BYLINE: DIANE MARLIN-DIRKX
Thursday, November 22, 11am-2pm. Today’s a delicious day, perhaps not for the turkey, but for the lovers of the beautiful, tasty bird, we say, “gobble-on!” The free Traditional Thanksgiving Dinner with all the trimmings is being served by The Well in the Desert to all comers of the community at the First Baptist Church, 588 Rosa Parks Blvd, Palm Springs, CA. 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 is 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 featuring the fowl du jour. If you hanker to hear more, beyond your growling tummy, 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 could 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.
Wednesday, November 28, 6:30pm. All we can say of actress and author Molly Ringwald’s newest book When It Happens To You: A Novel in Stories (2012) is that she had us at her first best sellers, Getting the Pretty Back and Finding the Perfect Lipstick (2010). The star of Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink, will speak at UCR Palm Desert, followed by an interview by Tod Goldberg, program director for low-residency MFA in Creative Writing and Writing for the Performing Arts. The renowned actress, who defined teen-dom, defied teen-dumb, and delineated all its territorial tribulations and personal strife, is now a wife, mother of three, and ready to get personal about womanhood and all its ticklish truth-telling, tantalizing style and heart-warming humor. Location: UCR Palm Desert, 75080 Frank Sinatra Dr., Palm Desert. For more info, call 760-834-0800.
November through January 1, 2013. Give a child a book, open a mind to possibility! Barnes & Noble book-sellers is happy to announce its annual Holiday Book Drive will support Coachella Valley BookPALS, sponsored by PSWIFT (Palm Springs Women in Film and Television) who donate books to nearly 2,000 students in ten schools scattered through the Coachella Valley, and to SafeHouse of the Desert in Thousand Palms who provide support to teens in crisis through at 21-day program. “This is one of our most popular community partnerships,” said Sarah DeFrancesco, director of community relations at Barnes & Noble. “Our booksellers and customers get the joy of giving a book to a child in need.” Location: Westfield Shopping Mall. For more information, call 760-779-0637, or email crm2130@bn.com.
Tuesday, November 27, 7:30pm. The finale for anointing the “Voice of the Valley!” The “cabaret open mic competition” presented by The Carol Channing-Harry Kullijian Foundation for the Arts was created, produced and hosted by David Green, executive director of the afore-mentioned foundation. The auditions, emceed by Les Michaels, accompanied by Joel Baker, invited Coachella Valley residents (part-time or seasonal) and professional/amateur singers to step up to the mic and sing their hearts out (3-minutes max from a Broadway, Cabaret, or standard repertoire) during 3 of the 7 weeks. The winner will open for Broadway at the Cascade starring Emmy-awardee, Broadway/TV performer Bruce Vilanch on December 7. Selected finalists will be from both genders—call the ACLU if you have a problem with that. Judges include David Green, weather-meister Patrick Evans, radio personality “Bulldog” Bill Feingold and radio personality/songstress Joey English. Location: The Cascade Lounge at Spa Resort Casino, 401 E Amado Rd., Palm Springs, CA. For more info, call 760-883-1000, or visit www.sparesortcasino.com.
Saturday, December 1, 5:30-7:30pm. Fun! Festive! Fabulous! ACT for MS (Multiple Sclerosis) doesn’t mince words, nor limit the joy of the holidays! The Twelve Days of Christmas begins late November with an invitation to a spectacular stroll down “Christmas Tree Lane” within a grove of elaborate designer and celebrity-themed traditional evergreens, culminating in a grand old party when the symbolic trees go to the highest bidder in a Live Auction at 6:30pm! Co-hosted by entertainer Jack Jones and (likewise) Ruta Lee with the season’s favorite holiday music by pianist Bill Marx, the event is chaired by Carolyn Williams and Gloria Greer, while guests feast, lift spirits (literally!) and enjoy the finest professional entertainment. As we said, it’s a fun, festive and fabulous evening for $20 donation, with reserved seating for $50. Advance ticket purchase; call 760-773-9806. Please RSVP by November 25th and mention Christmas Tree Lane. Location: Augusta Restaurant, 73951 El Paseo, Palm Desert.
Sunday, December 2, 6pm. Fore! Get in play for the 2012 Dennis James 17th Annual Gala & Golf Classic fundraising tournament and gala grand evening for United Cerebral Palsy of the Inland Empire. It may be too late to play in the classic tournament on Monday, December 3rd for a new Lexus, or $50,000 hole in one (split between shooter and charity). For info on teeing off, call 760-321-8184, ext 103. However, the gala glitterati won’t want to miss the night before with silent and live auctions (a private box to see Barry Manilow at the McCallum Theatre), hosted cocktails, scrumptious dinner, live auction and entertainment by comedian Josh Blue, best known as the guy who “puts the cerebral in Cerebral Palsy” according to Micki James. His performance credits on television, nationally syndicated radio and leading newspaper/magazine profiles would fill the space I have left. Unfair! Location: Rancho Las Palmas Resort & Spa, 41000 Bob Hope Dr., Rancho Mirage, CA. RSVP for tickets, $125 per person, call 760-321-8184, or info@ucpie.org.
“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!
