BYLINE: DIANE MARLIN-DIRKX
What a week ahead. Every pleasure gratified! Every one of the five senses satisfied, perhaps even the sixth—that’s the hairy one about intuitive power. On that score for most of us, the wheel is constantly turning but the hamster is probably dead at the bottom of the cage. Hey, we’ll have to be happy with the five we humans are auto-allotted: Sight, Hearing, Taste, Smell and Touch. All sensory stimuli that abounds at every event sun-up to sun-down in the desert. The organizers “get” us, what sets us apart from the flora and fauna—and hamsters. For what will fuel your particular fire and going for it, read on.
Today! Thursday, November 15, 7am-5pm. “Fill the Bus!” is the shout-out from SunLine Transit Agency for their 6th annual Holiday Food Drive to help families in need and feed the homeless during the holidays. This year two local organizations are the recipients: Fish Food Bank in Coachella and the Well in the Desert in Palm Springs. The bus company whose mantra is “The Future is Green” takes this mission seriously as well, parking its state-of-the-art, alternative-fueled 40-foot buses for generous fill-up donations of non-perishable items, dry/frozen/canned foods, new packaged toiletries, personal hygiene products, diapers, at 3 locations: Stater Bros., 78630 HWY 111, #A, La Quinta, Ralphs at 42150 Washington Street, Bermuda Dunes, and 1733 E Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs. G.M. C. Mikel Oglesby says, “Each year I am overwhelmed by the generosity and acts of selflessness displayed by the Coachella Valley community.” More info, call 760-343-3456, ext. 124.
Friday, November 16, 6pm. Definitely not your frog-in-the-blender performances! Get in step to watch “Dancing with the Desert Stars” while there are still general admission tickets up for grabs at $40! Actor/singer/dancer John Barrowman (TV’s “Torchwood,” “Desperate Housewives”) will host the 2nd annual dancerama competition to the benefit of “100 Women,” an annual giving program for Desert AIDS Project which funds gynecological services and ensures healthcare ease to women and children affected by HIV or AIDS. Judges are philanthropist/Broadway star Peggy Cravens, former Miss USA Shanna Moakler, “Chelsea Lately”/”E!News” star Ross Mathews, Celebrity Stylist Salvador Camarena. Dancing Pros and partners include Jerry Green, Kerry Hendrix, Terri Ketover, Dr. Suzanne Quardt, Steve Quintanilla and Margie Taft. Tickets/info, call 760-969-5743, or visit www.desertAIDSproject.org. At the Renaissance Hotel Palm Springs, 888 East Tahquitz Canyon Way Palm Springs, CA 92262.
Saturday, November 17, 6pm. The Annenberg Theatre’s annual Opening Night Benefit Concert features Tony ® award winning actress/singer/dancer Sutton Foster (Thoroughly Modern Millie as Millie Dillmount, Anything Goes as Reno Sweeney). The multi-talented artist has garnered nominations for every Broadway musical she has appeared in, except one (harrumph), she has also performed as solo artist at Carnegie Hall, among other notable venues, and in June debuted in the popular ABC Family drama series Bunheads, to more huzzahs of critical acclaim. The Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Dr., Palm Springs. Tickets include après-concert party catered by Spencer’s Restaurant: ATC Members, $265; Non-ATC Members $295. Reserve ticketwith a call to 760-325-4490. Performance only $95. More info, visit www.psmuseum.org.
Saturday and Sunday, November 17-18, 10am -4pm. Well, Dorothy, we might be in the “Land of Oz” after all for the 4th annual Super Pet Adoption Fair in Whitewater Park, 71-560 San Jacinto Dr., Rancho Mirage. There’s the Kansas farm, complete with petting zoo! Take the yellow brick road! Over there is the Emerald City! And don’t forget to stop, look, ooh-and-awe over what president of “Loving all Animals” Lindi Biggi calls the “unconditional love machines!” The stars of the show come from 34 animal rescue and shelter organizations that know “there’s no place like home.” Yearning for a forever home are nearly 500 cats and dogs, aided and abetted by exotic birds, horses, rabbits, mules, among other four-legged singing, squawking, pecking, preening and perfectly healthy love-bugs, such as a happy, yappy Fido to adopt for as little as $20. A spayed/neutered/vaccinated Fifi is a steal for $9, thanks to a local benefactor. Enjoy exhibits, vendors, food purveyors and stop by the beer and wine garden to put some foam on your lip. Adoptable pets will look their best as pet groomers compete for prizes. Raffles, entertainers on stage, horse-drawn wagon rides, both days. For more info, or to volunteer, call 760-776-9397. Or visit www.lovingallanimals.org.
Thursday, November 22, 11am-2pm. Get your gobble-on! The Well in the Desert is preparing the turkey with all the fixin’s for a traditional Thanksgiving Dinner, free to every member of the community at the First Baptist Church, 588 Rosa Parks Blvd, Palm Springs. Local Tribal leaders will be honored for their community philanthropy and their dedicated support to the Well. If you need a ride to attend the celebration, a shuttle will be available. America’s Thanksgiving holiday, which dates back to 1621 when the first recorded event was held at Plymouth Plantation in Massachusetts, is unique to the United States, but our snowbirds from Canada and other visitors are welcome to the feast. Donations of turkeys are also welcome. Please fly in the fowl du jour to 181 N. Indian Canyon between 8 am and 3 pm before November 22! For more info, call 760-327-8577.
Saturday, November 24, 9am-2:30pm. Fresh air, fresh food, fresh gift ideas for the holidays, and so much more. What else do you want from the Opening Day of the all-new Palm Springs Open Air Market and Street Fair? It’s all here. Over 100 vendors offering fine arts, novel crafts, on-trend fashion apparel, exquisite jewelry, well-prepared food that will set taste-buds dancing. Hourly prizes from primary sponsor The Spa Resort and Casino who will donate spa gift certificates and free slot play coupons. Restaurant gift cards plucked from the best eateries in town including Trio, Lulu’s, Azul, Sammy G’s Tuscan Grill, Zin and the ACE Hotel King’s Highway. Entertainers include Teagan Taylor from San Diego, only one of great performances every Saturday through May’s Memorial Day Weekend. Free parking is directly across the street. Let’s get this party started! It could be your favorite pit-stop! More info, call 760-452-4074, or visit www.palmspringsopenairmarket.com.
Monday, November 26, 8pm. Called one of America’s pre-eminent humor writers, David Sedaris, according to his press release, was discovered while reading his diary, and after firing his publicist, it seems that the rest is history. (Hey, that subject’s more provocative than sitting at a soda fountain a la Lana, right?) Actually, radio host Ira Glass put Sedaris to work on the airwaves reading “Santaland Diaries” about playing an elf at Macy’s. He has written stories and essays for Glass’s “This American Life,” Esquire and New Yorker magazines, picked up a Thurber Prize for American Humor, was named “Humorist of the Year” by Time Magazine, received an Emmy nomination for “Best Comedy Album,” and he gets along with his writer-sister Amy Sedaris, dueting without dueling at the keyboard. Sedaris (sans sister) appears at the McCallum Theatre for one night. Tickets range from $35 to $65 online www.mccallumtheatre.com or call the Box Office, 760-340-2787. McCallum Theatre, 73000 Fred Waring Dr., Palm Desert.
“Don’t Be Clueless” wants to remind you that press releases for inclusion should be in to the Coachella Valley Weekly at least two weeks ahead of the scheduled event! Thanks!
