By Sam Maisner

Man does not live by the White Party alone.

It's the big event: White Party Weekend.

You're in Palm Springs for the most fabulous party of the season, but you've got to eat, and while you're here, do a little shopping, and take in the sights. But, you may be saying to yourself, “Where's a good restaurant? What's going on around town? Where can I find all this out? Help me!” Calm down, dear readers, I'm here to help you. I know that after long nights of partying and dancing, as well as mornings recovering by the pool, you don't have the time or energy to seek out all the other fun Palm Springs has to offer -- I've done it all for you.

Eat

A Veritable Feast Awaits You

How are you going to have enough energy to dance all night if you don't eat? You're in luck, because Palm Springs is loaded with fantastic restaurants. In my numerous travels to Palm Springs to inform you of the best the Coachella Valley has to offer, I've been to numerous local restaurants (I know, poor little me!), and here are some of my favorites. Wang's in the Desert, 424 S. Indian Canyon Dr., (760) 325-9264, is a great place for Asian cuisine. For modern Italian fare, try Boscoso, 707 N. Palm Canyon Dr., (760) 325-4002. My absolute local favorite for south of the border fare is Eguardo’s Café Veracruz, 494 N. Palm Canyon Dr., (760) 320-3558. Some recommendations include the numerous margaritas, tamales, and the absolutely best mole poblano I've ever tasted. Great cuisine in an elegant setting can be found at the Uptown Grill, 320 E. Vista Chino, (760) 320-6616. They're also locally famous for their white board lunch specials and a fantastic piano bar. For transplanted Texans, or anyone who loves great barbecue, drop everything and head to Tootie's Texas Barbecue, 68-703 Perez Rd. Suite 301, Cathedral City, (760) 202-6963. Be sure to save room for dessert! My recommendation for a great breakfast is Patrick's Roadhouse, 611 S. Palm Canyon Dr., (760) 325-1551, with fluffy pancakes, filling egg dishes, and great lunch and dinner too. Another choice for home cooking is Look Palm Springs, 139 E. Arenas Rd., (760) 778-3520. They offer a bistro-style menu with their cuisine served under the stars -- just perfect for those clear desert nights. Fresh from Washington, D.C., Matchbox, 155 S. Palm Canyon, second level, (760) 778-6000, not only offers great bistro-style pizza, but also has delicious entrées offered up daily by their talented chefs. If you're partying all night and dancing your ass off, you're going to need protein, so howzabout a nice, thick, juicy, mouth-watering steak and a martini to wash it down? Look no further than The Falls Prime Steakhouse and Martini Bar, 155 S. Palm Canyon Dr., (760) 461-8664. One of the top restaurants in the area (as well as another great place for a martini, by the way) is Plum, 241 E. Tahquitz Canyon, (760) 322-5280. If you're from L.A., think of restaurants on Melrose or La Cienaga and you'll get the picture. No trip to the Coachella Valley is complete without a stop at Butterfields Adobe at the historic Villas, 67-670 Carey Rd., Cathedral City, (877) PS-VILLA. It's a nice, relaxing spot for brunch, lunch, or dinner, and stick around for the Villa's great dinner theater. With a combination of authentic barbecue, movies on a 40-foot screen, and Texas-sized margaritas, you'll want to stay at Dale's Lost Hideway, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon, (760) 641-5921, all night. Hopefully, you'll be able to find your way back to the White Party. Would it be a gay town without a Hamburger Mary's? Of course not, and Palm Spring's very own is at 415 N. Palm Canyon Dr. (760) 778-MARY. If hot, spicy meatballs are to your liking (get your mind out of the gutter, there's plenty of time for that later) run to Lotza Mozza, 119 S. Indian Canyon Dr., (760) 325-5571, for the best meatballs in town. They're homemade, as are all the pastas and Italian sausage -- this place is great! Here's place with a great motto, “Drop your pants … show us your skivvies.” Where else but Skivvies Cafe at Warm Sands' Inn Exile, 545 Warm Sands Dr., (760) 327-6413? With a festive menu of pizza, pastas, cool libations, and ice cream, I'll scream, you'll scream, we'll all scream! Speaking of pizza, when you're on Arenas Road (and you know you will be -- late at night, and hungry!), you've got to drop in to Just Pizza, Etc., 315 E. Arenas Rd., (760) 416-2818. It's just the thing after carousing at the bars before heading to the all-night dancing at the White Party, or for something special to take back to your room (other than that hunk you just met). For more on their scrumptious pizza pies, be sure to check out our Palm Springs Profile later in this issue. A long-time Arenas Road favorite has been re-imagined just for you. With great food, reasonable prices, and top-notch entertainment, find out why Rainbow Restaurant and Bar, 212 S. Indian Canyon (760) 325-3868, packs them in every night. Be sure to check out one of Palm Springs' newest eateries, Chrome Grille on Arenas, 214 E. Arenas Rd., (760) 866-1905, with an elegant menu that's sure to impress. Finally, if you want to break the morning fog, do drop in to Koffi, 515 N. Palm Canyon Dr., (760) 567-9065 for the best cup o' Joe in the valley. This is a very popular hangout, and most of the resorts feature their fine offerings.

Drink and Be Merry

The days and nights at the White Party are hot, and you'll need to cool off with a refreshing libation at one of Palm Springs' many bars and clubs -- many are also hosting special events for the White Party Weekend. Toucans Tiki Lounge, 2100 N. Palm Canyon Dr., #A-100 (760) 770-3711, is always packed, but for a good reason -- this is one of the area's most festive spots, with entertainment nightly. Arenas Road is gay central in Palm Springs, and one of the most popular spots is Hunters Video Bar, 302 E. Arenas Rd., (760) 323-0700. A local favorite because of its friendly atmosphere is Streetbar, 224 E. Arenas Rd., (760) 320-1266. Another fun neighborhood spot is Spurline, 200 S. Indian Canyon Dr. (760) 778-4326, which is under new ownership and has a fresh look. Heaven Nightclub, 611 S. Palm Canyon Dr., (760) 416-0950, is the location for some of the White Party events, and is a great spot for after-hours parties any time. The Tool Shed, 600 E. Sunny Dunes Rd., (760) 320-3299, is popular with the leather and Levi's set, as is the Barracks Bar, 67-625 E. Palm Canyon Dr., (760) 321-9688. The hottest time in the valley, however, is at the Cathedral City Boys Club (CCBC), 68-369 Sunair Rd., Cathedral City, (760) 324-1350, which offers a garden of delights, including sauna, steam room, pool, water fall, a maze where you never know what you'll find, and many more erotic pleasures. Be sure to stop by for their Mr. Basket Contest on Saturday at 3 p.m. While in Cathedral City, a place close to CCBC for evening entertainment is Club Whatever, 36-737 Cathedral Canyon Dr., Cathedral City, (760) 321-0031.

A Little Shopping and Some Culture

What trip is complete without souvenirs? Arenas Road and N. Palm Canyon Drive are loaded with shops for every taste, but if you're looking for something different for your White Party wear, stop by Ty’s Menz Wear, 125 E. Tahquitz Canyon, Suite A100, (760) 778-1488, where they also feature the latest fashionable chain offerings from Twist My Links, www.twistmylinks.com, (866) 467-0437. A fun spot for a gift is Mischief Cards and Gifts, 210 E. Arenas Rd., (760) 322-8555. For those looking for a little mind candy, drop by the Peppertree Bookstore, 155 S. Palm Canyon Dr., (760) 325-4821, and stick around for the Palm Springs Book Festival on April 22. Art galleries abound in Palm Springs, with something for every taste. Imageville, 128 La Plaza, (760) 416-9825, specializes in the photographic arts. Evocative Arts Gallery, 170 E. Tahquitz Canyon, (760) 327-7111, appeals to those who appreciate surrealism. Exposure Gallery, 436 N. Palm Canyon Dr., (760) 327-5995 will open their show The Classic Nude, featuring the photos of Tom Bianchi, Michael Childers, and David Vance on April 15. See the Palm Springs Profile in this issue for more information. For those seeking a more bohemian environment, drop by Dezart Studio and Dezart One Gallery, 4116 Matthew Dr., (760) 202-1208. A group of galleries has sprung up around Dezart -- including ART, Trevor Gross Studio/Mary Silverman Gallery, Slaughterhouse, and Studio 13 -- creating an artists, oasis in the desert.

Too Much Fun

I know what you're thinking, that's way too much to do in one weekend, especially with the jam-packed White Party schedule. My advice is to clip out this valuable guide, put it in you car's glove box (next to the gloves) and keep it as a resource for the many trips you'll be taking back to the desert.