Summer in the desert can be a welcome time of leisure and reconnection for Coachella Valley residents.

 

Seasonal tourists and bustling social commitments have retreated with the cooler, near-perfect weather. Many residents -- after a restorative rest, a deep-tissue massage, and maybe a couple of chilled cocktails -- brave triple-digit temps to discover and rediscover their beloved community (at a much-appreciated slower pace).

For those who spend any part of the hot season in greater Palm Springs, here are four opportunities to cool down and have a little fun:

 

Literally. Hop on the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway and ascend 8,516 feet to Mountain Station. For $85, adults and seniors (65+ years old) can purchase a summer pass that provides unlimited rides May 1 through Aug. 31 to Mount San Jacinto State Park.

 

Temps there are frequently 30 to 40 degrees cooler than they are on the desert floor – much safer for summer hiking. In addition to 50+ miles of scenic trails, you’ll find two restaurants, observation decks, a natural history museum, two documentary theaters, a gift shop, and Wi-Fi access.

 

Considering general adult tickets are usually $34.95 per trip, just three visits with the summer pass more than covers its cost.  https://pstramway.com/palm-springs-aerial-tramway-summer-pass-begins-may-1-2/

 

If you or your friends are cost-conscious, Café One Eleven at Agua Caliente Casino in Cathedral City offers a tasty, wallet-friendly dish: $1 tacos. From 3 to 6 p.m. each Tuesday and Thursday, diners can eat their fill of chicken or steak tacos in the restaurant’s bar area. It’s an affordable, guilt-free night out for one, or one with a significant other, or the entire ride-or-die crew. And if you thrive on trying your luck, the slots are only a few feet away. https://aguacalientecasinos.com/dining/cafe-one-eleven/

 

When the temperature gets hot enough to cook a farm-fresh egg on a car windshield, the Palm Springs Certified Farmers Market moves indoors. Each Saturday, from June to September (8 a.m. - 1 p.m.) at the Palm Springs Pavilion, healthy food devotees browse bountiful tables of quality produce, meats, cheeses, flowers, bakery goods, olive oil, homemade bath and beauty products, and more.

 

Farmers and makers from across the region proudly present their wares for consumption, as locals shop, flirt, and get caught up on the news with other desert dwellers. With a musician providing live entertainment, the intimate space is an unexpected kiki to kick off summer weekends. https://certifiedfarmersmarkets.org/

 

In recent years Bar Cecil has emerged as one of the hottest restaurants, if not THE best, in Palm Springs (according to LA Times food critic Bill Addison). Offering a menu designed for foodies and artful décor that is Instagrammable, the restaurant attracts Hollywood A-listers like Diane Keaton and diners with a taste for finer things. It’s no surprise that getting a reservation requires booking many days or weeks in advance.

However, I’ll let you in on a little secret: Bar Cecil’s chef and partner Gabriel Woo is working his culinary magic at a lesser-known, downtown Palm Springs café. He’s the chef at Livs in the Palm Springs Art Museum, where you can enjoy his zesty, freshly made guacamole or potent espresso martini in a bright, casually chic dining room or among inspirational art in the sculpture garden. So, go check it out before it becomes an in-demand hot spot. https://www.psmuseum.org/index.php/visit/livs

How long have you been in the Palm Springs area and where did you come from or have you lived previously? 

Born and raised in East Los Angeles, I’ve been living/working in Palm Springs for 16-1/2 years now. Wow, time flies when you’re having Sun!

 

What kind of work do you do and/or how have you been involved in the community? 

My current role is Senior Sales Manager at The Kimpton Rowan Palm Springs Hotel. I specialize in conference, convention and corporate events/groups.

 

Why is BOD/Brothers of the Desert important to you? 

I cherish the camaraderie amongst black gay men who enjoy fellowshipping with other black gay men here in the Coachella Valley.

 

What are your hobbies or non-work activities that bring you pleasure? 

Travel, especially the Caribbean, or anywhere with tropical beaches. Spending time with family and friends. Foodie, interior decorating, movie buff, performing arts and sports.

 

To live to be 100 years old, long enough  to see the day when Black Men Loving Black Men is not only a “Revolutionary Act,” but a celebration of our love for one another! And lastly, world peace and equality for all, especially during these challenging times.

The Brothers of the Desert Scholarship was initiated this year to be awarded to an eligible student who identifies as Black, African American or of African descent, male and within the GBTQ+ spectrum who lives and attends high school or college in the Inland Empire.  For our first year we selected two students, Jessie Parks and one other student to receive a $2,000 award. We are excited to feature the following information about Jessie in his own words.

 

Starting in the fall, I will be attending the University of Southern California to pursue a Master’s in Urban Planning with a concentration in Climate Change and Sustainability Planning.  Growing up in the Inland Empire and witnessing the rise of massive warehouse developments sparked my interest in environmental justice. That experience pushed me to begin organizing around environmental issues. Over time, I explored additional ways to create positive change, which ultimately led me to discover the field of Urban Planning. My ideal job would be working as a city planner, where I could promote sustainable development centered on environmental justice. I hope to stay rooted in the Inland Empire, ideally in Riverside, where most of my family and friends live, so I can help shape a healthier, more equitable future for the community that raised me.

 

As a former foster youth who holds multiple marginalized identities, black, queer, and disabled, the most significant challenge I faced was navigating my schizophrenia diagnosis which I received months before transferring to UCR. Alongside that diagnosis came a deep sense of imposter syndrome that made it hard for me to believe I could shift my family’s trajectory and become a first-generation college graduate. But through determination and a strong support system, I made it through and reached that goal.

 

To others facing similar challenges, I’d say: cultivate relationships that nourish you, whether that’s with friends, mentors, family or therapists, and lean on them. Everyone’s journey is different, but we all need support along the way.

 

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude for selecting me as a recipient of the 2025 Brothers of the Desert Scholarship. Receiving this scholarship means more than I can express in words.

 

This morning, I was on the verge of giving up my dream of attending USC in the fall. The financial burden was becoming unbearable, and the rejections from other scholarships had left me feeling disheartened. However, your support arrived just when I needed it the most. It was a timely reminder that I am not alone, that my efforts are recognized, and that there are people who believe in students like me.

 

This scholarship has not only facilitated my academic journey but also served as a beacon of hope during a challenging time. Your investment in my future is deeply appreciated, and I assure you that I will carry this encouragement with me as I embark on my graduate studies. With sincere appreciation, Jessie Parks

 

 

Please give to our scholarship fund.

 

Brothers of the Desert is excited to continue our monthly discussion group called Barbershop: A Black Gay Men’s Space for Honest Talk About Wellness, now in our second year!

 

Building upon the tradition of barbershops in Black communities, the discussion group is designed to encourage open and honest conversation. The meetings are welcoming a spectrum of Black men, gay, bisexual, transgender and nonbinary. The wellness topics discussed are diverse, ranging from dating and intimacy, aging considerations, how we get and offer support, and exploring our identities as Black men.

 

The group meets the second Tuesday of each month from 5:30-7:00 PM. There is no charge to attend. We begin with a meet and greet with dinner that begins at 5:30PM and the discussion group starts at 6PM.  The group is facilitated by Stuart Huggins and Will Dean.

 

To register to attend the meetings email:willdean.boardmember@brothersofthedesert.org

For questions email Tim Vincent at president@brothersofthedesert.org

 

Brothers of the Desert members meet monthly to discuss recent and upcoming events, share updates on the organization, celebrate our accomplishments, and have an opportunity to connect with new and existing members.

 

Join us for lunch after the Members’ Meeting on July 12th at Peruvian Fuego from 12:30pm-1:30pm.

Both members and allies are welcome to attend (Cash and Carry).

Please make your reservation with David before Friday, July 11, 2025, as we want to let the restaurant know how many will be having lunch.

Email: DavidMaurice.Jones@gmail.com

 

Let’s face it, dating as a Brother of the Desert can feel like its own kind of desert hike. You set out with water, sunscreen, and good intentions, only to find yourself wandering, sweating, and wondering if you’re going to reach that oasis anytime soon.

 

In this article, I want to take a candid look at the two worlds most of us navigate these days: the instant gratification of swipe culture versus the deeper, slower burn of intentional connections.

 

There’s an undeniable thrill to dating apps like Grindr, Tinder, Jack’d — the little dopamine hit every time you match or get a wink. Let’s be real: they’re convenient, often fun, and sometimes lead to some really hot nights.

 

And especially if you’re like me — a busy man juggling work, personal life, and community — it’s so easy to scroll through profiles when you have a few free minutes. But that ease can come at a cost.

 

That same rapid-fire culture can reduce dating to pure surface-level stuff. Too often we don’t read the profile or take time to connect as people first because someone else is just a swipe away. Hook-ups can leave us feeling satisfied in the short term but starved for the kinds of connections that truly nourish our hearts.

 

On the flip side, there’s a craving many of us feel that these apps rarely touch: the need to be seen. Not just the picture-perfect version of ourselves, but who we are when nobody’s looking: our hopes, fears, and quirks.

 

That’s where intentional dating comes in. It asks us to slow down and focus on quality over quantity to embrace dating as a process of discovery rather than a race to some kind of finish line.

 

Of course, putting ourselves out there intentionally feels a lot more vulnerable. It asks us to show up as our authentic selves and to choose men who do the same. That can mean fewer connections, sure, but the connections that do happen can feel so much richer.

 

Here’s the thing: we don’t have to choose one extreme or the other. Swipe culture isn’t “wrong,” and intentional dating doesn’t have to feel like a stiff, serious chore.

 

There’s a middle path where we can have fun with apps — knowing what they offer and what they don’t — and also leave space for the kinds of slow-blooming relationships that surprise us.

 

Maybe it looks like setting aside one day a week to slow things down. Maybe it looks like joining a hobby group, attending Brothers of the Desert events, or reaching out to someone you already admire but never had a one-on-one with.

 

And when you do go on that app-driven date, let yourself show up in full color. Share a story you normally wouldn’t. Be curious. See if they’re looking for that deeper connection too.

 

At the end of the day, dating as a Brother in the Desert means knowing you deserve more than a hot profile pic and a witty one-liner. You deserve to be pursued thoughtfully. You deserve honesty and warmth. And you deserve someone who looks into your eyes and truly sees you — thirst or no thirst!

 

So as you navigate the apps and the real-world spaces where you meet other Brothers, remember that there’s nothing wrong with going slow. You can lean into the playfulness of swipe culture while also nurturing the deeper connections that feel like a cool drink of water after a long hike.

 

And who knows, when you least expect it, that oasis might appear just around the corner.

 

Aneka Brown was raised in Palm Springs & left her position as an interior design associate to launch her own apparel line. She entered the fashion industry sans any formal training — or prior experience fabricating garments — but quickly homed in on her sartorial voice. Brown designs for all sizes, and the bold prints and colors that dominate her collections celebrate her African American heritage while also being right at home amid the modernist sensibilities of Palm Springs.

 

 

Having worn a size 0 to 4 for most of her life, Brown struggled when health issues caused her figure to change. She was diagnosed with adult-onset asthma and a lung condition known as environmental chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or COPD. To reduce lung inflammation and combat her coughing fits, which were so severe at times that she would lose consciousness, doctors prescribed prednisone. The steroid medication wields a possible side effect of weight gain. Brown encountered that reality.

 

“One month, I was a size 6 and then I’d blow up to a size 18 or a size 16 or a size 12” she shares. “I just couldn’t find cute things to wear.” It’s not in Brown’s nature to sit back and feel frumpy. She abides by the motto, “Live every day of life like you’re on a runway.” So, with existing brands failing to meet her needs, Brown set out to create something fabulous herself.

Her first piece, a loose-fitting jumpsuit inspired by the baggy pants MC Hammer rocked in the 1980s and ’90s, was designed to adapt to weight fluctuation. “When I was thinner, I would belt it. When I was a little heavier, I wouldn’t belt it — I’d throw a kimono over it — and it hid my weight,” she says. “My best friend, Keisha D, saw this jumpsuit, and she was like, ‘Girl, where did you get that jumpsuit? That is so cute!’” Word of mouth resulted in enough orders to propel this wife & mother of two toward designing full time.

 

“My kids were older, and my husband was just like, ‘This is something you should do. Keisha is absolutely right, and I support you,’” Brown recalls. “With $250 and that jumpsuit, I started Aneka Brown Designs.”

 

There are two primary collections: ABD, her ready-to-wear line of kimonos, caftans, tees, and accessories, and Aneka Brown Designs, which consists of her original designs, which are modern takes on classic silhouettes fabricated using vibrant colorful African Wax Fabrics from different regions throughout Africa.

 

Her creations have become conversation starters.

 

Though Brown fell into fashion later in life, her desire to be a designer was always there. After graduating from Palm Springs High School, she was accepted at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. “I didn’t end up going because I couldn’t afford the tuition,” she says.

 

That single MC Hammer–inspired jumpsuit has grown into a vast portfolio of daytime and evening wear for people who “don’t mind standing out.” Live Everyday of Life Like You’re a Runway” is the Aneka Brown Designs Motto. Her celebrity clientele includes Trina “Thumper” Parks the first African American Bond Girl starring opposite Sean Connery in “Diamonds are Forever”, Shari Belafonte, Michelle Williams, Richard Pryor Jr, & others. She’s quickly becoming a force to be reckoned with in the industry.

 

Aneka Brown Designs, which are my own original designs, fabricated using African Wax Cloth. Each piece is reversible which means the consumer is getting 2 garments for the price of one. The collection is luxurious resort, street & lounge which. It’s gender neutral & size inclusive. Our motto is “Live Everyday of Life Like You’re on A Runway”

 

ABD By Aneka Brown Designs is my more Ready to Wear collection comprised of classic wardrobe staples that I modernize using vibrant color rich fabric that I’ve designed that are then fabricated using the most advanced sublimation technology to seal the prints into poly blend fabric & vegan leather assuring that the colors won’t fade, In the case of the vegan leather the images won’t fade, chip, scratch or crack. We like to call this collection Wearable Art. The theme of being gender neutral & size inclusive is also carried over to this collected.

 

 

Ring in the New Year with style, elegance, purpose, and community! Join us for an evening of celebration, connection, and giving at Brothers of the Desert New Year’s Eve Gala and Fundraiser.

 

Theme: Carnival

Date: December 31, 2025
Time: 8:00 PM – 1:00 AM
Location: The venue will be announced at a later date.
Attire: Carnival Festive

Featuring: Live music, dancing, gourmet dinner, wine, midnight champagne toast, and more!

This unforgettable evening will raise critical funds for our Scholarship Fund and other educational programs, supporting the next generation of leaders, changemakers and the Coachella Valley. We look forward to welcoming you to a night of joy, laughter, and celebration. Let's bid farewell to the old and welcome the new surrounded by our family, friends, allies and community.

 

Tickets go on sale on September 8, 2025. For more information, please visit www.brothersofthedesert.org.   

If I’m being really honest, this is one of the hardest things I’ve ever written. It’s hard because suicide is one of those topics we rarely talk about out loud. It’s hard because so many of us, as Black gay men, have been taught that we need to keep it together, smile through the pain, and never let them see us break. But the truth is, I’ve had my moments where I felt like I was hanging on by a thread — and I know I’m not the only one.

 

I also can’t talk about this without mentioning a dear friend I lost many years ago to suicide. Even after all this time, I still remember him vividly — his laugh, his light, the way we could talk for hours. But then one day, he was just… gone. No warning, no goodbye.

 

And even though years have passed, I still catch myself wondering: How did I not see the signs? Was I a bad friend for not knowing? What pain could he have possibly been carrying that he felt like he couldn’t share with me? Could I have done something different? Should I have checked in more often? The questions circle around my heart like ghosts.

 

That’s part of the pain of losing someone to suicide. You don’t just lose them — you also lose the chance to help. The “what-ifs” and “if-onlys” can haunt you forever.

 

And that’s why I’m writing this now, because I never want another person to feel like they have nowhere to turn.

 

As Black gay men, so many of us grow up being told we have to be strong, that showing sadness is weakness, that asking for help is shameful. On top of that, we navigate racism, homophobia, isolation, and all kinds of rejection, often on a daily basis. No wonder so many of us hold it all inside.

 

But when we hold too much in, it can feel like the weight of the world is crushing our chests. It can feel like nobody would understand, or nobody would care. And sometimes — especially when we feel so alone — thoughts of suicide creep in as a way to stop the pain.

 

If you’ve ever felt that way, I want you to hear this clearly: You are not weak. You are not broken. And most importantly, you deserve help.

 

I know it can feel impossible to speak up. Trust me, I’ve been there. Even on my lowest days, the voice in my head told me not to bother anyone, that my pain was too much or that nobody would understand. But I also know now that that voice lies.

 

Every one of us deserves someone who will listen: a close friend, a family member, a therapist, a hotline like 988. Even if you can’t find all the words, you can simply say, “I’m really struggling.” That one sentence could open the door to someone standing by you, someone who will hold that pain with you until it feels lighter.

 

And Brothers, let’s make sure we’re looking out for one another too. If you sense someone pulling away, going quiet, or seeming down — check in. Reach out. Say, “Hey, I care about you.” Sometimes that’s all someone needs to feel less alone.

 

My friend’s death showed me just how much we need each other. It showed me that pain hidden in the dark can grow too big to carry. And it also showed me that even though I couldn’t save him, I can honor his memory by making sure someone else knows they matter enough to hold on.

 

So if you’re feeling close to the edge, I want you to pause and remember this: You matter. You matter to me, to this community, to the world. Even when it feels impossible, please keep reaching. Let someone hold your hand, your heart, your story…and let them remind you that you are never alone.

 

And to my dear friend, wherever you are, I wish you could have felt just a little of the light and love you gave to me. You will always be part of my story.

 

Brothers, let’s take care of ourselves and each other. If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call or text the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988 — someone is always there. Let’s keep the conversation going. Let’s keep one another safe.