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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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November Events Guide: Welcome To Season In Palm Springs!

A man and a woman sit on a restaurant patio and toast to the sunny day in Palm Springs

Season is officially here! We always kick off with a Halloween Party on Arenas, and then bang on into Pride, the biggest party of the year. 

The temperatures haven’t cracked 100 in a few weeks, and we’re about to dip into the 70s during the daytime and 40s or 50s at night. It’s the sweet spot of the fall. If you can, come experience the wonderful weather, and the great events that Palm Springs has to offer.

We try to keep everything local, just like our hotels. So by enjoying one of our hotels, eating in local restaurants, drinking in local bars, and purchasing goods from local shopkeepers, you’ll help keep their doors open for the next time you want to enjoy our little town.

A LOT is going on, so let’s get to it!

Recurring events you shouldn’t miss

People look at items for sale as night falls over the Village Fest street fair in Palm Springs

VillageFest vendors sell everything from handcrafted items to food. Photo courtesy of Visit Palm Springs

Thursdays — VillageFest from 6 to 10 p.m. (link has map). Parking might be tough, but not if you stay in one of downtown’s small resorts or hotels. You’re always within walking distance!

Purple Room — Live entertainment Monday through Thursday, no cover. Home to Sunday’s The Judy Show, Friday and Saturday are also ticketed events. Your delicious meal is on you. Last season (thanks to a friend) I saw the fabulous Liz Calloway (who I didn’t know was fabulous until I saw her) and had dinner; both were five stars. This used to be one of Frank’s favorite hot spots (that’s Sinatra). While they’ve leaned toward jazz and cabaret in the past, they’ve been bringing in some unique offerings. You know what? Just check the calendar.

V Wine Lounge and Martini Bar — Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday is live entertainment with a $10 cover to help keep the music alive. Wednesday is karaoke night. I think we have great local entertainers here, and I was heavily involved in the entertainment scene in Chicago and Los Angeles — not a brag, I’ve just been around a lot and a long time. V Wine Lounge and Martini Bar is located in the historic Kaptur Plaza, next to the mid-town Koffi, and is the largest intimate space I have ever seen. It’s basically divided into three rooms, but the concept is open, including the wraparound bar. The drinks are well poured and everything I’ve had on the bites menu was delish! 

Oscar’s is back and better than ever. Renovated inside and out, it’s home to the Sunday Tea Dance and The Bitchiest Brunch. Last season they debuted a new chef whose food inspired finger kisses. The entertainment has always been top-notch, bringing in inspired acts from Los Angeles and around the world. Check out the schedule for their fall shows.

Revolution Stage Company — Just over a year old, this theatre company not only has a season of plays, their stage is always busy in between with shows from all over the country. You never know what’s coming, but go in knowing that the sound system is one of the best, if not the best, in Palm Springs, and is a contender for the whole Coachella Valley. There’s a full bar, and some crazy fun good times to be had here. Last year’s Avenue Q was fantastic.

Dezart Performs — Consistently turning out terrific productions of plays with a message, don’t sleep on an opportunity to see any show this company produces. If “plays with a message” scares you off, please allow me to tell you they are delightful productions with a great deal of heart, and generally cast to perfection. 

Palm Springs Cultural Center — Formerly the Camelot Theatres, the new name might sound stuffy, however it’s everything except stuffy. The first cineplex in the Coachella Valley, the building has been transformed into an entertainment center. You’ll find many film festivals here, as well as plays, traveling acts, and during the week, upstairs, happy hour entertainment. 

Drift — Although this hotel is new-ish in town, it’s showing itself to be a great spot for gathering. Pool side hangs, Savasana on Saturdays, Jueves de Drift, Tacos y Tunes, sound baths, and happy hours at the house restaurant. 

Canopy Wine Lounge — Current November events are listed by date below, however if you are a connoisseur of fine wines, and caviar, this is your spot. Beautifully decorated, and the patio has a view of Marilyn and the mountains (although that will be gone when the new hotel is built at Graffiti Park).

Quadz — Making its first appearance on this list because I was talking to a gay friend of mine about Arenas. I said I didn’t go because I’m a girl, and I didn’t want to be a disruption. He told me that Quadz is the answer. It’s a video bar with fun games and a very welcoming atmosphere. Not that the others aren’t, but many are where gays meet other gays. It’s a party for sure, but bridal squads have been doing takeovers. 100 percent not cool unless you ask first, so I’ve been respectful. This is not the case for Quadz, I’m told. So go have fun! I’ll see you there.  

Retro Room — The only bar dedicated solely to karaoke. It’s small, but that makes it more intimate and less scary to take the stage.

Melvyn’s at The Ingleside Estate — Sundays are swinging at Melvyn’s with an ongoing lineup of the Valley’s best musicians. Programming varies with special guests joining regularly. One of the oldest properties in Palm Springs, Frank Sinatra’s favorite dish was Steak Diane, so don’t skip on the dinner. But definitely go for the Sunday Jams, 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. Be prepared, sometimes well-known celebrities stop in and perform. In the past, Neil Sedaka and James Marsden entertained the crowd on a whim. $25 F&B minimum, seating is first come, first served.

Events by date

Palm Springs Vintage Market visitors peruse through retro items on a sunny day in Palm Springs

You never know what you might find while wandering the Palm Springs Vintage Market

Nov. 1: Boozehounds Bow Wow Ball

Nov. 1: Alumination at PS Art Museum

Nov. 1: Mid-Century Moderns long running jukebox musical at Revolution Stage Company

Nov. 1: Palm Springs Scavenger Hunt Adventure

Nov. 2: VELVET MARTINI at PS Underground

Nov. 2: Free Weekend Psychic / Healing Arts Fair (recurring)

Nov. 3: Grateful Goats Paint & Sip at Laster Ranch

Nov. 3: Palm Springs Vintage Market 

Nov. 5: Tomahawk Tuesdays at Kaiser Grille

Nov. 7: NoirCon 2024

Nov. 7: Sip & Savor Italy: An Evening with Paul Feinstein (book signing)

Nov. 8: The Palm Springs Sunset Music & Comedy Festival at Oscar’s

Nov. 9: Amanda Perez and NB RIDAZ at Oscar’s

Nov. 9: No Llores Comedy at Four Twenty Bank (dispensary and party lounge)

Nov. 9-10: PS Women’s Jazz Festival at Annenberg

Nov.10: Amazing Sundays Drag Brunch at Chill Bar

Nov. 10: Divas of the Desert. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., the music starts at noon. Celebrating the music of Roberta Flack and Anita Baker. Some of the hottest female jazz and blues singers in the area. 

Nov. 11: 27th Annual Palm Springs Veterans Day Parade

Nov. 13: Joni Mitchell — The Reckless Daughter at PS Underground

Nov. 15-16: Thorgy Does Christmas at Palm Springs Cultural Center. Famed for her charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent, from RuPaul’s Drag Race to concert halls, the Queen of Classical Music Thorgy Thor performs for two nights only during a fabulous musical holiday extravaganza! Tickets: $49-$79

Nov. 15: Desert Air Music Festival at the Palm Springs Air Museum. These events always slay.

Nov. 16: TASTE x The Shag House hosted by On the Mark. The Shag House is a fun visit — with noshes by On The Mark, it should be pretty special.

Nov. 22: 10th Annual Cathedral City International Hot Air Balloon Festival presented by Agua Caliente Casinos. This is not in Palm Springs, but I HAD to tell you about it.

Nov. 22: MOTOWN at PS Underground

Nov. 22: McCormick’s Palm Springs Exotic Car Auction

Nov. 23: 2024 Props and Hops Craft Beer Festival at Palm Springs Air Museum

I’ll clue you in about Pride in another post, same with Thanksgiving, so look for those. In the meantime, pop on over to the PSPSH website and book your stay. It’s the best thing you can do for an authentic Palm Springs experience.

See you in December!

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Shine On: October Events In Palm Springs

“One thing about flying that he never got used to was that no matter how awful the weather was on the ground, if you flew high enough you could always find the sun.” ― Tom Clancy, The Hunt for Red October

On the ground, in the air, you can always find the sun in Palm Springs. It shines 360 days out of the year. And when I say “shine,” I do mean shine. October is generally gorgeous. You may hit a few days in the 100s, but mostly it will be 80s and 90s, great for the pool and for keeping your summer tan in top notch shape. Evenings can get cool-ish, so bring a light wrap/jacket when you go out to one of the many events available to you here in Palm Springs.

This month (and next!)  is all about the big events. We’ve got Modernism Week-October, Halloween, and then Pride. The excitement is palpable; I’m all giddy inside.

A lot of these events partner with the big hotels, but in order to have a true Palm Springs experience, check out our boutique hotels and resorts. They’re all about you. A smaller footprint means exceptional customer service. And if you’re one of those folks that doesn’t like being fussed over, there are plenty of options that operate like a VRBO — you let yourself in, and although people are close at hand if you need them, you’ll otherwise never see ’em. Two such hotels are Talavera and The Weekend.

The lovely pool area at Weekend Palm Springs. Photo courtesy of The Weekend Palm Springs

Special note: The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is closed until Oct. 10.

New restaurant alerts:

Bread and Flours, a sourdough bakery, just opened on the north end near Toucan’s (they share a parking lot) and Boozehounds, the very dog-friendly bar and restaurant.

The Front Porch doesn’t have a website yet (that I can find) but it is (you’ll never guess) the front porch of Farm, located in The Plaza. It’s all indoors, and it’s small, so make it a date night. If you’ve never been to Farm, you are missing out. Their food is outstanding and their ambiance equally so. If you can’t get in, my other little French favorite is L’Atelier right across the way, just beyond Tyler’s, which is open again! You must check out all three, writer’s orders.

Coming soon: The same couple that owns Farm created Tac/Quila, a fabulous, high-end Mexican restaurant specializing in seafood. This is gonna sound weird (at least it did to me) but have the fried avocado as an appetizer. It’s batter-fried, like tempura, and ZOMG is it good! But that’s not why I’m writing this. Just like Farm, Tac/Quila is going to open another bar/restaurant called Clandestino, featuring a smaller food menu and a larger bar. Its motto seems to be “shhh, no one will know you’re here unless you tell them.”

Cheers to good friends. Photo courtesy of Visit Palm Springs

And now, the main events:

Oct. 1 and 2: 15th Annual Palm Springs Body, Mind, Spirit Weekend at Crystal Fantasy. This is a HUGE event with classes (and more) in just about every spiritual art. If you’re interested in reiki, crystals, chakras, tarot, and psychic readings, you’ve found your home.

Oct. 2: Palm Springs Vintage Market at Palm Springs Cultural Center. Held the first Sunday of the month, it’s the best place around to get vintage everything. Why? Because it’s vintage dealers from all over selling their treasures. Go get you some.

Oct. 7: Fellini Retrospective: AMARCORD, a scathing satirical critique of Italian provincial life during the 1930s, the height of the fascist period. Bar opens at 5 p.m. with Italian food specials, followed by AMARCORD at 7 p.m. Come early and mingle with fellow film lovers.

Oct. 13-16: Modernism Week-October. I’m going to be a tour guide assistant this year, so if you see me in the bottom of your bus, please say hello!

Oct. 15 and 16: Modernism Show and Sale Fall Edition

Oct.15: Sky Islands and Climate Refugia at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway. It’s a hike, what more can I say? Oh yeah, it costs the price of a ticket up.

Oct. 21: LGBTQ Center Stage Event. (Don’t ask me who Rob is, I have no idea. They think he’s/she’s me.) The Center Stage gala will be held at the Palm Springs Air Museum amid stunning views of the San Jacinto Mountains and departing planes, dazzlingly catered by the iconic LULU California Bistro (great food and people watching at their location). Entertainment will include Jennifer Corday, award-winning and out-and-proud lesbian singer/songwriter, and Brian Justin Crum, the top-charting queer singer-songwriter and former America’s Got Talent finalist!

Oct. 29: Palm Springs Air Museum Chili Cook-Off & Car Show. Museum admission includes car show. Chili tastings are $1 each or $5 for six tasting tickets. Car show opens at 10 a.m., while tastings start at 11 a.m. To enter a vehicle, please call 760-774-9936 or email packard1708@gmail.com. It says it’s going to be spooky, so maybe I should have put this in the Halloween post, but unless you’re afraid of chili and flying, I don’t see a lot of spooky.

There’s plenty more happening this month — for ticketed food and entertainment, make sure to check out The Purple Room, PS Underground (new spiffy website!), The Alibi, Oscar’s, Cascade Lounge (for comedy, Jazzville, blues and Latin music in the casino), and Melvyn’s (located in the historic Ingleside Inn) for a damn fine time. Also, Palm Springs Cultural Center, a.k.a. Camelot Theatres, has a bunch of fun to be had. Not just movies (they’re great, it’s a 58′ screen!) but also booze, food, and entertainment. Here’s the weekly stuff.

The Casablanca Lounge at Melvyn’s. Photo courtesy of Melvyn’s

Heads up for November:

Rock the Plaza. This all-star concert on Friday, November 11, is a fundraiser to save the historic Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs. Featuring Alice Cooper, Paul Rodgers (Free, Bad Company), Josh Homme (Queens of the Stone Age), Orianthi (Michael Jackson, Steve Vai, Alice Cooper), and many, many more musicians. Hosted by Chris Carter, music producer and SiriusXM DJ. Tickets are $175 per person and up.

Pride is in November, and if you’re looking for somewhere to hang out and enjoy the festivities, try Roly China Fusion.

If you need somewhere to stay for Pride, we’ve got you covered. We have a fabulous selection of all-male clothing-optional hotels. Just use the dropdowns to sort.

Happy birthday to all the Libras and Scorpios out there, and when you come here to celebrate, please shop and stay local. It keeps the lights on.

See you next month!

The streets are filled with people celebrating Pride. Photo courtesy of Visit Palm Springs

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Spring Has Sprung: April Happenings In Palm Springs

April is packed with goings on, and with all the rain (now called a hydrologic event on my weather app) we had in March that means color — aka March showers bring April wildflowers!

No superbloom, they say, but the mountains have been celebrating St. Paddy’s Day the entire month of March by turning green! I have lived here for nine years and this is only the second time this has happened. The last time was 2019 and that year we were lousy with wildflowers. We also flooded, but that’s so 2019. Those rains that brought the superbloom came in February. This year they came in March so April should be bursting with color. And pollen. But they have pills for that ish.

Let’s get started on the rest, shall we?

The main events

April 1: Palm Springs Cruisin Association Car Show

April 1: AmDocs Festival at Palm Springs Cultural Center

April 1: Palm Springs International Dance Festival Nickerson Rossi Dance Studio

April 1 – May 7: Desert X. That link describes and shows photos. This link gives you options for a map and an app. (Learn more about a few of the art installations here on our blog.)

April 1: Desert Mountains Art Show. It is art in the mountains, what more can I tell you?

April 2: Palm Springs Vintage Market. Great market for vintage everything. You’d think they’d have run out of clothes by now, but not so much.

April 14-17: Coachella (Weekend 1). Waitlisted. Listen, if you don’t know what Coachella is, you’re never going to go. But here is my favorite YouTube clip from Coachella.

April 21-24: Coachella Weekend 2. Tickets still available at the time I am writing this.

April 23: South Palm Canyon Art Collective Sunday Soirée, 1500 South Palm Canyon. Work on display from five resident artists and several guest artists. The soirée is free.

April 28-30: Stagecoach. The country version of Coachella. Less drugs, more booze.

Saturdays and Sundays: College of the Desert Street Fair. If you’re down valley for Desert X or a music festival you have to stop here. It’s huge. I accidentally drove past it one weekend and was blown away by the size of it. I just made a plan to go.

This year’s Coachella lineup.

Repeat contenders

Hockey games and big name performers at Acrisure. April has Reba McIntyre and John Mayer. Concerts are pricey, but the hockey games are affordable.

Dinner and a show

Ticketed 

Oscar’s

Purple Room 

PS Underground 

PS Air Bar

Come On Up at the Palm Springs Cultural Center (Mildred’s small menu)

Come on up to Come On Up!

Reservations

Melvyn’s – Piano man.

Yaas Queen

Mondays: Bella da Ball, Palm Springs’ 6’4” Drag Mother at King’s Highway for Bingo, followed by Trivia in the Amigo Room.

Drag me to brunch

Great drag roundup article here

Roly China Fusion

Oscar’s

Chill Bar

PS Air – Mile High Boozy Brunch 

Reforma (Saturdays) Different date, different show. And in You Need To Calm Down news, the last one was a Taylor Swift drag brunch.

Nightclubs

Reforma (nightlife and dinner)

Toucan’s Tiki Lounge

Hunters

Pretty Faces

Cascade Lounge — Mixed entertainment, all A+, and home of Jazzville.

Sammy G’s Upstairs Bar — Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, The Evaro Brothers. Great pop dance music you can sing along to while dancing.

Theater

Dezart Performs — The Garbologists

CVRep — Hand to God

Desert Ensemble Theater — Future Thinking

Desert Theatricals – Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Musicals Under the Stars). Act fast and you can snag a dinner seat too.

An iconic Palm Springs windmill farm. Photo: Nadine Conger

Just for fun

Windmill Tour — You’re driving, someone else is talking, but they aren’t in your car. How do they do that? 

Desert Tasty Tours — Eat your way through Palm Springs history on a walking food tour.

Red Jeep Tours – San Andreas Fault, Jeep-y stuff 

Celebrity Tours

Cannabis Express Tours – April is National Cannabis Awareness Month. Get yourself educated on everything cannabis. It’s fun and educational too. 

PS Historical Society Walking & Biking Tours — There are 14 to choose from.

MOGO Silent Disco — Their tagline? “Shut up and dance.”

Pro VR — Virtual reality gaming, including escape rooms.

Escape Room — Actual escape rooms.

Movies in the Park — Old-timey movies under the stars.

Hiking: Indian Canyons is closed April 1-8; Tahquitz still open. Here’s a great article from Visit Palm Springs on where to go. Keep in mind numbers 1 and 6 are part of Indian Canyons.

That’s it for me this month. As always, please shop and stay local. And that includes cannabis because it’s National Cannabis Awareness Month. I might have said that already. I’m hungry… 

See you next time!

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The Great August Bake-Off — Palm Springs Events

“Baking can be done with a few simple ingredients, so it’s about simplicity and nostalgia — people are reminded of their childhood.” — Paul Hollywood

When I was a kid, if the sun was out, so was I, often jumping back and forth over the sprinkler when it got hot. When I hit my teens, we slathered ourselves in baby oil and iodine (don’t do that), threw a towel down in the backyard and baked in the sun until we got hot (do not do that either).

If you’re still a sun worshiper and love the heat, it’s a great time to come to Palm Springs. The deals on the Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels are banging (check out the Summer Splash Pass) and the restaurants are offering the Summer Eats Pass — that equates to an inexpensive getaway to the happiest, most laidback, little big town with its own international airport.

August 5: Craft Beer Festival

August 9: Chef’s Dinner at Boozehounds

August 10: Copa Nightclub — Lokera Thursdays (and future Thursdays) presents La Toxica Tour with a live performance from Mariah Angeliq. This weekly party features sets from JPatron, Boogs, and DJ Dynamiq, spinning reggaeton and hip hop.

August 11-13: Splash House (lineup)

August 11: Emo Nite at Pretty Faces nightclub

August 12 – 13: Clear The Shelters — The goal for the weekend will be to adopt out as many animals as possible. Boozehounds has agreed to cover the adoption fees for the entire weekend.

An ad for Clear the Shelters showing a cartoon dog and cat

Courtesy of Clear the Shelters

August 13: Diva Royale Drag Show at Pete’s Hideaway

August 18 – 20: Splash House (lineup)

August 19: Super Mario Bros screening at PS Swim Center, 405 S Pavilion Way, Palm Springs

Recurring events

Reforma — Check out their Saturday Drag Brunches. They change weekly, with themes like Disney Princess and Taylor Swift.

Cascade at Agua Caliente Palm Springs — Comedy, Jazzville, Latin Nights, and more. Throw a few coins in the slots after the show, maybe you’ll get lucky.

Crystal Fantasy — Psychic Fair every weekend, and drum circles.

Drift Hotel — Lots of fun pool parties going on.

Oscar’s — They’re under construction, but they’re still plugging away.

V Wine Lounge — Monday nights Leanna Rodgers, Tuesdays Keisha D.

Toucan’s Tiki & Cabaret — Always a party, never a drag, even though most of the shows are drag. Late night dancing.

Saturdays: Disco Inferno at Reforma (9 p.m.). Stay in town longer and dance all night on Motown Mondays (7 p.m.).

Palm Springs Cultural Center — The first cineplex in Palm Springs, the not-for-profit now has weekly musical acts, plays, markets (farmers’ on Saturdays), and larger name performers.

Courtesy of Palm Springs Cultural Center

Daytime indoor shopping

The Flannery Exchange

Flannery Exchange is really stepping up its game. Besides offering workshare space, there are dining options. Café La Jefa partners with Sisters Coffee, and their menu features espresso drinks, healthy gourmet food, pastries, and savory eats. Juices and tea also available. (FYI: Café La Jefa is closed on Tuesday and Wednesdays for the summer, check the website for hours.)

Bar Chingona is a fun spot to grab a cocktail, and the other stores are pretty boss too:

It Refills — Really for locals, but bring your own container (or buy a glass one there) and fill it up with organic detergents, shampoos and conditioners, and face and hand cream. It’s all 100% Earth friendly. (I’m so enthralled with this idea.)

Bobo Palm Springs — Boutique carrying a curated collection of artisan goods from women-owned brands, women-of-color artists, and queer artists, with a rare selection of Japanese stationery writing and artist’s tools.

Covet — Handcrafted artisan jewelry, gifts, apparel, and home accessories.

Joyful Living — Sustainable designer fashion and fine art in a showroom highlighting timeless vintage luxury pieces still on trend, i.e Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Hermes, Cartier, Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Burberry, Prada, and more. By appointment only.

MIU — Man in Uniform is designed in L.A., made in Turkey. A range of high-quality printed rayon shirts and premium cotton T- shirts capturing California chic.

Carmela Ice Cream Company — Award-winning seasonal ice creams made completely from scratch in small batches using fresh, real ingredients. Often combining herbs and spices with seasonal fruits, Carmela is considered a pioneer in farm-to-table, artisan ice cream and has been churning out inventive and delicious flavors since 2007.

House of Florals — All things flowers except (from what I can tell) fresh ones. But local flowers are the inspiration for their wallpapers and home accessories.

Antiquing and thrifting

Besides the many options for retro and mid-mod accessories downtown In town, there are two large spaces to shop cool, and two of them are thrifters that profit nonprofits. People get tired of things, and then they donate them, and we get to rifle through them and find the stuff that needs to be in our closets.

Angel View — Angel View serves children and adults with disabilities. They have a big old store and they have an upscale boutique right next door. 462 N Indian Canyon Drive (corner of Indian Canyon and Alejo).

Revivals — The profits from this store help DAP Health offer healthcare and support an affordable housing project for the Coachella Valley. 611 S. Palm Canyon Drive.

Both nonprofits do pretty bomb things, so go get yourself a bargain.

And lucky you, just across the street and a block down Sunny Dunes is Antiques Row (at least that’s what I call it). There are single stores scattered all over the area (most of them are on the street called Industrial) and two malls that can keep you enthralled for hours at a time, right up to happy hour.

Temporary closings

Bar Cecil — closed August 14 – 21

PS Underground — reopening September

Purple Room — reopening September

Johnny Costa’s Ristorante — reopening September

Peninsula Pastries — reopening September 7

John Henry’s Cafe — reopening September 22

Tyler’s Burgers — reopening September 1

Miro’s — reopening August 31

Café Mon Amour — reopening September 1

Jake’s — reopening “end of September”

Like the song says, “I’ll see you … in September!”

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What’s Blooming In Palm Springs: April Events

Bright pink bougainvilleas against a white background

While the rest of the world is just experiencing spring, Palm Springs is well into it. The mountains are as green as they were in 2019, which means there’s likely a super bloom coming. The weather is in the high 50s at night and can go into the 80s during the day. It’s really swell right now.

Of course, April is a big month musically in the Coachella Valley, and there’s a little bit in here about the big events, but there’s still plenty to do and see in Palm Springs proper.

Along the way sipping, dining, and divining, don’t forget to stop and enjoy the flowers. The bougainvilleas are shameless, so the cacti said hold our beer, we’ve got this. It is one of the most colorful springs a desert could ever hope for!

Events of note

April 12-14: Coachella Week One

April 19-21: Week Two — lineup by artist here

April 13-14 and 20-21: Goldenvoice presents The Palm Springs Surf Club — I’m not quite sure what’s going on here, trying to find out if it’s permanently open or if it’s just for Coachella, but hey — take advantage of this. The place looks gorgeous. They have their own playlist on Spotify and Apple Music.

April 26-28: Stagecoach — Looking for a place to stay? Check here.

Alphabet Mafia touchstone events

April 4: Where my gays at? Kathy Griffin at The McCallum

April 5: The Desert Legends Golf Tournament — This women’s tournament at Tahquitz Creek Golf Resort is hosted by Envy Records and Promotions to benefit the LGBTQ Center of the Desert. Your $150 covers 18 holes, a scramble with shotgun start, green fee, golf cart, breakfast burrito, and award ceremony lunch. Non-pros welcome.

There will also be games: the 5-Iron Only Hole, Longest Drive, and Closest To The Pin. Sign up as an individual, twosome, threesome, or foursome, just enter the name of your partners when you sign up. Luncheon honors Caroline Haines, founder and creator of the Lina Shore Golf Tournament, with the annual Desert Legend Award. 

April 6: It’s not Sunday with Brenda, but Saturday with Fortune Feimster at The Show

April 12: Patti Lupone at The McCallum — I do not need to say more.

Dezart Presents Mr. Parker: Consistently producing top-notch work, this company presents a story about a 54-year-old man who finds himself suddenly single and unable to adjust to a world that has moved on without him. After a night of heavy drinking, he wakes up with a 28-year-old bartender/Uber driver. These two very different people begin a tentative relationship, and what starts out as a one-night stand becomes a journey of self-discovery for a man trying to let go of the past and move forward.

The Bent presents The Lincoln Debate: An original piece of work that premiered to sold out audiences last spring, this play explores whether or not Abraham Lincoln’s very close friendship with another man was more than that. 

Where to stay gay in Palm Springs — just for the boys, ladies.

Everything else

Village Fest: Every Thursday, walk through the heart of downtown Palm Springs for a leisurely stroll with buskers and vendors galore, something for everyone. Come early and visit the Palm Springs Art Museum, free on Thursdays.

Canopy Lounge: Enjoy fine wine, a meticulously curated bites menu, and entertainment. Sundays from noon to 3 p.m., New Orleans Nouveau brings the heat, playing the latest sounds of New Orleans and West Coast jazz.

Purple Room: Check out their ticketed weekend entertainment and try to nab a ticket to The Judy Show. Weekdays are great entertainment too, Tuesday-Thursday.

Palm Springs Cultural Center: Early evening happy hour drinks, yummy snacks (the fries!), and entertainment at the VIP Lounge upstairs. Different night, different entertainer. Great way to kick off your evening before heading to dinner. 

PS Underground: Many shows to choose from, but Light comes back for one show. Sells out quick, so book in advance.

The Revolution: Special events, cabaret shows, $10 piano shows and sing-a-longs, extravaganzas, boy band shows, and comedy. There’s something going on almost every day. 

V Wine Bar: Nightly entertainment in a space that’s a throwback to the 1960s. Great wine, adult-er beverages, and a few tasty mocktails. Did I mention the food? It’s a great menu, and delicious to boot!

PS Air: Whether it’s an in-flight movie or a full-on Broadway brunch, you’ll have a great time in this intimate airplane. Located in Bouschet Wines, same mall as Revivals, Revolution, and Palm Greens Cafe. Boarding is usually around five or six, check the website.

Reforma: It’s a nightclub and a restaurant with creative drag brunches. It’s actually in a class one historic building — that entire part of Palm Canyon to Ramon is from that era, but Reforma is the only one where you dine and dance…except for maybe…

…Impala, right next to Reforma. Food and fun. 

Theatre

Desert Ensemble Theatre presents Sherlock Holmes Confidential: Original work produced by a terrific little theatre company that consistently does interesting work at Palm Springs Cultural Center.

The Revolution Stage Company presents The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee: This company recently did such a bang up job with Avenue Q even the extension sold out. I saw it twice. Spelling Bee is under the same direction, so expect great things.

Tours 

Palm Springs Historical Society: Three different types of tours, over 30 actual tours.

The Best of the Best Tours: I think this might be a new company. I’ve never heard of them before, but their tours look like a lot of fun. 

Celebrity Tours: Private tours to around 10 celebrity-studded Palm Springs neighborhoods

The Legends and Icons Tour: One of the tours provided by Five Star Celebrity Tours. Don’t go to their website (it’s a mess and it’s not secure), but the link I provided looks good.

Covered Wagon Adventure: Just what it sounds like. Solid five-star reviews.

Red Jeep Tour: For adventurers that love the great outdoors. Trips to the San Andreas Fault with other amenities.

Desert Tasty Tours: The only food tour in town, and it’s a good one! Three hours walking and tasting, negating the need for dinner. Along the way, learn some history of Palm Springs, visit Marilyn (and other great art installations), enjoy a few adult drinks and eat a lot of delicious food. There’s a date shake, too!

I’m going to leave you now, but not without sharing something that a wise man once said. The fact that the wise man is actually a “wiseacre” named Jim Carrey is irrelevant. 

“Flowers don’t worry about how they’re going to bloom. They just open up and turn toward the light and that makes them beautiful.”

See you beautiful people around town.

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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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6 Don’t-Miss Events in Palm Springs: January 2020

Red Carpet Run

Start the new year off with some fun events in Palm Springs!

Backstreet Art District

Artwalk at the Backstreet Art District     1/1

On the first Wednesday of each month, the galleries of the Backstreet Art District in South Palm Springs open their doors for an evening of art, community, refreshments and fun.  https://backstreetartdistrict.com/

 

Palm Springs International Film Festival

Palm Springs International Film Festival     1/2 – 1/13

The Palm Springs International Film Festival is one of the largest film festivals in North America, held annually during the first week of January. The event kicks off with the Film Awards Gala at the Palm Springs Convention Center, featuring the presentation of awards to top stars in the previous year’s best films. Throughout the week, hundreds of film screenings are held throughout the city, including domestic and foreign films, along with educational talks and panels. https://www.psfilmfest.org/

 

Palm Springs Vintage Market

Palm Springs Vintage Market     1/5

The monthly Palm Springs Vintage Market is held at the Palm Springs Cultural Center on the first Sunday of the month from October through May, featuring vintage furniture, art, decorative items, clothing, jewelry and more from local and national vendors, as well as delicious food and live entertainment. http://www.palmspringsvintagemarket.com

 

Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway house

Elvis Birthday Celebration     1/11

The Elvis Honeymoon Hideaway House, where Elvis and Priscilla Presley spent their honeymoon in 1967, is hosting a special Elvis birthday celebration show, featuring acclaimed impersonator George Thomas. The event begins with a tour of the property, followed by a live performance. https://elvisinpalmsprings.com/tours/

 

Red Carpet Run

PSIFF Red Carpet Run     1/11

The Palm Springs International Film Festival Red Carpet Run includes both a 5K and 10K run/walk, beginning and ending on the red carpet and following a route that includes former Palm Springs homes of iconic Hollywood stars. Participants don gowns, tuxes and other festive attire during this fun and crazy race, and finishers are presented with their own Oscar trophies. https://organizations.hakuapp.com/organizations/3221744e287a6441c1dd/events/562099c3caa8cadca357

 

Palm Springs Aerial Tramway

Let’s Talk Speakers Series – The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow    1/23

Learn about one of the desert’s most treasured landmarks, the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, during this informative and entertaining talk at the Palm Springs Cultural Center. Greg Purdy, the tram’s VP of Marketing and Public Affairs, and Cara Youngman, Public Relations Manager, will explore the visionaries who conceived of the tram, the people behind its design and construction, its importance to Palm Springs today, and plans for the future.

https://pshistoricalsociety.org/products/lets-talk-the-palm-springs-aerial-tramway-yesterday-today-and-tomorrow

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Historic Hotels On View During Modernism Week

The late 1940s and ’50s was the start of modernism in Palm Springs, but it wasn’t until 2006 that Modernism Week first cast its spell on the world. Since then, the number of people attending has risen each year, with 2023 bringing in over 100,000 visitors, creating a revenue stream of $55 million.

They have over 350 things to do, and this post will help you navigate the event, but I’m gonna tell you about some of our preferred small hotels that are on the Modernism Week bus tour. You can make the event an exceptionally authentic one by also booking one of these boutique hotels. And this year, one of them is actually featured as a Modernism Week event. 

A Palm Springs classic: Casa Cody

Casa Cody, the city’s oldest operating hotel, isn’t from the modernism era — it was built in the late 1910s — but the property has been well maintained and has a fantastic history. Harold and Harriet Cody left Hollywood and came to Palm Springs (by wagon) in 1916, as Harold’s frequent tribulations with pneumonia were worsening and the dry desert air was considered a health benefit for anyone with lung ailments. Harold was a Los Angeles architect, and purportedly the cousin of the legendary Buffalo Bill Cody. 

Initially, Casa Cody was just their home, but in 1920 Harriet hung up a hotelier’s shingle, and the rest is Palm Springs history. Some of their more famous guests included Charlie Chaplin, American opera singer Lawrence Tibbett, and AnaÏs Nin. Harriet is said to be a direct descendant of Sir Thomas Moore and from one of the wealthiest families in Philadelphia.

Today, Casa Cody has 31 guest rooms and private rooms, two swimming pools, a jacuzzi, a spa treatment room, and a marketplace, and you can see it all on Feb. 19, 2024, during the hotel’s special Modernism Week event. You’ll get to go on a behind-the-scenes tour and hang out poolside, with cocktails and brunch items available. All of this can be yours for the low, low price of $50.

Even when it’s not Modernism Week, Casa Cody has movies by the pool and art events available to guests. This party is a great opportunity to roam the grounds and check out all of that history!

That’s not all…

The other boutique hotels you’ll see on the Modernism Week bus tour are:

Korakia Pensione — Originally called Dar Marroc and styled after Tangier, Morocco, Korakia was built in 1924. It’s the former hideaway of Scottish painter Gordon Coutts, and the rumor is that Winston Churchill painted (not the walls, canvases) in the Artist’s Studio. Forbes Traveler named it one of their sexiest hotels in America.  

Ingleside Inn — Home of the popular Melvyn’s Restaurant and Lounge, this estate began as a private home built in 1924 for Ethel Richards Birge and sold to Ruth Hardy in 1935 (you may have heard of her park, located on Caballeros). Even if you don’t stay here, go for a cocktail at Melvyn’s to check it out. Très cool. 

The Orbit In's retro pool surrounded by loungers and vintage umbrellas

The Orbit In is a spectacular mid-century modern classic. Photo courtesy of Orbit In

Orbit In — Designed in 1948 by Herbert W. Burns, a builder and innkeeper behind a number of small inns and private homes in Palm Springs during the 1940s and ’50s. His Town and Desert Apartments live on as The Hideaway, one of the Orbit In’s two boutique hotels. From Orbit you can see Swiss architect Albert Frey’s masterpiece builds (Frey I & II) in the mountains above you. Burns designed many of the buildings on Baristo, just west of Belardo.

Movie Colony Hotel — This property was designed by Frey, who left his mark all over Palm Springs. Built in 1935, its original name was the San Jacinto Hotel, a three-unit townhouse. Currently, the Bauhaus-inspired property is a 17-room boutique hotel (they expanded, they did not cut up three townhouses to make 17 rooms). If you can, book Unit 29 — it is considered the least changed from Frey’s original design.

A pink flamingo float in the pool at Skylark Hotel Palm Springs with the mountains in the background

The views are fantastic from the Skylark Hotel pool. Photo courtesy of Skylark Hotel

Skylark Hotel — Recently updated, the mid-century modern property was built in 1955 and was the backdrop for the movie Palm Swings. 

Willows — Located a stone’s throw south of the Art Museum, Albert Einstein used to stay here when he’d visit Palm Springs (and would “take the sun” in the buff). This is one of the 10 oldest structures in Palm Springs, and its eight guest rooms each have modern amenities while retaining their historic charm. You are right on the mountain, so you know you’re going to have a spectacular view.

Amin Casa — Formerly the home of Gloria Swanson, this beautiful estate dates back to the 1920s and accommodates 14 guests, adults only. For a unique experience, you can book Swanson’s original residence, a swanky two bedroom, two bath cottage with a grand living space.

That’s all we’ve got time for today, Modernettes. Hope to see you on the streets during Modernism Week!  

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Where To Stay In Palm Springs For The Dinah

Hundreds of women in the audience at a concert at The Dinah in Palm Springs

It’s that time of year, when Palm Springs throws The Dinah — the biggest, baddest lesbian party in the world. 

Running from Sept. 20-24, The Dinah will be held at the big hotels, and if you like being in the thick of it 24/7, then read no further. If you’d prefer your own getaway from the getaway, then I have some suggestions. If you’re coming in a group, I have ideas for that, too.

Palm Springs boutique hotels for groups

The Marley is a hotel with one rule: you gotta rent the whole place. From their website: “The Marley isn’t like all the other Palm Springs boutique hotels. In fact, it isn’t like any other boutique hotel. After all, we designed it to fit the exact needs of one unique group of guests at a time. So you and your friends can relax like Hollywood royalty — in total privacy.”

Women use floats in the pool at The Marley in Palm Springs

Hang out with the whole gang at The Marley. Photo courtesy of The Marley

The Three Ten Hotel, recently renovated and remodeled, is a mid-century modern property that’s rented out to just one group at a time. The gated hotel’s seven rooms are all brightly decorated and have queen-sized beds, kitchenettes, full bathrooms, and patios. There is also an arcade/game room and washer and dryer on the property, and all bedrooms have a view of the sparkling central pool. On top of all that, there’s a firepit, barbecue and outdoor dining space, lounge chairs, hot tub, and a hammock, surrounded by lovely desert landscaping. No on-site staff.

The living room space with a couch and arcade game at The Three Ten Hotel in Palm Springs

The Three Ten Hotel has an arcade in the common room. Photo courtesy of The Three Ten Hotel

Limón Palm Springs is a one-group-at-a-time property, and its “celebration specialists” will help with everything from reserving transportation and golf tee-times to hiring a gourmet chef to make a delicious meal onsite. Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a charcuterie board featuring locally-sourced ingredients, plus chilled bottles of prosecco and sparkling rosé.

A colorful bedroom at Limon Palm Springs with patterned wallpaper and a bed with a yellow blanket

One of the colorful bedrooms at Limón Palm Springs. Photo courtesy of Limón Palm Springs

Blackhaus is a truly unique space. Just look at it! I’m not going to say any more — I just urge you to look for yourself.

An aerial view of Blackhaus hotel in Palm Springs

Four separate buildings make up Blackhaus. Photo courtesy of Blackhaus

There are other places to stay, and ostensibly do a buyout. I’ve done the sorting for you — just go here.

More cool places to stay during The Dinah

Dive! Stunning hotel, marvelous pool, and exceptionally well-curated rooms. There’s also a soundproof after-hours room, so you can continue the party well into the morning.

A gilded elevator cage that has been converted into a bed frame at Dive Palm Springs

The Paris Suite at Dive showcases a 1919 brass and copper elevator cage. Photo courtesy of Dive Palm Springs

Drift, one of our newest hotels, is located downtown and has a plethora of social events. It’s a stunning hotel, just steps away from everything.

The pool at Drift Palm Springs surrounded by lounge chairs with the hotel's building in the background

The poolside views at Drift are delightful. Photo courtesy of Drift Palm Springs

Villa Royale is a 38-room hotel in the south end of Palm Springs. Built in 1947, it was owned and managed by a woman named Evelyn Pell. You can stay in her namesake villa, a private residence with its own hot tub and garden.

A chair and fireplace in a room at Villa Royale Palm Springs that has a tile wall and hanging picture of Debbie Harry

The Villa Royale is known for its stylish and art-filled rooms. Photo courtesy of Villa Royale

Old Ranch Inn  is done in a western style, and damn it is gorgeous! The eight-suite, dog-friendly property is completely walled and gated for your privacy. It’s centered around the pool, which is heated to a perfect 88 degrees. Old Ranch Inn is an intimate hideaway to call your very own, and as a bonus, it’s located one block west of Palm Canyon, making downtown your playground.

The pool at Old Ranch Inn with blue chairs around it

The pool is always 88 degrees at Old Ranch Inn. Photo courtesy of Old Ranch Inn

There are so many more Palm Springs boutique hotels, in so many different styles, that it’ll blow your mind. Visit the Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels website to find the place that will boost your Dinah experience.

Have fun!

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