Small Town Boy. The song from Bronski Beat strikes a cord with me and so it was serendipity when I happened to be recording a video of DJ ModGirl on our KGAY106.5 Arenas District Pride Dance Stage as she begins to play the song. Her empathy with the crowd and its reaction are priceless and you can see it here.
As we gather with family or chosen family next week for Thanksgiving, I’m reminded that each of us in the LGBTQ+ communities have faced fear and rejection, homophobia and acceptance. Many can truly identify with the lyrics in the song. It’s been a wistful favorite of mine since the song’s release in the mid 80s.
Now the focus is on celebrating the holidays: being thankful for what we have (and what we didn’t lose in the election!), celebrating the new protections to be signed into law next week and helping others less fortunate. Be sure to find a way to donate to a food bank, toy drive or LGBTQ+ charity this holiday season.
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide & KGAY 106.5 Palm Springs
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California Dreamin’ with the Desert Winds Freedom Band
The Desert Winds Freedom Band presents their fall concert, California Dreamin’, on Saturday, November 19 from 7–9 pm at the Richards Center for the Arts at Palm Springs High School. Featured will be Barry Manilow’s ‘One Voice,’ Rossano Galante’s exciting ‘San Andreas Landscapes,’ a ‘Gold Rush Rag,’ saxophonist soloist Gary Bollard will be featured on Bella Beach, there’s a fun medley from The Mamas & the Papas, and of course the pop hit California Dreamin’ and much more. Get tickets
8th Annual Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Fest
Agua Caliente Casinos present the 8th Annual Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival and Food Truck Fiesta this Friday–Sunday, November 18–20. The official kick-off begins with the balloon launch from Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa Rancho Mirage on Friday at sunrise. The Food Truck Fiesta takes place Friday and Saturday evenings at the Cathedral City Amphitheater. The fiesta will feature a dozen food truck vendors from all over Southern California, a beer garden, tethered balloon rides, a car show, kid zones, live music, and more. There will be a Saturday evening balloon glow, rides, and balloon launches on Saturday and Sunday mornings, as well. More info
The Connoisseur Club
The Palm Springs Dance Project presents The Connoisseur Club on Saturday, November 19 in the stylish mid-century Indian Canyons Golf Resort. Artistic Director Stephen Agisilaou has created this special evening to tease and surprise your senses. Building an original, live theater experience, this one night only event features a cast of 10 dancers from all over the U.S. and three iconic choreographers. There will be two seatings, a show-only matinee at 5:30 pm (SOLD OUT), and the full experience at 7:30 pm includes a champagne toast with continued access to the open bar, a personal gourmet nosh plate and coffee service. Get tickets
WIN tickets to Maroon 5 at Acrisure Arena
KGAY 106.5 wants you to ring in 2023 with Maroon 5 on the final stop of their 2022 World Tour at the brand-new Acrisure Arena! Sign up to WIN tickets to this special New Year’s Eve concert taking place on Saturday, December 31 at 8 pm: KGAY 106.5 Contest Page
Lizzo Tickets on Sale
The multi-talented singer, rapper, and flutist Lizzo is coming to the Acrisure Arena! She takes the stage on June 2, 2023 and tickets go on sale Friday, November 18 at 10 am. [Get tickets]
Coachella Valley Heart & Stroke Walk
The American Heart Association presents the 2022 Coachella Valley Heart & Stroke Walk on Saturday, November 19 from 8 am–Noon at Palm Desert Civic Center Park. Walking in the Heart & Stroke Walk boosts your heart health and your mental health as a terrific way to get moving while socializing with friends, family, and coworkers. Plus you can help thousands of others at the same time. Move More with the mobile app, which includes a free activity tracker and some challenges that will inspire you to find creative ways to meet your goals. Connect with friends and family with easy-to-use tools that help you share information and raise lifesaving funds. More info
JOGS Palm Springs Gem & Jewelry Show
Shop for gems, minerals, fossils, and beads at the JOGS Palm Springs Gem & Jewelry Show held Friday–Monday, November 18– 21, from 10 am–5 pm daily at the Palm Springs Convention Center. You will meet jewelry artists and designers, top gem & diamond dealers, jewelry manufacturers, gemstone miners, wholesalers, and jewelry liquidators. This is perfect timing to buy presents for you and your loved ones before the busy holiday season with great selections and trendsetters from the direct source. Get tickets
The Humans – Final Weekend
CVRep presents The Humans by Stephen Karam, running now through Sunday, November 20. As things go bump in the night, the angst and anguish of the middle class are shoved into the light in this uproarious, hopeful, and heart-breaking play. Over the course of a family dinner on Thanksgiving, our characters navigate the delicate nuances of the quirky and hilarious, to the painful conflict of real family life. Join in this transformative ‘goose-pimply chiller’ of a play at CVRep and remember what it is to be human. Get tickets
Our Gay Desert Guide theatre reviewer Stephen Radosh has written more about CVRep’s production of The Humans, which he calls “a compelling look at a middle class family,” with a “surprisingly fulfilling yet open” conclusion. Read more
Barefoot in the Park
Desert Theatreworks presents Barefoot in the Park, running through Sunday, November 27. This romantic comedy by Neil Simon focuses on newlyweds, as they begin married life in a tiny fifth floor apartment in New York City. After a six-day honeymoon, the couple get a surprise visit from the mother-in-law and decide to play matchmaker during a hilarious dinner with their eccentric neighbor-in-the-attic. Join DTW for a new take on a comedy classic. Get tickets
It’s Not a Burden
The Mizell Center and Desert Oasis Health Care present a second screening of the documentary It’s Not A Burden, The Humor and Heartache of Raising Elderly Parents on Friday, November 18 from 5–7 pm. Leading with humor and heart, the film takes on the relatable struggles of elder-care, with truth, humor, and compassion – exposing the multiple sides to this complex issue that affects so many…while gently reminding us, we’re not alone. Check out the trailer [here] and: More info
