“If you’ve got your health, you’ve got everything,” the adage goes. That’s resonating with me as I have friends and relatives dealing with cancer, dementia, and other life threatening diseases. I’m in relatively good health, and thankful for that more than ever.
At last weekend’s Heath Run & Wellness Festival, it also hit home that we have many things at our disposal to stay healthy – from Pilates (my fave) to the simple act of walking. It beats the alternative (death).
But if the loss of a loved one has come into your life recently, there’s a new book out by local author Ray Smythe to help deal with the pain. Ray came to us as a KGAY listener with a self-published first title. He wanted to help others and thought that advertising on KGAY would be a good idea. And it was! His second title, My Life After Loss: A Resource for Gay Men Moving Forward, is now out and he’s already gotten great reviews for the book and numerous comments from his ads.
The other adage we hear often is “there’s nothing certain but death and taxes”. Yes, none of us makes it out alive. But along the way we have choices for how we avoid both eventualities. So exercise….and hire a good tax guy!
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide on KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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Black History Month in Palm Springs
February is Black History Month — and the entire community is invited to participate in a host of free, fun, and educational events organized by the Palm Springs Black History Month Committee, in partnership with the City of Palm Springs and the Palm Springs Art Museum. See our listing for the events coming up, including this weekend’s 14th Annual Awards Gala (Feb. 3), plus the Men’s Basketball Tournament (Feb. 17), Black History Caravan (Feb. 19), and the Parade and Town Fair on Saturday, February 24. More info
The Palm Springs Black History Committee Annual Awards Gala is this Saturday, February 3, from 6–10 pm at Margaritaville Resort. The Awards Gala is The Palm Springs Black History Committee’s way of recognizing those individuals, groups, local and corporate businesses who have allied or contributed to the success and achievements of African Americans and our society. More info
Palm Springs Reader’s Festival
The Best Bookstore in Palm Springs hosts the inaugural Palm Springs Readers’ Festival this Friday–Sunday, February 2–4, at Hotel Zoso. The festival is described as “inclusive, thought-provoking and engaging,” with a focus on “celebrating a wide range of literary voices and promoting lively conversations that spark intellectual curiosity and empathy.” Single-day or full-festival passes are available. The festival will include in-depth author conversations and workshops, and you can see a full schedule on our event listing. Of note is the Big Gay Author Panel on Saturday, February 3 at 6 pm, featuring Jedidiah Jenkins (Mother, Nature), Byron Lane, R. Eric Thomas, Rasheed Newson (My Government Means to Kill Me), with Jason Blitman (Gays Reading). More info
Enrique Iglesias, Pitbull, Ricky Martin: The Trilogy Tour
The one-of-a-kind Trilogy Tour comes to Acrisure Arena on Friday, February 2 at 7 pm. This arena party features three multigenerational global powerhouses: Enrique Iglesias, Ricky Martin, and Pitbull, for an unforgettable night of music. The megastars will perform an electrifying mix of their biggest career-spanning hits with influences of reggaeton, salsa pop, dance, and electronic music, backed by world-class production and state-of-the-art visuals. Get tickets
A Taste of Jalisco Festival
Celebrate the sights, sounds, and tastes of the state of Jalisco, Mexico at the 8th Annual Taste of Jalisco Festival presented by Agua Caliente Casinos this Friday–Sunday, February 2–4, in downtown Cathedral City. This annual celebration honors the 27-year sister city relationship between Cathedral City and Tequila, Jalisco (Mexico) through culture, cuisine, music, and fashion. The weekend includes a family-friendly carnival which has doubled in size from previous years, artisan craft vendor market, tequila tastings with a tequila tasting competition, Lucha Libre wrestling, plus authentic Mexican cuisine and a Sunday car show. Daily entertainment at the Jalisco Community Stage will feature local and regional musical groups and acts celebrating Mexican art and culture. Get tickets
Coco Peru: Have You Heard?
Divas in the Dust presents Coco Peru: Have You Heard? for four shows, Thursday–Sunday, February 1–4 at 7 pm at Fuego Event Space. Coco loves to reminisce. In fact, she’s very good at it. In “Have You Heard?,” Coco performs some of her favorite monologues and songs spanning her long career, as well as some new stuff too. Whether you’ve heard all or some of these stories, or if you’re a Coco virgin, come see why Lily Tomlin called Coco “One of the last great storytellers” and experience the trailblazing Queen who elevated drag whilst still wearing sensible heels. Get tickets
Cabaret
CVRep presents Cabaret, based on a play by John Van Duten and stories by Christopher Isherwood, running Wednesdays–Sundays through February 10. Multiple performances have already sold out, so CVRep added one additional performance on Tuesday, February 6 at 7 pm. In an immersive, one-of-a-kind production, you will step off the street and into a world you could only imagine. From the minute you enter the Playhouse you will be transported; to a wild nightlife; a dangerous time in an unstable country; and take a journey unlike any you’ve risked before. Be swept away in the 8-Tony Award winning musical by the legendary American songwriting team, Kander and Ebb. Our theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh says, “Having seen many different productions of CABARET, including the original, this is one of the strongest and most powerful I have seen and should not be missed.” Read his full review and Get tickets
Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite
Desert Theatreworks presents Neil Simon’s Plaza Suite, opening Friday, February 2 and running Wednesdays–Sundays, through February 25. Two actors play three different couples in one famous hotel room and the comedy ensues… Karen and Sam are a long-married pair whose relationship may be headed for an early checkout. Muriel and Jesse are former high school sweethearts who seem destined for an extended stay. And Norma and Roy are the mother and father of the bride, ready to celebrate their daughter’s nuptials—if only they can get her out of the bathroom. A true comedic masterpiece. Get tickets
The Lifespan of a Fact
Desert Ensemble Theatre presents The Lifespan of a Fact by Jeremy Kareken, David Murrell, and Gordon Farrell, playing its second and final weekend Friday, February 2 through Sunday, February 4 at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Jim is a fresh-out-of-Harvard fact checker for a prominent but sinking New York magazine. John is a talented writer with a transcendent essay about a suicide—that could save the magazine from collapse. When Jim is assigned to fact check D’Agata’s work, the two come head to head in a battle over facts versus truth. Get tickets
International Desert Conservation Summit
The Living Desert Zoo and Gardens presents the International Desert Conservation Summit this Friday through Sunday, February 2–4. This year’s event will also feature a meet-and-greet with Keynote Speaker Jeff Corwin, biologist and wildlife conservationist, and summit conversations will highlight women in conservation, community-based conservation and educational outreach in Sub-Saharan Africa and Mongolia, conservation in Southern California and Baja Mexico’s deserts, and the efforts to reduce human-wildlife conflict around the globe. The Living Desert will also award eight conservation heroes a total of more than $150,000 to further their impact of saving threatened and endangered species and ecosystems. Get tickets
LGBTQ+ Victory Fund in Palm Springs
Join LGBTQ+ Victory Fund at the Victory in Palm Springs 2024 celebration on Saturday, February 3, from 1–3 pm at the home of Kenny Jervis & Michael Crisp. Show your backing for our endorsed LGBTQ+ candidates in their election campaigns and contribute to the expansion of LGBTQ+ political representation both in California and beyond. The featured speaker will be California State Senate President Pro Tem Toni Atkins. Register here
Totally Rad 80s Murder Mystery
Play Lounge and Cafe presents their next big murder mystery party, Totally 80s Prom Gone Bad on Saturday, February 3 at 7 pm. With their high school career coming to an end, the students of Mayhem High find themselves battling it out over grades, popularity, affection, class rankings and what they all have been focused on for years… Who will be awarded the prom king and queen title? As the night unfolds, the royalty will be rewarded and an innocent life will be claimed. From the preppie to the punk rocker, the spaz to the stud, the jock to the jilted—all are suspected although only one is to blame. Can you find the culprit in this crazy madness that is filled with neon, naughtiness and narcissistic behavior at this 80s prom murder mystery? Get tickets
On Sunday, February 4 at 5 pm, Play Lounge and Cafe will be streaming the Grammy® awards live on their big screen for a free Grammy® Awards Viewing Party. Reserve your spot! More info
4th Annual Palm Springs Pinot Festival
The Palm Springs Passion 4 Pinot Noir Festival, an important event on the international wine calendar, will be held on Friday & Saturday, February 2 & 3, at the Westin Rancho Mirage Golf Resort & Spa. This unique gathering offers the chance to interact with prominent winery owners, winemakers, and wine enthusiasts from all over California. Attendees will have the opportunity to taste and discover the distinct characteristics of Pinot Noir and learn about various winemaking practices. Get tickets
Desert Art Center: Mid-Mod Show
The Desert Art Center presents a new Mid-Mod Art Show, from February 2–11. Join in celebrating this big new show on Friday, February 2 at 5 pm for a Mid-Mod Tiki Luau reception on the back lawn with a beverage bar and the ever popular Palm Springs Charcuterie food truck. More info
Future Memory Art Exhibition
The Walter N. Marks Center for the Arts at College of the Desert presents Future Memory, an art exhibition running from February 1–22. The exploration of memory, the convergence of AR and AI technologies, the significance of joy in the Black experience, and the responsibility and hope artists carry in addressing pressing challenges are key themes, along with the importance of rest, self-care, and community, with hopefulness as a crucial survival element. More info.
