THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

Walking into the Palm Springs Convention Center, one could not help but notice the outstanding effort taken to decorate the lobby in true Hollywood fashion. Large flat-screen televisions were mounted on the wall. The Hollywood sign was against one of the main walls as the perfect backdrop. The only thing missing was the walk of fame … although the red carpet was a fantastic substitute.

Salt-N-Pepa were on the main stage at the Hollywood Party and did not disappoint after a nearly 10-year hiatus. Singing their old favorites, "Shoop," "Push It," "Let's Talk About Sex" and other hits, Salt-N-Pepa had the crowd on their feet with every rap and rhyme. Kicking off their comeback tour at Club Skirts The Dinah, Salt-N-Pepa even stuck around after the show for a special meet-and-greet appearance with select fans.

And then there was the White Diamonds party. As if the 20th anniversary of Club Skirts The Dinah wasn't fabulous enough with all of the hottest lesbians in entertainment under one roof, Ke$ha took the stage just past 11 p.m. April 2. Held at the Palm Springs Convention Center, the White Diamonds Party was the steamiest ticket in town. Ke$ha ( known for her single "Tik Tok" ) served as Club Skirts The Dinah's headlining act. ( Previous headlining talents included Katy "I Kissed a Girl" Perry and the Disco Stick Diva herself, Lady Gaga. ) If the aforementioned ladies are any indication, Ke$ha may have a very long and successful road ahead of her.

Walking the red carpet earlier in the evening were LGBTQ celebrities Meredith Baxter, Suzanne Westenhoefer, The L Word's Sarah Shahi, Paradiso Girls, Nikki Caster, Billie Myers and Club Skirts The Dinah ringleader Mariah Hanson, among others. The Palm Springs Convention Center was draped in white to celebrate the theme of the evening. Some guests pumped their arms to the music in the auditorium while others enjoyed the laid-back atmosphere in the lobby. Either way, everyone had a blast as the party went into the wee hours of Saturday morning. Text by Sarah Toce; Windy City Times photos by Stephanie Brusig and Sarah Toce