BROUGHT TO YOU BY
We are grateful for our advertisers. Become one today
Thursday, June 4 | ☀️ 104°/75°
Happy Thursday, where we hope you are enjoying Pride Month! While Palm Springs saves its parade for November to beat the heat, celebrations are popping up all over — including right here in the valley, where Indio is hosting its very first Pride on Saturday, June 13, from 6 p.m.–9:30 p.m. at Center Stage in Downtown Indio. But check this out as well: KGAY 103.1 has rounded up 50 small but mighty Pride celebrations happening across the country this month, proof that visibility matters in every ZIP Code.
🎶 Setting the mood: "If I Fell" by The Beatles
Leading Off
Portions of the Town & Country Center have been vacant and deteriorating for years. (File photo)
Palm Springs moves to buy portion of historic Town & Country Center for new fire station
The Palm Springs City Council next week will consider a $4 million agreement to acquire roughly 0.95 acres of the historic Town & Country Center along Indian Canyon Drive, where the city plans to build a new Fire Station No. 1.
Driving the news: The proposed purchase would give the city a portion of the landmark complex — including the center courtyard and land currently occupied by apartment buildings slated for demolition — and allow it to proceed with environmental review, lot-line adjustments and other approvals needed before construction could begin.
Yes, but: The agreement includes language stating the sale is occurring under the threat of condemnation. The city informed property owner Grit Development that it was prepared to pursue eminent domain if negotiations failed, and Grit agreed to the transaction to avoid potential condemnation litigation.
Grit states in the agreement that it considers the sale price to be below market value and negotiated a right of first refusal allowing it to match any future offer if the city ever decides to sell the property.
Why it matters: The transaction would effectively split ownership of the Town & Country Center — designed by architects Paul R. Williams and A. Quincy Jones and designated a Class 1 Historic Site since 2016 — between the city and Grit.
The agreement notes that future rehabilitation work by the city would not automatically require restoration work on the privately owned portions, a provision likely to draw scrutiny from preservation advocates.
What's next: Two apartment buildings containing six residential units must be demolished before the sale closes. Under the proposed agreement, the transaction must be completed by Dec. 31.
Briefly
Images from some of the films that will be shown during ShortFest, which runs June 23 through 29 in Palm Springs. (Photos courtesy ShortFest)
🎬 ShortFest announces lineup for event running later this month
The Palm Springs International ShortFest will run June 23 through 29 at the Festival Theaters in Palm Springs, featuring 329 films from 71 countries across 50 programs — drawn from more than 7,000 submissions.
The lineup includes 52 World Premieres and films featuring actors including Christopher Meloni, Michael Gandolfini, Patton Oswalt and Nina Dobrev. Of the 329 films selected, 41% are directed by women. Juried winners will be announced June 28, with cash prizes totaling $30,000 across five Oscar-qualifying categories.
Details: Tickets go on sale today at psfilmfest.org. Local programming includes the "Valley Visions" screening June 23 at 2 p.m., curated by Coachella Valley residents ages 18-25, and a Filmmaker Bootcamp for high school students June 25. The ShortFest Forum returns to the Hilton Palm Springs June 26-28.
A MESSAGE FROM
PALM SPRINGS CULTURAL CENTER
Experience Alfred Hitchcock's chilling late-career thriller Frenzy (1972), a suspenseful tale of murder, mistaken identity, and terror lurking in plain sight. Join film historian Dr. Richard L. Edwards for a film Q + A. Come early for pizza and enjoy this Hitchcock Retrospective presentation on the BIG screen Friday, June 5 at 7PM.
📆 Featured Events
Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week
All day | Various Locations
Participating restaurants across the Coachella Valley offer special prix fixe menus for 10 days, with breakfast, brunch, and lunch options at $15, $25, or $35 and dinner menus at $39, $49, or $59 per person. No tickets or passes required; advance reservations are strongly encouraged. Beverages, tax, and gratuity not included. ($15–$59)
Lesbian and Queer Women's Chat
10:30 a.m. | Virtual
A weekly online chat group hosted by The Center offering queer women a welcoming space to connect, find friendship, and support one another.
Mahjong Meetup
12 p.m. | Market Market
Weekly Chinese tile game meetup with two mats and sets available on-site. Players are welcome to bring their own sets as it can get busy.
Free Thursday Night: DJ Series with Frescuh
5 p.m. | Palm Springs Art Museum
DJ Frescuh headlines Free Thursday Night from 5–8 p.m., with free gallery admission, food, drink, and gallery bingo available.
Public Arts Commission Meeting
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
Monthly public meeting of the nine-member commission responsible for procuring and placing visual art throughout Palm Springs. Agenda online here.
Steven Arnold's Nocturnal Dream Show
6 p.m. | Palm Springs Art Museum
An evening of short films by filmmaker Steven Arnold, drawn from his original Nocturnal Dream Shows and tied to the exhibition A Queer Arcana: Art, Magic, and Spirit. Seating is first-come, first-served.
Summer Cabaret Series: Nita Whitaker
7 p.m. | Coachella Valley Repertory
Broadway veteran and Star Search Hall of Fame Grand Champion Nita Whitaker performs her tribute concert "Sophisticated Lady: The Songs of Natalie Cole.” ($65)
Cin Cin Presents: Black Market Jazz on Thursdays
7 p.m. | Cipolline
Live quartet performing drums, bass, keys, and guitar with an international mix of music in the lounge every Thursday.
Palm Springs VillageFest
7 p.m. | Palm Canyon Drive
Weekly Thursday street fair in downtown Palm Springs featuring art, entertainment, shopping, and food. Summer hours run 7–10 p.m.
Women in the Mix all-women DJ series
7 p.m. | Lola Rose Lounge at Thompson Palm Springs
Weekly all-women DJ series featuring local and guest female DJs spinning house and lounge music every Thursday. Open to hotel guests and locals.
📌 Save the Date
Palm Springs Firefighters Fish Fry Saturday at 6 p.m. at Ruth Hardy Park
XOXO Palm Springs starting June 11 at multiple city venues
Juneteenth Weekend at multiple locations from June 18-20
PS/NEXT Summit 26 at Palm Springs Convention Center runs June 22-23
Palm Springs Food Truck Festival on June 27 at Sunrise Park
🚠 And Finally …
Students from San Miguel de Allende and Palm Springs got together virtually Tuesday for the “Art-in-a-Box” program. (Photo: PSUSD)
Art can travel further than a passport, and students at Vista Del Monte Elementary School proved it Tuesday, when a yearlong cultural exchange with Palm Springs' sister city of San Miguel de Allende, Mexico came to a celebratory close.
Driving the news: The Palm Springs Sister Cities "Art-in-a-Box" program brought together fourth and fifth grade dual immersion scholars from Vista Del Monte and students from Newland School in San Miguel de Allende for a collaborative exploration of each city's architectural traditions — from Palm Springs' iconic mid-century modern design to San Miguel de Allende's rich artistic heritage.
Five sessions were held over two weeks, culminating in Tuesday's showcase at the Palm Springs school where students presented their artwork and connected with their counterparts via Zoom.
Behind the project: VDM instructor Jayro Alcántar Armenta, a dual immersion teacher on special assignment and Palm Springs Sister Cities board member, guided lessons in both English and Spanish, integrating architectural landmarks from each city throughout.
How it happened: The program was funded through a City of Palm Springs Community Grant.
In Case You Missed It
Recently published stories
Kendall discovered a black ink pen exploded in her car, leaving a lovely dried-on stain on her passenger seat!
🗑️ Mark and the people picking up trash cans on Wednesdays need to have a serious talk about timing their visit so he is not in the daily editorial call with Kendall (Clang! Clang!)
WORK WITH US
Our network of publications has nearly 50,000 email subscribers and we send 125,000 newsletters each week! That gives advertisers unmatched reach to engaged local readers across the Coachella Valley. Click the button below to learn more or receive our rate card.
EXPLORE & SUBSCRIBE
We deliver free news to communities throughout the Coachella Valley and a roundup on Saturdays. Click below to subscribe to our other newsletters!
Proudly produced in District 1. Typos are intentional.