Vacations are starting already and kids of all ages are thinking about their summer break. I am just returning from an amazing Brandg Vacations expedition cruise to the Caribbean. It’s a bit early for me to up and leave work at the end of ‘season’. But the opportunity arose, and I’m not getting any younger. As I chatted with my fellow travelers – some 25 from the Palm Springs area — I got nostalgic for those summer vacations when I was a child.
YMCA camp was a highlight as was vacation bible school and frequent trips to the dozens of lakes that surrounded my childhood home in Michigan. There was usually a family vacation to a new destination — always in our station wagon with grandma in tow!
I travel with a reminder of relaxation: an advertisement from a life insurance company that was first printed in the early 1920s. It’s a great essay on the importance of taking a break.
So the very best advice I’ve seen about recreating came from the president of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company in New York City in the form of an advertisement for his company’s policies.
It starts with the headline:
Are You Happy?
He goes on to show that doing the opposite of your normal routine is a recipe for leisure:
“Ask a hundred people what they want most in the world and the answer is likely to be – Happiness.
To some, Happiness is represented by riches or fame.
To others, leisure spells Happiness. But all agree that there can be no real Happiness without Health.
Tom Sawyer and Huck Finn were the ideal vacationists. They took a vacation whether they needed it or not – and had fun!
This is what a real vacation means:
To “vacate” your old environments, your regular occupation, your everyday self and have a complete change.
Try to get away from to things you have been doing all year and do the opposite.
The Postman Does Not Need a Walk: He needs a hammock and a lazy time. The town man needs the quiet of the country – the country many needs the stimulus of the town.
The mountaineer needs the ocean; the lowlander needs the hills.
One man needs solitude-another needs company.
Think of your own needs and plan the vacation that will do you most good.
There are two famous health doctors whom we advise you to consult. They are Dr. Sunshine and Dr. Fresh Air.
If you want more health, more energy, more enthusiasm, more earning power in the days to come, play hard and be happy.
Good advice, indeed! No matter what you have planned this summer, we’ll be here to keep you updated on what’s happening locally.
Brad Fuhr, your K-Gay Desert Guide
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MON: Blue Zones Project Palm Springs & Convergence Summit: Purpose Workshop
Discover your “why” at the Blue Zones Project Palm Springs & Convergence Summit: Purpose Workshop held on Monday, May 4 from 7–8:30 am. This interactive experience takes place at the Renaissance Palm Springs as part of the inaugural Convergence Beauty Wellness Science Summit. Created by celebrity hairstylists Ted Gibson and Jason Backe, the summit brings together beauty professionals and industry leaders for education and community building. Participants will engage in guided discovery activities and reflection exercises rooted in longevity principles to uncover what inspires them. More info
TUE: HIV State Legislative Update 2025/2026
The Positive Life Series hosts an essential community session on Tuesday, May 5 from 6–8 pm, offering a clear and accessible breakdown of recent and upcoming HIV‑related legislation. Presented by Inland Counties Legal Services, the discussion translates complex policy into practical guidance for people living with HIV, covering enacted 2025 laws and what to expect in the 2026 legislative cycle. Attendees will gain insight into how new policies may affect rights, healthcare access, and daily life, all without the jargon that often makes legal updates difficult to navigate. Doors open at 5:30 pm, providing time to connect with community members before the program begins. More info
WED: 1st Wednesday Art Walk @ Backstreet Art District
The Backstreet Art District opens its galleries and studios for the monthly Art Walk on Wednesday, May 6 from 5–7 pm, giving locals and visitors a chance to meet working artists and explore one of Palm Springs’ most creative enclaves. The district’s unique layout—studios in the back, galleries in the front—creates an intimate setting where guests can view new works, learn about artistic processes, and support local talent. More info
WED: Rock the Park – Doobie Brothers Tribute
Downtown Park hosts its season finale of Rock the Park on Wednesday, May 6 from 7–9 pm, featuring the Doobie Brothers-inspired Listen to the Music, the final tribute performance in the December–May lineup. Set in the open‑air setting of Downtown Palm Springs, the concert brings together locals and visitors for an evening of live music under the desert sky. More info
FRI–SUN: A Man of No Importance
The BENT presents A Man of No Importance, running May 8–24, a tender musical exploring identity, acceptance, and the courage to live authentically. Set in Dublin, the story follows Alfie Byrne, a gentle bus conductor determined to stage an amateur production of Wilde’s Salome at his local church. As he confronts prejudice and the quiet ache of a love “that dare not speak its name,” Alfie discovers the transformative power of friendship and community. More info
FRI–SUN: The Ritz
Palm Canyon Theatre brings big laughs to the stage with The Ritz, running May 8–17, a riotous farce set inside a 1970s Manhattan gay bathhouse. When a straight man on the run from the mob hides in what he assumes is the last place anyone would look, he’s swept into a whirlwind of flamboyant personalities, mistaken identities, and escalating comedic chaos. With its campy humor, bold characters, and rapid‑fire pacing, the production embraces the era’s theatrical flair while delivering a fresh, high‑energy experience for modern audiences. More info
WED–SUN: Ernest Shackleton Loves Me
Ernest Shackleton Loves Me is a wildly inventive new musical comedy performing Wednesday–Sunday at CV Rep from April 22–May 10. The story follows a sleep-deprived single mom who connects through space and time with the famous polar explorer Ernest Shackleton. Together they overcome the odds in a timeless and very funny musical romance. Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh says “the pace never slackens, the surprises keep coming and the performances shine.” Read his full review and Get tickets
