Even us dyed-in-the wool hard-core locals need to get out of the summer heat for a bit. I just made my plans for Gay Wine Weekend in July. We’ve been working with Gary Saperstein and his wonderful events for a number of years. The event is a weekend of wine tasting, tea dancing and Sunday brunching in beautiful Sonoma County. Oh, there’s a pool party thrown in for good measure.
I bring this up because you could join me for Gay Wine Weekend! We’ve put together a fun little sweepstakes so you can win VIP passes valued at over $1,000. There are five places in Palm Springs where you can stop by, look for our counter display poster with a QR code, open up your camera and register to win. What are those locations you ask? PS Bottle Shop, V Wine Lounge, GayMart, Frank Clothiers or Q Trading Company.
Two of the best allies our LGBTQ community has had the pleasure of knowing over the past decade are Barbara and Jerry Keller. Barbara’s passing in April 2019 left a big hole in Jerry’s life and in our community. This week, he is honored with a star on the Walk of Fame next to his beloved Barbara’s star. Jerry has supported my company since I was a fledgling website some 10 years ago, and I’ve always been grateful.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
For the latest, follow our socials @GayDesertGuide and @KGAY1065 and listen to KGAY Palm Springs wherever you may be!
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Jerry Keller Walk of Stars Dedication
On Tuesday, May 23 at 9:30 am, the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce will honor visionary entrepreneur and community leader Jerry Keller on his 88th birthday with the 461st star on the Walk of the Stars Palm Springs. He will be honored in the category of Civic/Pioneer. The star will be unveiled at 200 South Palm Canyon Drive next to the star of his beloved late wife, Barbara. More info
May Center Social at Fuego Events
The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert presents their monthly Center Social on the 4th Wednesday of each month, taking place on Wednesday, May 24 from 5:30–7 pm at Fuego Events. This social mixer of fun, community, and happy hour is welcome to everyone interested in friendship, connection, and a tasty happy hour. More info
Palm Springs Chamber May Mixer
Everyone is invited to attend the Palm Springs Chamber’s May Mixer at Blackbook on Wednesday, May 24 from 5–7 pm. This is a great time to come & see friends while having the opportunity to meet new business acquaintances. Free for members and $15.00 for guests. More info
Recap: Season 8 RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, Episode 3
Gay Desert Guide Drag Correspondent Dante Noto has your latest recap for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 8, Episode 3: The Supermarket Ball, where “The maxi challenge is to serve three looks: Legen-dairy Queens, Fruity Patooty, and Supermarket Supermodel, which the queens will assemble from bags of groceries delivered by the Pit Crew,” says Dante, and “The looks are so finished and well-constructed that I can’t even figure out what the original grocery item was.” Find out Dante’s favorite lines from the episode, and who won the day when you read his full recap of Episode 3 [here].
Win VIP Passes to Gay Wine Weekend!
Out in the Vineyard’s Gay Wine Weekend 2023 is July 14–16, a perfect time to get out of the desert to visit Northern California for 3 full nights of LGBT events in the magnificent Sonoma Valley, home to some of the world’s most prestigious wines and wineries, and KGAY and Gay Desert Guide have your chance to WIN a VIP Party Pass Package for 2! To enter, all you have to do is scan the QR code at our participating sponsors: V Wine Lounge, Gay Mart USA, Frank Clothiers, PS Bottle Shop, and Q Trading Company!
Coachella Valley Firebirds Advance to Western Conference Finals
The inaugural season for our local ice hockey expansion team, the Coachella Valley Firebirds keeps getting better. This 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 three rounds of playoffs and now they are in the Western Conference Finals against the Milwaukee Admirals. The first two games of the best-of-seven series will be played at Acrisure Arena on Thursday, May 25 and Saturday, May 27. Get tickets
Palm Desert Concerts in the Park – Yachty by Nature
The City of Palm Desert is bringing live music back to the Civic Center Park amphitheater with a series of free, weekly concerts throughout the month of May. The series closes out on Thursday, May 25, with the very best in Yacht Rock, Yachty by Nature performing from 7–8:30 pm. Hailing from Southern California, but playing from sea to shining sea, this six-piece band will help you get yachty with your favorite groovy tunes from the late 70’s to early 80’s, including those from Hall and Oates, Steely Dan, Toto, Christopher Cross and so many more. Pack your picnic baskets, or enjoy delicious culinary creations offered by a variety of food trucks parked by the amphitheater. 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 the month, May through August, from 11:30 am–1:30 pm at Mission Hills Country Club. This Thursday, May 25, hear a Salton Sea Update with the Salton Sea Authority, whose mission is the protect human health and revitalize the environment and economy of the Sea. Learn about new lithium development projects and more. Upcoming Summer Speaker Series topics include: Latest Economy News (6/22), 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
Cocktails and Classics with Jerome Elliott and Chip Prince
Cocktails and Classics with Jerome Elliott and Chip Prince takes place at the Palm Springs Cultural Center on Thursday, May 25 at 5 pm in the upstairs VIP Lounge. Enjoy a dazzling tour of the Great American Songbook with critically-acclaimed cabaret performer Jerome Elliott and pianist Chip Prince with special guest vocalist Johnny Spinks. Get tickets
Stars on Ice at Acrisure Arena
The 2023 Stars on Ice tour comes to Acrisure Arena on Friday, May 26 at 7:30 pm. See Olympic Champion Nathan Chen, US Olympic Medalists Alexa Knierim & Brandon Frazier, Madison Chock & Evan Bates, and Jason Brown, along with Canadian icon Kurt Browning in his final Stars on Ice tour. You’ll also enjoy Canadian dance champions Piper Gilles & Paul Poirier and four-time Japanese champion Satoko Miyahara, plus skating’s newest rising stars – 2022 World Junior Champions Ilia Malinin and Isabeau Levito. Get tickets
Student Art Show
The Desert Art Center in partnership with the Palm Springs Unified School District presents the Student Art Show Opening on Friday, May 26 from 5–7 pm. Come enjoy the opening reception for the student art show, showcasing the work of local high school students. The Desert Art Center awards grants to the art departments of local high schools and during the show, students will be awards first, second and third place prizes.The show will be open to the public all weekend, May 26–28 from 10 am–4 pm. More info
Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man – Final Weekend
Bus Stop Productions presents the final two performances of Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man in the Tropics Lounge at the Margaritaville Resort on Friday and Saturday, May 26 & 27, with two shows per night at 7 pm & 9:30 pm. This popular play is set at a local university auditorium where the English department holds its monthly meet the authors event. Robyn is the shy and studious moderator of the event and this month’s featured author is Dan Anderson of Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man. With the help of a hunky stage assistant named Stefan, Dan aims to turn this meet the authors event upside down with a highly theatrical, audience interactive sex tip seminar. Get tickets
Architecture Tours by Modernism Week
Architecture Tours by Modernism Week is a season-long series of high-quality, in-depth, small group tours, running now through May. The tours run on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays, with most tours beginning at 9:30 am, departing from the Palm Springs Visitor Center. Modernism Week has partnered with PS Architecture Tours to enable participants to learn about the exciting architectural history of the Palm Springs area and experience midcentury modern culture and lifestyle. Get tickets
THIS WEEKEND
The Return of Boyz Night Out
Starting this Friday, May 26, and then every Friday night thereafter, Zoso Fun presents Boyz Night Out at Hotel Zoso from 4 pm–8 pm. This legendary pool party and happy hour will be hosted by Snatch and feature music from K-Gay’s own multi award-winning deejay Vicente 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
The Rocky Horror Picture Show w/Coachella Valley Shadow Cast
The Coachella Valley Shadow Cast is back with two electrifying performances of the cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show on Friday and Saturday, May 26 & 27 with cocktails at 8 pm, film at 9 pm. The interactive screenings will take place at the Historic Camelot Theatre at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. In addition to the full shadow cast, the two events will feature all the classic elements of RHPS audience participation, including an interactive pre-show, screen call backs, and prop bags. Experience the iconic cult film as it was meant to be seen, on the largest screen in the Coachella Valley. Get tickets
Desertopia
Desertopia is back for their second Palm Springs Memorial Weekend, with queer celebration of music, dance, art from May 26–29 at Infusion Beach Club and others. Dust off your chaps and bring your dancing shoes as they take over The Barracks with the legendary Horse Meat Disco. Get wet with the dads at Bears in Space Pool Party, then head downtown for Saturday Night Club Desertopia at Hotel Zoso. On Sunday, have a mimosa and tip your drag queens at Victor’s World Famous Pancake Brunch, and end it all off with San Francisco’s Young Hearts disco party. Get tickets
Retro Rewind Dance Party
Palm Springs Crave presents the Retro Rewind Dance Party on Saturday, May 27 from 7–11 pm at Impala Bar & Grill. Chill out with a drink, get some delicious food, and kick up your heels and get up on the floor in your dancing queen shoes! DJ Gruve will be spinning the tunes. Door proceeds benefit the Human Rights Campaign. More info
Broadway the Calla-Way at The Purple Room
The Purple Room Supper Club presents Broadway the Calla-Way on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 26, 27, & 28 featuring sisters Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway. Ann Hampton Callaway is one of the leading champions of the Great American Songbook, having made her mark as a singer, pianist, composer, lyricist, arranger, actress, educator, TV host and producer. Liz Callaway is a Tony® nominee and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer and recording artist. She made her Broadway debut in Stephen Sondheim’s Merrily We Roll Along, received a Tony Award nomination for her performance in Baby, and for five years, won acclaim as Grizabella in Cats and many more. Friday & Saturday: Dinner at 6 pm, Show at 8 pm. Sunday: Dinner at 5 pm, show at 7 pm. Get tickets
Memorial Day Weekend at CCBC
Spend Memorial Day Weekend at CCBC Resort in Cathedral City, the largest clothing optional Gay men’s resort in Southern California. Located just a few minutes from downtown Palm Springs, their 3.5 acre fantasy playground is perfect for weekend getaways and extended stays. KGAY’s own DJ Galaxy will be poolside both Saturday and Sunday from noon to 4 pm. More info
Russell Peters at The Show
The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Resort Spa in Rancho Mirage presents comedian Russell Peters on Saturday, May 27 at 8 pm. Recently named as one of Rolling Stone’s 50 Best Comics of All Time, Peters’ most recent tour, The Deported World Tour was seen by over 400,000 fans in 40 cities across 20 countries and culminated in the stand-up special, Russell Peters Deported on Amazon Prime in January 2020. Get tickets
Screwball Sundays: Adam’s Rib
The Palm Springs Cultural Center presents a series of the greatest screwball comedies of Hollywood’s golden age, showing the classic Hepburn-Tracy film Adam’s Rib (1949) on Sunday, May 28 at 3 pm. A courtroom rivalry finds its way into the household when prosecuting lawyer Adam Bonner (Spencer Tracy) faces off against his wife, Amanda (Katharine Hepburn), who happens to be a defense attorney. Working on opposite sides of a lawsuit where a woman (Judy Holliday) has shot her cheating husband (Tom Ewell), Adam and Amanda are both determined to win the case, and their home becomes the setting for comical showdowns, with neither spouse willing to relent. Get tickets
LOOKING AHEAD
Shania Twain “Queen of Me” Tour
GRAMMY® Award-winning legend and the best-selling female artist in country music history Shania Twain brings her global 49-date Queen of Me Tour to Acrisure Arena on Wednesday, May 31 at 7:30 pm, with special guest Hailey Whitters. The tour marks the first-time fans around the world will get to see the queen in all of her glory in nearly five years, following a highly successful Vegas residency run. Get tickets
Annual LGBTQ Community Survey
We at KGAY 106.5 and Gay Desert Guide ask you to please take part in the Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) 17th Annual LGBTQ Community Survey! For over a decade, this survey has provided free data to help non-profits, universities, and organizations better understand and serve the LGBTQ community. Also, participation in this survey gives important feedback to our LGBTQ community media and organizations, and provides data to companies interested in serving our community, sponsoring our charities, and supporting their LGBTQ employees. The survey should take about 12 to 15 minutes to complete. Please [click here] to start the survey
Visitor Map & Guide Spring Edition
The Spring 2023 edition of our Gay Desert Guide Visitor Map & Guide (great for locals too!) is available now around town and online. We help you find everything you need to know while visiting or living in the Coachella Valley, featuring the top places for Food & Drink, Nightlife, Shopping, Attraction, Gay Resorts with passes, Dispensaries and other services. You can also view it online, and download the PDF [here].
