Thursday, May 2
6 p.m.: Looking for that one item to complement the decor of your house. You just may find it at the Thursday Night Village Fest on Palm Canyon Drive. Bring your dog.
6-9 p.m.: Art is supposed to reveal the soul of the artist. See how true that is at the grand opening of "Exposed Soul" at JJ&A Pop Up Gallery in Palm Springs. View works by Jeff Ingram, Chris Redman, Demar Douglas, Tyree Jessie and sculptures by Snake Jagger.
7 p.m.: Set in mid-century Palm Springs, Stephen Sondheim's "A Little Night Music" tantalizes audiences with secrets and forbidden love. Runs through the weekend at McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert.
8 p.m.: Spirit Family Reunion will make you stomp, clap and holler to homegrown American music at Pappy & Harriet's in Pioneertown.
Dinner suggestion: Warmer temperatures outside make salads sound refreshing and cool. Here are 10 places that offer a salad creation. Read our story.
2013 Hot Rodeo
Friday, May 3
Cinco de Mayo: Check out our list of 10 places to celebrate Mexican heritage and culture from food specials to entertainment all weekend long. Read our story.
11:30 a.m.: Cuistot Restaurant in Palm Desert hosts a fashion show featuring the latest styles from El Paseo Boutiques, including BB One, Dani C, Earth Spirits and more. Reservations recommended.
Noon: "Hunky Dory" screens at Cinemas D'Or in Palm Desert. Take a trip back to 1976 with this British musical starring Minnie Driver and a soundtrack with David Bowie, The Beach Boys, The Byrds, and Electric Light Orchestra.
1-6 p.m.: The Palm Springs 2013 Hot Rodeo starts with its traditional pool party open to the public at Ivy Palm Resort & Spa in Palm Springs. The actual competition runs 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday at the A.C. Dysart Equestrian Park in Banning. Saturday night is an outdoor dance from 7-11 p.m. at SpurLine Bar in Palm Springs. Read our story.
2:30-4 p.m.: So you think you can dance? If you're a beginner or even if you've had a few lessons, you might want to think about attending Christy Lane's Dare to Dance Convention, which runs the weekend at Renaissance Esmeralda Resort & Spa in Indian Wells.
6-8 p.m.: Attend the last gallery opening of the year at the Desert Art Center in Palm Springs. Meet the artists, view the variety of artwork.
6-9 p.m.: Sample the nectars of up to 50 wineries and liquor purveyors accompanied by cuisine by chef Francois Gaertner at Desert Willow Golf Resort's "Uncorked".
8 p.m.: This is the last weekend to see "Boys in The Band" by Desert Rose Productions at The Commissary in Rancho Mirage. This is one birthday party you'll never forget in one of the classic gay plays.
8:30 p.m.: And you thought the Forever Marilyn statue was just a place to have your picture taken. It's also the backdrop for an outdoor movie series. To help preview next month's Palm Springs Short Fest, "Pretty Little Doggie" will show first followed by "Monkey Business" featuring the blond bombshell herself.
Dinner suggestion: Rockwood Grill at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort in Palm Desert features a menu where you build your own meal. Read our story.
Brew at the Zoo
Saturday, May 4
Cinco de Mayo: Check out our list of 10 places to celebrate Mexican heritage and culture from food specials to entertainment all weekend long. Read our story.
7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Hankering for a good garage sale? The 29 Palms Historical Society is hosting a Gigantic Community Rummage Sale in the parking lot of the Old Schoolhouse Museum, 6760 National Park Drive. Proceeds benefit the Hastie Bus Restoration project.
9 a.m. to Noon: You can't be too educated in the area of personal healthcare. Attend this free health fair put on by the nursing department at Cal State San Bernardino's Palm Desert Campus. There will be health screenings, information and education on an array of topics.
11 a.m. to 3 p.m.: Come watch the Kentucky Derby at the Viceroy in Palm Springs complete with a traditional fancy hat and mint juleps with a paid lunch.
Noon to 4 p.m.: Gilda's Derby Day at The Races combines enjoying the Kentucky Derby while raising money to support cancer patients and survivors living in the Coachella Valley. The luncheon at the Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage features Kentucky Derby Cuisine, Derby attire and hats, and an opportunity to attend a drawing for two tickets to the 2014 Kentucky Derby.
2 p.m.: "There's No Business Like Show Business" – the only woman who could sing that song was Ethel Merman. Her talents will be celebrated by Alix Korey with Chris Marlowe on piano at the Arthur Newman Theatre-Joslyn Center in Palm Desert.
5:30 p.m.: The Palm Springs Police Association honors Superior Court Judge Victoria Cameron of Indio and Shelter From the Storm Executive Director Lynn Moriarty at its inaugural "New Beginning Gala" at the Palm Springs Convention Center. The event benefits Shelter From the Storm which aids women and children victims of domestiv violence in Riverside County. The show includes a Broadway revue prodiced by Live It Up Productions.
6:30 p.m.: Here's a great opportunity to sample a variety of micro-brews, wines and food from a host of vendors at "Brew at the Zoo" while helping The Living Desert. Among the special brews to be introduced is The Living Desert's own "Big Cat Brew" created with the Coachella Valley Brewing Co. There also will be three music stages.
7 p.m.: The Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company performs modern ballet to jazz at the Coachella Valley Repertory Theater in Rancho Mirage. A second performance is at 2 p.m. Sunday.
7 p.m.: Totally rock out for free, mind you, at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino's Rock Yard in Indio. Two stages feature a cover band followed by a tribute band. This week the tribute band, Which Ones Pink, will honor Pink Floyd while the cover band, Rok of Ages, plays tunes from all of your metal favs, like Metallica, Rolling Stones and Van Halen.
9 p.m.: You may have seen comedian Gabriel Iglesias, who has appeared on Comedy Central and is known for using storytelling, effected voices and sound effects in his routine. He will have two shows at The Show at Agua Caliente Casino in Rancho Mirage.
Dinner suggestion: When's the last time you ate a good steak? Sullivan's Steakhouse can solve that problem eerily. The Palm Desert location was recently crowned Best Steakhouse in our Best of the Best voter contest.
Jeffrey Gimble
Sunday, May 5
Cinco de Mayo: Check out our list of 10 places to celebrate Mexican heritage and culture from food specials to entertainment all weekend long. Read our story.
7 a.m.: Palm Desert resident Jeff Rasmussen, who has brain cancer, will be the starter to the second annual La Quinta Gem of the Desert Trail 5-kilometer run/walk beginning at the intersection of Calle Chillon and Avenida Montezuma. Race proceeds will go to aid Rasmussen's medical bills.
2 p.m.: Listen to the smooth jazz sounds emanating from Vicky's of Santa Fe in Indian Wells. Vocalist Jeffrey Gimble with Jeff Colella on piano pulls on Gimble's Texas blues country.
Brunch suggestion: Choose from specialty omelets, three egg scrambles and hashes (like prime rib) at Escena Lounge and Grill in Palm Springs.
Gossip, Gossip, Gossip
Grace Robbins shares all the dirt and scandals of living with the late author Harold Robbins including their open marriage. She counted among her stable of lovers studs Sean Connery and Roger Moore. Dinner is included starting at 6 p.m. May 8 at Melvyn's Restaurant in Palm Springs.
For more events, be sure to check out our robust calendar.