Gay Desert Guide Weekend: May 14-16, 2021

Masks off!  That is IF you got your shots.  The news cycle has been dominated by the CDC guidance that fully vaccinated people do not need to wear masks outdoors and can avoid wearing them indoors in most places.  The City of Palm Springs rescinded its mask order to align with CDC guidelines. UPDATE:  The City put out a late statement Friday: “City of Palm Springs would like to advise the community that it will continue to follow the current face covering guidelines in place from the California Department of Public Health, until otherwise notified by the State. Face coverings are still required indoors, with few exceptions.”
It’s going to be confusing for some time and our Pavlovian response will be to don a mask when we no longer need to.  But some will choose that safety blanket face covering even if vaccinated.  It certainly has reduced other diseases like colds and allergies.  So I’m keeping my mask handy just in case!
The McCallum Theatre is betting on no masks required and full capacity indoors when it opens its season with Hairspray in December.  We talk with Communications Director Jeffrey Norman on the #ILoveGayPalmSprings podcast this week.  And we also got word that Purple Room is booking its fall season, maybe being able to open as soon as Labor Day.  Sherry Vine joined us on the podcast and spilled the tea that she and Jackie Beat are booked at the storied supper club.
June 15th is the next COVID calendar watch date.  Let’s hope that indoor restrictions will be lifted so our other venues like Toucans can reopen.
Enjoy another beautiful Palm Springs weekend and sigh that collective sigh of relief that we’re out of the woods!
Brad Fuhr, your Gay Desert Guide 
#ILoveGayPalmSprings
#ILoveGayCatCity
#ShopLocal and … #WeArePalmSprings

I Love Gay Palm Springs Podcast – Episode 97

 McCallum Theatre 2021-2022 Tickets on Sale Now

The 2021-2022 Season is set for the McCallum Theatre, opening in December with the perennial musical favorite “Hairspray.” The season features a collection of McCallum’s favorites, and includes Patti LuPone, Kristin Chenoweth, Judy Collins, Vanessa Williams, Pink Martini, productions of “Fiddler on the Roof,” “Jersey Boys,” “Beautiful: The Carole King Musical,” and much more. Tickets are available by phone or online at McCallumTheatre.com beginning at 6 p.m. May 13. There are no walk-up orders. More info

Mark Your November Calendar: Palm Springs Pride 2021

Palm Springs Pride has confirmed dates for a traditional in-person Pride Festival on Saturday and Sunday, November 6 & 7, with a Pride Parade on Sunday, November 7 at 10:00 a.m. All activity, of course, will depend on COVID-19 guidelines in place. Palm Springs Pride President & CEO Ron deHarte notes: “As the COVID-19 crisis subsides, this moment is significant for our community to come together after the pandemic’s stress, uncertainty, and isolation…This year Pride is truly a Coming Out celebration of all that Palm Springs represents – life, love, community, the desert environment, diversity, and our friendly mid-century vibe!”

Remembering the Golden Girls: Less than 2 Weeks Away!

How well do you know your Golden Girls? The Fun & Games Dept of Gay Desert Guide presents An Evening on the Lanai: Remembering the Golden Girls on Thursday, May 27 at 7:00 p.m., just ahead of Memorial Day Weekend. Come celebrate the Golden Girls with Season One writer Stan Zimmerman with fun trivia, clips from favorite episodes, prize giveaways, sing-alongs, and Q&A. Hosted by on-air personality Alexander Rodriguez from On the Rocks with Alexander and a regular guest on the #ILoveGayPalmSprings podcast. Get tickets

Desert X 2021 – Final Week

It’s the final weekend for Desert X 2021, open through Sunday, May 16 at sunset at various locations in and around Palm Springs. Don’t miss your chance to see this one-of-a-kind event that only comes around once every two years! This free exhibition explores the desert as both a place and idea, acknowledging the realities of people who reside here and the political, social, and cultural contexts that shape their stories [Check out what’s new this year]. The site-specific exhibition is all outdoors, providing a safe visitor experience. More info

Screening of “Mama Gloria” to Benefit Safe Schools

A screening of “Mama Gloria” is presented by the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Desert on Saturday, May 15 at 2:00 p.m. This feature documentary profiles Gloria Allen, a trailblazing 74-year-old Black transgender activist who started a charm school for homeless trans youth and is now aging with joy and grace. Luchina Fisher and Mama Gloria will lead a discussion following the film [view trailer]. All proceeds for this fundraiser go to Safe Schools Desert Cities to be used for program expenses and annual events such as Pride Prom, Rainbow Youth Summit, and the Youth Zone @ Palm Springs Pride. Get tickets

Dressed to Kill: Fashion & Beauty Through History at the Met Museum

Gay Desert Guide’s Fun & Games Dept. and TheMenEvent.com present Dressed to Kill: Fashion & Beauty through History at the Met Museum on Saturday, May 15 at 11:00 a.m. Join Professor Andrew Lear for this fun & informative live online tour (w/Q&A) on changing styles of beauty and the astonishing lengths to which people have gone to attain it. From the grand hairdos of Imperial Rome to the outrageous wigs of the court at Versailles; from gold ear spools in pre-Columbian America to neck rings in Africa and Southeast Asia; and from 300 years of torturous corsets to 3000 years of artful cosmetics, the history of fashion is on dazzling display at the Met. Get tickets

Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards Silent Auction

Although the 27th Annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards are over, the Silent Auction continues through Sunday, May 16 at 6:30 p.m. Here’s is your chance to bid on one-of-a-kind items such as signed dress forms from Project Runway Season 5, 6, or 7 – or a custom men’s suit by Art Lewin Bespoke Tailors. How about a Day of Beauty with options from Pure Health, Palm Springs Fine Men’s Salon, or All About Massage. Or a week-day get away to Miracle Springs Resort & Spa or a night on the town with gift certificates to Wally’s Desert Turtle, The Tropicale Restaurant and Lounge, and more. There’s bound to be something for everyone and new items are being added all the time. More info

Modernism Week Online Experience on Sale Thru Saturday

While Modernism Week may be over in Palm Springs, the fun continues online with the Modernism Week Online Experience. Whether you are near or far, you can still experience a taste of Modernism Week virtually with online programs, including compelling presentations, video tours and films, on sale through Saturday, May 15, and viewable through May 31. More info

15th Annual LGBTQ Community Survey

Please take part in the Community Marketing & Insights (CMI) 15th Annual LGBTQ Community Survey! Participation in this survey gives important feedback to our LGBTQ community media and organizations, and provides data to companies interested in serving our community, sponsoring our charities, and supporting their LGBTQ employees. The survey should take about 12 to 15 minutes to complete. Make your voice heard! [Click here to take the survey]

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Desert Theatricals Live Cabaret Series

The City of Rancho Mirage presents Desert Theatricals Live Cabaret Series as dinner theater every Saturday through June 5th. Purchase a table for 4 to include a meal and glass of wine per attendee and complimentary valet parking. Gates open at 6:15 p.m., dinner is served at 7:00 p.m. and show begins at 8:00 p.m. The show this Saturday, May 15 is An Evening with Valerie Perri, and upcoming performances include: The Mod Squad (May 22), Scott Dreier in “Doris and Me” (May 29), and An Evening with Jonathan Karrant and Joshua White (June 5). Get tickets

Cinema Under the Stars

The nights are getting warmer and while the pleasant evenings last, The Palm Springs Cultural Center continues to run their Outdoor Cinema Under the Stars program. No longer a drive-in, you can still camp-out in your own chairs or reserve one of the available picnic tables. You also pre-order a boxed dinner from Mildred’s Chicken & Waffle Dinners! On Friday, May 14 the film will be “Mainstream,” and “The Wiz” screens on Saturday, May 15. Get tickets

National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day

Celebrate an LGBT elder who made a difference in your life, and spread the word about the importance of LGBT older adults in your community this Sunday, May 16—National Honor Our LGBT Elders Day. The gains made in recent years toward LGBT equality sit squarely on the backs of those whose struggles and victories, extraordinary courage and everyday authenticity, pioneered the path toward freedom. Learn more

When Dignity ≠ Suffering

PALS (Planning Ahead for LGBTQ Seniors) presents When Dignity ≠ Suffering – Patient Autonomy Over End of Life Care on Saturday, May 15 from 10:00–11:00 a.m. Co-presented by Leslie Chincilla, CA Campaign Organizer of Compassion & Choices and Thom Bettinger, End of Life Doula, this hour-long seminar will share the emotional aspects, conflicts and obstacles that come up for terminally-ill patients and medical professionals alike when physician-aid-in-dying is chosen. Registration required. More info
 

LOOKING AHEAD

ShortFest Passes Go On Sale Monday, May 17

The 27th Palm Springs International ShortFest is returning for in-person screenings at the Palm Springs Cultural Center’s Camelot Theatres on June 22–28, and will be the first film festival in California to hold all of its screenings in-theatre in 2021! Theatergoers will be required wear masks to enter venues, and stringent cleaning protocols will be followed. The ShortFest Forum returns with virtual classes and panels to make it more available to all, including international filmmakers unable to attend. ShortFest passes will go on sale on May 17 with schedule and tickets available the first week of June. More info

Talk of the Town: Health Care in Post-Pandemic Palm Springs

One PS’s new Talk of the Town is Exploring Health Care Resources in a Post-Pandemic Palm Springs on Tuesday, May 18 at 5:30 p.m. on Zoom. As we begin to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, there are myriad health care challenges for our diverse community, including: Safe and accessible health care services for seniors, a safe return to preventive health maintenance such as cancer screenings, access to mental health services, an expanding role in public health and health equity for our local health care providers, and managing new health care concerns of those who have recovered from COVID-19. A panel of three distinguished local health care providers will present a conversation to better understand what resources and opportunities are available in our community. More info

NEXT WEEK: Virtual Events at The Center

Looking for connection in this time of self-isolation? The LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert continues to connect people, using the technology of group-meeting platform Zoom, which you can use on your computer, tablet, or smartphone. Here’s just a taste of the programs they are hosting:
Social Caring in the Face of Quarantine with Alexis Ortega – Mondays at 11:00 a.m.
Zumba for Beginners with Shaun Samaro – Mondays at 10:00 a.m.
Managing Emotions During a Pandemic with Jill Hingston, Ph.D – Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m.
Fifty+ Fit with Lynn Simonson – Tuesdays at 11:00 a.m.
Prostate Cancer Support Group – 2nd and 4th Tuesdays at 4:00 p .m.
Trans Tuesdays with Jill Hingston, Ph.D – Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m.
Seated Wellness with Lynn Simonson – Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.
Women’s Chat with Kim Kieler – Thursdays at 10:30 a.m.
Men’s Chat with Stuart Huggins – Fridays at 10:30 a.m.
LGBTQ+ Youth Virtual Hangout with Miguel Navarro – Fridays at 2:00 p.m.
Who Cares: Caregiver Support Group with Perry Wiggins – Fridays at 3:00 p.m.
Full list of The Center’s Zoom programs [here]

 
What is One Eleven Bar in Cathedral City? Enjoying a cocktail with old friends and a second with new ones. Live music and entertainment you can sing along to. Celebrating who we are today while never forgetting our past. Having a safe space so none of us are ever alone – no matter race, orientation, gender identity, status or age. This is one eleven bar. Learn more
 

Desert Mischief is the brand-new Palm Springs adult store that’s been around for years. With distinctive gifts & souvenirs in the front, adult toys & supplies in the back, this duality means there’s something for everyone on your list – and plenty more in which for you to indulge yourself! Their new online store has an expertly curated selection of toys and more at great prices! Learn more
 
Menzz Room is your next-level gay nightclub designed with you in mind. This private, members-only club is the destination for those who want an upscale and erotic environment. Featuring 9,000 sq ft floor space with a large dance floor, ample seating with tables, intimate game lounge and spacious play areas, Menzzroom is open Wednesdays only, and their Grand Opening is on Wednesday, May 19. Learn more