Wow you guys, the weather has been outstanding this September. We had some rain, which isn’t what you’re looking for when you come here, but that rain means the dust that was in the air is now on the ground and the applicable bits of ground that can get green actually are getting green. My cactus (Genevieve) hasn’t budded yet, but just about everything else in my garden indicates all systems are at go for some very showy fall flora. 

We’re starting off October with a bang, and we’re ending on one as well. If you were here last season, thanks for coming, and surprise — we’ve changed. Also, there’s so much going on there’s a possibility a head or two may explode, so let’s get started. 

Modernism Week in Palm Springs

The big kid on the block this month is Modernism Week – October. It’s the fall edition of Palm Springs’ signature festival with home tours, talks, and parties. This year it runs Oct. 16–19.

Downtown’s newest spots

Gelato A Go Go — The place itself is fun. Great IG moment and the lemon sorbet was YUM!

Grand Central has a new owner (Precious and her daughter Little Precious). It is also getting a facelift for its name change: Hunny’s. There are plans for a Speakeasy (The Beehive) in the back replacing the Art Gallery, which will be open until 2 a.m.  

Hot Cookie — Don’t take the kids in here. They have cheeky cookies (i.e. some of them are anatomically correct body parts).

One and done

Oct. 4 — blink-182 — Missionary Impossible Tour at Acrisure Arena.

Oct. 5 — Palm Springs Vintage Market offers mid-century furniture, retro fashion, and collectibles.

Oct. 13 — Palm Springs Aerial Tramway reopens. World’s largest rotating tramcar resumes service after its annual fall maintenance.

Oct. 17-19 — Palm Springs Modernism Show & Sale. Dozens of dealers showcase mid-century furniture, art, and design objects at the Convention Center.

Oct. 18 — Curated Vintage Event. Fashion-forward vintage clothing and accessories market tied to Modernism Week.

Oct. 18 — Palm Springs Aerial Tram Road Challenge. Popular 6K uphill race from Palm Springs to the Tramway station.

Oct. 19 — Palm Springs Vintage Market (Extra Edition). Special second market added during Modernism Week.

Oct. 25 — Air Museum Chili Cook-Off & Car Show. Classic cars and a chili competition at the Palm Springs Air Museum.

Oct. 25 — Pride Equality Walk. Community walk organized by Palm Springs Pride, replacing the DAP Health Walk.

Oct. 25 — Palomazo Norteño — La Borrachera Perfecta Tour at Acrisure Arena.

Oct. 25-26 — Howl-O-Ween at The Living Desert. Family-friendly Halloween festival with costumes, activities, and a dog parade in Palm Desert.

Oct. 31 — Halloween Palm Springs on Arenas Road. Downtown block party with massive costume contests, drag performances, and DJs.

Ongoing events in Palm Springs

Thursdays: VillageFest. Downtown Palm Canyon Drive transforms into a lively street fair with vendors, food, and entertainment.

Through Oct. 19: Guadalupe Rosales | Tzahualli: Mi memoria en tu reflejo. Exhibition at the Palm Springs Art Museum exploring memory and Chicano culture.

Through Dec. 29: Modern Women: The Influencers Who Shaped Palm Springs. Palm Springs Art Museum show spotlighting women who shaped the desert’s modernist legacy.

Desert Tasty Tours: A three-hour downtown walking food tour with four to six tasting stops (restaurants, desserts, local specialties), plus stories about history, architecture, and celebrities. Enough food for lunch is included.

Drag & Fly Tours: A 90–100 minute drag queen–hosted sightseeing “mobile theater.” Combines history, comedy, music, live video, and performance. Offers both daytime and nighttime editions.

Palm Springs Historical Society Tours: Walking, biking, riding — they’ve got tour ways for days. 

More adventures

Escape Room — I had a blast here a few years back.

Dinner Detective — I just did this a few weeks back. It was really fun, and the food was great. It was held at (next slide please…)

…The PS Surf Club on a Saturday night, and while the event was wicked fun, that lazy river looked smashing. And, you know, you can surf here too. 

Live entertainment

The Rock Gallery — If you’re a fan of comedy, check them out. 

PS Underground — Live dinner theater, but it’s not. It’s unique, take a peek.

Purple Room — They’re going for the Rat Pack vibe, and they nailed it. All the entertainment is top notch, and I encourage you to book a show. If you’re staying through Sunday evening (oh, please do!), go see The Judy Show. You won’t be disappointed.

V Wine Lounge — Live music and karaoke, with a unique wine list, and killer martinis. It’s a great vibe, and the bar food is delish. The owner is smoking hot too.

Revolution Stage Company — Check out their calendar, there’s always something cooking.

Palm Springs Cultural Center — There are so many programs going on, I don’t know how they keep track. But what I do know is that they are doing a terrific job. 

Built in the mid-1960s, the building was called The Camelot for years, so you may still hear old-timers call it that. The building is an historical site (“built over 50 years ago” — Eddie Izzard) and was the first movie multiplex in the Coachella Valley The only thing you won’t see here anymore is a blockbuster — only niche movies that make it an eclectic and truly cultural adventure. 

Oh, did I not mention? You can also see a play here, enjoy a cabaret show, have cocktails and bar bites while listening to music during happy hour upstairs. And then there’s Foodie Fridays where you’ll have different food trucks to choose from, with live music outside and a movie inside. Here’s the rundown of the live stuff:. 

Oct. 4: Kimberly Cofer: Music Video Premiere + Live Show, 6 p.m.

Oct. 10: Dusty Strings, hosted by Boo Rigney, 5:30 p.m.

Oct. 11: Heart To Heart: The Music of Steve Lawrence and Eydie Gormé, 7 p.m.

Oct. 13 and 20: Mon Petit Salon, VIP Lounge, 5 p.m.

Oct. 14 and 21: Melba Miller’s Jazz Oasis, VIP Lounge, 5 p.m.

Oct. 15 and 22: Cocktails & Cabaret: Francesca Amari, Jeff Lantz, VIP Lounge, 5 p.m.

Oct. 17: Razzle Dazzle: A Broadway Revue with Bonnie G., VIP Lounge, 7 p.m.

Oct. 18: Coco Peru: Fucq This Sh!T, 7 p.m.

Oct. 25: Edie: Las Vegas Showgirl Unleashed, 7:30 p.m.

Oct. 30: Witch Please starring Deven Green, Handsome Ned, and Billy L’amour, 7 p.m.

Oct. 31: Broadway’s Bad Guys! – Halloween Night Special Event with Erik Scott Romney, Chip Prince, Bob Marino, 7 p.m.

Live theatre

Oct. 10: Desert Ensemble Theatre, Singing with the Desert Stars

Oct. 17: It’s A Lot! One night only! 

Oct 17-Nov. 2, The Bent, The Inheritance Part II

Don’t forget Pride is next month. Make sure you’ve booked your hotels: gays go here, lesbians and allies go here. And then it’s Thanksgiving, and then on December 2 the Plaza Theatre re-opens with the legendary Lily Tomlin, who we 100% claim as a valley resident even if she doesn’t live here anymore. Tomlin brings her own brand of holiday joy and humor to Palm Springs. Maybe you’d like to join us? I hear it’s gonna be a ring-a-ding-ding Christmas.