Lesbians of Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley Outings and Events
Community. Courage. Connection
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The Old Rhythm of Return
At sunset, the sunlight retreats from the leaded glass window, withdrawing pane by pane, as though the day is folding itself away.
A fabric of darkness floats downward.
In the dimming air, silhouettes of wings pass and vanish. Birds seek home, seek branch, seek the safe dark of the roost. Their wings are groomed and clean. Squirrels burrow into dreys. Each species has its old rhythm of return, its own pattern of settling. A last rustle, a small gathering-in, then the soft release into sleep.
The indigo sky begins to blur.
It blurs the trunks of the trees. It softens the hard edges of leaves. It loosens the grip of form, as though the world itself has stopped trying to explain everything.
The stars appear.
Above me, the vast universe opens, cold and quiet. Inside me, the small world of my own mind turns and turns, crowded with its worries, its unfinished conversations, its small unsettled weather. The stars invite me again to surrender what weighs me down—to match my thoughts against the ancient dark of time, and remember that not everything must be solved tonight. Not everything must be carried into tomorrow.
My soul exhales.
My body relaxes.
The day’s work is done.
In the quiet of the room, my energies gather and seek their own home. There is a time for review, a time for cleansing, a time to let the silt settle and the water clear. This is my own rhythm of return.
Soft jazz drifts through the dark, carrying me from thought into breath, from breath into the heart. I float through memories—grief and joy, old tenderness, old ache, small bright fragments from the day. I swim through reflections until they stop arriving as separate things.
Then, slowly, weightlessness.
The memories begin to weave themselves into a broader story.
Nothing is wasted.
Nothing is only sorrow.
Nothing is only joy.
It all becomes part of the long cloth of a life.
And in the gathering dark, I feel it again.
Contentment in the day.
Contentment in the life.
And it is enough.
Kim
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You do not have to be good.
You do not have to walk on your knees
for a hundred miles through the desert repenting.
You only have to let the soft animal of your body
love what it loves.
Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine.
Meanwhile the world goes on.
Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain
are moving across the landscapes,
over the prairies and the deep trees,
the mountains and the rivers.
Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air,
are heading home again.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination,
calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting -
over and over announcing your place
in the family of things.
Mary Oliver - The Wild Geese
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THIS WEEK’S HIGHLIGHTS
⚖️ Coachella Valley Ladies of Justice
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Where: Mountain View Grill (28555 Landau Blvd, Cathedral City, CA 92234)
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When: 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
🥗 LEA’s Lunch Bunch
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When: Wednesday, July 15th at 11:30 AM
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Where: Luna Grill (111 N Palm Canyon Dr, Ste 105, Palm Desert, CA 92260)
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Details: Join us for fresh, gluten-free Mediterranean bowls, kebabs, and salads!
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RSVP: Please email jeanneablon@gmail.com to let us know you will be joining us.
💻 LEA Zoom Meeting
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When: Monday, July 13th, 2026 at 12:30 PM
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How to Join: Click the Direct Zoom Link
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Meeting ID: 829 7758 8013
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Passcode: 12345
🍹 Lesbian and Queer Women's Social
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Where: OneEleven Bar (67503 East Palm Canyon Dr, Cathedral City, CA)
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When: 5:30 PM to 7:00 PM July 15th
🎬 Movie Meetup
- Both Cindy and I are gone for the summer. However, if you find a movie you would love to see, just message me and I will gladly advertise a meetup for it! Our meetups are usually held on Wednesday mornings at the Mary Pickford Theater.
🎷 The Rhythm of the Week at Gertie’s Salon & Bar
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WOMEN WHO LIFTED THE BAR
Mary Oliver’s work was never just about observing nature; it was a rigorous, lifelong discipline of devotion. Walking the woods and shorelines of Provincetown with a handmade notebook tucked into her pocket, she understood that to pay attention is to offer a form of prayer. Her poetry speaks directly to the solitary spaces within us, translating the flight of a goldfinch or the stillness of a pond into a profound exploration of what it means to belong to the earth. She lived on the margins of a loud world, choosing instead the quiet resonance of the woods, teaching us that survival often depends on our willingness to be unmoored by beauty and to bear witness to the passing of time.
At the very heart of this intentional life was her four-decade partnership with photographer Molly Malone Cook. Meeting in 1959, Oliver described the encounter with a striking, visceral immediacy: "I took one look and fell, hook and tumble." As a lesbian living in an era that often demanded concealment, Oliver found in Cook both a sanctuary and a creative mirror. Their shared life in Provincetown was an act of quiet defiance and deep intimacy; Cook captured the world through her lens, while Oliver captured it in verse. When Cook passed away in 2005, the grief that followed infused Oliver’s later work with a raw, heartbreaking tenderness—a testament to a love that entirely shaped her gaze, reminding us that the ultimate reward of a deeply noticed life is the courage to love what is mortal.
‘Mary Oliver’ documentary tells the story of a lesbian poet through her aesthetic
Be sure to catch the documentary in theaters or streaming on PBS
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🎬 CASTING CALL: LOCAL PICKLEBALL SHORT FILM
https://www.lesbiansps.com/bulletin-board
Fellow Explorers and Friends,
I have two wonderful invitations for you—one for this upcoming fall, and one for next year. Whether you walk 800 kilometers or 800 meters, I want you walking with us. See you out there!
— Sunniva x
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COMMUNITY CALENDAR SNAPSHOT
🎶 Please check venues for updates or possible changes.
Entertainment
Please check the venues for changes.
Marisa Corvo performs at The Roost on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at ticketbud.com.
The V Wine Lounge hosts Disco Drag Bingo on Fridays from 6 to 8 p.m. Tickets are available at eventbrite.com.
Gennine Francis will perform at The Roost on Saturdays at 6 p.m. Reservations can be made online at ticketbud.com.
Patrice Morris will perform at Indian Wells Resort Hotel on Saturdays at 6 p.m.
Reservations are suggested. Cover charge.
Gennine Francis will perform at Gertie’s Salon and Bar at Alice B.’s Restaurant this Sunday from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Leanna Rogers and Miguel will perform at The V Wine Lounge on Mondays from 5 to 8 p.m. There is a $7.50 cover charge.
Leanna and the Free Agents will perform on Thursdays and Fridays from 6 to 8 p.m. at Hyatt Palm Springs.
Gennine Francis will perform at The Roost on Saturdays: July 25; August 8 and 22; and September 12 and 19 at 6 p.m. She will return every Saturday beginning in October. Reservations can be made online at ticketbud.com.
Marisa Corvo performs at The Roost on Wednesdays: July 22; August 5 and 19; and September 16 and 30 at 6:30 p.m. Tickets are available at ticketbud.com.
🪩 Social
Mahjong (American) Thursdays 1pm to 3:30pm
Weekly Chat Group - Zoom - Thursdays 5PM
🌿 Outdoors
Bird Walks – 2nd & 4th Thursdays | Prescott Preserve
Easy/Moderate/Difficult Hikes – Tuesdays & Saturdays
Easy Walk - Fridays
💬 Community & Support
PALS Seminars & Death Café
Evening Chat Group – Thursdays 5 PM
BAM Book & Movie Club – Monthly
Scroll down to COMMUNITY CALENDAR DETAILS for more information on these events
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Lesbian Embracing Aging Received our First Grant!
We are pleased to announce that the Lesbian Embracing Aging has received a $600.00 grant from the Palm Springs Leather of the Desert Organization (PSLOD) this past week. Katie Ullman, a board member of Triangle Care Management, was pleased to accept this grant, which will fund our Quarterly Birthday Parties. The first birthday party will be in October. The exact time and date will be announced soon. The LGBTQ Center has donated a room to LEA, quarterly. This will enable us to meet in person and celebrate. Please contact Kate at katie@katiesplace.com if you would like to be on the planning committee and/or volunteer as a hostess.
Zoom Meeting: July 13, 2026 - 12:30 PM
Click on this link:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82977588013?pwd=urfkjO44hhwpBbKU1OIZDnPfJlbg0R.1
Room 829-7758-8013
PW 12345
Kitchen Table: Thursday, July 30 2:30pm
Please confirm if you want a seat at the table, and we will send you the address. We meet in Palm Springs at a member’s home. Location is the same for those who have attended. Space is limited, so please let us know by emailing us at leaofcoachellavalley@gmail.com.
Singles Mingles: New Location
July 24th (Friday - 4pm) at the V Lounge at 600 E Tahquitz Canyon Way, Palm Springs
…See you there!
Something New has been added:
LEA’s Lunch Bunch: Wednesday, July 15- 11:30 at Luna Grill -111 Ste 105, Palm Desert, CA 92260. Join us for mediterranean bowls, kebobs and salads. Please email jeanneablon@gmail.com to let us know you will be joining us. It’s gluten free and fresh.
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Jessica Kirson - lesbian is a hilarious and dynamic comedian known for her energetic performances and relatable humor. With her unique blend of wit and charm, she captivates audiences by sharing personal stories and observations that resonate with everyone. Jessica's infectious laughter and genuine personality make her a standout in the comedy world, bringing joy and laughter wherever she goes.
Events | The Plaza Theatre
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OOPS got the date wrong - Show is Nov 8th at the Plaza
Fortune Feimster is a critically acclaimed comedian, actress, and host known for her upbeat style, unique comedic perspective, and infectious energy. She invites audiences into her world where laughter and love reign supreme.
She recently wrapped production on the Netflix film The Fifth Wheel, starring alongside Kim Kardashian, Nikki Glaser, and Brenda Song, and directed by Eva Longoria. She will next be seen opposite Will Ferrell in Hawk, Netflix’s upcoming golf comedy series premiering in July 2026, and is currently on her national “Takin’ Care of Biscuits” tour. Most recently, she voiced “Nibbles” in Disney’s Oscar-nominated animated hit Zootopia 2, which grossed $1.8 billion worldwide.
FORTUNE FEIMSTER: TAKIN' CARE OF BISCUITS (ENCORE) | The Plaza Theatre
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INDOOR PICKLEBALL DRILL CLINIC
DESERT RECREATION DISTRICT
📍 Palm Desert Community Center Gymnasium
43-900 San Pablo Ave, Palm Desert
TUESDAYS: ADVANCED DRILL AND PLAY
7:00 – 8:30 A.M.
WEDNESDAYS: BEGINNERS / ADVANCED BEGINNERS
7:00 – 8:30 A.M.
FRIDAYS: INTERMEDIATES
7:00 – 8:30 A.M.
MONTHLY FEE: $95
Please register by scanning the QR code or by visiting:
myrecreationdistrict.com/sports
Or call: (760) 568-9697 for more information
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SUMMER SERIES
ROUND ROBIN TOURNAMENT
(Desert Recreation District)
DATES:
May 24th, June 28th, July 26th,
Aug 30th, Sep 27th
SCHEDULE:
7:30 A.M. Singles and Skinny Singles
8:30 A.M. Rotating Partners – All Levels and Genders
10:00 A.M. Women’s Doubles – All Levels
11:30 A.M. Men’s Doubles – All Levels
1:00 P.M. Mixed Doubles – All Levels
Times subject to change
REGISTRATION:
Fee: $20
Additional $10 per event
REGISTER:
Scan the QR code or visit:
MyRecreationDistrict.com/Sports
📞 (760) 568-9697
✉️ Mary Barsaleau: Mgbarsaleau@gmail.com
📍 Palm Desert Community Center Gymnasium
43-900 San Pablo Ave, Palm Desert
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Presents
2026 BLUES AT THE WOODSTOCK
Dedicated to preserving the music of traditional/classic women blues artists:
VOICES THAT DON’T ASK FOR PERMISSION!
SEPTEMBER 3-6, 2026
HOTEL ZOSO, Palm Springs, CA
TICKETS ON SALE – MAY 8, 2026
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IN THE SUBSTACKS
‘Mary Oliver’ documentary tells the story of a lesbian poet through her aesthetic
Psychologist Says if You Feel Relief When Plans Get Canceled (Even if You Made Them), You Likely Have These 9 Traits - NewsBreak
Earlybirds Club | A Dance Party for Ladies With Shit to Do in the Morning
A Korean Queer Anthology - Tello Films the Lesbian Streaming Service | Sapphic Films & Queer Women’s Movies
The Lesbian Sports Report: Everything You Missed This Week - GO Magazine
10 Lesbian TV Shows And Movies Coming In July 2026 - GO Magazine
Anne Hathaway, Hayley Kiyoko and More: 14 Lesbian Movies Coming in 2026
Six Months Ago... bobcat kitten playtime along with wildlife camera knock down(part 1)
The Hormone Heist: The Headlines That Cost a Generation of Women
BY SUSAN DABBAR
We were told the bone loss, the exhaustion, and the night sweats were just part of getting older. They weren't. A single misread study in 2002 scared a generation of women off hormone therapy, and the doctors who might have helped were either never taught the truth or too afraid to prescribe. Right when the stakes were highest—peak career, peak earning, peak everything—we were robbed of options. Twenty-three years later, we can finally name it. Here's the investigation into the medical failure that cost a generation of women their health, their careers, and their quality of life.
A study recently released of nearly 1.9 million women found that those prescribed vaginal estrogen after recurrent UTIs had far lower odds of sepsis, hospitalization, and death—across every age group, from 20 to 99. Among women 70 and older, death rates were 3.9% on estrogen versus 9.6% without it; hospitalizations and sepsis dropped by half or more. The treatment is cheap, safe, and decades old. If you want to skip to the good part, Dr. Corinne Menn, DO, FACOG, MSCP, does a solid job explaining the results on her Instagram.
Lifting weights two or more hours a week was linked to a 44% lower risk of heart attack in a new 14-year study of 117,000 women—and those who hit all three marks (strength, aerobic, less TV) had the lowest risk of all. Heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women. Note to self: the prescription has been the dumbbell rack the whole time.
| | COMMUNITY EVENTS DETAIL & SIGNUPS | | |
Mahjong (American)
1PM to 3:30pm Thursdays
In a private home for summer.
Mahjong Signup
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Every Sunday
Mountain View Grill
28555 Landau Blvd
Cathedral City, 92234
2:00-3:30
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BAM ( Book and Movie) discussion group
We are a book and movie club that has been meeting online since 2020. 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.
June meeting: The Lotus Shoes by Jane Yang, hosted by Gail
July: Hamnet, the book by Maggie O'Farrell; and the movie with screenplay by Maggie O'Farrell and Chloe Zhao,nhosted by Flynn
August: "Elaine", movie, hosted by Gail
September: So Gay for You: Friendship, Found Family and the Show that Started it All (based on the multi season series "The L Word") by Kate Moennig and Leisha Hailey, hosted by Velma
For questions about BAM and to request a link for the meeting, please get in touch with Flynn Sylvest at flynnsylvest@gmail.com. Thank you!
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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:
(1) Facebook
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
To read LEA’s mission Triangle Care Management
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Easy/Moderate/Difficult Hikes
On Hold for Summer, Starting again in October
Hikes are Tuesdays and Saturdays, weather permitting..
Sign up below to receive hiking information
New hikers must register and sign a waiver.
Sign up below for email notifications.
With the heat now, hikes are pretty much over for the season
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2026 Walks
On Hold for Summer, Starting again in October
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Evening Chat Group 5pm to 6:30pm PST Every Thursday (new day of week)
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! Hosted by Cindy T and Jayne!
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Entertainment - This Week's Recommendation
People We Meet on Vacation (Netflix Movie)
If you want something light but still rich with emotional intelligence, this highly anticipated adaptation of Emily Henry’s bestseller hits the perfect note. It tracks two lifelong best friends—complete opposites who live far apart—who meet up every summer for a single week of vacation. After a falling out breaks their streak, they take one last trip to see if they can fix what went wrong.
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Why it makes you think: Beyond the "will-they-won't-they" romance, it’s a really thoughtful look at how much we allow our fears and past emotional baggage to dictate our futures. It asks: How well do we actually let the people closest to us see who we really are?
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The Vibe: Warm, sunny, witty, and deeply comforting.
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Lesbian Owned Business
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
B's Table
Local Lesbian Authors
Pickleball Tip of the Week
For more information about pickleball, including lessons, leagues, and other lesbians playing pickleball - contact Mary Barsaleau.
Mary is a registered Pickleball Ambassador.
Animal Samaritans - Pets for Adoption Fur babies needing family at Animal Samaritans
Shelter — Animal Samaritans
Special Thanks to Frontrunners for their ongoing support of LPSCV
Palm Springs Front Runners & Walkers is a running and walking club for members and friends of the LGBTQ+ community in the Coachella Valley. We are a local chapter of International Front Runners, an informal network of LGBTQ+ running groups around the world. Membership is open to everyone without regard to ability, ethnicity, gender, or sexual orientation. Join for daily runs and walks! Palm Springs Front Runners & Walkers - Home
Valerie Milano
Senior Editor, The Hollywood Times
Hollywood Times - Valerie Milano
| | PALS - Planning Ahead for LGBTQ Seniors | | |
PALS no-cost seminars provide up-to-date info and resources to own your
future, engage in essential conversations and take action because it’s never too soon to start planning ahea
For program updates and to sign up for upcoming PALS Seminars, Death Cafes and PALS Circles, please visit palsinthedesert.com.
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PALS Death Cafe at 2 pm on the 1st Thurs each month provides a group
led and safe space to have open conversations about death and dying without taboo.
For program updates and to sign up for upcoming PALS Seminars, Death Cafes and PALS Circles, please visit palsinthedesert.com.
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.PALS CIRCLE for an hour of connection, support and friendship among
LGBTQ+ seniors and allies. No formal topic — just fun conversation and
camaraderie each Monday from 6:00 to 7:00 PM on ZOOM.
For program updates and to sign up for upcoming PALS Seminars, Death Cafes and PALS Circles, please visit palsinthedesert.com.
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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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