True joy cannot be contained. It has a way of spreading from the heart to the head to the soul, warming everything in its wake. A similar dynamic is at play in the Coachella Valley. We all know how fabulous gay Palm Springs is, but now its rainbow embrace is stretching beyond the city limits and painting the surrounding towns positively pink.

Welcome to Cathedral City! Let’s discover this desert playground together…

This desert gem delivers smiles by the mile, serving up a smorgasbord of sexy venues and delectable eateries/drinkeries. Now is your chance to familiarize yourself with everything Cat City has to offer because LGBT Days are popping up and going off March 25-27. Become an expert and make your friends totes jelz!

GET YOUR FILL

Food and drinks go together like same-sex couples: naturally and deliciously. And nowhere is this harmony more symphonic that at The Roost Lounge. This truly is the Cheers of Cathedral City, and even though everybody knows your name, they will overlook your reputation. Wink, wink. The Roost has the friendliest staff this side of San Jacinto, disco on tap every Friday night, Bingo the second Sunday of each month with the hostess with the mostess, Ethylina Canne, and a roster of live events to fill your schedule with scandal, honey.  Collaboration is fabulous, which is why the bar owners encourage you to order from their neighboring restaurants while sipping on that cocktail. Enjoy international fare without leaving the comfort of your Roost!

If you really want to send your taste buds on a trip to paradise, may we suggest Salt Flats? This Mediterranean marvel is dishing out satisfaction squared, with starters that will really jump-start your engine. From the soothing lilt of their sumac-infused fried breadsticks to the acidic kick of olives marinated in feta and lemon, their appetizers live up to their name in a big way.

And now you are ready for the main course! Salt Flats has honed a pantheon of palate-pleasers, including the lamb platter peppered with heirloom tomatoes and a hummus mélange. Move over, Mary – this lamb is ours! But don’t worry – S.F. didn’t forget your vegan friends. Their peanut stew brings the robust flavors of West Africa to the heights of Cathedral City.

Just down the street is a hidden gem you may not know about – Sammy’s Place. Sammy’s Place serves authentic Italian food – pasta, seafood, and desserts, with generous portions in a welcoming atmosphere. The classic Wedge Salad or Watermelon and Feta Salad are great starters. The Spaghetti Carbonara is a fan favorite with a touch of chili pepper for a little heat. You can’t buy happiness, but you can buy gelato.

Would you look at the time? We’ve got more bars to hop over to! Cathedral City boasts a bevy of queer establishments to suit any persuasion. If you’re feeling naughty (yeah right, “if”), then The Barracks is a must. Bears and leather daddies cavort in a gritty, grunting waltz of manly abandon. It’s a woofy wonderland!

Country enthusiasts can get their line dance on at Trunks, a western-themed gay bar where homo meets honky-tonk. And immediately next door, there is an adult bookstore called Hidden Joy, but you didn’t hear it from us. Shhh…

You’ll find another great Cathedral City one-two punch at One Eleven Bar and its neighbor Umami Seoul. Indulge in some of the best sushi in the Valley and/or succulent Korean cuisine before hitting happy hour at One Eleven. If you’re lucky, you’ll rub elbows with drag royalty; some of RuPaul’s biggest success stories often grace the stage, so get ready to get gagged (metaphorically speaking).

Feeling sporty? You can watch the game of the week on the big screens at Amp Sports Bar or have a go at karaoke several nights of the week.

At the other end of the rainbow, you’ll find Bubba’s Bones & Brew, a down-home, downright meaty treat. Flex your butch side with a side of ribs!

But no night in Cat City would be complete without a heaping helping of Nicolino’s. Put your hunger to rest on a bed of pillowy pasta that evokes the authenticity of Italia. Or get wrapped up in a calzone love affair. Carbs be damned! But let’s face it – pizza is God’s gift to humanity, am I right? And Nicolino’s has perfected the art of the pie. Choose from a garden of fresh ingredients, a deluge of delicious sauces, and a flaky, inviting crust that demands more – mangia, mangia.

GET UP

Now that you have conquered the Cathedral City nightlife, let’s master the morning after. Brunch is a gay mainstay, and you’ve got a menu of mmm at your fingertips.

Hearty is at the heart of Sunshine Café, an unassuming enclave right across the street from Trunks. Talk about returning to the scene of the crime! Feast on Americana like biscuits and gravy or get nutty with their banana nut pancakes.

So, now that you have officially triggered your sweet tooth, set it loose (then see a dentist). Cat City’s got your back with a mom-and-pop diner that does not skimp on guilty pleasures. Just look at their name: Don & Sweet Sue’s. Need we say more?

Well, we will! Michael’s Café offers savory delights with eye candy for dessert. The people-watching at this indoor/outdoor hybrid restaurant is always top-notch. After all, this is where the bears eat, and do you really want to mess with a bear.

We know you do. Moving on…

GET YOUR GROOVE ON

The gay agenda is full swing at CCBC, a clothing optional resort that offers day passes to adventurous souls who wish to get frisky, get social and get wet… in the pool that is. They even have a full-service restaurant, Runway, for an early or late night bite.

There are plenty of soirees on the schedule during LGBT Days, so whip out your Speedo and whip up some mischief. Or, if you prefer to bed your prey in an even more public manner, do not miss the annual Bed Races that tear through town. These contests must be seen to be conceived. Picture it: four strapping men grunting and thrusting a Serta down the streets of Cathedral City. They might be firemen (rawr), they might be scantily clad (double rawr), and they might even feature celebrity riders like Leslie Jordan (yippee!).

GET OUT

Doesn’t it feel great to be out and about? While you’re here (and queer), get used to it! Cathedral City is packed with enough happenings to thrill your homo heart.

In the mood to win some money? We thought so. Enjoy the newest addition to the Agua Caliente Casinos collection. The property boasts a lively 30,000 square-foot casino floor, with table games, video poker, and some loose slots.

Peruse the nine art galleries along Perez Road and window shop like a cultural connoisseur. Your tour can culminate at the Museum of Ancient Wonders just east of gallery row, elevating your perspective verily.

Speaking of elevation, why limit your outdoor outings to this month? Cathedral City is fiercely fun year-round, as you will see at the Hot Air Balloon Festival that lifts off every November. Enjoy a next-level romance with aviation and treat your partner to balloon glow dinners by night and gourmet food trucks by day.

That should satiate you until February, when Taste of Jalisco spices up your salivary glands. Jalisco is Cathedral’s sister city, and their delicious sibling rivalry benefits all who experience it! Sip on tequila tastings, shimmy to local bands, and prepare for the calendar to wrap around to March once more. After all, we are all about LGBT Days!

GET GAY

This year’s LGBT Days festivities kick off with a multicolored blast of pride as City Hall gets a brilliant makeover. Rainbow lights will ignite the building’s façade as it penetrates the spirit of the weekend.

Rock your socks off at a party hosted by Lance Bass, with a list of hitmakers, including O-Town and Ryan Cabrera. Sunday brings the aforementioned bed races, followed by brunch in the park.

It is an itinerary fit for a Kween, and you are guaranteed to enjoy a royal romance. You may not find Prince Charming, but you will most definitely fall in love with Cathedral City. Welcome to your new queer kingdom!