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Amanda McBroom Returns to the Purple Room
HO HO HO! And hello Palm Springs! Are you ready to make merry? Of course you are!
Amanda McBroom returns to her favorite boite, the fabulous Purple Room, to celebrate the release of her brand new recording, Wintersong, a collection of songs to mark ALL the winter holidays. There will be cherished holiday standards; musical classics by Dan Fogelberg, Joni Mitchell and Ken Hirsch; and, of course, Amanda’s own collaborations with her beloved writing pals Michele Brourman and Ann Hampton Callaway. Dust off your tinsel. Put on your best holiday finery, and come join the party!
Amanda McBroom has been called “the greatest cabaret performer of her generation, an urban poet who writes like an angel and has a voice to match.” Her name first came to the attention of the music public when Bette Midler’s version of Amanda’s song “The Rose” hit No. 1 all over the world in 1979. But it was Amanda’s performance of her own song on the Golden Globes (she won), the Grammy Awards (she didn’t) and The Tonight Show that launched her career as a singer as well as songwriter.
Amanda McBroom will take the Purple Room stage at 8 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Dec. 13 and 14. Tickets start at $50.85, and include 6 p.m. dinner reservations. The Purple Room is located at 1900 E. Palm Canyon Drive. For tickets or more information, visit purpleroompalmsprings.com. (Sponsored Content)
Beverage Bliss
Drink up the desert with a festival that celebrates both fermented and non-alcoholic beverages. On Friday, Dec. 13, and Saturday, Dec. 14, experience Low Dez Fest, an event all about drinks, food and community. Friday’s kickoff party, featuring food, drink and live music from desert dwellers Dry Heat, begins at 5 p.m. for VIPs and 6:30 p.m. for everyone else, at the Drift Hotel, 284 S. Indian Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs. The main event on Saturday begins at 2 p.m. for VIPs and 3 p.m. for others at Market Market, 1555 S. Palm Canyon Drive, in Palm Springs, where you can sample drinks from more than 40 local businesses. The event benefits the LGBTQ Community Center of the Desert. Tickets start at $20 for the Friday event, and $25 for the Saturday event. For tickets and more information, visit www.lowdezfest.com —Matt King
Face-Melting Fun
A lot of heavy rocking is going on in the high desert. At 8 p.m., Friday, Dec. 13, two badass local bands will greet the audience with face-melting fury. Fuzzed-out rockers VOLUME and bona fide punks Whiskey & Knives will set the stage ablaze, as they are primed to perform at Giant Rock Meeting Room, 1131 Old Woman Springs Road in Yucca Valley. The event is free to attend. For more information, visit www.giantrockmeetingroom.com. —Matt King
Tunes for a Toy
Give back to the community—and rock out! At 6 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, Christmas in the Desert is taking place at Little Street Music Hall, 82707 Miles Ave., in Indio. Local rockers Tourists, Lazuli Bones, Town Troubles, The Divines and Julian and the Band are all set to perform; the price of admission is one brand-new, unwrapped toy. The toy drive supports Toys for Tots, making sure local children in need get the Christmas they deserve. For more information, visit www.instagram.com/touristsmusic. —Matt King
New Gallery Alert
A new gallery is having its first show in Palm Springs’ Uptown Design District. The inaugural exhibit at Artier Fine Art, at 844 N. Palm Canyon Drive, is Stimulating Dialogues, and it runs Saturday, Dec. 14, through Sunday, Jan. 26. The show’s goals: exploring ideas and conversations around what connects us, helping us to understand the creators of these pieces, and ultimately uncover new truths about ourselves. The opening-night reception takes place from 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, and will include some of the 12 artists featured at the gallery; this is a great opportunity to check out the space and learn about their work. For more information or to RSVP for the reception, check out artierfineart.com. —Charles Drabkin
A Gala for the Empress
Jose Sarria, aka the Grand Mere, and the absolute Empress I de San Francisco, was a political activist and the first openly queer candidate for public office in the United States; he was also the founder of the International Court System, and a one-time resident of Palm Springs. From 6 to 9 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 14, the Palm Springs Sparkle Gala will be held to honor and support Sarria’s legacy at the El Dorado Palm Estates Clubhouse Ballroom, 6000 E. Palm Canyon Drive. Fabulous performances, a silent auction and other surprises will benefit the Jose Saria Foundation. Cocktail attire is recommended, but you know a bunch of Palm Springs queens who are honoring a true icon of queer history will go all out. Tickets range from $30 to $50; for those tickets or more information, visit josesarria.org/sparkle. —Charles Drabkin
Political Humor (Event Postponed)
(Note: This event has been postponed.) The Coachella Valley Journalism Foundation will bring award-winning cartoonist and animator Mike Thomspon to the Palm Springs Public Library, at 300 S. Sunrise Way, in Palm Springs, at 3 p.m., Tuesday, Dec. 17, for “Laughing Out Loud: The Provocative History of Political Cartoons in America From Ben Franklin to Donald Trump.” This free event is open to the public and will trace the evolution of political cartoons from our colonial past to today. Visit the Facebook event page for more information. —Charles Drabkin
Have Yourself a Jazzy Christmas
Mix Christmas classics with good old-fashioned jazz! At 5 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 19, actress and musician Sweet Baby J’ai presents the latest event in her Sunset Music Series, “A Magical Holiday Sing-Along With the Yve Evans Trio.” J’ai, alongside the Yve Evans Trio, will perform beautiful renditions of holiday tunes—and they are inviting you to sing with them. The event will take place at the Palm Springs Art Museum, at 101 N. Museum Drive, in Palm Springs, and admission is free. For more information, visit www.sweetbabyjai.com. —Matt King
Red-Nosed Rainboat?
From Saturday, Dec. 21, through Monday, Dec. 30, the JW Marriot Desert Springs Resort and Spa, at 74855 Country Club Drive, Palm Desert, in collaboration with Santa and Mrs. Claus, is offering 20-minute Holiday Boat Tours. The first tour is at 3 p.m., with the last boat leaving at 8 p.m. (or 8:40 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays). Elves and Santa will greet you in the lobby before you tour this beautiful property by boat; you will see the black swans, ducks and koi that live at the JW Marriott full time. Don’t miss Flamingo Island when you arrive … with flamingoes, Santa and Christmas lights, what could be more festive? At the end of your trip, each guest gets to choose from a Christmas stocking filled with gifts! Tours are $15 per person and appropriate for all ages. Find out more and book your tour here. —Charles Drabkin
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