Special Interest Groups

We look forward to eight fabulous live Met performances that will be transmitted to cinemas across the globe.  Each opera is transmitted live, in real time, at The Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center at 12:55 pm EST (9:55 am PDT).  You select seats online or in person at Cinemark Century-La Quinta.  Tickets are approximately $25 for seniors. 

Following are the 2024-2025 performances for The Met: Live in HD season:

Les Contes d'Hoffmann on October 5, 2024.  Benjamin Bernheim (our Romeo from last season) is the tormented poet Hoffmann, with his very different trio of lovers.  Bartlett Sher staging and direction.

 
Grounded on October 19, 2024.  Powerful new opera production commission by the Met.  A servicewoman's struggle to balance family and career; the mental health challenges that follow combat experience; and the morality of death rained down by remote control.  Very technical staging.

Tosca on November 23, 2024.  Action takes place during a revolution in which a struggle emerges between a very volatile diva, Floria Tosca, and her revolutionary lover and painter, Cavaradossi, and the sadistic chief of police, Scarpio, who wants Tosca.  The music is magnificent Puccini.

Aida on January 25, 2025.  New production featuring an Ethiopian princess torn between love and country.  This is the premier production of New Year's Eve at The Met with spectacular new staging and brings audiences inside the towering pyramids and gilded tombs of ancient Egypt. Features a love triangle with glorious procession music by Verdi.

Fidelio on March 15, 2025.  Leonore risks everything to save her husband from the clutches of tyranny.  There are many modern-day parallels in Beethoven's stirring paean to freedom.

Le Nozze di Figaro on April 26, 2025.  Mozart's comic masterpiece with Figaro, as the clever valet alongside his betrothed-the wily maid Suzanna, as well as the skirt-chasing Count, his anguised wife and the adolescent page.  A lot of fast fun.

Salome on May 17, 2025.  New production with a white-hot one act tragedy by Strauss.  The biblical story already filtered through the beautiful and strange imagination of Oscar Wilde's play.  A psychologically perceptive Victorian-era setting, rich in symbolism and subtle shades of darkness and light.  Starring the abused and unhinged antiheroine, who demands the head of Jochanaan and coming from the background of her lecherous stepfather, King Herod.

Il Barbiere di Siviglia on May 31, 2025.  Figaro, the infamous barber of Seville, joins an outstanding cast in Rossini's effervescent comedy.  Bartlett Sher staging with a winning ensemble, including a feisty heroine, high flying tenors and a secret beloved.

Travel Club

The Travel Club is designed for fun, well-planned group travel for the Women's Club by our own member, Patricia Castoro, owner of Acacia & Lime Travel Designs.  Trips may  include women-only travel or mixed with partners. Patricia will survey the group on occasion for interest and will plan to launch 2-3 trips per year. Please reach out to her directly if you have specific interests in mind.

• Travel Club Presentation
• A&L Travel Designs Website
• Email Patricia

The Movie Club format is similar to our Book Club. Every month we’ll have a host and a leader. The movies for each month will have some sort of common theme. Based upon the theme for that month, we will meet to compare and contrast the two movies - the plots, character development, photography, sets, locations, costumes etc. Some movies will be classics, some will be newer; some will make you laugh and others, perhaps cry; some will be light-hearted and some incredibly thoughtful. Of course there will be drinks & popcorn. 

Themes might include: Strong Women, Remakes, Romantic Comedies, Period Dramas, Mysteries, Specific Actresses, Specific Actors (The possibilities are endless!)

Advance Time Commitment: 2 movies @ approximately 2 hours each = 4 hours for the month.

When: Movie Club is generally held the week AFTER the DHWC Book Club so some members can participate in both clubs. Watch for the Movie Club email for the specific movies & then be sure sign up for that month’s event.

Where to watch: We will research and let you know which streaming services will carry the movies for the month. If you don’t subscribe to a particular service – find a friend who does & have a ‘watch party’!

Please come to the Desert Horizons Card Room to select and play one of our many games: such as Rummikub, Five Crowns, Spite and Malice and Yahtzee. From September through October 25th, we’ll meet at 1-3 p.m. every Friday! 

No need to sign up, just get the key to the game cabinet from DH Reception and come have a Fun Friday!

Welcome to the DHWC hiking group!  Lee Clancey and Shelly Soorholtz will be leading the group this year.  This season, all hikes will leave from the Clubhouse parking lot promptly at 8:00 a.m. unless otherwise indicated on the schedule.  Carpools will be determined by the number of hikers gathered in the parking lot.  Most hikes will get participants back to DH by noon or earlier unless otherwise indicated.  We will send out a reminder email a few days ahead of each hike that better describes each trail, level of difficulty, and what you may see.

Each hike should bring adequate water, hat or visor and sun block.  You may also choose to bring a hiking stick.  Please considere good hiking shoes or boots as those have firmer soles that are easier on your feet and "grip" rocky trails better.

Hike difficulty will be indicated on the schedule or you may refer to the book, 140 Great Hikes In and Near Palm Springs.  Hike schedule may change due to weather, hiking conditions or conflicting events, but prior notice will be given.  A member's out-of-town guests are welcome to attend a Special Interest Group hike with their hosting member, if space allows.  A member may invite a DH resident and non-member of DHWC to attend a hike as their guest no more than one time.  All regular participants must be DHWC members in good standing.  

Additionally, all participants understand that they have joined a group event that my pose some difficulty and that they do so at their own risk!  Each Participant shall determine if any given hike is within her ability.   All participants will be required to sign a WAIVER OF LIABILITY as well.  This waiver will be available to sign at the beginning of each hike.

Bring your own bike or sign one out from the club if/when available and have an adventure on wheels with other bikers. A great way to get exercise and enjoy our beautiful surroundings. Biking Buddies meets on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. at the Front Gate to go bike riding.  Our rides will range from 8 miles to 15 miles and we will try to ride on quiet streets and sidewalks to be safe.  Many of our outings will include stopping for lunch.

Walk with new and old friends either within Desert Horizons or venture out to other locations. This group meets Monday and Friday mornings at 8:30 a.m. in the Clubhouse parking lot. During construction, the meeting point may vary depending on parking availability etc. as construction progresses. Watch for a weekly email! Once the Clubhouse is open, we will meet in the clubhouse parking lot. Come when you can. Walk location and other details are emailed in advance with guidance on whether you can bring a favorite furry friend or whether we will have a walking adventure outside the gates!

Want to play or learn Hand and Foot?  Hand & Foot is a card game where you deal 2 sets of 11 cards.  The object is to play your “hand” then your “foot” by melding them to sets of 3 to 7 cards of the same rank.  4 or 6 players per table.

Wednesday afternoons at DH Clubhouse from 1-3 p.m.