On Saturday, March 13th from 8am to 4pm the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage will be hosting Day Of Hope For Diabetes, an all-day diabetes-related product fair with lectures. The event is free to the public. Visit www.emc.org/ddc for the full event schedule or call 760-773-1578 for more information.
Rebecca Penneys, a pianist who made her debut when she was only 9-years old, will perform a free classical concert in Rancho Mirage on March 11th from 7pm to 8:30 pm. The concert will be held at the community room of the Rancho Mirage Public Library, located at 71-100 Highway 111 in Rancho Mirage. Call 760-341-7323 for more information.
The shops on El Paseo will kick off Fashion week by holding a Trunk Show on Saturday, March 20th. Admission is free. Desert European Motorcars is providing the shops with luxury autos. The shops will fill the trunks with gifts and shoppers will receive an opportunity to open the trunks to win valuable free gifts. Participating retailers include St. John, Vilebrequin, Cos Bar, Optical Shop of Aspen, Heather James Art and Antiquities and Soma. Select boutiques will also hold individual in-store trunk shows. Visit www.theshopsonelpaseo.com for complete details.
Enter to win an Audi A5 convertible (from Desert European Motorcars) at Fantasy Springs Resort casino. Swipe your Fantasy Rewards Card every day for entries, starting February 15th. Double entries Mondays and Tuesdays. Qualifier and Grand Prize Drawings will be held on Saturday, March 27th. For full details, visit www.fantasyspringsresort.com.
This year’s Festival of Opera and Art will be held Sunday, April 11th from noon to 5 pm at the Palm Desert Civic Center Park. The event is free to the public and includes a 35 piece orchestra under the baton of Maestro Gualtiero Negrini, with six professional opera singers singing Operetta dn classic Broadway. There will also be interactive art and art experiences and activities for the children. For more information, call 760-323-8353 or visit www.operaarts.org/stayinformed.
The Mustang Madness and Cash Giveaway is the latest Palm Springs Spa Resort Casino promotion. Now through March 13th you can enter to win a 2010 Ford Mustang premium convertible and cash. Pick up your free entries at the downtown Palm Springs Spa Resort Casino and play the Mustang Madness Game every day from 10am to 9pm. Grand Prize Drawings will take place on March 13. Visit www.sparesortcasino.com for full details.
Enjoy complimentary Sangria, Cervezas, Aperitivos and live Mariachi music at the Viva Cantina And Grill Grand Opening this coming Wednesday, February 24th from 3pm to 5pm. The new Viva Cantina is located at 78-075 Main Street in Old Town, La Quinta. Happy hour prices in the Cantina last all night long during the grand opening. Call 760-777-6625 for more information.
Enjoy a free concert every Saturday from January 30th through April 17th on the center lawn in front of Saks Fifth Avenue at The Gardens on El Paseo in Palm Desert from 6-7 pm. For a $12 donation you’ll receive refreshments and two glasses of win. Proceeds benefit different desert-area charities each week. For more information, visit www.thegardensonelpaseo.com.
Keith McCormick’s 2010 Exotic Car Auction will be held this year on February 26th, 27th & 28th at the Spa Resort Casino in downtown Palm Springs, California. Friday is check in day and the auction starts at 4pm with 100 vehicles crossing the block. Friday is also FREE ADMISSION and free food for all registered bidders. Saturday & Sunday the gates open at 8am with the first car crossing the block at 10am. 225 cars will cross the block on Saturday and another 175 on Sunday. General admission is $10 per day or $15 for both days. For additional information, visit http://www.classic-carauction.com/.
Jazz and Swing historian, Dave Schaner, offers a series of free to the public lectures about the performers of the Great American Songbook. The lectures will take place on alternate Wednesdays in February and March, from 1:30-3pm in the community room of the Rancho Mirage Public Library, located at 71-100 Highway 111. Lecture dates and topics:
Wednesday, February 17: Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers
Wednesday, March 3: Frank Sinatra
Wednesday, March 17: John Mercer
Call 760-341-7323 or visit http://www.ranchomiragelibrary.org/ for more information.
The Palm Desert Center for Advanced Cosmetic and Implant Dentistry is offering a free seminar February 25th at 73929 Larrea Street, Suite 2 in Palm Desert. Topics to be discussed at the seminar include porcelain veneers and crowns, full mouth reconstruction and bit correction, dental implants, bridges and dentures. Call 1-866-224-4006 to register or visit www.palmdesertimplantdentist.com for additional information.
Don Diego’s Mexican restaurant, on the corner of Cook and Highway 111 in Indian Wells, is offering special discounts to their Facebook friends. Visit their website http://www.dondiegorestaurant.com/ to learn more. And don’t forget to ask about their free meal special offers.
The Red Earth Casino, located on Highway 86 and Norm River Road at Salton Sea Beach offer $50 in free slot play on Free Play Fridays. Every Friday from 6-10pm, two winners will be chosen each hour for the $50 free slot play. Call 760-395-1200 or visit www.redearthcasino.com for more information.
On Friday, February 5th, from 6-8pm, The Desert Art Center cooperative, located at 550 N. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs, will present a new show featuring 100 artists. The exhibit is open to the public and free refreshments will be served. In addition, the Center offers free monthly plein air painting days, artist demonstrations and classes. For additional information, call 760-323-7973 or visit www.desertartcenter.com.
The Seventh Annual Eisenhower Smilow Heart Center Community Heart Conference will be held on Saturday, February 6th from 8am to 1:30pm in Rancho Mirage. Registration and continental breakfast begin at 7am. Admission is free but you need to call 760-837-8626 to make reservations. The conference includes lectures and health information. Visit www.emc.org for more information.
The 2010 Desert Home Show takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday, January 29th, 30th and 31st at the Fantasy Springs Special Event Cener at Golf Center Parkway in Indio. Show hours are Friday 2pm to 7pm, Saturday 10am to 7pm and Sunday 10am to 6pm. Admission and parking are free. In addition, a free kitchen slicing knife will be given away to the first 300 attendees on Friday at 2pm, a free food chopper will be given away to the first 100 attendees on Saturday and Sunday at 10am. You can also enter to win a free Kitchen Craft cookware set (No purchase necessary). Daily seminars include: Green Gardening, Solar 101, and Green Living Workshops. Exhibits include kitchens, baths, doors, windows, roofing, room additions, patios, bar-b-ques, pools, ponds, spas, home furnishings and more. For additional information, visit www.homeshowconsultants.com.
Free, one-hour docent-guided walking tours of Palm Desert’s public art collection are held on the second Saturday of each month, from September through June. For more information, visit www.cityofpalmdesert.org. To schedule a free private group tour, email dschwartz@cityofpalmdesert.org. or phone 760-568-1441.
If you want to save on pet products and supplies start by visiting the Petco website for dozens of pet coupons, deals, bargains and, of course, lots of pet freebies. The site is updated often so be sure to check it first before each purchase.
The 14th Annual Palm Desert Greek Festival takes place this year the weekend of February 13th and 14th. A free tour of the Saint George Greek Orthodox Church is included with your paid admission.
The Festival is held on the Church Grounds at 74-109 Larrea, in Palm Desert. CA 92260. For complete information, visit www.palmdesertgreekfest.org.
Visit the new Bahama Mama’s Frozen Yogurt in Cathedral City and ask about their buy 1 get 1 free offer and their free samples. The store is located in the Target shopping center at 67-730 E. Palm Canyon Drive, in Cathedral City. Phone 760-324-3210 for details.
Fast-Fix Jewelry and Watch Repair offers free jewelry cleaning and inspection. Located in the Westfield Mall at 72840 Highway 111, in Palm Desert, Fast-Fix also offers professional jewelry and watch repairs while you shop.
This year’s Southwest Arts Festival takes place January 29, 30 and 31 at the Empire Polo Club at 81-800 Avenue 51 Monroe and Avenue 51 in Indio. Children 12 and under enter the area’s largest 3-day art show free. The shoe features 270 artists, entertainment and refreshments. For complete information, call 760-342-2762 or visit www.empirepoloevents.com
If you’re looking for a fun, free way to spend the afternoon, the Palm Springs Pipe Band Parade will take place on Saturday, January 23 at 1 p.m. The melodic sound of bagpipes will fill the air as the Palm Springs Pipe Band parades through the streets in celebration of the Scottish poet Robert Burns.The parade will end with a short performance on the Old Town Event Lawn. For more information on the Palm Springs Pipe Band, visit their website at www.palmspringspipeband.com .
A Children And Community Health And Fitness Expo will be held Sunday January 24th from 10:00am until 6:00pm to benefit the Wellness Foundation Palm Springs. The Expo will take place at ACE Hotel and Swim Club on 701 East Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs and is sponsored by Windermere Real Estate Coachella Valley.
Presenters and exhibitors will include Zoo Yoga, Animal Samaritans, Action All-Star Cheer, Action Gymnastics, Urban Yoga Center, My Gym, Desert Recreation District, Sisters Cupcakes by Design, Helene’s Learn to Swim, Arbonne, Ren Yogamaya, Safe House of the Desert, Desert Recreation District, Datura Art Studio, Action Gymnastics, Gilda’s Club Desert Cities, Enchanted Memories, Desert Arc, Windermere Real Estate and others. For more information about this event contact Michael Paduano, at 760-831-3761 or e-mail mpaduano@windermere.com. Wellness Foundation Palm Springs is a non-profit 501-c3 Tax ID #2604397952. www.WellnessFoundationPalmSprings.org.
Earn a free movie ticket, which can be used at a local theater, from Fandango by trying one of their advertiser offers. All you do is try or purchase one advertiser offer and receive a Promotion Code for 1 Movie Ticket (up to $13.50) from Fandango. Fandango Convenience Charge not included. Code must be used in 90 days. Visit their website for complete details.
The Desert Art Center and Palm Springs Unified School (Cathedral City, Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs High School) are hosting the First Annual Juried High School Student Art Show January 16th through January 23rd. Open daily from 10am to 4pm, admission is free and the public is invited to support the talented, upcoming young artists. The Desert Art Center Auditorium is located at 550 N. Palm Canyon Drive in Palm Springs. Phone 760-323-7973 for more information or visit www.desertartcenter.com.
The LifeStream Blood Bank is hosting a blood donation drive at the Palm Desert Civic Center on January 19 from 1pm to 5pm. If you donate blood at the event you will be entered into a drawing to win two free tickets to any location Southwest Airlines flies. The Civic Center is located at 73-510 Fred Waring Drive in Palm Desert. Call 909-386-6877 or visit www.lifestream.org for complete information.
On January 26th, at 9am, the Indio Senior Center will be sponsoring a free trip to the Ralph’s Health IQ Challenge. The event will be held at the Ralph’s market at 42-150 Washington Street in Bermuda Dunes. The 45-minute event will cover topics such as food and drug interaction, heart health and illness prevention. Attendees will receive free gifts and special offers. Call 760-391-4170 to sign up for the event and car pooling.
On Friday, January 15th, from 10am to noon, The Braille Institute, located at 70-251 Ramon Road in Rancho Mirage is hosting a free Macular Degeneration seminar. Macular Degeneration is the leading cause of vision loss in those over the age of 65. Call 760-321-1111 to RSVP or for additional information about the institute’s other free services and programs.
This year’s Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival will be held February 12th through the 21st. In its 64th year, the Fair is a ten-day event that will feature a series of headliner entertainers, Monster Truck Show(s), Big Air Motorcycles, Cooking Shows, a Livestock Auction, over 200 exhibitors, and much more.
The Riverside County Fair also offers many freebies to help save you money. On Opening Day, Friday, February 12th, admission is FREE from 10am-3pm. Wednesday, February 17th is “Kids Day”; with every paying adult a child, ages 5-12, gets in FREE. “Fantasy $5 Friday” is returning on February 19th. Everyone is admitted at the reduced price of $5!
For the price of admission, the fair provides spectacular headliner entertainment at no additional cost. This year’s entertainment lineup includes Kansas, Graciela Beltran, Night Ranger & Rodney Atkins. The crowd favorite, Super Fiesta, will be back on the closing Sunday with Banda Limon as the feature act.
Parking – Vehicle $7 per day, Bus Tours FREE, R.V Overnight $10
Location: Riverside County Fairgrounds, 82-503 Hwy 111, Indio, CA 92201
Fair Dates – Friday, February 12 through Sunday, February 21, 2010
Fair Hours – Weekdays 10am-10pm. Weekends Carnival open till midnight
Fair Admission – Adults (13 – 54) $8, Seniors (55+) $7, Advanced Groups/Bus Tours $6, Youth (5-12) $6, Children (under 5) FREE, Unlimited Carnival Rides $25, Season Pass $30, Parking $7 per day. Prices subject to change.
The Riverside County Fair & National Date Festival is sponsored by Fantasy Springs Resort Casino. For additional information, visit www.datefest.org .
On January 14th and February 11th, between 10:30 and noon, Ears-Hearing Healthcare will be offering free hearing tests at the Indio Senior Center. Call 760-391-4170 to make an appointment.
If you’re a golfer you’ll want to save the date and plan to attend Pete Carlson’s 6th Annual Golf Expo being held this year on Friday and Saturday, February 12th and 13th at the Palm Desert Golf Academy at Desert Willow Golf Club from 9am to 4pm.
Admission is free and you’ll receive free club demo, free demo golf balls to hit, free golf clinics, free custom club fitting, special pricing and discounts on the biggest names in golf equipment including Adams, Bobby Jones, Bridgestone Golf, Callaway Golf, Cleveland, Cobra, Heavey Putter, Mizuna,Nike, Odyssey, Ping, Rife Putters, Taylor Made, Titleist and others. Plus, you can trade in your Golf Clubs to Palm Desert Golf Academy or the Junior Golf Foundation of the Desert and Rrceive a charitable donation.
Directions: Desert Willow Driving Range at the Palm Desert Golf Academy. The Portola Avenue entrance just North of Country Club Drive in Palm Desert. Visit www.petecarlsonsgolf.com/golf_expo.html for further informaiton.
2010 is the 45th Anniversary of the Hi-Desert Nature Museum. Tuesdays through Sundays, 10 am to 5pm, admission is free.
Located in the nearby town of Yucca Valley, the Hi-Desert Nature Museum is offering a free Winter Lecture Series. The November to March, Winter Lecture Series, takes place one Thursday per month.
The Palms to Pines Birding and Nature Trail Lecture will be held on Thursday, January 21st, starting at Noon. The lecture is FREE and beverages will be served.
Almost two years in the making, the Palms to Pines Birding and Nature Trail map is now available at various locations in and around the Coachella Valley and Morongo Basin. Kurt Leuschner, Associate Professor of Natural Resources at College of the Desert in Palm Desert, will discuss this project he recently completed.
The Hi-Desert Nature Museum offers a variety of natural history programs related to the High Desert’s unique natural elements. Field trips are available and free of charge for students in grades K-4. Home schoolers, scout troops and others are welcome. Class size is restricted to twenty students. Please call the museum at (760) 369-7212 for reservations. Visit their website for address, directions, hour and more information www.hidesertnaturemuseum.org .
Dine at La Quinta restaurants and you could earn 2 for 1 tickets to the upcoming Bob Hope Classic Golf Tournament. Enjoy a “Classically” prepared beverage or food item from one of La Quinta’s participating restaurants. Visit six restaurants between now and January 23rd and receive a 2-for-1 ticket or badge to the Bob Hope Classic, taking place from January 18th-24th.
Be sure to have the restaurant stamp your passport and then bring your completed Passport to the Bob Hope Classic Store in Old Town La Quinta to obtain your tickets. List of participating restaurants:
Adobe Grill
www.laquintaresort.com
Amoré Ristorante Italiano
www.amore-dining.com
Arnold Palmer’s Restaurant
www.arnoldpalmersrestaurant.com
Cliffhouse, La Quinta
www.laquintacliffhouse.com
Devane’s Old Town
www.devanesoldtown.com
Harry’s Smokehouse BBQ
www.harrysbbq.com
La Quinta Beer Hunter Sports Pub and Grill
www.laquintabeerhunter.com
Las Casuelas Quinta
www.LasCasuelasQuinta.com
LG’s Prime Steakhouse
www.lgsprimesteakhouse.com
Rosati’s of La Quinta
www.rosatipizza.com
SilverRock Grill
www.silverrock.org
Stuft Pizza Bar and Grill
www.stuftpizza.com/laquinta
Viva Cantina
760) 777-6625
Visit http://bobhopeclassic.com/passport/ for complete details.
The Spa Resort Casino in downtown Palm Springs is giving away a 2010 Mini Cooper as the Grand Prize in their current free drawing. Prize drawings will be held January 31st every hour from noon to 5pm. In addition to the Mini Cooper Grand Prize, the casino is also giving away more than $$20,000 in cash, free play. You can stop by the casino to pick up free entires every day and get bonus entries for every 1,000 points earned. Must be 21 years of age and a member of the Paradise Rewards Club to enter. Must be present to win on January 31, 2010.Visit www.sparesortcasino.com for complete rules, restrictions and other information.
The 5th Annual Modernism Week, being held from February 12 through the 21st, will include a number of events this year that are free to the public. A few of the 10-day, 2010 Modernism Week highlights include: A special tribute to renowned modernist architect Albert Frey, a vintage fashion show, an architecture and design film series, an exhibition of vintage travel trailers, a slide show of retro Americana, a vintage car show, architecture tours and other activities that will be held in various venues throughout the City of Palm Springs Get your tickets early at www.modernismweek.com, or contact info@modernismweek.com for additional information.
One of the free events is a slide lecture presented by PSPF the Palm Springs Preservation Foundation, Wednesday, February 17, 2010, from 8:30am to 10am, at the Cahuilla Room in the Spa Resort Casino, at 100 N. Indian Canyon.
The Slide Lecture, titled “Lost, Saved and Endangered: Modernist Architecture in Palm Springs” will be given by PSPF board member Gary Johns. Complimentary continental breakfast provided. Lecture is FREE, however, due to limited seating please email info@pspreservationfoundation.org to make reservations. Visit www.modernismweek.com for information about other free events.
Save the date. The First Annual Palm Springs WestFest is free to the public, and the rodeo is reasonably priced. Portions of the proceeds from WestFest go to a variety of charitable foundations in the desert area.
The festival is dedicated to the late Cowboy Mayor Frank M. Bogert who helped bring Hollywood celebrities, heads of state and cowboys of all ages to our resort town. The event features a Rodeo, Music Festival, Taste of the West, Cowboy Ball and Dance Hall, BBQ/Chili Competition, Mounted Shooting Competition, Cowboy Carnival, Golf and Poker Tournaments and more.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS: (Line up subject to change, times are approximate.)
Thursday, March 11
7:30 pm – 12 am Frank Bogert Memorial Dinner (by invitation only)
Friday, March 12
Noon- 6 pm WestFest Avenida Caballeros (free admission)
1-6 pm Music Festival Avenida Caballeros (free admission)
6 pm Rodeo performance Avenida Caballeros Rodeo Arena
7:30 – 11 pm Cowboy Ball to benefit Mounted Police Margarita’s Restaurant
Saturday, March 13
10 am -6 pm WestFest Avenida Caballeros (free admission)
11 am-6 pm Music Festival Avenida Caballeros (free admission)
2 pm Rodeo performance Avenida Caballeros Rodeo Arena
8 – 11 pm After Party Margarita’s Restaurant
Sunday March 14
9 am Cowboy Church Avenida Caballeros Rodeo Arena
10 am-6 pm WestFest Avenida Caballeros
11 am-6 pm Music Festival Avenida Caballeros (free admission)
2 pm Rodeo (Fiesta del Charro) Avenida Caballeros Rodeo Arena
6-9 pm After Party Margarita’s Restaurant
The fest will take place adjacent to the Palm Springs Convention Center. For more information and Rodeo pricing visit www.palmspringswestfest.com
