Things to Do This Weekend: Oktoberfest, AIDS Walk, En Vogue

What's on your agenda? Here's our suggestions for Oct. 17-20

JIM POWERS Arts & Entertainment

 

FOR A GOOD CAUSE
Desert AIDS Walk

Walkers from all forms of diversity congregate to raise awareness about getting tested and raising monies to fund Desert AIDS Project's medical and support services to those living with the disease. Registration starts at 8 a.m. followed by the walk at 9:30 a.m. at Ruth Hardy Park in Palm Springs. See our profile of one walker and how the Desert AIDS Project has impacted his life.

Shop Til You Drop
To help raise both money and awareness for women’s cancers, Saks Fifth Avenue Palm Desert will partner with Gilda’s Club Desert Cities and host the 2013 Key To The Cure, a charity shopping weekend running Oct. 20-23. There will be a kick-off celebration from 1 to 5 p.m. Oct. 20, featuring hors d’oeuvres, live entertainment and, of course, shopping.

FILM
"Matterhorn"
The Desert Film Society offers "Matterhorn" at the Camelot Theatres in Palm Springs. Fred, a 54-year-old lonely man since his wife's death, meets Theo, a mentally challenged adult. Theo helps open Fred's life again to the rest of the world.

"Escape Plan"
Hear from producer Mark Canton after the 7 p.m. screening Oct. 19 at Cinemas Palme d'or. "Escape Plan" stars Sylvester Stallone and former California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

ART
In Case You Missed Him
Coachella Valley artist Cristopher Cichocki has had his installation, "Desert Abyss: Cycle in Cycle" (left) extended through Oct. 27 at the Palm Springs Art Museum. The pinnacle event will take place at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 17 when Cichocki's video, "Circulation" will be shown. Check out the story on Cristopher by Palm Springs Life editor Steven Biller.

Variety is the Spice of Life
Running into January, this art show at the La Quinta Museum offers the work of 31 Coachella Valley artists from such disciplines as painting, sculpture, photography, illustration, paper macho, jewelry, collage, fused glass, ceramic art, mixed media, and metalwork. Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday. Watch a video of artist Kathy Dunham explain her artwork.

Highway 62 Art Tours
The Morongo Basin Cultural Arts celebrates artistic talent with a series of tour dates along a 30-mile stretch of Highway 62 between Morongo Valley and Twentynine Palms. Runs Oct. 19-20 in the east end of Highway 62 (Morongo Valley, Yucca Valley, Landers and Pioneertown) and Oct. 26-27 on the west end (Twentynine Palms and Wonder Valley). Joshua Tree is featured both weekends.

MUSIC
"Gershwin & Friends"

Pianist Jeffrey Siegel (right) plays and talks about music by George Gershwin, like "Rhapsody in Blue", at 3 p.m. Oct. 20 at McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert.

"Songbirds: The Women in my Head"
Francesca Amari debuts a new cabaret show at 2 p.m. Oct. 20 at the Arthur Newman Theater inside the Joslyn Center in Palm Desert. Amari recently joined the cast of "Standing on Ceremony", which runs Nov. 1-2 at the Annenberg Theater in Palm Springs.

Rock Out
Fantasy Springs Resort Casino offers free Friday night concerts featuring tribute bands with two side-by-side stages. The warmup band starts at 7:30 p.m. followed by the headliner at 9 p.m. The warmup band returns around 11. Hollywood Roses is the Oct. 19 headliner for the headbangers out there with music from Guns and Roses.

HALLOWEEN
Dress up Fido

Petsmart has always had an open doggie/cat door policy, but now they want you to bring your best friend dressed for Halloween. The Palm Springs location at 5601 Ramon Road East will host a party from 9-11 a.m. Oct. 19 with free goodies to the first 50 costumed pets, and an opportunity for that Kodak moment.

"I Vant to Drink Your Blood'
The Rancho Mirage Public Library is commemorating the life of actor Boris Karloff with an exhibit of memorabilia. In addition, the library is screening some of Karloff's classics starting Oct. 28.

"It's Just a Jump to the Right"
Take in the classic "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" at midnight every Friday in October at Camelot Theaters in Palm Springs.

THEATER
"Annie"

"The Sun Will Come Out" is just one song you'll instantly recognize during Marquee Academy's production in Palm Springs. This is the opening weekend, and the show runs for two more weekends before closing Nov. 2.

"Are You There God? It's Me Karen Carpenter"
The play (left) does include hits from the 1970s group featuring Karen Carpenter, but the story is about Margaret as she moves to New Jersey, enters the sixth grade and copes with becoming a woman. Just runs this weekend, and Sunday's matinee will be followed by a Q&A with the cast.

MAKE ME LAUGH
A guy walks into a bar…
Lisa Lampanelli, known for her insult comedy style, appears at The Pechanga Casino at 8 p.m. Oct. 18 in Temecula. Before comedy, Lampanelli pursued a journalism career at Popular Mechanics and Rolling Stone magazines.

EATS
Alton Brown
The chef who dresses like a mad scientist but carries salad thongs brings "The Edible Inevitable Tour" to McCallum Theatre at 8 p.m. Oct. 18. Read our interview with Brown.

Oktoberfest Palm Springs
The Spa Casino parking lot on Calle Encilia will be a hub of activity again from noon to 6 p.m. Oct. 19 with Oktoberfest Palm Springs. Chef Adam Gertler and Palm Springs' own Johannes Bacher (right) will demonstrate sausage dishes, there will be plenty of beer and of course, polka music. Read our interview with Gertler.

CONCERTS
Women of Soul

Here is an all-star lineup of top female singers from the 1980s and '90s, including En Vogue, Lisa Lisa, Jo Jo and Evelyn "Champagne" King at 8 p.m. Oct. 19 at Spotlight 29 Casino in Indio.

FESTS
VillageFest and COD Street Fair

As the "season" approaches, both weekly fests are gearing up. VillageFest moved to its fall hours of 6-10 p.m. Thursdays (Oct. 17) on Palm Canyon Drive. At College of the Desert in Palm Desert, Street Fair operates 7 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays.

SHOPPING
Monkey in the Middle

The Palm Desert Costco shopping center will be the site of a three-day consignment event, Oct. 18-20. Hours are 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Oct. 18; 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 19 , and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Oct. 20. Items includes gently used and kids and maternity items.

HOW TO….
Desert Gardening 101

Learn how to create your own desert garden during the eighth annual Desert Garden Community Day Oct. 19 in Palm Desert. Read our breakdown of the day's activities and hands-on classes.

For more events, view our comprehensive calendar.

 

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