May 28 Daily Briefing: Restaurant week, City Council preview, students of the year, and more

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🎶 Setting the mood:  “The Spot” by Your Smith

LEADING OFF

Restaurant Week returns with 10-day dining event starting Friday

Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week returns this Friday through June 8, offering 10 days of special prix fixe menus at participating restaurants across the nine-city Coachella Valley. The annual event allows diners to enjoy breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner at set prices.

Driving the news: The popular dining event provides residents and visitors with exclusive offers and special menus while supporting local restaurants during the traditionally slower late spring period.

• More than three dozen Palm Springs eateries are participating this year.

What’s new: One dollar from every reservation booked through the official website will be donated to FIND Food Bank, adding a charitable component to the dining experience.

The details: No passes, tickets or coupons are required to participate. Diners can make reservations through the official website or call restaurants directly, though advance reservations are strongly encouraged due to the event’s popularity.

• Prices and meal periods vary by restaurant and exclude beverages, tax and gratuity.

What’s next: Restaurant Week will be immediately followed by the Summer Eats Pass, a mobile dining discount program for continued savings throughout the summer months.

The bottom line: Walk-ins are welcome but not guaranteed accommodation during the busy 10-day period. 

• Restaurant listings and menu details are available here.

BRIEFLY

🏛️ Bombing relief efforts among items on tonight’s Council agenda

The Palm Springs City Council will meet in closed and regular sessions today. According to the agenda, councilmembers will be discussing the latest updates on recovery from a May 17 bombing, an effort to expand pickleball courts, and authorizing bonds for renovations to the library and swim center.

• The Council is expected to advance recovery efforts from a May 17 attack, approve re-bidding for the Demuth Park pickleball courts, and authorize up to $40 million in bonds for library and swim center renovations.
  
• Also on the agenda, city leaders will consider approving a new fire truck purchase, a rental registry ordinance, and a facility use agreement with the Plaza Theatre Foundation.
  
• Details: The regular meeting begins at 5:30 p.m. and is open to the public in Council Chambers at City Hall. You can submit comments via an online public comment form, in person, or by calling the city clerk’s office at (760) 323-8204 at any time prior to the end of the public comment period. View the meeting live on YouTube.

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TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

Sunshine Sisters Breakfast
8 a.m. | Rick’s Restaurant
Start the day with other Palm Springs Sunshine Sisters with breakfast and conversation.

Desert Willow Wellness Ribbon Cutting
3:15 p.m. | Desert Willow Wellness
The Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce officially welcomes Desert Willow Wellness to the city with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. The facility specializes in mental health care and overall wellness. 

Poetry Club
4 p.m. | Welwood Murray Memorial Library
Led by T.S. Leonard, meet monthly to discuss and work on your poetry. Every month a different theme. This month’s theme is luck.

Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce May Mixer
5 p.m. | Le Vallauris
Join the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce for its monthly mixer at Le Valluris. Mix, mingle, and unwind in the charming courtyard and connect with fellow business professionals. ($15)

Palm Springs City Council
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
The Council meets this evening in closed and open session. Check out the agenda here. 

Open Mic Night
5:30 p.m. | Play Lounge & Cafe
Join Joel Baker on piano and Brian Alec Thom as they sing the night away. Bring your own sheet music for Joel to play. ($10)

See all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• South Palm Canyon Drive bridge project meetings in person on Thursday and virtual on June 2.
  
• Miralon Blood Drive with LifeStream Blood Bank at Miralon on Friday.
  
• 2025 Greater Palm Springs Restaurant Week starts Friday.
  
• Kings Circle Silent Auction Saturday evening at Budman Studios.
  
• Home Movies Out of the Closet on Sunday at the Cultural Center.
  
• Forever Marilyn Community Celebration at the Marilyn statue in Downtown Park on Sunday.
  
• Palm Springs Equality Wine & Food Fest on June 7.

Submit your event here

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AND FINALLY …

Two Palm Springs Unified School District students were among nine high school seniors from across the region who discovered that academic excellence and community service can indeed pay off. They were honored at the Greater Coachella Valley Student of the Year ceremony earlier this month at Fantasy Springs Special Events Center in Indio.

Driving the news: The Riverside County Office of Education recognized students for their character, academic achievements, and community contributions, with many recipients earning scholarships worth up to $5,000 through partnership matches with OneFuture Coachella Valley.

Zoom in: The two PSUSD students among the honorees were Alejandra Ayala from Cathedral City High School and Evelyn Gonzales-Vasquez from Palm Springs High School.

• Ayala was honored for overcoming family health challenges while earning college credits. She plans to attend San Diego State University to pursue dance therapy.
  
• Gonzales-Vasquez received the recognition for completing 35 college units while in high school and will attend UCLA with plans to become a dermatologist.

The recognition: Students were selected based on character, integrity, passion for learning, school involvement, community service, and resilience in facing life challenges while maintaining their educational commitment.

• The program included Student of the Month recognition events throughout the 2023-2024 school year in October, December, February, and April.

Why it matters: The ceremony represents the second year of this recognition program, highlighting exceptional students who exemplify academic excellence while overcoming personal challenges and contributing to their communities.