BY DIANE MARLIN- DIRKX
A message from Alice’s White Rabbit: They’re late! They’re LATE! Note these very important dates just in to our newsroom: Tomorrow evening, Friday, May 9, 7pm, The Coachella Valley Symphony season finishes on a high note with “Music on the Move,” at the McCallum Theatre with headlining guest soprano Dr. Lisa Lindley performing hits from opera and pop favorites from around the world and as special guest narrator, Broadway and film legend Laurence Luckinbill. Gossip alert! Lucky Luckinbill is married to Lucie Arnaz, Lucy’s and Desi’s daughter. They’re locals! Concert seating, $25 to $65. Reception/Auction ticket, $125. Call 760-340-ARTS. Read on for more urgent messages that deserve penciling in your calendar. Get the “lead” out!
Friday, May 16, 5:30pm, RSVP by May 9. That’s tomorrow! Miss this event? I don’t think so. It’s the 24th annual elegantly presented VIP Gala, themed “Build A Pathway out of Poverty,” it’s perfectly planned down to the dessert, with an audience-friendly California – elegant dress-code, exciting live entertainment by the “Hot Purple Energy All-Star Ensemble,” Gift Raffle, Live Auction, and—wait for it—the first event at the elegantly renovated, re-tuned and re-furbished Ritz Carlton, high enough in the mountains above Rancho Mirage to leave you breathless with all of the twinkling beauty of the desert at your feet. Luxuriously Dreamy—come with someone you care about. United Way is a global movement of 1800 community-based organizations in 41 countries and territories. The mission is to improve conditions in local communities. Tickets are $250 per person, and $2500 for a table of 10 Bronze Sponsor. Call 760-323-2731. Do it now!
Spring/Summer Family Fun in La Quinta. A real Class Act for the family kids, including swimming at Fritz Burns pool, May 12 through May 28; Swim lessons, 5 to 5:45pm, Monday and Wednesday; Water Aerobics, 6 to 6:45pm, Monday and Wednesday; Pre-Swim Team and Stroke Clinic, 6 to 7pm, Monday and Wednesday. YMCA Triathlon (Y TRI), Saturday, May 17, 8am. Children, ages 5 to 8 years old, will learn to swim, bike and run through a safe triathlon course especially designed for their age and skill level as a non-competitive event. Starting with a swim in the pool followed by a trac tree bike course and a run in the park, participants need to bring a swimsuit, a bike in good working order, helmet and running shoes. Each participant receives a Y Tri finisher’s certificate. First 60 children to pre-register receive a bike helmet! Foe Aquatics and Y Tri registration: Family YMCA of the Desert, 43-930 San Pablo Ave., Palm Desert. Call 760-341-9622. www.ymcaofthedesert.org. Cost, $10 per entry, at Fritz Burns Park. More info on upcoming activities, contact the Community Services Dept., 760-777-7090, or communityservices@la-quinta.org.
Wednesday, May 14, 7pm. And the Jr. and Sr. Steinway Society Competition winners are: Catherine Duan, 9, Ranen Unger Hicks, 13, Karissa Juhas, 11, Joel Oswari, 12, Emika Saito, 12, Julian Jenson, 18, Andrew Tang, 14, Ben Tecson, !6, Marie Ananian, 17, Matthew Evangelista, 18 years old. All will perform in a concert at the Rancho Mirage Public Library—and it may be the last time you can hear them for free! “The skill and passion of our competition knocked our expert judges out,” said Ruth Moir, president of the non-profit Society that has provided free music educational programs to 17,000 students in local schools. In tune with today’s stress on an arts education for a better future: On college entrance exams, students in music appreciation scored 63 points higher on verbal and 44 points higher on math, than did students with no arts participation. “Our schools need music!” says Moir. Amen to that. Ending a tuneful music education at “Itsy Bitsy Spider” just doesn’t cut it.
Saturday, May 17, Shot Gun Start! Here’s an event that literally can get you all teed off! The Rattler Golf Scramble fundraiser with all proceeds benefitting the Rancho Mirage High School Rattler football and golf teams. Shake your tail and make Rattler hissss-tory by teeing off in the 8 am shot gun start for the school team! Entry: Single, $125, or Foursome, $450, At Westin Mission Hills North, 70705 Ramon Rd., Rancho Mirage. For more info, call 760-668-9925, or RanchoMirageHighSchool/football.html
Saturday, May 17, 6:30pm. Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus presents GALA 15 and the Palm Springs Premiere of Emmy Award winning actor/comedian Leslie Jordan’s “Show Pony,” the hilarious tale of how life was supposed to be after the Emmy hand-off to him in 2006—Oh, ha, ha, ha—and how it really went down producing this smash hit of a show. Be at The Hard Rock Hotel 
to listen as the gala fills with laughter, the well-dressed swells and belles enjoy a splendiferous silent auction, all to benefit anti-bullying efforts and community activities, plus passed hors d’oeuvres, and a chance to chat with the charming actor who starred on the silver screen in “Sordid Lives,” “Southern Baptist Sissies” and “The Help.” With Dress Circle limited seating, ticket $250. With Front orchestra reserved seating, ticket $150. With Rear orchestra reserved seat, $85. For more info, or to purchase tickets, visit www.PSGMC.com. The Hard Rock Hotel, 150 South Indian Canyon Dr., Palm Springs.
Sunday, July 13, 11:30 – 2:30pm. Naturally, your Fido, Fifi, stallion, macaw, four-or- claw-footed, furred or feathered beastie is the cutest, smartest, lovingest pet in the parade on this Earth. So, put your honey where the money is. Enter the Pets on Parade “cutest pet” photo contest to benefit two non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations, namely Pegasus Riding Academy for the Handicapped, and the Humane Society of the Desert. The Winner of the Cutest Pet Contest will be featured at the 16th annual luncheon honoring animal activist Lindi Biggi, and on the August 2014 cover of Palm Springs Life. For more information, call 760-636-9400. http://contests.palmspringslife.com/engine/Welcome.aspx?contestid=121190
Timely Tip from the White Rabbit and “Don’t Be Clueless:” Press releases for inclusion should be in to the Coachella Valley Weekly at least two weeks ahead of the scheduled event! Thanks!
