Ambush magazine volume 26 issue 08

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F

the "official" dish

by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain RipandMarsha.COM E-mail: info@ambushmag.com

25th Annual French Quarter Festival April 11-13

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rench Quarter Festivals, Inc. (FQFI) has announced the addition of Harrah’s Foundation and the legendary Preservation Hall as new sponsors of the 25th anniversary of French Quarter Festival (FQF25) taking place the weekend of April 11-13. The organization also introduced its new executive director, Marci Schramm; its 25th Anniversary Milestone Committee comprised of long-standing festival supporters from the business, political and civic communities; and the launch of a newly updated festival Web site.

“The addition of the Harrah’s Foundation and Preservation Hall as 2008 festival sponsors solidifies our place as not only a world-class music and entertainment festival, but as the premier showcase of New Orleans’ unique cultural heritage,” said FQFI Executive Director, Marci Schramm.

“Additionally, Preservation Hall is providing a selection of songs for a limited edition CD to be included in the 25th anniversary festival program, as well as providing free entertainment at their legendary jazz hall throughout festival weekend,” added Schramm.

According to Jim Hoskins, Senior Vice President and General Manager of Harrah’s New Orleans, “As part of our ongoing commitment to the greater New Orleans community, The Harrah’s Foundation is honored to support this prestigious festival and pledge to do our part to help keep it free and fun for years to come.”

FQFI also announced a preliminary list of confirmed entertainers including: Kermit Ruffins, Trombone Shorty, Irvin Mayfield, Fredy Omar con Su Banda, Ronnie Kole, Bruce Daigrepont, Walter Wolfman Washington, Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr, Benjy Davis Project, Amanda Shaw, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Pfister Sisters, French Quarter Festival Allstars with Connie Jones and an evolution of jazz in New Orleans tribute by singers Lillian Boutte, Charmaine Neville and Holly Bensen.

The organization has also introduced its “25th Anniversary Milestone Committee,” a group of festival supporters from the business, political and civic communities, who over the past 25 years have supported and nurtured what has today become the largest free music festival in the Southeast United States. Among the committee luminaries are: Mayor C. Ray Nagin, Ronnie Kole, Chris Owens, Hans Wandfluh, Bill Langkopp, Sidney Barthelemy, Stu Barash, Darryl Berger, Ruth Ann Menutis, Mike Early, Margarita Bergen, Steve Hand, Hon. Jacquelyn Clarkson, Hon. James Carter, Jerry Fein and Joseph Fein,III. FQFI also unveiled a new, more user-friendly Web site that will allow guests worldwide to experience the festival through video, photos and interactive tools that will provide more festival information and enhance the overall guest experience. The site, designed by festival sponsor, CompuCast Interactive, also includes a reservation search engine that will allow guests to book three-day New Orleans area hotel packages at a 25% discount in honor of the festival’s 25th anniversary.

This award-winning festival, a favorite of locals and tourists alike, is the largest free music festival in the Southeast. It was recently named a Top 10 Event by New Orleans CityBusiness and is a Top 20 Destination according to AAA and the Southeast Tourism Society. French Quarter Festival attracts approximately 400,000 fans and generates an economic impact of more than $75 million for the city of New Orleans.

Over 15 stages throughout the French Quarter are scheduled to present the best music New Orleans has to offer, representing every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to rhythm & blues and New Orleans funk, to brass bands, folk, gospel, Latin, classical and international. Many musicians that have performed over the last 25 years are being invited to return to play the 25th anniversary festival. A 25th anniversary poster, as well as commemorative t-shirts, merchandise and jewelry will also be available for sale at the festival and online.

More than 65 food and beverage booths located in Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park and the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint will feature authentic local cuisine from the area’s finest restaurants to create “The World’s Largest Jazz

Jazz Fest/Cinco de Mayo Edition Due Out: April 22nd DEADLINE: Tues., April 15th

inside

AMBUSH/main celebrazzi gay easter parade paparazzi gay easter parade paparazzi sappho psalm the pink pastor, pride corner trodding the boards treasures of napoleon gep, bunny hop paparazzi cookin' with auntie dee chop chop/fleur-de-licious

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EXPOSE/center ambush paparazzi/nola acadiana paparazzi/lafayette hot tails, allons acadiana red stick paparazzi/baton rouge mobile paparazzi southern decadence xxxvii classifieds one last song, obituaries big easy paparazzi/nola carnival/krewe calendar

Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 828-A Bourbon St. • New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 • 504.522.8049 info@ambushmag.com

1 2 4 6 8 10 12 18 19 20

Brunch.”

Sponsors for the 25th anniversary of French Quarter Festival include: Zatarain’s, Harrah’s Foundation, Coca-Cola, Rouse’s Market, OffBeat Magazine, Music Performance Trust, nola.com, Cox Business, Community Coffee, Preservation Hall, NOMCVB (New Orleans Metropolitan Convention & Visitors Bureau), Vespa, Where Y’at, and Renaissance Publishing.

For more information on all FQFI festivals and events, call 504.522.5730 or visit online at www.fqfi.org.

Largest Gay Easter Parade Rolls; $12,424.05 Raised for Food For Friends

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he 9th annual Official Gay Easter Parade led by Easter Grand Marshals IX Orlando Aloe and Safonda Peters was the largest in its history with some 36 units including carriages, wagons, trolleys, convertibles, cars, trucks, motorcycles and Smitty Dee's Brass Band.

The parade minus expenses raised a whopping $12,424.05 for Food For Friends this year.

Attendance along the parade route was huge this year estimated at some 25,000 participants. Revenues were up at most GLBT businesses between 2% and 26% over last years spending for Easter Weekend. This makes the Easter holiday the fourth largest event in New Orleans GLBT community following Southern Decadence, Mardi Gras and Halloween. New Orleans is on the rebound following Katrina as one of the top destinations for GLBT travelers in the United States.

The parade is presented by Ambush Mag and Queen Fashions. Sponsorships included $1,000-Platinum, $500-Gold, $250-Silver and $100-Bronze.

A special thanks to all of the sponsors including: Presenting ($1,500)-Queen Fashions/DEVA Platinum-Steve Mettner/Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, Stephen Murrell & Elizabeth Bouvier; Gold-Krewe of Amon Ra, JohnPaul's; Silver-David Aranda & Countess C. Alice, David & Rhonda Roget, EGM VIII Rona Conners & Bob Boler, Krewe of Petronius, Wood Enterprises, Gary Vandeventer, EGM IX Safonda Peters & Stuart Nettles, Crescent City Kings, EGM VII Opal Masters & Darwin Reed, EGM VIII Michael Elias & Jay Sewell/The Corner Pocket, EGM IX Orlando Aloe/Society Page, Dr. Barry Rutherford & Cathy Fox; and Bronze-King Satyricon V Tony Leggio, Bourgoyne Guest House, Miss Gay America 2006 Nicole DuBois, Elias Productions/The Cast of Glitz, Toby LeFort, King Amon Ra XLIII Paul Davis & Tami Tarmac, Alan Kelley, Glenn O'Berry & Roger Copenhaver, Lee Worrells, and Arnold Radel.

Venue Sponsors include 4 Seasons/ Metairie, Cowpokes, Double Play, Starlight By The Park, and Orlando's Society Page.

Expenses for the parade totalled $3,541.05 which included: $1,050-police detail, $50.25-parade permit, $1,500-insurance, $570-Easter Grand Marshal carriages, $100-Drag Extravaganza DJ, $40Easter Grand Marshal pins, $100-carriage company line-up fee, $43.60-Drag Extravaganza posters, $36.79-Purple Party post-

ers, and $50.41 Parade posters.

Revenues for the parade totaled $15,965.10 which included $8,500-sponsorships, $1,711-Spring Fever Gala, $2,509-Drag Extravaganza, $3,110.10Purple Party, and $135-parade entry fees.

The Board of Directors of the Gay Easter Parade include Electra City, Rona Conners, Opal Masters, Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain, and Tittie Toulouse. For more info, visit GayEasterParade.COM.

LSGRA Sponsors Preview of Regrets Only April 10

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o Do Productions is happy to announce it’s first play of the season! Bringing back the team that garnered three Big Easy nominations, Best comedy (executive producer Donald Donnie Jay) James, best Director Glenn Mench and the writer of Valhalla Paul Rudnick. To Do Productions and LSGRA present the New Orleans premier of Paul Rudnick’s Regrets Only! [continued on Main-6]

GulfSouthEntertainment/TravelGuideSince 1982 • Texas-Florida OFFICE/SHIPPING ADDRESS: 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 USA OFFICE HOURS: 10am-3pm Monday-Friday [Except Holidays] E-mail: info@ambushmag.com PHONE: 1.504.522.8049 • 1.504.522.8047 ANNUAL READERSHIP: 650,000+ in print/3.5 Million+ On-line NATIONAL CIRCULATION: USA... Alabama-Birmingham, Mobile Florida - Ft. Lauderdale, Pensacola Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Shreveport, Slidell Mississippi - Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Jackson Tennessee - Knoxville Texas - Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Galveston, Houston, San Antonio, South Padre Island

STAFF: PUBLISHER/EDITOR R. Rip Naquin-Delain, New Orleans PRODUCTION DIRECTOR M. Marsha Naquin-Delain, New Orleans GULF SOUTH/NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Rip Naquin-Delain • 504.522.8049 LESBIAN/POLITICAL ISSUES Toni J.P. Pizanie, New Orleans THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands, Patrick Shannon AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Brad Benedict-Baton Rouge, LA Patrick Clinton-Lafayette, LA Regina Adams, Rev. Clinton Crawshaw, Miss Dee, Donnie Jay, Doug Minich-New Orleans DJ Chromatic, Leon Weekley-Mobile, AL Roy Williams-Pensacola, FL NATIONAL ADVERTISING REP Rivendell Media~212.242.6863 AMBUSH Mag is published on alternate Tuesdays of each month by Ambush, Inc., R. Rip Naquin-Delain, President. Advertising, Copy & Photo DEADLINE is alternate Tuesdays, 4pm, prior to publication week, accepted via e-mail only: info@ambushmag.com. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for the claims of advertisers and has the right to reject any advertising.

The inclusion of an individual's name or photograph in this publication implies nothing about that individual's sexual orientation. Letters, stories, etc., appearing herein are not necessarily the opinion of the Publisher or Staff of AMBUSH Mag. Subscription rate is $45 for 1/2 Year; $75 for 1 year. Sample Copy is $3 First Class Mail. ©1982-2007, AMBUSH, INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS and PHOTOS. AMgrant - AMbush Advertising Grant Donation

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the "official" dish ...from Main-4

This comedy of Manhattan manners explores the latest topics in marriage, friendships and squandered riches. What if you threw a party ...and all the help went out on strike? The setting: A Park Avenue Penthouse. The Play: a powerhouse attorney, his deliriously social wife and their closet friend, one of the world’s most staggeringly successful designers. Add a daughter’s engagement, the President of the United States, some major gowns and the strike!

A special preview will be held on Thursday, April 10 at the Marigny Theatre (1030 Marigny Street) to benefit the Louisiana State Gay Rodeo Association (LSGRA).

A Wine and Cheese reception will begin at 7pm with the curtain to rise at 8pm. Tickets for the fund-raiser can only be purchased by calling Lance at 504.915.3339, DonnieJ at 504.948.9608, or by e-mailing Mike Andrews at: LSGRA@cox.net to have your ticket put on “Will Call”!

Admission is $25 at the door or $20 if ticket reservations are made prior to the April 10, 2008 date of the performance!

Check or cash accepted at the Box Office only!

GLITZ & Chippendale's Up Next at Harrah's

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arrah’s New Orleans will stir up excitement this April with the fabulous female imper-

sonators of GLITZ returning after a popular run earlier this year. Performances of GLITZ, the Art of Female Impersonation, will be held at 9pm on April 11 and 12, and at 7pm on April 13. GLITZ is an avantgarde production that showcases the outrageous and extraordinary impersonations of legendary female performers such as Liza Minnelli, Diana Ross, Marilyn Monroe and Cher. Roy Haylock hosts the show as the infamous “Bianca del Rio,” the renowned personality known throughout New Orleans and New York.

From April 19 – 20, Harrah’s New Orleans invites you to the see the Chippendales, the world’s most recog[continued on Main-8]

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the "official" dish ...from Main-6 nizable name in entertainment, which will tantalize audiences with shows at 7pm and 10pm each evening. Guests will be mesmerized by the Chippendales’ sinful schoolboy charm and alluring moves. Experience these icons of American culture and see why they’re considered a mustsee.

Tickets may be purchased in person at Harrah’s box office, by calling 504.533.6600, or on-line at Ticketmaster.com. You must be at least 21 to attend shows at Harrah’s Theatre.

For more information about the shows and show times, visit www.harrahsneworleans.com.

Magazine Perks Opens Uptown

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agazine Perks, located at 4332 Magazine Street, opened its doors to its first coffee customers on April 5.

Magazine Perks, the second location opened by Marigny Perks proprietor Bob

becoming a popular New Orleans brand -Marigny Perks, into another area of town and spruce it up for the uptown crowd” said Patience. “Uptown coffee customers have many choices when choosing their shop of choice, but I’m confident our exceptional service and unbeatable products will make us a top destination for coffee goers from all areas of town.”

Magazine Perks offers free wi-fi internet access, an outdoor smoking area and a frequent coffee club card which can be used between both Marigny Perks and Magazine Perks.

For more information about Magazine Perks and Marigny Perks, log on to www.magazineperks.com or www.marignyperks.com.

Magazine Perks is the sister store of Marigny Perks which opened on Burgundy Street on July 15, 2005. Both locations offer coffee and espresso drinks, fresh pastries, soups, sandwiches, panini and more.

Sixth Annual Saints & Sinners Literary Festival; May 8 - 11: A Weekend of LGBTQ Literary Revelry

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Patience, moves next door to Miss Mae’s offering a popular hang out for those seeking a locally blended coffee selection as well as pastries and bakery products by local, small business owners.

“I’m proud to bring what is quickly

his year’s Saints and Sinners Literary Festival is shaping up to be the best ever! Taking place from Thursday, May 8, thru Sunday May 11th, we are turning up the heat in the French Quarter for GLBT writers and readers! So far, confirmed speakers for this year include Dorothy Allison, Diane Anderson-Minshall, Kathie Bergquist, Anthony Bidulka, Dan Boyle, Maureen Brady, Leo

Cabranes-Grant, Dale Chase, Linda Daniel, Sven Davisson, Mark Doty, Amie M. Evans, Charles Flowers, Jewelle Gomez, Jim Grimsley, Jeremy Halinen, Aaron Hamburger, Trebor Healey, Greg Herren, William Holden, Nathan James, Thomas Keith, Joan Larkin, Anne Laughlin, Paul Lisicky, Jenny Lowery, Jeff Mann, Marianne K. Martin, Alistair McCartney, Stephen McCauley, Val McDermid, Rich Merritt, Tim Miller, Kay Murphy, James Nolan, Ian Philips, Joseph Pittman, J.M. Redmann, Vittoria Repetto, Carol Rosenfeld, Gregg Shapiro, Kelly Smith, Michelle Tea, Greg Wharton, Jerry Wheeler, Elizabeth Whitney, and Emanuel Xavier.

The festival unofficially opens on Thursday May 8th with “Read Me Something Mister” at the W Hotel French Quarter, when some of the festival’s visiting literary luminaries read from works by their favorite New Orleans authors. Tickets to this event are $25 and can be purchased at www.sasfest.org.

On Friday the festival officially begins with this years master class series which include: Dorothy Allison: A Conversation on the Writing Life; Jim Grimsley: Fixing That Problem Manuscript; Mark Doty: Memoirs; Aaron Hamburger: The Importance of Setting; Stephen McCauley: Characters that Live and Breathe;

Val McDermid: From Idea to Finished Book; Michelle Tea: Unconventional Ways to Promote Your Book.

We’ll welcome everyone to the festival Friday evening with a cocktail reception. Saturday and Sunday will be filled with a variety of panel discussions with topics ranging from publication issues, marketing, erotica, memoirs and even journalism. There will be something for everyone at the Sixth Annual Saints & Sinners. For the full schedule, check out sasfest.org.

In addition to the classes, discussions and reading series, there will also be some theater featured at this year’s event. “Us,” Tim Miller’s one-man, onenight show that occurs on Saturday, May 10th, at the Marigny Theater, ricochets between Miller’s love affair with Broadway musicals to an exploration of gay marriage, exile and the injustices lesbian and gay people face in the good ol’ USA. The show careens from memories of a ten year old’s plan to flee to Canada to escape the war in Viet Nam (“Man of La Mancha”) to a meditation on why a Southern California child spoke with an English accent (Oliver!”). Miller takes us on a journey that re-thinks the American Musical as inspiration for radical politics and queer identity. “Us” was nominated in 2005 for a NY Drama Desk Award for best solo on- or off[continued on Main-10]

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the "official" dish ...from Main-8 Broadway. The show also appears in Miller’s book 1001 BEDS which won the 2007 literary prize for best Drama-Theater Book from the Lambda Literary Foundation.

A Day Without Sunshine is a new solo performance by Elizabeth Whitney and directed by Mark Finley. Featuring original music, the show explores recent histories of “family values” with a specific focus on pageant queen, singer, and orange juice spokesperson turned virulent anti-gay activist Anita Bryant. Inspired by Whitney’s memories of growing up in Tallahassee, Florida during Bryant’s infamous Save Our Children campaign, Whitney manages to bring humor and insight into her imaginative portrayal of Bryant. A Day Without Sunshine was developed at La Mama ETC’s 2007 Playwriting Residency

in Italy with Lisa Kron, and was workshopped at Dixon Place in New York City in October 2007 Become a Member of Saints and Sinners: As the festival enters its sixth year, we would like to ask your help in achieving a goal of raising $20,000 between now and December 31. As many of you already know, Saints and Sinners is currently completely organized by unpaid volunteers. It is truly a labor of love as all of the work is done without monetary compensation. Our fundraising goal would allow us to hire a much-needed, part-time office assistant to help with the pre-conference administrative work, and pay for general operating expenses to produce the event-venue rental, printing, advertising, etc. Additionally, donations would also go towards providing registration scholarships for individuals who otherwise might not be able to afford to register for

the event.

With all of the problems and difficulties currently facing the LGBTQ publishing community, the role the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival plays in helping to support and connect our community of authors and publishers is needed more than ever. Help us achieve our goal of raising $20,000 so that we can keep scheduling quality programming! In the last year, we have seen the loss of the GLBTQ imprint at Carroll & Graf, as well as the loss of the Harrington Park Press. In these uncertain times for GBLTQ writers, it is even more important to make sure that Saints and Sinners continues!

AMBUSH

MAG.COM 828

To become a member of Saints & Sinners or to find more information or register, go to www.sasfest.org or call the Tennessee Williams New Orleans Literary Festival offices at 504.581.1144.

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celebrazzi (celebrations-paparazzi)

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imm Holt of Cowpokes fame took top honors as Best of the Best presented by Ambush in the 6th annual Marigny Bunny Hop and Bonnet Contest in New Orleans.

he winners of Mobile’s Mr. and Miss Gay Pride were Siaz Foxx Bonet and Samantha Foxx presented by B-Bob's bar baron, Jerry Ehlen.

Each winner took home $450, trophy, crown, and received two bookings at BBob’s. They also performed at Mobile’s PrideFest 2008 on the main stage and rode in the Pride Parade right behind the grand marshal.

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E

aster Grand Marshals IX Orlando Aloe and Safonda Peters led the largest parade in the nine year history of the Official Gay Easter Parade through the streets of the French Quarter with some 25,000 spectators lining the route.

The parade minus expenses benefited Food For Friends to the tune of $12,424.05 this year. Special thanks to all sponsors and those who participated in the fund-raisers.

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ast year's Miss Starlight Passion Armani Cassidine joins Starlight bar baron CW Stambaugh, newly crowned Miss Starlight Malaysia Ravor of Jackson, Mississippi, and Miss Starlight '05 Mercedes Ellis Loreal at Starlight in New Orleans following vibrant competition.

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David & Rhonda Roget’s Carriage

COPS 8 Trolley

Tubby’s Golden Lantern Carriage

King Amon Ra Paul Davis & Tami Tarmac’s Carriage

Society Page Trolley

Easter Grand Marshal IX Safonda Peters

Tony Leggio’s Trolley New Orleans Alliance of Pride’s Carriage

GEP Board Member’s Tittie Toulouse, Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain & Electra City’s Carriage

Mootsie Tootsies of Atlanta's Carriage

Cowpokes Carriage

snap

Chris Linwood & Bebe Scarpinato of New York’s Carriage

paparazzi

Krewe of Petronius' Wagon JohnPaul’s Carriage

EGM VII Opal Masters (GEP Board Member) & Darwin Reed’s Carriage

The Corner Pocket Carriage

Lords of Leather Trolley

4 Seasons in Metairie’s Carriage

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9th Official Gay Easter Parade led by Easter Grand Marshals IX Orlando Aloe & Safonda Peters photos: Corner Pocket, Miss Dee, Starlight, Michael Sullivan, Hector Trau, Jr.

The Double Play Carriage

Easter Grand Marshal IX Orlando Aloe

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David Aranda & Countess C. Alice’s Truck

Cutter’s Carriage

Justin Donnaud’s Car

New Orleans Radical Faeries’ Truck Cowpokes Timm Holt joins Parade Line-up Chair Steve Patrick

Miss Starlight 2008 Malaysia Ravor, Starlight's Convertible The Mootsie Tootsies of Atlanta

Cavaliers Motorcycle Club Krewe of Amon Ra’s Convertible

Starlight’s Jaded Jade Queen Petronius XLVII Dawn FalgoutLoebig, Bryan Loebig & Mom Mae Falgout, Pre-Gay Easter Parade Party

Lester Perkin’s Truck

Cavaliers Motorcycle Club

Easter Grand Marshal IX Safonda Peters & partner Stuart Nettles, Pre-Gay Easter Parade Party

Queen Amon Ra XLIII Opal Masters, Patty Le Plae Safe & Rhonda Roget, PreGay Easter Parade Party

snap paparazzi

Cavaliers Motorcycle Club Member Poncho

Queen Satyricon VI Carlotta Mack’s Convertible

Lords of Leather arrive at Pre-Gay Easter Parade Party

Queen Satyricon VI Carlotta Mack, PreGay Easter Parade Party

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9th Official Gay Easter Parade, Pre-Gay Easter Parade Party at Starlight photos: Jess Beaty, Miss Dee, Michael Sullivan, Hector Trau, Jr.

NO/AIDS Task Force’s Wagon sponsored by Club New Orleans

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sappho psalm

by Toni J.P. Pizanie E-mail: Psalmwrite@aol.com

Gutter Talk

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s I write this, I am looking out my bedroom window at the rain that has been pouring down for almost 24 hours. My new friend Octavio Hernandez said last week, Toni the rainy season is coming and your gutters are filled with leaves; you might develop a roof leak. He was correct, of course.

There have been minor roof leaks since Katrina.

So he ended up walking the three blocks from his home to mine carrying a ladder and spent several hours on a beautiful Saturday morning scrapping decaying leaf matter from the gutters. I couldn’t have paid for a better job and I have paid

for less. But this day, it was a friendly gesture from a lovely neighbor and friend that was doing the job.

I had to remind myself how we met.

This quiet man whom I’d seen but did not know at gay mardi gras balls and concerts had become my friend through this column. I cannot remember how long ago it was that I received an e-mail from his partner, Tom, thanking me for something I had written. He appreciated my love of and desire for diversity.

Being Hispanic, I think that Octavio has seen some discrimination toward people speaking English with a strong Spanish accent. I don’t know this for a fact.

However, my appreciation of things Latin

seemed to have brought us closer.

I grew up in a home where my father’s best friend was from Honduras and also spoke with a strong Spanish accent. It was natural for me to hear Spanish music, learn Latin dances and accept Hispanic friends into my home. I had been to Mexico with my parents and their friends at least a half-dozen times before I was in my teens.

I was taught not to be afraid of not understanding another language and to try my best to learn as much as I could about a culture that was not my own. So when Octavio started bringing me groceries after my last surgery, having him in my home was comfortable even though I knew him only from e-mails and phone calls.

For me this is just another lesson in why we must always keep our hearts and minds open. We want tolerance from the straight world but are so seldom willing to give it to each other. I know one strong gay political activist who refuses to fight for transgenders because he dislikes the idea so strongly. I know lesbians who

dislike men whether gay or straight; and transgenders who dislike cross-dressers whether gay or straight. Disliking diversity is limiting us as individuals and our GLBT community.

Octavio called and asked me to lunch.

It was our arrival back at my house when he noticed the gutters and said he would like to clean them. To me, he had already done enough by taking me to a typical home style Latin restaurant and introducing me to food and drink that were foreign to me. The drink was a cold almond-milk liquid made from rice and sugar. Delicious! It was so good, in fact, that I had two of the sweet concoctions. There were some giggles and looks of wonder when I ordered two tamales plus a dish of plantains and beef. Octavio explained that I had ordered a large amount of food. I didn’t understand. I had no idea how large the tamales where or the portions of food.

I took home enough for two meals.

The tamales were meatless large [continued on Main-18]

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the pink pastor

by Rev. Clinton Crawshaw, 504.214.4340 E-mail: pastor@bigeasymcc.com www.bigeasymcc.com www.thebigeasymccblog.blogspot.com

Oh when The Saints!

I

had a lively conversation last week with an unenlightened gentleman who wanted to know why ‘The Gays’ where trying to infiltrate the church. I stood staring at him for about a minute with my mouth opening and closing silently; the idea of ‘The Gays’ having to infiltrate any church struck me as ridiculous – there are more ‘gays’ in your average church than a California hairdresser’s convention.

sappho psalm ...from Main-16 bars of hand-ground sweet corn meal.

They were also delicious and big enough for a meal. The tamales we got from Honduras when I was young were also very large and wrapped in banana leaves. But those were filled with spicy beef. Still I remember the sweetness of the corn meal which like the ones I had recently were delectable.

I love plantains. Mom used to prepare them for Dad and me in the summer when she could find them. This day a small platter was layered with cooked plantains covered with raw finely shredded cabbage topped with ground beef cooked in a mild sauce and crowned with crumbled cheese. The food proudly sat up four inches on the platter. There was enough for two people to share.

The restaurant was attached to the side of a Latin supermarket and butcher shop. It is one of several such restaurants that have opened in Kenner on Williams Boulevard. Word of mouth in the Hispanic community has brought success to these almost hidden establishments. I am thankful to know this one is alive and well, and have been spreading the word to my friends by inviting them to go there with me.

Octavio told me that the lunch I enjoyed while there was a typical Central American meal. It will not be my only visit.

If you are an Anglo who loves Tex-Mex food, you may not find what you are used to eating. If you are an adventurous eater, you will find tastes that will excite your palate.

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efore I forget, I want to fill you in on a couple of movies that just arrived for press screenings: Nim’s Island and Under the Same Moon.

Nim’s is perfect for the six to thirteen year old crowd and the parents, grandparents or adults that love a good child’s adventure. Filmed in New Zealand, it is perfectly beautiful. The story is about digging deep into the heart to find courage and faith.

Jody Foster is very different from any other film I have seen her in to date. And as usual she was excellent. The Breslin kid from Little Miss Sunshine was also great.

Under the Same Moon is a Spanish speaking film that has a predictable story line, and is still worth seeing. It is sad and joyful. A nine year old boy sneaks across the boarder from Mexico to find his mother who is working in LA. Along the way, he is befriended by a variety of interesting characters. I enjoyed this film and hope you will also.

I remember in the first church I served - in the Church of England, a parishioner of mine came up to me horrified to discover that the priest in a neighboring parish was gay; I calmly informed her that so was the bishop, the previous bishop, the priests in all four neighboring parishes and myself - she eventually recovered and apologized to me for being so silly, but she got me thinking, as did my conversation last week – how have we been written out of Christian history?

As a people, the LGBT community has been part of the Christian story from the beginning. The places we have often seen ourselves in scripture have generally been negative, and usually wrong (Sodom and Gomorrah for example, which have nothing to do with homosexuality) but in truth we should see ourselves in the stories of David and Jonathon, Ruth and Esther, The Roman centurion in the Gospels and maybe even in Jesus and the Beloved Disciple. All these are examples of loving faithfulness, and have been held up for all to follow, straight and gay.

After Jesus’ death and resurrection – as the Church began to grow, we as a community where not just represented, but celebrated and held up as saints. In the early church the two gay partnered

saints – Sergius and Baachus where revered as examples of ideal love, and Christian discipleship (they were murdered together by the Romans). Important also were Saints Felicity and Perpetua – a high born Roman woman and a slave girl, who where martyred together as they had lived, as a loving couple.

In the medieval period Saint Aelred ‘wrote the book’ on Christian friendship and his writings have been loved for centuries for their kindness and generosity – he also wrote a heart breaking eulogy to his dead lover, Simon. Saint Anselm of Canterbury wrote desperate love letters to his partner when they were separated that bring tears to the eyes. There was even a noted transgender saint, Saint Wilgefortis (maybe legendary!) that changed gender to avoid a forced marriage. In fact, the men

pride corner/new orleans

by Todd Blauvelt ew Orleans Gay Pride is in full swing and the planning is going great for PrideFest 2008 on June 28th and 29th! On tap we have a slew of events scheduled that we’re sure you’ll all enjoy.

On April 22nd, we hosted “Pride Purple” at JohnPaul’s, and would like to thank the management and staff and all of you that were in attendance, making the party another great success. At the party we named the Crown Royals as our costume contest winners and they rode in the Gay Easter Parade along with Mr Gay Pride Keno Kane Broadway, Miss Gay Pride Passion Armani Cassidine, Pride Grand Marshal Toby LeFort and Board Member Todd Blauvelt “Pride Blue” was April 5th at Voodoo and included a 50/50 raffle, a fabulous drag show, the kind that only Anita RichGoodman can host along with loads of fun. The Board would also like to thank the management and staff of Voodoo for such a great time and show of support for Gay Pride New Orleans.

On Saturday, April 12th, the Bouron Pub will host a “Pride Extravaganza” at 10pm with a show hosted by Pat McCardle, a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle. There will be no cover at the door, however a suggested donation of $5 is encouraged and all proceeds benefit PrideFest 2008.

Our 50/50 raffle tickets will be available too.

The Alliance of Pride is running a $50.00 50/50 raffle wherein each ticket is a $50.00 donation for the chance to win

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$2,500.00. We will run as many $2,500.00 jackpot raffles as sales and time permit, however, each draw is limited to 100 tickets sold, meaning for each draw, each ticket has a 1 in 100 chance to win. Tickets will be available from any board member and at each event between now and PrideFest where the drawings will be held.

You can also call and order tickets at 504.

400.7738.

Returning for two engagements, one in April and one in May, is the saucy Argentina comedienne Grace Fraga. We hosted a meet and greet with Grace at the Country Club last month and she’ll be returning to play the front room at Cowpokes at 10pm on April 25th and May 23rd benefitting PrideFest 2008. Grace honed her South American sidesplitting humor doing stand-up comedy and appearing in live theater productions. Her titillating tamale timing garnered her a Best Actress in a comedy nomination from the Marquee and Storer Boone Awards; winning a Big Easy Entertainment Award for Best Supporting Actress, in Dalt Wonk’s comedy Rio Seco, playing a Latina spitfire. Grace is scheduled to perform and emcee at PrideFest and has offered to do these two fund-raisers for us in the meanwhile.

Following Grace, the Alliance of Pride will resume our theatrical production that has been a great success for us in the past. From Murder at Movary Manor by Stacey Bean, Street Theater by Doric Wilson, and The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told by Paul Rudnick (for which Cammie West won a Big Easy Entertainment Award) we now bring you Smoke an

and women the Church has held up as examples are a very queer bunch indeed.

What this should tell us is that although we have often been stereotyped as fickle, promiscuous and shallow and any number of other irrelevancies, the mark we have made upon the Christian faith is characterized by faithfulness, love, compassion and trust – and a very special mystical relationship with God. Look around at the people you know in our community and notice how many are in ‘caring’ professions – this to me is the most noticeable stereotype about the LGBT community! We are loving, caring, spiritual, compassionate and deeply interested in the lives and concerns of others. Stanley Hauerwas - the famous theologian - got himself in a lot of trouble when he wrote that the closest thing he had ever sent to an ideal Christian community was the LGBT community in San Francisco in the aftermath of HIV/AIDS. Surely this aspect of our lives and heritage is a more important legacy than a heap of stereotypes inspired by hatred and ill will.

We are not then trying to infiltrate the Church, just like every other area of culture we are there already, and all we have to do to claim this is mop up a little ignorance – as NBC’s public information movies have it; ‘the more you know’!!

Rev Clinton Crawshaw is the Pastor of The Big Easy Metropolitan Community Church in New Orleans. They meet every Sunday at 5pm at 1333 S. Carrollton Ave. NOLA 70118. original comedy by Steve Patrick. The play will run May 29th through June 15th. Auditions are open to the public and will take place April 21st and 22nd from 7 to 8:30pm in the annex at Cowpokes. For more information on auditions please call 504.201.2855. Friday and Saturday performances will be at 8pm and Sundays at 6pm. There will be a special S.I.N. performance Monday, June 2nd at 8pm. The Alliance of Pride would like to congratulate Cammie West on her second Big Easy Entertainment award for her roles in Vahalla by Paul Rudnick and to Becky Allen on her Big Easy Lifetime Achievement award.

Oz will host the Mr. and Miss Gay Pride Pageant again this year on Wednesday, June 18th at 9pm. The show will include performances by local talents and the competition for the titles of Mr. and Miss Gay Pride 2008, to include presentation, talent and formal Q and A. Each category is non-gender specific and is limited to the first five paid applications per title. Applications are now available. For more information please call 504.906.5654. Also returning to Oz is our 50/50 raffles during Drag DINGO where happy hour drinks are available and a good time is had by all. The dates that Pride will raffle are April 20, May 18, and June 22 starting at 6pm.

For information on float rental for the parade and booth rental for the festival, please visit our website at www.nolapridefest.org. And as always we’d like to thank our sponsors: Bud Light, Harrah’s Casino New Orleans, McDonald’s and Sir Speedy. For sponsorship information please call 504.906.5654. The New Orleans Alliance of Pride is a 501(c)3 corporation and all donations and sponsorships are tax deductible.

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music and sound design by Eric Shim. This was a high caliber production further underscored by a team of very professional artists and technicians.

trodding the boards

by Patrick Shannon, III E-mail: nedcat@earthlink.net

Post Production Comments

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Flea In Her Ear, Six Characters In Search Of An Author, The Clean House and Tuesdays With Morrie were all relatively fine productions worthy of full reviews and/or comments. Sometimes a full review during the run of a show is not possible due to schedules or space available. However I would like to offer some copy for the participants of a show especially when my comments may be highly commendable rather than adverse. No one likes criticism but everyone likes a pat on the head.

Good work should be praised.

A Flea In Her Ear, recently pro-duced at Rivertown Repertory Theater, was a splendid example of an audience pleaser.

This popular wacky Georges Feydeau farce was well directed by Gary Rucker who seems to have found each actors wild side and just let him/her run with the role. With fine pacing, they did, and the full house of patrons laughed early and never stopped as the performers sailed and ran and fluttered and fanned across the stage with gleeful abandon.

The plot? The usual mistaken identities, mistaken situations, and mistaken mistresses as wives, husbands and husbands and mistresses bounce around in the amatory pursuits of true and un adulterated love. Or just get caught up in laughable lust. The time: 1910, the set, a sitting room and the Pink Pussy Hotel in Paris.

T. Joe Seibert in the role of the secretary Camille Chandel almost stole the show from every one. He played a guy caught in the middle of all the fun and farcical situations. His character suffered from a speech impediment. Every time he opened his mouth he got a laugh. His performance was excellent.

Jason Kirkpatrick did the male lead in the role of the innocent husband, VictorEmmanuel Chandel plus the role of a

T. Joe Seibert in A Flea In Her Ear (photo: Vatican Lokey)

look-a-like character Poche, a porter at the Pretty Pussy Inn. He was quite simply marvelous. His jealous wife, Yvonne Chandel was played by Lisa Picone with fine effect. She did many an over the top turn and twist tossing a white feather boa to the winds for emphasis. It was camp comedy at its best. These two performers were in excellent company among the other actors. All fourteen of them gave funny-good top notch performances of a

high standard. Liz Mills (Antoinette, Kyle Daigrepont (Etienne), Vatican Lokey (Finache), Angie Joachin (Lucienne), Keith Launey (Romain), Randy Maggiore (a memorable and energetic Spaniard), Mark Burton (Ferraillon), Morrey McElroy (Eugenie), Mary Pauley (Olympe), Roland “Butch” Caire (Baptistin) and P.J. McKinne (a lusty vibrant Rugby).

The set, in keeping with the style of the farce, was a visual gag and a delight.

Done in violets, pinks, and reds mostly, the well done constructs of Chandel’s home and The Pretty Pussy Inn were an impressive and workable testament to the multi talents of Vatican Lokey. Once again Linda Fried did a collection of fin de scicle costumes worthy of any professional show. This show was a great success for a community theater production. Director Gary Rucker showed vision and talent in this example of “fresh farce on toast points” meaning he was able to serve old ingredients in a classy and delightfully elegant manner. Much better than the usual “bland tuna on stale bread.”

Six Characters In Search Of An Author

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his is the kind of play by Nobel award winner Luigi Pirandello that one will rarely see anywhere these days except on the campus of a university. Why? Because it is now considered a classic of world theater and it was a trailblazer when it was done in the 1930s or so. And some theater patrons would still consider it a confusing collection of boring and wordy philosophical concepts and/or an uncomfortable collection and use of opposing theatrical ideas.

Most patrons today go to the theater to escape from thinking. But universities are supposed to make people think therefore it was good to see a play such as this one presented by the students and faculty of the Tulane University Department of Theater & Dance. And to see and enjoy such a solid and accessible mounting of this “thinking man’s” play was commendable. Pirandello’s questions about the nature of reality and art and the blur of illusion and which really survives only because of theater, which is a medium which asserts reality through make believe and pretending, etc. etc. is what this play is about.

The 26 members of the artistic staff and cast did a very creditable job of making Pirandello interesting. On a simple set without a lot of props and set pieces they were able to bring some life to the characters as they made their arguments in character and “out of character” for and against what the true meaning and importance of the lasting effort of theater and artistic rendering of human experience, i.e. the tragic and confusing nature of existence. Yes, I know, it’s rather a muddle of stuff to take in. But under the sharp direction of Buzz Podwell, it became mesmerizing theater.

Cast members were Ryan M. Davis

Tuesdays With Morrie

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his is the kind of a play that is perfect for community theaters with small budgets. It has only two characters and it all takes place on a single set. Tuesdays Six Characters In Search Of An Author with Morrie, A Young Man & Old (photo: Martin Sachs) Man & Life’s Greatest Treasure (Director), Jenny Groves (stage manager by Jeffery Hatcher and Mitch Albom was Debbie), Leeann St. John (Camie the lead- recently given a production by Marigny ing lady), Andrew Zabko (Richard the lead- Theatre with some degree of success. ing man), Eleanor Bernstein (Michelle), Directed with prowess by Glenn Tory Gordon (Sarah), Sean Knapp (Bobby), Meche, the show is one of those heart Meredith Mullins (Annie), Marshall L. Smith breaking stories in which an old man is (Jerry), Benjamin P. Zucker (Chris), Hanna dying and gets to tell a student of his over Trostle (Bernie the technician), and Ross a series of interviews his thoughts on life Pontiff (a technician). and death and love. He gets to share the Playing “The Characters” were An- wisdom of his many years as a college drew Farrier (the Father), Allison Blackwell professor and a deep thinker. Even though (the Mother), Jordan Fraider (the Step- this play is a tragedy, the old man Morrie daughter), Richard Mayer (the Son), Schwartz is a wit as well as a scholar and Samuel W. Repshas (the Boy) Sarah Faust there are many light moments of laughter (the Little Girl), and Jeffrey Gunshol (Ma- as old Professor Schwartz discusses the dame Pace). meaning of life with his younger student Thank you one and all for giving this Mitch Albom. It’s a hypnotic script that difficult work a fine and definitive interpre- holds an audience’s attention, or at least tation. It’s good to know that there are it was the evening I attended. alternate realities both on stage and off.

Professor Morrie was played with great precision by W. Grant Winston Grey.

The Clean House He brought so much reality and sensitivity nce again our town’s South- to the role that I was afraid that he was ern Rep Theater gave theater going to die on stage that night. But Mr. patrons a splendid mount- Grey, although frail due to a recent hospital ing of The Clean House, a new play by stay of his own is too much of an experiauthor Sarah Ruhl. enced trouper and professional theater The clever and moving dark comedy guy to let that happen. He gave the show was an amazing work with a script that his last most convincing gasp throughout loudly proclaims, “Here is a new voice in the run. Mr. Grey has such a beautiful American theater.” At first I sat there won- speaking voice it is always a pleasure to dering well what is this all about and then see him on stage or just hear him talk.

I slowly began to understand that this is a Bravo again, W. Grant Winston Grey. play that is so layered and unique it was Playing his interviewer and one-time like hearing new music in the house. With student Mitch Albom who had since his a plot that concerns a housemaid who student days become a successful and only really wants to write the “perfect joke” well known sports reporter was Timm in Portuguese no less, a woman caught Holt. While the chemistry between those up a medical career that becomes an two guys was obvious and believable, Mr. obsession with a husband who is a medi- Holt seemed a bit stiff and unsure in his cal doctor obsessed with another woman role, however a certain sweetness and who is dying with cancer and a sister who charm was always evident. That allowed is obsessed with cleanliness, only Ms. him to almost make it work that night and Ruhl could have worked all of this into a I have a feeling that he did a much better surreal vs. real play that makes the mind job of acting as he became more confiwhirl and ultimately the heart weep. dent of his stage presence during the run The five characters were created on of the show. stage by top notch professional actors The simple and workable set by the who played their parts with delicate fine cast was effective as a sitting room with tuning and impeccable timing. Leslie two chairs, etc. for the characters to use Castay played Lane, Bob Edes, Jr. was and the Lighting Design by Timm Holt and Charles, Tari Hohn Eric Webb Lagasse was Virginia worked well. Diand Peggy Walton rector Glenn Walker played Ana. Meche did the They were directed Sound Design with a crisp underand Donnie Jay standing of the play by was the Stage Aimee Hayes.

Manager. I would The stunning say that this proand pristine all white duction worked, apartment with a secat least enough ond level (a very colorto have a few ful apartment with a people leave the W. Grant Gray & Timm Holt in Tuesdays balcony) was created theater with with Morrie (photo: Glenn Meche)

by Geoffrey Hall, with weepy eyes. fine lighting by William Liotta and excellent There is nothing more reviving that a good costumes by Ricola Willlie with original cathartic reaction at the theater.

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in the spotlight Louisiana Museum Foundation Opens Treasures of Napoléon

Napoléon wore during the battle at Essling in 1809. Wearing the brim aligned to his shoulders to distinguish himself from the other officers on the battlefield, Napoleon ew Orleans, LA - On April 5, the wore these now iconic hats as he strode Louisiana Museum Founda- across the European continent and into tion celebrateed the opening the pages of history. of another spectacular exhibition at the The exhibition also contains paintLouisiana State Museum’s Old US Mint in ings, sketches and sculpture by the greatNew Orleans’ French Quarter: Treasures est artists of the time including: Gros, of Napoléon. Madame Martin Bouygues David, Canova, Gerard, Isabey, Houdon, served as Honorary Chair, and Mrs. O. Percier, Fontaine, Delaroche, Chaudet, Miles Pollard and Mr. Henry M. Lambert Vernet, Mauzaisse, and more. Silver, porserves as Event Chairman for the extraor- celain, textiles, furniture and jewelry on dinary preview party soiree. display come from the finest manufacturers of 1st Empire France.

Among the many featured decorative art pieces is the dramatic 12-foot high Imperial bed of the Emperor’s brother Jérôme Bonaparte, King of Westphalia.

“The Louisiana Museum Foundation is thrilled to be supporting the Louisiana State Museum as it presents yet another spectacular exhibition” remarked Susan Maclay, the Foundation’s executive director.

Tracking the remarkable resurgence of the Louisiana State Museum, Louisiana Museum Foundation Board President, Mr. Tommy Westervelt added “Last autumn the Old U.S. Mint reopened with the incredible Gold exhibition from Portrait of Napoléon I in Coronation Robe, by Gérard Medium: Oil on canvas, golden frame sculpted by Ménan the American Museum of Artist/Maker: Baron Gérard (1770-1837) Natural History in New Date of Origin: c. 1805 York. Last week we celTreasures of Napoléon, opened to ebrated the opening of Let Your Motto Be the public, on April 6, and offers visitors an Resistance: African American Portraits amazing opportunity to see beyond the from the National Portrait Gallery in Washmyth of Napoléon Bonaparte and gain an ington, D.C. Now guests at our Treasures understanding of this complex figure as a of Napoléon soiree had the first opportuman. The exhibition includes extraordinary artifacts that trace this seminal historic figure’s life including: the earliest known letter in his hand; the valise that brought him the signed Louisiana Purchase documents from America; the sword that proclaimed him Emperor in the Coronation Ceremony at Notre Dame; his camp bed from the Battle of Wagram; his personal map of the French Empire (1812); the clothes he wore soon before his death; and in his own hand, the first will he wrote during his final, lonely exile on the desolate island of St. Helena. Perhaps the Empress Marie-Louise’s Watch signature artifact in the Medium: Enamel, gold and pearls exhibition is one of his Artist/Maker: Etienne Nitot (today: Chaumet jewelers) Date of Origin: c.1810 legendary hats which

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nity to see this incredible collection from France, owned

by Monsieur Pierre-Jean Chalençon.”

The exhibition’s tour is the first time the Chalençon Collection will have been seen in North America and the first time a number of the items on display will have ever been seen by the general public.

“The pieces in the exhibition have been selected not only for their great beauty and rarity, but also because they allow us to see into the heart of this extraordinary man.” Explained Monsieur Chalençon, who is a noted authority and author on the Clock/Inkwell of Prince Murat given to him by the Napoleonic era.

Emperor; Artist/Maker: Mouvement de l’horloge à “Napoléon is one of the la Bréguet; Date of Origin: 1805 most charismatic figures of all time,” notes David Kahn, the Louisiana Napoléon. Additional information about State Museum’s director, “he leaps out of the exhibition can be found at the Louisithe pages of the history books as visitors ana State Museum’s website, http:// or at will get to see so many of his personal lsm.crt.state.la.us, www.napoleonexhibit.com. belongings.”

Treasures of Napoléon is on view to Born in 1769, by the age of 26, Napoléon was a triumphant general the public through August 3, 2008 at the whose lightening-fast campaigns had Louisiana State Museum - Old U.S. Mint, transformed warfare forever and changed 400 Esplanade Avenue, New Orleans, LA the political face of Europe. At 35 he 70116. Admission is $6 for adults/$5 for crowned himself emperor of France and students, seniors, and active military. set about ruling 70 million people. He Children under 12 and Museum memended feudalism, brought equality to Jews and Arabs, reorganized the outdated governments of the French empire into streamlined, efficient administrations that rewarded talent and hard work instead of status and privilege, and instituted a system of civil law known as the Napoleonic Code. By 52 though, Napoléon was dead, having successfully fought an alliance of European powers almost continuously for nearly 20 years, until the cost in lives and disrupted commerce became too much, and he met final defeat at Waterloo. He was exiled to the remote and desolate Atlantic island of St. Helena where he died in 1821.

Mrs. O. Miles Pollard noted that there were strong historical ties that makes New Bonaparte Crossing the Alps by the Great Saint Orleans the perfect setting for Bernard Pass; Artist/Maker: Jean-Baptiste a celebration and exhibition Mauzaisse with Jacques-Louis David examining Napoléon’s life, Date of Origin: c. 1807 “Prior to the Louisiana Purchase, his empire included this place we bers admitted free.

The Louisiana State Museum, a comcall home, and our laws in this state are based on the Napoleonic code.” Co-Chair, plex of National Historic Landmarks housMr. Henry M. Lambert, referring an addi- ing thousands of artifacts and works of art tional piece of history, the storied but un- reflecting Louisiana’s legacy of historic realized plan to bring the exiled emperor events and cultural diversity, is part of the to this city, exclaimed “Napoléon is finally Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, which is overseen by Lt. Govercoming to New Orleans!”

Treasures of Napoléon is a traveling nor Mitch Landrieu. The Museum network exhibition from the Russell Etling Com- includes five properties in the famous pany. The exhibition is presented in New French Quarter: the Cabildo, Presbytere, Orleans with the support of the Louisiana 1850 House, Old U.S. Mint and Madame Museum Foundation, W.R. Irby Trust, Of- John’s Legacy. Other sites include Baton fice of Lt. Governor and the Louisiana Rouge, Patterson, Natchitoches, and Department of Culture Recreation and Thibodaux.

Tourism, and the LeLong family.

For more information about the LouiThe Louisiana State Museum is creating an exciting array of public programs, siana State Museum please call or visit http:// lectures, and other educational opportu- 800.568.6968 nities to complement Treasures of lsm.crt.state.la.us.

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Specializing in Historic Properties Full-time Licensed Realtor for 12 years French Quarter Property Owner To Buy, Sell, or Lease, call Mary Lind!

Phone 504.948.3011 or 504.581.2020

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6th Marigny Bunny Hop

Bronze Sponsors King Amon Ra XLIII Paul Davis & Tami Tarmac

Fish leads 6th Marigny Bunny Hop

EGMs I Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain flank EGM VII Opal Masters & EGM VIII Michael Elias

Venue Sponsor Double Play/4 Seasons’ Chuck Turner, Gold Sponsor JohnPaul’s John Vignone & Michelle Chiriaco

Bunny Hop Newbies winners, JohnPaul’s

Silver Sponsors David Aranda & Countess C. Alice flank EGM IX Orlando Aloe

Newly crowned Miss Starlight Malaysia Ravor from Jackson, MS & Miss Gay Gulf State USA Mercedes Ellis Loreal

Bunny Hop Most Elegant winner, Cutter’s

ambush

paparazzi

Bunny Hop Butchest winner John, Phoenix

Bunny Hop Widest Bonnet winner, Poncho, Big Daddy’s Silver Sponsors Rhonda & David Roget

Brian Rhode & Bronze Sponsor Tony Leggio

Silver Sponsors Cathy Fox & Sydney Williams

Marsha banishes Sydney & Opal to the back of the van for transport

Bunny Hop Most Unusual winner, Kajun Pub

Bunny Hop Tallest winner, Las Vegas Bowl from Betties Bowl Games, Mimi’s

Bunny Hop Best Group winners, the Betties, Cowpokes

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photos: Joseph Johnson

Bunny Hop Most imaginative winners, Chic-Fillet Bowl from the Betties, Friendly Bar

6th Annual Marigny Bunny Hop ~ New Orleans

9th Post-Gay Easter Parade Party at Society Page ~ New Orleans

Easter Grand Marshals IX Orlando Aloe & Safonda Peters join N’R Peace’s Don Evans & Miami (front)

cookin' with auntie dee

by Donnie Jay E-mail: auntiedeej@hotmail.com Photo©GrahamStudioOne.COM

Salad Season Two

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s I stated at the end of last column I’m back this week with part two of the Salad Season.

A selection of great tasting and for the most part easy to do recipes to help you get ready for the upcoming beach season.

I know that most of us would be happy to shed a pound or two that we put on with all of winter’s comfort food.

SWEET AND TART RED CABBAGE SLAW ½ cup pineapple juice ¼ cup Splenda ¼ cup olive oil ¼ cup lime juice ¼ cup rice wine vinegar ½ teaspoon sea salt ½ teaspoon pepper 1/8 teaspoon hot sauce

1 large head red cabbage, finely shredded 1 large granny smith apple, chopped 1 large carrot, shredded 1 small sweet onion, minced 6 Bacon slices, cooked and crumbled Whisk together the first eight ingredients.

Add cabbage and next three ingredients.

Cover and chill at least one hour before serving. Yield: eight to ten servings.

TROPICAL FRUIT SALAD 1 large fresh pineapple, cored and cut into one inch pieces 6 tablespoons honey 1 cup orange juice ½ cup fresh lime juice 1 teaspoon grated orange rind 1 teaspoon grated lime rind

6 medium oranges, peeled and sliced 4 kiwi fruit, peeled, halved, and sliced 2 papayas, peeled, seeded and cubed Garnish; ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes, fresh mint sprigs Stir together juices, honey and next two ingredients in a large bowl; add pineapple and remaining fruit, tossing gently to coat. Cover and chill eight hours. Garnish, if desired. Yield: eight servings.

HONEY CHICKEN SALAD 4 cups chopped cooked chicken 3 celery ribs, finely chopped (1 ½ cups) 1 cup dried cranberries ½ cup chopped pecans, toasted 1 ½ cups lite mayonnaise 1/3 cup honey substitute (sugar free)

¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper Romaine leaves Stir together first four ingredients.

Whisk together mayonnaise and next three ingredients, stirring gently until combined. Line four salad plated with romaine leaves. Divided chicken salad evenly on four plates.

Yield: four servings.

SEAFOOD SALAD 1 pound medium shrimp, peeled, cooked and cleaned 1 pound skinless flounder or grouper fillet 2 tablespoons olive oil 1 pound fresh lump crabmeat, drained and picked ½ cup chopped red onion ¼ cup chopped dill pickle 1 tablespoons drained capers Dill Vinaigrette Watercress Place fish fillet on a lightly greased rack in a broiler pan.

Brush with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Broil 5 ½ inches from heat ten to thirteen minutes or until fish flakes with a fork. Remove from pan and cool. Break cooled fish into large pieces and place in a large bowl. Add shrimp, crabmeat and next three ingredients; toss gently to combine. Drizzle with Dill Vinaigrette; toss gently to coat. Cover and chill at least one hour. Arrange seafood on watercress.

Yield: eight servings.

SPICY BEEF SALAD 1 pint grape tomatoes, halved 1 large red onion, cut in half and thinly sliced 1 cucumber, seeded and diced 2 green onions, chopped 1 pound flank steak 1 ½ teaspoons salt, divided 2 teaspoons coriander, divided 2 small fresh Thai chili peppers or Serrano peppers 1 stalk lemon grass, coarsely chopped (or two teaspoons grated lemon peel) 2 garlic cloves 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger 2 tablespoon lemon juice 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar ¼ cup fish sauce 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1 teaspoon Splenda Mixed salad greens Garnish: sliced green onions Combine first four ingredients; set side. Rub steak with ½ teaspoon salt and 1 teaspoon coriander. Process remaining salt, coriander, and the next nine ingredients in a food processor or blender until smooth. Cover and chill dressing at least one hour. Grill steak, cover with grill lid, over medium-high heat for six minutes on each side or until desired degree of doneness is reached. Let stand five minutes. Thinly slice steak against grain. Place steak and vegetable mixture in a large bowl, and drizzle with dressing, tossing to coat. Serve over salad greens. Garnish if desired.

Yield: six servings.

Hope you all enjoyed these past two articles on salads from starters, to main dishes and dessert. Eat light for a month or so and see just how much better you look and feel.

For now this is your Auntie Dee signing off.

GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • April 8-21, 2008 • AmbushMag.COM • MAIN~25 of 48

chop chop

by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain www.ripandmarsha.com E-mail: info@ambushmag.com

French Quarter Festival Celebrates 25 Years of Fleur-de-Licious Fun!

Largest Jazz Brunch.”

Over 60 food and beverage booths located in Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park and the Louisiana State n a city known for its delicious and Museum’s Old U.S. Mint that make up the diverse cuisine, even its festivals “World’s Largest Jazz Brunch,” feature are known for serving world-class authentic local cuisines from the area’s food. At the 25th anniversary celebration of finest restaurants including such festival French Quarter Festival (Friday, April 11 - favorites as Cajun Chicken & Tasso over Sunday, April 13) in New Orleans, festival- Rice, Jambalaya, Crawfish Bread, Gumbo, goers will get to taste for themselves at the Red Beans and Rice, Muffaletta, Crawfish festival’s signature event, the “World’s Bisque, Hot Sausage Po-boys, Cajun Meat Pies, and more. Foodies will also enjoy Oyster & Artichoke Florentine, Crawfish Goat Cheese Crepes, BBQ Ribs & Hamburgers, Fish Tacos, White Chocolate Banana Bread Pudding, and Praline Crème Brulee. In addition to all of the wonderful food items, the festival offers an array of deliciously cool beverages including Abita Beer (new for 2008), frozen Southern Comfort drinks, Fetzer wines, Coca-Cola products, Hurricanes, Margaritas, a wide assortment daiquiris, and CC’s iced coffee and tea. Menu items range in price from $3 - $7 to keep the festival not only fun, but affordable.

The “World’s Largest Jazz Brunch” is served daily from 11am - 7pm Friday through Sunday in Jackson Square and at the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint, and 11am- 9pm in Woldenberg Bywater Mike chargrilling his famous BBQ Ribs at Riverfront Park on Friday and the Bywater Bar.B.Que Booth during Saturday and Sunday from French Quarter Fest.

11am – 7pm Sunday.

I

Joe Truxillo & Easter Grand Marshal IX Orlando Aloe serving up Oyster & Artichoke Florentine at the Bywater Bar.B.Que Booth in Jackson Square on the Decatur Street side during French Quarter Fest.

New Orleans Restaurant Guide Buffa's, 1001 Esplanade at Burgundy, serves breakfast 8am-4pm daily featuring homemade biscuits and sausage gravy, and real hash browns along with bacon, sausage, ham, eggs or omelettes. Lunch and dinner is also available here. Call 949.0038 for info.

Bywater Bar.B.Que, 3162 Dauphine St., is noted for its gumbo, barbeque, pizza, sandwiches and specials. Hours are 11am-9pm Mon.-Fri., and 9am-9pm Sat. & Sun. Closed Wed. Call 944.4445 for additional info. MasterCard/Visa accepted.

Cafe Amelie, 912 Royal St., offers romantic courtyard or indoor dining along with both eclectic culinary creations and drinks. Serving lunch and dinner, Wed.-Sun. 11am9pm, Sat. breakfast 10am-3pm and Sun., brunch 10am-3pm. Call 412.8965 for reservations or additional information.

Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., is open 7 days and features breakfast including build your own omelettes. But let’s not forget their fab burgers grilled right under a hub cap and then there’s all those sandwiches, sides, desserts and shakes. Call 598.1010 or visit CloverGrill.COM. Country Club Cafe, 634 Louisa St. Under the direction of new Chef Miles Prescott, you will find delightful menus offering French bistro cuisine including appetizers, soups, flatbreads, salads, sandwiches, wraps, entrees and desserts. Serving Monday, Wednesday & Thursday 11am–10pm, Friday & Saturday 11am–12midnight, Sunday 10am–10pm, Sunday Brunch 10am–3pm, closed Tuesday. Call 945.0742 for additional information or visit TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM. Krystal, 116 Bourbon at Canal, Open 24 hours, it's one of the best stops for fast food with tasty burgers, hot dogs and breakfast. Call 523.4030 for more info.

Marigny Perks, 2401 Burgundy, serves gourmet coffee, sandwiches, pastries, danish and cakes. Open 7 days 7am-10pm.

Call 948.7401 or visit www.marignyperks.com.

Meauxbar Bistro, 942 N. Rampart St., serves classic contemporary bistro fare in the Quarter on the edge. Serving dinner and drinks Tues.-Sat, 6-10pm. Call 569.9979 for reservations or information.

Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., features Italian specialties including salads, pizzas, sandwiches and both lunch and dinner entrees. Lunch 11am-5pm Thurs.-Mon., Dinner 5pm-10pm 7 days. Call 522.6746 for info.

Petunias, A Restaurant, 817 St. Louis, is open daily 8am-10pm serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, crepes, poboys, salads, gumbo, Cajun/Creole specialties and dinner.

Call 522.6440 for more info.

Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St., was voted Restaurant/Deli of the Year once again and is open 24 hours 7 days. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the deli offers free delivery. Call 529.1416 to order.

Riche, Fulton Street at Poydras inside Harrah's Hotel, brings Chef Todd English with his one and only French brasserie-style restaurant to the city. Just steps from the Convention Center and Harrah's Casino, call 533.6117 for reservations and information.

Tomatillo's Restaurant, 437 Esplanade Ave., is open Tues., Wed. 11am-10pm; Thurs.-Sun. 11am-11pm. The restaurant refers to itself as "A Mexican Joint" featuring appetizers, soups, salads, make your own combination plates, house specialties, burritos, desserts, and of course, specialty margaritas. Call 945.9997 for reservations or information.

MAIN~26 of 48 • AmbushMag.COM • April 8-21, 2008 • The One & Only Official Southern Decadence Guide • SouthernDecadence.COM

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MAIN~28 of 48 • AmbushMag.COM • April 8-21, 2008 • The One & Only Official Southern Decadence Guide • SouthernDecadence.COM

Parties, Theatre, Contests, Entertainment ~ New Orleans

photos: Corner Pocket, Miss Dee

Princesse Stephaney & Sable Nicole Starr pop in for the fab White Party at Oz Easter weekend

Corner Pocket dancer Jason in the Calendar Boy Contest

Blake & Rene lounging at Big Daddy’s

Bruce & Troy welcome you to The Corner Pocket

Marcy Marcell does The Zoo Revue at Big Daddy’s

Cocktailin' at the Pride Purple Party at JohnPaul's

Pride Co-chair Miss Dee, Mae Falgout & Petronius Captain Bill McCarthy at the Pride Purple Party

Bartender Allen joins Dingo great Bianca Del Rio at Oz

Stephanie Lee joins the Appletini Revue Jonne Dendinger & 20th Big Easy Theatre Awards Lifetime Achievement Recipient Becky Allen at Harrah’s

Corner Pocket Calendar Boy for January, Josh

Regina’s all coming out for Big Daddy’s Zoo Revue

ambush

paparazzi

Chad Talkington & Ambush Theatre Editor Patrick Shannon at the 20th Big Easy Theatre Awards at Harrah’s

(top to bottom) Jerome, bartender Ashlee, Arthur & dancer Ross celebratin’ at The Corner Pocket

Cutter’s bartender Chris just got a look at some incredible eye-candy

Rikki Redd joins the Pride Purple Party at JohnPaul’s

5 Continents B & B’s Jess Beaty & Cutter’s Jimmy Kilgour celebrate their March b-days at Cutter's

Mr. & Miss Gay Pride Keno Cane Broadway & Passion Armani Cassidine

The Appletini Revue brought Eva Las Vegas to the stage

St. Patrick’s Day at the Sanctuary in Metairie

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Gray visiting Sound Factory

Jeff out at Sound Factory

acadiana

Darius showing off his new lips at Sound Factory

paparazzi

Macky tapping the keg at Sound Factory

Jamie at Sound Factory

Brodie & Troy cutting up at Sound Factory Lisa out and about at Sound Factory

Ariel & Chelsea at Sound Factory

Ashley & James at Back Side Erin bartending at Sound Factory Biscuit at Sound Factory

Ethan visiting Back Side Matt relaxing at Sound Factory

Chris partying at Sound Factory

Stephanie Stevens at Sound Factory

Kyle showing his new look at Sound Factory

Tayloy is all smiles at Sound Factory

DJ Huggies at Sound Factory

Ethan having a cocktail at Sound Factory

EXPOSE'-2 of 48 • April 8-21, 2008 • AmbushMag.COM • GayBars.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

Tapping, Lips, Cocktails ~ Lafayette, Louisiana photos: Patrick Clinton

Travis hanging out at Sound Factory

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hot tails of red stick

by Brad Benedict Email: bradhottails@hotmail.com

.

.

-

allons acadiana

by Patrick Clinton Email: BlondAtULL@aol.com

N

ow that Easter and Spring Break are over, the big count down is on to summer vacation. I know it seems like a long way off, but before you know it, finals will have come and gone. And while your stress levels slowly rise in anticipation of exams week, don’t forget that Lafayette Downtown offers the perfect environment for blowing off steam and having a relaxing night on the town.

The Sound Factory and Back Side are open seven days a week to make sure you never have to go elsewhere for your fun and entertainment. Their unique atmosphere and friendly staff make it a tradition in Downtown. Whether you hit the street on a Tuesday or Saturday, they always have something going on.

To kick the week off, Tuesdays are Karaoke Night at Sound Factory, hosted by the ever popular Chad Evans. The rest of the week is just as entertaining. Between karaoke on Tuesday nights and Show

Night on Sundays, they pack each night with everything from kickass contests to drag shows and pool tournaments. And scattered throughout are fabulous drink specials and the unforgettable dance music spun by DJ Huggies.

At Back Side, you can take a break from the loud music and socialize with your friends, or make some new ones.

Lafayatte offers a unique culture and an unbeatable nightlife. So next time you’re trying to figure out something to do, come by Sound Factory and Back Side.

You’re sure to have an unforgettable night.

And you’ll sleep better at night knowing you’re supporting the only gay owned and operated nightclubs in town. With stress levels on the rise, now more than ever is the perfect time to take a break from the hustle and bustle and spend a relaxing night taking advantage of everything Downtown Lafayette has to offer.

Until next time, have fun and be safe.

I’ll see you around town.

Nicole Foxx

I

have been saying for quite some time that one of the most beautiful of all the performers entering the various contests around town has to be Nicole Foxx. With her looks and her bubbling personality, it was only a matter of time until she moved up to the big time. I think it may have started with her win as Miss Apollo Baton Rouge, and now she is on her way to bigger things as the new Miss Splash America. I believe she has what it takes to be the new Miss Gay Louisiana America, and I’m hoping this comes to pass.

Nicole is more than a beauty. She is very talented, has a vibrant personality, and is well liked in the community. Although she has won other awards, I think this latest win will show that she had the talent, the brains, and the energy to press forward to meet bigger and better goals.

As an observer from afar, I think I have pretty well called it like it is. Here you have beauty, talent, sincerity, and that great personality which is bound to keep improving with time. I saw this same kind of enthusiasm in someone many years ago.

Here name is Raquel Chevalier, and I sponsored her in many contests, and she never let me down. The one thing that she did was to continue to search out her dream to be Miss Gay America, much like Nicole Dubois has done.

Now it’s time for Nicole Foxx to move up to that national title. She has what it takes, and she definitely would make any sponsor proud as she moves into that elite circle. As time goes by, she will improve with the help of those who have gone on before, and the result will be one of pride in accomplishment and gratitude in managing to garner so much in such a short time.

Congratulations, Nicole. I am very pleased with your win and only wish I could have been there to see your big moment, but other duties called me away.

Good luck in your future endeavors.

BC Boy

I

don’t get to see my BC Boy too much lately. With his work schedule, he hardly has time to visit, and we never seem to connect for dinner either. Last week, I was working right outside my back gate, and he came walking down the driveway with Roux, his beautiful little dog. They were out for their afternoon stroll, and they made it all the way into the downtown area.

I can’t recall the first time I met John, but I think it was at Hibiscus Bookstore many years ago. He was just one of those nice guys who you immediately like, and this friendship has lasted for a number of years.

Something else that is great about John is the sincerity he shows. At first, I didn’t realize this, but he loves to throw you off base with some of those fantastic tales that are really hard to believe, but once you see where he’s going with these stories, you realize you have a good friend in your presence.

He learned some time ago that you don’t go riding a bicycle over a large mound of soil without suffering the consequences of an immediate collision with said mound of soil on the way down. I’m not sure if he

flipped at that moment or just had his mind elsewhere, but he was down and out for quite some time. The one good thing that resulted from this was to convince him to move from that apartment into a safer area, and I’m not talking about bicycle hazards here. He had a nice apartment, but it was just not a good location.

He is now in the downtown area, has good neighbors, and he and Roux are enjoying their little corner of the world.

There are lots of improvements going on around his apartment complex, and these are good ones too.

Every time I think of this gorgeous stud, I recall one of the many trips we made to New Orleans and indulged in all the activities that membership in the Lords of Leather offered us. Those were really great times, but as time moves on, so do the changes. I guess one of the funniest things that ever happened on one of our excursions to the Crescent City was that time on the way home when we came up on TTT, who had been at the function with us and had left shortly before we did. Sam was in the back seat, and I was driving.

John told me to pull up beside TTT, and I did, but I wasn’t expecting what happened next. Off came the pants and a naked behind sticking out the window greeted our fellow friend, who, by the way, was so shocked he almost ran off the highway. I thought we would have to stop. Sam, always the proper one of the group, went spastic with laughter and was laying down in the back seat in hysterics. John was fumbling to get his pants back on, and I was trying to say on the highway myself while viewing a flopping weenie in the process of being covered again. It was just one of those quickie moments that will always stay with me, and no one could have pulled it off the way my BC Boy did.

I’ve loved this one for years. He is still doing his great community service work in the medical field. I try to keep him around as much as possible. No one can take your blood pressure the way this one does, but then when I’m around him, that pressure is on the rise anyway. At any rate, he is just a super-nice human being. I wouldn’t trade him for 20 Brad Pitts. John is just a great buddy, and I enjoy his company.

Robert's Quest

T

here is silence next door today – no hammering, scraping, laughter, etc. That is because it may rain shortly, but it is also due to Robert’s appointment with the pool people. Since moving in and starting their restoration work, he and Brandon have planned this backyard pool – in an L shape.

They have to do the pool before they can have a fence built, and it’s driving Robert to distraction. He is a coffee addict, and this slowness to get things all put together is giving him extra stress that he doesn’t need.

I’m anxious to have him return and report on the latest date for the pool installation. The yard and the house are going to really be outstanding when they are completed. They have even added an upstairs bedroom and bath, put in new entrances both inside and outside the house, and a new roof was added a couple of weeks ago. I guess when you are so young and energetic, you can put up with the stress, but Brandon misses the week[continued on Expose-5]

EXPOSE'-4 of 48 • April 8-21, 2008 • AmbushMag.COM • GayBars.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

hot tails of red stick ...from EX-4 day work because of his job in one of the nearby state offices.

From what I can see, both of these guys are really talented when it comes to good design work. It is just so nice to see it up close and personal after all the years of neglect by the former owner. Even the other neighbors are getting the “fix-up fever.” That’s also something that is long overdue in the entire Spanish Town area.

If some of the slum lords would sell and move on, this would really be a special place to live. However, with guys like Robert and Brandon around, the sounds of the workers and the results they are accomplishing is inspiring many to do updates on their homes. That’s a good thing.

I guess I need to break out a bottle of wine and go over with a glass when Robert gets home. How he feels will all depend on what he has learned from the pool appointment. I hope it’s something good. They have already missed the February date for installation, and I’d hate to see that happen again. When you are involved with something like this, it seems to take forever. I know Joseph could echo that with his recent renovations. And for Robert and Brandon, it looks like their work will not take quite as long, but I know it will seem that way. That’s just the way it is.

Catching Up

W

ith a full weekend of volunteer work behind me and another one coming up, I find it difficult to complete all my assignments. However, that’s what makes things

interesting for me. I stay busy. I enjoy what I do. I really have so much left to do – writing, cataloging, traveling, visiting relatives, and yes, squeezing in some quickies in New Orleans and Lafayette. I like the day adventures. There is so much to see and do, especially in New Orleans. It’s certainly not a place for one-day activities.

I’m not sure exactly how long it would take to do it all, but that is the beauty of heading down to the Crescent City, picking out a fine restaurant, doing some shopping, looking up friends, and carrying a designated driver with you so you can relax a little.

When you are really busy, you don’t have time to do everything, so you just have to crowd in what you can. I got tied up with family-related activities and didn’t get to do all the Easter activities, but it is always nice to be able to open up my copy of Ambush and see what happened. It’s also nice to see all the coverage from the guys and gals in Texas, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida too. You read, you look, and you end up knowing some really nice people without ever meeting them. It is a challenge to go to the other places to look up the people and enjoy what is being offered in the communities there.

With summer here, visiting these other places is exactly what I may start doing.

Right now, it’s back to other work assignments right here in historic old Red Stick.

There is one thing for sure – work never seems to end.

AmbushMag.COM

504.522.8049 info@ambushmag.com

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Karaoke performance Splash bar barons Cory & Jeff

Cute couple enjoying night out

photos: Brad Benedict

That sexy lawyer & friends

Guy & Richard showing personal touch

Chansley & Michael Ronnie gets another cutie

Getting ready to perform

Splash’s Quentin does karaoke Guy & friends

Chansley & her friends

Richard & Spanish Town’s Zach

A toast to success

Enjoying a drink at George’s

Sexy Lance with a cutie

Just out having fun

Relaxing & enjoying great drinks

Sexy stiff competition stud

Happy foursome at George’s

Two happy studs

EXPOSE'-6 of 48 • April 8-21, 2008 • AmbushMag.COM • GayBars.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

The Party Scene ~ Baton Rouge, Louisiana

red stick paparazzi

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The Cover Girls belt it out on stage

Girls party on the balcony

photos: DJ Chromatic, Leon Weekley

Leon & Wendy join Brenda for Easter

CeCe Peniston sings live on stage

mobile Some Gulf Coast Bears

paparazzi

Jackie Beat gives the crowd attitude

Becky (Easter Bonnet) with Chris, Wendy & Jack

Hot Bois on Saturday night Penny Holiday struts her stuff Miss Loretta & Jack having some Easter fun!

How much do you think Matt rents for?

Men party on the balcony

Venus gives her all to the performance

Jack having some Easter fun with BBob’s bar baron Jerry The Cover Girls with their music man DJ Chromatic

Bois party downstairs

Always horny bois at the club

Biloxi’s Toni Dee performing

Weekend Hotties

EXPOSE'-8 of 48 • April 8-21, 2008 • AmbushMag.COM • GayBars.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

Live Entertainment, Dancin’ & Easter at B-Bob’s ~ Mobile, Alabama

Ms. Loretta celebrates 12th anniversary

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BLU, 960 Spring St., 877.1221 THE HERETIC, 2069 Cheshire Bridge Rd., 325.3061 WET BAR, 960 Spring St., NW, 745.9494 Alexandria, LA [318] UNIQUE, 3217 Industrial St., 448.0555 Baton Rouge, LA [225] GEORGE'S, 860 St. Louis, 387.9798 HOUND DOGS, 668 Main St., 344.0807 SPLASH, 2183 Highland Road, 242.9491, splashbr.com Lafayette, LA [337] BACK SIDE, 209 Jefferson St., 269.0430 THE SOUND FACTORY, 209 Jefferson St., 269.6011 Lake Charles, LA [337] CRYSTAL'S, 112 W. Broad, 433.5457

attorneys New Orleans, LA [504] BEACH LAW FIRM, 525.2999

bars Mobile, AL [251] B-BOB'S DOWNTOWN, 213 Conti St., 433.2262, b-bobs.com GABRIEL'S DOWNTOWN, 55 South Joachim St., 432.4900, gabrielsdowntown.com VISIONS TWIST, 266 Dauphin St., 431.9002, visions-mobile.com Key West, FL [305] BOURBON STREET PUB, 724 Duval CLUB INTERNATIONAL, 900 Simonton St. DONNIE'S CLUB 422, 422 Appelrouth Lane 801 BOURBON BAR, 801 Duval St., 294.4737 Miami/South Beach, FL [305] PALACE FOOD BAR, 1200 Ocean Dr., 531.7234 TWIST, 1057 Washington Ave., 538.9478, www.twistsobe.com Pensacola, FL [850] EMERALD CITY, 408 E. Wright St., 433.9491 THE ROUNDUP, 706 E. Gregory St., 433.8482

Metairie, LA [504] 4-SEASONS / PATIO BAR, 3229 N. Causeway, 832.0659, www.4seasonsno.com MASQUERADES LOUNGE, 3505 Division St., 888.4101 SANCTUARY, 2301 N. Causeway Blvd., 837.7979 New Orleans, LA [504] BIG DADDY'S, 2513 Royal, 948.6288 CAFÉ LAFITTE IN EXILE, 901 Bourbon Street 522.8397, Lafittes.COM CORNER POCKET, 940 St. Louis, 568.9829 COUNTRY CLUB, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 COWPOKES, 2240 St. Claude, 947.0505

Atlanta, GA [404] BLAKE'S ON THE PARK, 227 10th St., NE, 873.5921

CANAL STREET

100 IBERVILLE

200 BIENVILLE

300

RAMPART

BURGUNDY

500 TOULOUSE

600 BOURBON

ST. PETER ORLEANS ST. ANN

800 DUMAINE

900 ST. PHILIP

1000 URSULINES

1100 GOVERNOR NICHOLLS

1200 BARRACKS

1300

classifieds

ESPLANADE

1800

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M AR IG NY

23 ES TR R A CH

24 FR

25

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Austin, TX [512] 'BOUT TIME, 9601 N. IH-35, 832.5339 CHAIN DRIVE, 504 Willow St., 480.9017 CHARLIE'S, 1301 Lavaca St., 474.6481 CP THE ALTERNATIVE, 113 San Jacinto, 457.8010 OILCAN HARRY'S, 211 W. 4th, 320.8823 RAINBOW CATTLE COMPANY, 305 W. 5th St., 472.5288 RAIN ON 4TH, 217- B West 4th St., 494.1150 GET HAPPY!, 526 S. Staples, 881.8910

DAUPHINE

ROYAL

CHARTES

DECATUR

400 ST. LOUIS

19

Shreveport, LA [318] KORNER LOUNGE, 800 Louisiana, 71101; 222.9796 Slidell, LA [985] BILLY'S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, 847.1921

Corpus Christi, TX [361]

CONTI

FR

CUTTER'S, 706 Franklin, 948.4200 THE DOUBLE PLAY, 439 Dauphine, 523.4517 THE FRIENDLY BAR, 2301 Chartres, 943.8929 GOLDEN LANTERN, 1239 Royal, 529.2860 GOOD FRIENDS BAR, 740 Dauphine St, 566.7191, GoodFriendsBar.COM JOHNPAUL'S, 940 Elysian Fields Ave., 948.1888 LE ROUNDUP, 819 St. Louis, 561.8340 NAPOLEON'S ITCH, 734 Bourbon, 371.5450 NINTH CIRCLE AT CONGO SQUARE, 700 N. Rampart, 524.7654 OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, ozneworleans. com PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264, phoenixbar.com RAWHIDE 2010, 740 Burgundy St., 525.8106, Rawhide2010.COM SOCIETY PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., 299.0156 STARLIGHT BY THE PARK, 834 N. Rampart St., 561.8939, starlightbythepark.com TANGO'S LOUNGE, 1000 Bienville, 679.0909 VOODOO, 817 N. Rampart St., 304.1568

00

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Galveston, TX [409] 3rd Coast Beach Bar, 3102 Seawall Blvd., 765.6911, 3rdCoastBar.COM Robert’s Lafitte, 2501 Avenue Q, 765.9092 Houston, TX [713] Brazos River Bottom, BRB, 2400 Brazos St., 528.9192 Chances, G-Spot, New Barn, 1100 Westheimer Rd. 523.7217 EJ’s, 2517 Ralph St., 527.9071 J.R.’s with the Santa Fe, 808 Pacific St., 521.2519 Keys West, 817 West Dallas St., 571.7870 Mary’s, 1022 Wetheimer, 527.9669 Montrose Mining Company, 805 Pacifc St., 529.7488 Ripcord, 715 Fairview St., 521-2792 Rich’s Houston, 2401 San Jacinto, 759.9606 San Antonio, TX [210] HEAT, 1500 North Main Ave., 227.2600, HEATSA@aol.com South Padre Island, TX [956] UPPER DECK HOTEL & BAR, 120 E. Atol St., 761.5953

beads/t-shirts New Orleans, LA [504] THE BEAD PIRATE, 716 Orleans Ave., 524.7177, TheBeadPirate@aol.com

bookstores

FI EL D S RT PA M RA

K

E IN PH U A D

French Quarter/Faubourg Marigny/Bywater

Birmingham, AL [205] ALABAMA BOOKS, 801 Third Ave., 322.7823 BIRMINGHAM ADULT BOOKS, 7610 First Ave. North, 836.1580 Baton Rouge, LA [225] GRAND CINEMA STATION, 10732 Florida Blvd., 272 .2010. Largest selection in Louisiana of DVD’s for Sale & Rent. Toys, Novelties, Mags & Lingerie. Also sell Premium quality KNIVES & SWORDS. www.AdultBatonRouge.com [is508]

New Orleans, LA [504] AIRLINE ADULT BOOKS, 1404 26th St.,

Kenner, LA 70062; 468.2931 CHARTRES ST. CONXXXION, 107 Chartres St., 586.8006 FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700 PARADISE ADULT VIDEO, 41 W. 24th St., Kenner, LA 70065; 461.0000 PARADISE #2 IN ELMWOOD, 5608 Heebe, Harahan, LA, 733.7780 SLIDELL ADULT SUPERSTORE, Slidell, LA, 985.646.2616 Knoxville, TN [865] TOWN & COUNTRY BOOK DEN, 6927 Clinton Hwy., 947.9153 WEST KNOX NEWS, 5011 Kingston Pike, 588.1972

Austin, TX [512] ADULT VIDEO MEGAPLEXXX, 7111South I-35, 442.5430,www.sexysite.com LOBO, 3204A Guadalupe, 454.5406

cable shows New Orleans, LA [504] THE GAR WILLIAMS SHOW, Every Wed. &Sat., 8:30am & 8:30pm, Access Television Channel 78

casinos New Orleans, LA [504] HARRAHS NEW ORLEANS, Canal at the River, 800.HARRAHS

chiropractic New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MICHAEL LECHLEITER, D.C., St. Charles Chiropractic, 1529 Jackson Ave., 566.1833 [is1108]

circuit/events May 23-26, 2008, Memorial Day Weekend including Bounce, Sweat, Abracadabra, Forbidden 1 & 2 plus Spellbound after-hour parties, Pensacola, FL, sponsored by Ambush, GayPensacola.COM May 25, 2007, First Splash Austin, Hippie Hollow, Lake Travis, Austin, TX June 5-8, 2008, One Mighty Weekend, Gay Day Weekend at Disney sponsored by Ambush, OneMightyWeekend.COM Aug. 27-Sept. 1, 2008, Official Southern Decadence 37-A Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture, end of Summer Blowout including the Southern Decadence Parade & loads of activities, bringing over 135,000 revelers to New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush & SouthernDecadence.COM Oct. 23-26, 2008, Halloween 25: Silver Party, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, halloweenneworleans.com Dec. 28, 2008-Jan. 1, 2009, Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.COM Feb. 19-24, 2009, Official Gay Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush, GayMardiGras.COM Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009, Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush & Queen Fashions, GayEasterParade.COM

construction New Orleans, LA [504] HISTORIC RENOVATIONS, 432.3786, Jim 344.4664

Scott

counseling New Orleans, LA [504] DAVID WAGNER, M.Ed., Counseling & Psychotherapy, 3001 Fifth St., Metairie, LA 70002; 836.0000

employment New Orleans, LA [504] CLUB NEW ORLEANS is accepting applications for friendly, energetic staff members.

Apply at front desk, 515 Toulouse St. Drug test/

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background check required.

CLERKS & FLOOR ATTENDANTS, $8 an hour, now hiring at Flex, call Tony 504.666.TONY (8669) for appointment.

florists Baton Rouge, LA [225] FOUR SEASONS FLOWERS & GIFTS, 3482 Drusilla Ln., Drusilla Shopping Center, 924.1386, 1.800.237.5381

framing New Orleans, LA [504] ANGLE CUSTOM FRAME, 4422 Magazine St., 269.3726

galleries New Orleans, LA [504] ARTICHOKE GALLERY, 912 Decatur St., 636.2004, www.ArtichokeGallery.COM FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700

gardening/landscaping New Orleans, LA [504] AMERICAN AQUATIC GARDENS, 621 Elysian Fields, 944.0410

guides America Damron Travel Guide, 800.462.6654, www.damron.com Gulf South/United States AMBUSH Mag, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, ambushmag.com; email: info@ ambushmag.com International GayBars.COM, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, webmaster@gaybars.com United States/Canada GAYELLOW PAGES: Informing the US/ Canada LGBTG Community since 1973. Separate sections for Women and Ethnic/Multicultural focus. PO Box 533, NY, NY 10014-0533; 212.674.0120, http://gayellowpages.com gayellowpages@earthlink.net. Sold at Alternatives/New Orleans, LA

groceries/delis New Orleans, LA [504] QUARTERMASTER DELI, THE NELLIE DELI, 1100 Bourbon, 529.1416 VERTI MART, 1201 Royal St., 525.4767

hair salons New Orleans, LA [504] BOBBY BLUE, 906 Bourbon St., 527.5100 HEAD QUARTERS HAIR SALON, 900 Dauphine St., 522.2666 MICKEY NOLAN'S SALON, 815 Toulouse St., 587.7782 SALON D'MALTA, 1233 Decatur St., 565.5555

laundries New Orleans, LA [504] RALPH'S QUARTER LAUNDERETTE & DRY CLEANING, 1101 Bourbon St., 522.9274; 1838 Louisiana Ave. , 897-5199 WASHBOARD LAUNDRY, 1000 St. Ann, .522.2071 WASHING WELL LaunDRYteria since 1949, City Wide Pick-up, Fluff Dry or Finished, 1 Hour Service, 841 Bourbon St., 523.9955 or 525.3983 [is308]

lodging/accommodations Birmingham, AL DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Mobile, AL DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM

Ft. Lauderdale, FL DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Ft. Walton Beach, FL DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayPensacola.COM Key West, FL DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayKeyWest.COM Miami/South Beach, FL [305] DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GaySouthBeach.COM Orlando, FL DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Pensacola, FL DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayPensacola.COM Atlanta, GA DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAtlanta.COM Baton Rouge, LA DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayBatonRouge.BIZ Lafayette, LA DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, AmbushMag.COM Lake Charles, LA DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, AmbushMag.COM New Orleans [504] BURGUNDY BED AND BREAKFAST, 2513 Burgundy St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE/ FAX: 504.942.1463, Toll Free (Continental US only): 1.800.970.2153, theburgundy.com, Email us at theburgundy@cox.net. Gay owned and operated in newly renovated 1890's double.

Four guest rooms with private baths, guests' parlor and "half-kitchen", courtyard and halfopen tubhouse with spa (hot tub/whirlpool).

Clothing optional in sunbathing and hot tub area.

Walking distance to French Quarter. Immediate vicinity of gay and lesbian bars/venues.

CORNSTALK HOTEL, 915 Royal St., New Orleans, LA 70116, PHONE: 504.523.1515, FAX: 504.522.5558, Toll Free: 800.759.6112, CornstalkHotel.COM, E-mail us at Reservations@CornstalkHotel.COM. The Cornstalk Hotel, once a private home, in the heart of the French Quarter, one block from Bourbon, but quieter, now welcomes visitors to enjoy its hospitality and Victorian charm.

CREOLE INN, 2471 Dauphine St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: 504.948.3230, FAX: 504.948.4410, CreoleInn.COM, E-mail us at CreoleInn@aol.com. In the Gay/Lesbian Marigny adjacent to French Quarter, Frenchmen Street & Country Club; private baths, garden, wireless Internet, AC, cable TV/VCR, Continental breakfast. Gay operated; mention AMBUSH for 10% discount.

INN THE QUARTER, French Quarter, New Orleans, 70116, PHONE: 504.527.5360, Toll Free: 800.570.3085, InnTheQuarter.COM, E-mail us at Info@InnTheQuarter.COM. Over 20 guest rooms, suites and apartments in the French Quarter. All accomnmodations are within a few short blocks of Lafitte’s, Bourbon Pub, Oz, Good Friends, Rawhide and all the other “HOT” spots. Our properties offer private entrances, tropical courtyards, air conditioning, private bathrooms, televisions, and direct dial phones with free local calls. Some have additional features such as balconies, jacuzzi tubs, refrigerators, microwaves, coffee makers, full kitchens, high-speed Internet access and free off-street parking. Absolutely all are clean and safe. Regular rates starting at $79/nt. Special Event rates starting at $119/nt. Weekly and monthly discounts available.

MARIGNY MANOR HOUSE, 2125 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70116, PHONE: 504.943.7826, Toll Free: 877.247.7599, marignymanorhouse.com, E-mail us at info@MarignyManorHouse.COM. 1840’s Grand Greek Revival guest house, large spacious bedrooms, private baths, antique 4 poster queen beds, wireless internet access, tv/vcr/dvd/ cable, telephone, complimentary continental breakfast and off street parking.

BON MAISON GUEST HOUSE, 835 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.561.8498 BOURGOYNE GUEST HOUSE, 839 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.524.3621

Shreveport, LA DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, AmbushMag.COM Biloxi, MS DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Hattiesburg, MS DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Jackson, MS DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Natchez, MS [601] DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Austin, TX [512] DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAustin.NET Beaumont, TX DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Dallas, TX DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayDallas.COM Galveston Island, TX [409] DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayTexas.NET Houston, TX DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayHouston.COM San Antonio, TX DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayTexas.NET South Padre Island, TX [956] DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayTexas.NET UPPER DECK HOTEL & BAR, PO Box 2309, 120 E. Atol St., 78597; 761.5953, E-mail: gaypadre@upperdeckhotel.com, upperdeckhotel.com

massage New Orleans, LA [504] FRENCH QUARTER MASSAGE BY MIKE - Treat Yourself!” - Professional, Private & Personal. Deep Tissue & Swedish Massages available.

Phone 598.3237. www.FrenchQuarterMassage.COM. E-mail: fqmassage@cox.net. License #LA2687 [is908] LMT (Licensed Massage Therapist), National Board Certified 908.2069, License #LA 3355 [is908] PROFESSIONAL MASSAGE THERAPY

By Patrick LMT - Outcall or Uptown Studio.

Safe neighborhood comfortable studio. Towels available for draping, Non-Sexual, 717.2577, www. n e w o r l e a n s . a m a z i n g h a n d s . u s Discounts for: Friends of Dorothy, Students, Artists, Service Industry, License #LA4005 [is808]

media New Orleans, LA [504] AMBUSH Mag, Official Gay Easter Guide, Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide, Official Gay New Orleans Guide, Official Gulf South Guide, Official Southern Decadence Guide, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; email: info@ ambushmag.com AMBUSHonLINE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8047, ambushonline.com,

email: info@ambushonline.com

models/escorts New Orleans, LA [504] MIKEY LIKES IT! Hot muscle jock with Hollywood handsome face. Br/Bl, 5'10", 175# available 24/7 for in/out or hotel appointments.

Repeats and regulars welcome, 756.9443 [is808] HANDSOME, MASCULINE GUY available 24/7 for companionship, etc., or fabulous body rubs. 6'0", 182#, brn/brn, magic hands. In/Out/ Hotels. Older welcome. Charlie @ 430.7413 [is808]

museum/arts Baton Rouge, LA [225] LOUISIANAARTS AND SCIENCE CENTER / RIVERSIDE MUSEUM, 100 S. River Road, 344.5272 LOUISIANA GOVERNOR'S MANSION, 1001 Capitol Access Rd., 342.5855 LOUISIANA STATEARCHIVES, 3851 Essen Ln. LOUISIANA STATE CAPITOL, State Capitol Dr. LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HILLTOP ARBORETUM, 11855 Highland Rd., 767.6916 LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY RURAL LIFE MUSEUM, I-10 at Essen Lane, 765.2437 LSU MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE and MUSEUM OF GEOSCIENCE, LSU Campus, 388.2855 MAGNOLIA MOUND PLANTATION, 2161 Nicholson Dr., 343.4955 OLD ARSENAL MUSEUM, State Capitol Complex, 342.0401 OLD BOGAN FIRE STATION, 427 Laurel St., 344.8558 OLD GOVERNOR'S MANSION, 502 North Blvd., 344.5272 OLD PENTAGON BARRACKS, State Capitol Dr. at River Road, 342.1866 OLD STATE CAPITOL, 100 North Blvd. at River Road, 342.0500 or 342.4479 USS KIDD/NAUTICAL HISTORICAL CENTER, Government St. at River Rd., 342.1942 New Orleans, LA [504] BEAUREGARD-KEYES HOUSE, 1113 Chartres, 523.7257, Mon-Sat 10am-3pm CABILDO, 701 Chartres, Jackson Square, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm CAC [Contemporary Arts Center], 900 Camp St., 528.3805, cacno.org 1850 HOUSE, 523 St. Ann, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm GALLIER HOUSE, 1132 Royal, 523.6722, Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm GERMAINEWELLSMARDIGRASMUSEUM, 2nd Floor Arnaud's, 819 Bienville HERMANN-GRIMA HISTORIC HOUSE, 820 St. Louis, 525.5661, Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm HISTORICAL PHARMACY MUSEUM, 514 Chartres, 524.9077, Daily 10am-5:30pm HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION, 533 Royal, 523.4662, Tues-Sat 10am-4:45pm LONGUE VUE HOUSE AND GARDENS, 7 Bamboo Rd, Metairie, 488.5488, Mon-Sat 10am4:30pm, Sun 1-5pm MUSEECONTIHISTORICALWAXMUSEUM, 917 Conti, 525.2605, Daily 10am-5:30pm NATIONAL D-DAY MUSEUM, 945 Magazine, 527.6012 NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART, City

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Park, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, 488.2631, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERNART, 925 Camp St., 539.9600 OLD U.S. MINT, 400 Esplanade, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm PRESBYTERE, 751 Chartres, Jackson Square, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL, Jackson Square, Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1:30-5pm

music New Orleans [504] SKULLY'Z RECORDZ, 907 Bourbon St.

organizations Mobile, AL ALABAMA PRIDE FEST, MobileAlabamaPride.COM AQUA, THE PARTY, PO Box 145, Mobile, AL 36601, TheAquaParty.COM BAY AREA INCLUSION, BayAreaInclusion.ORG FUSION, MobileFusion.ORG GULF COAST BEARS & LEATHER ASSOCIATION, b-bobs.com/gcbla.htm MOBILE ALABAMA PRIDE BOWLING LEAGUE Pensacola, FL [850] APPETITE FOR LIFE, INC., provides 2 nutritionally balanced meals a day-lunch & dinner, for some 60 men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, 1842 West Cervantes St.; Mail: P.O. Box 308, 32592-0308; 470.9111, Fax: 470.0201, gaypensacola.com/appforlife GULF COAST TIDE, INC. w w w . G u l f C o a s t T I D E . o r g ; info@GulfCoastTIDE.org Alexandria, LA [318] CLASS [Central Louisiana AIDS Support Services], 103 Bolton Ave., 71301; 1.800.444.7993, 442. 1 0 1 0, FAX: 443.5216 Baton Rouge, LA [225] HAART (HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two), 4550 North Blvd., #250, 927.1269, Fax: 927.7367, haartinc.org, haartinc@aol.com GBLSU [Gays, Bisexuals, Lesbians & Supporters United], glsapres@unixl.sncc.

Isu.edu, Kristy Price, President, 388.5160 KREWE OF APOLLO / BATON ROUGE, PO Box 3591, 70821; kreweapollobr.org KREWE OF DIVAS, kreweofdivas.com, 343.0380 LAMBDA GROUP, 2937 Greenwood Dr., PO Box 82775, 70884-2775, 907.3665, www.lambdabr.org, info@lambdabr.org LEWIS HUMPHREY’S FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 387.9798 METROPOLITANCOMMUNITYCHURCHOF BATON ROUGE, Worship Sunday @ 11am; Bible Study Wednesday @ 7pm, 7747 Tom Dr., LA 70806; 248.0404, www.MCCBR.org MYSTIC KREWE OF ROYALTY, PO Box 66571, 70896; 926.1698 PFLAG Baton Rouge, Harold L. Truax, 33370 Percy Young Rd., Walker, LA 70785; 225.218.8320, 225.288.2522 Lafayette, LA [337] ACADIANA CARES [Concern for AIDS Relief, Education, and Support], PO Box 386, Lafayette, LA 70502; 203 W. 3rd St., 70501; 233.2437, FAX: 235.4178; 800.354.2437 KREWE OFAPOLLO / LAFAYETTE, PO Box 53251, 70505 LEAGUE FOR EQUALITY, PO Box 53425, 70505 PFLAG/LAFAYETTE, PO Box 31078, 70503 ROYAL ORDER OF UNICORN, PO Box 3985, 70502 Monroe, LA [318] GO CARE 2121 Justice, 71201, 325.1092 New Orleans, LA [504] ACADIANA RAINBOW SOCIETY OF THE DEAF, PO Box 57166, 70157; 889.0138 (TDD) AIDS HOTLINE, 821.6050 in New Orleans, 1.800.99.AIDS[2437]-9 toll free statewide ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, 779.1178 BELLE REVE NEW ORLEANS, AIDS Residence for Families, PO Box 3305, 70177; 945.9455 BIG EASY M.C.C. (Metropolitan Commu-

nity Church of Greater New Orleans), Sunday Worship at St Matthew’s UCC, 1333 S. Carrollton Ave. at Willow. Fellowship after service. Mailing address: 1333 S. Carrolllton Ave. New Orleans, LA, 70118; 213.4340, p a s t o r @ b i g e a s y m c c . c o m , www.bigeasymcc.com BROTHERHOOD, INC., To decrease the spread of AIDS and HIV among African Americans, 1661 Canal St., Suite 3230, 70112; 566.7955 CAVALIERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB: Gay motocycle group sponsors monthly day rides and other riding events in New Orleans area.

Visit www.cavaliersmc.comc or call 782.5625 or e-mail info@cavaliersmc.com.

CHURCH OF CHRIST THE LIBERATOR, Sun. 11am Service, 607 Marigny St. (behind The Friendly Bar), ChristTheLiberator.ORG COMING OUT SUPPORT GROUP, meets 1st Wed. of each month, 7:30-9pm, Info: Liz 482.4012; Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 2114 Decatur St., 70116; 945.1103 COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK, a project of the NO/AIDS Task Force which works with the gay community to implement HIV prevention activities, 507 Frenchmen St., 945.4000, noaidstaskforce.com COPS 8 (Citizens' Organization for Police Support in the 8th District), 840 N. Rampart St., #51, 70116; 588.COPS (2677), cops8.org DRAMA! [A Gay & Lesbian Arts Organization], PO Box 52565, 70152; 948.9924, DramaNO.org, DRAMA@DramaNO.org FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 944.6028 FORUM FOR EQUALITY, 336 Lafayette, Suite 200, 70130; 947.2981, ForumForEquality@aol.com FOUNDATION FOR MACRO BIOTIC WAY, enjoy-life.com GAY APPRECIATION AWARDS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049; AmbushMag.COM/GAA GAY COUNSELING LINE, 833.1500 GLSEN [Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network], 482.4081, Fax 595.8587, E-mail: glsenno@hotmail.com, glsenno.org GULF GENDER ALLIANCE [GGA], NonProfit Support Group for Transgender persons.

Monthly meetings, socials and political activism.

Privacy respected and expected. Interview required. Nondiscriminatory. Call 504. 324.4035 or write PO Box 56836, New Orleans, LA 70156-6836; gga.org, E-mail: info@gga.org HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, INC., PO Box 52171, 70152-2171; halloween neworleans.com HATE CRIMES HOTLINE, c/o Family Service of Greater New Orleans, 504.202.2131.

The Hate Crimes Project offers to assist those who feel that they may have been a victim of a hate crime. The project provides advocacy for persons victimized due to race, religion, gender and gender identity, age, disability, and/or sexual orientation.

IN THIS TOGETHER, HIV/AIDS Case Management, 1661 Canal Street, Suite 3107, 70112; 962.3245, is www.inthistogetherinc.org, itt@accesscom.net KOCKTAIL BUNCH BOWLING LEAGUE, Contact Glenn Culp, 504.861.0233 KREWE OF ARMEINIUS, PO Box 56638, New Orleans, LA 70156-6638, cetubby@cox.net, KreweOfArmeinius.ORG KREWE OF AMON RA, PO Box 7033, Metairie, LA 70010, TheOneKissFan@aol.com KREWE OF MWINDO, PO Box 51031, 70156; 913.5791, KreweOfMwindo.ORG, krewe@kreweofmwindo.org KREWE OF PETRONIUS, PO Box 71665, 70172, Pres. Arthur Alarcon 451.9507, Capt. Bill McCarthy 430.6695, Sec. Mae Falgout 484.6045, http://kreweofpetronius.tripod.com KREWE OF QUEENATEENAS / KING CAKE QUEEN ROYALTY CLUB, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM/ KCQ LaCARP [Louisiana Community AIDS Research Program], 584.1971 LA-LIFT, Social Club for Lesbians, age 50+, who have fun together on weekends. Email: armyvet20@webtv.net LAMBDA CENTER, 831 Elysian Fields

Ave., 70117, LambdaCenter.NET, info@lambdacenter.net, LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NEW ORLEANS, 234 Loyola, Suite 421, 70112; 581.9106 LESBIAN & GAY COMMUNITY CENTER OF NEW ORLEANS, 2114 Decatur St., 701162013; 945.1103, Fax 945.1102, Email: info@lgccno.net LORDS OF LEATHER, P.O. Box 741089, New Orleans, LA 70174, LordsOfLeather.COM LOUISIANA STATE GAY RODEO ASSOCIATION (LSGRA), 915.3339, lance@lsgra.com, LSGRA.COM MCLNO HOP Clinic, 136 S. Roman Street, 4th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70112; Appts.: 504.903.6959, www.hopclinic.org METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS, Sunday Friendship Hour 4:15pm, Worship/Celebration, 5pm at St Matthew’s UCC, 1333 Carrollton Ave. at Willow; Mailing Address: PO Box 71024, 70172; 945.5390, www.mccgno.com MYSTIC KNIGHTS OF ADONIS, 236.4530, Adonis-TLC.COM, MYSTIC KREWE OF SATYRICON, 1021 Gov. Nicholls St., 70116, 525.4498, MysticKreweOfSatyricon.COM NEW ORLEANS BEAR & BEAR TRAPPER SOCIAL CLUB, PO Box 740894, 70174-0894; 529.6975, www.neworleansbears.com NEW ORLEANS GAY MEN’S CHORUS, 948.6884, nogmc.com; nogmc@aol.com NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL, nojazzfest.com NEW ORLEANS WOMEN’S MUSIC COLLECTIVE, 2903 Jefferson Ave., 70115; Ann 838.7918, Sydney 833.2834 NO/AIDS TASK FORCE, 2601 Tulane Ave., Suite 500, 70119; 821.2601; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM N'R Peace, 3201 Gen. DeGaulle Dr., Suite 201, 70114, 364.1950 MOC/NO [Men of Color/New Orleans], 482.5341 OFFICIAL GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, info@gayeasterparade.com, GayEasterParade.COM OFFICIAL GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM OFFICIAL GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM OFFICIAL SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM PEOPLE OF SUBSTANCE, INC. (POS), 7210 Arbor Dr., 70126, 244.1920, posnola.com PFLAG/NO [Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays/ New Orleans], PO Box 15515, 70175; 895.3936, 392.0001, pflagno.org, info@pflagno.org PRIDEFEST NEW ORLEANS, presented

by New Orleans Alliance of Pride, 1000 Bourbon St., Box 365, New Orleans, LA 70116; pridefestneworleans@yahoo.com, www.nolapridefest.org PROJECT LAZARUS, A Residence for PWAs, PO Box 3906, 70177-3906; 949.3609 RA/UNO (Rainbow Alliance/University of New Orleans), Office of Campus Activities, 200 Lakeshore Dr., 70148; 280.6349; FAX: 280.6633. Regular meetings Thursdays, 12:301:30, RM 210 of UC, all students and members of UNO are welcome REGIONALAIDS INTERFAITH NETWORK [RAIN], 523.3755 TAU HOUSE MINISTRIES, 1029 Governor Nicholls, 70116, roddyssnd@aol.com, 529.3569. Mass on Sunday 4:15pm; Vespers on Monday, Wednesday, Friday 6pm. Everyone is welcome!

TO DO PRODUCTIONS, 948.9608, www.todoproductions.org VOLLEYBALL NEW ORLEANS, PO Box 13306, 70185-3306; volleyballneworleans.com, postmaster@volleyballneworleans.com WILLIAM J. FANNING FOUNDATION [Buzzy’s Boys & Girls], 2301 Chartres, 70117; 943.8929 Shreveport, LA [318]

KREWE OF APOLLO/SHREVEPORT, PO Box 4918, 71134 PHILADELPHIA CENTER, PO Box 44454, 71134-4454; 222.6633 YWCAAIDS MINORITY COMMUNITY OUTREACH, 700 Pierre Ave., 71103; 226.8717 Austin, TX [512] AUSTIN BABTIST WOMEN, 291.1563 www.babtistwomen.com. Raising Spirits and Millions of Dollars for Charity Since 1986.

AUSTIN LATINO/LATINA LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL & TRANSGENDER ORGANIZATION [ALLGO], 1715 E. 6th St., Ste. 112, 78762-6149; 472.2001, allgo.org BI-MEN-TEXAS, Texas Chapter of the BiMEN Worldwide Network-now over 100,000 active male members. TX online support group and contact list for bisexual, bi-curious and gay adult men. Free. Annual Bi-Men Conference each Fall. www.bisexual.org/resources/ alist.asp KINGDOM SEEKERS IN CHRIST JESUS, 81 San Marcos St., 78702; 322.0049 MINISTRY OF COMMON SENSE SPIRITUALITY, PO Box 687411, 78701; 669.0608, Rev. N. Holmann, asknorbert.com PROJECT TRANSITIONS, PO Box 4826, 78765; 454.8646, projecttransitions.org, AIDShous ing@projecttransitions.org, dedicated to serving people with AIDS by providing hospice, housing and support in a compassionate and caring environment.

TEXAS GAY RODEO ASSOCIATION (TGRA) Austin chapter, www.Austintgra.org Dallas, TX [214] KREWE OF APOLLO-DALLAS, KreweofApollo-Dallas.com Houston, TX [713] PRIDE COMMITTEE OF HOUSTON, PO Box 66071, 77266-6071; 529.6979, Fax 529.6929, info@pridehouston.org, pride houston.org San Antonio, TX [210] DIVERSITY CENTER (San Antonio & South Texas' GLBTQI Community Center), Office: 223.6106, Fax: 223.7419, TDD: 271.8025, HIV/ AIDS & GLBT Domestic Violence Hotline: Toll Free 1.866.452.2724, diversitycentersa.org

mail New Orleans, LA [504] MARIGNY MAIL, 2401 Burgundy, 948.7401

pets CHI-WA-WA GA-GA, 37 French Market Place, 70116; 581.4242; chiwawagaga.com FRENCH QUARTER PET ASYLUM, 510 Dumaine St., 274.0810

pharmacy New Orleans, LA [504] MUMFREY'S PHARMACY, 1021 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043, 504.279.6312

photography New Orleans, LA [504] GRAHAM/STUDIO ONE NEW ORLEANS, by appointment, grahamstudioone.com, cafepress.com/grahamimages

printers New Orleans, LA [504] SIR SPEEDY, 343 Carondelet, 586.9812

real estate New Orleans, LA [504] CALDWELL BANKER REALTORS, Mark Boline 655.2233, Adrianne Bieller 617.0500 ETHEL KIDD REAL ESTATE, 637 Pere Antoine Alley, Inez Douglas 451.1082, 524.6809 KELLER WILLIAMS REALTORS, 8601 Leak Ave., 524.8530 LATTER & BLUM, Agent Mary Lind, 948.3011, 539.9742, 581.2020 PRUDENTIAL GARDNER REALTORS, Agent Brett A. Rector, Cell: 453.2277, Office:

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restaurants New Orleans, LA [504] Buffa's, 1001 Esplanade at Burgundy, 949.0038 Bywater Bar.B.Que,3162 Dauphine St., 944.4445 Cafe Amelie, 912 Royal St., 412.8965 Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, CloverGrill.COM Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 Krystal, 116 Bourbon at Canal, 523.4030 La Peniche, 1940 Dauphine St., 943.1460 Marigny Perks, 2401 Burgundy, 948.7401, www.marignyperks.com Meauxbar Bistro, 942 N. Rampart St., 569.9979, MeauxBar.COM Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 Petunias, A Restaurant, Cajun, Creole, Crepes, Cocktails, 817 St. Louis, 70112; 522.6440 Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416 Riche, Fulton Street at Poydras inside Harrah's Hotel, 533.6117 Tomatillo's Restaurant, 437 Esplanade Ave., 945.9997

retail/shopping New Orleans, LA [504] ALTERNATIVES, 907 Bourbon St., 70116; 524.5222 BEAR NECESSITIES, 940 Decatur, 598.2134, BearsAndHares.COM BOURBON-STRIP TEASE, 205 Bourbon St., 70130; 581.6633, bourbontease.com THE HERB IMPORT COMPANY, 711 St. Peter [in French Quarter], 525.4372; 5055 Canal St. [near City Park Ave.], 488.4889 PANDA BEAR, 415 Bourbon St., 529.8064 RAB DAB CLOTHING AND GIFTS, 918 Royal St., 525.6662 SERENDIPITOUS MASKS, 831 Decatur St., 522.9158 SECOND SKIN LEATHER, 521 St. Philip St., 561.8167 QUEEN FASHIONS.COM, queenfashions.com, exoticfashionmall.com WICKED ORLEANS, 1201 Decatur, 529.4384, WickedOrleans.COM

Austin, TX [512] GOMI, 233 W. 2nd St., 442.9977, gomikitti.com TAPELENDERS VIDEO/OUTLINES MENSWEAR AUSTIN, 1114 West 5th St., 472.0844, www.tapelenders.com

spas Ft. Lauderdale, FL [954] CLUB FT. LAUDERDALE, 400 W. Broward Blvd., 525.3344, www.the-clubs.com Atlanta, GA [404] FLEX ATLANTA, 76 Fourth St., 815.0456 New Orleans, LA [504] CLUB NEW ORLEANS, 515 Toulouse, 581.2402, www.the-clubs.com FLEX NEW ORLEANS, 700 Baronne St., 598.FLEX [3539] Austin, TX [512] MIDTOWNE SPA, 5815 Airport Blvd., 302.9696 Dallas, TX [214] CLUB DALLAS, 2616 Swiss Ave., 821.1990, www.the-clubs.com MIDTOWNE SPA, 2509 Pacific Ave., 821.8989 Houston, TX [713] CLUB HOUSTON, 2205 Fannin St., 659.4998, www.the-clubs.com MIDTOWNE SPA, 3100 Fannin St., 522.2379

tanning New Orleans, LA [504] PLANET BEACH, 301 Burgundy, 525.8266

tattoos/piercings New Orleans, LA [504] AART ACCENT TATTOO & PIERCING, 1041 N. Rampart in French Quarter, 581.9812

theatres New Orleans, LA [504] LE PETIT THEATRE DU VIEUX CARE, 616 St. Peter, 522.2081 MARIGNY THEATRE, 1030 Marigny St., 947.0505

websites CRESCENT CITY, CrescentCity.COM GAY AMERICA, GayAmerica.COM GAY AUSTIN, GayAustin.NET GAY BARS, GayBars.COM GAY PENSACOLA, GayPensacola.COM OFFICIAL GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayEasterParade.COM OFFICIAL GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM OFFICIAL GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM OFFICIAL SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM

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Texas thr u F lorida thru Florida Contact Rip Naquin 504.522.8049 inf o@amb ushma g.com info@amb o@ambushma ushmag BUSINESS • SUCCESS • LONGEVITY GayAustin.Net • GayHouston.COM • GayBatonRouge.BIZ • GayPensacola.COM • GayAmerica.COM • April 8-21, 2008 • EXPOSE' EXPOSE'-17 of 48

one last song

by Donnie "Jager" Jay, SDGM XXXII E-mail: donniejay@hotmail.com

Times Past

H

e was old now, sitting quietly by the window of his second story apartment, watching out the window as the world passed him by.

This is what he did with most of his time now. Week after week, day after day, hour after hour, sometimes an old friend may stop by once in awhile, to say hello and chat for a little bit. But not to often anymore, there just weren’t many of his generation left, not those who were able to get around to well any way. So when one of those folks did manage to stop by for a visit he was very grateful, for what ever time they could spend with him and share in their glory days long passed. He stared out his window, watching his neighbors pass on their way to work or where ever, occasionally one would look up and see him and give a little wave, and he would wave back.

His dog lay on his lap giving a yap to the passersby as well. He was content here in his second story apartment, though at times he had wished he could have found a floor space to rent as it would have been do much easier to manage getting up and down from his perch here where he resided. But the land lord had been very nice about having the stairs remodeled and put in the ramp so he could navigate his wheelchair up and down. My lord it was no picnic getting old and frail.

His best friend, Shaun was in his late fifties now, they had retained their relationship for over thirty-five years now and it showed no signs of slowing down. Shaun took him grocery shopping each and every month without fail. Shaun was, if nothing else, solid as a rock and if he said they were going to go at one time or another, he was there with out fail on the minute. Today was their shopping day, it was one of those times when hr felt free from his small world, a chance for him to get out and do something for himself. He loved to shop, to go to the stores and hoist his self into one of those riding shopping carts and zip up and down the aisles of the markets, filling the basket to the top. Shaun was cool about it too, never rushing him, but allowing him to take all the time in the world, comparing one price to another. He got his monthly allotment of food stamps, and though he complained that he didn’t think it was enough, it really was. They enabled him to get plenty to exist for the month on, along with food for seniors and others who so graciously brought supplemental groceries every so often. Then of course there was his social security check, which Shaun knew covered his bills and left some over for entertainment of sorts.

He had gotten up early this morning, bathed, cleaned himself up and gotten dressed all in preparation for this day out ahead of him. He had raised his paper up to the window in the basket that was there just for that reason. Shaun was the one who had come up with the idea, so he didn’t have to use the ramp every morning to retrieve the paper. But it also came in handy for other things, the mailman placed his mail in it and sometimes a neighbor may bring a half gallon or milk from time

to time and he could hoist that up as well.

Any way the point was it was immensely useful and all to Shaun credit for making his life easier. But that was Shaun for ya, always there for him when ever he needed it.

When they had first met Shaun was barely twenty-one, just past the legal age and he was thirty-three, and he fell in love almost immediately with the younger blue eyed Cajun lad, but he was not the only one in the room who was so smitten. He was among a throng of about sixty customers all vying for the hot stud behind the bar’s attention. He smiled at the young bartender and just raised his hand and nodded. Shaun nodded back to him, to acknowledge he had seen him and would be there shortly, it seemed like half and hour passed before he did come up to him, flashing a bright smile and asking ‘What can I get you?” “Vodka Tonic, tall please.” “Any special brand of Vodka?” He smiled at the older guy across the bar.

“Smirnoff, one hundred will be fine with me.” Shaun turned and made the drink in no time at all. Turning back, he asked.

“New in town?’ “Just got here Sunday.”

“Well welcome to New Orleans, My name’s Shaun, what’s yours?” He almost sang it like Baby June in Gypsy. “Jeff.” The newcomer stated a matter of fact as possibly.

“Just visiting? How long you going to be in town for?” Jeff wondered is this guy could possibly have any real interest in him or was he just making conversation to be polite? He couldn’t be certain, but one way or another he was holding this beautiful man in conversation. The other patrons around the bar were calling out all kinds of drink orders. “Hold your damn horses y’all, I want you to meet a new comer to town, I’m trying to find out if he’s just passing through or what here.” “Moving in next week.” “He’s going to be one of us.”

Shaun yelled to the bar, which caused the patrons to raise their glasses on high in a toast to him. Shouts of welcome seemed to come from everywhere. Buy him a drink and assorted toasts filled the air filled the air. He was making friends faster than he could possibly remember their names.

He was going to like it here, that was for sure, and he felt like he had already lived here for most of his life already.

Time was flying by, and the drinks kept flying in Jeff’s direction, without realizing it Shaun had gotten off duty and there was someone else now serving the customers, himself included. He had wondered where Shaun had gone, but it wasn’t long before the question was answered, as he Shaun slid onto an empty stool next to him. ‘So you got dinner plans yet?”

“Hadn’t even given it a single thought.”

“Well are you driving, or are you staying in the Quarter? I mean, I don’t want to sound too forward but in all honestly you are in no condition to drive, I’m sure you know that.”

“Actually I’m staying at the Monteleon for the rest of this week till my house is ready out by the lake.” “You’ll be all right then I just was not about allowing you to drive with out getting some food into you before you got behind the wheel of a vehicle. I would

say that you just wouldn’t possibly be a danger to yourself but most or the rest of the residents and visitors in the entire French Quarter.” “Well thanks a lot for the vote of confidence, but I assure you that I am drunker than you think I am.” Shaun laughed at this he liked Jeff and his strange sense of humor. He reached over and ran his fingers through the older man’s hair; it was thick, jet black and curly. It was also as soft as anything he had ever run between his fingers before. “I thought it was going to be wirier, but it’s soft and smooth.”

“Disappointed? I mean I could stop using my cream rinse and have a perm if you’d like. I could even burn it a little and make it nappy. “I was just making conversation, that’s all. I love your hair. In fact there is a lot I like about you. Would you like to go get something to eat and then I’ll show you around the town a bit if you’d like. Or have you seen most of it already?” “Your bar was just the second one I’ve been into, some guy told me about it at Wanda’s up on Iberville Street, and to tell you the truth I’m really glad he did. Otherwise I wouldn’t have met you.” “Sure you would have, no one ever is in this town for long before I meet them. I’m like a one man welcome wagon.”

They walked around the Quarter for a little more than half an hour with Shaun pointing out the points of interest, including the various gay establishments and what Jeff might encounter inside. Shaun had no idea what Jeff may have been into at this time so, what scene he may be looking for. He was young all right, put he was wiser than most would expect for his age.

Finally it was time to get that food he had been talking about for so long, Jeff allowed Shaun to pick any place that he wanted to go, half expecting him to name one of the more famous and expensive restaurants that abound in the Quarter, but he did not, instead he led Jeff to a small place, hidden in a courtyard of Royal Street.

The food was incredible, the price moderate, he knew that without Shaun, he would have never known that the place was there.

After eating, Jeff felt much better and suggested that they have a nightcap before he returned to the hotel. Shaun was game for it of course, he was a native son after all and as Jeff would learn only to fast, they all seemed to have an insatiable appetite for drinking. So they wandered over to Mom’s Society Page for the nightcap and that is just what it turned out to be, just one, because after consuming it Jeff could barely speak.

He did not know how or when he got to his hotel, he only knew that when he awoke he was in the bed, Shaun by his side and they were both fully dressed, and so began a friendship that would go on forever. Perhaps had this night ended differently it could have been ONE LAST SONG for the two of them, but it wasn’t.

Now he was sitting in his wheelchair in front of his place waiting for his friend to pick him up. He smiled to himself remembering that first day and waited patiently. To be continued. You may contact me at donniejay@hotmail.com.

obituaries Kevin P. Bagley

K

evin P. Bagley, age 39, passed away on March 25, 2008. Born in Daytona Beach, Florida,

Kevin called New Orleans home for the past 19 years. He is survived by his parents Maxine and Thomas Bagley, sister Gail Johnson, brother Gary Johnson, and Kevin's life partner Henry Lentz. Friends and relatives are invited to attend Kevin's Celebration of Life on Friday, April 18 from 7 to 9pm at 4 Seasons' Outback Cabana Bar, 3229 N. Causeway in Metairie.

Tony Hove Feb. 3, 1951-Mar. 21, 2008

F

riends and family joined to cel ebrate the life of Tony Hove on April 5 in the Queen's Head

Pub above Good Friends Bar in New Orleans. Tony was the former manager of Hotel LaSalle on Canal Street. As the celebration began, a second line band and parade celebrating Spring Fiesta with all the debutantes in their regalia passed down St. Ann Street right in front of the bar.

Tony would have loved it! Balloons were in abundance for those who knew Tony to write a special message to him before they were released from the balcony. Many friends brought in food for the affair, open bar was provided by Wood Enterprises, and the beautiful floral tributes throughout Queen's Head Pub were courtesy of Floral Affair.

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big easy

Rick & Wood Enterprises' Ken

Good Friends bartender Spencer & 4 Seasons bartender Toby

The late Tony Hove at Rawhide

Ken, Angie, Neel, Luis, Joe, the late Tony, Ron & the late Fred (front) at one of Joe’s Wine Tasting bashes Rawhide manager Joe & partner Troy

Raven Kennedy & Sadie Shepherd guest star in Fleur De Lis Divas at Cowpokes

Mr. Mike & Ricky take in Fleur De Lis Divas at Cowpokes

Good Friends bartender Tim

Princesse Stephaney & the late Tony Hove at Good Friends

Catfish & Good Friends manager Joey

Miss Gay New Orleans America Passion Armani Cassidine joins Fleur De Lis Divas Co-emcee Brittney O’Bryan

Old Jason who Ken says is a lot tighter too!

Ken & the late Tony Hove

Josh, Bill & Kenny pop in for Fleur De Lis Divas at Cowpokes

The late Tony Hove & Lori

Aletha with her new penis microphone for Lafitte’s Karaoke

Ambush’s Marsha & Sir Speedy’s Wayne Rawhide bartender Todd

David & Bill

The late Tony Hove with Ken & Rick at Lafitte’s

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The Big Easy ~ New Orleans.

Celebrating the Life of Tony Hove at Queen's Head Pub above Good Friends Bar ~ New Orleans

paparazzi

Houston Trans Group Preps for Gala Night

W

ith only a month until the Houston Transgender Unity Banquet, organizers are selling sponsorships and tickets to what is one of the largest single-night transgender events in the nation. With a nationally renowned keynote speaker and a new venue, the Unity Banquet takes place on Saturday, April 26.

The informal slogan for the event this year is the 2008 Houston Transgender Unity Banquet: Don’t Miss This One. “Our banquet last year was a tremendous success,” says Lilly Roddy, chair of the Houston Transgender Unity Committee, the consortium of area trans organizations that organizes and hosts the banquet.

“Many guests said it was our best ever, and the 2008 banquet will be even better.”

Every year, approximately 225 people attend the banquet, held this year at the Sheraton Houston Brookhollow (3000 North Loop West).

Tickets are $50 in advance ($60 at the door) and may be purchased through Ticketweb via the Unity Committee website, www.htuc.org. Tickets are also available at Vanity: A Trans-formation Studio (1442 Yale, 832/767-3252), the Heights boutique. Proceeds from ticket sales support the Peggy Rudd Transgender Scholarship Fund, which for the third year will award scholarships to trans-identified students pursuing higher education.

A silent auction at the event will raise funds for Unity Committee projects. In addition to the Unity Banquet, these projects include the Brenda Thomas Memorial New Year’s Day Social in January, Unity Month in March, Transgender Day of Remembrance in November, and the Rudd Scholarship Fund. Unity Committee representatives frequently speak to schools, businesses, and organizations.

Jennifer Finney Boylan, whose acclaimed 2003 memoir She’s Not There: A Life in Two Genders was one of the first best-selling books by a transgender author, will present the keynote speech at the 2008 Houston

South Padre Island, Texas

The Upper Deck Hotel & Bar www.UpperDeckHotel.COM Join Us for Your Next Vacation

Pool, Hot Tub Resort-1/2 block to Gay Beach PO Box 2309, 120 E. Atol St. South Padre Island, TX 78597 956.761.5953 E-mail: gaypadre@upperdeckhotel.com Transgender Unity Banquet. Boylan’s latest book, I’m Looking Through You: Growing Up Haunted-A Memoir, was recently released.

The nonprofit Unity Committee is seeking sponsorships for the banquet. Sponsorships are available at a range of levels, from $75 to $2,000 to underwrite the Brenda Thomas Education Table, named in honor of Thomas (19432006), the trans and HIV activist and educator and long-time Unity Committee executive director. Interested individuals and companies may contact the committee at www.htuc.org.

carnival/krewe calendar

A

mbush is providing its Carnival/ Krewe Calendar to assist Gay Mardi Gras Krewes with their fund-raisers, functions and balls to support and help preserve the cultural fabric of the GLBT community. To submit your carnival/krewe function, e-mail info@ambushmag.com. Visit GayMardiGras.COM for more.

SUN., April 13th... ~Krewe of Amon Ra's Sister Sunday Social (Gospel Revival), Tickets $10, Cowpokes, 2240 St. Claude Ave. SAT., April 19th... ~7-10pm, Krewe of Petronius' Cocktails and Crowns, $25 donation, Fredrick Guess Studio, 910 Royal St. 9pm-12midnight, Lords of Leather's Toga Party, $15 donation, JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields TUES., April 22nd... ~Krewe of Satyricon's Ringo SAT., May 17th... ~7pm, Krewe of Amon Ra's Ester Williams Swim Party, Tickets $25 with open bar, Dive Inn, 4417 Dryades St. SUN., May 18th... ~8-11pm,Krewe of Satyricon's Shaken, Not Stirred; Tickets $30, Venusian Gardens, 2601 Chartres SAT., August 16th... ~7pm, Krewe of Petronius' Dinner and Drag, Progressive Dinner and Drag Show, $30donation, JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields SAT., November 22nd... ~7pm, Krewe of Petronius' QBSN(Queer Bar Shopping Network), Live Wreath Auction, Buy Me Now Specials and Holiday Show, JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields

2009 EVENTS SAT., January 24th... ~8-10pm, Krewe of Queenateenas’ 16th annual King Cake Queen of Gay Mardi Gras Coronation, presenting KCQ XVI, by invitation only, Ambush Headquarters SAT., January 31st... ~8pm, Krewe of Amon Ra Bal Masque XLVI, Alario Center SUN., February 1st... ~7pm, Krewe of Petronius Bal Masque XLVIII, Scottish Rite Foundation SUN., February 15th... ~8pm, Mystic Krewe of Satyricon Bal Masque VII, Sugar Mill FRI., FEBURARY 20th... ~10pm-2am, Night of the Black Mask: The South’s Oldest Leather Block Party, Phoenix/ Eagle, Elysian Fields @ N. Rampart SAT., February 21st... ~12noon, Annual Spanish Town Parade, 5th & Spanish Town Road, Baton Rouge ~8pm, Krewe of Armeinius Bal Masque XLI, Alario Center ~10pm-2am, Night of the Black Mask: The South’s Oldest Leather Block Party, Phoenix/ Eagle, Elysian Fields @ N. Rampart SUN., February 22nd... ~8pm, Lords of Leather Bal Masque XXVI, Alario Center MARDI GRAS (FAT TUESDAY), February 24th... ~12noon, 45th Annual Bourbon Street Awards, Oz, Corner of St. Ann at 800 Bourbon ~2pm - 22nd Annual Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss, led by King Cake Queen XVI of Gay Mardi Gras, Ambush Headquarters Balcony, 828 Bourbon St.

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