"A dozen years of parties and confetti. A decade-plus of drinks, drag shows, tea dances and laughter with locals. That's what Oscar's owner Dan Gore will have to look back on if his treasured corner hangout in Palm Springs is forced to close. A new crowdfunding campaign, started just days ago by Gore, aims to help Oscar's emerge from what he says has been "a perfect storm" of trouble over the past year."
"Located on the corner of Indian Canyon Drive and E. Tahquitz Canyon Way, Oscar's is a staple of the gay and lesbian circuit in the Coachella Valley. The prominent downtown spot - part bar and restaurant, part indoor-outdoor venue, part collection point for generations of Southern Californians and seasonal LGBTQ tourists - has seemingly always drawn a crowd, particularly during the sunny winter high season."
"Prior to this year, Oscar's has mostly done well. Drag shows (including the particularly energetic Bitchiest Brunch) and rotating acts keep it feeling lively during peak season, but the long-running anchor event has always been the T-Dance. Historically an act of resilience within the gay community, tea dances are meant to bring everyone together for an afternoon of public fun. The Sunday T-Dances at Oscar's include DJs and drinks and have become a key part of what makes the venue so vital for the area."
Owner Dan Gore launched a crowdfunding campaign to help Oscar's recover from a year of severe financial trouble. Oscar's sits at Indian Canyon Drive and E. Tahquitz Canyon Way and functions as a bar, restaurant, indoor-outdoor venue, and gathering place for local and seasonal LGBTQ communities. The venue's programming includes drag shows such as the Bitchiest Brunch and the long-running Sunday T-Dance, which has historically served as a resilient, communal afternoon gathering with DJs and drinks. In 2025, declining tourism—especially fewer Canadian visitors—along with rising food, alcohol, and insurance costs produced a "perfect storm" that left the business struggling after its worst summer ever.
Read at SFGATE
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