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Friday, May 22 | ☀️ 95°/68°
Happy Friday! If you’re a big fan of our calendar, you’ll see in our weekend edition down below that the city has plenty of events lined up all weekend long ahead of Memorial Day on Monday. Speaking of which … we wanted to give you a heads-up that in observance of the holiday, we'll be taking Monday off, so there won't be a newsletter in your inbox that morning. We'll be back bright and early Tuesday morning!
🎶 Setting the mood: "Life During Wartime (live)" by Talking Heads (An unbelievable live performance, especially when the musicians and backup singers start jogging in place, and David Byrne runs circles around the stage)
Leading Off
Kathy Griffin will be in residence at the Plaza theatre early next year, but you can score tickets right now. (Photo: Jen Rosenberg)
Kathy Griffin finds her happy place — one show a month at the Plaza Theatre
Comedian Kathy Griffin is bringing her first-ever residency to the Plaza Theatre in Palm Springs, performing one show per month over three months beginning Jan. 31.
Driving the news: Griffin's "Can You Handle This Heat? The Kathy Griffin Palm Springs Residency" will feature shows on Jan. 31, Feb. 26 and March 26 at the historic downtown venue. Plaza general manager John Bolton called the arrangement a source of pride for the theater.
Why it matters: The residency marks a milestone for the 65-year-old Emmy and Grammy award-winning comedian, who has spent years rebuilding her career after a 2017 controversy involving a prop depicting Donald Trump’s severed head left her effectively blacklisted from mainstream entertainment.
Griffin said she believes the tide may finally be turning in her favor: "I think I might be finally getting uncancelled."
Background: Griffin sold out two Plaza Theatre shows in March, drawing Palm Springs residents Lance Bass and Barry Manilow to the same performance — a moment she called "gay fantastic" and "a dream come true."
How it came together: After those sellouts, four friends encouraged Griffin to pursue a residency outside Las Vegas, citing fierce competition and high costs in that market. The one-show-per-month format was chosen deliberately to gauge demand.
"The Plaza's a big room," Griffin said. "I'm starting (slow) and seeing how it does."
What she's saying: Griffin cited her connection to Palm Springs as central to the decision. "Palm Springs has always been so good to me," she said. "I just want to bring the laughter break to these bizarre, dark times."
Briefly
Retired PSUSD Superintendent Dr. Tony Signoret (left) and current Board of education member Charlie Ervin both announced their intentions this week.
🗳️ Two candidates vie for Palm Springs school board seat
Incumbent Charlie Ervin announced his re-election bid for the Palm Springs Unified School District Board of Education Trustee Area 4 Thursday, the same day retired PSUSD Superintendent Tonatiuh "Tony" Signoret entered the race, setting up a contested Nov. 3 general election.
Ervin has served on the board since 2022, focusing on equity, student achievement, and literacy. Signoret, who retired in June 2025 after more than 35 years in public education, served as the district's first Latino superintendent and has received endorsements from former U.S. Sen. Barbara Boxer, the Palm Springs Teachers Association, and several local labor and public safety groups.
Details: Signoret, a Palm Springs resident since 1993, and his wife have fostered more than 30 children and adopted eight, all of whom attended PSUSD schools. Ervin described himself as an entrepreneur and father committed to putting students first.
A MESSAGE FROM
CITY OF PALM SPRINGS
PS/NExT returns in 2026 bigger, broader, and more immersive than ever. Over 1.5 dynamic days, innovators, creators, educators, businesses, and community leaders will explore AI and emerging technology through hands-on experiences, bold ideas, and inspiring conversations designed to build skills, fuel creativity, and expand opportunity across the region
📆 Your Weekend
Multiple Days
“A Man of No Importance” at Palm Springs Cultural Center ($42)
“The Merry Widow” at Palm Canyon Theatre ($46)
"Silver Foxes" at Revolution Stage Company ($49)
Desertopia Memorial Weekend 2026 at The Sonoran ($60)
Today
PS Take a Hike Celebration at Las Palmas Brewing at 3 p.m.
Jack Sollecito at Thompson Palm Springs at 5 p.m.
Foodie Fridays at Palm Springs Cultural Center at 5 p.m.
Pool Party For A Cause at Palm Springs Surf Club at 6 p.m. ($26)
Saturday
Palm Springs Certified Farmers' Market at Palm Springs Cultural Center at 8 a.m.
SUNVIBES Pool Party at Riviera Resort & Spa at 12 p.m. ($44)
Author Talk with Jamie Rose at Palm Springs Cultural Center at 4 p.m.
The Glow Up Paint Night at Canvas Palm Springs at 6 p.m. ($40)
BINGO with Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence at one eleven bar at 6 p.m. ($20)
"Turn the Page" Cabaret Show at Palm Springs Cultural Center at 7 p.m. ($35)
Sunday
Screwball Sundays: “Bringing Up Baby” at Palm Springs Cultural Center at 3 p.m. ($17)
"Sound of Music" sing-a-long film screening at The Plaza Theatre at 3 p.m. ($20)
Monday (Memorial Day)
Ch. 519 ALR Memorial Day Run at American Legion Post 519 at 8 a.m.
Memorial Day Air Fair & Flower Drop at Palm Springs Air Museum at 10 a.m. ($23–$95)
🚠 And Finally …
Visitors and locals alike look forward to the air drop of more than 3,000 carnations. (Photo: Palm Springs Air Museum)
The Palm Springs Air Museum has a way of making Memorial Day feel like more than just a long weekend — and this year is no exception.
Driving the news: The museum's annual Memorial Day Flower Drop & Air Fair returns Monday, May 25, with a full day of flight exhibitions, live music, kids' activities, and multiple food vendors.
Flight exhibitions begin at 10 a.m., with the Flower Drop Memorial Ceremony starting at 1 p.m, flowers are expected to drop around 2 p.m.
The centerpiece: A B-25 Mitchell bomber will release more than 3,000 red and white carnations following a Missing Man formation — a tribute to fallen service members — around 2 p.m. The ceremony will also recognize local Gold Star Families. Visitors are welcome to pick up a flower to take home.
The soundtrack: The Heatwave Jazz Band will provide live music throughout the day.
Tickets: Adult tickets are $25; seniors, teenagers, and veterans pay $23. Children and active duty military are admitted free. Family packs are available starting at $65.
Getting there: Free offsite parking is available at the Palm Springs Unified School District lot near District Center Drive, with free shuttle service to and from the museum. Learn more, and get tickets online here.
In Case You Missed It
Recently published stories
📼 Kendall sent off a bunch of VHS tapes and home movies to get digitized, and she’s excited to see what she finds!
🎙️ Mark has access to a treasure trove of reel-to-reel recordings his dad made while stationed in Vietnam. He should really get them digitized.
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