Nov. 6 Daily Briefing: Open house for Plaza Theatre, another Best Bookstore opening, Pride flag unfurling, and more

Happy Thursday, everyone, where we’re welcoming several hundred new subscribers who came on board during the past few weeks (thank you!) and reminding everyone about our focus. If you haven’t noticed, we report relentlessly on municipal affairs — the inner workings of city government. That means you will rarely find state, national, or international news here, since those topics are already covered by many other media outlets. It’s the same with sports, entertainment, and crime, which we also don’t cover that much. In an era when local news sources are disappearing and national news dominates our feeds, someone needs to be in the room when decisions about your neighborhood are being made at City Hall. In Palm Springs, that someone is us.

🎶 Setting the mood: “Live And Let Die” by Paul McCartney

LEADING OFF

City to open doors of restored Plaza Theatre for free community celebration

The restored Palm Springs Plaza Theatre will open its doors to the public for the first time since 2023 with a free open house and block party on Nov. 22 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Driving the news: The City of Palm Springs and the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation are hosting the community celebration to showcase the historic venue’s restoration. 

• Docent-led tours will highlight preserved elements and new technology throughout the day.

What’s happening: The event will feature free live performances by local groups including Modern Men: Coachella Valley Men’s Chorus, Coachella Valley Voices, Palm Springs Gay Men’s Chorus and Musical Theatre University between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.

• South Palm Canyon Drive from Tahquitz Canyon Way to La Plaza will be closed for a street festival with community organization booths and music by DJ Mod Girl.

By the numbers: The theater, which originally opened in 1936, is expected to accommodate approximately 135,000 patrons annually after reopening, with early ticket data showing about 50% of purchasers are from outside the Coachella Valley.

The big picture: The restoration was financed through a multi-year fundraising campaign by the Palm Springs Plaza Theatre Foundation. Architectural Resources Group oversaw the renovation, bringing the building up to current standards while preserving its historic character.

Up next: Following the community open house, the theater will officially reopen with an Opening Night Gala on Dec. 1 featuring Cynthia Erivo, known for her performance as Elphaba in the musical Wicked.

Dive deeper with our online story

---

BRIEFLY

🏛️ Board halts proposed changes to 1937 home

• The Palm Springs Historic Site Preservation Board (HSPB) on Wednesday placed a stay of up to 120 days on proposed alterations to Casa Woboda, a Spanish colonial style residence at 608 South Indian Trail. 
  
• The home, completed in 1937, is rooted in Hollywood’s early migration to the desert. It was purchased by the current owner in June 2024, who then applied to expand the north and west elevations, enclose the rear and construct detached additions.
  
• Next steps: The property is designated as a Class 3 site and has been deemed eligible for historic designation based on its architectural style and its association with the firm Brewster & Benedict. During the stay, city staff will prepare a historic resources report for the HSPB to consider.

Dive deeper with our complete story

📚 Best Bookstore opening San Francisco location

• Paul Bradley Carr and Sarah Lacy, who opened the Best Bookstore in Palm Springs in 2022, will open a second location in San Francisco’s Union Square, they said this week. The shop will be part of the city’s Vacant to Vibrant urban revitalization program and occupy 2,000 square feet plus a downstairs event space.
  
• The couple aims to open the new store by Nov. 28, and will stay rooted in Palm Springs. “We are proudly headquartered in Palm Springs,” Lacy said via text, adding that after a rocky summer, which included relocating their downtown store, “We’ve been having an amazing fall and expanding widely. We hope to bring a Palm Springs vibe up north.”
  
• Zoom in: The V2V program is part of Mayor Daniel Lurie’s Heart of the City initiative, which has attracted more than $50 million in private sector investments. Union Square previously lost institutions such as Alexander Book Company, which closed in 2023 after 32 years. 

---

TODAY’S FEATURED EVENTS

The Last Hug
10 a.m. | Stephen Richard Baumbach Gallery
“The Last Hug” is a powerful projection photography installation rooted in a real moment during the AIDS crisis — a nurse’s final memory of a patient’s last bath and last hug. It is in town through Saturday.

Preschool and Baby Story Times
10 a.m. | Library at Rimrock Plaza
Children’s librarian Nancy reads stories, sings songs, and shares early learning concepts. Preschool story time is from 10 a.m. until 11 a.m. and baby story time is at 11 a.m. until 12 p.m. each Thursday morning, unless otherwise noted.

Art Museum Free Admission
5 p.m. | Palm Springs Art Museum 
From 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., enjoy free admission to galleries and exhibitions, and explore the collection at your own pace. 

Public Arts Commission
5:30 p.m. | City Hall
Commissioners will hear several updates on ongoing projects according to the agenda.

VillageFest
6 p.m. | Downtown Palm Springs  
The street fair features art, entertainment, shopping, and food. This evening, make sure to look for an opportunity to write a letter to a service member for Veterans Day next week.

Priscilla: Queen of the Desert
7 p.m. | Palm Canyon Theatre
Hop on the bus through the Australian outback as three drag queens take their show and their personal lives on a road trip. Priscilla Queen of the Desert is bursting with iconic pop hits, outrageous costumes, and a big heart. ($20)

Palm Springs Pride 2025
5 p.m. | Arenas District
2025 Palm Springs Pride gets underway tonight with Dia de la Reina at the Arenas District in downtown Palm Springs. The festivities continue throughout the weekend, culminating in the Palm Springs Pride Parade on Sunday.

View all events here

SAVE THE DATE

• Kevin McDermott Human/Nature exhibit at Janssen Artspace on Friday
  
• Interfaith Pride Kabbalat Shabbat on Friday at 6:30 p.m.
  
• Palm Springs Pride 5K Run & Walk on Saturday
  
• West Side Story in Concert benefit for Dezart Performs Nov. 13-15
  
• Palm Springs Hospitality Golf Tournament on Nov. 14
  
• Section 14 Survivors Anniversary Summit at St. Paul in the Desert Church on Nov. 15
  
• Coachella Valley Filipino Festival on Nov. 15
  
• Gregory Douglass LIVE at Revolution Stage Company on Nov. 16

---

AND FINALLY …

City officials and hospital leaders launched Palm Springs Pride Week on Wednesday with the 10th annual rainbow flag unfurling at Desert Regional Medical Center’s historic bell tower — a ceremony that has grown from a small staff gathering into a community tradition.

Driving the news: Nurse and house supervisor Carl Taussig-Eilman and his husband Jim Eilman unfurled the banner from atop the Jerry Stergios Building’s 68-foot Spanish revival tower, originally built in 1929 as part of the El Mirador Hotel.

What they’re saying: During a short ceremony prior to the unfurling, Palm Springs Mayor and Pride CEO Ron deHarte noted that this year’s theme, “Be Heard,” encourages the community to move beyond visibility and ensure stories, struggles, and voices are acknowledged.

• “In this political climate, when certain members of our community are being silenced or erased, Palm Springs stands proud to recognize everybody in our community,” he said.

The backstory: Hospital staff member Linda Stevens created the tradition a decade ago, and attendance has grown each year as the community embraces the celebration of inclusion and equality.

Read our complete story online