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CV Weekly
September 21, 2026
6 min read
CV Weekly: Cinema Diverse Film Fest, New Police Chief & Fresh Valley Openings
✨ Last Week Around the Valley
Community & Public Safety
The Coachella Valley had a busy week of community milestones and local news. Here are some highlights from September 14–21, 2026:
- New Palm Springs Police Chief: Kyle Stjerne was officially sworn in as Palm Springs Chief of Police earlier this month, following a community-input process that drew over 1,300 survey responses. A 24-year department veteran, Stjerne has pledged transparency and increased community engagement. Read more →
- Palm Springs Aerial Tramway Closed for Maintenance: The iconic Tramway is closed September 8 through October 4 for annual preventative maintenance, with a tentative reopening on October 5. Plan your mountain visits accordingly!
- La Quinta Mobile Library Ribbon-Cutting: La Quinta celebrated the launch of its new Mobile Library on September 11, bringing library services directly to neighborhoods across the city. Learn more →
- La Quinta Washington Street Landscape Renovations: The city continues its Washington Street landscape renovation project, enhancing one of La Quinta's key corridors.
Arts, Entertainment & Dining
- Palm Springs Desert Winds 25th Anniversary Season: The beloved Palm Springs Desert Winds wind ensemble kicked off their milestone 25th anniversary season at the McCallum Theatre this month — a testament to the Valley's thriving arts community. Read more →
- Cinema Diverse LGBTQ Film Festival: The Cinema Diverse LGBTQ Film Festival returned to the Palm Springs Cultural Center September 17–20 for its first weekend of screenings, celebrating LGBTQ+ stories on screen.
- Yozu Asian Bistro Now Open on El Paseo: Palm Desert's dining scene got a vibrant new addition — Yozu Asian Bistro opened at 73061 El Paseo on August 26. The modern izakaya concept from the Wild Thyme Group features Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Southeast Asian cuisine, a sushi bar, robata grill, and a stunning "Desert Modern meets Tokyo" interior. Read more →
- Geoff Tate's Operation: Mindcrime rocked Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage on September 18, and Matt Mathews: Not What I Ordered World Tour brought laughs to Agua Caliente Casino Rancho Mirage on September 20.
📅 Coming Up This Week
There's plenty happening across the Valley this week! Here are some recurring favorites and upcoming highlights:
- 🎨 Free Thursday Nights at Palm Springs Art Museum — Every Thursday evening, enjoy free admission at the Palm Springs Art Museum, 101 Museum Dr, Palm Springs. A wonderful way to experience world-class art at no cost. Details →
- 🛍️ Palm Springs VillageFest — The beloved weekly street fair returns to Palm Canyon Drive in Downtown Palm Springs. Browse local vendors, enjoy live entertainment, and soak up the Palm Springs vibe. Details →
- 🥕 Rancho Mirage Certified Farmers Market — Fresh local produce and artisan goods at Rancho Mirage Community Park, 71-560 San Jacinto Dr. Details →
- 🥕 Palm Springs Certified Farmers Market — Stock up on fresh, local goods at the Palm Springs Pavilion, 401 S Pavilion Way. Details →
- 🎤 Open Mic Mondays at The Roost Lounge — Cathedral City's favorite weekly open mic night. All performers welcome! Details →
- 🎤 Karaoke Tuesdays at The Roost Lounge — Grab the mic every Tuesday at The Roost Lounge in Cathedral City. Details →
- 🎸 Kevin Costner & Modern West — Coming up September 25 at The Show at Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa, 32-250 Bob Hope Drive, Rancho Mirage. Don't miss this special performance! Tickets & Details →
- 🍔 Indio Food Truck Fridays — Weekly food truck gathering at Indio Plaza, 45285 Towne Street, Indio. Great food, great community. Details →
- 🎭 I·CON·IC SUNDAYS Drag Brunch — Weekly drag brunch at One Eleven Bar, 67555 E Palm Canyon Dr Suite A102, Cathedral City. Fabulous entertainment every Sunday! Details →
- ♻️ Free Electronic Waste Recycling Event — Drop off your old electronics responsibly at Palm Desert City Hall, 73510 Fred Waring Drive. Details →
📆 View the full Coachella Valley events calendar →
🏪 Newly Added to Our Directory
These local businesses recently added their listings to Desert Biz Connect. If you're looking for trusted local services, check them out!
Tax Fluential Solutions — Indio
Looking for accounting and tax services in the East Valley? Tax Fluential Solutions recently added their listing to our directory. Find them in the directory →
Hammer 'N Nails — Palm Springs
Need home services in Palm Springs? Hammer 'N Nails recently added their listing to Desert Biz Connect. Find them in the directory →
Millers Glass Tinting Solutions, Inc. — Palm Springs
Millers Glass Tinting Solutions recently added their listing to our directory, offering construction and contractor services in the Palm Springs area. Find them in the directory →
Desert Elite Implant — Palm Desert
Looking for dental services in Palm Desert? Desert Elite Implant recently added their listing to Desert Biz Connect. Find them in the directory →
Diamond Demolition — Palm Springs
Diamond Demolition recently added their listing to our directory, providing construction and demolition contractor services in the Palm Springs area. Find them in the directory →
🔍 Browse the full Desert Biz Connect directory →
🆕 New to the Valley
Here's what's genuinely new or expanding in the Coachella Valley business scene:
Yozu Asian Bistro — Palm Desert (El Paseo)
Now open! Yozu Asian Bistro debuted at 73061 El Paseo on August 26, 2026. The modern izakaya from the Wild Thyme Group brings Japanese, Korean, Chinese, and Southeast Asian flavors to El Paseo, complete with a sushi bar and robata grill. Read more →
Bird (Café & Wine Bar) — Palm Springs (Coming Soon)
F10 Hospitality — the team behind Birba and Mr. Lyons — is targeting a late September 2026 opening for Bird at 211 E. Palm Canyon Drive, Suite C. Expect a café by day and wine bar by evening. Read more →
On the Mark (Second Location) — Rancho Mirage (Coming Soon)
The popular Palm Springs specialty food purveyor On the Mark is expanding to the new Cotino town center in Rancho Mirage, targeting a fall 2026 opening. Read more →
Know of a new business opening in the Valley? Let us know — submit it here!
🤝 Ways to Serve the Community
Looking to give back? Here are some Coachella Valley organizations where your time can make a real difference:
FIND Food Bank
According to their website, FIND Food Bank is currently welcoming volunteers for warehouse operations, food distribution, and homebound delivery programs. Apply to volunteer →
Animal Samaritans
According to their website, Animal Samaritans is currently accepting applications from volunteers who are 18 years of age or older. Roles include cat cuddlers, dog walkers, foster volunteers, clinic greeters, and Highway Heroes transport team members. Apply to volunteer →
Coachella Valley Housing Coalition (CVHC)
According to their website, CVHC is currently seeking volunteers for tutoring, office assistance, and housing construction projects. An online application is available. Apply to volunteer →
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert
According to their website, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Desert is actively recruiting mentors — approximately two dozen young people in the Valley are currently waiting to be matched with a caring adult. If you have a few hours a month to spare, your impact could be life-changing. Learn about becoming a mentor →
Coachella Valley Conservation Commission (CVCC)
If you're passionate about the desert environment, check with the Coachella Valley Conservation Commission to see if they're currently accepting volunteers for land stewardship activities like trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and community cleanups. Explore opportunities →
📬 Stay Connected with CV Weekly
CV Weekly is your community connection to everything happening in the Coachella Valley. Here's how to stay in the loop:
- 📧 Subscribe to our newsletter for weekly updates delivered straight to your inbox: desertbiz.net/newsletter
- 📅 Explore upcoming events across the Valley: desertbiz.net/events
- 🔍 Discover local businesses in our growing directory: desertbiz.net/directory
- 📝 Submit your event or business to be featured: desertbiz.net/submit
Thank you for being part of the Desert Biz Connect community. Together, we keep the Coachella Valley connected, informed, and thriving. See you next week! 🌵☀️
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