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Friday, April 10 | ☀️ 84°/56°
TGIF, folks! Festival season is officially underway, and with Coachella and Stagecoach bringing waves of visitors into town, city officials are bringing back "local traffic only" signs in some northern neighborhoods to reduce cut-through traffic. While it's not a perfect fix, it's shown some promise before. In the meantime, here’s our annual reminder that it might just be the perfect opportunity for locals to slip downtown and support small businesses while the crowds head to the polo fields.
🎶 Setting the mood: "Is This It" by The Strokes
Leading Off
Hotels that benefit from convention center events would contribute to a new district being formed.
Palm Springs moves to create hotel district to fund convention center expansion
Palm Springs took a key procedural step toward establishing a tourism assessment district that would levy a 1% fee on hotel and vacation rental revenue to finance convention center improvements.
Driving the news: The Palm Springs City Council on Wednesday approved a resolution of intention to establish the Palm Springs Tourism Infrastructure District, setting in motion a formal process that could generate approximately $4.1 million annually to fund expansion and modernization of the Palm Springs Convention Center.
The resolution triggers a required 45-day protest period and sets two upcoming public hearings — a public meeting on May 12 and a final public hearing on May 27, both at 5:30 p.m. at City Council Chambers.
How it works: The district would assess all lodging businesses within city limits at 1% of gross short-term sleeping room rental revenue, applying to hotels, motels, inns and vacation rentals, but not to stays longer than 28 consecutive days or stays under contracts executed before July 1, 2026.
By the numbers: The district's total budget is projected at approximately $4.1 million per year, or roughly $164 million over a 40-year term. To finance capital improvements, the city or a joint powers authority would issue bonds with a maximum principal amount not to exceed $55 million.
Why it matters: Councilmember Jeffrey Bernstein framed the project broadly during discussion. "This whole thing is not just the convention center," he said. "This is a whole new center in our downtown and residents and small businesses benefit."
What's next: If written protests are received from businesses representing 50% or more of the projected assessment by May 27, district formation would be halted for one year. If approved, an anticipated start date of July 1 is outlined in the plan.
Briefly
A police cruiser blocks the roadway as blowing sand reduces visibility along Gene Autry Trail. (File photo)
💨 Dust advisory in effect this weekend
A windblown dust advisory issued by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) remains in effect through early Saturday morning, with air quality potentially reaching unhealthy levels across the entire valley as wind gusts of up to 45 mph are forecast, particularly in the northwestern parts.
Communities including Palm Springs are expected to be impacted. Medical experts urge those with respiratory conditions to bring medications and consider wearing N95 masks. AQMD maintains a map of conditions here.
Details: Officials recommend staying indoors when possible, keeping windows and doors closed, and avoiding strenuous outdoor activity during peak dust conditions. Drivers are also encouraged to reduce speed on dirt roads to limit dust in the air.
A MESSAGE FROM
CV REPERTORY THEATRE
Ernest Shackleton Loves Me is a new, high-tech musical adventure about how a little strength and determination can help us overcome any odds. This show will transport you on the journey of a lifetime. Live at CVRep April 22 – May 10.
📆 Your Weekend
Multiple Days
Cinema Diverse BIG Gay Movie: Accidental Friends at Palm Springs Cultural Center at 4 p.m. ($10.50)
Love! Valour! Compassion! at Dezart Performs all weekend
Psychic / Healing Arts Fair at Crystal Fantasy all weekend
Today
Pick it Up Palm Springs Cleanup at 2901 N Palm Canyon Drive at 8 a.m.
Dog Dental Cleaning at Tailwaggers at 9 a.m.
Jack Sollecito at Thompson Palm Springs at 4 p.m.
Foodie Fridays at Palm Springs Cultural Center at 5 p.m.
A Little L'Amour at Revolution Stage Company at 7 p.m. ($50–$60)
Knife to the Heart at Palm Springs Cultural Center at 7:30 p.m.
Saturday
Palm Springs Certified Farmers' Market at Palm Springs Cultural Center starting at 8 a.m.
World Art Day Festival at Downtown Park starting at 10 a.m.
Jason Weber's Piano Riot at Revolution Stage Company at 5 p.m. ($10–$15)
Sweet Tunes at the Rooftop High Bar at Kimpton Rowan at 5 p.m.
Angie Delaire: Songs of the Movies LIVE! at Palm Springs Cultural Center at 7 p.m. ($35)
Comedy Night at Hotel Zoso at 9 p.m. ($10–$18)
Sunday
Mahjong Meetup at Market Market at 12 p.m.
Alyssa Edwards – Thanks For Everything Tour 2026 at The Plaza Theatre at 7:30 p.m.
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🚠 And Finally …
A scene from a previous World Art Day celebration in Downtown Park. (Photo: City of Palm Springs)
Palm Springs is rolling out the brushes this weekend for its fourth annual World Art Day Festival — a free community celebration of creativity timed to the global observance of National World Art Day on April 15.
Driving the news: The City of Palm Springs Department of Parks and Recreation hosts the festival on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Downtown Park, 230 North Museum Drive.
The event features art displays, live performances, and interactive workshops covering painting, sculpture, photography, and mixed media.
More than just exhibits: The Palm Springs Public Arts Commission has added hands-on activities this year, including decorating cloth tote bags, stringing bead bracelets and necklaces, and writing postcards — stamps provided — that organizers will personally drop in a mailbox at the end of the day.
A QR code will also be available to pull up a Google Maps guide to public art throughout the city. And one commissioner is bringing a globe and stickers so visitors can mark where they're from — a nod to the festival's world art theme.
What's next: The celebration continues April 15, when a dedication ceremony for the city's Artscape in the Parks installations takes place at 10 a.m. in front of City Hall.
Details: For more information, visit psworldartday.com or call 760-323-8272.
In Case You Missed It
Recently published stories
🍲 Kendall was completely delighted to find a cookbook in her mailbox this week from a reader! She and Donna talked about their mutual love of regional and community cookbooks, so Donna sent her a copy of “A Taste of Palm Springs,” from 1979 put together to raise money for what was then called the Desert Hospital. She’ll probably try one of the date appetizers first! Thanks Donna!!
🍋 Mark is thinking about selling lemonade on the street corner outside his home as traffic backs up with exiting festival-goers Sunday morning.
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Proudly produced in District 1. Typos are intentional.