 pm. on Saturday, March 11, Dancing with the Stars LIVE brings the ballroom to life featuring your favorite Dancing with the Stars pros Alan, Alexis, Brandon, Britt, Emma, Gleb, Kateryna, Sasha, PLUS special guest stars Gabby Windey and Daniel Durant, at The Show at 8 pm. Get tickets
