Lesbians of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley Outings and Events
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I began the week a little frayed—nerves buzzing, thoughts tangled.
The days arrived full of small surprises and sharp edges. I caught myself simmering, resentful that other people’s choices seemed to box me in, forcing me to say no.
Saying yes has always been easier—smooth, like sunlight on calm water. No feels jagged in my mouth, scraping as it comes out. It leaves echoes, sometimes laced with adjectives best left unsaid.
So I took a breath and told myself the truth: woman up. It won’t kill you to set a boundary. Blaming others only builds walls inside your own chest.
Later, I poured a small Kahlúa and cream—my quiet truce with myself. The glass felt cool in my hand, the sweetness grounding me. Not the healthiest cure, maybe, but it lifted the fog long enough for me to laugh at my own drama.
Now, in this first week of the silent writing meetup, the world has softened. No chatter, no errands—just pages and light. I sit with four years of old newsletter intros spread before me, pieces of who I’ve been. I’m gathering them into a collection, letting the words breathe together for the first time.
As I read, I see the same truths circling back like migrating birds—lessons I’ve learned, forgotten, and learned again. It’s humbling, this rhythm of remembering. Growth is less about mastery than return. I move through the cycles of seasons, days of drought when nothing seems to inspire, other moments fill me with the joy of possibilites and sometimes I am flooded with gratitude. Each season brings its gifts.
But with each returning cycle, something sinks deeper. The lesson shifts from thought to flesh. The body remembers what the mind resists. New people, new seasons, new light—they turn the soil of old understanding. The hard things loosen. Anger drains away. Resentment thaws.
And what remains is quieter.
More spacious.
Something like peace.
— Kim
Butler Wars: RV Edition
Well, our house is on the market (again), and to avoid the daily drama of restaging—think pillow fluffing Olympics—we’ve retreated back into the cozy chaos of RV life. Truth be told, half the time we don’t know what is stored where; it’s like a scavenger hunt designed by an ADHD Houdini.
To survive the narrow passageways and prevent daily pile-ups, we’ve resurrected the Butler System. When I’m vertical, I become Dorien’s personal butler, fetching everything from ice to lunch while she lounges like royalty. If she dares to get up, the roles reverse, and suddenly I’m living the high life—at least until she wants her glasses from the other end of the RV.
So far, I’m winning the Butler Wars (by a slim margin), but it’s a highly competitive league, and the season is far from over
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My book Travels Into Discomfort is available on Amazon.
It is a travel adventure in its prose and a journey to the heart in its poetry.
Travels Into Discomfort
"nothing about your life is small, the way sunlight hits your floor in the morning, the sound of someone laughing at something only you would understand, the feeling of water washing over your hands - none of it is meaningless. pay attention. let it mean something. let it be enough." soulxsigh
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Barbara Carpenter Realtor
Shann Carr
Comedian, Event Producer, Realtor, A Lesbian Concierge In The Desert
Andrea Voras, Gerontologist Dementia Specialist Life Aging Life Care Manager
Constance Clare-Newman, Somatic Work for Pain Relief and Stress Reduction
Corlyce Photography
Chris Ann Kallgren Realtor
Sunny Designs-Website & Graphic Design & Video
Rice Notary
Nancy Minger - Massage Therapist
Poochsitter
Motivation Changes — Life Coaching - Dr Ann Sarah Engel, MSW, PhD
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For more information about pickleball, including lessons, leagues, and other lesbians playing pickleball - contact Mary Barsaleau.
Mary is a registered Pickleball Ambassador.
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New Book -Smartass: Memoir of a Mouthy Girl
New Book - Show Her The Money
New Book - The Worst Kind of Girl, a novel by Susan Rukeyser
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- Cork Women's Fun Weekend
- AdventureWomen: organizes exceptional women’s only travel groups spots around the globe.
- Trafalgar: offers women-only guided vacations to various destinations, with local female guides and experts.
- Road Scholar: provides educational and cultural trips for women of all ages and interests.
- Adventures in Good Company: creates active and adventurous trips for women who love the outdoors.
- Intrepid Travel’s Women’s Expeditions: explores local cultures and traditions from a female perspective, with female leaders and hosts.
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 | | Vandana Shiva is a remarkable force of nature, celebrated globally for her unwavering commitment to environmental sustainability and social justice. As a prominent physicist, author, and activist, she has dedicated her life to advocating for biodiversity, organic farming, and the rights of farmers, particularly in India. Her pioneering work in promoting ecological agriculture has transformed countless lives, empowering communities to embrace sustainable practices that honor the earth. Vandana's insightful writings and passionate speeches inspire a new generation to challenge corporate monopolies and advocate for food sovereignty. Through her organization, Navdanya, she has established seed banks that safeguard indigenous seeds, preserving the rich agricultural heritage of India. Her accomplishments serve as a beacon of hope, reminding us that a harmonious relationship with nature is not only possible but essential for the future of our planet. Despite death threats, she took on Monsanto in India and Africa and won.
The Power of Quantum Thinking | Dr. Vandana Shiva at Consciousness Symposium
(2024)
Vandana Shiva: Ecofeminism, Healing Nature & Women
You are not Atlas carrying the world on your shoulder. It is good to remember that the planet is carrying you.
To create the protection for the corporations, government is actually growing bigger than ever before, in every part of the world. Yet its growing extremely thin as a protector of people
| | Email me at gabriolakim@gmail.com if you want something posted on the bulletin board, or an event promoted. | | |
Sunset Music & Comedy Festival - PRIDE and VETERAN'S DAY WEEKEND
November 6-9, 2025
One Epic Weekend: PS Pride, Veterans Day & Nonstop Music Collide in Palm Springs!
Check this out—Palm Springs Pride Fest, usually a first-week-of-November event, is shaking things up and landing right on our scheduled Veterans Day Weekend. Coincidence? Maybe. Destiny? Absolutely. We’re leaning all the way in and seizing the moment to celebrate it all! Because what do you get when you mix Pride with a concert steeped in music education? Pure magic—a sonic explosion of culture,
community, and pure, unfiltered fun!
When Pride energy meets the power of live music, the result is nothing short of electrifying. Imagine a weekend where every note tells a story, every
performance honors a legacy, and every beat fuels both celebration and connection. We’re bringing together iconic artists, rising stars, and unexpected collaborations
to entertain, educate, and inspire.
Whether you're here for the music, the knowledge,the movement, or just to dance under the desert sky, this Pride week is about to make history—and you’ll want to be part of it!
SWEET BABY J'AI PRESENTS | Sunset Music | Palm Springs, CA
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Congratulations to Valerie Milano, publisher and senior editor of The Hollywood Times, will receive the Spirit of Stonewall Arts and Culture Award for her journalism and coverage of LGBTQ+ cultural events, including the Palm Springs LGBTQ+ Film Festival and Cinema Diverse at the Pride Honors
Valerie is also a major supporter of the L-Fund and Sunset Music. Well deserved Valerie.
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From Conservation to Food Cultivation: The Resilient Coachella Valley Desert Garden - Oswit Land Trust
Join Jose Mendoza, OLT's Staff Restoration Biologist, who oversees the ecological restoration efforts at Prescott Preserve, managing the reintroduction of over 50 native species. Jose will help translate this large-scale ecological expertise directly to your home garden.
This unique lecture covers the entire lifecycle of sustainable desert gardening, focusing on:
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Edible & Ethnobotanical Uses: Discover the powerful uses and proper preparation methods for resilient plants you can grow in your own garden, like Honey Mesquite, Desert Willow, Barrel Cactus, and Pencil Cholla.
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Ethical & Sustainable Harvesting: Learn the crucial guidelines for responsibly collecting plant material, ensuring you leave more than you take, and your garden plants thrive.
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Applied Native Garden Design: Walk through professional design schematics (produced by The Living Desert) to plan a native landscape based on your garden’s specific purpose and needs.
You'll receive expert resources and practical knowledge to seamlessly integrate these resilient natives into your own landscape, creating a truly productive, modern desert garden.
Wednesday, November 5, 2025
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Mizell Center, 480 S Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Information & RSVP: David Paisley at DavidP@OswitLandTrust.org
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Birds Beyond the Binary
Speaker Lindsay Rowe, Senior Education Coordinator for Audubon California’s Salton Sea & Desert Program, will lead this discussion about how many species on Earth are capable of exhibiting characteristics humans have described as “Queer.” In this presentation, we will dive into the beauty of Queer birds, including polygamous Acorn Woodpeckers, a California island of Lesbian gulls, the story of the Male Hooded Warbler living a Female life, the White-throated Sparrows with four distinct sexes, and more. This presentation is co-sponsored by Oswit Land Trust, Audubon California, and the Palm Springs Public Library and will be held at the Mizell Center.
Thursday, December 11, 2025
3:00 PM to 4:30 PM
Mizell Center, 480 S Sunrise Way, Palm Springs, CA 92262
Information & RSVP: David Paisley at DavidP@OswitLandTrust.org
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BAM is back (Zoom Book and Movie) discussion group
BAM 2.0 starts on Monday, October 13th at 5:30 p.m. Pacific time. We are a book and movie club that has been meeting online since 2020. We have a new format coming back from our summer break this year. All participants have the opportunity to select a book or movie for the group and to lead the discussion the month the group reads or views their selection.
Looking forward to our meeting to talk about Atmosphere by Taylor Jenkins Reid on Nov. 10th at 5:30 pm pacific time.
Gail will be leading our discussion.
For questions about BAM and to request a link for the October meeting, please get in touch with Flynn Sylvest at flynnsylvest@gmail.com. Thank you!
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"Wine Down Fridays", This event is now Nov 21st. The guest speaker is Jeanette Tonnes. Registered Veterinary Technician with more than 45 years working worldwide with exotic animals. She now travels across the country offering a preventative medicine program to wolf and big cat sanctuaries.
1st and 3rd Fridays are Wine Down Friday’s with Guest Speakers 5PM-6:30P. 600 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs.
present by the Ladies of Justice at the V-Lounge
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Life is unpredictable and can change in a flash! People suddenly get sick when they seem really healthy — and when does anyone ever plan for suffering a heart attack, stroke or developing Alzheimer’s? Yet with an increasing number of people living well into their 80s, 90s and even 100s, the need to effectively plan ahead — has never been more pressing! So if you keep putting off getting your affairs in order because you don't want to think about it, don’t know where to begin, or don't know what to say, then this PALS Seminar is for you!
The Seminar was Oct 18th and was recorded. I will put a link as soon as it is available.
PALS no-cost seminars offer up-to-date information, resources and opportunities for learning and engaging in each one of the essential "planning ahead" conversations all of us need to have and the actions we must take now before a health crisis or other life-altering situation arises.
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Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk
Join us on Saturday, November 8, 2025 at 8 AM
To ensure a safe, enjoyable, and high-quality experience for everyone, we're capping this year's race at 1,200 participants. If you're thinking about joining us, don't wait too long—spots are filling up fast!
Info & Signup
Palm Springs Pride 5k Run & Walk
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THE ROOMMATE
by Jen Silverman
November 14-23
Fridays/Saturdays @7pm
Saturdays/Sunday Matinee @ 2pm
Desert Ensemble Theater
She’s not who she said she was. Neither are you.
A dark comedy about unlikely friendship and fresh starts that enjoyed a successful limited run on Broadway last year. Directed by Kudra Wagner.
Desert Ensemble Theatre
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COME CELEBRATE FALL! SAVE THE DATE: Sunday, November 23rd. 3-7 PM. Get ready for a high-energy night with @pulpvixenband Duo Pulp Vixen - Female Fueled Music, bringing powerhouse vocals and nonstop hits. Enjoy drink specials, dance the night away, and win exciting giveaways!
Live Music by Pulp Vixen Duo
Drink Specials
Dancing & Giveaways
$10 Cash Door
Mark your calendar and gather your friends for an unforgettable night at @lowdesertps Low Desert Modern Mexican. Let’s make this a Fall Celebration to remember! All Welcome.
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Lesbians Embracing Aging (LEA)
Lesbians Embracing Aging (LEA)
If you are an older lesbian and would like to connect with others, please consider joining
LEA. You can start by signing up for our monthly newsletter and then, if you’d like to
connect more often, join our private Facebook group which is about connection and
conversation, support and community – a place to lend a helping hand and uplift each
other when needed.
To sign up for the newsletter let us know here: leaofcoachellavalley@gmail.com
To sign up for the Facebook group (please note: all applicants must answer brief
questions and agree to group rules) let us know here:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1842826446542272
To attend the monthly LEA Zoom meeting mark your calendar for the second
Monday of each month at 11: 00 AM
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82977588013?pwd=urfkjO44hhwpBbKU1OIZDnPfJlbg0R.1#
success
To read LEA’s mission https://www.trianglecaremanagement.org/embracing-aging-
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Gennine Francis will be performing at The Roost on Saturday from 6–9 pm. Reservations can be made online at: ticketbud.com.
Leanna Rogers and Miguel will be performing at the V Lounge on Monday from 5–8 pm. $5 cover charge. Leanna and The Free Agents are performing on Fridays from 6–8 pm at Hyatt, Palm Springs.
Marisa Corvo performs at The Roost on Sunday, October 19; Wednesdays: October 1, 15, 29 from 6:30–9 pm. Tickets at ticketbud.com.
Sherie Rae Parker will be performing on Thursday, October 2 at 6 pm at The Roost. Reservations can be made online at: ticketbud.com.
Karen Cobb will be performing on Saturdays, October 11, 25 at 6 pm at The Roost. Reservations can be made online at: ticketbud.com.
Patrice Morris will be performing on Thursdays, October 16–December 11 at 6 pm at The Roost. Reservations can be made online at: ticketbud.com.
Rebecca Clark performs at The Roost on Sunday, October 26 from 6:30–9 pm. Tickets at ticketbud.com.
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Worried about the legality of gay marriage and thinking you should get married just in case the laws change and having a problem booking an appointment at the City Clerk's office?
Fera Mostow
I am a minister and will do marriages for any gay couple that wants to get married before the inauguration free of charge or until Trump does something that eliminates gay marriage.
All they have to do is email me and they can come here - Sun City Shadow Hills, and I'll do the ceremony.
Contact Fera at fmostow@gmail.com
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David Brighton’s Space Oddity Concert at the Riveria Hotel in Palm Springs on Saturday, December 6th. Some of the proceeds will go to to local charities . . Tickets can be bought at Eventbrite.com David Bowie Tribute : Featuring David Brighton's Space Oddity Concert Tickets, Sat, Dec 6, 2025 at 7:30 PM | Eventbrite or through https://www.davidbowietribute.com/about
Space Oddity – The Quintessential David Bowie Tribute Experience is a live, multi-media spectacle that takes you on a musical journey through the constantly metamorphosing career of Rock and Roll’s most celebrated innovator. David Brighton and his amazing band deliver a stunning note-for note theatrical concert event… transporting today's audiences back in time through some of the most exciting moments in the history of Rock music.
Experience Bowie's miraculous transformation from space-aged rock idol, to polished mainstream media star... and the timeless classics that forever changed the face of pop culture, with David Brighton's salute to the most electrifying performer of our time.
"David Brighton has the voice, moves and look to actually step in for David Bowie if he were unavailable and few would ever know. Experiencing Space Oddity made for a truly remarkable evening…" says Harry Maslin, the Producer of David Bowie's YOUNG AMERICANS and STATION TO STATION Albums.
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Easy/Moderate/Difficult Hikes
Hiking season has started.
I hike Tuesdays and Saturdays.
Sign up below to receive hiking information
New hikers must register and sign a waiver.
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Movie Meetup
Wednesday - Mary Pickford Theater
Movie Meetups will start soon.!
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This Week's Recommendation
The Seeds of Vandana Shiva
I have to confess, when I saw this on the lineup for Reel Women's Movie Festival, I thought it might be a bit of a yawner. Instead it was powerful, inspiring, and one of the best films I've seen this year/
Watch The Seeds of Vandana Shiva (2021) - Free Movies | Tubi
Film Review: ‘The Seeds of Vendana Shiva’ - TV EYE
It’s hard not to immediately warm to the Indian activist Vandana Shiva, who traded in her studies of biotechnology into a one-woman campaign against industrial farming, genetically moderated organisms, and the Monsanto corporation in particular.
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PALS’ no-cost educational seminars provide up-to-date information, resources and opportunities to engage in essential planning ahead conversations before a major health or life-altering event occurs. For info about upcoming PALS Seminars with in-person and zoom registration links click here.
9:30 to 11 am. 3rd Saturday
September thru June
| | PALS Death Cafe is a group-led open conversation about mortality that’s not a counseling or bereavement group. There’s no specified topics or designated outcomes. Just bring your questions about any aspect of death and dying that interests you. RSVP for the next PALS Death Cafe here. | | |
PALS Circle is an hour of enjoyable connection, support and friendship among LGBTQ+ seniors and allies. There's no agenda, no formal topic — just fun conversation and camaraderie each Monday from 6:00 to 7:00 PM on ZOOM. Sign up to receive PALS Circle announcements here.
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Evening Chat Group
Evening Chat Group 5pm to 6:30pm PST Every Wednesday
Join us for a lively Zoom chat, catch up with friends, and make new ones! Open to Lesbians in and out of the Coachella Valley — California — all 50 States — and beyond. Please email JayneStrelecki@gmail.com to receive the weekly invite & reminder with Zoom meeting ID and Passcode. Bring a friend! A different host each week!
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1st and 3rd Fridays are Wine Down Friday’s with Guest Speakers 5PM-6:30P. 600 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs.
Network, share info about your business/upcoming event or just drop-by to unwind and make new friends!
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Gay Country Western Dancing - Saturday Nights
Join the Dance Ranch for a great night of country western dancing, including two-step, waltz, shadow, East and West Coast swing, and line dances.
It all happens at Step By Step
933 Crossley Road, Palm Springs.
Admission is $5
Lesson is at 7pm. Dancing from 7:30-9:30pm
Dance Ranch Palm Springs is a country western dance group serving the LGBTQ+ community and its friends. Country dancers of all levels are welcome!
Learn more about Dance Ranch and find out what they’re teaching at danceranchps.org.
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Sunniva Sorby (fellow hiker and Palm Springs snowbird) joins Wild Women Expeditions as their Polar Ambassador representing adventures across Svalbard, the Canadian Arctic, and Antarctica.
To kick things off, I’ll be joining their Svalbard voyage from June 15–25, 2026, and I’d like to extend a heartfelt invitation to all women to join us on this incredible journey. Right now, Wild Women Expeditions is offering a 20% promotion until the end of October — it’s a rare opportunity to be part of something transformative. – click here for more details
Having traveled much of my life, I know that how, and with whom we travel matters more than ever. That’s why I’m proud to align with a company like Wild Women Expeditions, where we share core values of:
Women’s empowerment
Female leadership / Elevating one another
Giving back and adding value to every place/community we visit
Together, we’ll have a ton of fun and experience the raw beauty of Svalbard, connect deeply with nature, and contribute to a legacy of women supporting women at the ends of the Earth.
I hope to see some of you on deck in Svalbard this June.
Sunniva Sorby
Polar Explorer | Citizen Scientist | Polar Ambassador for Wild Women Expeditions
** By the way Bellsund is on the itinerary and weather permitting we’ll explore the area around Bamsebu ( yup that teeny trappers hut I spent 19 months in) which is steeped in history and rich with wildlife and wildflowers.
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Join me in Svalbard, Norway June 15-25th 2026
with Wild Women Expeditions!
** TEDx Talk in Victoria - 14 mins
** Check out our Monthly Event Series
with Exploring by the Seat of your pants!
Author.Explorer.Activist.Educator
www.sunnivasorby.com
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Our history will NOT be hidden!
Not with us two old lesbians and our awesome guests on guard! Our free podcast LGBTQ History Alive! with Ronni and Kelly begins
January 1, 2024.
Meet the Two Old Lesbians!
Ronni Sanlo, Ed.D. is a retired UCLA professor and LGBTQ Center director, founder of the award-winning Lavender Graduation, and editor of the four volume This Day in LGBTQ History. Kelly Watson, Ph.D, DDS, is a retired recovery center director and business professional, and still and always involved with 12 step recovery.
2024 Schedule - Check it Out!
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