It's been billed as one of the largest, if not the most popular, gatherings of lesbians in the world, and every year, Dinah Shore Week - also known as Palm Springs Women's Weekend - draws more and more crowds. Dinah Shore Week takes place every year in early April - the dates are march 31 through April 4 in 2010 (the same weekend as the lesbian-popular Kraft Nabisco LPGA Golf Championship, and it features parties thrown by three key promoters, Club Skirts, GIRL BAR, and Lucy & Gail (the latter geared toward women of color).
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It always falls just before one of the world's best-attended gay men's events, The Palm Springs White Party, meaning that during the first two weeks of April, Palm Springs quite an influx of GLBT visitors.
Dinah Shore Week is unaffiliated with the famed Kraft Nabisco Championship LPGA golf tournament, but plenty of women do attend that event. The Dinah Shore/Palm Springs Women's Weekend events are thrown primarily by three major promoters. Details will be posted here as they become available. In the meantime, here's a glimpse of how Palm Springs Women's Weekend/Dinah Shore Week unfolded in 2009, including the key parties thrown by both Club Skirts, GIRL BAR, and Lucy & Gail.
Club Skirts events during Palm Springs Women's Weekend:
Club Skirts events take place from Wednesday, April 1 through Sunday, April 5, and take place at three primary venues: Palm Springs Riviera Resort, the Palm Springs Convention Center, Zeldaz World Famous Nightclub. You can buy tickets to all Club Skirts "The Dinah" events here.
On Wednesday there's a Dinah Official Meet & Greet held at 8 pm poolside at the Riviera Resort. Thursday is a time to laugh with famed comic Suzanne Westenhoefer and Last Comic Standing star Erin Foley performing a Comedy Show at 8 pm in the Riviera Ballroom, and the Club Skirts Opening Party taking place at 10 pm at Zeldaz. Keep laughing on Friday night (after hanging out by Riviera pool for noon to 5 T-Dance) at the Riviera Ballroom, as you attend the Margaret Cho Comedy Hour (with guests Jessica Kirson and Gina Yashere) at 7:30 pm. Then head to the Palm Springs Convention Center for the fantastic White Diamonds Party featuring a concert by Katy Perry (this event includes a LOGO Networks special cocktail reception).
Club Skirts big Saturday events include the Cabana Girl Pool Party all day at the Riviera, and then an incredible Indigo Girls Concert at 7 pm at the Palm Springs Convention Center. Save your energy, because at 9 pm Dinah Shore Week's fabulous Hollywood Party rocks out at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with appearances by L Word's Elizabeth Keener, Queer as Folk's Michelle Clunie, and plenty of top DJs. Recover on Sunday with a Wet & Wild Party and L Word Pool Party at the Riviera, and then at 8 pm a Club Skirts Dinah Closing Party at Zeldaz.
GIRL BAR events during Palm Springs Women's Weekend:
GIRL BAR events take place from Wednesday, April 1 through Sunday, April 5, and take place at three primary venues: the Wyndham Palm Springs, the Hotel Zoso, and Hunter's Video Bar. You can buy tickets to all GIRL BAR events here.
Things kick off Wednesday with a Cocktails Meet & Greet at 8 pm the Wyndham, with Dinah Shore Week's own Sandy Sachs DJing this free event. On Thursday, there's the Funny Girlz 4 Comedy Show, fronted by Poppy Champlin, Julie Goldman, and Michelle Balan, which is held at 7:30 at the Zoso; and the GIRL BAR Premiere Opening Kick-Off Party, held at Hunter's gay bar from 8 pm on. Friday fun includes a huge TGIF Pool Party at the Wyndham Palm Springs, from noon onward, and then at 8 pm, back at the Hotel Zoso, revelers get busy with the Pure White Party.
Saturday's GIRL BAR festivities commence back at the Wyndham with a Wet & Wild Pool Party and BBQ from 9 am until 4 pm. Then superstar rocker Macy Gray headlines the Jungle Fever party in the Wyndham's Ballroom from 8 pm on. Things are a bit mellower back at the Hotel Zoso for a Chillout Pool Party that includes live music from Lori Michaels. Finally on Sunday, assuming you're not completely bereft of energy, start off your morning with Gospel Brunch at the Zoso, or with the SplashDance Pool Party at the Wyndham. Back at Hunter's Nightclub, GIRL BAR's Dinah Shore Week Closing Party takes place from 8 pm on.
Lucy & Gail Dinah in Color events during Palm Springs Women's Weekend:
Lucy & Gail Dinah in Color events take place from Thursday, April 2 through Sunday, April 5, primarily at the Marquis Villa Resort, with additional events at different venues around town. You can get info on buying tickets to all Dinah in Color events here.
The key Dinah in Color events include a noon Meet & Greet lunch on Thursday at a cactus botanical gardens, and an evening Opening Party at Alternate Route bar at 6 pm. On Friday at noon there's a Culture Blast event with live music, and at 6 pm a Blues Party features DJ and live music.
The big Saturday activities include a Pool Jam from noon until 6; and a concert by acclaimed comic Karen Williams at Oasis Nightclub at 9 pm, with revelry continuing til 4 am with DJ Spinderella. The fun concludes on Sunday at 11 am with a Brunch party at Cascade Grill inside Spa Casino.
More Information on Palm Springs Women's Weekend/Dinah Shore Week:
Of course, additionally, numerous gay bars as well as gay-popular restaurants, hotels and gay resorts will be making GLBT visitors feel extra welcome throughout the weekend (even many of those resorts that cater mostly to men become ostensibly women's resorts during this week). Check local gay papers, such as the weekly Desert Daily Guide, and the Bottom Line magazine, for details on related parties and events. The excellent Palm Springs Lesbian Travel website L Spot Palm Springs also has a useful page on Women's Weekend. Also take a look at the excellent GLBT site produced by the city's official tourism organization, the Palm Springs Bureau of Tourism.
