TheStandard_Vol10_Issue10

TRAVEL / CAN’T RESIST THE URGE

MUSIC

MUSIC

PERSPECTIVE

TRAVEL

O’Bayley, Mike Bahr, Bob Bogard, Tom Jimenez, Martha Tang, Jeff Hocker, Stacy Holmes, Greg Stillwell, Dann Foley, Jill Langham & Terri Schlichenmeyer

EDITORIAL CREDITS :

Huffington Post, LGBTQ Nation, Project Publicity, MSN, Reuters, NBC News & Artsy

The Standard Magazine is published monthly. Opinions expressed are not necessarily the opinions of the Standard or its staff, advertisers or readers with exception of editorials. Publication of the name or photograph of any person, business or organization in articles or advertising in the Standard is not to be construed as any indication of the sexual orientation of such person, business or organization. The Standard disclaims any responsibility for claims made by advertisers. Advertising rates are subject to change without notice. The Standard reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to reject any advertisement for any reason including, but not limited to poor taste. It is the policy of The Standard that we only publish letters to the editor that are signed by the author and verifiable by phone number. We can reserve the right of anonymity upon request. The letters need to be original, in good taste and free of libel as well as edited for clarity and grammar. Letters are subject to editing by The Standard that also reserves the right to decline print. Please forward your letters to: info@thestandardps.com The views expressed is not necessarily those of The Standard. Copyright 2013. All rights reserved. No portion of the publication may be reproduced in any form without the expressed consent of the publisher.

Palm Springs Pride announced the 2022 theme ‘Say Gay’ as a challenge to fight extremism at the ballot box this November. Palm Springs Pride president and CEO Ron deHarte said, “Say Gay” is a theme, it’s a political statement, it’s a call to action. Mobilize your friends, family, neighbors, and workplace to vote for politicians that stand up and fight for LGBTQ rights. “Say Gay” to politicians taking away control of our bodies and silencing teachers from recognizing the existence of LGBTQ+ people to their students.”

“In facing adversity and staring directly at the threats to our rights, we gather in protest and celebration. In doing so, we knock on the door of justice and fight for our freedom,” added deHarte.

Pride Week, presented by the City of Palm Springs, is the largest annual event in Palm Springs. It’s also the largest gathering of LGBTQ people in the Coachella Valley. In 2021, Pride Week attracted over 160,000 attendees and generated a significant $30 million economic impact for area hotels, shops, restaurants, and other local businesses. Favorite bars and local businesses will be packed and spilling out onto the streets for the biggest LGBTQ street party in Palm Springs.

A Festival highlight is the Electric Revolution Live (ERL), showcasing an inclusive future of mobility, sustainability, and green energy.

PALM SPRINGS PRIDE 2022 RON deHARTE

BY TOM JIMENEZ

Connecting the LGBTQ+ communities with smart and sustainable mobility options, ERL brings a full range of electric vehicles to Palm Springs Pride, from scooters and bikes to cars and trucks, as well as exciting demonstrations and fun races on the streets near Palm Canyon Drive. Electric Revolution Live is presented in partnership with The Motor/Cycle Arts Foundation, Dash Radio, and Palm Springs Pride. Plus, Dash’s Metaverse Studio, DXSH, is creating a parallel virtual Pride experience for fans worldwide, a music and motorsports virtual experience simultaneous with real-life Pride events for the first time.

The Arenas District remains the Gateway to Pride and the pedestrian-only social center of LGBTQ-friendly bars, restaurants, and shopping. The Recovery Oasis, a place for sobriety fun, and the DAP Health Wellness Pavilion are new to the festival. Another new featured location is the QueerWorks TransPower Lounge, a unique space that will provide a safe and affirming environment within the festival for transgender, non-binary, and intersex individuals.

Festival features include a Youth Zone presented by US Bank, Children’s Garden presented by Nissan, The Art of Pride presented by Eisenhower Health, 200 back-to-back exhibitors, community groups, and food and beverage stations. There’s something for everyone in Palm Springs.

THE 2022 PALM SPRINGS PRIDE FESTIVAL POSTER

Palm Springs resident Richard Vaughn, Advertising Art Director, Palm Springs Life Magazine, created this year’s Palm Springs Pride Poster. “For the 2022 Greater Palm Springs Pride poster, I was inspired by Robert Indiana’s iconic “Love” image, which stacks the L and O atop the V and E to create a graphic emphasizing the message “love.” Similarly, this year’s Pride theme, “SAY GAY,” packs a powerful and political message for the LGBTQ+ community.”

Richard added, “When I visualized the theme, I saw bold letters overlapping, creating positive and negative shapes, which allowed me to use Gilbert Baker’s original 1978 Pride flag colors. I added a dialog bubble tail to express the power of speech. I love the unabashed way the poster conveys its message.”

“We shared the theme Say Gay with Richard, seeking a bold design to elevate the importance of two words. Simple but serious words intended to set the mood for Pride in Palm Springs” said Ron deHarte, president and CEO of Palm Springs Pride. “We had a good feeling that Richard would create a great design because he designed the popular cover of the 2021 Palm Springs Pride Magazine.”

ABOUT GREATER PALM SPRINGS PRIDE

Greater Palm Springs Pride (www.pspride.org) is a nonprofit community enhancement organization founded to promote public education and awareness of individual rights and civil liberties of the LGBTQ community and to promote the history, diversity, and future prosperity of the Greater Palm Springs LGBTQ community. Palm Springs Pride has been a tireless advocate for equality and diversity since the first Coachella Valley Pride event in 1986.

The 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization brings together the skills, talents, and vision of our diverse community through its programs which include the Harvey Milk Diversity Breakfast, Pride Honors Awards, the Cesar Chavez Breakfast, the Pride Parade, Pride Festival, and the downtown Arenas Rd. Block Party.

For more information about Greater Palm Springs Pride, visit www.pspride.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ palmsprings.pride. With the support of the City of Palm Springs, the 2022 Palm Springs Pride Week is scheduled for November 4-6, 2022.

For more information about Greater Palm Springs Pride, visit www.pspride.org. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ palmsprings.pride.

A PRIDE FESTIVAL LIKE NO OTHER

Todrick Hall, Pussy Riot, Tanzer, Polartropica, Jake Zyrus, and Ballet Folklorico Proyecto Trans Latina top the 36th annual Greater Palm Springs Pride Festival lineup. The Festival, a highlight of Pride Week, will celebrate and embrace the region’s diverse LGBTQ+ community from November 1-6 in downtown Palm Springs.

Todrick Hall, the fiercely independent pop cultural phenomenon, headlines the Festival on Saturday, Nov. 5, and sets the stage for an unprecedented and diverse group of LGBTQ+ performers in the Palm Springs Pride lineup. Conceptual artist and activist Nadya Tolokonnikova, the founding member of Pussy Riot, a global feminist protest art movement, will be the headliner Sunday, Nov. 6. Pussy Riot stands for gender fluidity, inclusivity, matriarchy, love, laughter, decentralization, anarchy, and anti-authoritarianism. Nadya, the lead member, was sentenced in 2012 to two years imprisonment following an anti-President Vladimir Putin performance. Direct from Australia, singer, DJ, artist, and proud queer community member Tanzer performs Saturday, Nov. 5. Tanzer is known for her cinematic, high-glamour, escapist works that are intensely powerful and darkly humorous.

The Truly Vodka Main Stage opens Friday night, Nov. 4, with Dash Radio’s Tropical Oasis featuring the LGBTQ+ community’s

best-emerging talent. The Tropical Oasis features Los Angelesbased galactic dream pop artist Polartropica recently crowned LA Weekly’s Best Indie Pop Band. With songs described as a gumbo of soul, funk, pop, and camp, Tolliver joins the lineup that includes Lucy and La Mer with their message of self-acceptance and positivity. The West Hollywood-based electronic rock/pop band with a grungy edge, Glass Battles, and an appearance by Sassy Ross and host Bella da Ball complete the Friday lineup.

Other highlighted acts include Filipino pop star and transgender icon Jake Zyrus, BETTY, the award-winning indie rock trio, and Ballet Folklorico Proyecto Trans Latina, a group of six Trans-identified women showcasing their highly choreographed and colorful traditional Mexican Folklorico. The new Oscar’s Pride stage on Tahquitz Canyon Way will feature Keith George - The Boy George Experience, performances by Mimosa Men, Bitchiest Brunch, and others.

POLARTROPICA

BETTY

PUSSY RIOT

TODRICK HALL

KEITH GEORGE / THE BOY GEORGE EXPERIENCE

JAKE ZYRUS

ARTISTS IN THE 2022 LINEUP INCLUDE:

One More Time: A Tribute to Daft Punk WANNABE: Tribute to Spice Girls

The Robyn Party is the original and longest-running tribute dance party to the Swedish pop icon, Robyn.

Joy Dorris.

Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus

Steven Michael’s Dance Machine

Z LaLa, a pop singer and a Palm Springs Pride favorite, is known for her ability to sing in 21 languages

Aura Van Dank

Sheena Wolfe

Weekend host Bella da Ball

DJs in the weekend lineup include Femme A, Ray Rhodes, Modgirl, Mr. D, Aaron C, Vaughn Avakian, Millennium, Galaxy, Eric Ornelas, Zareen, and DJ Waide.

The festival’s return to Palm Canyon Dr, the new Oscars Pride stage on Tahquitz, and the Truly Vodka stage on Palm Canyon in front of the Hyatt Palm Springs. LGBTQ+ artists featured throughout the weekend. 200 back-to-back non-profit organizations and exhibitor booths. The festival includes plenty of outdoor food and beverage booths.

BALLET FOLKLORICO PROYECTO TRANS LATINA

Z LALA

THE ROBYN PARTY

PS GAY MENS CHORUS

WANNABE

DJ MR D, DJ WAIDE, FEMME A, DJ VAUGHN AVAKIAN, DJ ZAREEN, DJ MODGIRL, DJ AARONC, DJ GALAXY, DJ MILLENNIUM & RAY RHODES

STEVEN MICHAEL’S DANCE MACHINE

COVER GRAND MARSHALS TO “SAY GAY” AND LEAD THE PALM SPRINGS PRIDE PARADE

Greater Palm Springs Pride announced today that four individuals and one national organization would serve as the Grand Marshals for the annual Pride parade scheduled for November 6 in Palm Springs. Recognizing their achievements and community service, PFLAG is the National Grand Marshal, Rev Benita Ramsey is the Grand Marshal, Willie Rhine is the Community Grand Marshal, and Chef Andre Carthen is the Celebrity Grand Marshal of the 2022 Greater Palm Springs Pride Parade. The theme of the 2022 Festival and Parade is Say, Gay.

PFLAG is the first and largest organization dedicated to supporting, educating, and advocating for LGBTQ+ people and their families. Leading up to the 50th Anniversary of their first meeting organized

by its founder Jeanne Manford, PFLAG is celebrated as the National Grand Marshal. PFLAG’s network of hundreds of chapters and more than 325,000 members and supporters works to create a caring, just and affirming world for LGBTQ+ people and those who love them.

The 2022 Grand Marshal is Rev Benita Ramsey (they/them/ she). A gifted Spoken Word Artist and wordsmith, Benita is a thirdgeneration Pentecostal-style storyteller and preacher. Rev Ramsey is a justice and culture strategist and practitioner, a spiritual director, and a lover of books, words, rhythms & beats. They are an ordained minister and Pastor at Unity Fellowship Church-IE. They serve as a program support manager for the Inland Empire HIV Planning Council and executive director of Rainbow Pride Youth Alliance.

REV BENITA RAMSEY

COVER

Willie Rhine (he/him/his), a 30-year resident of Palm Springs who is actively involved in the community and always says yes when asked to help, is celebrated as the Community Grand Marshal. Two of Rhine’s favorite words are “Be Nice.” Willie discovered the joy of being nice and giving back in the early 90s when he volunteered his time and donated his construction skills working hands-on with HIV patients at the Special Care Unit at Desert Regional Medical Center. Rhine is the co-owner of two successful eateries in Palm Springs, EIGHT4NINE Restaurant and Lounge and 1501 Uptown Gastro Pub. EIGHT4NINE Restaurant and Lounge has helped raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for charities large and small.

Chef Andre Carthen (he/him/his) is recognized as the Celebrity Grand Marshal. From working with Vanessa Williams on Broadway to television & movies with Halle Berry and now in the kitchen, Chef Andre’ Carthen, a.k.a. the Fit Chef, is featured in Kathy Ireland’s book “Real Solutions for Busy Moms: Your Guide to Success and Sanity,” and Janet Jackson’s book, NY Times #1 Best Seller “True You” where he contributed over 30 recipes for a healthy meal plan. Chef Andre

is the only African American appointed to the Nutrisystem Success Chef’s Council. Chef Andre has proudly worked with Kathy Ireland, a leading force for diversity, equal rights for all, and continuing the fight against HIV AIDS for over 30 years. He was recently the guest chef for St. John’s Hospital’s Gala “Beyond the Stars” at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

“The Grand Marshals stand out in their professions and are among the valley’s most active advocates for equality, diversity, and living their life lifting others,” said Ron deHarte, president and CEO of Greater Palm Springs Pride. Bestowing the Grand Marshal designation recognizes the recipient’s collective work of spreading messages of unity and equality while embracing love, positivity, joy, and kindness.

The marshals will ride in the Pride Parade on November 6. The parade steps off at 10 am at Palm Canyon Dr. and Tachevah and proceeds downtown on Palm Canyon Dr. to the main entrance of the Pride Festival at Amado. The festival is free for all to attend.

WILLIE RHINE

CHEF ANDRE CARTHEN

2022 PALM SPRINGS PRIDE HONORS AWARDS RECOGNIZING COMMUNITY MEMBERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE

The prestigious awards honor individuals for their work advancing the causes of LGBTQ individuals and their allies. Five awards celebrate extraordinary voices in the community. The recipients include a Trans Advocate, a community organizer, a reproductive health advocate, an Air Force veteran and community leader, someone who has devoted three decades to improving the lives of women and the LGBTQ+ community, and someone with thirty years of service advocating for health care for people living with HIV.

The awards announcement marks the approach of Pride Week in the region under the theme “Say Gay.”

David “Jax” Kelly, who celebrates life as a gay, black man living with HIV, is the Spirit of Stonewall Volunteer of the Year. He leads Let’s Kick ASS Palm Springs (AIDS Survivor Syndrome), serving one of the largest communities of people who are aging and those aging with HIV. Jax was the first black resident appointed by the City Council to the Palm Springs Library Board of Trustees. His volunteerism includes serving on Governor Newsom’s Equity in Aging Advisory Council and the CA Department of Aging. He is also a member of the Coachella Valley Senior Collaborative. Jax was Mr. Palm Springs Leather 2018, and POZ Magazine recognized him for outstanding work in the HIV/ AIDS Community.

The Spirit of Stonewall Community Service Award recipient Maria Fraser’s history of compassion and action speaks volumes about her dedication to improving the lives of women and the LGBTQ+ community. In nursing for most of her adult life, she mainly focused on women’s health while finding ways to facilitate significant changes for the LGBTQ+ Community. Her hospital workplace advocacy led to substantial changes allowing same-sex couples the same access to visitation of a newborn in the NICU as straight couples had. Maria was on the Board of the L-Fund for seven years providing emergency financial support and educational assistance to lesbians in crisis.

COVER

Nino Eilets is the Spirit of Pride Award recipient. Nino served in the Air Force for twelve years and has been a resident of Palm Springs since 1996. He is a generous, gentle soul with a big heart who has helped elevate many community organizations by donating his platform for outreach and education through advertising and editorial coverage. His life has brought him a wealth of experience and passion that he uses to raise awareness of advancing equality, promote diversity, and celebrate the strength and talent of the LGBTQ+ community.

The 2022 Friend of Pride is Karen Borja, an ally and champion for the LGBTQ community, a community organizer, and a fierce advocate for reproductive and healthcare access for everyone. Growing up in Coachella, at 16 years old, she joined family and community members to create a park network that demonstrated an investment in people and place. She’s been transforming needs into community power ever since. Karen helped organize the second Eastern Coachella Valley Pride and currently serves as the president of the Desert Healthcare District.

The Spirit of Stonewall Advocate of the Year Award recognizes an individual working to make a difference in the community through advocacy or service. This year’s recipient, Antonia “Toni” D’orsay, has worked to improve the lives and wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse, queer, questioning, and BIPOC people for over 20 years. She serves on the HARP-PS advisory board, is a member of the TransHealth Northampton Research Advisory Board and administrators and moderates the International Transgender Health Facebook group. Additionally, she founded the Trans 100 and has worked in local, state, national, and international efforts around Latinx, Black, Native, and LGBTQ+ rights.

The Spirit of Stonewall Advocate of the Year Award recognizes an individual working to make a difference in the community through advocacy or service. This year’s recipient, Antonia “Toni” D’orsay, has worked to improve the lives and wellbeing of lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, gender diverse, queer, questioning, and BIPOC people for over 20 years. She serves on the HARP-PS advisory board, is a member of the TransHealth Northampton Research Advisory Board and administrators and moderates the International Transgender Health Facebook group. Additionally, she founded the Trans 100 and has worked in local, state, national, and international efforts around Latinx, Black, Native, and LGBTQ+ rights.

We’re proud to be honored in 15 categories.

caring for patients is an

in

want to thank our exceptional care teams for your hard work, dedication and compassion which, once again, have earned Eisenhower Health recognition from U.S. News & World Report. In addition to being named a Best Regional Hospital, we were recognized for high quality care in the following categories:

Aortic Valve Surgery

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Colon Cancer Surgery

Diabetes

Heart Attack

Heart Bypass Surgery

Heart Failure

Fracture

Replacement

Failure

Knee Replacement

Lung Cancer Surgery

Pneumonia

Spinal Fusion

Stroke

look forward to another year of caring for the Coachella Valley and to adding new treatments and services to enhance your care and comfort. Our gratitude goes out to the many community members who choose Eisenhower to help them get well and stay well. Thank you, one and all — you are the inspiration for what we do.

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Shop. Donate. Care. Support the community you want to create. Every purchase funds comprehensive care at DAP Health.

BOOK REVIEW

ALWAYS OVERBOOKED

BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER

The sign above your head shows what’s going on inside it.

Last night, you made the sign with a slogan, firm words, a poke to authority – and now you carry it high, yelling, marching, demanding that someone pay attention. Now. Urgently. As in the new book, “Boy with the Bullhorn” by Ron Goldberg, change is a-coming.

He’d never done anything like it before.

But how could he not get involved? Ron Goldberg had read something about ACT UP, the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power, and he heard they were holding a rally near his workplace. It was 1987, he’d never participated in anything like that before, but whispers were everywhere. He and his friends were “living under a pervasive cloud of dread.”

He “was twenty-eight years old... scared, angry, and more than a little freaked out” about AIDS, he says.

Couldn’t he at least go down and hold a sign?

That first rally led Goldberg to attend a meeting which, like most, as he came to realize, were raucous and loud and “electric.” Because he was “living fully ‘out and proud’,” and because he realized that this was an issue “worth fighting for,” he became even more involved with ACT UP by attending larger rallies and helping with organizing and getting his fellow activists fired up. He observed as women became involved in ACT UP, too. Monday night meetings became, for Goldberg, “the most exciting place in town.”

There, he learned how politics mixed with activism, and why ACT UP tangled with the Reagan administration’s leaders. He puffed with more than just a little ownership, as other branches of ACT UP began spreading around the country. He learned from ACT UP’s founding members and he “discovered hidden talents” of his own by helping.

On his years in ACT UP, Goldberg says, “There was hard work, grief, and anger, surely, but there was also great joy.” He was “a witness.

And so, I began to write.”

Let’s be honest: “Boy with the Bullhorn” is basically a history book, with a little memoir inside. Accent on the former, not so much on the latter.

Author Ron Goldberg says in his preface that Larry Kramer, who was one of ACT UP’s earliest leaders encouraged him to pull together a timeline for the organization and this book is the endresult of the task. It’s very detailed, in sequential order and, as one reads on, it’s quite repetitive, differing basically in location. It’s not exactly a curl-up-by-the-fire read.

Readers, however – and especially older ones who remember the AIDS crisis – won’t be able to stop scanning for Goldberg’s memories

and tales of being a young man at a time when life was cautiously care-free. The memories – which also act as somewhat of a gutwrenching collection of death-notices – are sweet, but also bittersweet.

This book is nowhere near a vacation kinda book but it you’ve got patience, it’s worth looking twice. Take your time and you’ll get a lot from “Boy with the Bullhorn.” Rush, and it might just go over your head.

“Boy with the Bullhorn: A Memoir and History of ACT UP New York” by Ron Goldberg

c.2022, Empire State Editions / Fordham University Press $36.95 512 pages

FEATURE CAUGHT IN THE ACT COURTNEY ACT SPILLS DELICIOUS TEA IN NEW MEMOIR

BY MIKE BAHR

COURTNEY CREDIT JOSEPH SINCLAIR

Behind Courtney Act’s rise to global fame is a story of searching for and finding oneself. Her new memoir, Caught in the Act, is a hilarious, often scandalous, and at times heartbreaking, peek into her journey towards understanding gender, sexuality and identity.

Courtney writes about growing up in the 80s and 90s and how her adolescent angst was pitted against the love of her traditionally wholesome parents. She shares tales of the thrill in discovering drag and digs into the seedier side of her adventures including dabbling in meth and engaging in multiple sexual encounters with a broad spectrum of sexualities and genders.

There’s lots of Drag Race tea spilled, too; like her shaky introduction to Adore Delano and oh, the time RuPaul blocked her on Twitter. We caught up with Courtney from her home in Sydney, Australia.

It is often said that writing a memoir is therapy for the author. How true is that?

Courtney Act: Oh yes, writing Caught in the Act was the deepest childhood regression therapy ever! For over a year, I sat

immersed in remembering and writing about the most informative events of my life. It was incredibly cathartic. Reflecting on old memories helped to bring a better understanding of many of the incidents… but with an adult perspective.

Like when you recount the handsome, blond high school senior boy that stopped the kids from bullying you?

I didn’t realize the impact that moment had on my life until writing the book! His standing up for me in my time of need was often a memory that circled around in my brain but only popped up occasionally. I’m surprised he made it into the book, honestly, but it proves how impactful that young boy’s act of kindness was to me.

What did you learn about yourself from writing Caught in the Act?

When I was younger, I was intoxicated by the idea of fame and notoriety. It filled a void for my insecurity and shame and my unexamined feelings of gender, sexuality, and identity. As I have matured, I have turned more outward and have begun to focus on how I can be of service to the world and improve the lives of others.

COURTNEY CREDIT JOSEPH SINCLAIR

FEATURE

I want to be that handsome blonde high school senior that stood up for young me. I have come to learn that empathy does not come from understanding someone else’s story and experience. It comes from not being able to understand but still believing what someone tells you. Real allyship is caring for people outside of your bubble.

It’s incredible that a young kid was able to make such an impact on someone’s life.

And that he understood something that it took me thirty years to learn.

Some never learn.

Some never will, sadly. I had a similar journey with understanding my own gender, sexuality, and identity. Initially, the labels I adopted helped me to find a place that felt most right for me. However, those labels began to feel limiting. I came to understand that labels can’t describe every human experience. Whichever way my gender, sexuality and identity express itself at a particular time is me at that moment, and it’s correct.

Has being a celebrity helped or made the process more difficult?

Being in the public eye is not something I would wish on anyone unless they have a dream of being something bigger than themselves. Like, as Courtney Act, I want a band and sequenced costumes and dancers… and all that cost a lot of money! You need a big auditorium filled with people to pay for that shit. So, the loss of anonymity is worth it for me. But whenever I see someone going on one of the reality shows with no purpose except to be famous, I always want to tell them ‘don’t do it! It’s not worth it!’ There are better ways than fame to find happiness and contentment. Invest in friends and family and find real purpose.

What have you gained from reality TV fame?

I have a lot to be thankful for. My friendships with Bianca, Adore and Darienee on Drag Race. I love them. Also, winning Celebrity Big Brother was so epic and life changing.

The Drag Race phenomenon has really exploded over the years. Has it gotten to be too much?

The Drag Race universe has expanded beyond anyone’s wildest expectations. It can be hard to keep up with these days! But truthfully, I hope it gets even bigger! I still love watching the shows though I tend to focus on the OG series, All Stars and of course Downunder.

What are you most nervous about people discovering in Caught in the Act?

I don’t know if I am nervous, but I’m interested to see what the fans do with all the behind the scenes Drag Race stories.

Has RuPaul unblocked you yet?

Yes, RuPaul has unblocked me.

Is it true that you battled your own identity crisis?

At one time, I was quite competitive with “Courtney Act”. The struggle to understand who I am beyond the status quo has been one of the greatest gifts of my life.

What do you hope fans take away from reading your book?

I hope they feel inspired to radically express themselves.

Do you have advice for anyone considering a career in drag?

Do drag because you have a passion for it, because it’s art, and because you crave a new creative expression. And have fun with it.

What is the worst part of doing drag?

The physical pain of it all. As I grow older, I’m working hard to mitigate the corsetry and prolonged heel wearing.

What is the best part of drag?

Taking drag off is one of the best parts of getting into drag. But that’s not a real answer. The real answer would be having a platform to change people’s minds.

What is your favorite song to perform drag to?

“I Touch Myself” by the Divinyls.

Which celebrity would you most like to slide into your DMs?

Lil Nas X.

Caught In The Act: A Memoir By Shane Jenek AKA Courtney Act is available now, wherever books are sold, through Pantera Press.

SHANE JENEK BY MAGNUS HASTINGS

walk, out loud

INDESIGN

BROWN IS THE NEW GREY

BY DANN FOLEY

Finally! The shift is happening. I don’t just mean that Fall has arrived (which is an exciting change, in itself), I am referring to the change in palette now sweeping the industry. Today is all about every color, shade and tone of brown! From rich dark cocoa, to golden caramel, to woody warm taupe. This fall/winter in home and fashion, it is all about brown as the perfect accent or palette.

As a designer myself, I have been pushing my clients away from all gray homes and rooms for several years now. I have always felt that a home should reflect its owners and an all-gray room just doesn’t do it. After years of gray, gray and more, gray we are finally seeing a shift in retail offerings beyond gray.

So here is the thing, I am not opposed to all neutral rooms, I love them as much as the next guy. In fact, I have executed many over my almost 40 years of designing private residences and commercial projects. Neutral rooms are actually harder to pull-off because they require a very skilled hand and eye, to assure the room isn’t lifeless and void of personality when you rely neutrals to tell your story.

The thing about change is, you cannot avoid it and styles do change. Some we applaud as they go, others we lament. I want

you all to be excited about this change! I want you to realize that neutrals don’t have to be lifeless or cold. In terms of gray, as with anything, if it sticks around too long, it becomes tired.

Gray has always suggested “nothingness” it is the lack of color. The trick to any color is to get the shade right. I still live with fantastically chic deep charcoal gray walls in my study, at home. I love it and have no intention of changing it anytime soon. Having said that, it is the mix of everything, the relationships between all the pieces that creates that personal picture of any room.

Sounds like I might be backpedaling, right? Not at all! When a product, in this case gray as a color, becomes completely homogenized in our retail world, it gets boiled down to its least common denominator, its least offensive and innocuous state. In other words, it has had its life sucked out. What we have been left with is a pale, cool gray that is lifeless, says nothing and reflects badly against the skin.

Here is the terrific news, brown (and every shade it offers) is still a neutral and will work with most gray tones. I am not suggesting you need to repaint your entire house. What I am suggesting is to

take a good look at your choices and the quantity and shades of gray in your home. The trick is to know how and when to blend these warmer neutrals in with your existing grays for maximum impact and personal expression. So, how do you use these new browns? How do you keep those new shades from being lifeless? Well, I have some tried and true advice for you. These are easy how-to ideas you can implement when considering your own home.

• Here is the easiest thing to remember about brown. It is what we refer to as a forever color. That means that it is never really out of style, it is a constant. So, even though you are going to be hearing a great deal about brown as the “new trend” in home décor, don’t be scared because it is timeless.

• If you follow color psychology, you will find that brown leaves you feeling calm and secure. That is exactly what we all are trying to achieve in our homes.

• Brown can make any room cozier and more intimate. Two words made for your home!

• The folks who are in the know about such things also remind us that brown is at the center of the New Minimalism. All too often, minimalism has been defined as boiling down your space to its most simplistic form. All shades of white and gray can be too stark.

• The pandemic made all us crazy for our homes, and why not since we were all trapped. What we find now that people are back out is that their homes are still more important than ever and we still love neutrals, those neutrals are now based in the earth and its warmth.

How do you apply brown without dumping all your gray. Well, I have some tips for you on how to incorporate the new “it” color, as well. There is no reason to eliminate all your gray. Depending on your shade gray, you can enliven and update the look with a few creative strokes.

• Cooler grays, the kind I see most often in home décor offerings can be very chilly. It is time to warm up! Begin with mixing in multiple shades of brown from dark to light in things like throw pillows or bedding. What you will find is that your gray can actually appear to change as it reflects your browns.

• If you have painted your entire room gray and don’t want to face that project again, try just painting your accent wall, or even better, try some pattern on those walls. The number of choices is innumerable and there are plenty of patterns that include both browns and gray in the palette.

• One of my favorite ways of changing the entire look and feel of a room without redecorating is to change out the window treatments. Rich jewel tones in brown in curtain panels can create instant drama.

• For those vintage lovers out there, especially our midcentury enthusiasts in Palm Springs, brown is a return to the very best of the 70’s decorating. It is now and it is vintage. Everything old is new again.

As always, I want you to feel empowered by your decorating. I want you to love your home. I want you to enjoy the process of creating something purely personal. These suggestions are not about telling you that you somehow got it wrong. It is just one more exercise in making sure that you got it right, for you! Truly, who else matters.

Live Well!

Dann

DAP UPDATE

DAP HEALTH GETS READY TO WALK, OUT LOUD

BY ELLEN BLUESTEIN

On Saturday, October 29, 2022, DAP Health will host its annual Desert AIDS Walk. For 35 consecutive years, the walk has raised critical funds for HIV/AIDS programs and services in the valley while celebrating survivors and remembering those who lost their lives to the disease. Goals for this year’s walk include walking to help end the HIV and AIDS epidemics in the Coachella Valley and to promote health equity and health justice.

The theme of this year’s walk is Walk, Out Loud, because DAP Health has been watching the current socio-political climate in the nation and has seen challenges like this before. “We’re using our voices and our feet to advocate for members of our community who don’t have access to the healthcare they need and deserve,” said DAP Health Director of Brand Marketing, Steven Henke. “Together, we are going to help connect more people to wellness. DAP has always been an advocacy-based health care organization and this year, we are inviting community members who believe in health equity to lace up their walking shoes, join arms with their neighbors and be advocates for change”

The Palm Springs AIDS Walk began in 1987, two years after the world’s first AIDS Walk was held in Los Angeles. Thousands of people were on hand to raise awareness and funds for the deadly disease. Local activists Dr. David Kaminsky and his wife Jan chaired the event. The late actor Kirk Douglas, a prominent valley resident, was a featured speaker who encouraged participants at the start of the walk by telling them, “Let’s walk, run, do whatever we can to eradicate AIDS.” Former President Gerald Ford and former first lady Betty Ford joined the post-event picnic. Mrs. Ford attended the event again in 1995. The late Sonny Bono, then Palm Springs mayor, took part in the walk in the early 90s.

The walk has a loyal following. Between 1,200–1,500 people participate each year. One of those walkers, DAP Health Board Chair Patrick Jordan, has been involved since 2007. Over the years, he and his team, Palm Springs Properties, have raised millions of dollars for the organization. For Jordan, it is a labor of love. “It’s one of my favorite events that we do every year for a number of reasons,” he said. “Number one being its very community-focused. It

is not community specific, so it is not just for people living with HIV and AIDS. It is everybody. And that is what I love. It is kids, dogs, and families and Black, White, purple, and everything else. It really involves the entire community and I love that spirit.”

Even the recent COVID-19 pandemic could not deter DAP Health from holding its walk, albeit virtually. “We were able to pivot, and we did a virtual walk,” said DAP Health Director of Development, James Lindquist. “We invited people to either walk in their neighborhoods or go to their health centers or gyms... We provided six to eight maps [of 10K routes] that were throughout the Coachella Valley. We also provided the map that we normally do. People posted about where they were walking and what they were doing that day. It was great. It was a nice way to still be connected, even though we could not be together. It was still a staggering amount of money that was raised and people that still wanted to support DAP Health, especially during COVID.”

As medical advances have been made and more effective treatments found, the focus of the walk has shifted slightly. The first one was aimed at keeping teens free of HIV. Most patients in 1987 were in their 20s and, since HIV can incubate for years, were exposed as teens. Subsequent walks continued to raise awareness and funds to further research and drug development but in recent years, with the ability to successfully manage HIV and AIDS, looking to the future where a specific walk for HIV/AIDS is no longer necessary is a real possibility. “I would love the day when we don’t have to have a walk,” said Lindquist. “My goal is that this walk will change to something that is more along the lines of health equity rather than just a focus on HIV.”

“The walk will always continue until there’s a cure,” said Jordan. “I would like to get to that point where we say we are not walking. We get closer and closer every year, but until there is, I will continue.”

Register to walk or donate in support of this year’s Desert AIDS Walk by visiting www.desertaidswalk.org

PERSPECTIVE OPERATION: OCCUPY GAY BARS! (PART 2)

BY JILL LANGHAM

Together we are strong!

It will take some planning and we will need to be in touch on FB, WhatsApp, Telegraph or one of the social platforms to make sure we have all the bases covered and are organized. Think shift work and imagine this scenario:

It’s Friday night and a group of us who signed up for the early shift, head to HUNTERS/Chill together. We arrive between 5:00pm to 5:30pm to start dancing and drinking. Think FLASH MOB. After we work up an appetite, we order some of the delicious food that our bars offer. Then after eating, we’d get another round of drinks and again keep dancing. Second shift would be between 8:00pm to 8:30pm allowing those who still insist that they are old, or who have to work in the morning, to go home, allowing the newcomers to take their place on the dance floor after they’ve eaten. The late night or third shift people, could arrive between 10pm to 10:30pm. They could get their food and drinks and then hit the dance floor to kick up their heels and dance the night away! And finally, us Night Owls would come out close to midnight for the Night Shift, where we’d close the place down. I like to finish what I start!

Do you remember White Party circa 2000-2014, when Arenas was 100% filled with Gay Men for four-solid afternoons and nights as we had after hours back in those days, at HEAVEN/OASIS/ CONFESSION? (Hmm, a Gay town with Afterhours, Novel idea) The town’s GAY VIBE was so strong that it called me here from Santa Fe, N.M., and I personally want back what wasn’t broken!

My last plea is this. Where is the Gay Culture headed? Do you still consider yourself a culture or do you want to blend in and be forgotten? I can’t quite figure you out right now and I am afraid if we don’t plant our flag deeper and harder (couldn’t resist!) we are going to be lost forever and that, will just about kill me!

Now is the time to cleverly STRIKE back, make your point, stand your ground, and take back what is yours. Do I hear an A-MEN?

This is my Manifesto and for those of you old enough to remember MISSION IMPOSSIBLE, Get Smart & The Man from U.N.C.L.E., you’ll have no problem understanding these next few lines.

MODERNISM WEEK UPDATE>>

BY BOB BOGARD

October VIP Weekend at Azure Sky Hotel Will Be Hosted by Beloved Humorist Charles Phoenix. Retro pop culture icon will host cocktail parties, dinner and more at boutique hotel. Twenty-six fortunate modernists attending Modernism Week – October will now have the chance to experience the festival with retro pop culture expert and performer, Charles Phoenix who will be the event’s official host at the Azure Sky Hotel. The historic hotel has created special packages for Modernism Week attendees to not only enjoy the thirteen exceptionally appointed suites, junior suites, and studios, but also participate in a curated list of featured Modernism Week events. This is the first time Modernism Week has teamed up with a partner hotel to offer this kind of experience.

“We are very excited to offer this special VIP package to a limited number of Modernism Week – October guests,” said Lisa Vossler Smith, CEO of Modernism Week. “Azure Sky Hotel has offered very compelling packages that include access to exclusive Modernism Week events. We are delighted that Charles Phoenix, the beloved Ambassador of Americana, will be the official host for this VIP group.”

Pricing for these packages starts at $1,190.00 per person. All

VIP packages are for double occupancy, two guests maximum. There is limited availability for single occupancy.

Specific events and experiences for the VIP participants include (dollar values are for double occupancy):

1) Center main seats (near the stage) for a performance on Thursday, October 13, 7 PM by song stylist Lynda Kay at the world-class jazz club, Jazzville. Kay will perform with her full band and will charm the audience with her voice of pure gold, bouffant hair, elegant vintage style, and vast repertoire of classic songs from the early 1960s (a $160 value).

2) Meet and greet wine reception on Friday, October 14 at 5:30 PM poolside with Charles Phoenix.

3) Tickets to STARSTRUCK at PS Underground on Friday, October 14 at 7 PM. This one-of-a-kind musical dinner event pays tribute to the glamorous, star-studded history of Palm Springs and features a four-course gourmet menu that includes free flowing cocktails (a $330 value).

4) A two-hour private, professionally guided mini-coach tour exclusively for the hotel guests through the city’s most beautiful historic neighborhoods (a $260 value).

5) A chance to be some of the first guests to tour and party at the House of Tomorrow, the newly renovated Alexander Estate (also known as the Elvis Honeymoon House). Includes round trip transportation (a $325 value).

6) Entrance to the Palm Springs Modernism Fall Show on Saturday or Sunday (a $50 value).

7) A chance to tour Hi-Sun, the latest Modernism Week Featured Home located in the Las Palmas neighborhood’s elegant Summit Estates (a $70 value).

8) Special gifts from Modernism Week in each room.

About Azure Sky Hotel

Azure Sky Hotel, constructed 1959 in the desert modern style, was recently transformed into a design lover’s midcentury oasis after two years of extensive luxury renovations. This exclusive hotel, which only accepts guests 21 and older, is just south of downtown and within walking distance of some of the best restaurants and retro bars in town. The thirteen exceptionally appointed suites, junior suites, and studios feature luxurious beds, gorgeous, tiled spa-like bathrooms, and custom woodwork throughout. All kitchenettes are fully stocked. Outside, an expansive terrace surrounds an impressive 4,500 square foot pool and a large jacuzzi. A meadow courtyard provides an ideal spot to watch the sun set behind the San Jacinto

Mountains, while two fire pits provide gathering places and lend ambiance to cozy evenings.

Guests will receive daily continental breakfast and coffee in the ‘living room’ lobby, bottles of water, loaned bicycles, high speed internet, in-room coffee by Steeped, parking, stocked minibar, inroom gifts, and will be greeted daily by an on-site MW Hospitality coordinator. All rooms are non-smoking. With just a 26-guest capacity at the hotel, the expansive grounds, huge pool, and multiple places to lounge on the property give guests the feeling of staying at a friend’s very exclusive Palm Springs residence.

For details, please email info@modernismweek.com. Check-in time is 4:00 PM on Thursday, October 13, 2022. Check-out time is 12:00 PM on Sunday, October 16, 2022. The hotel is exclusively for Modernism Week guests.

Modernism Week’s signature 11-day festival will take place February 17-27, 2023. Tickets will be available starting November 1 at 12 p.m. PST and may be viewed online starting October 25. To receive updates, visit modernismweek.com to receive the free M-Weekly e-magazine and follow them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

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HALLOWEEN PALM SPRINGS RETURNS TO ARENAS ROAD

BY LAUREN WOLFER

The much-anticipated Halloween Palm Springs will be returning to Arenas Road in Palm Springs Sunday, October 30 from 4:0010:00p.m. This year’s line-up will include star of “RuPaul’s Queen of the Universe” and Finalist from ABC’s American Idol five octave singer Ada Vox and highly accomplished Latin vocalist and dancer for Britney Spears, Christina Aguilar and Katy Perry, the sensational Willie Gomez.

To round out this incredible line-up are American Idol alumni, finalists David Hernandez (Naked Men Signing), Mikalah Gordon (Host on Channel Q’s “Morning Beat”), avant-garde band Jesika Von Rabbit, Probe 7 and audience favorite, the hi-energy female fueled Pulp Vixen along with an incredible list of DJs: DJ Galaxy, DJ Lisa Pittman, DJ Mod Girl, and DJ Jeffree spinning all night on the main stage and in our mobile Channel Q van.

The ever-so-popular Halloween Palm Springs Effen Vodka VIP Lounge is back and better than ever, with hosted bar including: Effen Vodka, Stella Artois, Michelob Ultra, Nutrl Hard Seltzer, Jagermeister and more with a dedicated port-a-pottie (don’t laugh, you will thank us) and in/out privileges. Tickets are only $75.00 and available online at www.HalloweenPalmSprings.com.

A Hocker Productions event, Halloween Palm Springs is FREE with a suggestion donation of $5-10 being accepted at each of the entrances benefiting DAP Health, Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus, Greater Palm Springs Pride and LGBTQ+ Community Center of the Desert.

“Each year, our talent line-up reflects the diversity in the music industry with a focus on female artists who bring their energetic shows to the desert. We continue to support Palm Springs based LGBTQ non-profit organizations as we are passionate about giving back to the community we love,” Jeff Hocker, Executive Producer, Halloween Palm Springs.

Performances also include: The Men of Cybersocket.com, an Andrew Christian Fashion Show, Alexander Rodriguez of “On the Rocks” fame and the effervescent Bella da Ball as Master of Ceremonies.

Registration for the Costume Contest begins at 6:30p.m at the Information booth on Arenas Road and will end promptly at 7:45p.m. Registered participants must be in line with their wristband at the main stage no later than 8:00p.m.

ADA VOX CREDIT JULIÁN P. LEDEZMA

WILLIE GOMEZ

Halloween Palm Springs would not be possible without the stellar support of the Arenas District Merchants: Hunters Night Club, Streetbar, Chill Bar Palm Springs, Black Book, Eagle 501, Quadz, Lulu California Bistro, Johannes, Score, Division Clothing Store, Bear Wear, Gay Mart, Rough Trade, Daddy’s Barbershop, BIKE and Tryst Bar.

Our generous sponsors also include: Effen Vodka, Heimark Distributing (Nutrol, Stella Artois, Michelob Ultra, Budweiser and Bud Light) Channel Q 103.1 FM, Cybersocket.com, Julie Montante’s 420 Bank Dispensary & Lounge, Town Real Estate, Desert Vacation Villas,

Andy Linsky, Bill Hynes, Sara Milmet, Andrew Christian, Monster Energy Drink, Jägermeister, Palm Springs Disposal Service, Bright Event Rental, GED Magazine, Gay Desert Guide and KGAY 106.5 FM, Broadway World, The Standard Magazine, Desert Daily Guide, Hotel Zoso, Margaritaville Palm Springs, Mike Thompson RV Super Stores, Stephen Boyd Creative Design and Mercado Sound and many more.

VIP AREA: Effen Vodka VIP Lounge, Hosted Bar, Meet and Greet with the artists, and in/out privileges all for only $75.

Tickets: www.halloweenpalmsprings.com/vip-tickets

DAVID HERNANDEZ

MIKALAH GORDON

DRAG ME TO GIVING BRUNCH BENEFITING COACHELLA VALLEY VOLUNTEERS IN MEDICINE

“Drag” yourself to this exciting event Sunday, October 16th! Join emcee, Bella da Ball, and a few of her friends for Margaritas, a Mexican taco grill brunch with entertainment by Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles, the first LGBTQ+ mariachis in the world.

Mary Martin-Coor stated, “We are excited to be able to gather again this year and have some fun while raising awareness of all that Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine does within the community. The addition of the Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles makes this an event you don’t want to miss!”

Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles is proud to have the first transgender female, Natalia Melendez, in the history of mariachi as one of its members. Natalia has been featured in a two-part special for Univision news, which depicts her life and struggles as a transgender woman in the mariachi world. As a result of this twopart special, in its short existence, Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles has been invited to perform for 3 different morning news shows on Univision, which includes the “Lanzate” program. During each one of these presentations, the mariachi was highlighted because of its special nature in representing the LGBTQ community.

Mariachi Arcoiris de Los Angeles has also performed for Los Angeles and Long Beach Pride, Transgender Pride at the LGBT Center in Los Angeles, South Bay Pride, Oceanside Pride, The Abbey, Club Tempo, Hamburger Mary’s, #SchoolsNotPrisons tour for the California Endowment, and many other LGBTQ establishments as well as for many same-sex and “traditional” weddings. www.mariachiarcoiris.com

Tickets are available at CVVIM.org or contact Mary Martin-Coor at (760) 675-0737 for more information. No tickets sales available at the door.

IF YOU GO

Who: Coachella Valley Volunteers in Medicine

What: Drag Me to Giving Brunch

When: Sunday – October 16, 2022

Where: 37266 Palm View Road, Rancho Mirage, CA 92270

Time: 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

MUSIC ROCK THE PLAZA: BENEFITING THE HISTORIC PALM SPRINGS PLAZA THEATRE

BY BOB BOGARD

The historic Plaza Theatre in downtown Palm Springs announced that there will be a fundraising concert featuring the Palm Springs All Stars, a stellar line-up of world-class musicians and their rockstar friends. “Rock the Plaza” is a major concert to be performed at the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs. The concert will take place on Friday, November 11 at 8 p.m. Tickets and additional information may be found at savetheplazatheatreps.org.

The Palm Springs All-Stars are headed by local residents Spike Edney (tour musical director and keyboardist for legendary rock band Queen), Brian Ray (lead, rhythm, bass guitarist with Paul McCartney), and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame drummer Matt Sorum (Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver, The Cult). Additional performers scheduled to appear include the “godfather of shock rock” Alice Cooper, Paul Rodgers, (Free, Bad Company), Josh Homme, (Queens of the Stone Age), and Orianthi, (Michael Jackson, Steve Vai, Alice Cooper). Additional musicians include Jon Button - Bass (The Who), Pete Thorn - Guitar (Chris Cornell, Melissa Etheridge, Don Henley), and Teddy ‘Zig Zag’ Andreadis - Keys (Guns N’ Roses, Slash, Carole King). The event will be hosted by music producer and SIRIUS XM DJ Chris Carter.

“We are blown away by the incredible talent that has stepped forward and joined forces to offer this spectacular benefit show,” said J.R. Roberts, Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation president. “Never before has such a world-class group of musicians freely donated their time and resources to help us restore the historic Plaza Theatre. We are indebted to this talented group of performers and to the event sponsors, Margaritaville Resort, SiriusXM Radio, and The Shag Store.”

ABOUT THE PALM SPRINGS ALL-STARS

When Queen keyboardist Spike Edney heard that a committee had been formed to raise money to restore the Plaza Theatre, he was overjoyed that the jewel in Palm Springs crown was being saved after remaining dark for so many years. He contacted committee

SPIKE EDNEY

chairman J.R. Roberts and offered to produce a celebrity concert to raise funds for the Save The Plaza Theatre restoration project. This prompted the formation of “The Palm Springs All-Stars.”

“During my 38-year career as Queen’s keyboardist and touring musical director, I’ve had the privilege of working with some of the biggest names in music,” said Edney. “Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to have crossed musical paths with Sir Paul McCartney’s guitarist Brian Ray and drummer Matt Sorum, who is well-known for his key roles in Guns N’ Roses, Velvet Revolver, and The Cult. When I realized that they also resided in Palm Springs, I reached out to them, and we formed this collaboration with the sole intent of helping to restore this beautiful and historic theatre.”

The Palm Springs All-Stars are a collection of talented internationally known musicians, concerned citizens, and lovers of the city and its musical heritage. The group is a fluid and everexpanding union of all those who can bring their talent to the table, in a combined effort to save the Plaza Theatre.

“The wealth of locally based talent, coupled with friends from afar, will ensure that the inaugural performance of The Palm Springs All-Stars at Rock the Plaza will be an unprecedented stellar event, featuring music, mirth, and mayhem,” Edney continued. “It will be a night to remember, and it is for a great cause.”

TICKET PRICES

To attend the Rock the Plaza concert, participants may choose from a variety of ticket levels, each offering their own amenities. Each level includes one ticket for the chance to win the Rock the Plaza Celebrity Prize Draw. The prize is an official, limited-edition ROCK THE PLAZA art poster, signed by the artist, Glen Wexler and the Palm Springs All-Stars and all special guests.

Tickets start at $175. Sponsorship packages are available from $3,500 - $200,000. All higher tier ticket and sponsorship packages include a significant Plaza Theatre donation element. This limited number of special packages not only include VIP pre- and postconcert receptions, but they also come with Plaza Theatre naming opportunities, to give the buyer permanent recognition for their generous support. See the website for more details and amenities for each package.

SILENT AUCTION

Various musicians have donated items or experiences for a special Rock the Plaza online auction. Auction prizes include a signed Brian May “Red Special” guitar, a signed fan Adam Lambert uses

on stage during Queen concerts, a guitar signed by Alice Cooper, signed go-go boots from Nancy Sinatra, two VIP tickets for a Barry Manilow show in Las Vegas, including dinner and a 2-night stay at the Westgate Resort, and much more. More about the auction will be announced later at savetheplazatheatreps.org.

MATT SORUM

PAUL RODGERS

MUSIC

“The historic Plaza Theatre is one of Palm Springs’ iconic gems, entertaining our community and visitors with top notch musicians, films, and art for over 75 years.” said Marc Choplick, general manager of Margaritaville Resort Palm Springs. “We fully support the movement to restore and save this wonderful piece of our city and take great pride in being part of the upcoming Rock the Plaza event.”

ABOUT THE PLAZA THEATRE

Seminal Palm Springs architect Harry Williams designed the theatre in the Spanish Colonial Revival style. The theatre opened in 1936 with the premiere of the George Cukor film, “Camille,” with its legendary star, Greta Garbo, who allegedly slipped into the back of the theatre after the lights went down. Garbo’s co-star in the film, Robert Taylor, attended with Barbara Stanwyck.

Over the years, the theatre was the venue for memorable performances by entertainment giants Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra. Performers Jack Benny, Bob Hope, and The Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy Show broadcast live radio shows from the Plaza, bringing national attention to Palm Springs. It also was one of the most popular movie theatres in the growing Palm Springs community and was the venue for several motion picture world premieres, including “My Fair Lady” and “Music Man.”

In the late 1980s Sonny Bono created the Palm Springs International Film Festival at the Plaza Theatre. In 1991, a vaudevilletype revue called “The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies” launched and ran there for 23 years. The long-running show brought international exposure to the theatre and in many ways helped revitalize downtown Palm Springs.

ESTABLISHMENT OF HISTORIC PROTECTION

The Plaza Theatre was declared a Class 1 Historic Site in 1991. This designation prohibits any structural changes that do not adhere to the original design. The theatre is in dire need of repair and restoration and the City of Palm Springs is committed to bringing it back to its original luster as the heart of the City.

The Plaza Theatre Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity corporation. Contributions made to the Foundation are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.

For more information, visit www.savetheplazatheatreps.org

ORIANTHI

MUSIC IMAGINE DRAGONS CELEBRATE 10TH ANNIVERSARY OF 7X PLATINUM LANDMARK DEBUT ALBUM

BY MARTHA TANG

Commemorating a major milestone, GRAMMY®-winning, multiPlatinum band Imagine Dragons celebrate the 10th anniversary of their groundbreaking debut LP with Night Visions (Expanded Edition). It notably boasts nine additional studio tracks and two previously unreleased songs, “Love of Mine” and “Bubble.” The band also launched an interactive website to celebrate 10 years of Night Visions.

The seven-times platinum Night Visions first arrived on September 4, 2012, paving the way for a bold new future for rock music. It bowed at #2 on the Billboard Top 200 and yielded some of the most impactful, inimitable, and inescapable anthems of the last decade. It has impressively eclipsed over 20 million in global consumption, while the diamond-certified Hot 100 Top 3 smash “Radioactive” (14x-platinum) garnered a GRAMMY® Award nod in the category of “Best Rock Performance” out of two nominations, including “Record of the Year.” The record also occupied a spot on the Billboard Top 200 for 408 weeks.

Said the band of their momentous debut album, “Night Visions is more than an album. It is a documentation of the moment when we, as Imagine Dragons, collectively found ourselves. The process of creating Night Visions was all about sacrificing of the self to invest in the group and the music. It changed our lives forever.”

Imagine Dragons continue to redefine rock in the 21st century. Filling stadiums, crafting cloud-rattling anthems, and breaking records at every turn, diamond-certified GRAMMY® Award-winning Las Vegas quartet Imagine Dragons occupy rarified air as one of the biggest rock bands in the world. Tallying cumulative sales of 66 million album equivalents, 55 million digital songs, and 110 billion streams, they stand out as “the only band in history to earn four RIAA Diamond singles,” namely “Radioactive” (14x-platinum), “Believer” (10x-platinum), “Demons” (10x-platinum), and “Thunder” (10x-platinum). Since emerging in 2009, they’ve scored five consecutive Top 10 debuts on the Billboard Top

200 with Night Visions [2012] (7x-platinum) Smoke + Mirrors [2015] (platinum), Evolve [2017] (triple-platinum), Origins [2018] (platinum), and Mercury – Act 1 [2021] With the release of Mercury – Act 2 in 2022, they completed their first double-album opus produced by the legendary Rick Rubin. The hit single “Bones,” featured on Mercury Act 2, recently went to number one at Alternative Radio and remains in the Global Top 50 on Spotify. Dominating radio, they remain “one of only four bands to ever achieve simultaneous Top 5 singles at Alternative radio, and the only band to repeat this feat.” They’ve collaborated with everyone from Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, and Wiz Khalifa to Avicii and film composer Hans Zimmer. Giving back, they’ve raised millions for various causes, including their pediatric cancer charity the Tyler Robinson Foundation, and front man Dan Reynolds’ LOVELOUD Foundation and festival in support of LGBTQ+ youth. In 2022, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky named them ambassadors for UNITED 24, which benefits humanitarian aid in Ukraine.

Imagine Dragons are currently out on a massive US Stadium tour in support of their most recent release, the double-disc opus Mercury — Acts 1 & 2. The 32-track epic album debuted on Friday, July 1st, and marks the boldest artistic statement of the band’s career thus far. Executive produced by Rick Rubin, the double album includes hit singles “Enemy” and “Sharks.” Most recently, the band’s current single “Bones” went #1 at Alt Radio.

Filharmonie

San

Pacific Symphony

Academy of St Martin in the

TRAVEL

CAN’T RESIST THE URGE THIS THANKSGIVING WEEKEND

BY MIKE BAHR

The Steamiest Meat will be in South Beach this Thanksgiving Weekend when URGE Miami Festival returns with three massive nighttime events and three sizzling daytime fetes including the Royal Palm Pool Party and the legendary Beach Party on the sands of South Beach.

Produced by Luis Morera, Billy Kemp and Hilton Wolman, the LGBTQ+ festival weekend will take place November 25-28 and will feature a list of the world’s most famous circuit DJs including Alex Lo, Dan Slater, Edu Quintas, Enrico Meloni, Jerac, Joe Gauthreaux, Marvin Ayy, Mauro Mozart, Paulo Fragoso, Suri and Tom Stephan, with more to be announced.

“After the massive success of last year’s Thanksgiving festival, we are excited to do it all over again, bigger and better than ever before,” says Hilton Wolman.

URGE Miami Festival kicks off Friday, November 25 at 10pm when Barcelona’s Matinee Group makes its triumphant return to Miami with Matinee Pervert XXL. DJ’s Tom Stephan and Alex Lo will take over the decks at Miami’s newest nightclub, M2 Nightclub, for their raunchiest production ever. Matinee Group is promising a level of production seldom seen before and they are flying in some of the hottest dancers from Spain and Europe to keep the dancefloor shaking into the wee morning hours.

At 2pm on Saturday is the Royal Palm South Beach pool party, presented by Eliad Cohen as part of the Papa World Tour. DJs Dan Slater and Paulo Fragoso will raise the temps with their high energy beats, rallying plenty of wet and wild fun with all of the gorgeous men in their skimpy bikinis.

The weekend’s Saturday night Main Event, URGE Warrior, will take place on the soundstage of one of Miami’s largest film studios. DJs Suri and Mauro Mozart will battle it out with incredible beats in a spectacular production, sure to amaze.

It leads to the signature event of the weekend: the longestablished Sunday Beach Party on the sands of South Beach. The

sandblast begins at 2pm with DJ’s Enrico Meloni from Italy and Joe Gauthreaux dropping the beats. Kidd Madonny and his company, 3DX, are building the decor for the party.

“Circuit fans come from all over the world to experience one of America’s biggest LGBTQ beach parties,” Wolman explains. “We will not disappoint.”

This year’s host hotel is the Royal Palm South Beach. With 400 rooms, more than a quarter of which are suites, the Royal Palm is one of South Beach’s largest hotels, superbly located directly on the beach on Collins at the end of Ocean Drive. It offers a superior experience and will serve as the location of URGE Miami Festival’s Welcome Center and Saturday Pool Party. It is also a short walk to a majority of the parties. Special $249 room rates are available while supplies last.

Tickets for URGE Miami Festival are available now at UrgeFestivalMiami.com. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Miami Beach Pride, a not-for-profit organization that works to unite members of the LGBTQ community by celebrating the unique spirit and culture of its people.

PHOTO CREDIT - ADINAYEV

the3D’s DINE | DRINK | DANCE

RESTAURANTS

CHICKEN RANCH

515 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.832.6682 www.eatchickenranch.com

KOFFI NORTH (3 Additional Locations)

515 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.416.2244 www.kofficoffee.com

BOOZEHOUNDS PALM SPRINGS

2080 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.656.0067 www.boozehoundsps.com

1501 UPTOWN

1501 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.320.1501 www.1501uptown.com

TAC/QUILA

415 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.417.4471 www.tacquila.com

PS AIR BAR

611 S.Palm Canyon Dr. #22 Palm Springs CA 92262 760.327.7701 www.psairbar.com

TOWNIE BAGELS

650 E Sunny Dunes Rd #5 Palm Springs, CA 92264 760.459.4555 www.towniebagels.com

ON THE MARK

111 N Palm Canyon Dr. #155 Palm Springs CA 92262 760.832.8892 www.onthemarkpalmsprings.com

SHERMAN’S DELI & BAKERY

401 E Tahquitz Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.325.1199 www.shermansdeli.com 849 849 N Palm Canyon Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.325.8490 www.eight4nine.com

THAI SMILE PALM SPRINGS 100 South Indian Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.320.5503 www.thaismilepalmsprings.com

TRIO RESTAURANT

707 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.864.8746 www.triopalmsprings.com

THE TROPICALE

330 E Amado Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.866.1952 www.thetropicale.com

ZIN AMERICAN BISTRO

198 S Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 760.322.6300 www.pszin.com

LULU CALIFORNIA BISTRO 200 S Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.327.5858 www.lulupalmsprings.com

EL MIRASOL

140 E Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.323.0721 www.elmirasolrestaurants.com

RICK’S RESTAURANT

1973 N Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.416.0090 www.ricksrestaurant.biz

PINOCCHIO IN THE DESERT

134 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.322.3776 www.pinocchiops.com

BLACKBOOK BAR

315 E Arenas Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.832.8497 www.blackbookbar.com

BARS AND NIGHT CLUBS

HUNTERS NIGHTCLUB

302 East Arenas Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.323.0700 www.huntersnightclubs.com

TOUCAN’S TIKI LOUNGE

2100 North Palm Canyon Dr. Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.416.7584 www.toucanstikilounge.com

CHILL BAR

217 E. Arenas Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.327.1079 www.chillbarpalmsprings.com

STREETBAR

224 E. Arenas Road Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.320.1266 www.psstreetbar.com

THE TOOL SHED

600 E. Sunny Dunes Road, Palm Springs, CA 92262

760.320.3299 www.toolshed-ps.com

QUADZ

200 S Indian Canyon Palm Springs, CA 92262 760.778.4326

AMP SPORTS LOUNGE 68-718 E. Palm Canyon Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.699.7090 www.ampcatcity.com

ROOST BAR LOUNGE

68718 E Palm Canyon Dr #203 Cathedral City CA 92234 760.507.8495 www.theroostcc.com

ONE ELEVEN BAR

67555 E Palm Canyon Dr A103 Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.537.3111 www.oneelevenbar.com

BARRACKS BAR

67625 E Palm Canyon Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.464.0957 www.barracksps.com

RUNWAY 68300 Gay Resort Dr Cathedral City, CA 92234 760.537.7800 www.runwayccbc.com

BUSINESS DIRECTORY

For advertising inquiries please contact Nino@thestandardps.com

TO SUBSCRIBE TO THE STANDARD PLEASE GO TO THESTANDARDPS.COM

If you are an artist and would like to be considered for our ART VIEW - Artist Profile, please email us at info@thestandardps.com.

COMING UP NEXT MONTH

YES, IT’S THAT TIME AGAIN THE ANNUAL HOLIDAY GIFT GUIDE

PHOTO REWIND

CINEMA

COURTESY OF DAVID A LEE

DATE

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Oct

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

Nov

Bullying:

One Night

One-PS

Business Mixer

Singing with the Desert Stars

House Party

Modernism Week -

Casual

Annual

Mentoring

Hollywood Magic-

Your Insiders

Women’s

Coming Out Day

Palm Springs Equality

Center Stage:

PSLOD Leather Pride

Desert AIDS Walk: Walk

Cream

Palm Springs Halloween on Arenas

LGBTQ+ Archives at Wellwood Murrary

OUTFEST Palm Springs Event

KGAY's Arenas District Dance Stage Kickoff

Interfaith Pride Shabbat Service

Pride on the Page - Literary Event

Palm Springs Pride

Run and

Palm Springs Pride Golf

Palm Springs

Arenas District

Garden

Springs

Springs

PHOTO REWIND

CINEMA DIVERSE 2022 PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A LEE

PHOTO REWIND

BURNING MAN PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A LEE

PHOTO REWIND

BURNING MAN PHOTOS COURTESY OF DAVID A LEE