HOT PICKS

Desert Guide's choices for best in the desert.

Site Staff Arts & Entertainment, Attractions

CINEMATIC GLOBETROTTING AND GUFFAWS

During the summer, few things beat catching a free movie in air-conditioned comfort at the Annenberg Theater at Palm Springs Art Museum. Global Lens runs Thursday evenings through August. This popular series features films from around the world with strong cinematic and cultural perspective. June 7 brings the Brazilian film Craft, which tells the story of an underemployed actress in Rio de Janeiro. On June 14, the Columbian film Fat, Short, Bald Man explores the life of a bullied, middle-aged virgin as he seeks self-improvement. Movies from Argentina, Rwanda, Iran, Iraq, Turkey, and Morocco round out the offerings.

In August, laugh your socks — or sandals — off during the free Classic Comedy series beginning Aug. 9, presented by Palm Springs Art Museum in partnership with the Palm Springs Film Society. Come celebrate celluloid humor with timeless funny films from decades spanning 1930 to 1970. See Duck Soup (1933), Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), The Ladykillers (1955), Dr. Strangelove (1964), and Annie Hall (1977).

Global Lens and the Classic Comedy series screen in the cool comfort of the Annenberg Theater Thursdays at 6 p.m. For more information, visit www.psmuseum.org or call 760-322-4800.

Living Desert Meerkat

The meerkat has many fans at The Living Desert.

Bert Buxaum

DISCOVER DESERT DWELLERS

The Coachella Valley teems with flora and fauna, especially at The Living Desert Zoo & Botanical Garden — 1,200 acres rich with wildlife and information about the local environment. Explore the world of desert creatures (local and global), such as giraffes, zebras, camels, cheetahs, hyenas, Mexican wolves, meerkats (check out the new exhibit built for these social critters), and more. For more information, visit www.livingdesert.org or call 760-346-5694.

Palm Springs VillageFest

Palm Canyon Drive closes to traffic each Thursday for the popular VillageFest.

PALM SPRINGS BUREAU OF TOURISM

VILLAGEFEST

Every Thursday evening through the summer, from 7 to 10 p.m., downtown Palm Springs transforms into one of the desert’s most popular events. A diverse array of artists, artisans, entertainers, and purveyors of fresh fruits and veggies, flowers, jewelry, snacks, and sweets replaces traffic along Palm Canyon Drive between Baristo and Amado roads. For more information, visit www.palmspringsvillagefest.com or call 760-320-3781.