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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!

/by

Here Comes The Sun: June Events In Palm Springs

“There are three good reasons to be a teacher — June, July, and August.” — Unknown

It’s June, and that means it’s National Accordion Awareness Month. If you’re not familiar with an accordion, it sounds like someone attached a keyboard to a bagpipe and powered it with a leaf blower. At least it did when I played it.

So, I’m here to tell you how to avoid them in the wilds of Palm Springs, all bona fide events/locations almost surely accordion-free zones. That’s right, I care about you. So, read on, my friends. I’ve got you.

June 1: Rock The Park free concert featuring Mirage, a Fleetwood Mac cover band. They do not, to my knowledge, have accordions in any Fleetwood Mac track, so you’re safe. Go downtown before the concert and explore; maybe figure out where you want to have dinner, make a reservation for later, then head on back by Marilyn to rock out. After the concert, go back to said restaurant and you’ll skip all the lines. (Why yes, I have been called an evil genius before. Thank you.)

June 2: Fresh off a sold-out Vegas run, TikTok sensation Broadway Barbara is playing Oscar’s. If you know you know. (And that’s the only time I have ever “known” when someone uses that phrase. I don’t get it, but I know how to use it. Which means I’m evolving.)

June 3-12 is Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week. This is the week when you can try all of the delicious cuisine Palm Springs has to offer on the cheap. Check out the participating restaurants at the link above. (Highest risk of an accordion, but if you avoid Italian and Hungarian, you should be safe. However, then you’ll be missing out on great Italian and Hungarian food, so…your call.)

June 10-12: Splash House is back. You can get tickets here. (The lack of accordions is astounding.)

Courtesy of Splash House

PS Cultural Center

Sundays: Keisha D — One of the best set of pipes in Palm Springs.

Mondays: Mon Petite Salon

Tuesdays: Leanna & Jazz Collective

Upcoming movie events: Mostly camp, often sing-a-longs, and generally a good old blast from the past. Just recently they did John Waters’ Serial Mom, the epitome of classic campy fun.

PS Underground — Creativity with zero flaws. Shows sell out in a hot Palm Springs second, so find your level of fun and get’er booked.

June 3-11: Starstruck (part of Restaurant Week)

June 12: Dirty Bingo

June 24: Game Show

June 26: Ovation Brunch

The Purple Room — World class acts and local phenoms. Always an eclectic mix of music in this great Rat Pack location. Note: The Purple Room is closed for the summer starting June 24.

Tuesdays: Rose Mallett

Wednesdays: Charles Herrera, Michael Holmes & Darci Daniels

Thursdays: Sharon Sills

June 3 and 4: Billy Stritch — Cy Coleman Revisted

June 10 and 11: John Lloyd Young

June 17: Jeff Harnar

June 18: Jonathan Karrant

June 24: Kevin Tokarz, Danny Flahive and Andy Fraga — Three of the desert’s finest musicians playing all the music. This is listed as The Purple Room’s season finale, but the website offers one more…

June 25: Elvis the Early Years w/Scot Bruce

Note: The Judy Show is on hiatus while Michael is recovering from a pretty serious medical issue. That’s also probably why they’re closing up a little early this year. We wish him a speedy recovery and look forward to more Judy next season!

Courtesy of The Purple Room

The Alibi had shows all through May, and have not announced anything for June. If they do, you’ll find it at the link above. It’s a great indie music spot, and I’m giving this one an accordion warning on account of those crazy indie artist kidz.

Copa — It’s not your Barry Manilow version. This one has drag shows and late night dancing. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays only (unless a private party).

AsiaSF is still having dinner shows. The food is good and the show is splashy.

We’ve got one theater company that’s still giving us all the entertainment through the summer months, and that’s Desert Rose Playhouse, the only Alphabet Mafia theater in Palm Springs. Every show is a celebration, whether it’s a stage show, comedy show, or musical review. It’s in the space that once housed Zelda’s nightclub, and of course there’s a bar, silly. If you’re in town early June, go see their double-header: Sex, and The Drag. Both written by Mae West, and both with a very naughty history. Always good — sometimes risqué — fun.

Courtesy of Desert Rose Playhouse

Open mic: Neuro Center on Wednesdays with Joel Baker — This is on Alejo, and a few major streets east. However, if you love singing with a real live piano player, Joel’s the guy. Local performers stop by and sing, so if you’re resting your vocal cords, you can enjoy an impromptu show — if you’re not, join in. Bring your accordion! (Kidding, leave that packed in the garage.)

Don’t forget to shop and stay local! And let’s meet back here again next month, k?

/by

Modernism And More: February Events In Palm Springs

It’s February, and no matter how many days it happens to be, it’s always been short shrifted. I’d start a movement, “Equal Days for February,” but February doesn’t seem to care. Within those 28 or 29 days in February, we get three holidays, two of which are solely American: President’s Day, for fairly obvious reasons, and Groundhog’s Day, with Punxsutawney Phil (1886) as the oldest of the celebrated rodents; tied for second are Mickey and Minnie (1928), with Mighty Mouse (1942) rounding out the meese. It’s a word, look it up.

With the exception of a few countries, Valentine’s Day is celebrated worldwide. Some of the customs are different, like in Japan and Korea where the women are the gift givers (rude). In Finland, they celebrate friendship (yay!) and Bulgaria keeps it simple with couples sharing a glass of wine. 

Love is also in the air in Palm Springs, but that’s just a blip on the radar compared to the mack daddy of all our signature events, Modernism Week, running Feb. 13-23. People fly in from all over the world to celebrate the mid-mod aesthetic and participate in home and bus tours, watch movies, and listen to speakers. Last year, 130,000 people attended. Where do we put them all? The diehards stay in our fabulous small boutique hotels and resorts that were built during those days of yore. 

If you’re not into all that, we’ve still got non-Modernism stuff going on, so grab a cuppa whatever, and let’s go:

One and done events

Feb. 1: Soul Springs Festival, 1 – 6 p.m., Downtown Park, free. This vibrant celebration of soul and jazz music invites attendees to enjoy captivating live performances by top artists, along with an interactive Soul Music Sing-Along where everyone can join in on classic hits. The festival promotes a sense of community and connection, encouraging attendees to bring their lawn chairs and spend a memorable day with family and friends.

Dinner and a show 

Purple Room — Come play where the Rat Pack used to tear it up at this classy but fun hot spot on the southern end of the Palm Canyon strip, about two blocks past Sunrise Way/Lavergne. It’s a bit confusing on how to get there, but there’s what I call a “service road” that runs parallel to Palm Canyon. It’s just past the Saguaro; look for a sign that says “Trinidad Club.”   

PS Underground — Visit their website for non-modernism shows, but maybe check out Ponytails, Chiffon and Shangri La, Feb. 18 – 20. For those of you who are unaware, Palm Springs was the movie stand-in for Shangri La in quite a few movies, starting way back in the early 1900s. PS Underground is a great experience, with wonderful food and entertainment. By the time you leave, you will know everyone at your table, and likely more. 100% worth it. 

PS Air — It’s a restaurant/bar on a plane. Not a real one, but it feels like it. One of those big old airplanes that had an upstairs lounge where passengers could gather for cocktails and steak and lobster dinner (I don’t know how good it was. My family always went overseas by ship. Yes, I’m posh). PS Air takes you back to a time when flying was an “experience” and a way to travel. This year they have the Mid-Mod Boozy Brunch drag show on Feb. 16 and 23 “piloted” by charming and smooth-voiced Tod Macofsky with his crew of “stewardesses.” 

Oscar’s — Good food, great entertainment. Home of Sunday’s The Bitchiest Brunch, Oscar’s has an eclectic mix of entertainers that mostly land in the realm of queer in all sense of the word — strange and unusually odd (but fantastic) and often part of the rainbow. 

Dinner and dancing

Reforma — Inside the class one historic building known as the Jewel Box of the Desert. Enjoy dinner at La Cocina, dinner and dancing (separate) during Warehouse Wednesdays, Gasolina on Fridays, and Y2K AF on Saturdays. 

Sammy G’s — Good Italian food on the menu in the restaurant and twinkly courtyard. After dinner, on Fridays and Saturdays, take it upstairs to the lounge and dance the night away to the music of the 1970s and 80s, covered by excellent local band the Evaro Brothers.

Entertainment, a nosh, and cocktails

The Rock Gallery — New comedy club where the Mid-Century Modern Museum used to be, on Palm Canyon Drive.

V Wine Lounge and Martini Bar — You can still keep it in the mid-mod aesthetic by going to this terrific spot in the class one historic Hugh Kaptur Plaza. Right next to Koffi on Tahquitz, there’s plenty of parking, pinot, and performances by some of our terrific local artists. 

The Village Pub — Check it out during VillageFest. There’s always great music coming from their patios that makes you want to hit the dance floor. Lots of rooms to navigate —  always an adventure!

Drinks, dancing and drag

Copa Nightclub — Late night club with drag shows and more, right next to The Tropicale.

Toucan’s Tiki Lounge — The OG of drag clubs and dancing. If you don’t like drag, don’t go. ‘K?

That’s it so far for February, I have to go thrifting for my mid-mod aesthetic outfit for Modernism Week. See you on the streets!

/by

In The Merry Merry Month Of May: A Palm Springs Events Guide

We’re rolling into summer, which means hotter days with evenings in the 70s (we’re leaving it a surprise as to whether it’s high or low 70s). 

So far, we’ve made it through the International Film Festival, Modernism Week, the BNP, Coachella, Stagecoach, and in June we’ve got Short Fest. This month we celebrate Cinco de Mayo, but the rest of May is all about a chill vibe desert style. 

The snowbirds are leaving, which also means Palm Springs is less crowded, and the streets are less congested. The rest of us (who I like to call Desert Warriors), we stick around through it all. And when the weather is like this, we trot out our coolest and most fashionable outfits. 

Speaking of which, The Block has all of the latest fashion, and the boutiques have their own unique styles. You can curate your look for summer way before the rest of the world, where summer is a few more months away. And you know what? You don’t have to shop. You don’t have to do anything. Maybe you just “want to be alone” like one of our OG movie stars, Greta Garbo. In that case, live in swimwear by the pool at your boutique hotel, and order in from Postmates. The options for a good time are endless, but you know what won’t be? The drive. No special events to bottle neck the roads, or the airport.  Smooth sailing all the way. 

For those who are not choosing to only hang out by the pool, here are some fun things to consider:

Ongoing weekly events in Palm Springs

Thursdays is Village Fest. At 6 p.m. we shut down Palm Canyon so you can walk those blocks, listen to buskers, buy things from vendors, have a cocktail and a nosh or two. Some of our brick and mortars started here: Brandini Toffee and The HeyDay. PS Art Museum also has free hours from 5 to 8 p.m. 

Fridays at 7:30 p.m. you can get two-stepping at Dance Ranch. Straight couples, gay couples, non-couples — who cares, it’s a dance class followed by dancing. $5

Saturdays are for the PS Farmer’s Market (Townie Bagels kinda got started here). Although the certified market will continue throughout the year, May is the last month it’s outdoors.

Belico Party happens every Saturday at Reforma Night Club.

Sundays at Chill Bar: Amazing Sundays Drag Brunch

Also, Churrasco finally opened. Recent reviews are 10 out of 10, no notes! Sorry, Arby’s they’ve got the meats, Brazilian style!

Special events

May 1: First Wednesday Art Walk at Kee Gallery, 5 to 7 p.m. It’s about 15 minutes from downtown, but it’s a cool little area.

May 1: PS I Love You Scavenger Hunt. From their website: “Embark on an extraordinary journey with a twist! This is not your typical scavenger hunt; it’s a creative and immersive departure from the ordinary.” $35 (multiple dates)

May 4: Entertainment Convention. There will be comic books, collectibles, cosplay, toys, cards, live panels, celebrity guests, food, and fun for the entire family. Kids nine and under are free with a paid adult. At PS Convention Center.

May 5: Cinco de Mayo brunch at PS Underground.

May 7: Vintage Market. Last one until October.

May 8: The Gand Band The Beatles and Beyond at Cascade Lounge at Agua Caliente Downtown Casino.

May 9 to 12: Arthur Lyons Film Noir Festival. Shady guys, shady dolls, and coppers. You know the drill. They’ll never take us alive.

May 14: Movies in the Park, Jurassic Park, at Downtown Park next to Marilyn. Free.

May 15: Gregory Douglass at Palm Springs Cultural Center. He’s an amazing singer, and he’s a blogger here at Boutiquely Palm Springs!

May 25: Daddy/Pop at Reforma. The event will feature retro go-gos, flaggers, and fan dancers, plus a guest DJ, drink specials, and photography. Tickets are $10–$15 in advance and $20 at the door.

May 27: Memorial Day Flower Drop, PS Air Museum. It’s not the only thing happening at the air museum, tool around the website for some fantastic exhibits, opportunities, and events.

May 28: Movies in the Park, Pee Wee’s Big Adventure. Downtown Park

May 31: Restaurant Week begins in the Valley.

The beat goes on…

These are live entertainment venues with fantastic talent. Most are ticketed events, and worth every dime. 

The Purple Room

Revolution Stage Company

V Wine Lounge

Palm Springs Cultural Center

PS Underground

Play Lounge

PSAir

Last call before summer

If you’re missing Modernism Week, check out Modern Tour. They have a few options to tour inside some of Palm Springs most iconic homes.

And if you’re itching for something to do, the Palm Springs Historical Society has some groovy tours including walking, biking, and private vehicle tours.

Desert Tasty Tours offers a very fun, very tasty, three-hour food, booze, and history “tour.” It only covers two blocks of downtown so it’s not at all vigorous, with some delicious food at each destination.

No, I didn’t forget — how could I forget the mothers? Palm Springs was built by them, and guess what? It’s still a great place to bring Mom for an indulgent spa weekend. So, get cracking on those Mother’s Day plans.

Cheers to all the moms past, present, and future! 

P.S. I didn’t mention how gorgeous it is out here right now. It’s gorgeous out here right now. (There!) All that rain gave us green mountains and bright, cheerful flowers. You don’t need to go anywhere specific — it’s everywhere you are in Palm Springs. Come see!

/by

What’s Blooming In Palm Springs: April Events

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.

/by

Palm Springs: 31 Magnificent Days In March

“I used to jog, but the ice cubes kept falling out of my glass.” — David Lee Roth

Buckle up, the party is still going in Palm Springs this March with the Red Dress/Dress Red Party (sold out), the BNP Paribas Open, film festivals, free concerts, art festivals, and tiki time. And that’s just for starters.

The weather is outstanding, so you’ll likely be out, but not standing (I’m groaning with you). The Tahquitz Canyon waterfall is flowing, but if you’re gonna do the hike, go early. It was already kinda crowded when I went at 8 a.m., and by the time we left they weren’t letting anyone up or in the lot to park. As gorgeous as Tahquitz Canyon is, if that happens to you, Indian Canyons has more trails, so it won’t be as crowded. It is also stunning. I think there is at least one trail with a waterfall, and there are snakes, rattlers in particular, so don’t hike with the headphones on. Keep the channels to your ears open. 

Let’s get to the things, then we’ll chat about a few other things.

What’s happening in Palm Springs this March

March 2: Wine tasting at Bouschet — Great little shop in south downtown, just past Ramon where Indian and Palm Canyons do the Beatles thing and come together. They also serve food, and PS Air Bar is just a ramp up to the second floor. 

March 3: Vintage Market — The first Sunday of every month from October through May. Vendors from all over come to sell their mid-mod wares. There’s a small fee to get in, but there are also food options and sometimes entertainment.

March 5: Movies in the Park — Goonies, at Downtown Park next to Marilyn. Free!

March 6: Rock the Park — ABBA tribute band, at Downtown Park next to Marilyn. Free!

March 7: Billy Dee Williams meet and greet opportunity and book signing at Palm Springs Cultural Center. Williams’ memoir, What Have We Here?, was published in February. The book will be available to purchase during the event. VIP attendees will receive a copy and be the only ones able to get their books signed. Meet and greet at 6 p.m., main event at 7:30 p.m.

March 9 and 10: Palm Springs Art Festival at Frances Stevens Park on Alejo, Indian Canyon, and Palm Canyon. We’ve got really good artists, check it out after breakfast.

March 21-25: Sean Penn will open AmDocs at Palm Springs Cultural Center. It’s the place to be for all the documentaries and animated films, in the best cinema for hundreds of miles. 

March 21-23: Just a heads up — the Spring Cue Convention, a teachers convention, is in town. Last time this happened everything was packed, so make reservations for restaurants when you book your hotel stay at one of our small hotels. There are a lot of conventions in March, but this one is BIG.

March 27: Family Fun Fest at Palm Springs Power Baseball Stadium. Games, activities, and lots of information and giveaways.  9 a.m. to noon, outside, at the Palm Springs Stadium. 

March 31: Alohana at Palm Springs Cultural Center

Palm Springs Air Museum — March 1, 20, 27: Explore cutting-edge aviation at the exclusive Darkstar Rising Experience. Step into the realm of the iconic aircraft, straight from the minds of Lockheed Martin’s Skunk Works.

Ongoing entertainment venues

V Wine Lounge: Live entertainment and karaoke Wednesdays.

Purple Room: Weekday happy hour and local music, weekends are ticketed events.

PS Underground: Themed dinner shows with some of Palm Springs’ finest entertainers. Lots of laughs, great food, great music, new friends.

PS Air Bar: It’s in an airplane! Okay, not really, but it feels like it. Kitschy and fun, it’s a must.

Mixed bag of tricks

The Revolution Stage Company: Everything from Avenue Q, new musicals, new plays, and cabaret. This is Palm Springs’ hottest new theatrical adventure.

Palm Springs Cultural Center:

Broadway Best of the West — Big names in the big theatre.

Movies — Screwball comedies and more.

Live entertainment — Music upstairs, two theaters: The Bent (back in April) and Desert Ensemble Theatre.

Oscar’s: Jack Donahue on March 21

Drag brunches

Oscar’s Bitchiest Brunch

Reforma — Beyonce, Britney Spears/Kesha, and Lady Gaga Drag Shows on Saturdays

PS Air Bar — Broadway Boozy Brunch served in a mock airplane. Emcee Tod Macofsky

March Madness 

If you’re into sports, there are a few places to watch the games: 

Hair of the Dog

360 Sports Palm Springs located in the Agua Caliente Casino

Fireside Lounge

Smokin’ Burgers

Shamrock’s Irish Pub

Looking out for the lesbians

Palm Springs has been a real dust bowl when it comes to lesbian events. This month we’ve got two! (Although not dedicated events, Monday and Tuesday nights at V Wine Lounge have a large, fun lesbian crowd.)

March 7: Lez Out Comedy at The Revolution Stage Company. Comedian Mina Hartong brings her comedic talents to the RSC with host Max Mitchell and featured comedian Amanda Michelle.

March 17: Sunday Ladies T-Dance at Low Desert from 3 to 7 p.m.

Tours

Desert Tasty Tours — A 3-hour tour, six spots, art walk, and Palm Springs history from fun, friendly and informed guides.

Palm Springs Historical Society — Walking tours, biking Tours, private tours (car).

Legends and Icons of Palm Springs Bus Tour — This is through Five Star Adventures. Their website is a mess, so I sent you to TripAdvisor. You’re welcome.

Jeep Tour — Get in a Jeep and tour the San Andreas Fault lines. In their words: “Experience the twisted and tortured landscape of an active earthquake fault system as your guide describes the geology of the area and you explore the bones of the earth. Don’t forget your camera — the photo opportunities are endless.”

There’s also Village Fest (a diverse array of artists, artisans, entertainers, and purveyors of fresh fruits and veggies, flowers, jewelry, snacks and sweets) every Thursday. We shut down Palm Canyon from Amado to Baristo so you can walk our streets free of those pesky cars from 6 to 10 p.m. Plenty of street vendors, buskers, and all the shops and restaurants are open, too. If you’re a fan of museums and art, the Palm Springs Art Museum is free from 5 to 8 p.m. Don’t forget to pay homage to Marilyn, and check out The Muse Cafe in the museum for a bite to eat. 

News alerts

The Pantry at Holiday House launched brunch service on its sunny patio with a South of France flair. Executive Chef Shawn Applin has created a sweet and savory menu and it pairs perfectly with a special selection of rosé wines and Champagnes. Highlights include the photogenic and delicious Shellfish Plateau for sharing, Dutch baby pancakes, fried chicken and waffle, ricotta-stuffed French toast, and much more.

Served Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.  

It’s BNP Paribas Open time March 3-17, so if you’re preparing to step out down valley, plan for extra time. 

Coachella is in April followed by Stagecoach.

When you come visit (and you will), please stay, shop, and eat local. (That means local food — please do not eat the locals. You’ll find us a little dry.) Palm Springs Preferred Small Hotels has over 70 choices of excellent hotels and resorts, each a different experience with a variety of price points. Check them out here.

See you next month! 

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Relax! It’s June In Palm Springs

“Doing nothing is hard. You never know when you’re done.” — Steve Martin

Welcome to June in Palm Springs! The temps are hot, and the pools are cool, so it’s the perfect time for a rain-free vacation in the land of sun and stars. 

Days are spent lounging poolside, shopping for vintage, or enjoying a nosh at one of our local restaurants. If it’s particularly warm, and you can’t take the heat, you can spend a day up in the cool of Mount San Jacinto State Park (take the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway up). If you’re going to hike make sure to take water, follow the trail, bring a flashlight, and check for the time of sundown. No one likes to get stuck on the mountain, although it is interesting for locals watching your little lights trying to find their way down at night. 

Speaking of night, there’s still plenty of stuff to do, but make sure you spend a few moments gazing at the stars. We have low light pollution outside of the major streets, so there are lots and lots of bright twinkly stars to be seen in the night sky. 

Must-dos in Palm Springs this June

A woman pours dressing on her shrimp and crab Louis salad at Ingleside Inn in Palm Springs, California

Melvyn’s Restaurant at the Ingleside Estate is participating in Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week. Photo courtesy of Melvyn’s

June 1: PS Card Show convention offers all the collectibles in cards — sports, Pokémon, whatever else card collectors collect, I have no idea. I am trying to get rid of stuff. But you do you. No judgment. (Maybe a leeetle — just a skoosh!)

May 31-June 9: Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week — pick a couple of places you’ve always wanted to go, and benefit from their discounted prices. Not everything on the menu will be available at this special rate, but you’ll get a good taste and a feel for the place.

June 7 and 8: Big Gay BBQ — June is Pride month for most cities who celebrate, but we have it in November. That doesn’t mean we can’t throw a party in June though. On Arenas.

June 11: Movies in the Park: Ferris Bueller’s Day Off in the Downtown Park next to Marilyn. 

June 18-24: PSIFF presents ShortFest at the Palm Springs Regal Theaters. Short films from around the world. Check it out.

June 20: GameAcon West at the Palm Springs Convention Center. “Where fans unite for competition, cosplay, merchandise, parties, and more.” I hope they dress up and come out to play. I miss Let’s Make A Deal.

Crystal Fantasy Psychic/Healing Fair on Saturdays and Sundays. There’s usually at least two psychics/readers in different practices. Plus they’ve got crystals galore. Robert Downey Jr. has been a customer for over six years.

Historical Society private tours — group walking and biking tours are over for the summer, but you can still book a private tour. You bring the ride, they provide the guide. 

PS I Love You scavenger hunt at PS Art Museum — unleash your inner detective as you delve into the heart of Palm Springs. Engage with friendly locals, discover intriguing tales of history and culture and capture the essence of the city in photos, videos, and audio files.

Cascade Lounge in Agua Caliente Palm Springs. Check website for special events. Throw some money in a slot while you’re there, or save your dough and have dinner in their terrific steakhouse.

Agua Caliente Cultural Museum and Séc-he Spa

Get cultured

PS Underground — there’s nothing like it anywhere but Palm Springs: creative and themed live shows featuring some of Palm Springs’ finest entertainers, with delicious culinary delights sprung straight from the mind of Chef Dave. Great event space, too.

Revolution Stage Company — you should definitely book an evening or afternoon show here. There’s nothing like live entertainment, and Palm Springs is all entertainers and artists, so Revolution has a little bit of everything. Musicals, cabarets, comedy, piano riots, burlesque shows, and well, you just never know. Their homegrown productions have been fantastic so far, and next up is Baby the Musical running through June 9. 

Coming in from far away places:

June 15: Irene Tu, an L.A.-based stand-up comedian of Comedy Central and Netflix fame. 

June 27, 28, and 29: The Edgar Allen Poe Speakeasy, a chilling cocktail experience lifting four of his stories off the page and onto the stage. Poe historians are pairing each tale of horror with four classic cocktails to set the mood. 

Palm Springs Cultural Center — film festivals and special events fill the Center during the summer. Located in the historic Camelot Theatre, they have the largest screen in the Coachella Valley.

June 14: Leanna and the Free Agents Space Odyssey, an immersive music experience

Wine, tequila, and tacos — what more do you need?

The Plush Cosmo in a martini glass

The Plush Cosmo at V Wine Lounge. Photo by Gregory Douglass

V Wine Lounge — Live music Monday through Friday (Karaoke on Wednesday)

Reforma Nightclub — it’s a nightclub and a restaurant. Check their schedule for DJs and music. Closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

Tequila Tuesday’s at Zin — 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., get 25% off tequila cocktails. (OT: I recently had their mussels in wine and frites. Thumbs up!)

Tuesdays at Maleza (in Drift Hotel) there’s live Latin music from 7 to 9 p.m.. Happy hour starts at 3 p.m.

Thursdays at Drift: 7 to 10 p.m. is Jueves de Drift. Tap into the Cabo spirit weekly with live DJs, $5 tacos a la plancha, $5 beer, $8 cocktails, and night swims.

Village Fest — Thursdays, 7 to 10 p.m., Tahquitz and Palm Canyon is a great place to start. Parking can be an issue, but not if you’re staying in one of our downtown boutique hotels! 

Wang’s in the Desert is back. In the Rat Pack era it was called Jilly’s (he was one of Frank’s guys). I just checked and they’re bringing back entertainment, and it looks like Keisha D will be headlining. She’s a terrific performer with an incredible voice, so have a meal and let one of our desert divas take you to church!

And last, the Twin Palms neighborhood has opened a mid-mod little free library on Navajo Road between La Jolla Road and Marion Way. The neighborhood is also sponsoring a $2,000 scholarship in architecture. 

And that’s it for June. Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and please stay and shop local. It’s imperative in small towns, and if you’ve ever been here, you know ours is pretty special. 

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Kick Off Summer In Palm Springs This June

In Palm Springs during the summer months, we sing a little ditty, and it goes like this: “Lord help the sister, who comes between me and my mister,” but we’re not talking boyfriends like Rosemary Clooney and Vera Allen are in White Christmas — no. It’s those wonderful inventions that are de rigueur in downtown Palm Springs, the ones that provide a light zhuzh of moisture to your skin. And while the first part isn’t true in any sense of the word, we do have fabulous water misters cooling everyone down while they walk down the street. We just don’t sing about it.

Now that we’ve cleared that up, how about a little humblebrag on the weather so far this year? It’s been damn near perfect, that’s what it’s been. A better season has not been had. The ratio of cool to heat, and dry to wet, produced a gorgeous array of desert flowers, and gave everyone a chance to wear a cute vintage jacket or a treasured designer sweater, and what girl doesn’t love fashion?

Now we’re moving into another season (more fashion!!) and if you compare Palm Springs to the peppers on the Scoville scale we’re going to be nearing Scotch Bonnet by the end of June. But right now, we’re at a very do-able Thai pepper.

So, now’s a great time — day or evening — to stroll down Palm Canyon and pop into local watering holes and eateries for a well-earned cocktail and a nosh. If it’s hot, those misters we talked about earlier will be zhuzhing. Caveat: this is not a good time for any hairstyle that requires a hold. That will not happen with misters, so leave the hairspray at home. You look gorgeous au natural.

A beautiful aerial view of Palm Springs. Photo by Chris Miller

For those that would prefer eating rather than drinking their sugar, you must try some of our award-winning toffee at Brandini’s (they give out samples). They’ve also got a great variety of items including popcorn, milkshakes, and ice cream, and can even make you an espresso, with toffee. Enjoy it outside while you check out details for the restoration they’ve got planned on the historic Plaza Theater located next to and slightly behind Brandini.

My favorite date shake is at Tutti Frutti, made entirely with local ingredients. It is heavenly, and I am not usually a fan of dates unless they’re stuffed with goat cheese and wrapped in bacon. If you’re not willing to risk your status as a disliker of dates, try the yogurt. It is also made entirely from local ingredients. I am particularly fond of the sorbets (sour apple ZOMG) and of the non-produce options, the salted caramel runs a good race against the chocolate. I have never had a loser here, and I may have tried them all.

If you are a fan of pizza there is only one place and you must go there, I insist. Bill’s Pizza is in La Plaza on the Indian Canyon side, next to Tyler’s (great burger joint, closes for summer). The crust is award-winning sourdough, house recipe, and I am partial to the all-veggie Elton John pizza. They’re all incredibly good though. The pizzeria is super busy all the time, but they’re friendly and efficient. The bathroom is a trip. It’s located outside, then through a coded door, and down a couple of hallways in what feels like a basement. Outside of that, they’re fine. They work.

Back on Palm Canyon, right next to Sonny Bono’s statue, is Maracas Restaurant, and not only do they serve one helluva margarita, the street tacos and salsa are outstanding. The fajitas smell so good they might as well have a smoky cartoon aroma finger wafting out of them leading you inside. The staff is magnifico, and if you see a tall blonde-ish guy with a beard hanging around, drinking a beer, that’s the owner. Todd. Nice guy — say hello.

A luxurious evening dip at your boutique hotel’s sparkling blue pool is a great way to end an evening outside your room. That’s where my involvement ends. You’re pretty much guaranteed that there’s never going to be a mob at your pool like there can be at the larger hotels, so at the end of the day you won’t be hanging around with strangers, but possibly new friends.

For those with grander aspirations than eating, relaxing, and shopping, see the list of events and clubs below and get cracking on a plan. Or just make a plan to come and wing it from there. There’s plenty to keep you happy. Read on…

June 1-4 and June 6-14: Scavenger Hunt (June 2, 3, 8, 9, and 10 are for lovebirds), departing at various locations. 8 a.m. – 7 p.m. Read all about it in the link.

June 2-11: Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week. Participating restaurants valley-wide. Menus are often set, as are the prices. It’s a great way to get to know the Coachella Valley! Mangia!

The entrance to Melvyn's

Melvyn’s at the Ingleside Inn is participating in Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week. Photo courtesy of Visit Palm Springs

June 9-11: Splash House: Passes, Lineup. Might I suggest a hotel room away from the bustle? Then just use a rideshare to venue hop. If you’re done for the night, but the party’s still going, you’ll get a good night’s sleep because you were smart enough to book a room at a locally-owned resort or hotel.

June 10: Diana Ross at The Show (SOLD OUT — I just put this in here because I am humblebragging again. Our little valley got Diana Ross!! #sorrynotsorry)

June 2: Lizzo at Acrisure. Our little valley got Lizzo! But unless you’ve already got tickets… (see parentheses above)

June 19-24: Native American Arts Festival, Idyllwild. It’s art in the mountains!

June 20-26: Short Fest. Great option for people who love movies but have short attention spans. I’m kidding (am I? Isn’t that why we like cartoons?). Sometimes a story can be told succinctly and with an impact in a shorter span of time. They know when to stop writing, which is on my list of things to learn.

Clubs

Reforma – Ticketed events, great dancing, and some very fun Saturday brunch shows like Disney Villains Drag Brunch on June 3. Regular menus here.

Cascade Lounge — Located in the Agua Caliente Casino, they have comedy nights, Jazzville, blues reviews, and Latin nights. They occasionally have late night concerts too, so check the website, and definitely check out the new Séc-he spa. It’s pricey but I’m told it’s worth it.

P.S. Underground — No longer underground, they’ve had their own fabulous space since 2019. Highly original, themed dinner theater (or brunch) where the food is as big a draw as the entertainment.

The Purple Room — Weekends are ticketed events with traditional music acts that lean more toward jazz, but they’ve got a mix. The Judy Show is my favorite show in town.

Palm Springs Cultural Center — This space has so much going on, it’s crazypants! They’ve got movies, concerts, plays, weeknight entertainment with snacks and adult libations, and film festivals galore. They’ve always got something cool going on, so make sure to check back often.

PS Air Bar — Like no other bar in Palm Springs, it’s decorated as the inside of an airplane complete with airplane windows. It’s a must see, for sure. The place has a terrific sense of humor about itself, and the entertainment always flies first class local, and so will you. The wine shop below not only has terrific choices in beer and wine, there’s a small “deli” serving delicious salads and sandwiches.

A bar cart at PS Air Bar

All aboard PS Air Bar. Photo courtesy of Visit Palm Springs

If you’re planning on a hike, please go early early early, and take a lot of water with you. The best hike right now is Tahquitz Canyon. The waterfall is flowing merrily down the stream, and it’s about 45 in and 30 out (I don’t know why it is, stop asking me!).

And lastly, we have a brand spankin’ new hotel in town called Drift Palm Springs, and it has a restaurant called Maleza.

That’s it for June, everyone. Don’t forget the sunscreen and the hat, or even an umbrella or a parasol if you’re fancy (and we are!).

See you under the misters!

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March Madness, Palm Springs Style

Mad Hatter: Have I gone mad?

Alice: I’m afraid so. You’re entirely bonkers. But I’ll tell you a secret. All the best people are. 

― Tim Burton

If you’re not into sports and you’re still looking for madness, we’ve got you covered 365 days a year — even more so this March. There is SO much going on, it’s crazy pants. And the upcoming months are going to be jam-packed as well, so let’s get it started, uh-huh, oh yeah…

Recurring events

These will be here every month. Some of them will change their lineups, but make no mistake, they are always 100% worth your time.

Mondays: 7 p.m., Bella da Ball calls Bingo at King’s Highway followed by trivia at 9 p.m. At 6’4”, Bella is not only the most visible drag queen in Palm Springs, but she’s (arguably) our first lady (although no one will argue with you on that).

Oscar’s — A myriad of different entertainers, including a couple of fun plays this month on Thursdays and Fridays.

The Purple Room — Free shows Tuesday-Thursday, ticketed on weekends. Sundays: THE JUDY SHOW IS BACK!!!!!!

PS Air Bar — Dressed up like the inside of an airplane, they have good food and entertainment to boot. It’s an experience.

Drink up at PS Air. Photo courtesy of Visit Palm Springs

PS Underground — This is unlike anything you will ever find anywhere. From the wickedly creative mind of producer Michael Fietsam and the culinary genius of Dave Horgan, you will never be disappointed.

Cascade Lounge at the Agua Caliente Casino in downtown Palm Springs. Terrific space, great spot for comedy and our very own Jazzville.

PS Art Museum — Thursdays are free from 4:30 to 7 p.m.

Thursday’s Village Fest — It’s like the tram. You gotta go at least once.

V Wine Lounge — The second Sunday of every month is the ladies T Dance. This began in February, and at the time of this typing is the only consistent lesbian party in Palm Springs. V Wine Bar is absolutely gorgeous inside, and also has a HUGE patio. A great place to start or end an evening in Palm Springs.

Historical Tours at Palm Springs Historical Society — SO many to choose from and absolutely worth the price.

MOGO Silent Disco — Use code “pspsh10” at checkout for a 10 percent discount!

Desert Tasty Tours — Full disclosure, I am one of the tour guides on the five-stop food tasting historical tour. It’s hella fun, especially for me.

Limited events

March 1: Dezart Performs: A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Gynecological Oncology Unit at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center of New York City

March 1-5: Palm Canyon Theatre: The Scarlet Pimpernel

March 1-5: CVRep: Once

March 3-5: LGBTQ Days Cathedral City including LGBTQ Days Cathedral City Bed Race

March 5: Palm Springs Vintage Market

Palm Springs Vintage Market

You never know what you’ll find at the Palm Springs Vintage Market. Photo by Katy Carrier

March 17-28: Palm Canyon Theatre: Daddy’s Dyin’ Who’s Got The Will 

March 17-23: Fashion Week El Paseo

March 18: Red Dress Party at Palm Springs Air Museum (it’s a cool place during the day too!)

March 19: Alohana: A Palm Springs Celebration of Tiki Culture

March 24-25: Palm Desert Food & Wine Festival

March 4-May 7: Desert X 2023

March 26: South Palm Canyon Art Collective Sunday Soiree 

Upcoming events alert!

April 14-16 and April 21-23: Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival. If you need a room, we’ve got you.

Sept. 20-24: The Dinah. For party details, click here.

Palm Springs Cultural Center (This is also known as the Camelot Theatres)

The state-of-the-art theater was built in 1967, with the original screen fabricated in England and specially designed for the Camelot — with a curvilinear width of 68*4 feet, installed on a 120-degree arc, you’re not going to miss a thing. But wait, there’s more. They not only play current releases (blockbuster and niche) and films that are often LGBTQ+ forward, but they get creative with their programming as well. Don’t go anywhere, I’m not done.

There is a restaurant called Mildred’s (named after the character Mildred Pierce), two theater companies (Desert Ensemble Theatre and The Bent), name acts on the main stage, and local favorites in the upstairs lounge. If they had a hotel you wouldn’t have to go anywhere. And I didn’t even mention the farmer’s market and vintage fair! There’s so much going on, I’m dedicating the last bit of this month’s blog to their calendar.

Sundays: Keisha D, Soulful Sundays, Relive the heyday and hits of Motown with soul and jazz legend Keisha D.

Mondays: Mon Petit Salon. Tour the world with violin virtuoso Jeremie Levi Samson and guests.

Tuesdays: Jazz on the Second Floor. Join Leanna and the Jazz Collective for Latin and straight-ahead jazz.

Wednesdays: The Mod Squad. Join Francesca Amari, Jeff Stewart, and Wayne Abravanel for Mod Pop.

Leanna & The Jazz Collective. Photo courtesy of the Palm Springs Cultural Center

Film

March 2: PS Rewinds: Terry Gilliam — Brazil

March 3: Fellini Retrospective — Juliet of the Spirits

March 4: Desert Film Society — Carol of the Bells (Ukraine/Poland)

March 5: Screwball Sundays — It Happened One Night

March 8: Movies In The Park — Gigi

March 11: Desert Film Society — The Night of the 12th (France/Belgium)

March 11-12: The Rocky Horror Picture Show — Coachella Valley Shadow Cast Auditions

March 12: Screwball Sundays — Bringing Up Baby 

March 17: PS Rewinds: Terry Gilliam — The Adventures of Baron Munchausen

March 19: Screwball Sundays — The Thin Man

March 21: Among Friends Interactive — Sister Act

March 22: Movies In The Park — How to Marry a Millionaire

March 24: New York Dog Film Festival + Benefit

March 25: Desert Film Society — More Than a Roll With a Hole

March 26-29: Jewish Film Festival

March 30-April 3: American Documentary Film Festival

Note: Screwball Sundays is a new film retrospective series featuring classic screwball comedies shown as Sunday matinees, March 5 through June 18.

“The Thin Man” is part of the new Screwball Sundays series. Photo courtesy of the Palm Springs Cultural Center

Live music

March 1: The Swingin’ Sixties

March 6: Sand, Stars, and Guitars — Special Consensus

March 7: The Swingin’ Sixties

March 9: Razzle Dazzle: A Broadway Revue

March 13: Glenn Miller Orchestra

March 21: CV Philharmonic Society Chamber Series: Early Music

March 23: Razzle Dazzle: A Broadway Revue 

Outdoor markets

Saturdays: Palm Springs Certified Farmers’ Market 

Sundays: Palm Desert Certified Farmers’ Market 

Theatre

March 10-12, 17-19: Desert Ensemble Theatre Company: Kafka’s Joke

March 2-4: The Bent: Gently Down the Stream

March 7 and 14: The Bent: The Lincoln Debate

March 25: Jimmy Dore Live! 

March 24: PS Dance Project — Communities’ Finest

March 26: L-Fund Grant Comedy Series: Robin Tyler

That’s it for March! Don’t forget to shop and stay local. See you for more madness next month!

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February Events (Modernism Week!) And Humpback Whale Appreciation Month

It’s February, which means it’s Humpback Whale Appreciation Month in Palm Springs!

Okay, so that’s a bit misleading. Yes, February is Humpback Whale Appreciation Month, but we’re not celebrating this year (we never have). So whales, you’re on your own (but please do live long and prosper.)

What we do have are Modernism Week and two national celebrations: Valentine’s Day and Black History Month. And there’s enough to fill two blogs on the whos, whats, and wheres on those last two, so that’s what we’re going to do.

This blog entry is about you coming to Palm Springs during the month of February and whatever event/holiday/getaway/vacation you’d like to plan during the shortest month of the year.

Side note: Ever wonder why there are 12 months, and some have 30 days, others 31, and poor old February gets a deficit of three? According to “math” and some random dude on Quora: “There are 13 lunations, each with 28 days — that is the moon’s phases around the Earth, but it doesn’t fit exactly in the rotation of the Earth around the sun, which is 365 days, not 364, so calendars have never matched.” Thanks, random dude. No wiser.

Let’s move on to all the things to do in Palm Springs in February 2023, and let’s show some appreciation for the city’s fabulous mascot, Mister Splashy Pants, the humpback whale. (It’s not. But there is a humpback by that name!)

One and done-ish

Feb. 3, 4, and 5: 7th Annual Taste of Jalisco Festival: Cathedral City

Feb. 4: Gregory Douglass, one of our very own bloggers, will be appearing at Palm Springs Cultural Center, joined by some very special guests. $20 (includes your two-drink minimum). Tickets here.

Feb. 5 and 19: Palm Springs Vintage Market. One of the kitschiest and crazy fun retro markets you’ll ever have the delight of shopping. And it’s twice this month! Yay! It’s mostly mid-mod, with everything from clothes to furniture to home furnishings, a.k.a. tchotchkes.

Items for sale at the Palm Springs Vintage Market. Photo by Katy Carrier

Feb. 9-12: Intersect Palm Springs Art and Design Show, Palm Springs Convention Center. An art and design fair that brings together a dynamic mix of modern and contemporary galleries, activated by timely and original programming.

Feb. 15: Different Drum: The Music of Linda Ronstadt, Palm Canyon Theatre. My favorite cabaret performer Francesca Amari sings the story of the life of Linda Ronstadt. I’ve seen this show and it’s terrific! Francesca won the 2022 BroadwayWorld Palm Springs Award for Best Streaming Concert/Cabaret for her Gilda Radner tribute show, and was nominated Vocalist of the Decade by BroadwayWorld Palm Springs in 2020 and Best Jazz Vocalist in the 2020 & 2018 Coachella Valley Music Awards.

Feb. 16-26: Modernism Week. Event tickets.

Feb. 18: Party Gras — New Orleans-inspired celebration on President’s Day weekend at Agua Caliente Palm Springs.

Feb. 18: Desert Woman’s Show & Greater Palm Springs Food and Wine Festival, presented by the Desert Vein and Vascular Institute. Now in its 15th year, the indoor Woman’s Show offers daily fashion shows by local boutiques and shopping. The Greater Palm Springs Food & Wine outdoor event offers a cornucopia of tasty bites, wines, craft beers and spirits from the Valley’s best. Limited free general admission tickets are available courtesy of Desert Care Network (available online at Desert Woman’s Show only) and are valid for one ticket per person. DOES NOT include the food and wine tasting area. Tickets here for the food and adult beverages.

Feb. 25: The L-Fund Gala 10th Anniversary — 5 to 9 p.m. at the Margaritaville Resort. This red carpet event supports cis and trans lesbians in the Coachella Valley.

Feb. 25: Boots on Arenas — Join Bella da Ball and Nancy Sinatra for These Boots are Made for Walkin’, Modernism Week’s penultimate night street party. Wear your big hair and miniskirts and go-go down to Arenas Road to join the party. Details and tickets here. Prize for Best Dressed provided by Nancy’s family. Free, all ages. 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Get those boots on and get ready to party! Photo courtesy of Boots on Arenas

Theater

Feb. 10-26: Scarlet Pimpernel, Palm Canyon Theatre.

Feb. 17-19: South Pacific, RM Amphitheater — Desert Theatricals puts on near-perfect productions of musicals from all eras. Always a great time, with many local entertainers stepping into various roles. Dinner show tickets are available, but go fast. General admission available as well. (Maybe there’ll be a humpback whale!)

Feb.21-March 5: Once at CV Rep. A love story reminding us of how the language of music is universal. Winner of eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Tickets here.

Feb. 21 and 22:  Mid Century Moderns returns to Oscar’s.

PS Underground is a dinner theater, musical hybrid with unique shows and delicious food. Check out their schedule for something completely different.

Fridays from 4:30-7:30 p.m., DJ ModGirl at the Rowan Kimpton lobby bar. Always a good time and a great start to your Friday night.

Clubs with entertainment:

Oscar’s — Home of the T Dance also has name entertainment.

Palm Canyon Cultural Center — List of performers for weekly entertainment. February brings The Mod Squad on Wednesdays, a very fun “audience participation” show with local entertainers Wayne Abravanel, Francesca Amari, and Jeff Stewart.

PS Air Bar calendar — So many fun shows, including in-flight movies.

Cascade Lounge at Agua Caliente Palm Springs — Home of Jazzville and additional music and comedy shows.

Illusions Drag Queen Brunch, Pete’s Hideaway — Saturdays and Sundays

The Purple Room — Rat Pack feel, a variety of entertainers, big names in jazz, cabaret and Broadway on the weekend, and The Judy Show is back!

“The Judy Show” is back! Courtesy of The Purple Room

V Wine Lounge — Very Mad Men with a multitude of seating options in a variety of set pieces, nice sized bar for cross talk, great wine and cocktail selections, and a lot of entertainment options, including karaoke night.

Fridays: Ranch Dance — DJs spin country music for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender community, and its friends.

Restaurant news

El Patio — I haven’t talked about it before, so I am now. Owned by the same family that gave us local favorites Felipe’s and Salsa Restaurants in DT PS. About a year old, so it’s ready.

Low Desert — Modern Mexican on the south end of Palm Springs. Brand new. Replaces the BBQ restaurant in the Smoketree Plaza.

For the first time ever, the Michelin Guide has included Palm Springs restaurants. Those in the “first” category are: Bar Cecil, Boozehounds, Workshop Kitchen and Bar, Cheeky’s, 4 Saints, The Barn at Sparrows Lodge, Colony Club, and Tac/Quila.

Breakfast to go from Cheeky’s. Photo by Mary Farah

Reforma Nightclub is now open for dinner and dancing

The Heyday (best burger and mushroom burger in town) is leaving their space at the Hilton and moving to a new spot at 1550 N. Palm Canyon. This was once occupied by JJ’s Mexican Oasis, now permanently closed.

Oscar’s Privado opening soon. 127 E. Tahquitz, #108.

And sadly, downtown’s Brickworks American Bistro + Pizza has closed.

Coming soon

Dave & Buster’s at The River in Rancho Mirage.

Have fun in our desert playground, and don’t forget to shop and stay local so we can invite you back again! See you next time.

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