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May Events: Let’s Get This Party Started!

We’re in the Orange! We got off to a great start in April with a toe-in-the-water, scaled-down, sold-out Modernism Week, and in May you can wade into Palm Springs well above your knees.

Mornings bring bright-blue, sunny skies, a back-drop for our majestic mountains, with crisp to perfection temperatures. When the sun drops behind the mountains, millions of stars light up the night and you’ll be falling into the cool, cool, cool of the evening when it’s time to hit the town.

So, let’s jump right into all of the wonderful and crazy fun options available to make this one of the most memorable times in your life.

Quick note: *means I have been here and it was fabulous!

Ongoing Events

Fridays and Saturdays: Illusions Drag Queen Show, Pete’s Hideaway – Located just behind Pete’s Hideaway in Wendy’s Hideout. But make sure to have cocktails and a nosh at Pete’s, too. The bar they’ve branded as “the Cheers of Palm Springs” has a new chef!

Saturdays: Saturday Night Flight at PS Air Bar “Boarding time” is 5:00 p.m. Located inside Bouschet is the kitschy PS Air that gives you Mad Men on a plane feels. The three-hour “flight” is described as “​Great Music, Fine Food, Classy Cocktails, First Class Service, Naughty Stewardess”

Naughty Stewardess at PS Air

*V Wine Lounge – all dressed up in 1960s kitsch, this terrific, large wine bar offers unusual wines for you to try. They also have a rental space for private parties. There’s a huge patio, too, as well as live music Monday and Saturday evenings.

Saturdays: Not Your Grandma’s Bingo at Chill Bar from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. The name says it all.

*Sundays: Palm Springs Drag Brunch, Roly China Fusion. Located on the North End of Palm Springs. It’s dim sum and it’s delicious. They accommodate vegans, too. And the show is outstanding. Rosemary Galore and her queens work hard for the money!

Me and the drag queens at Roly

Oscar’s: Home of the Sunday “T” dance, the most raucous dance party in PS (which is on hiatus because…pandemic), also has some fun shows:

5/1 Sherry Vine, 5/1/2021 5:30-9:00 p.m.

5/6 Open mic event with former American Idol vocal coach, Michael Orland every 4th Thursday @ 5:00pm.

5/28 & 29 Tiffany Takes Over 7:00 p.m. “Sharing her ‘rocktails, favorite food, and doing an acoustic set.”

Sundays: 11:00 a.m. & 12:30 p.m. Bitchiest Brunch that is, as they put it, “Serving Attitude”

Check out Wang’s in the Desert for the Ladies: Hunk-O-Mania Friday’s & Saturdays. Ticketed event starts at 10:00 p.m.

*PS Underground – outstanding, themed dinner shows with some of the best talent PS has to offer. Their unique take on entertainment and their gourmet food is more than worth the price of the ticket. Multiple events during May.

Being “Atmosphere” behind the scenes at PS Underground’s A Night at The Chi Chi

 

*Wednesdays thru Sunday: Melvyn’s Ingleside Inn’s Casablanca Lounge is back! From 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. the iconic lounge is where all the celebrities go to sing with resident maestro Mikael Healey. You gotta play dress up, but how fun is that! For rezzies: 760-325-2323

*Sundays: Jazz fans should definitely carve out 2:00 to 5:00 p.m. at Palm Canyon Roadhouse. Band leader and solid jazz player Mikale Karr leads the pro jazz jam featuring the best of the best at this unlikely R&R venue.

*5/2 Vintage Market 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on the first Sunday of every month. It’s a great walk-about, surrounded by all things vintage.

One-Time and Pop-Up Events

5/14: Green Dragon Dispensary – 353 S. Palm Canyon, 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.

All born out of the pandemic, up-and-comers PerfectPint760, SmokeyLips BBQ, and The Best Cookie PS have teamed up with Green Dragon to offer a cure for the inevitable munchies. Grab some deliciousness after you shop, and take it home for later.

Perfect Pint760, BBQ Lips & Best Cookie in PS @ Green Dragon Dispensary courtesy of Perfect Pint760

 

Also if you go to any of our hotels or enjoy our recommendations, please be sure to tag us with your photos on IG, or @palmspringspreferredsmallhotel (yeah, it’s a lot to type, but we appreciate it!)  #PSPSH

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May In Palm Springs Means Rising Temps And Hot Events

A group of women jumping into a swimming pool

Coachella and Stagecoach have come and gone, and we’ve said “so long” to our snowbirds until next year. We will miss them all. But that also means there are a lot of great deals going on. It’s hot during the days but the pools are all cool, and the nightlife is still sizzling and very Palm Springs.

Weekdays in Palm Springs

Most of the restaurants are open seven days, but it’s always a good idea to check. Here’s a great list of restaurants in Palm Springs. We have so many excellent choices, I can’t list them all — I do have my favorites, but I’m not going to play them here.

A fun place to spend some time is the Palm Springs Surf Club. Whether you’re planning on hitting the waves yourself or just having a bite while you watch the waves and the surf boarders catch them, it’s a very cool way to spend some time at the beach without the sand.

Mondays: 

V Wine Lounge and Martini Bar has Leanna and Miguel performing Monday nights. The couple took the Coachella Valley by storm about five years back and haven’t stopped since. Fun, upbeat music in a retro chic bar across from Koffi on Tahquitz. Terrific spot.

Wednesdays:

Mod Squad at Palm Springs Cultural Center — Happy Hour has never been so happy. In fact, it’s billed as the Happiest Happy Hour in Palm Springs. Great bar menu. Entertainment is from local favorites Cabaret Queen Francesca Amari, Sultan of Song Jeff Stewart, and King of the Keys and Other Things, Jason Weber. Great mood elevator. 

Thursdays: 

Palm Springs Art Museum — Free admission from 4 to 7 p.m.

Village Fest — Palm Canyon is closed for three blocks and the streets are full of vendors, buskers, and people. It’s a great way to spend the evening.

Jueves de Drift — The Drift Hotel likes to keep things social. Check out their list of fun activities.

V Wine Lounge and Martini Bar — Jason Weber

Trio — Pasta Thursdays

Weekends in Palm Springs

Saturdays and Sundays: 

Crystal Fantasy Psychic Fair

Sunday Jam at Melvyn’s — All the best players from the Valley, and some from L.A. It’s a great afternoon, early evening event. 3:30 to 7:30 p.m.

By the numbers

May 3: An Evening with David Sedaris at Palm Springs Cultural Center 

May 3 and 4: Retro Palm Springs Convention — Nostalgic fan convention featuring celebrity guests and cast reunions, vendors with plenty of retro themed merchandise, photo ops, and more.

May 4: Vintage Market — It’s retro heaven this weekend, so take advantage of probably the last vintage market until next season. Grab something from one of the onsite vendors offering local eats.

May 5: Mon Petit Salon at Palm Springs Cultural Center — World Music

May 7: Drag Me to Bingo at Hunter’s — Starts at 6 p.m., hosted by Miss Alexa Waters and Alexa Steel.

May 8-11: Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Great film festival for those into the cinematic style (Google tells me it is not a genre) characterized by its dark, cynical fatalistic tone; it’s like visiting your teenage self, but with subterfuge. 

May 30: Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week — This is a great opportunity to try different restaurants across the Valley. These are prix fixe (pronounced “pree fix” but with a French accent), with generally three to five options for each course. 

Tours

Desert Tasty Tours — A little history, a lot of food on this three hour walking tour.

Palm Springs Historical Society Tours — There are walking tours, biking tours, and private tours. You’re going to have to narrow down your interests because there are so many options.

Palm Springs Windmill Tour — It’s a driving tour, and I’m told by many different people that it’s really interesting. 

Desert X (Through May 11) — This is not actually a tour, but you will get to see a lot of the Coachella Valley and some great art installations. Download the app and off you go!

Entertainment

The Rock Gallery — Comedy Club 

The Purple Room — Rat Pack-styled supper club with great entertainment. If you’re purchasing tickets, get them through the Purple Room website.

PS Underground — Themed dinner and brunch shows with local entertainers.

We can hardly wait to see you! Make sure you travel safe, call when you get here, and if you would, please shop, eat, and stay local so we’ll be here for you next time. See you soon!

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Desert X Brings Thought-Provoking Art Installations To The Coachella Valley

Art by Paloma Contreras Lomas on display at Desert X

You know your idea is successful when locals and visitors alike ask if Desert X is happening in the Coachella Valley again this year. With fanfare, we can proudly say the fourth Desert X is not only alive and well, it once again has produced some outstanding art installations definitely worth planning a weekend trip to check them out.

Many of our terrific Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels said their occupancy rate increased immediately after Desert X announced it was taking place March 4 through May 7, 2023. Our boutique hotels, with all their different vibes, are helping people find the perfect atmosphere to launch their journeys to discover the art installations.

What is Desert X? 

This biennial event is an exhibition of 10 art installations throughout our desert landscape. Through a juried process, international and local artists were selected from their portfolios and invited to participate. Desert X identified a theme for 2023 that focuses on how we design our environments and live, which may or may not serve our world well. With the theme in mind, the selection committee hosts the artists and takes them to locations across the Coachella Valley that are accessible to the public and suitable for art to be installed.

How do you find the art installations?  

Physical maps are available at the Ace Hotel. You can also download a map from the Desert X website. If you want to rely on your phones, here are the apps for Desert X for both iOS and Android.

Pro tip: From experience, I can tell you the GPS to these installations may not be totally accurate. Just keep an eye open; sometimes, the art is just on the opposite side of the road that GPS tells you.

Photo by Kathy Condon

What do I need to explore the area? 

Now that you have the map or app, you should know a couple more things. First, you will need a car to explore Desert X — the installations are too spread out for walking.

Even though it feels like 70 degrees is perfect for exploring, our desert sun can be deceiving.  Make sure you apply suntan lotion, take your sunglasses, wear a hat, and have plenty of water. Some of the artworks are located out in the open desert with nary a bit of shade to be found.

In fact, the best way to look at it is to prepare like you are going on a hike in the desert, and you will have all that you need. Oh, and wear closed-toe shoes. Trust me, you will be glad you did, for some paths are loose sand, filled with little spurs that find their way between your toes.

Pro tips: Desert X, upon request, will make reasonable accommodations to ensure people with disabilities have access to the art — email info@desertX.org with inquiries.

Also, take note: there are no restrooms available at the sites.

Desert X is a family event 

Each time Desert X is held, I marvel at the laughter of families who have chosen to explore this free event together. Teenagers seem to relish being the directors to the various locations, while the younger ones frolic on the grounds surrounding each piece of art.

If you have been meaning to come to Palm Springs with a group of friends, Desert X provides the perfect daytime activity. Then, you have the whole evening to enjoy some of our patio restaurants, which offer a variety of cuisines.

What will I see? 

That is the great thing about this exhibition. Every stop is different and is open to interpretation by the person viewing it. I was at the event’s opening and met some artists. Interestingly, most of them were reluctant to explain their art. They want you to experience and come up with your own interpretation.

My experience at an installation

With a friend and a map in hand, we decided to head out to see London artist Rana Begum’s “No. 1225 Chainlink” in Palm Desert. Once we found the site, we parked the car and headed down the pedestrian path to the enormous chainlink fence structure.

To our delight, Rana was onsite and being filmed, so we listened in on the interview. What struck me was that she said, “When you are walking through it, there is a sense of openness and then a sense of things closing in on you, and even a sense of panic for some.”

Rana Begum’s “No. 1225 Chainlink” art installation. Photo by Kathy Condon

I entered the maze, and as it narrowed, I ended up in the middle, where round metal poles allowed me to feel the openness of the space. Then the task of finding my way out was not that easy. Admittedly, I sense panic for a moment — just like the artist predicted. The panic was short-lived, and I was smiling as I walked out.

I stood back and marveled that while the structure was massive, the lemon-colored fencing was somehow at home in its spot. Since it is going to remain in place through May, I can see taking visitors to Palm Springs out to experience it.

Sunnylands hosts an installation  

Frankly, I never need an excuse to visit Sunnylands. Since one of the installations is there — “Amar A Dios En Tierra De Indios, Es Oficio Maternal,” by Mexican artist Paloma Contreras Lomas — we headed out to see it.

It was opening day, and I was once again blessed with the ability to meet the artist, perched on one of the many benches that grace the grounds of Sunnylands. The weather was beautiful, after a couple of rare rainy days in Palm Springs, and we discussed how her art contained several fragile touches and how they were created. 

Desert X certainly does not disappoint. With eight more installations to visit, I am fortunate to live in Palm Springs and able to take off whenever I want to see them. If you plan to visit, I suggest you head to the Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels website to make reservations for your accommodations. Word is spreading about this quality and often provocative art scattered throughout Coachella Valley, which adds the adventure of a scavenger hunt. Join in the fun and experience our lovely spring weather while taking in the beauty of our valley, surrounded by our majestic mountains.

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Things Are Heating Up in Palm Springs This May

A group of women jumping into a swimming pool

Pretty sure May in Palm Springs is gonna be like everyone else’s early July: hot and sunny, but sans the swarms of bugs you find everywhere else. If I didn’t live here, I would be looking at my options of where to stay on my visit.

The big festivals are over, snowbirds will have left, and traffic will be peaceful again. More importantly, summer rates are upon us, so book a cozy vacation for two or weekend getaway with your besties in the place locals call paradise.

Here’s what’s going on in May (as well as some reminders of a few important future events):

Special events

May 3: Rock the Park — Journey cover band, 7 to 9 p.m., Downtown Park next to Marilyn (Belardo and Museum Way).

May 5-7: Superbloom Art Event — Local artists display their latest depictions of the superbloom.

May 5: Cinco de Mayo celebration at Low Desert — One of our newest Mexican restaurants, on the south end in the Smoketree Shopping Center.

May 11: Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival at Palm Springs Cultural Center. Through May 14.

May 17: Movies in the Park: The Girl Can’t Help It, starring Jayne Mansfield. Beer and wine available for purchase. Free event.

May 25: Chef-driven five-course prix fixe meal with wine pairings from Plumpjack Winery at Melvyn’s in the Ingleside Inn. Tickets here.

May 26: Stars on Ice at Acrisure Arena

May 29: Memorial Day Flower Drop at the Palm Springs Air Museum — A fly-by and flower drop of more than 3,000 red and white carnations from a CH-47 Chinook Helicopter. This most impressive ceremony is a salute to the fallen. Visitors are invited to pick up a flower to take home. Flight exhibitions and activities scheduled all day.

May 31: Movies in the Park — Funny Face, with Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire. Beer and wine available for purchase. Free event

Recurring

PS Air: Movies, live music, drinks, food and drag. Oh and it’s kind of on a plane? So fun you’ll never want to touch down.

Reforma Nightclub: Food, dancing, drag shows, it’s the latest nightclub in town.

Purple Room: Rat Pack-y vibes with very cool entertainment, including my favorite show in town, The Judy Show. Great dinner options, too.

PS Underground: Themed dinner shows, and each one is very different. They’re always evolving, always doing something new. Money well spent here.

Oscar’s:  From drag to plays to celebrity shows, and their famous 4 p.m. Sunday Tea Dance.

V Wine Lounge: Right out of Mad Men, so many seating areas, all mid-century modern, and an eclectic wine selection. Beer and cocktails, too.

Cascade Lounge in Agua Caliente Spa

Desert Blues Revival: Wednesday nights

Jazzville: Thursday nights

Caliente Comedy: Friday nights

Latin Nights: every Sunday (unticketed)

Welcome to the Cascade Lounge. Photo courtesy of Visit Palm Springs

Palm Springs Cultural Center

Markets: Farmers’ Market on Saturdays, Vintage on designated Sundays.

Come On Up: Weekly local music, great cocktail hour spot, 5 to 7 p.m.

Concerts and Musical Events: Films, concerts, events (I guess I already said that).

Activities

CannaBus Express Tours: What you don’t know about cannabis you’ll know by the time this three-hour tour is through. From growers to distillers to dispensaries, tour guide Lynne rolls with the vibe. As she likes to say, “Let’s ride.”

MOGO Silent Disco: Shut up and dance.

Desert Tasty Tours: This is a three-hour walking tour of Palm Springs. Learn some history, visit the most Instagram-able spot in Palm Springs, and eat delicious food from a variety of restaurants (there are four or five food stops).

Heads up on upcoming big events:

Splash House June

Modernism Week February goes on sale Nov. 1, 2023

Power Trip October – Metal music festival

The Dinah is September 20-24

Pride is November 3-5

That’s it for May. Hope to see you around town, and don’t forget to shop and stay local!

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If You’re Happy And You Know It, Clap Your Hands For November

It’s here! It’s officially season again, and Palm Springs is bursting with activity and fantastic weather — come on out! There’s so much going on it’s hard to keep up, but I’m gonna do my best to make it easy for you to figure out what to do once you’ve decided on the perfect small hotel.

Before we get into the events, we’ve got some new restaurants in town — be sure to take them for a spin around the block.

New restaurants to try in Palm Springs

A man and a woman sit at a table outside under an umbrella in Palm Springs, California

Palm Springs is paradise for foodies. Photo courtesy of Visit Palm Springs

Jimmy B’s Grill: It’s in Mercado Plaza (that’s the one with the fountain with a bronze statue of our former mayor perched on it). The sign says “cocktails, steaks” but the menu says breakfast and lunch (no steak and eggs, no steak sandwich at this writing). Cocktails do seem to be accurate. It’s been packed since it opened.

Mickey’s Kitchen Mexican Cuisine: Right next to Shamrock’s at 240 N. Palm Canyon Drive. There’s a little — I’m not sure what to call it, alcove? — but there are some stores and this restaurant back there. 

Play Lounge & Cafe: It’s a café in the morning where you can work, with food available to grab throughout the day. At night, you can sip wine or have a beer as the café becomes a lounge with fun board games, outdoor games, pool tables, darts, etc. 2825 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Building C.

Lay’ Vince: Breakfast and lunch. I’m told the biscuits and gravy are exceptional. They also have a creme brûlée French toast, and a daily special breakfast burrito. 540 S. Indian Canyon Drive.

Canopy Wine Lounge: Opening late November. Excellent wine selection, caviar club, charcuterie, and other assorted eats. 175 N. Palm Canyon (actually faces Belardo, Downtown Park, and Marilyn).

Things to do in Palm Springs

A flyer for the Broadway's Best in the West shows in Palm Springs, California

The best of the best are coming to Palm Springs. Courtesy photo

Broadway’s Best in the West: It’s quite the lineup, with Megan Hilty, Jeremy Jordan, Cheyenne Jackson, and Laura Benanti. These shows start in December, but they’re already selling out.

Nov. 8 – Dec. 13: Cabaret6: Desert Stars. Wednesdays. The best vocal artists in the Coachella Valley in six separate cabaret shows at the new Revolution Stage Company  Great sound system, comfy seats, dance floor, full bar and ice cream station. Use promo code PSPSH for a discount. 611 Palm Canyon Drive.

Nov. 2 – 5: PRIDE Weekend! That link will tell you EVERYTHING you need to know about official events. This link will get you to events not necessarily on the calendar. 

Nov. 8: Keisha D & Hearts of Soul present A Tina Turner Tribute. No one sings the Queen of Rock and Roll like local superstar Keisha D.

Nov. 11: StreetBar brings the saucy and sassy Siobhan to the stage for a very fun evening.

Nov. 11 and 12: The first Palm Springs Food and Wine Festival at the Palm Springs Stadium Pavilion, 1901 E. Baristo Road. Culinary luminaries include chefs Susan Feniger and Martin Yan, plus a global array of boutique wineries. Tickets start at $110, with discounts.

Nov. 15: Francesca Amari performs Different Drum: The Music of Linda Ronstadt. Her Gilda Radner tribute show won the 2022 Broadway World Palm Springs Award for Best Streaming Concert/Cabaret and the 2023 Desert Theatre League award for outstanding lead female performer in a cabaret/review.

Nov. 17 – 20: McCormick’s Classic Car Show & Auction. It’s a huge event. If you’re an auto enthusiast, this is the place for you.

Nov. 17 – 19: Cathedral City Hot Air Balloon Festival. I have wanted to go to this for years just to see the balloons. This year it’s getting a check mark on my bucket list.

Nov. 18: Props & Hops Craft Beer Festival at PS Air Museum. Great venue, lots of space for lots of brewers.

Nov. 22: Tod Macofsky presents 1963. Macofsky’s sold-out performance of this show last year had the audience on its feet screaming for more.

Nov. 26: A Very Dirty Christmas with Skyler Gentry, Deven Green and Handsome Ned. “Intended for mature audiences yet appropriate for none, as these revelers get your candy canes, eggnog, and snow balls in order. Not appropriate for youths unless they are little bastards.” Their words, not mine. Sounds raunchy and ridiculously fun.

Nov. 29: Brian Scott, the desert’s favorite cowboy, performs his show Unexpected.

Theatre

The Bent — Not entirely straight, not entirely gay, The Bent is excellent theatre no matter what the production.

Desert Ensemble Theatre — Very cool and unusual choices in shows. At least one original play a season, all of them good.

Dezart Performs — Equity theatre space with thoughtful plays that are deep but never skimping on the comedy.

Palm Canyon Theatre — Our local community theater in the historic Frances Stevens building, one of the first schools in Palm Springs.

Revolution Stage Company — The newest addition to the theatre scene, they plan to have something fun during the day and in the evenings. Full bar, ice cream station, a dance floor (when needed), and a kickass sound and lighting system.

Clubs

The Purple Room — Ticketed shows Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. So Rat Pack inside you’ll squee.

PS Underground — No matter what the show, you’ll have a unique and very fun experience. The food is also chef’s kiss.

Oscar’s — There’s plenty of other things going on other than the wildly popular Sunday T-Dance.

V Wine Lounge — Siobhan was recently added as their recurring Friday night artist in residence, rounding out Mondays with Leanna & Miguel, Tuesdays featuring Keisha D and Hearts of Soul, Wednesdays for Karaoke & Cocktails, and Thursdays with Leanna & the Trio presenting Music & Martinis.

A flyer for Leanna and Miguel at V Wine Lounge in Palm Springs, California

V Wine Lounge has live performances all week long. Courtesy photo

Toucans Tiki Lounge and Cabaret — It’s a party.

Reforma Palm Springs — Aside from the jammin’ music, they also serve dinner. In fact, their drag brunches are some of the most creative I’ve seen. Last month they had a Hocus Pocus brunch, and this month they’ve got “1989 (Taylor’s version)” and a Lady Gaga Brunch. Saturdays.

Palm Springs Cultural Center — There is so much going on here. Movies, theater, music, film festivals, booze, and food. Music starts early on weeknights upstairs with a variety of performers during the week. Great happy hour.

Activities

Mogo Silent Disco — Everybody’s listening to the same music in their ears, except the people walking by you. Great fun for all involved.

Desert Tasty Tours — This super easy walking tour offers six delicious dishes in six different locations over three hours. Includes a trip to Marilyn, and my favorite sculpture, Isabelle. Get a little art, a bit of history, and a lot of food.

PS Historical Society Tours — They offer 14 tours, some walking, some biking, all terrific.

Amazing Scavenger Hunt Adventure — From their website: “An interactive scavenger hunt that combines the fun of the Amazing Race with a one-and-a-half hour sightseeing tour of Palm Springs. Guided from any smartphone, groups make their way among well-known and overlooked sights, solving clues and completing challenges while learning the local history. You’ll discover iconic sights and hidden gems while learning why movie stars have been flocking here since the 1920s.”

Check out Hiking with T. This is her October column; her new one will be out mid-November. This is a great time to experience the outdoors in the desert and discover why people have been coming here for 2,000 years.

That’ll do it for me for November events. See you in December, and look for my next few posts about breakfast, lunch, and dinner in PS. If you make the wise choice to “come on out,” maybe I’ll see you out and about on the streets of Palm Springs!

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Fantastically Authentic Community at Palm Springs Pride

By Linda Milks

Palm Springs is home to one of the largest Pride parades in the country where the entire community—queer and straight—celebrates diversity, authenticity, and civil liberties. It’s also just a great time!

For 39 years, Palm Springs, CA, has celebrated Palm Springs Pride with uncommon style and swagger. Each year promises to be bigger and better. Palm Springs Pride 2019 will take place from November 1-3 and is themed “Millions of Moments of Pride.”

Photo: John Warden

And this year, Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels’ committee chair, Michael Green, is the Community Grand Marshal. He’s also the executive Director of the Palm Springs Cultural Center, chair of the Desert Gay Tourism Guild, and owns the iconic Triangle Inn Palm Springs with his husband, Stephen.

Media Grand Marshal is Alexander Rodriquez.

November 3 will be a great time at the Block Party on Arenas Rd. The event is loaded with DJs, music stages, food vendors, entertainers, and a glorious parade. New for this year is the Pride Stage located at Hermosa and N. Palm Canyon Dr. You will find local royalty to emcee the parade from the reviewing stand, including Dottie DuBois, Maude Chapeau, and Mannie, the Movie Guy. All the action in this area starts at 9 am.

To start things off in brilliant colors, on October 31 attend the Rainbow Flag Unfurling from 10 am – 10:30 am at 1140 N. Indian Canyon Rd. This giant flag will be unfurled from the top of the Stergios Tower at Desert Regional Medical Center.

The Equality Kickoff is November 1 from 6 pm – 11 pm to celebrate strength, equality and self-determination of the LGBTQ community.  This is guaranteed to be a massive downtown street party with three stages for entertainment, the Arenas Stage, the Pride Stage, and the KGAY Dance stage. There will be performances by Kristine W (queen of 90’s dance music), That 80’s Band, and DJ Autumn Leilani.

One of the main acts during Pride will be LA-based electronic music artist Madame Ghandi and also UK-based, multi-platinum artist and songwriter DYSON. Other entertainers to look for are TLC, Heather Small, BETTY, and Ada Vox.

Photo: John Warden

The Palm Springs Art Museum will display The Art of Pride, Make an Exhibition of Yourself, and is a brand new official Pride event to be held on all three levels of the museum from 5:30 pm – 11:00 pm on November 1.

An exciting Pop Up event in Downtown and Uptown Palm Springs will be part of the weekend with food, art, music, fashion, and prizes. Businesses in Downtown and Uptown will be creating their own pop-up events. There will be a passport to fill out as you visit these businesses so that you are entered for a prize. The pop-up event will be from 3pm – 8 pm on November 1. The final deadline for businesses to sign up is October 25 at www.PopUpPalmSprings.com

Then, on November 2, take part in the Pride Festival happening from 11 am – 10 pm in Downtown Palm Springs and check out the Arenas District Block party from 6 pm – 11:30 pm.

November 3 is  the date of the big Pride Parade from 10 am – noon which steps off at Tachevah and Palm Canyon Dr.

To find out exactly where everything is happening, go to: www.pspride.org.

Don’t forget to grab your favorite adult beverage because for the first time ever you can stroll down Arenas Rd. and sip while being fearlessly authentic.

Speaking of staying authentic, stay at one of the Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels  gay resorts where you will be beautifully enveloped by community and relaxation and pride is always in style.

Photo: Linda Milks

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Enter to Win Free Palm Springs Vacation

Everyone has an opinion and we want to know yours! So, tell us, what do you think of Palm Springs? Share your thoughts and you will be entered to win a Free Palm Springs Vacation.

Enter the drawing by taking the survey — Click here >>

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December and January Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels LGBTQ Events

PS Gay Men's Chorus - Modern Family Holiday

It’s holiday season here in Palm Springs and the town is buzzing with activity and fun events. Schedule a getaway and get in some room-side pool time and holiday shopping while you’re in town checking out these don’t miss LGBTQ events in Palm Springs:

Holiday Dinner Show: Judy’s Old-Fashioned Christmas  12/1/19 – 12/29/19

At Michael Holmes’ Purple Room, this special holiday show is a blend of hysterical comedy and outstanding music that explodes into an evening of nonstop belly laughs, glamour and high camp, as celebrated entertainer Michael Holmes parodies Judy Garland, who in her 1964 television variety show, played host to some of the greatest female icons of the Golden Age of Hollywood. The spirit of Judy Garland is alive and well and in Palm Springs! Find out more here.

Judy's Old Fashioned Christmas

 

Sanctuary’s Holiday Spectacular  12/8/19

‘Tis the season to support the fourth Annual Holiday Spectacular – Holiday Socks, benefiting the Sanctuary Palm Springs. On Sunday, December 8 from 5 to 7:30pm, at the iconic Spencer’s Restaurant, this fun-filled cocktail reception, smashing hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment, not-so-silent auction and a rousing live auction benefits LGBTQ+ youth who are aging out of the foster system. Hear a grand performance from Broadway veteran David Burnham; celebrity emcee – comedian, actor and adoptive parent and star of Desperate Housewives Alec Mapa; and Dottie and Maude (aka Les Dames du Soleil) will add flair to the auctions. Limited tickets available. Find our more here.

Sanctuary's Holiday Spectacular

The Skivvies – I Touch My Elf  12/13/19 & 12/14/19

For two nights at The Purple Room, enjoy dinner and a show: “Alt-cabaret, new burlesque: Whatever you call it, the jolly musical comedy of the Skivvies, a troupe of entertainers who perform in their underwear, joyfully rock.” – New York Times. Acclaimed undie-rock stars, THE SKIVVIES, head to the entertainment capital of the world for “PALM SPRINGS STRIPPED”! Special guests to be announced. Presented by The Purple Room in association with Chris Isaacson Presents. Enjoy dinner at 6pm and a show at 8pm. Find out more here.

The Skivvies - I Touch My Elf

Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus “A Modern Family Holiday” at The Annenberg Theater  12/20/19 – 12/22/19

“A Modern Family Holiday” will be a showcase of traditional favorites along with new music from some of today’s most talented composers and lyricists. The theme of the evening is all about embracing our new modern families. Ticket prices range from $25 – $55. Shows at 7pm on Friday and Saturday and 3pm on Sunday. Find out more here.

PS Gay Men's Chorus - Modern Family Holiday

31st Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival – Gay!La (Date TBA)      1/1/20 – 1/13/20

The famous Palm Springs International Film Festival is one of the largest film festivals in North America, welcoming over 135,000 attendees each year for its lineup of new and celebrated international features and documentaries. The Festival is also known for its annual Gay!La event, honoring the LGBTQ community and film industry. This event is an annual highlight during the Palm Springs International Film Festival. With lots of great music and lots of great fun, you won’t want to miss this evening’s vibrant event. The full festival offers 12 days of events and film screenings featuring over 200 films from 60+ countries. We welcome you to join us at our venues in Palm Springs and Cathedral City. See you at the movies! Find out more here.

Palm Springs International Film Festival - Gay!La

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Welcome 2022! January Events

Happy New Year!

The holiday season has gone its merry way, and we’re all feeling a little less flush in the pocket and a little more snug in the waistband. And that’s okay! We’ve got a full year to refill the coffers and pare down the pooch so screw it, let’s put it all on the back burner and have some glorious “it’s all about me” time basking in Palm Springs’ hospitality. You worked hard all year and you deserve a break, damnit. 

It’s hot tubbing, spa treatments, and hot toddies time! Come on. You know you wanna.

Before we get started, a wee bit of bad news: Palm Springs International Film Festival (PSIFF) has canceled its gala due to the new and highly unwelcome Omicron coronavirus variant. Keep an eye on PSIFF’s website for schedules and possible changes. So far, it’s the only event to (wisely) take that precaution, but these are strange times. Everything can change in a nano.

And now, it’s time to plan that “me” time!

Courtesy of PS Air Bar

Starting January 2, check out Disco Boozy Brunch at PS Air Bar. Recurring weekly on Sundays until March 27. Also, check out their Saturday night movies and grab yourself some fine wine from their downstairs parent, Bouschet. And by grab, I mean pay for it.

Desert Rose Playhouse has the world premiere of a new musical, Mid-Century Moderns. Set to the music of 1966, it’s the story of a plucky Wisconsin widow who transforms from frump to fabulous when she finds herself at the center of modernity in Palm Springs. Featuring the music of Tom Jones, Petula Clark, Lesley Gore, Frank and Nancy Sinatra, The Association, The Monkees, and many more. Sounds fun!

Palm Springs Air Museum has tons of great events coming up, including a show about Amelia Earhart. They also still have the Warbird Experience.

PS Underground 
Lots of fun. You never know what to expect. All of their shows are delightful, delicious, and wildly entertaining.

The Purple Room. Photo courtesy of The Purple Room

Purple Room offers entertainment six days a week, with ticketed shows on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Always Rat-Packy, and always classy. I’ll say it again: You’ve gotta see The Judy Show.

Palm Springs Tramway
Wear layers and heavy coats for the top.

Cascade Lounge at Agua Spa in downtown Palm Springs offers Caliente Comedy every Friday night, and Thursdays belongs to Jazzville.

Oscar’s is always coming up with innovative entertainment, so make sure to check their website. Every Sunday is the T Dance and Bitchiest Brunch.

Toucan’s Tiki Lounge is known for the city’s longest continuously running drag show, Tommi Rose & The Playgirls, as well as weekly theme nights, ranging from Latin Fever Monday to Neon Thursday to Dirty Pop Saturday. The club also brings in top tier cabaret and performance talent as part of Toucans Live on Stage.

CannaBUS Express Tours Canna-Sprinter. Photo courtesy of CannaBUS Express Tours

CannaBUS Express Tours
Greater Palm Springs is basically the Silicon Valley of cannabis. This is a very lively and informative 3-hour tour behind the scenes of the big business.

V Wine Lounge has music on Mondays, tacos and margaritas on Tuesdays, and karaoke on Wednesdays. Plus, they have a bomb selection of unusual wines. The lounge has a super cool vibe, so check it out.

Keep an eye out for a new franchise restaurant opening at 190 E. Indian Canyon later this month. Although these restaurants can be found all over Florida and in many other states, this will be the first I Heart Mac and Cheese in California. Comes with a side of Lipitor. (I’m kidding. It’s extra.)

Every Thursday is the Village Fest, every Saturday is the Certified Farmers Market, and the first Sunday of the month is the Vintage Market. If you’re craving vintage items on a day that is not the first Sunday of every month, then head on over to Sunny Dunes and Industrial Place and the Antiques Mall.

Oasis Music Festival is brand new event, and man do they have a lot of great acts during their five-day run. January 26 to 30 are the dates, and the venues are all over Palm Springs. What a great way to hear some great music and check off some of those venues you’ve been meaning to try. 

The Shag poster for Modernism Week 2022. Photo courtesy of Modernism Week

Notes to your future fun selves:

February is Modernism Week. It is likely many events have sold out (enthusiasts be enthusing), so get cracking on signing up. If you’re too late, you can always scratch your mid-mod itch with a copy of their new Shag poster here, or pop into Shag’s store to get an original. This is the fifth poster for Modernism Week by the local artist.

BNP Paribas Open is in March, so start planning now.

It’s never too early to prepare for Coachella or Stagecoach. Start booking rooms and getting tickets now. Looks like Coachella is already waitlisted!

Reminder: We love you and every single one of our neighbors, which means indoor events require a vax card. I got an electronic copy of mine here, then told Siri to take a screenshot and saved it in my iPhone’s Notes. Super simple.

Stay safe, and I hope to see you around town! 

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Sports In Palm Springs, A Tennis And Golf Paradise

Snow-covered mountains behind a green golf course in Palm Springs, California

When it comes to sports in Palm Springs, the city has a long history of being golf and tennis heaven — this actually goes back to the days of the Desert Inn, a massive property where the O’Donnell residence now sits, high above the Palm Springs Art Museum. The hotel and the town’s matriarch, Nellie Coffman, brought both activities and the town’s first swimming pool to her hotel in the mid-1920s. 

Since then, we’ve made some additions to our sports rosters, with pickleball the newest craze. But since golf and tennis remain king, let’s start with those two big bad boys, because it is a really big month for both.

Swinging around town

Patrick Warburton Celebrity Golf Tournament, March 6-9. A weekend event raising money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The Galleri Classic, March 24-30. Format: 54 holes of stroke play for a $2.2M purse. Expect 78 tour champions to play, including World Golf Hall of Fame members. Beneficiaries include The Desert Cancer Foundation and Shay’s Warriors.

Want to hit the links at your leisure? Here’s how.

Tennis in the desert

BNP Paribas Open, March 2-16. The Mac Daddy of all tennis tournaments sells out every year.

Taste of Tennis, March 3. Taste of Tennis celebrates the return of tennis to the desert. Guests will mingle with players and legends, enjoy live entertainment, and savor cuisine prepared by the Coachella Valley’s top chefs.

Desert Smash, March 4. Desert Smash brings together Hollywood’s biggest celebrities and the world’s best professional tennis players for a one-day extravaganza. The event is intentionally held prior to the BNP Paribas Open in neighboring Indian Wells.

Easter Bowl Tennis, March 22-30. The Easter Bowl is a USTA National Championship that showcases top American junior tennis players.

Yee haw!

Unleash the Beast Bull Riding at Acrisure Arena.

Pickleball in paradise

There are a few pickleball tournaments in the Coachella Valley, but they’ve come and gone. I don’t know how long they’ve been around, so don’t ask me. We’re both finding out now. 

We’ve got the Coachella Valley Pickleball Grand Prix and the Desert Pickleball Classic (seniors). If you want more info, I’m going to let you Google it on your own because they are both over for 2025, and as of yet there is nothing I can find about 2026. You’ll just have to grab a court and play yourself! But know that Vince Vaughn bought a team in the Coachella Valley, if you’re into him.

Team sports in Palm Springs

Hockey at Acrisure Arena

Power Baseball returns to the desert, Memorial Day through August. Night games of course. Check back for their 2025 schedule, it isn’t yet posted. Were a small town, it’s months away, someone will eventually get to it.

Things with wheels

Tour de Palm Springs is in February, so we just missed it. But that means you can start training now for next year!

Thermal Club IndyCar Grand Prix

Roller Derby, March 31. Yes, we have an all-girl roller derby team called the Coachella Valley Derby Girls — ooooooh scary name — facing off against the SoCal Tentakills. They play at the Palm Springs Air Museum. Bring your own chair if you want to take a load off your feet.

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