Issuu

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the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain RipandMarsha.COM E-mail: marsha@ripandmarsha.com

Krewe du Vieux Releases Its Stimulus Package, King Frankie Ford to Serve as Cruise Director

he hot reality shows of the last twelve months were American Idle and Survivor – Detroit, while Nightmare on Wall Street dominated the silvery screen. The S&M 500 reached painful new lows, the stock xxxchange went totally limp (though bondage remained tight), and the Federal ReServe Soup Kitchen helped financial executives retain their golden parachutes while laying golden showers on the American public. Moose hunting came darn close to becoming the new national pastime. But Joe the Dumber Plumber couldn’t unclog the voter pipeline for Sen. John the Gone

THE OFFICIAL MAG

GulfSouthEntertainment/TravelGuideSince 1982 • Texas-Florida Official Gay Easter Parade Guide Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide Official Gay New Orleans Guide OfficialSouthernDecadenceGuide OFFICE/SHIPPING ADDRESS: 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 USA OFFICE HOURS: 10am-3pm Monday-Friday [Except Holidays] E-mail: marsha@ripandmarsha.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, Foley, Mobile Florida - Pensacola Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Shreveport, Slidell Mississippi - Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Jackson Texas - Austin, Dallas, Houston

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 Rev. Clinton Crawshaw, Donnie Jay-New Orleans DJ Chromatic, David Long, Craig Powell, 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: marsha@ripandmarsha.com, except for special holidays. 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. ©1982-2009, 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

Pecan, and defeated Republicans were left to console themselves with forty ounces and a drug mule. Illinois conclusively demonstrated that it is the new Louisiana, with Gov. Blowdryovich taking corruption, crudity and hair style to poofy new heights. Despite all the crises, American voters decided resoundingly to stay the course, electing yet another president whose ears stick way out from his head. However, there were hopes that the new guy had a little more going on between those ears, as well as some inaugural balls. Yes we came! Titillation was not lacking on the local scene either. Holy Cao, Yatman, Dollar Bill Jefferson lost! Could it have anything to do with the fact that his entire family, all his friends and even his mailman are under indictment? Derrick Shepherd also got Fed to the wolves, and a jury decided that Vince Marinello had toupee for his crime. The Southern Scrap Yacht Club held its first annual Industrial Canal regatta during Hurricane Gustav, putting on a real bang-up event. Local culture was also saluted with the opening of the Incestarium. However, it looks like our wetland dreams won’t come true for at least another year. Louisiana legislators brilliantly overturned the voter-approved Stelly tax plan, immediately putting a nearly $400 million hole in the state budget and Gov. Bobby “Bubba” Jindal’s rising star. The city’s budget was trashed as well, while alleged mayor C. Ray Nagin danced to

a new musical genre known as clusterfunk. Meanwhile, two lonely cranes flew overhead in the sky... As the economic ejaculation trickled down the legs of American taxpayers, Krewe du Vieux decided it was time for overnight delivery of a new Stimulus Package. The Krewe will embark on their 12,000 step recovery program through the French Quarter and the Marigny on Saturday, February 7 at 6:30pm. Serving as cruise director will be King Frankie Ford, who likes to see legs and definitely knows how to pack a stimulus. Gretna’s only Grammy winner, noted ivory tickler and crooner, seller of almost as many records as there are dollars in the federal debt, King Frankie will be the Last One to Cry as he spreads a fortune in cups, beads and good will along the parade itinerary. The parade itinerary will deposit the Krewe at yet another new port and ball site, the Studio at Colton, 2300 St. Claude Avenue between Mandeville and Spain streets. Doors will open at 9pm. The music will begin with a brass band jam featuring musicians from the parade, followed by Eric Lindell & Company with special guests, and a stimulating late night set by the Zydepunks. The public is invited and forewarned. Tickets are $25 per person, available at the Louisiana Music Factory, 210 Decatur Street; Miss Claudia’s Vintage Clothes and Costume Shop, 4204 Magazine Street; Studio at Colton, 2300 St. Claude Avenue; Up in Smoke, 4507 Magazine Street; and Petcetera, 3205 Magazine Street. A portion of the Doo proceeds will be donated to the Studio at Colton. The Krewe du Vieux’s seventeen

Giant Mardi Gras Edition due out Tues., Feb. 17 DEADLINE: Tuesday, Feb. 10

inside ambush paparazzi/metairie, nola sappho psalm the pink pastor memoriam/wendy byrne kcq coronation paparazzi/nola trodding the boards celebrazzi/kcq coronation cookin' with auntie dee 22nd gay mardi gras bead toss classifieds

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subkrewes will each present their own stimulated, simulated, marinated, consummated, investigated, instigated, implicated, intimated, but never imitated interpretations of the theme. Subkrewes include the Krewe of C.R.U.D.E., Krewe of Space Age Love, Krewe of Underwear, Seeds of Decline, Krewe of Mama Roux, Krewe of L.E.W.D., Krewe of Drips and Discharges, Krewe of K.A.O.S., Knights of Mondu, T.O.K.I.N., Krewe Rue Bourbon, Krewe de C.R.A.P.S., Krewe of PAN, Mystic Krewe of Spermes, Mystick Krewe of Comatose, Mystic Krewe of Inane, and Krewe du Mishigas. Also marching will be many of the city’s top brass bands. Showcasing the local brass band talent is one of the few Krewe du Vieux traditions not currently being considered for a federal bailout. The Krewe du Vieux is a non-profit organization dedicated to the historical and traditional concept of a Mardi Gras parade as a venue for individual creative expression and satirical comment. It is unique among all Mardi Gras parades because it alone carries on the old Carnival traditions, by using decorated, hand or mule-drawn floats with satirical themes, accompanied by costumed revelers dancing to the sounds of jazzy street musicians. We believe in exposing the world to the true nature of Mardi Gras — and in exposing ourselves to the world. For more information about the Krewe du Vieux parade, please contact Keith Twitchell, Poobah of Publicity, at 504.943.7970. The Krewe du Vieux website is www.kreweduvieux.org.

Sixth Annual Ambie Awards Feb. 9

he Sixth Annual Ambie Awards for Excellence in Theater will be presented at Le Chat Noir on Monday, February 9, 2009, sponsored by Ambush Mag. Bar service will begin at 6:30pm, doors open at 7pm, and the ceremony will begin at 7:30pm. There is a $15 suggested donation ($5 for nominees/performers/presenters), more if you’re feeling generous—monies raised will benefit NOCCA High School’s Theater Department, a wonderful incubator of talent. [continued on 6]

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the "official" dish ...from 4 In addition to the major categories, whose nominees were listed in a previous issue, we shall continue the tradition of acknowledging some special achievements that don’t fall into any of the standard categories with our tonguein-cheek Glammie Awards. Some of the categories to be presented are Funniest Finale, Outstanding One Act Play, Best Norwegian Doctor, Most Drunken Irishmen on One Stage, Best Performance by a Drag Queen (not in a Bar or Club), Outstanding Ballet Sequence, Best Beefcake, Lesbian Couple of the Year, and Best Scream. Also, Outstanding Performance by an Understudy, Most Elegant Plague Victim, Best Chorus, Worst Pun, Best Chest, Best Mess, Scariest Props, Most Dead People on Stage at the End of a Musical, the Pepper Mashay “Let’s Get Soaking Wet” Glammie, Best In-

cestuous Kiss and many more. The evening will feature musical numbers from many of the nominated shows and surprise guest appearances. The Ambies is the season’s most inclusive award presentation as we recognize outstanding work in Orleans, Jefferson St. Bernard and St. Tammany Parishes, as well as the area’s universities, high schools and youth theater. Le Chat Noir is located at 715 St. Charles Avenue. No tickets or reservations are required or even available so just be there on time.

44th Amon-Ra Ball Feb. 14

he 44th Annual Krewe of Amon-Ra Ball is set for Saturday, February 14 at the Alario Center in Westwego across the River from New Orleans. Doors open at 7pm with the tableau beginning at 8pm

for The Amon-Ra Sunset Limited Express. Last year's ball was voted Gay Carnival Ball of the Year by the Gulf South readership of Ambush Mag. Tickets are available for $35 by calling Captain Timm Holt, 504.319.7013. Formal attire is required. For more information, visit KreweOfAmonRa.COM.

Carré, stopping at the VIP Reviewing Stand at Good Friends Bar, corner Dauphine and St. Ann, where VIPs (and those who desire to be VIPs) will toast the Royal Court. The Pawty (before, during & after parade) at Armstrong Park is open to all at no charge to hear the music and see the sights! Edibles and potables available. Armstrong Park opens to all at 10:30am and is the staging area for the parade participants. Membership in the parade krewe is open to all dogs - regardless of their past. Pre-registration (membership dues & parade pass) is $40 until Feb. 14. Day-of-parade registration (Feb. 15) at Armstrong Park is $50. Registration includes one dog and one human escort. Additional human escort passes can be purchased for $8 each online or the day of the parade at Armstrong Park. Only dogs who are registered krewe members with parade tags will be allowed to be part of the parade. If you are not parading this year, but still wish to support this doggone good cause, you can become a krewe member for $20. Krewe members receive all mailings of the Krewe for one year. The Barkus Ball (humans only): The black-tie optional, costume-encouraged event will take place at The Windsor Court Hotel, New Orleans (300 Gravier) from 8pm to midnight, on Friday, February 13. (Oooohh!! Spooky!!) Individual tickets are $80 each and include cocktails, fabulous edibles, and entertainment. Tables of 10 are $1,500, include [continued on 10]

Barkus Set for Feb. 15

he 2009 Krewe of Barkus Parade: BatMutt: The Bark Knight starts at Armstrong Park promptly at 2pm on Sunday, February 15, and proceeds on their traditional 15-block route through the Vieux

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Herman & Jeff join Queenateenas’ CoCapt. Marsha (center) at the 16th King Cake Queen Coronation

Lester, George, Eric, b-day boy Shelby, Koo, Bruce & Richard (front) join Shelby to celebrate his 70th b-day at The Friendly Bar

Society Page’s Orlando joins Wood Enterprises’ Gary for 25¢ Oyster Shooters in The Balcony Bar Fridays at Lafitte’s

ambush

Oz GM Tommy Elias & partner Carl Geleno welcome you to Dance Club of the Year Oz

Lester joins bartender Jimmy at Tubby’s Golden Lantern Steve behind the bar at 4 Seasons in Metairie

French Quarter Suites’ Blake Miller, Rex & 700 Club’s Mike Cookmeyer gettin’ ready for the Barkus Parade

700 Club’s Mike’s (center) look of horror as he’s molested by JohnPaul’s Paul & John

Kent, b-day boy Larry & Rawhide Manager Joe celebratin’ for Meat Night at Rawhide 2010

Princesse Stephaney & bartender Allen doin' Drag Dingo Fridays at Oz

Clover Grill's Kalvin serves it up for Lafitte’s Drive In Movie Night Don & Joseph join 700 Club’s I’m HOT 24-7’s bartender Paul

Mike & Russ with the big meat for Rawhide’s Wednesday BYOM Night

Eric back in town behind the bar at Leather Bar of the Year, the Phoenix

Lafitte’s DJ Myke & Wood Enterprises' GM Ken Grandpre cocktailin’ with Marty (center) at The Friendly Bar’s 3 for $5 Tuesdays

Josh gives Jeff a glitzy pill box for his b-day at Cafe Lafitte in Exile

Tom Conners in town for the 16th King Cake Queen Coronation

New bartender Jake welcomes you to Good Friends Bar

Bartender’s Jeff & Will join new Lafitte’s Manager Sammy Naquin (center)

Queenateenas’ Co-Capt. Marsha welcomes Elroy to the 16th King Cake Queen Coronation

8 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

Crawlin’ thru The Big Easy ~ Metairie, New Orleans

paparazzi

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the "official" dish ...from 6 reserved seating, cocktails, fabulous edibles, entertainment, four passes to VIP reviewing stand day-of-parade (12noon-5pm), four passes to VIP tent at Armstrong Park (10:30am-2pm); two signed & numbered limited edition Barkus posters by Matt Rinard; and two official Krewe of Barkus T-shirts. For more information visit barkus.org.The Mystic Krewe of Barkus is a non-profit organization founded by Wood Enterprises.

Satyricon’s 7th Bal Masque Feb. 15

he Mystic Krewe of Satyricon’s 7th Annual Bal Masque will be held at the Sugar Mill, 1101 Convention Center Boulevard, on Sunday evening, February 15. Doors open at 7pm; the bal masque commences at 8pm. The ball, while featuring elaborate costumed maskers, will be emceed by Becky Allen and Bob Edes,. with music furnished by Dorian Rush and her trio. There are a limited number of table seats at $30 each, or general admission at $20 a seat, available to the general public. These may be obtained at MRB, 515 St. Philip St., by calling 504.525.4498 or on-line at mystickreweofsatyricon.com.

501(c) (3) charity dedicated to raising funds for HIV and AIDS related causes. Since 2000, FNBMG has given $105.000 to organizations such as Belle Reve of New Orleans, Food for Friends and AIDS Law of Louisiana. AIDS Law of Louisiana, the NO/AIDS Care Van and the NO/AIDS Food Pantry have been designated as 2009 FNBMG grant recipients. FNBMG is staffed by volunteers who receive absolutely no compensation. More information about FNBMG and the Divas at The Tea Room is available at the FNBMG website: www.fridaynightbeforemardigras.com. Tickets to this very popular event are available, but don’t delay because the FNBMG DIVAS AT THE TEA ROOM 10th Anniversary Costume bash may sell out early and tickets are never sold at the door. Tickets may also be purchased by calling 504.427.0145 or visiting the website.

ACLU Supports New Orleans Domestic Partner Registry

n the Friday Night Before Mardi Gras, February 20, you don’t want to miss one of the best parties of the New Orleans Mardi Gras season. This annual event is guaranteed to blow the pumps right

ew Orleans - The ACLU Foundation of Louisiana extended its support and congratulations to the City of New Orleans for its victory in the ongoing effort to undermine the domestic partner registry, which provides benefits to the City’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered employees and their families. “After all these years in which the City has shown its leadership in the interest of all of its employees, it is both unfortunate and misguided that others continue to seek to undermine the clear health, safety, and equality of everyone

off your pretty little dancing feet! The Friday Night Before Mardi Gras, Inc. (FNBMG) organizers will host their 10th Anniversary costume party at the Audubon Tea Room in world famous Audubon Park at 6500 Magazine Street in New Orleans. The theme of the party this year is Divas at The Tea Room and the three hours of fun begins at 9pm. Guests should wear costumes depicting their favorite divas – male or female, but evening formal wear is also acceptable for this upscale, uptown party. This year, the festivities include a buffet, open bar, free photographs, music, dancing, silent auction of an oil painting by renowned New Orleans artist Fredrick Guess, and great prizes for best costumes. FNBMG is IRS recognized as a

on the City’s staff,” said Marjorie R. Esman, ACLU Foundation of Louisiana Executive Director in an open letter to Mayor Nagin. Esman continued: “It is clear that the Governor and his Commission on Marriage and the Family do not support equal rights for all or the protection of all of Louisiana’s families and children. This climate makes it even more important for the City of New Orleans to remain committed to the protections that it has provided for so long.” The ACLU has offered its assistance in the event that the Alliance Defense Fund, which challenged the City’s policy, appeals or further attacks the City’s domestic partner registry. For more information, visit www.laaclu.org.

Friday Night Before Mardi Gras Feb. 20

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

What’s Up?

here is a lot going on locally. The Lesbian & Gay Community Center just had a fundraiser at JohnPaul’s that was a great success. The exact amount raised was not given but one volunteer guesses that it was over $1,000. This was the same night of the 16th King Cake Queen Coronation which is always a great success. And also on that date was the 25th Anniversary Dinner of the NO/AIDS Task Force. Randy Trahan and Julie Thompson reported that the dinner/ dance was well attended and enjoyed. But where was I? Ochsner. Yes, I’ve had another mishap which took me out of the picture for all three events. Luckily, friends called to let me know what was going on. The next fun gathering I had to miss was the Steve Patrick bar run where Arvilla Riddick and I were planning to donate jewelry and other pretties to Donnie Jay for his theatre projects. Maybe next week when I’m feeling better, Ray Bates and I will drive down to the Golden Lantern to make my dona-

tions to Donnie Jay. Did you see Prayers for Bobby on Lifetime TV? It showed for two nights. Randy Trahan invited quests to his Mandeville home for the second showing on Sunday night. This had been advertised over several weeks as a must see for Gay men and women and their parents. It shows the great work that PFLAG can do for families who do not understand their Gay children. It is also an example of the tragedy families can face when they do not support their Gay children. The film is based on a true story. I refused to watch Prayers for Bobby as I’ve cried enough over young Gays who have thought taking their lives was the only way out of a bad situation. That is why I beg parents to join PFLAG and support their Gay sons and daughters. PFLAG is very rewarding for those of us willing to work with the organization. It can be very frustrating and painful when we see parents refusing to love and support their children. I spent my TV time in a happier

pursuit. I spent my time in hospital and at home watching the Australian Open. It’s that time of the season for the first Tennis Open. Americans still have Andy Roddick and Serena Williams in singles contention. Federer and Nadal are doing what they always do – winning games. The Williams Sisters are doing well in doubles but I haven’t heard anything about the Brian Brothers. Are they even there? I don’t know. Guess I’ll have to go on-line for more information. Since I am still working with dial-up, I hate going on-line. While I’m watching tennis, you are watching the entire movie, TV awards shows – right! I did have the opportunity to see The Wrestler. Ray and I went together. I’m sure I enjoyed it more than he did. We both agreed that it was entertaining, well acted and realistic. If you like wrestling or love your bad boys, this is one film to see. The Wrestler is the last film I’ve been asked to review. Ed Held tells me that I’m missing a few that will open this month. I’ll call the distributors to see if I’m missing something good that you might want to know about. I admit that I miss as many as I go to review. Since my last column, the LGCCNO has had an open meeting to see how they can better serve the community and make the money to stay open. I’ve mentioned the event at JohnPaul’s and there will be others. Volleyball New Orleans made a large donation to the

Center from its successful tournament. The men of Volleyball New Orleans are very generous. The Center also hosted The Bienville Foundation’s Bienville Commendation. The two honorees were photographer Frances Benjamin Johnston and psychologist/author Charles Silverstein, PhD. Neither honoree was from the New Orleans community. Johnston had retired in New Orleans. Silverstein was the therapist who fought to remove Homosexual from the illnesses list of psychotherapy. The two were honored as Builders of a Community. FAB Books donated several books to the Center to be given to persons attending the event. I was one of the lucky recipients of a book by Dr. Silverstein. There were a large number of visitors attending the ceremony. Roberts Batson is the director of The Bienville Foundation and intends to build a wall of glass bricks etched with the names of honorees which he selects at the Center. My next project is to travel to Lafayette to assist in organizing a new PFLAG Chapter in Louisiana. Gay students at ULL have been attending the PFLAG New Orleans’ meetings since October with the intention of forming their own chapter. Eight PFLAGers from New Orleans will be traveling to Lafayette to assist with the first meeting as well [continued on 14]

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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

Red Letter Christianity

o you remember those old bibles that had the sayings of Jesus in red letters, and everything else in black? Well, whether they were all accurate sayings of Jesus or part of the tradition of story-telling about Jesus is beside the point – what mattered is that they served as a very powerful visual symbol that set the tradition of Jesus’ teaching and preaching apart from everything else. Everything else being the combined attempts of hundreds of different people over three thousand years to understand their relationship with God. What the red letter bibles reminds us is that what Jesus preached is very different than preaching about Jesus. The Christian church got House very careful about preaching what Jesus preached soon after it gained power and respectability under Emperor Constantine in the 4th century. Jesus preached radical love and acceptance, and the wickedness of power structures that oppressed and disadvantaged the poor and marginalised – Constantine and those who followed him were part of the rich and powerful elite; Jesus became just too risky for people like them. Jesus is still too risky for what passes itself off as the church today – preaching Jesus; his name, the concept, Jesus as a sort of financial sleeping partner - everything in fact except what he stood for has become the norm, and preaching what he preached has become very unusual indeed. I guess expecting anything different from men who live in palaces and drive around in private jets would be sappho psalm ...from 12 as the Director from D.C. and the Regional Coordinator. This is a wonderful event for PFLAG. To bring awareness and education to another area of the state is a dream of the New Orleans Chapter. Fear and ignorance around the state is something we try to overcome. Safety for Gay people in Louisiana is an important goal of your local chapter. By supporting PFLAG New Orleans, you are supporting GLBT people in every Parish.

asking too much. Indeed, there is a strong branch of thought that believes that what is called the Christian church abandoned Christianity quite early on, and adopted Paulianity based on the rather more pragmatic teachings of a Pharisee convert called Saint Paul. This is a tragedy. Many ordinary people stuck by Real Christianity all through the last two thousand years – they sacrificed their self interest for the creed of

ter flaws – it is transcendent and abundant, and I firmly believe we access that through the preaching and example of Jesus, not through the hierarchy and grandeur of the religion that has grown up to propagate both it’s own power, and the power of the social elites it feeds off. An entire edifice of privilege, financial vampirism and moral absolutism has grown up in our society – and in cloaks itself in the language of Christian virtue. I am put in mind of Shakespeare – one of my favourite quotes from Richard III… “And thus I clothe my naked villainy With old odd ends, stol’n forth of holy

writ; And seem a saint, when most I play the devil.” Feeding off the poor and the desperate is never virtue, and defying and denying those who do so is never vice. Those who seek to condemn us out of hand as immoral Sodomites bound for hell speak from a place of moral bankruptcy and ignorance; we should no more listen to them than we would listen to the ravings of the insane or a three year old lecturing us on astrophysics. Let us instead turn to Jesus in all he preached and all he taught, and practice Red Letter Christianity!

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

Memoriam

of a Prominent Televangelist

lovingkindness that Jesus preached, and many of them became known as saints – countless millions more were quietly forgotten by all except those who loved them. It is the hierarchy of the church that found Jesus’ message to be ‘an inconvenient truth’. The leadership of the church has done violence to Jesus’ message by linking it to numerous patterns of wickedness over the centuries from slavery, through the subjugation of women, to its present vicious homophobia and racism. All these and more were justified in the name of Christianity! I have made a promise to myself to preach a sermon series called ‘Red Letter Christianity’ – restricting myself to preaching what Jesus preached, and starting this Sunday. I fully expect and hope that I myself am going to find some inconvenient truths within his Good News – a Good News that can only be fully realised when we abandon our own selfish agendas and accept that the gifts and blessings of God are given to me in the same quantity as to my neighbour the rich man, or my neighbour the homeless alcoholic, or to my enemy. Many people would rather remain in spiritual bankruptcy than accept true equality with those they find distasteful or unworthy. Thankfully, God finds no one distasteful or unworthy. Thankfully, God’s generosity is not founded upon my prejudices or charac-

t was Sunday morning, January 19th, 2009. I can not say exactly what time the phone call came, because I neglected to look at the clock. It really didn’t or doesn’t make any difference one way or the other. I had been up late the night before writing and had taken an AmbienCR in order to sleep, I was still under it’s influence and was not quite ready for what I was about to hear. The voice on the other end of the line was a very familiar one, a close friend for years, so close in fact that he was one of the few whom called me grandmother without any recourse from me. I could tell from the tone of his voice however that this was just not another social call. I called, he said to let you know directly from me, rather than hear it in the news or on television, because I know you would want it that way, and then he dropped the bomb. Our dear friend Wendy Byrne had been shot and killed the night before on the corner of Governor Nicholas and Dumaine. Tears automatically began to silently fall from my sleep filled eyes. ”What?” I asked, I knew I had heard him right, but somehow I was hoping that perhaps I had not, I guess it was just my way of coping with the reality of the situation, denial. By the time I roused myself and downed my first cup of coffee, I began receiving scores of calls and when I went on the Internet to check my emails it had become clear that this had become the number one topic from all the various communities I keep in touch with. There was and still is an unbelievable out pouring of outrage and grief. Just who was Wendy Byrne and why did this one particular crime bring with it such an overwhelming call for change. Wendy was one of those rare individuals who as an outgoing nonjudgmental being had a way of joining

Photo by Rip Naquin-Delain

all communities as one. Stop by either of her jobs at any time and you would see the scope of what I have. Gay guys, grunge kids, bikers and society types elbow to elbow, talking, arguing points in a good nature style, all out of respect and due to Wendy’s credo of “ we are after all just one big family.” When the rare fight may have occurred, she had a great way of resolving the difference, she simply took no issue with either side but sent all involved packing telling them not to return until they could play nice with each other, smiling that infectious smile of hers. I liked to think it was the motherly side of her coming out, handling her misbehaving children. Like most mothers though she could rule the roost with an iron hand and she did not take crap from anyone. When it came to charitable organizations, she was always in the front of the pack of volunteers, whether it was a gay fund-raiser, women’s health issues or simply to care for abandoned animals she made her talents available at the drop of a hat. She was indeed in her own entity, she had finally found Mr. Right, Cory Bullington and decided to [continued on 16]

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wendy byrne ...from 14 get married, everyone was thrilled for the both of them, she began planning her wedding, it was not to be a conventional one, she asked me to be her matron of honor. I accepted at once, who could say no to Wendy. Monday January 20th – The police released two sketches of the suspects in the robbery attempt on Wendy. A memorial to her had begun to grow at the corner where the crime occurred, flowers, candles, notes and pictures accumulated. Tending bar that day I could feel the sense of remorse from many of my customers but more so I could feel the disillusion with the 8th District handling of their patrolling of the lower French Quarter. Tuesday January 21st – Two fifteenyear-olds booked in French Quarter killing, screamed the headline in section B of The Times-Picayune. Beneath his picture at the bottom of the page was a quote from New Orleans Police Superintendent Warren Riley. “Homicide detectives worked 20-hour shifts in the wake of Wendy Byrnes killing. The arrested teens should be punished severely." I could not agree more that the teens should be, however the detectives could have worked ten times as many hours and probably still would be searching for these boys, if it had not been for their mothers recognizing them from the sketches and turning them in, they more than likely would still be running free. I now have to stop here for to make a comment on these brave women, my heart has to go out to them and I can only begin to imagine the heart retching emotions this must have stirred in their minds and hearts. First to accept the reality that their own flesh and blood could be responsible for such violence and then the decision they had to make. To be perfectly frank I am not so sure I could have done so. Two more victims? The dissatisfaction among the Quarter residents and workers was growing so intense that you could literally cut it with a knife. Meetings were being called, more protection was being demanded, and you could feel the uneasiness just walking down the street. For months now we had been told always walk in couples or groups for your own safety. Safety? Wendy was being escorted by a friend, where was the safety in numbers? There was none. Let’s just face it, we were facing another deadly virus just as we were facing with the AIDS epidemic, and just like that which had claimed so many victims, so many of our friends, this was running rampant, but unlike that, there is a cure for this one, the CRIME epidemic and the cure is simple, more policemen walking their beats. Getting to know just who lives and works on their beat, personal relationships and their presence alone will help prevent many crimes from occurring.

Thursday January 22nd: The headline on page 3b read: Fatal shooting case goes to adult court. Under Louisiana law, Judge Louis Douglas’ finding probable cause in the first-degree murder arrests of Drey Lewis and Reggie Douglas moves the case to the jurisdiction of Criminal Court. This ruling means that the two will no longer be held in juvenile lockup but will be sent to Orleans Parish jail to await a decision by Cannizzaro on whether to press charges. A decision, after they both confessed? As 15 year olds they still cannot be given the death sentence, a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in 2005 blocked any state from executing prisoners convicted of murders they committed while juveniles. At least they could serve the rest of their lives if convicted; I guess that is the best any of us will have to settle for. The police also announced they have identified a third suspect, not arrested mind, but identified, isn’t that special. No matter where you go or what you may be talking about inevitably the conversations change to the tragedy of this crime that should have never taken place and the police department is taking more and more of the blame. There is talk of neighborhood groups meeting before or on the weekend to demand better protection for the lower Quarter. Friday January 23rd: I did not leave my house, nor did I answer the phone, which seemed to ring constantly, as a matter of fact I silenced it by turning it off. It was my time to mourn, to sit back and to finally allow my mind to adjust to my personal loss, I did not want to talk about it to anyone any more, and I just had to deal with it in my own way. I am after all mid-way through my sixth decade on this earth. I have lost many family members and friends, some so much younger than Wendy, but age is irrelevant here, what is, is that it was so unnecessary. I am thinking of my own mortality and I know that my time is running out. There are days now that when I wake up , I ask myself why even bother. Then other times I feel as vibrant as the kids gathering in Jackson Square and I can honestly relate to them. I am after all a surviving flower child; you should have seen me at their age, an afro surrounding my head, like a halo, sticking out a good six inches, headbands, torn jeans, fringe vests and panhandling my way to Woodstock. Wendy knew so much more about me than most anyone else even suspected and she kept it all to herself, you don’t find many folk like that through life’s journey. I will miss her as many will, her smile, her warmth, her way of bringing so many together. But I will never miss her essence, her spirit, she will remain with me till we down a shot of Jaeger once again. Saturday January 24th: We gathered this afternoon to celebrate Wendy’s life. We met outside of Starlight by the [continued on 21]

16 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

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KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain & Gay Easter Parade Lineup Chair Steve Patrick

Angie Bowlin, KCQ XV Marsha NaquinDelain, Ambush Theatre Editor Brian Sands

KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, Dwain Hertz, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Krewe of Adonis’ Al Dugas

David Munroe, KCQ XV Marsha NaquinDelain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & In This Together’s Michael Hickerson

David Aranda, KCQ XV Marsha NaquinDelain & Countess C. Alice Desur Gar Williams & KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain Pride Grand Marshal Toby Lefort & KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac

KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Bill Hydrick Ambush columnist Donnie Jay, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac, Kenny Petit & Rikki Redd Gary Nolan, KCQ XV Marsha NaquinDelain & Robert Fudge

KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain & Lee Worrells

Queen Satyricon V Hoyle Byrd & KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac

Angle Frames’ Ron Joullian & Tim Angle flank KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain & KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac

Stuart Nettles, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Easter Grand Marshal IX Safonda Peters

Amon Ra Prom Queen Cathy Fox, KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain & Amon Ra Special Lt. Barry Rutherford

snap paparazzi

KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Roy Smith

Kenny & Kenny flank Queenateenas' Co-Capt. Marsha Naquin-Delain

Gary Glitter & KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain

KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, King Satyricon V Tony Leggio & KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac

18 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

The Grandee Queen Tami Tarmac presented at the 16th King Cake Queen Coronation at the Ambush Mansion ~ New Orleans

David & Rhonda Roget flank KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain & The Grandee Queen Tami Tarmac

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20 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

trodding the boards by Brian Sands

E-mail: bsnola2@hotmail.com

We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! at 2900 Grand Route St. John

n Dario Fo’s We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay! hundreds of housewives, confronted by ever-rising food prices, take what they want from market shelves, paying only what they want, if at all. Sounds crazy? Well, it’s based on an actual occurrence in an Italian town in the 1970s and considering today’s economic climate we might see the same scene played out in local groceries before the year is out! Out of this headline-making event, Fo fashioned a political farce. It’s not the kind of offering you’d expect to be recognized by the Nobel Prize literary committee whose taste in drama seems to run towards the more serious a la O’Neill, Beckett and Pinter. But in We Won’t Pay!, from 1974 and still pertinent today, as in most of his other works, Fo uses wicked humor to criticize the neverending absurdities of and abuses by authority figures while revealing the oftentimes

memoriam ...from 16 Park, countless hundreds of us. Irish Mike, who was to walk her down the aisle, her father was deceased, introduced me to her sisters as her chosen matron of honor. Their smiles brought their sister back to life for me. A brass band was playing and the crowd sang along with them. The occasion was indeed a celebration, the way she would have staged it herself if that was pos-

sible. Friends of all ages, sexes, races came together as one. When the band began the march followed by a horse drawn carriage containing her ashes, the crowd fell in behind it and began her last walk between the two places she ruled as Queen. I could not have walked that far; I followed about a block behind and bid Adieu. Adieu Wendy and blessed be... ---Your Friend Donald M. James

imperfect heart and soul of the common man. I last saw We Won’t Pay! in London many years ago with Alfred Molina in the lead. Jet-lagged, I kinda nodded off during the exposition-laden first act and then howled with laughter as the ridiculous plot, involving transplantation of babies and men coming back from the dead, resolved itself. At Cripple Creek’s current production, however, I started laughing towards the beginning of the first act and hardly let up till the show ended. Using a translation by R.G. Davis, director Raymond Vrazel, Jr. finds the humor in Fo’s script and sustains it with consummate pacing, comfortably steering things into the absurd as barren women become pregnant and men become dogs, while never losing sight of the humanity of these preposterous characters. Cripple Creek Artistic Director Andrew Vaught brings a commedia dell’arte eye-popping style to Giovanni, a worker who prides himself on honesty and following the law. Confronted by numerous indignities and peculiarities in his own apartment, including pet food served up as haute cuisine and a policeman eager to break the law, Vaught employs go-forbroke physical comedy that is far from subtle but very funny. Alden Eagle, an actor new to me, quick-changes through four separate roles, individualizing them and making

them fine foils for the other characters. Nicholas Hyatt achieves lumpen proletariat verisimilitude as Giovanni’s best friend caught up in the shenanigans while Jessica Lozano as his wife, whose “pregnancy” brought on by stuffing the purloined goods under her coat sets the plot’s wheels in motion, never overdoes her righteous frustration as her situation comically snow-balls. If Vaught, Hyatt and Lozano are, respectively, the Ricky, Fred and Ethel of We Won’t Pay!, then its Lucy and lead finagler is Jennifer Pagan, an actress I knew only from a brief piece she did at the Fringe Festival in November, in a triumphantly memorable performance. Wonderfully impassioned, like such great comediennes as Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett, she combines outrageous physicality (at one point, as she leaped into a bed, I thought she’d continue clear on over to the nearby Fairgrounds) with a rubbery face and the ability to move seamlessly not only among such characterizations as a baby, an old man and a saint (all to superb effect) but to ricochet between oppressor and oppressed, indignance and subservience, the innocent and the conniver. She and Vaught may have slightly different styles but they don’t so much as clash as bump up against each other for mutual merriment. With its completely and hilariously [continued on 26]

GayNewOrleans.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 21

celebrazzi (celebrations-paparazzi)

ing Cake Queen’s V Liz Simms, IX Lisa Beaumann, XIII Raven Kennedy, XVI Tami Tarmac, XIV Princesse Stephaney and XV Marsha Naquin-Delain pose following the King Cake Queen gift exchange. Each former queen presents the new queen with a special gift. New King Cake Queen XVI Tami Tarmac chose an exquisite gigantic signed Rosenthal crystal diamond as her gift to each former queen.

ing Cake Queen XVI Tami Tarmac was presented to 249 guests by the Krewe of Queenateenas' Co-Captain's Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain at the Ambush Mansion in New Orleans. The 16th King Cake Queen Coronation celebrating the theme, Gaudy Girls, brought in guests from Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and from as far away as Northport, Michigan and New York City, New York, kicking off gay carnival ball season. Along with complimentary cocktails, the Naquin-Delain’s served their Extravangantee Feast including Lil Smokies in Gaudy Sauce; Grandee Stuffing with Italian Style Venison, Mozzarella & Pepperoni; Debris Gumbo with Wild PigTurDucken; La Fete du Fromage; Tapas de Antipasti; Smoked Salmon Cream Cheese Terrine topped with Caviar; and King Cake stuffed with Cream Cheese by Antoine’s Bakery. The official portrait of the new queen by renowned photographer Larry Graham was on display in Belle Lain’s Magnolia Bar on the second floor landing. Souvenir photo buttons of guests raised $205 for the Gay Easter Parade (benefiting Food For Friends) with the Krewe of Mwindo donating $50 plus Larry Jones and Mel Gayle $25, a total of $280 for this year's parade. Tarmac will lead the 22nd Annual Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss on Fat Tuesday, February 24 at 2pm from the World famous Bourbon Street balcony of Ambush Headquarters. For more info, visit GayMardiGras.COM.

rewe of Queenateenas’ CoCaptain's Marsha and Rip Naquin-Delain flank King Cake Queen XVI Tami Tarmac in the receiving line at the 16th King Cake Queen Coronation.

ing Cake Queen XVI Tami Tarmac greets King Amon Ra XLIII Paul Davis.

ords of Leather Captain David Boyd, Queenateenas’ CoCaptain Marsha NaquinDelain, King Cake Queen XVI Tami Tarmac and Lord King XXV Michael Ducote pose in the receiving line at the coronation.

ueenateenas' Co-Captain Marsha Naquin-Delain and King Cake Queen XVI Tami Tarmac welcome Mystic Krewe of Satyricon Captain Mickey Gil (center) to the coronation.

ing and Queen Petronius XLIV Craig Schexnayder and Romney Leleux join Queenateenas’ Co-Captain Marsha Naquin-Delain, King Cake Queen XVI Tami Tarmac and Petronius Captain Bill McCarthy in the receiving line at the coronation.

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24 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

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cookin' with auntie dee by Donnie Jay E-mail: auntiedeej@hotmail.com Photo©GrahamStudioOne.COM

A Valentine

ebruary 14 , a day for romance, a day for lovers and nothing says love in my book more than a special dinner for two. Here is my special menu whether it is to celebrate a long relationship or to start a new romance. th

CREAM OF ROASTED GARLIC SOUP 2 large heads garlic 1 tablespoon olive oil ½ cup finely chopped shallots 2 tablespoons butter, melted 1 ½ cups buttermilk 1 cup whipping cream ½ cup cubed cooked red potatoes ½ teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon minced fresh thyme freshly ground pepper Home made croutons (recipe follows) Cut off top ¼ of each garlic head, discard. Place garlic heads, cut side up, on aluminum foil, and drizzle with olive oil. Wrap foil around garlic heads, sealing foil at top. Bake at 350 degrees for one hour. Remove from oven and cool. Remove papery skin, and squeeze soft garlic into a small bowl. Set garlic aside. Sauté shallots in butter in a saucepan over medium heat until tender. Stir in buttermilk and whipping cream. Bring just to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, five minutes. Remove from heat; set aside, and cool. Process garlic, buttermilk mixture, and potato in a food processor for one minute or until smooth. Return pureed mixture to saucepan; stir in salt and minced thyme. Cook over medium heat until thoroughly heated, stirring often. Ladle into bowls. Sprinkle with freshly ground pepper and homemade croutons. Yield: 3 ½ cups. Croutons: 2 slices white bread 1 tablespoon butter, melted 1 tablespoon grated parmesan cheese ½ teaspoon dried basil Trim and discard crusts from bread slices. Brush melted butter over bread; sprinkle with cheese and basil. Cut each slice into four squares. Cut each square into two triangles. Place on an ungreased baking sheet; bake at 350 degrees or until croutons are dry and browned. Yield: 16 croutons. STEAK AU POIVRE 1 ½ tablespoons cracked pepper 2 (8-ounce) rib-eye steaks

2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 1 shallot, finely chopped ¼ cup cognac ¼ cup whipping cream 1 tablespoon butter Press cracked pepper into both sides of each steak; cover and chill one hour. Heat 2 tablespoons butter and oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook steaks three minutes on each side or until brown; cover and keep warm. Sauté shallot in skillet over medium heat until tender. Wipe out excess oil from skillet with paper towels. Pour cognac into skillet and ignite. After flames die, stir in whipping cream. Simmer until thickened (four to five minutes). Add one tablespoon butter, and swirl to blend. Serve over steaks. Yield: two servings. EASY STUFFED POTATOES 4 slices cooked bacon, crumbled 2 medium-size baking potatoes ¼ cup cheddar cheese ½ cup sour cream ¼ teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper 2 green onions, chopped Scrub potatoes and prick several times with a fork. Place potatoes, I inch apart, on a microwave- safe rack or on paper towels. Microwave at high eight minutes, let stand five minutes. Cut a one inch lengthwise strip from top of each potato. Carefully scoop out pulp, leaving shells intact. Mash potato pulp; stir in remaining ingredients. Mash potato pulp; stir in cheese, sour cream and top with green onions. Microwave on high for 5 minutes. Sprinkle bacon on top. Yeild: 2 servings. GINGER ASPARAGUS ½ cup rice vinegar ¾ tablespoon minced fresh ginger 1 tablespoon sugar ½ pound fresh asparagus 1 ½ tablespoons vegetable oil 1 tablespoon dark sesame oil ½ clove garlic, minced ½ teaspoon soy sauce Combine vinegar and ginger in a small saucepan, bring to a boil. Boil until liquid is reduced by half. Remove from heat and stir in sugar. Snap off tough ends of asparagus, place in a large skillet; add cold water to cover. Bring to a boil; remove from heat. Plunge asparagus into cold water to stop the cooking process; drain. Arrange asparagus on a serving plate. Combine vinegar reduction, vegetable oil, and remaining ingredients, stirring well;

drizzle over asparagus; cover and chill one hour. Yield: 2 servings. CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE MOUSSE 8 (1 ounce) squares semisweet chocolate ¼ cup light corn syrup ¼ cup butter 2 egg yolks, lightly beaten 1 cup whipping cream, divided 2 tablespoons powdered sugar ½ teaspoon vanilla extract ½ cup fresh raspberries ½ cup whipping cream, whipped Garnish: chocolate curls Combine first three ingredients in a heavy saucepan; cook over low heat, stirring constantly, until chocolate melts. Combine egg yolks and 1/4 cup whipping cream. Gradually stir about ½ cup chocolate mixture into yolk mixture; add to remaining chocolate mixture, stirring constantly. Cook over mediumhigh heat or until mixture reaches 160 degrees. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Beat ¾ cup whipping cream at medium speed with an trodding the boards ...from 21 over-the-top We Won’t Pay! We Won’t Pay!, Cripple Creek has set the bar very high for NOLA’s 2009 theatrical season.

All Shook Up at Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré

ne can almost hear the original pitch for All Shook Up: “It’s a combination of Momma Mia and Footloose with a little bit of Hairspray and all the songs of Elvis Presley. How can it miss?!” Well, it did. Big time. It opened on Broadway about four years ago to dreadful reviews and lasted only six months. Having already missed one local production of it, only a sense of duty took me to see its newest incarnation at Le Petit. And you know what? I’m happy I went. Very happy. For in these wintry days, two hours of mindless fun done exceedingly well allows a welcome escape, however brief, from these troubling times. Eschewing New York Times critic Ben Brantley’s observation that “a campy young cast” might make All Shook Up “a moderate hoot”, director Gary Rucker has instead guided his cast to be as heartfelt as possible allowing an audience to be drawn into and actually care about their, admittedly, goofy story. (Elvis Presley-like character brings life and love back to folks living in a joyless Middle American hamlet loosely adapted from Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night. Very loosely.) Likewise, Judy Claverie’s costumes and Joshua Palmer’s set replace the “Crayola-colors” (Brantley’s words) of Broadway with a more natural, even

electric mixture until foamy, gradually adding powdered sugar, beat until soft peaks form. Stir in vanilla. Stir ½ cup whipped cream into chocolate mixture to lighten it; then fold in remaining whipped cream. Spoon into four stemmed glasses. Cover and chill at least eight hours. Top each serving with fresh raspberries and a dollop of whipped cream. Garnish. Yield: 4 servings. Don’t forget to have the dozen red roses delivered to your significant other. Have a valentine day’s card on a breakfast tray and serve their coffee to them before they get out of bed. A box of their favorite chocolates awaiting them on their return from their workplace is also a nice touch. To spice up the end of day, strew the sheets with rose petals and don’t forget to bring any left over whipped cream to bed with you. I don’t think that you need any further directions on what to do with it. You may contact me donniejay@hotmail.com.

drab color palette so as to evoke the numbing day-to-day life of a “small younever-heard-of-it town somewhere in the Midwest” circa 1955. And unlike Broadway’s dance numbers, whose main achievement seemed to be that they were “fully synchronized,” Kelly Fouchi’s endlessly inventive choreography individualizes the characters. Within every dance, Fouchi gives each dancer, or pair of them, an opportunity to do their own thing, a variation on a theme as it were, that makes for incredibly vibrant stage images. I assume that Le Petit is using Stephen Oremus’ Broadway arrangements which “blend these songs into such a bright, brassy blur that it’s hard to distinguish one from another.” (Brantley again) Yet musical director/ conductor Jonne Dendinger brought out as much pizzaz and ping as possible from her musicians and led the vocalists to some exquisite singing. Other than Joshua Peterson, who does as best he can with the wan pseudo-bad boy Elvis that the script enforces upon him (he appeared to much better effect last year in Thrill Me), the cast fulfills the innocent spirit of the piece with grand style and overflowing talent. It’s great to see Ambie Award-winner Keith Claverie, with his leading man’s chops in a sidekick’s body, back front’n’center again on a musical stage. Joan Spraggins, another Ambie winner, is touching as the love-deprived owner of the local bar and in great voice as always. Idella Johnson brings her inner joy and vivacity to Spraggins’ teenage daughter in an absolutely perfect melding of actress and role. Leslie Castay [continued on 28]

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a banana peel. And if we worried a bit for Martin’s safety as he carried a tower of boxes on stage, it merely demonstrated Becket’s view that we are always tottering on the edge between comedy and tragedy. That Martin/Bishop’s interpretation emphasized Krapp’s anger and frustration is certainly valid. One could argue, however, that a lighter, more ethereal touch might have been more affecting, bestowing on Krapp a greater poignancy. Certainly, Martin well-conveyed an agitated worldweariness. Yet, while one can overlook some technical problems that sometimes eerily made it seem as though a voice was emanating from a tape machine that wasn’t playing, Martin’s voice on the tape seemed a little too studied, as though Krapp’s younger self was recording for an audiobook rather than putting down for eternity a recollection that would affect him forever. Regardless, I applaud Martin’s determination to present modern classics to New Orleans audiences. Along with Cripple Creek, he is filling a vital role here.

New in New York

trodding the boards ...from 26 lends fine comic form to the town’s resident sexpot cum culture maven. And as a love struck mechanic who goes through a personal transformation, Leslie Limberg comes into her own as a triple threat leading lady singing, dancing and acting with flair, wit and aplomb. Unlike the colorless sets and costumes, Scott Sauber and Nancy Macko’s lighting uses lush purples, pinks and oranges to express the transcendent warmth that eventually embraces All Shook Up’s characters. You have until February 8th to be similarly enveloped.

Krapp’s Last Tape at Flava

aving lost his lease at the Voodoo Mystére Lounge, the enterprising and peripatetic Michael Martin recently alit at Flava, a soon-to-be new restaurant on North Rampart, for a limited run of Beckett’s Krapp’s Last Tape. It was actually the cluttered back room of Flava that served as what must be New Orleans’ smallest theater (11 seats). In this disheveled lair strewn about with statues representing various religions, Martin portrayed a man who relives very specific parts of his life by listening to old reel-to-reel tapes he had made thirty years ago. At times Krapp dourly reassesses the memories these tapes evoke; at times, these YouTubes of an earlier generation seem to have an almost libidinous effect on him. Under Ed Bishop’s direction, Beckett’s ever present references to vaudeville are here represented by a balletic pratfall on

here were some empty balcony seats at the Imperial Theatre when I saw Billy Elliot on a bitterly cold night in January. Yet as the weather warms up and Billy starts its expected march to collecting all the major awards this year, if you’re planning a trip to New York, you might want to get tickets now for what well may be the best musical of the past 25 years. And don’t wait if you want to see New Orleans’ own David Bologna before he outgrows one of the featured roles! In this adaptation of the Oscar-nominated movie, librettist and lyricist Lee Hall avoids any hint of sentimentality in this tale of a young boy from a blue collar background who finds his true self in a ballet classroom. Set against Northern England’s Thatcher-era coal miners’ strike, Hall allows his characters hard won enlightenment that conjures a huge smile on your face and, simultaneously, a lump in your throat. Elton John has written a sublimely brilliant score— no pretty pop melodies or power ballads here, but rather melodies that come out of the characters’ natural musicality and the region’s folk tunes, barroom songs and holiday ditties. Stephen Daldry’s outstanding direction gives the whole production a cinematic flow and, without any sense of manipulation, can turn on a dime from humor to drama, from heartfelt emotion to social protest. Peter Darling’s superb character-based choreography brings together such unlikely partners as coal miners, policemen and young girls studying ballet to stunning effect. Three young boys rotate in the role of Billy; I saw Trent Kowalik who not only sings and dances phenomenally but truly acts the role so that you wholly believe that, at first, he’s never danced a ballet step in his life. As the dancing teacher who discovers Billy, Haydn Gwynne, who I saw 3½ years ago in London, continues to give as vital and fresh a performance as when the show was still new; if anything her portrayal has deepened. As for Bologna, he brought down the house in his Expressing Yourself number, receiving some of the biggest applause in an applause-filled evening. Yet while he does well by his character’s showier, more humorous aspects (and, of course, the singing and dancing), he also strikes just the right understated note for a child on the cusp of adolescence who has a same sex attraction. Conductor David Chase brought out all the colors of this variegated score without ever overwhelming the performers; this is that rare Broadway musical where you can understand virtually ever word. To be sure, NYC’s Billy Elliot seems a touch broader than it did in London, a concession perhaps to Americans’ tastes. And if you sense it starts off a little [continued on 35]

28 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

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body rubs

Metairie, LA [504] 4-SEASONS / PATIO BAR, 3229 N. Causeway, 832.0659, www.4seasonsno.com CLUB TRIBUTE, 3202 N. Arnoult Rd., 455.1311, myspace.com/clubtribute New Orleans, LA [504] 700 CLUB, 700 Burgundy, 561.1095, 561.1098, 700ClubNewOrleans.COM 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 CUTTER'S, 706 Franklin, 948.4200 THE DOUBLE PLAY, 439 Dauphine, 523.4517 THE FRIENDLY BAR, 2301 Chartres, 943.8929 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,

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

Scott

counseling New Orleans, LA [504]

bookstores

florists

Birmingham, AL [205] ALABAMA BOOKS, 801 Third Ave., 322.7823 BIRMINGHAM ADULT BOOKS, 7610 First Ave. North, 836.1580

New Orleans, LA [504]

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

construction

DAVID WAGNER, M.Ed., Counseling & Psychotherapy, 3001 Fifth St., Metairie, LA 70002; 836.0000 WILLIAM C. AUSTIN, LCSW, Individual & Family Therapy, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LA Lic # 8042, 1532 Ursulines Ave., 504.586.7400, 225.571.5964

CITY NEWS STAND & VIDEO, North Blvd., 343.2606; Jones Creek, 751.7494

RT PA M RA

June 4-7, 2009, One Mighty Weekend, Gay Day Weekend at Disney sponsored by Ambush, OneMightyWeekend.COM Sept. 2-7, 2008, 38th Official Southern Decadence-A Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture, end of Summer Blowout including the Southern Decadence Parade & loads of activities, bringing over 125,000 revelers to New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush & SouthernDecadence.COM Oct. 29-Nov. 1, 2009, Halloween 26, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, halloweenneworleans.com Dec. 30, 2009-Jan. 3, 2010, Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.COM

New Orleans, LA [504] HOT, MASCULINE STUD FOR SENSATIONAL BODY RUBS & MORE 24/7, 6'0, 182#, hard gun & magic hands. Four hands available. In/Out/Hotel appointments. Call Charlie 504.430.7413 [is309]

Baton Rouge, LA [225]

French Quarter/Faubourg Marigny/Bywater

autos

371.5450, NapoleonsItch.COM OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, OzNewOrleans. COM PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264, PhoenixNewOrleans.COM RAWHIDE 2010, 740 Burgundy St., 525.8106, Rawhide2010.COM RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE, 1135 Decatur St., 373.5431, myspace.com/ RubyfruitJungleNOLA SOCIETY PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., 299.0156 STARLIGHT BY THE PARK, 834 N. Rampart St., 561.8939, StarlightByThePark.COM TUBBY'S GOLDEN LANTERN, 1239 Royal, 529.2860 VOILA, 300 Decatur St., 638.8198, myspace.com/VoilaNOLA

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 MR. BINKY'S OF KENNER, 96 West 26th St., 466.1870 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

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

cable shows

guides

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

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

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 [is409]

circuit/events 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 May 22-25, 2009, Memorial Day Weekend, Pensacola, FL, sponsored by Ambush, GayPensacola.COM

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]

30 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

BOBBY BLUE CONTEMPORARY BARBER & BEAUTY PARLOR, 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 WASHING WELL LaunDRYteria since 1949, City Wide Pick-up, Fluff Dry or Finished, 1 Hour Service, 841 Bourbon St., 523.9955 or 525.3983 [is2708]

lodging/accommodations 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. CRESCENT PALMS MOTEL, 3923 Martin Luther King Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70125; PHONE: 504.821.7773, FAX: 504.267.7366, CrescentPalmsMotel.COM, E-mail us at crescentpalmsmotel@yahoo.com. The Crescent Palms Motel is located in the heart of New Orleans, minutes from the French Quarter and other famous attractions. Our newly renovated, vintage motel offers 24 spacious guest rooms, large bathrooms, ample closet space, a cocktail lounge and complimentary off-street parking. Each room features two brand new double beds, complimentary high-speed wireless internet, a refrigerator and more. Please come visit soon! 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

massage New Orleans, LA [504] 4 HAND MASSAGE, Butch/Kevin, Nat’l Board Certified, 908.2069, License #LA3355, #LA 4230 [is209] RIGHT TOUCH MASSAGE -- Christopher - Full body therapeutic massage; heated table; private studio; tropical garden; Faubourg Marigny Area, French Quarter. Upgrade (Salt Scrubs Bodywork). Call 504.458.5996 / website

www.righttouchnola.com for pictures, location & special. License #LA4553 [is1509]

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-HOT, HANDSOME, HARD-BODIED MUSCLE STUD very friendly. 35, 5'10", 175#, USDA Prime! In/out/hotels, 6am-12midnight. Playgirl, Inches & Freshmen Magazine model. Pics at m4rn.com, ID #190508, 504.756.9443 [is309]

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

GayNewOrleans.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 31

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 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 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

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF BATON ROUGE, 7747 Tom Drive, 70806, Worship Sunday, 11am, Bible Study Wednesday, 7pm, 225.248.0404, mccbr.org MYSTIC KREWE OF ROYALTY, PO Box 66571, 70896; 926.1698 PFLAG Baton Rouge, President Harold Truax, 225.218.8320 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] AIDS HOTLINE, 821.6050 in New Orleans, 1.800.99.AIDS[2437]-9 toll free statewide ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, 828.3399 BELLE REVE NEW ORLEANS, AIDS Residence for Families, PO Box 3305, 70177; 945.9455 BIG EASY M.C.C. (Metropolitan Community 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, KreweOfAmonRa.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 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 770435, New Orleans, LA 70071-4035, 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 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 PROJECT LAZARUS, A Residence for PWAs, PO Box 3906, 70177-3906; 949.3609 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 OUT-

REACH, 700 Pierre Ave., 71103; 226.8717

palm reader In NOLA 2/6-2/26. Master palm reader. Individual readings or parties. 978.503.9983 for appt. [is409]

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

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

real estate New Orleans, LA [504] GREEN FIELDS REAL ESTATE, Agent Mary Lind, 874.4905, 598.1700 PRUDENTIAL GARDNER REALTORS, Agent Brett A. Rector, Cell: 453.2277, Office: 861.6400, brettinla@aol.com PRUDENTIAL GARDNER REALTORS, Agent Cathy Espenan, Cell: 344.2116, Office: 861.7575

restaurants New Orleans, LA [504] Bywater Restaurant, Deli & BBQ,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 Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, 95 French Market Pl., 522.9500 Magazine Perks, 4332 Magazine, 899.2911, MagazinePerks.COM Marigny Perks, 2401 Burgundy, 948.7401, MarignyPerks.COM Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746

Orleans Grapevine, 720 Orleans, 523.1930 Petunias, A Restaurant, Cajun, Creole, Crepes, Cocktails, 817 St. Louis, 70112; 522.6440 Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416 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 ESTATE TREASURES CONSIGNMENT SHOP, 2014 Magazine, 679.6600 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 QUEEN FASHIONS.COM, queenfashions.com, exoticfashionmall.com

32 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

GayNewOrleans.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 33

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

Going Home: Part Four

he day felt like it was twice as long as any one he could ever remember. He must have felt the hand on his clock a hundred times in the last hour, and the hands seemed to barely move, actually he did not even know why the hell he was following it so closely. Sam had not set any time he would call only that he would later. Well it was later damn it. He had dropped him off over an hour ago. How much later did he mean anyway? Talk about impatient, he had not felt like this since he was in his first year of college, first discovering man on man sex and he hooked up with Harold. Harold, my lord he had not thought of him in many a blue moon. Remembering back now he just wasn’t sure 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 TOP DRAWER ANTIQUES, 4310/18 Magazine St., TopDrawerAntiques.NET WICKED ORLEANS, 1201 Decatur, 529.4384, WickedOrleans.COM

spas New Orleans, LA [504] CLUB NEW ORLEANS, 515 Toulouse, 581.2402, www.the-clubs.com FLEX NEW ORLEANS, 700 Baronne St., 598.FLEX [3539] SPA ATLANTIS PROFESSIONAL SPA & SALON, 740 Gravier St., 566.8088, SpaAtlantis.NET

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

how many years it had been, but at the time they had first met, it seemed that they we’re destined to be together for eternity. He knew that he had different feelings than most of his buddies at the time, but just didn’t know exactly what they meant. He found himself wondering just what the other guys at the beach, sporting events and even in the showers after phys-ed classes looked like in the buff. He kind of wished he could run his fingers over their naked flesh and discover everything there was to know about them, but he didn’t pay much attention to it, just figuring it wasn’t really anything to worry about. It really wasn’t until he had come to know Harold that he began to feel the sexual side of the attraction. Harold was a very out going type of soul, as a matter of fact he had been out since he was fourteen, and after meeting Kirk for the first time he befriended at once. He was the type of soul who had to know everything about people at once and had no qualms about asking anything of anyone. After learning that Kirk had almost no eye sight what so ever, he asked him out right how he knew what he people looked like. Kirk told him that basically he felt people. One day at the indoor school pool, they decided to go swimming and Harold brought one of his Speedos for Kirk to wear. Feeling it Kirk told him he didn’t think it would cover much, to which Harold replied, “Sure it doses, I’m wearing one, come feel. He did, and that was all it took, then they did, and that was definitely the moment Kirk realized his true feelings and accepted him for just what he was born to be. That first sex with Harold was the first experience Kirk had ever had except for exploring his own body, and he took to it like a duck to water. Their affair lasted completely through their collegiate years, they had become such close buddies, and they were never without each others company. When ever one of their classmates saw the one they knew the other was close by, and no one thought anything about it. The funny thing about it was that they were not even trying to hide their affair; everyone just assumed that Harold was uh a sweet guy that he was showing Harold around school just to show him the ropes. Harold was so convincing that he managed to rearrange their dorm assignments so they became roommates. Much to Kirk’s delight, they were able to engage in their extra curricular activities when ever the mood struck them and it struck them on a nightly basis. When they had separate classes Kirk was always antsy waiting for the

time to pass, and it never seemed to go by quickly enough and that was just the same feeling he was having now, once again the love bug had bitten him. He kept chastising himself; he knew he was to mature now to be feeling this way again. He thought it was foolish for him to be feeling this way so quickly, after all he had just spent one night with Sam. It was comfortable being with him that was a fact. Yea, the sex was really great, fact also. Sam made it clear he wasn’t just looking for a one night stand and he did say he was going to call, another fact. In old Metairie, Sam was putting one of his clients through her workout regime, but his mind was not on his work this morning, it kept running back to thoughts of the night before that he had just spent with Kirk. He relived it moment by moment even as he was yelling out encouragement to his client. The session was due to end in another fifteen minutes and he was anxious for it to do so, then he could call Kirk and tell him what a great night it had been for him. Of course they had already taken two breaks and he had started to call Kirk's phone number, but he hung up without finishing doing so. He didn’t want to appear to silly calling so soon after dropping Kirk off not more than an hour before, after all he wasn’t a teenager having just fallen hard for his first love, though it sure felt like it somehow. Nah, it would be better to wait maybe and call him just before taking a lunch break, it was a possibility Kirk might want to join him in a bit to eat. He knew he wouldn’t mind it at all. So when the session ended, he didn’t call Kirk, but headed directly for his second client to get it over with first. Once again however all he could think about was his new guy. His new guy, God he was already taking possession of this delightful man, he thought he best watch his phraseology, before he offend him. Some people just didn’t think of things in the same light as he did. When he referred to someone as his, it was not in the sense that he owned them, but more like he wanted to be with them exclusively. Damn, these sessions seemed to be dragging on today. Kirk checked the time once again, it was almost lunch time. He was starting to get nervous knots developing in his stomach, not from hunger either. Why hasn’t Sam called, the question kept stirring in his brain, maybe he was just talking a line of bull the evening before. Maybe he, Kirk had offended Sam in some way. Was it possible that Sam hadn’t enjoyed their encounter, and he had faked the whole thing. No, that was impossible; no way could anyone fake the organism that he had. Why had he not called then? Perhaps he didn’t want to appear too anxious. Sam didn’t want to appear too anxious, so he waited a full fifteen minutes, after the second session ended, before finally dialing Kirk’s complete number. The phone rang once, twice and finally

on the third ring Kirk ran to pick it up, he did not want to appear too anxious. “Hello”, he answered, lowering his voice. “Is Kirk there?” Sam asked wondering who had answered the phone. “Speaking.” “Have mercy, it didn’t sound like it was you at all, how’s it hanging sexy?” “A little to the right about the same as it was this morning and you?” he gave a little laugh his voice rising to his normal pitch. “About the same.” He too gave a little laugh, “You sound like yourself now.” “Just who did you think I was answering my own phone? Did you feel a pang of jealousness?” “Maybe just a little. So are you getting hungry sexpot?” “What have you got in mind?” “Muriel’s by the square, sound all right by you?” “Oh, you mean for food?” “Get you mind out of the gutter, for now any way. I still have another client this afternoon.” “I guess Muriel’s it is then.” “Why don’t you pack a few things and I’ll drop you off at my place afterward and you can spend the weekend?” “Why Mister Butler, I do declare, just what kind of a slut do you take me for?” “A damn good one!” “How much time before you get here?” “I’m pulling up in front of your place now.” “Good grief.” Was all he said hanging up. Kirk rushed, packing a few items in a gym bag and flew out the gate and into Sam’s car. “You don’t waste any time at all, I barely had time to throw a few things in here.” “If you need anything else I’m sure my clothes will fit you, besides we may not wear any.” He gave a wink, even though he knew it would be wasted on Kirk, and drove off. Lunch was great, and afterward he dropped Kirk off, escorting him into his condo. Just before he headed out for his last client for the day he kissed Kirk long and hard. “I know we just met a day ago, but there is something I want to ask you. I know that it is going to sound impulsive, but I really want you to give it some serious thought before I get back home this evening.” ”You sound awfully serious right now.” “I am. I really like you and you know when I told you I was not looking for a one night stand, I was dead serious. I want you to consider moving in here with me, being my lover and staying with me.” “That is serious and impulsive.” Kirk looked at Sam; he actually had moisture in his eyes. “You’re not kidding.” [continued on 35]

34 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

hot tails of red stick by Brad Benedict E-mail: bradhottails@hotmail.com

Mighty Minette

t was such a nice surprise to run into Minette at Frank’s Restaurant on Airline Highway last week. I was walking across the parking lot when I spotted her (and a couple of other ambulance personnel) all decked out in that nice uniform. I went inside the restaurant and out another door so as to surprise her – and I definitely did. She flashed that wonderful smile which brought back so many memories of days past when she was owner of the best lesbian bar in the city, right up there and equal to the wonderful one that Charlene operated in New Orleans. The first thing she did was to hug me and inquire as to why she hadn’t seen me at the Apollo ball. (That’s because I just couldn’t make it this year.) It’s a shame that we don’t see each other more. I really didn’t have time to inquire too much into her life now. They were leaving for work, so I’ll have to inquire about her from another source, the dynamic BC Boy who works for the same company. I’m sure he runs into trodding the boards ...from 28 slowly or, rather, takes a while to come into focus, that’s just because it feels no need to rush its tale. For once Gwynne and her ballet girls launch into Shine, the rest is pure magic. A mile further north, Mark Morris’ production of Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice returned to the Metropolitan Opera. In this version of the classic myth, Orfeo starts off as a guitar playing dude who’s sad about losing his wife and then deepens into a more active hero whose steadfastness is rewarded by the gods. Morris stages this fairly straightforwardly though the chorus is arrayed on three balconies overlooking the action and made up to look like a wide range of famous people through the ages from Henry VIII and Elizabeth I to Elizabeth II and Princess Di with Mae West, one last song ...from 34 “Not at all, think about it.” With that said he moved towards the door and passing the radio turned it on. “Listen closely." Kirk sat down, the pros and cons of changing his life running in the back of his mind. The deejay on the radio came on and announced “This is Even Steven signing off with ONE LAST SONG and this goes out to Kirk with love S and for Once in My Life began to play. Conclusion next issue You may contact me at donniejay@hotmail.com.

her almost daily. It’s been a long and happy journey from the days of the old Hide-A-Way, but those memories are still nice to recall. I’m not sure why it never came about, but Minette and I had planned to do a duet to the Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand duet of “You Don’t Bring Me Flowers.” I think I chickened out when I figured out that she wanted to be Neil to my Barbra. I never did want to look like Barbra, not because I don’t have the nose for it, but I would have had to borrow another of Marsha Delain’s dresses, one not quite as sparkly as that black one which is tucked away with some more of my costumes. It worked out just as well, but we did have fun planning it, and the show that night went on without us. What a trip that would have been! I’ll see what update I can come up with about Minette and report back later. I just think she is one of the most authentic and honorable women that I [continued on 39]

Gandhi, Jimi Hendrix, Einstein, Ben Franklin, Lincoln and Chaplin, among many others, in between. Sounds wild but it did convey the timelessness of the tale at hand. Stephanie Blythe took on the trouser roll of Orfeo and sung with effortless creamy tone, Gluck’s lines gorgeously spun out in a touching, tender portrayal. Danielle de Niese sang Euridice with a ravishing, passion-filled voice. Among the many highlights was the series of arias between them as Orfeo led his wife up from the underworld but, forbidden by the gods to look at her or explain why, Euridice did not understand why her husband was acting so coolly toward her. When Orfeo, unable to withstand his wife’s entreaties any longer turned to look at her, there was an audible gasp throughout the audience. Heidi Grant Murphy, as the god Amor, struck just the right note between seriousness and coyness while singing beautifully whether on the ground or flying through the air. Morris’ choreography is very gestural and may not be for everybody’s taste yet it does a fine job of conveying the story in a visual way. And, at the end when Euridice has returned from the dead, Morris came up with a wonderfully joyous dance, his dancers’ monochromatic outfits replaced by colorful costumes courtesy of designer Isaac Mizrahi. Though Orfeo ed Euridice’s run in New York is now over, you have a

commentary Here Is The Price of Incompetence by: Paul Waldman, The American Prospect fter eight years of President Bush, we almost don't know how to function without him almost. But before we move on, we should pause to remember just what we're leaving behind. Just over two years into George W. Bush's presidency, The American Prospect featured Bush on its cover under the headline, The Most Dangerous President Ever. At the time, some probably thought it a bit over the top. But nearly six years later, it's worth taking a moment to reflect on the multifaceted burden that will soon be lifted from our collective shoulders. Since last week, I have stopped short and shaken my head in amazement every time I have heard the words "Presidentelect Obama." But it is equally extraordinary to consider that in just a few weeks, George W. Bush will no longer be our president. Let me repeat that: In just a few weeks, George W. Bush will no longer be our president. So though our long national ordeal isn't quite over, it's never too early to say goodbye. Goodbye, we can say at last, to the most powerful man in the world being such a ridiculous buffoon, incapable of stringing together two coherent sentences. Goodbye to cringing with dread every time our president steps onto the world stage, sure he'll say or do something to embarrass us all. Goodbye to being represented by a man who embodies everything our enemies want the people of the world to believe about America - that we are ignorant, cruel, and only care about foreign countries when we decide to stomp on them. Goodbye to his giggle, and his shoulder shake, and his nicknames. Goodbye to a president who talks to us like we're a nation of fourth-graders. And goodbye, of course, to Dick Cheney. Goodbye to the man whose naked contempt for democracy contorted his face to a permanent sneer, who spent his days in his undisclosed location with his mansized safe. And while we're at it, goodbye to Cheney's consigliore David Addington, as malevolent a force as has ever left his trail of slime across our federal institutions. Goodbye, indeed, to the entire band of liars and crooks and thieves who have so sullied the federal government that belongs to us all. We can even say goodbye to those who have already gone, to Rummy and Scooter, to Fredo and Rove, tornados of misery left in their wake.

chance to catch it here on February 4 at 7pm when the Metropolitan Opera Encore HD version is screened at the Elmwood Palace 20, among other local movie theaters. No serious lover of opera should miss it.

Goodbye to the rotating cast of butchers manning the White House's legal abattoir, where the Constitution has been sliced and bled and gutted since September 11. Goodbye to the "unitary executive" theory and its claims that the president can do whatever he wants - even snatch an American citizen off the street and lock him up for life without charge, without legal representation, and without trial. Goodbye to the promiscuous use of "signing statements" (1,100 at last count) to declare that the law is whatever the president says it is, and that he'll enforce only those laws he likes. Goodbye to an executive branch that treats lawfully issued subpoenas like suggestions that can be ignored. Goodbye to thinking of John Ashcroft as the liberal attorney general. Goodbye to the culture of incompetence, where rebuilding a country we destroyed could be turned over to a bunch of clueless 20-somethings with no qualifications save an internship at the Heritage Foundation and an opposition to abortion. Goodbye to the "Brownie, you're doin' a heckuva job" philosophy, where vital agencies are turned over to incompetent boobs to rot and decay. Goodbye to handing out the Medal of Freedom as an award for engineering one of the greatest screw-ups of our time. Goodbye to an administration that welcomed gluttonous war profiteering, that was only too happy to outsource every government function it could to well-connected contractors who would do a worse job for more money. Goodbye to the Bush Doctrine of preemptive war. Goodbye to the lust for sending off other people's sons and daughters to fight and kill and die just to show your daddy you're a real man. Goodbye to playing dress-up in flight suits, goodbye to strutting and posing and desperate sexual insecurity as a driver of American foreign policy. Goodbye to the neocons, so sinister and deluded they beg us all to become fevered conspiracy theorists. Goodbye to Guantanamo and its kangaroo courts. Goodbye to the use of torture as official U.S. government policy, and goodbye to the immoral ghouls who think you can rename it "enhanced interrogation techniques" and render it any less monstrous. Goodbye to the accusation that if you disagree with what the president wants to do, you don't "support the troops." Goodbye to stocking government agencies with people who are opposed to the very missions those agencies are charged with carrying out. Goodbye to putting industry lobbyists in charge of the agencies that are supposed to regulate those very industries. Goodbye to madly giving away public lands to private interests. Goodbye to a Food and Drug Administration that acts like a wholly owned subsidiary of the pharmaceutical industry, except when it acts like a wholly owned subsidiary of the fundamentalist puritans who believe that sex is dirty and birth control will turn girls into sluts. Goodbye to the "global gag rule," which [continued on 45]

GayNewOrleans.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 35

mobile

paparazzi

Gabriel’s bartender's Cary & Jim, sitting a spell at Bacchus

Celebratin’ @ Vision’s Twist

Welcome to Vision’s Twist

Corey Pickens’s Masquerade Birthday Celebration @ Bacchus Cozy @ Vision’s Twist

Bar owner Stevie, slinging the drinks @ Bacchus

David & Ryan enjoying all the sights of the Bear & Leather Bar Night @ B-Bobs

Cocktailin’ @ Vision’s Twist

More fun @ Vision’s Twist

36 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

The Sights, The Sounds ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Bob Brunson, Leon Weekley

B-Bob’s bartender Leon with Bubba during Bear & Leather Bar Night @ B-Bobs

GayNewOrleans.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 37

Andy & Richard

Jason (Miss Belinda Botox) & Chris Ryan & Luther

Chansley & a cookout cutie

Queen & King Apollo XXVIII Biff & Beau

Louie out for a good time Dancing the night away

Shannon at George’s

Richard, John, Stephen & Lady Rhonda

Dugie with friends

Having fun at George’s

Chansley & Chris

Jeremy (new George’s bartender) & friend

Delman & Brett

Splash’s extremely sexy Ty

Ken & Andy

Ghia performing at George’s

Entertainer of the Year Nicole Foxx in the illusion of Courtney Love

Richard & Hound Dogs’ Johnny

Sexy stud Jeremy

38 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

Fun in the Capital City ~ Baton Rouge, Louisiana ~ Photos by Brad Benedict

red stick paparazzi

hot tails of red stick ...from 35 know. It is nice to have her as a friend.

Fantastic Phil

ressing Phil in leather on a Sunday afternoon is such a nice diversion, almost as

nice as doing the same for Ben and that nice little straight stud who worked one of Cass’ parties. At my age, I really don’t need so much leather, so I parting with some of it. Of course, I have to keep my suit I had made from leather. It was my first time to buy a complete cow dyed green, but the outfit is great, especially with boots and cowboy hats. It was designed as one of my costumes in the Lords of Leather ball several years ago. Phil is John Wayne’s other half, and he is one nice hairy stud,

from one end to the other. Wow! He was going to purchase a bunch of leather products, but I told him he was welcome to borrow anything I had – leather, that is. He left with an armload of nice leather items including a special cock ring I threw in for good measure. I also gave John Wayne one. They were different, so if they don’t like my choice of rings, they can exchange. We get together periodically at El Rio Grande Restaurant for nice food, drink, and conversation, but this was the first time they had been by my home in quite some time. They really enjoy the Mardi Gras season, and they have big plans for the Lords of Leather bal masque and all the activities taking place during this carnival season. I’m sure I’ll run into them. I usually make my attendance plans at the last minute and consider the weather situation before heading out to the Crescent City. Hopefully, it will be a nice day and a lot of hot weenies will be on view. After all, if you got it, flaunt it. And Phil does - have it, that is.

Michael Musings

ichael actually gave up the Christmas store for a few days and headed out to Las Vegas with other half Mark. It was one of their first trips in a while, and this was a long-anticipated trip with tickets already purchased for the Bette Midler show. It is nice to see them out and about. They both deserve a trip like this. I think the last time they did a trip it was to New York and some Broadway plays. Michael is also an avid gardener. In fact, he is a horticultural major from LSU, but somehow ended up managing Rudolph’s over on Highland Road. If you have never visited this complex of shops, you have missed a treat. Besides the Christmas barn brimming with great items, you also have an antique shop or two, a frame [continued on 40]

GayNewOrleans.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 39

allons acadiana by Patrick Clinton Email: BlondAtULL@aol.com

s the countdown continues toward Fat Tuesday, the nightlife here in Acadiana keeps getting wilder. Over the next few weeks there will be balls and parties and live entertainment, just to name a few. In short, anything fun you can imagine will be happening in the downtown. This weekend is the much antici-

pated 2009 R.O.U. Ball, and to begin the fabulous affair, all your friends will be gathered at Back Side for the Before Party. There’ll be food and drinks, as well as everybody you love dressed up in their finest formal attire. And after the ball, the party picks right back up at Sound Factory with the giant After Party. It should definitely be a night to remember. Even if you’re not gonna

hot tails of red stick ...from 39

you out of your pants. Well, not completely, but it’s nice to think that way. Nick and Eric have a home down Prairieville way, or in that vicinity. I’ve had invitations to go down for a visit, but I’m usually swamped with other things. I’ll have to take a lesson from Michael and Mark, and just head out. After all, life is short, and all work and no play makes for long and lonesome days. Perhaps I’ll remedy this situation soon. (Florida - here I come.) I can recall so many happy times in Nick’s presence. He is one of those guys that you like immediately, and I find him to be one of the most thoughtful friends that I have. Even though you don’t see him, you know he’s there, and you can think back on so many happy occasions. Some of these I can’t really reveal here, but let’s just say they were memorable moments. He is just a nice guy – full of energy and just waiting to energize you. It’s always nice to see him and to be in his presence.

shop, and several other businesses past the big rust-colored barn. I have often wondered how Michael could actually enjoy the holiday since he is listening to the music and seeing all these decorations and going off on buying sprees in the spring. It just means he has to enjoy what he is doing. Would he like to be doing something else? Probably – then again, he has been at this so long, it just has made his Christmas last an entire year instead of one day. Not only does he manage the Christmas store, but he is over the entire complex, and he even shows off his horticultural expertise by taking care of the landscaping. Of course, a lot of this is already in place after years of work, but he still manages to come up with different flowers each year and loves to spotlight his hibiscus. He is a hybridizer of hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and he jumps for joy every time he has a bloom on a new variety he has created. I often kid him about having so much sex with his plants, but that just seems to hurry him along to create more little seedlings. I wonder if he takes these sexual desires home with him. Hmmm.

Notable Nick

haven’t seen Nick that much since he returned from Iraq, but I get weekly reports from Sam. Thursdays are three-way dinners for Nick, his partner Eric, and Sam. I’m on the standing list to journey with them to a different restaurant each week, but I never seem to find the time. Besides, it’s CSI night, and it’s my Vegas urge that keeps me home. Nick is one of those guys who bring out a smile in you immediately. Sometimes it is in what he says and the way he says it. Other times, it is in what he does. I have to admit that he is sometimes completely unpredictable, but he always manages to get you into a better mood than you were in when he arrived on the scene. He has always had that magnetic personality that just charms

Jivin' Jason

ason is another guy that can really brighten up your day. With a little red above, you know there is always fire down below, and that is the way I like to think of him – one hot dude, or sweetheart, whichever is the case. Also known as Belinda, he knows how to enter into this other persona with skill and excellence. Perhaps this is why he is always winning new titles along the way. I met Jason many years ago. Gosh – when he was living up at False River, I believe. Let’s just say he has come a long way, and he has accomplished so much during the interim. The last time I saw him was at Splash, one of his favorite hangouts, but I used to run into him a lot at the old Hibiscus Bookstore. Right now, I see more titles in his future. He is very talented and someday (my prediction) these talents will take him to the Miss Gay America title. I never thought I would say that. I recall the first time Belinda came on the scene, and I thought to myself that I would never have featured him in this way. Now, I can’t feature him in any

make it to R.O.U. this year, the Before and After Parties are events unto themselves. Don’t miss all the fun! Start airing out your formalwear and get ready to kick off Mardi Gras with style. Besides hosting special events, Sound Factory and Back Side have a weekly line-up that is second to none. With their daily Happy Hour specials, they always make sure that every night of the week is its own special party. And since they are open seven days a week, they always have something incredible planned. Whether you’re looking for a quick drink after work or a wild night on the town, their separate weekly line-ups make even the most uneventful night fresh and new.

other way. He is stunningly cute as a boy and really lovely as Belinda. You have to love this one. I certainly do.

Adorable Andy

only recently met Andy, but I made it a point to make it to George’s one day when he was on duty, and it was a very nice first meeting. He is one of those guys with a personality that makes you feel immediately comfortable to be in his presence. This is an excellent trait especially if you are a bartender. My first impression of this youngster is one of good vibes. He is extremely likeable, has a gorgeous smile, and he certainly knows how to make you feel welcome. When you meet someone like Andy, you have that instant feeling that you have known him for a long time. That is because he comes across as one of the most charming individuals I’ve met in quite a long time. Let’s see if I can describe his adequately. He has smoldering good looks which indicates an extremely sexy guy is in your presence. He has a confidence about him which really sets him apart, and at the same time, you can recognize the playful side of him too. Business comes first. He knows his job, and he does it well. He is just one of those guys who you would like to be around more, and this all goes back to his nice personality. Andy has a neatly trimmed physique, and I could easily imagine him up on a stage doing a pole dance or other erotic dance of sorts. He must work out. He has strong arms, and he has piercing eyes that can size you up immediately. He also has a knack for saying the right thing at the right time. He is simply a charmer, a joy to be around. I look forward to being in his company again soon.

Marvelous Melvin

his is one man you want to have around if you ever have to be hospitalized. He is a caring and wonderful individual who just sparkles with enthusiasm every time

From Show Night every Sunday and Karaoke on Tuesday to their unforgettable dance parties every Friday and Saturday, when you plan a night out at Sound Factory and Back Side, you know it’s going to be an adventure. And with ever changing drink specials, you’re sure to get a great deal. What more can you ask for? It’s two bars in one, and it won’t break your pocket book. So this Carnival season, make sure you remember your friends at Sound Factory and Back Side. Mardi Gras in Acadiana wouldn’t be the same without its only Gay owned and operated bar. In these difficult economic times, entertainment is important. It offers an escape from the often troubling outside world. But with money tight, people have to cut back everywhere. Just make sure when you do decide to spend your hard earned cash, it goes to support establishments that actually give back to the community. It’s easy for a place to say it’s a gay bar, especially if saying so helps it make money. The real test is whether these “fair weather” establishments actually work to further the betterment of the gay community. From my experience, most do not. We are lucky to have places like Sound Factory and Back Side, and I for one am happy that they work so hard giving back to the community. Until next time, have fun and be safe; I’ll see you around downtown. you see him. Melvin’s laughter is contagious, and his sincerity is just absolutely the best I’ve seen in a long time. Several years back, I thought Oprah had walked into the Sound Factory in Lafayette, but once that smile came forth, it was a jaw-dropping experience. I couldn’t get over it. He was absolutely stunning and beautiful. I was there judging a contest for the Royal Order of Unicorn, and he was there just to give support to one of the candidates. Had he been on that stage, I’m sure he would have won the contest of the evening hands down. I liked this man from the first moment I met him. It’s been a long time, but even now, I run into him and I come away in a better mood than in the beginning. I’ve watched him, especially at Hound Dogs, and he seems to be the master of charm. Everyone seems captivated by him, and I can understand why. He just knows how to masterfully enter into the room and exude a magnitude of confidence that comes at you full force. I like that in a man. Well, space is about used up again, and there are so many beautiful people I could tell you about. However, all you have to do is to look around you, and whether you know them personally or not, you can observe rays of energy coming your way. There is always a Joy, Jeanne, Johnny, Luther, Gerry, Chansley, Ty, Stephen, Lance, Wes, Danny, or Brad somewhere in the area. Observe them from afar. See what I mean?

40 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

GayNewOrleans.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 41

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Zack relaxing at Sound Factory

Darius & John, icons of Sound Factory Monty bartending at Sound Factory

Erin behind the bar at Sound Factory Khory is all smiles at Sound Factory

Chad & Kim showing love at Sound Factory Alexandre from Vancouver at Back Side

Brian at Sound Factory

Nathan & Rodney at Sound Factory

Corderro clubbin’ at Sound Factory

Macky bartending at Back Side

Chris & Tyler at Sound Factory

Matt, a regular at Sound Factory

Steven & Drew snugglin’ at Back Side

Travis hangin’ out at Sound Factory

Annie & Raymond at Back Side

Kevin & Troy cutting up at Back Side

Gordon working the door at Sound Factory

Eddie out at Sound Factory

42 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

Hangin’, Snugglin’, Clubbin’ ~ Lafayette, Louisiana ~ Photos by Patrick Clinton

Christian visiting Back Side

GayNewOrleans.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 43

KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain & KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac

Lords of Leather Function Lt. Alan Kelley, KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Lords of Leather Capt. Gary Vandeventer

paparazzi

Athena Jewelle, Lafitte’s Marvin Tucker, KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain & KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac

KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Double Play’s Doc Reed

KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & KCQ V Liz Simms King Petronius XLV Mae Falgout, KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Queen Petronius XLVII Dawn Falgout-Loebig

Melissa Marquis, KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Arnold Radel

Scott, KCQ XV Marsha, Scott & 700 Club’s Mike Cookmeyer

KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, Marcus Martinez, KCQ IX Lisa Beaumann & KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac Jim Farrell, KCQ XV Marsha NaquinDelain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & King Satyricon VI Scott Loyed

Frank Pizzolato, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Corner Pocket’s Michael Elias Hector Trau, Jr., KCQ XV Marsha NaquinDelain & KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac

KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, The Grandee Queen Tami Tarmac & KCQ XIV Princesse Stephaney

Queen Amon Ra XLIII Opal Masters, KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Queen Amon Ra XLII Darwin Reed

King Amon Ra XLI Kenny Walker, KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Satyricon 12th Night King VII Jerry Scavo

Wood Enterprises’ Gary Agee & KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain

Society Page’s Joe Truxillo & Easter Grand Marshal IX Orlando Aloe flank KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain & KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac

JohnPaul’s Paul Chiriaco, Queenateenas Co-Capt. Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac, Queenateenas Co-Capt. Rip NaquinDelain & JohnPaul’s John Vignone

Julius, KCQ XV Marsha, KCQ XVI Tami & Tom

Leonard Raybon, KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Rab Dab Clothing & Gifts’ Dave Rabalais

44 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

16th King Cake Queen Coronation honoring The Grandee Queen Tami Tarmac at the Ambush Mansion ~ New Orleans

snap

e-mail, letters Center Resignations Dear Rip Naquin-Delain, I read with dismay Toni Pizanie’s column in the newest issue of your publication. I found her tone to be very disrespectful of the hard work I’ve done since I was appointed to the Board in October 2005. I also believe her comments are irresponsible, especially when she well knows that I have been making every effort to encourage community participation in our rebuilding. As I respect her in-depth knowledge of the LGBT community, I can only conclude that I have lost the confidence of the very people whose support is essential for a strong and financially secure Community Center. Therefore, I feel I have no choice but to resign from my position on the Board of the LGBT Community Center of New Orleans. Joining me in tendering their resignations are: Dave Haynik, Co Chair Shawn Johnson, Secretary Charlotte Klasson, Treasurer Since blaming the board seems to be her only aim, these resignations should be a welcome turn of events and prove that some of us do, in fact, take outside advice. Sincerely, --Mary Griggs commentary ...from 35 prohibits any entity receiving American funds from even telling women where they can get an abortion if they need it. Goodbye to vetoing health insurance for poor children but rushing back to Washington to sign a bill to keep alive a woman whose cerebral cortex had liquefied. Goodbye to the ban on federal funding of embryonic stem-cell research. Goodbye to the philosophy that says that if we give tax cuts to the rich and keep the government from any oversight of the economy, prosperity will eventually trickle down. Goodbye to the thirst for privatizing Social Security and to the belief that the success of a social safety-net program is what makes it a threat and should mark it for destruction. Goodbye to the war on unions and to a National Labor Relations Board devoted to crushing them. Goodbye to the principle of loyalty above all else, that nominates Harriet Miers to the Supreme Court and puts Alberto Gonzales in charge of the Justice Department. And goodbye to that Justice Department, the one where U.S. attorneys keep their jobs only if they are willing to undertake bogus investigations of Democrats timed to hit the papers just before Election Day. Goodbye to a Justice Department where graduates of Pat Robertson's law school roam the halls by the dozens, where "justice" is a joke. Goodbye to James Dobson and a host of radical clerics picking up the phone and hearing someone in the White House on the other end. Goodbye to the most consequential

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decisions being made on the basis of one man's "gut," a gut that proved so wrong so often. Goodbye to the contempt for evidence, to the scorn for intellect and book learnin', to the relentless war on science itself as a means of understanding the world. Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye to it all. Though President Obama will be spending most of his time cleaning up the mess George Bush made, we probably won't have Dubya to kick around anymore. It's hard to imagine Bush undertaking some grand philanthropic effort on the scale of the Clinton Global Initiative, or hopping around to international trouble spots like Jimmy Carter. Republicans won't be asking him to speak on their behalf, and publishers are reportedly uninterested in the prospect of a Bush memoir. His reign of destruction complete, Bush will return to Texas and fill his days with the mundane activities of a retiree - puttering around the yard, reading some magazines, maybe enjoying that new Xbox Jenna gave him for Christmas ("I'm the Decider, and I decide to spend this afternoon playing Call of Duty 4"). This presidency is finally over. We can

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GayNewOrleans.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 45

Beverly joins King Cake Queen XVI Tami Tarmac, Nicole & Jacqui

KCQ XV Marsha, KCQ XVI Tami & Southern Decadence Grand Marshal XXXV Paloma

KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Alternatives’ Philip Alviar

Gizelle Bouvier, KCQ XV Marsha NaquinDelain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Jay Cooper

DJ of the Year Richie Rich, KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Tami’s Drag Daughter Bubbles

KCQ XV Marsha, KCQ XVI Tami & La Peniche’s Robert

Justin Moffatt, KCQ XV Marsha NaquinDelain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Starr Daniels

Creig Istre & Ranzy Montet flank KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain & The Grandee Queen Tami Tarmac

Becky, KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Janice Goodbee

KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Golden Age Revue’s Marcy Marcell

Stephen Murrell, KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Entertainer of the Year/FourPlay’s Elizabeth Bouvier

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Glenn O’Berry, KCQ XV Marsha NaquinDelain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Roger Copenhaver

KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Ernst Crotty-Stringfellow

Gene & Karen Riggleman flank KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain & KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac

Debi Landry, KCQ XV Marsha NaquinDelain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac, Lester Perkins & Dr. Shep Field

KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Zoo Revue’s Regina Adams

KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Lafitte’s Aletha Bryant

Tony DiCioccio, KCQ XV Marsha NaquinDelain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac, Sheila DiCioccio & David Wagner

46 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

16th King Cake Queen Coronation Receiving Line presenting The Grandee Queen Tami Tarmac at the Ambush Mansion ~ New Orleans

Michigan Houie King David Chrobak, KCQ XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac, Peter Reynaud & Michael Sullivan

Jay Tyburski, KCQ XV Marsha NaquinDelain, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac & Bourgoyne Guest House’s Jay Bourgoyne

GayNewOrleans.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 47

48 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • February 3-16, 2009 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM