Weekender: Chicago, Splash House, UFO Conference

What's on your agenda? Here's our suggestions for Aug. 8-11

JIM POWERS Arts & Entertainment

Thursday, Aug. 8
10 a.m.:  Bring in a pair of gently worn jeans into Chico's Boutique on El Paseo in Palm Desert and receive $20 off any full-priced denim purchase. The donated jeans will be given to the National Network to Ed Domestic Violence. Runs through Aug. 18.

6 p.m.: The free film screenings continue at the Palm Springs Art Museum with "Southwest" from Brazil. A young woman named Clarice gives birth to a baby girl also named Clarice and then dies. Identity and desire add up to a palpable fairytale.

7 p.m.: VillageFest offers a lot of eating choices, some unusual street acts and vendors offering jewelry, clothing and desert kitsch. Runs until 10 p.m.

7 p.m.: The Riviera Palm Springs serves up specialty drinks and food for its "Hot as Hell" Pool Parties from 7-10 p.m. every Thursday through Oct. 31. Read our preview.

Dinner suggestion: A fresh herb garden at Kings Highway inside the Ace Hotel & Swim Club in Palm Springs makes all the difference. Read our story.

Sergei Liakhovich

Friday, Aug. 9
All Day: Experts from across the country convene in Joshua Tree for the Contact in the Desert conference with panel discussions on UFOs and ancient civilizations. Open to the public. Features George Noory, radio personality of "Coast to Coast AM" and many others. Read our preview.

5 p.m.: Golden Boy Promotions brings world-class boxing to the desert with a 10-round heavyweight bout between Deontay Wilder and defending World Champion Sergei Liakhovich at Fantasy Springs in Indio. Two preliminary bouts will  feature a pair of unbeaten lightweights and a 10-round junior middleweight clash.

7 p.m.: Knott's Soak City will stay open a few hours after its normal 6 p.m. closing time to bring kids and families its third annual "Dive-In Movie". Tonight's feature is "The Lorax". The movie season runs through Aug. 23.

8 p.m.: Hear a tribute to The Doors and Jim Morrison from Strange Days inside the Spotlight 29 Casino's cool 2,200-seat theatre as part of the Free Friday Concert Series in Coachella.

8 p.m.: Chicago, once known as the Chicago Transit Authority in the 1960s, has a song from just about every decade since that you're sure to recognize at the Pechanga Casino Resort in Temecula.

8 p.m.: Three Chord Justice, 2010 winner of the Viejas/KSON Bog Country Showdown, mixes originals with handpicked covers from Emmylou Harris, Hank Williams, Loretta Lynn and others at Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown.

9 p.m.: Dancing, cool pool, eats and drinks sounds like a good recipe for your Friday nights at the "Caliente Pool Party" through Aug. 30. The Agua Caliente Casino Resort & Spa partners with FM radio station KKUU (92.7) to turn the pool into an oasis nightclub. Read our preview.

Dinner suggestion: El Mirasol features house specialties like Chicharrom en Salsa, Spinach Enchiladas or traditional fags like Carnitas, Carne Asada and Chiles Rellenos.

Shann Carr

Saturday, Aug. 10
Notice: The Palm Springs Aerial Tramway will be closed starting Aug. 10 for maintenance and will reopen Aug. 31.

All Day: Experts from across the country convene in Joshua Tree for the Contact in the Desert conference with panel discussions on UFOs and ancient civilizations. Open to the public. Features George Noory, radio personality of "Coast to Coast AM" and many others. Read our preview.

7 a.m. – Noon: College of the Desert Street Fair located near the main entrance to the college off Monterey Avenue.

11 a.m.:  Legacy Siam, a new Thai restaurant in Palm Desert, will conduct a job fair until 4 p.m. The restaurant is located at 36901 Cook St. in the University Village Shopping Center.

11 a.m.:  "Splash House" brings a tidal wave of talent to Palm Springs with more than 30 musical acts split among three Palm Springs hotels: Saguaro, The Curve and Caliente Tropics. Shuttles available. Just a wicked time. Read our latest story on the event.

1:30 p.m.: Catch the "Spirit of '45, a free event for seniors at the Palm Springs Air Museum with music by Roberta Linn and her band, vendor booths and free cake.

4 p.m.: City of Indio Open Air Market runs until 10 p.m. Free admission.

5 p.m.: A doubleheader at Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown starts with The Shadow Mountain Band at 5 p.m. followed by Sara Petite, a San Diego product who is familiar to the desert audiences and beyond. Read our preview.

7 p.m.: Forget singing in the shower. It's time to branch out to the movie theater. The Indio Performing Arts Center has begun a string of Saturday night flicks. This week's sing-a-long features John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John in "Grease". Read our preview.

7 p.m.: LGBT comedian and gay icon Shann Carr will have you laughing in Sweet Sweet Laughter! at the Desert Rose playhouse at The Commissary in Rancho Mirage.

7 p.m.: The Palm Springs Woman's Club brings the reading of V.J. Hume's two-act dramedy, "Lush" to its strafe to benefit Michael's House Recovery Center.

7:30 p.m.: Hear your favorite Tom Petty songs from tribute band You Got Lucky, but first hear from Rocktane starting at 7:30 at the Rock Yard at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio.

8 p.m.: So much talent on one stage with Los Lonely Boys, Los Lobos and Alejandro Escovedo bringing their distinctive Latino sound to Fantasy Springs Resort Casino in Indio.

Dinner suggestion: Saturday Night is now barbecue night at Twenty6 at La Quinta Resort & Club and PGA West. Their 55-gallon drum smoker cranks out beef brisket, pork butt and other pit-lovers selections.

Vicki Knight

Sunday, Aug. 11
All Day: Experts from across the country convene in Joshua Tree for the Contact in the Desert conference with panel discussions on UFOs and ancient civilizations. Open to the public. Features George Noory, radio personality of "Coast to Coast AM" and many others. Read our preview.

11 a.m.:  "Splash House" brings a tidal wave of talent to Palm Springs with more than 30 musical acts split among three Palm Springs hotels: Saguaro, The Curve and Caliente Tropics. Shuttles available. Just a wicked time. Read our latest story on the event.

2 p.m.: Dubbed 'The Desert Songbird', Vicki Knight presents her latest cabaret show, "Here's to Life, Love, and You" accompanied by music director Joel Baker on piano at the Arthur Newman Theater in The Joslyn Center in Palm Desert.

7 p.m.: Every Sunday is Rock and Roll Service, a free show with the favorite singers and players at Pappy & Harriet's getting together to jam.

Brunch suggestion: Circa 59, recently awarded by Wine Spectator for its extensive wine list, offers an a la carte brunch inside the Riviera Palm Springs resort.

Charlotte's Web

Free 2nd Sundays

Admission to the Palm Springs Art Museum every second Sunday is free along with a host of family activities, including a movie ("Charlotte's Web"), drawing animals, entertainment from the Bob Baker Marionette Theater and a Spotlight Talk that encourages kids to walk throughout the museum to explore why artists use animals to represent different ideas and personas.