CV Weekly: New Police Chief, Cinema Diverse Film Festival & Valley Happenings

✨ Last Week Around the Valley

It was a busy week across the Coachella Valley — from a major public safety milestone in Palm Springs to a delicious new dining destination on El Paseo. Here's a look at what happened:

New Palm Springs Police Chief Sworn In

Palm Springs welcomed its new top cop last week. Kyle Stjerne was officially sworn in as Chief of Police on September 6, 2026, succeeding retiring Chief Andy Mills. A 24-year veteran of the department, Stjerne was selected following a community-input process that included 1,300 survey responses. He has pledged a commitment to transparency, community engagement, and increased leadership visibility at neighborhood events, street fairs, and parades. Read more at KESQ.

Yozu Asian Bistro Opens on El Paseo

A vibrant new dining destination arrived in Palm Desert! Yozu Asian Bistro, a modern izakaya concept by the Wild Thyme Group, opened its doors at 73061 El Paseo on August 26, 2026. The restaurant draws culinary inspiration from Japan, Korea, China, and Southeast Asia, featuring a sushi bar, robata grill, shareable plates, and a curated sake and cocktail program. The interior is described as "Desert Modern meets Tokyo." Read more at Palm Springs Tribune.

La Quinta Mobile Library Ribbon-Cutting

La Quinta celebrated a community milestone on September 11, 2026, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new Mobile Library. The mobile unit will bring library services directly to residents across the city. Learn more at the City of La Quinta.

Chicago & Styx Rock Acrisure Arena

The "Windy Cities Tour" brought two legendary rock acts — Chicago and Styx — to Acrisure Arena in Palm Desert on September 2, 2026. It was a memorable night of classic rock for valley music fans.

Palm Springs Desert Winds Begin 25th Anniversary Season

The Palm Springs Desert Winds wind ensemble kicked off their 25th anniversary season at the McCallum Theatre, marking a quarter-century of bringing live music to the Coachella Valley community.

Aerial Tramway Closed for Annual Maintenance

A reminder for those planning a mountain getaway: the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway is closed September 8 through October 4, 2026 for annual preventative maintenance. The tentative reopening date is October 5 — mark your calendars!

📅 Coming Up This Week

There's plenty happening across the valley this week (September 14–21). Here are some highlights:

• Business Expo & Taste of Palm Springs — Tuesday, September 16 | Indian Canyons Golf Resort, Palm Springs. Local businesses showcase their best — a great networking and tasting event. Details at Palm Springs Chamber.


• La Santa Cecilia — Tuesday, September 16 | McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert. The acclaimed Mexican-American band performs live. Details at Discover Palm Desert.


• Cinema Diverse LGBTQ+ Film Festival (Weekend 1) — September 17–20 | Palm Springs Cultural Center. The 19th annual festival features 50+ feature films and nearly 100 short films celebrating LGBTQ+ storytelling. Tickets and schedule at PS Cultural Center.


• Sunnylands Films in the Garden — Friday, September 18 | Sunnylands, Rancho Mirage. The "Roots & Reveries" outdoor film series returns, inspired by the Curating Canopy exhibition. Details.


• Geoff Tate's Operation: Mindcrime (The Final Chapter) — Friday, September 18, 8:00 PM | The Show at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa, Rancho Mirage. See our events calendar.


• Free Electronic Waste Recycling Event — Saturday, September 19, 7:00 AM | Palm Desert City Hall, 73510 Fred Waring Drive. Drop off old electronics responsibly — free to residents. Details on our events page.


• Night Sky Viewing — Saturday, September 19 | Art Smith Trailhead, Palm Desert. Friends of the Desert Mountains hosts an astronomy event under the desert sky. Details.


• Matt Mathews: Not What I Ordered World Tour — Sunday, September 20, 6:00 PM | The Show at Agua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage. See our events calendar.

Recurring Weekly & Monthly Events

• Palm Springs VillageFest — Every Thursday evening | Palm Canyon Drive, Downtown Palm Springs. The beloved outdoor street fair with vendors, food, and live entertainment.


• Palm Springs Certified Farmers Market — Every Saturday | Palm Springs Pavilion, 401 S Pavilion Way.


• Rancho Mirage Certified Farmers Market — Every Friday | Rancho Mirage Community Park, 71-560 San Jacinto Dr.


• Indio Night Market — Every Friday | Riverside County Fairgrounds, Indio.


• Indio Food Truck Fridays — Every Friday, 5:00 PM | Indio Plaza, 45285 Towne Street.


• Free Thursday Nights at Palm Springs Art Museum — Every Thursday | 101 Museum Dr, Palm Springs. Free admission from 4–8 PM.


• Superfuzz Saturday Nights — Every Saturday | CCBC Resort Hotel, Cathedral City.


• I·CON·IC SUNDAYS Drag Brunch — Every Sunday | One Eleven Bar, Cathedral City.


• Open Mic Mondays & Karaoke Tuesdays — Weekly | The Roost Lounge, Cathedral City.


• La Quinta Summer Golf Experience — Every Saturday | Trilogy Golf Club at La Quinta.


• Chinese Mahjong — Weekly | La Quinta Library, 78275 Calle Tampico.


• Daytime Observatory Tour — Weekly | Rancho Mirage Library & Observatory.

👉 View the full Coachella Valley events calendar at Desert Biz Connect.

🏪 Newly Added to Our Directory

These local businesses recently added their listings to Desert Biz Connect. Whether you're looking for a new service provider or just want to support local, check them out!

• Tax Fluential Solutions (Indio) — Accounting & Tax Services. Looking for tax help in the East Valley? Tax Fluential Solutions recently added their listing to our directory. Find them in our directory.


• Hammer 'N Nails (Palm Springs) — Home Services. Need home repair or improvement? Hammer 'N Nails is now listed on Desert Biz Connect. Browse our directory.


• Millers Glass Tinting Solutions, Inc (Palm Springs) — Construction & Contractors. Millers Glass Tinting Solutions recently added their listing to our directory, offering glass and tinting services in the Palm Springs area. See their listing.


• Desert Elite Implant (Palm Desert) — Dental Services. Looking for dental implant services in Palm Desert? Desert Elite Implant is now listed on Desert Biz Connect. Find them in our directory.


• Diamond Demolition (Palm Springs) — Construction & Contractors. Diamond Demolition recently added their listing to our directory, serving the Palm Springs area with demolition and construction services. Browse our directory.

Want your business listed? Submit your business to Desert Biz Connect today.

🆕 New to the Valley

Here's what's genuinely new or newly arriving in the Coachella Valley, confirmed through local news and business sources:

• Yozu Asian Bistro — Palm Desert (73061 El Paseo). This modern izakaya concept from the Wild Thyme Group opened August 26, 2026, bringing a fresh pan-Asian dining experience to El Paseo. Read more at Palm Springs Tribune.


• Bird (Coming Soon) — Palm Springs (211 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite C). F10 Hospitality — the team behind Birba and Mr. Lyons — is targeting a late September 2026 opening for Bird, a café by day and wine bar by evening. Read more at CV Independent.


• On the Mark — Rancho Mirage (Coming Fall 2026) — The popular Palm Springs specialty food purveyor is expanding to the new Cotino town center in Rancho Mirage. The new location will be more than double the size of the original, with expanded seating and fresh produce and meat offerings. Read more at CV Independent.

Know of a new business opening in the Valley? Let us know at Desert Biz Connect!

🤝 Ways to Serve the Community

Looking to give back? Here are some local organizations where your time and energy can make a real difference:

• FIND Food Bank — According to their website, FIND Food Bank is currently welcoming volunteers for warehouse sorting, food distribution events, and homebound delivery services. Opportunities are available for teens (14+) and adults. Sign up at findfoodbank.org.


• Animal Samaritans (Thousand Palms) — According to their website, Animal Samaritans is currently accepting volunteer applications from individuals 18 and older. Roles include cat cuddlers, dog walkers, foster volunteers, clinic greeters, and Highway Heroes transport team members. Apply at animalsamaritans.org/volunteer.


• Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert (Palm Desert) — According to their website, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert is actively seeking volunteer mentors. Approximately two dozen local youth are currently waiting to be matched with a Big. Just 4–8 hours per month can change a child's life. Learn more at bbbsdesert.org.


• Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC) — According to their website, CVHC is currently looking for volunteers to support over 15,000 residents through tutoring, office assistance, and housing construction. No prior experience required. Apply at cvhc.org/volunteer.


• Coachella Valley Conservation Commission — If you enjoy the outdoors, check with the CVCC to see if they're currently accepting volunteers for land stewardship activities like trail maintenance and invasive species removal. Reach out to [email protected] to explore current opportunities.

📬 Stay Connected with CV Weekly

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• 📅 Explore upcoming events at desertbiz.net/events — from farmers markets to live music to community festivals.


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Until next week — stay cool, stay connected, and keep supporting your local Coachella Valley community. 🌵☀️