By Judith Salkin
City of Palm Desert’s First Weekend program brings featured events and a plethora of special activities to the first weekend in March on March 6, 7 and 8. Celebrating the dazzling diversity of the cultural aspects of this city, First Weekend is designed to offer residents and visitors to the area an opportunity to experience a variety of exciting special events and engaging things to do in Palm Desert.
The featured events in March will include a special concert on Friday at Palm Springs Art Museum, The Galen and Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Garden by Lincoln Jesser. As a singer and songwriter, Jesser performs at 7:30 p.m. in the beautiful outdoor sculpture garden. Jesser is home-grown Coachella Valley musician from La Quinta and poised to hit the charts with his vocals reminiscent of the soft inflections of Al Stewart and influences of Daft Punk, and The Killers.
On Saturday the Gardens on El Paseo showcases its annual concert series with an exciting performance by Art of Sax, taking place in the center courtyard. Art of Sax is a much-in-demand band throughout California, wooing audiences with their special blend of Hip-Hop, Motown, R&B, Funk, Dance and Groove Jazz music. With a $12 donation, with the proceeds to benefit Shelter From the Storm, attendees are provided seats on the lawn, two glasses of wine and light snacks are available.
Ticket sales begin at 4:30 p.m., with entertainment beginning at 6 p.m.
On Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Desert Willow Golf Resort features a delectable ala cart brunch menu. Surrounded by the picturesque desert setting, guests will enjoy breathtaking mountain vistas. Reservations are not required for small parties, but can be made by calling (760) 346-7060, ext. 104.
Hikers learn about desert wildflowers during the interpretive hikes led by members of the Friends of the Desert Mountains at the 2015 Coachella Valley Wildflower Festival at the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitors Center.
Other highlights of First Weekend March include the free Wildflower Festival on Saturday, showcasing The Sand Guys – stars of the Travel Channel’s “Sand Masters” – who will sculpt 24 tons of sand into a fantastical creation. This takes place at the Santa Rosa and San Jacinto Mountains National Monument Visitor Center off of Highway 74 in Palm Desert. Free parking and shuttles are available from St. Margaret’s Episcopal Church on Highway 74.
A variety of stage shows in March include “Nunsense: The MEGA Musical” at the Arthur Newman Theatre at the Joslyn Center, and the incomparable Johnny Mathis at the McCallum Theatre on Saturday evening, also fill the weekend.
In addition to the featured and special events, there is also outdoor art to be enjoyed at Civic Center Park, the median on El Paseo, or the beautiful Faye Sarkowsky Sculpture Gardens at Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Desert, The Galen. A bit further north, The Art Place on Corporate Way offers an art walk of another color. It is a hidden gem for interior designers and decorators as well as discerning homeowners looking to outfit their homes with one of a kind art and displays. Plus, there are dozens of art galleries with a variety of fine art along the famed El Paseo Drive.
First Weekends run through May, with many of the activities free. For a complete schedule of activities go to www.pdfirstweekend.com or call (760) 568-1441.
