Issuu

2 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 31-August 13, 2012 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

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the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com

Thrilling Excitement as Winners Take to the Stage for the 25th Gay Appreciation Awards Gala Raising $3,432 for Buzzy's Boys & Girls

inner after winner took to the stage to claim victory in the 25th Gay Appreciation Awards Gala! Upon arrival guests knew it was going to be a magical night. Giant GAA banners welcomed them outside of Oz in New Orleans created by the innovative and talented Doyle Yeager and partner Keith Trammell. Doyle, who is one of the proprietors of Oz, also did a magnificent job on transforming the club into a venue worthy of an Academy Awards party. From the brilliant red, gold and star studded stage, to the VIP tables, each with their own platter full of sugared pecans, grapes, strawberries, and gourmet mixed nuts, centered with fresh rose arrangements, it was indeed spectacular. The VIP table sponsors had to be awed by what was laid out for their evening of entertainment. Before the night even kicked off the generosity of these sponsors brought in $2,000 for the beneficiary of the evening, the William J. Fanning Foundation, affectionately known as Buzzy's Boys & Girls. Special thanks to all of these sponsors including Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, Chuck Turner and Bill Miller/4 Seasons/Double Play/Billy's, Roy Smith and Nick Olivares, Michael Cookmeyer/ Michael's On The Park, Safonda Peters and Stuart Nettles, Buzzy's Boys & Girls, Buzzy's Boys & Girls, Tubby's Golden Lantern, Joann and Lisa Guidos/Kajun's Pub, and Ron Johnson. The event raised a total of $3,432 with $1,150 in door donations, and $282 is stage performance tips. All expenses including advertising, plagues, table and chair rentals, were covered by sponsor Ambush Mag. Since 1997, the gala has raised $46,104 for charity. There were many new winners, multiple time winners, but winners all the same. The Gulf South readership of Ambush votes by public ballot choosing the Top 5 Finalist in each category, of which one is the winner. The finalist themselves should be proud of their achievements. While awards were being dispersed throughout the night, guests were able to see production performances by all five Top 5 Show Bar of the Year Finalists, the only time once a year you're able to experience this diverse group of talent under one roof on the same stage. The performances were all different and exciting including Bourbon Pub Parade, JohnPaul's, Michael’s On The Park, Oz, and Tubby's Golden Lantern. Many thanks for donating your time to this great cause. The GAA Board of Directors took to the stage at different times teaming up to emcee the festivities including the duos of Lisa Beaumann and TerylLynn Foxx, Rip and Marsha NaquinDelain, and Teryl-Lynn Foxx and Rip

Naquin-Delain. Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XXXVIII Pat McArdle and TJ Conard were called to the stage to give us a look into what to expect for Southern Decadence 41 Labor Day Weekend. While Miss Gay Louisiana America Maybelline Maskara came to the stage to address the crowd on the upcoming stage pageant in August at Splash in Baton Rouge. The evening honored the 25th Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Regina Ann Adams whose coveted honor closed out the festivities presented by the GAA Board of Directors who chose her for her many decades entertaining in numerous troupes and shows, as well as raising funds for numerous charities and causes. The winners included: Restaurant/Deli/Coffee House of the Year-Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, GLBT Business of the Year-Bourbon Pride, Hair Salon of the Year-Head Quarters, Circuit Party/Event of the YearHalloween, Leather Bar of the Year-Phoenix, Bitch of the Year-Princesse Stephaney,

Big Pre-Southern Decadence edition out Aug. 14th DEADLINE: Tues., Aug. 7th

inside

southern decadence 5 celebrazzi/lafayette, nola, mobile 6 a community within communities 12 halloween 29 13 gaa winners paparazzi 16 city on the bay/mobile 20 under the gaydar 20 mobile paparazzi 31

pensacola paparazzi gaa gala paparazzi classifieds trodding the boards ambush paparazzi/new orleans ambush paparazzi/new orleans reVIEW...books, movies, cds chop chop/nola restaurant guide

23 24 26 30 31 32 34 34

Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 828-A Bourbon St. • New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 • 504.522.8049 marsha@ripandmarsha.com Marsha Delain Award of Excellence, the "Drag Ambassador" award presented by Marsha Naquin-Delain to Dusty DeBris, Cheridon Comedy Award-in memory of past GAA President Sonny Cheridon Cleveland to Persana Shoulders, Neighborhood Bar of the YearTubby's Golden Lantern, Buzzy Fanning AIDS Award-Toby Lefort, Donnie Jay Performing Arts Award- in memory of Donnie "Jay" James to Next Fall, Transgender of the Year-Jasmine Essex, DJ of the Year-Tim Pflueger/Oz Fly Fashion Glamour Award-in memory of Ms. Fly to Monica SynclaireKennedy, Leather Person of the Year-Gary Vandeventer, Gay Mardi Gras Ball of the YearKrewe of Amon-Ra, Dance Club of the Year-Oz, Lesbian of the Year-Misti Ates, Gay Man of the Year-Tommy Elias, Bartender of the Year-Andy Ehlers/Tubby’s Golden Lantern, Show Bar of the Year-Oz, and Marcy Marcell Entertainer of the Year-in honor of GAA Founder Marcy Marcell to Monique Michaels. The awards thanks those in the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Community who are often not recognized for the outstanding services and efforts they perform. These individuals and businesses have made the GLBT Community into the viable, successful and powerful community it is today across the Gulf South. Past Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include Jimmie Callaway, the late Dan Fountain [Betty Buttons], the late Andy Boudreaux, the late Buzzy Fanning, the late Dirty Dottie, the late Miss Fury, Rip and Marsha NaquinDelain, the late Dan Romero, the late Miss Do, the late Louise McFarland, Miss Dixie Fasnacht, the late Alice Brady and the late John Dodt, Gene Adams, the late Charlene Schneider, the late Steve Mettner, Marty Curtin and Koo Gaffney, the late Donald “Donnie Jay” James, Kitty Blackwell, Michael “Fish” Hickerson, the late Marcy Marcell, Mary L. Lathouwers, Don Evans, Jean Redmann, and Chuck

Turner and Bill Miller. For additional information, visit AmbushMag.COM/GAA. [continued on 8]

THE OFFICIAL MAG

Facebook.COM/AmbushMag Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 • Louisiana-Florida Official Gay Easter Parade Guide Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide Official Gay New Orleans Guide Official Southern Decadence Guide OFFICE/SHIPPING ADDRESS: 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 USA OFFICE HOURS: 10am-3pm Monday-Friday [Except Holidays] Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com PHONE: 1.504.522.8049 ANNUAL READERSHIP OVER 1 MILLION: 260,000+ in print/780,000+ On-line CIRCULATION: Alabama-Mobile Florida - Pensacola Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Slidell Mississippi - Bay St. Louis, Biloxi

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 NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Paul Melancon 504.357.8440 paulmelancon_ambushmag@yahoo.com THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Blanche-Alabama Devin, Tony Leggio, Kyler Landry, Rev. Bill Terry, Rory Wright-New Orleans Bob Brunson, Cieanne & John, Leon WeekleyMobile, AL Lauren Mitchell-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. ©1982-2012, 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

4 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 31-August 13, 2012 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

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Tonic Bar Barons Jeff & Rob

ay Appreciation Awards’ Board of Directors Teryl-Lynn Foxx and Rip Naquin-Delain present Regina Ann Adams with the prestigious 25th annual Lifetime Achievement Award along with GAA Boards Marsha Naquin-Delain and Lisa Beaumann at Oz in New Orleans. The 25th GAA Gala brought twenty-three award recipients to the stage raising $3,432 for the William J. Fanning Foundation, affectionately known as Buzzy Boys & Girls. VIP Table sales brought in $2,000, door donations $1,150, and stage performance tips $282. Since 1997, the gala has raised $46,104 for charity.

Bar Staff welcomes you to Tonic

celebrazzi

andall Bozeman of Pensacola captured the title of Mr. Gulf Coast Bear 2012 before a packed house at B-Bob’s in Mobile, Alabama for the annual Bleather Weekend blowout.

Smiles for the paparazzi

uest arriving for the 25th Annual Gay Appreciation Awards Gala were greeted outside of Oz in New Orleans by these giant banners created by Oz Bar Baron Doyle Yeager and partner Heath Trammell celebrating the festivities.

Got cha!

he incredible stage and table design created by Oz Bar Baron Doyle Yeager and partner Heath Trammell made a glamorous setting for the 25th Annual Gay Appreciation Awards Gala hosted at Oz.

O/AIDS Task Force’s Michael Weber from Fund Development joins Michael’s On The Park proprietor Michael Cookmeyer for the “Wear A Condom, Save A Live” benefit at Michael’s in New Orleans. Benefiting NO/AIDS CAN Project, the event raised $1,154 to buy condoms and lube for Southern Decadence distribution.

Ready for our close-up!

6 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 31-August 13, 2012 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

Excitement @ Tonic in Lafayette, Louisiana ~ Photos by Al & Dwain

ew Orleans’ own Bill Naquin landed the title of Mr. Southern Renegade during the kickoff event in Mobile, Alabama for Bleather Weekend 2012 at B-Bob’s.

Gay East erParade.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayNew Orleans.COM • J uly 31-August 13, 2012 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 7

the "official" dish ...from 4

Southern Decadence Reaches Over $1 Billion Economic Impact on the Community & City

he 41st Southern Decadence celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture heralds in the end of summer with a huge economic impact for the community and the city over Labor Day Weekend, August 29th through September 1st. While over 135,000 participants with an economic impact of $160 million or better is expected, since 1996 the celebration has had over a $1 billion, $117 million economic impact. The Official Website of Southern Decadence, SouthernDecadence.COM, was launched in 1996, the only website on Southern Decadence at the time, and has been keeping records on the estimated crowds which now total 1 billion, 142 thousand, as well as the projected economic impact each year. These astounding figures came to light as Ambush Mag Publisher/Editor Rip Naquin-Delain, prepared for a recent television program interview. Ambush produces the Internet domain, while often Naquin-Delain is questioned on

everything pertaining to Southern Decadence from media and individual requests received from around the world. He feels it is the duty of both Ambush and SouthernDecadence.COM to promote and maintain this wonderful tradition, while helping the GLBT community to prosper and succeed from Decadence's international growth.

Southern Decadence led by SDGMs 38 Pat McArdle & TJ Conard

outhern Decadence Grand Marshals XXXVIII Pat McArdle and TJ Conard have set the tone for the 41st Southern

Decadence celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture. The theme is Peace, Hope & Love = Monkey Dance, while the colors are white, purple and silver. Starships by Nicki Minaj is the official song and Belle Reve was chosen as the charity with a goal of raising $10,000. This year's colorful poster is the results of a Grey Cross Studios' photo shoot, with Studio 11's Jessie Matthew Elliot credited with graphic art and design, as well as original art by Jacey Frew. The official sponsors include Ambush Mag, SouthernDecadence.COM, [continued on 10]

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the "official" dish ...from 8 Quartermaster Deli, Harrah’s, Scoots, Absolut, Bud Light, QT Pie, Panda Bear, Bayou Beau, Fifi Mahoney’s, Rathbone Mansions, and Grey Cross Studios.

nation with Happy Hour Drink Prices @ Good Friends Bar Friday, August 3rd ~8pm, Metairie-Marigny-Slidell Bar Run, @ 4 Seasons, Club LAX, Phoenix, JohnPaul's plus others TBA & Billy's

SDGMs Fundraisers Benefit Belle Reve

outhern Decadence Grand Marshals Pat McArdle and TJ Conard have announced upcoming fundraisers leading up to Decadence weekend, August 29thSeptember 3rd. The grand marshals have set a goal of $10,000 to be raised for the Official Southern Decadence Charity, Belle Reve, which provides permanent and transitional housing along with full support services to adults and families living with AIDS or HIV related infections in Louisiana. At each upcoming fundraiser, raffle tickets will be available for the ongoing Win A Scooter raffle through Southern Decadence weekend when the winner will be announced. The scooter has been donated by Southern Decadence sponsor Scoots in New Orleans. Upcoming fundraisers scheduled as of press time include: Wednesday, August 1st ~5-9pm, Southern Decadence Poster Signing, catered by Quartermaster, benefiting Belle Reve, $5 Do-

with hamburgers, hot dogs, potato salad & baked beans, $5 benefiting Belle Reve @ Cafe Lafitte in Exile Saturday, August 18th ~12noon-4pm, Southern Decadence Party hosted by Bayou Beau @ The Country Club ~9pm, Southern Decadence HoeDown Party benefiting Belle Reve @ 700 Club Monday, August 20th 7pm, Southern Decadence Poster Signing benefiting Belle Reve @ The Corner Pocket Friday, August 24th ~9pm, Southern Decadence Show benefiting Belle Reve @ Splash Baton Rouge Wednesday, August 29th ~7-9pm, Southern Decadence Poster Signing benefiting Belle Reve with ongoing 50/50 Raffle announcing the winner that evening @ Rawhide

Longest Running SD Events FREE for All! Saturday, August 4th ~6-9pm, Garden Cocktail Poster Signing Party, $5 donation hosted by Warren English @ 928 St. Ann St. ~10pm till, Benefit Show hosted by Tiffany Alexander @ 700 Club Friday, August 10th ~6-8pm, Southern Decadence Poster Signing, benefiting Belle Reve, @ 700 Club Sunday, August 12th ~4-8pm, Cooking for Decadence with SDGMs Pat McArdle & TJ Conard

es, it is true, the longest running Southern Decadence events are free for all to attend, well, those of legal age anyway. Many visitors are under the impression that you must have a Southern Decadence VIP Pass to attend all of the Southern Decadence events. That is incorrect, there is no such all access Southern Decadence VIP Pass. However, three clubs do issue Southern Decadence VIP Passes including Oz, Bourbon Pub Parade, and The Corner Pocket that allows you

9am-5pm Mon.-Fri. 9am-12noon Sat.. entry into that particular club's events, which you may very well wish to attend. The longest running free Southern Decadence events include: Official Southern Decadence Grand Marshals' Drag Show on Friday, August 31st, 10pm, at Home of Southern Decadence, Tubby’s Golden Lantern, 1239 Royal Street, featuring Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XXXVIII Pat McArdle and TJ Conard with former SDGMs and many others. 9th Bourbon Street Extravaganza on Saturday, September 1st, 5pm, presented by Napoleon's Itch is the huge live free concert featuring big stars on the circuit plus many surprises attracting thousands to the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets. 38th Official Southern Decadence Parade celebrating the 41st Southern Decadence led by Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XXXVIII Pat McArdle and TJ Conard on Sunday, Sept. 2nd, 2pm sharp, beginning at the Home of Southern Decadence, Tubby's Golden Lantern, 1239 Royal Street. This walking parade is open for anyone to participate in, which is a glorified street march/bar crawl stopping at many of New Orleans famous gay bars. 19th Official Southern Decadence Bead Toss also on Sunday, 4-4:30ish pm at the Ambush Mansion balcony, 828 Bourbon Street. Hosted by South[continued on 12]

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a community within communities

by The Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal Church Email: fr.bill@stannanola.org

KIDS IN DA HOOD

he place was a-buzz black men and women dressed for the occasion; their brown, while, and Asian counter parts settling in. Children were running here and there in nervous anticipation waiting for THE moment. Amongst the hubbub one could see a blind man or woman walking with their long white red-tipped “seeing sticks.” In all, at about 3pm on Sunday, July 22nd, 180-200 people occupied St. Anna’s Church. As one might anticipate microphones squealed sending shudders down the spines of all the adults. The ambient conversation was a roar of greetings and ‘places saved’ for family members. It seemed like a great throng undulating in chaos. Tap, tap, tap, the sound system banged as a well dressed black man said, “Good afternoon everyone and welcome to Anna’s Arts Summer Camp Show,” and the applause rang out. For the next two and half hours, yes two and half hours, children, individuals and groups parade to the sanctuary. Some sang, some danced, and some read prose and poetry. As time worn on some left. As they were leaving a young man began to play the electric piano. He is blind and his original composition, a bluesy lyrical piece, rang our softly above the din of chattering children. Silence greeted the room. He is the next Ray Charles, perhaps. I say perhaps because he will need support, training, and encouragement. The church had an old piano which by the end of the day was his to take home. Arrangements are being made to do so. The 14 year old pianist’s parents stood tall and proud with abundant love beaming from their faces for their son. The father simply asked what time are your worship services. He clearly wanted to be a part of what this is all about. If you think competing drag queens on stage can get feisty you simply have to watch a pair of twins that we have. As they “gently” pushed each other away from the microphone; the one girl who was not a twin simply took a step and looked with that “hey girl watch you doin” thing going on. The guitar recital was, as we all expect, some very tentative version of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star...very tentative indeed. Yet one very shy 13 year old played a lyrical piece self written with a sound like mystery of Enya. Again, that hush while he played..then the buzz and chatter of adults praising children, kids running around, and a general bee hive of activity movement to and from the stage. . . enough to make a stage

director go berserk. Drums, yes drums beat several African rhythms as played out with a dozen children in perfect beat sequence. It seemed that the young ladies of the camp were the most forceful claiming their individuality and standing tall saying, “I am leaving. I am leaving poverty, in New Orleans. I am leaving murders in my hometown. I am leaving hatred in my neighborhood. I am going away so that I can BE!” With strong voices they proclaimed a freedom hoped for, and life sought after, a time apart to become a part of the whole. This was Anna’s Arts for Kids summer crescendo. It was the time when parents who don’t show up showed up. It was a collaborative effort that took place over four weeks and tended to the needs, hopes, aspirations, fears, and obstacles that poor kids and challenged kids encounter. Anna’s Arts collaborated with Light House for the Blind and hosted over a dozen sight impaired children. They were overjoyed to be a part of something that did not set them aside or call them “special.” We collaborated with the Freret St. Neighborhood Housing group who brought at risk kids from that area to encounter kids from the Tremé. In New Orleans THAT’S UNIQUE. As you know we don’t cross boundaries artificial, social, or contextual in this city. At the end of the day Erin McQuaid of Light House for the Blind made an astounding announcement. She had nominated Darryl Durham program director and heart of Anna’s Arts to receive the Blue Cross/Blue Shield Angel of the Year Award. He won it and rightfully so. With it comes a donation to his program for $20,000! As we rejoiced in it and celebrated the gift and the honor the applause rang out in standing ovation. And the kids buzzed and ran about as always. It has now been a few days. The costumes and props are put away. The art work on display still regales the Parish Hall and will for a while. And its good artwork too! As Darryl and I sat down today we were convinced even more that lives are being saved. Children are being imprinted with possibility not impossibility; with worthiness not worthlessness. Even parents who sometimes are the nexus of the problems that their children deal with were somehow changed if only for that day. They were proud parents supporting their kids. What they are doing this Wednesday one cannot know. The sad irony of all of this is that out of the four major missions of St. Anna’s Church: Medical Mission,

Oportunidades, Food Pantry, and Anna’s Arts, this has been historically the most difficult to fund. Why might that be? How can that be? Children are often said to be the future. Yet, they are here and now. It is true that what they learn and experience now will in many ways guide who they will be in the future. That is true of adults as well as children. The difference is this: early on in life we are moldable, malleable, adaptive, and resilient. Later in life we become impaired by experience and intractably convinced that we cannot change or are unwilling change. Yet, Anna’s Arts struggles to make even the most meager ends meet. We are a community within communities. Children are as much a part of this community as the hungry, sick,

the "official" dish ...from 10 ern Decadence Susan Lucci's Rip and Marsha, and sponsored by Ambush Mag and SouthernDecadence.COM, the bead toss brings SDGMs XXXVIII Pat McArdle and TJ Conard following the parade out onto the famous Bourbon Street balcony to toss thousands of throws to the crowds below. 15th Southern Decadence Survivors Outer Loop Bar Crawl on Monday, September 3rd, 2pm, led by Cruise Director - Ted Mahaffy direct from Chicago, honoring SDGMs XXXVIII Pat McArdle and TJ Conard, begins with snacks at The Corner Pocket, then to The Double Play, Le Roundup, Society Page, 700 Club, Ninth Circle, Voodoo, ending with a BBQ @ Michael’s On The Park. There are many other events at clubs and venues across the city which are currently listed with more to come before Labor Day weekend. For the complete events list, visit SouthernDecadence.COM, and Like F a c e b o o k . C O M / SouthernDecadenceNOLA.

Miss Louisiana Leatherette Aug. 11

n Saturday, August 11th, outgoing titleholder Rolinda Hay gives up her sash as the Lords of Leather crown Miss Louisiana Leatherette 2013 at Parade at the Bourbon Pub, 801 Bourbon Street. Doors open at 6:30 and the contest begins promptly at 7:30pm. A $10 donation for admission is requested. Scheduled emcees for the evening are Tittie Toulouse and Blanche Debris. The Miss Louisiana Leatherette contest takes a tongue-in-cheek look at gay leather pageantry and is open to all “artist/entertainers” who wish to present their best with a leather twist. Past contestants have included participants from every gender/label imaginable. The winner is awarded a sash, trophy, and a cash prize. Contestants are judged in four categories: parish

immigrant, LGBT community and so on. I ask simply this are you, are we, willing to step up and engage these children, support this work (financially or with time), and make a serious effort so to do. Ninety children ages 3-15 became artists, poets, linguists, actors, musicians, composers, well spoken and trained this summer. The Fall comes soon and they will gather again. We have a choice, artist and poets, drug dealers and killers, or worse invisible people just sitting. To make a donation or to volunteer your times please call 504.947.2121 ext. 18 or just call the general number, or go to www.stannanola.org and hit the donation button; Kids aren’t the future they are the very present reality that is today. costume, talent, swimwear, and evening gown/fetish. If you are interested in becoming a contestant, the application and an informational brochure can be downloaded at www.lordsofleather.com.

2012 Satchmo SummerFest Aug 3-5

he premiere American Jazz Festival dedicated to the life, legacy, and music of New Orleans’ native son, Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, will take place August 3rd 5th at the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint. This weekend-long celebration will feature traditional jazz, contemporary jazz, and brass bands comprised of New Orleans’ most talented musicians. Satchmo SummerFest 2012 music lineup includes Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers, Preservation HallStars, Yoshio Toyama and the Dixie Saints, Leroy Jones and New Orleans’ Finest, Treme Funktet featuring Corey Henry and Travis Hill, Don Vappie & The Creole Jazz Serenaders, Wendell Brunious, The Original Pinnettes Brass Band, The New Orleans Moonshiners, and many more. Between musical sets, dancers of all levels can take lessons from New Orleans’ well-known dance teachers at the Cornet Chop Suey Stage Saturday and Sunday of the festival. Swing and Charleston dance lessons are open and free to the public and are taught and sponsored by NOLA Jitterbugs. Satchmo SummerFest hosts diverse and exciting offerings from great New Orleans restaurants and welcomes new additions to the festival menu options. This year, the festival introduces Lakeside Harbor and Mona’s Café to Red Bean Alley, and welcomes back Plum Street SnoBalls and Cool Fruit Sensations and their refreshing fresh squeezed juices and teas with the option to add Absolut Vodka or Avion Tequila to any drink. The festival also debuts Avion Frozen Margaritas, Lipton Green Tea, and Gatorade at the beverage booths. Get more information at satchmosummerfest.com.

[continued on 14]

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the "official" dish ...from 12

Larry Graham to Release Ash Wednesday ll, 2013 Poster for Southern Decadence

n 2001, Larry Graham, noted New Orleans photographer, produced a poster, Ash Wednesday for Mardi Gras. It featured 17 men, two women, one transsexual, nine dogs, two cats, two chickens, two parrots and one baby pig named “Bacon.” This year, his studio will release Ash Wednesday ll, 2013, featuring another 20 of New Orleans finest citizens. His longtime friend, Jude Thomas Smith, (shown above), will grace the series for a second time. Graham’s Studio plans to have it available by this year’s, Southern Decadence celebration, September 1st. Ash Wednesday ll, 2013, promises some surprises.

Graham is also the official photographer of the King Cake Queens of Gay Mardi Gras, and the Easter Grand Marshals leading the Gay Easter Parade. For more information, visit GrahamStudioOne.COM.

The End of Drag As We Know It Aug. 6

he Bourbon Pub Parade in New Orleans presents the 20th annual Oh What A

Drag: The End of Drag As We Know It OWAD on Monday, August 6th. Come see your favorite bartenders and employees perform like you've never seen them before. A portion of bar sales and bartenders tips will be donated to NO/AIDS Task Force's Food For Friends program. Plus there's drink specials for everyone in drag. Showtime is 9pm. You can also look for the silent auction, live auction, raffles and more. Visit BourbonPub.COM for more information.

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Rip & Marsha present Dusty DeBris with Marsha Delain Award of Excellence, The Drag Ambassador Award

Jasmine Essex accepts Transgender of the Year from Rip & Teryl-Lynn

GM Tommy Elias accepts Dance Club of the Year for Oz

Misti Ates accepts Lesbian of the Year Quartermaster The Nellie Deli's Misael & TJ accept Restaurant/Deli of the Year

Persana Shoulders accepts Cheridon Comedy Award in memory of Sonny C. Cleveland

Tim Pflueger accepts DJ of the Year

Tommy Elias accepts Gay Man of the Year

Halloween’s treasurer Trey Woodside accepts Circuit Party/ Event of the Year for Halloween

Tubby’s Golden Lantern’s Andy & Lance accept Neighborhood Bar of the Year

Monica Synclaire-Kennedy accepts Fly Fashion Glamour Award in memory of Ms. Fly

Andy Ehlers accepts Bartender of the Year

Mr. Phoenix Leather Lance & Danny accept Leather Person of the Year for Gary Vandeventer Mr. Phoenix Leather Lance & Danny accept Leather Bar of the Year for the Phoenix

Toby Lefort accepts Buzzy Fanning AIDS Award Oz accepts Show Bar of the Year

Princesse Stephanie once again accepts Bitch of the Year

Next Fall’s Bootsie DeVille accepts Donnie Jay Performing Arts Award

Capt. John & President Opal accept Gay Carnival Ball of the Year for the Krewe of Amon-Ra

Monique Michaels accepts Entertainer of the Year

16 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 31-August 13, 2012 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

25th GAA Gala Announces Gay Appreciation Award Winners @ Oz ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Devin, DJ Myke, Tony Leggio

Lisa & Teryl-Lynn present Bourbon Pride’s Philip with GLBT Business of the Year

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city on the bay 4th Bleather Weekend Brings in the Crowds to Mobile

he 4th annual Bleather Weekend brought the crowds into Mobile for the weekend designed to bring men along the Gulf Coast and beyond, who are interested in the Bear/Levi/ Leather community. You are urged to come as you are. The goal is to create a masculine environment for fun and camaraderie for a weekend each summer in Mobile, Alabama. The weekend is based on the concept of Houston’s successful LUEY Weekend (Let Us Entertain You). Complimentary cocktail parties and brunches are held during the weekend, with leather and bear contests offered as focal points. Mobile’s gay bars have united behind the effort, as have Mobile’s host clubs, the Gulf Coast Bears & Leather Association, and the Southern Renegades. Its brother clubs in New Orleans, such as the Lords of Leather, also play host. During Bleather Weekend, Darwin Singleton emceed the Southern Renegades Contest, while A.J. McKay of Louisville, Kentucky, emceed the Mr. Gulf Coast Bear Contest. New Orleans’ own Bill Naquin, landed the title of Mr. Southern Renegade during the kickoff event. Naquin, a 45 year old Gloucester, Virginia native, just became interested in the leather community during the past year, and has become an avid supporter of New Orleans’ Lords of Leather Mardi Gras krewe. “The Mr. Southern Renegade competition was a real thrill,” said Naquin, “and I was amazed by the enthusiastic response I received. This was the first time I’ve participated in a Leather event, and I learned

a lot from it. Naquin actually lives across the river from the French Quarter, in Gretna, Louisiana. Naquin praised his fellow contestants after the very close competition at B-Bob’s in Downtown Mobile. “The men who competed with me, Joe and Patton, were fun to work with,” he said. “We kept each other laughing all the way through.” First Runner-up was rodeo enthusiast Joe Veileux, repre-

under the gaydar by Tony Leggio Email: tonymgp@hotmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM

Bartender of the Month

y bartender for the month of August is someone I met recently during my travels to Baton Rouge for the Krewe of Divas Bal Masque. This young man made my visit to Splash nightclub an enjoyable experience. Chris Godal has worked for Splash for four years and according to many is one of the more popular servers. Originally from Huntington Beach, California, Chris is well respected with his customers and co-workers alike. And he will be adding something new to his resume when he starts Paul Mitchell School in August. I was only at Splash for an evening, but in that short time, I could tell that Chris was a force behind the bar. His quirky charm and witty repartee made the entire New Orleans group immediately feel welcome. He is also a master mixologist making some mighty tasty cocktails. The bar was very crowded that evening, but Chris managed his area effortlessly never missing a beat. And his physical attributes just enhance his already engaging personal-

Splash is a popular nightclub and on weekend nights can get very crowded. It is easy to talk to patrons when it is slow, but when the pace picks up, it can be hard to connect with people. Chris was able to overcome this and give great customer service even when it is busy. He truly made our evening in Baton Rouge and particularly at Splash a festive occasion. He is definitely one of the bar’s stars and it is a well-deserved recognition. So when you are in Baton Rouge, check out Chris at Splash located at 2183 Highland Road.

Fiddle Away! The Krewe of Armeinius is hosting another opening night premier at Tulane Summer Lyric on Wednesday, August 1 at 8pm. The Broadway musical Fiddler on the Roof is being presented. Tickets are $35 and the theatre is located at Dixon Hall on Tulane’s Campus. For information or to buy tickets, go to www.kreweofarmeinius.org. Bartender of the Month Chris Godal, Splash, Baton Rouge ity. When he flashes his great smile, hospitality radiates from him. I truly believe that the bartender sets the tone of how your evening will go at their place.

Party Down

t has been another great week of good times in the Crescent City. Even though it is summertime, the throngs of people visiting our city are incredible. Gotta love our tourists! Without them many of us would not have dates, oh life in a tourist

senting the Roundup in Pensacola, with Patton Williams of Grove Hill, Alabama serving as second runner-up. Naquin is now looking forward to his next on stage adventure. “I’m extremely proud to have brought this home for the Lords of Leather, a terrific bunch of guys, and I’m looking forward eagerly to competing in the Mr. Louisiana Leather Contest in the fall, and returning to Mobile in the near future. I can’t thank the Southern Renegades enough for their hospitality and effort in putting together the event!” Randall Bozeman of Pensacola captured the title of Mr. Gulf Coast Bear before a packed house at BBob’s in Mobile! Bozeman is originally from Montgomery, Alabama, but now calls Pensacola, Florida, home. He won the judges over during this year’s “Lum-Bear-Jacked” themed contest. First Runner-up was Bobby Grantham of Hattiesburg, Mississippi, while Michael Rabalais of New Orleans was chosen 2nd runner-up. Bozeman walked away with a trophy, $150, and lots of... bear hugs. For more on the weekend, visit MobileBleatherWeekend.COM. destination; isn’t it grand. Anyway, I digress, my week started again with two theatrical openings back to back for gay carnival krewes. On Wednesday, I went to the opening night of Anything Goes at Tulane Summer Lyric for the Krewe of Armeinius. Once again Tulane goes beyond little theatre to give a production that is polished, professional and entertaining. Following that on Thursday, Satyricon showed the opening night of Standing on Cer[continued on 22]

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mobile

papar azzi

John Thomas of the Roundup in Pensacola, Florida Standing room only for the contest

Bleather Weekend, Shows, Parties ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by B-Bob’s, Miss Cie & John

B-Bob’s own Jerry Ehlen models 2012 Bleather t-shirt

The beautiful & talented Raven St. James @ B-Bob’s

Judges panel for Mr. Southern Renegade @ B-Bob’s

Contestants from Mr. Southern Renegade contest

Jawakatema performs for the Bears

Happy Birthday Bill Hincks @ Just Us, Biloxi

Bear Bones Clothing Chad Stowers working his booth

Judges panel for 17th Annual Mr. Gulf Coast Bear Contest @ B-Bob’s COLT Model Bob Hager auctioned off his flannel jock Bears & Leather (Bleather) Weekend @ B-Bob’s

Contestants from 2012 Mr. GCB Contest Lords Of Leather supported Bleather Weekend A.J. McKay of Louisville, KY, host of Mr. Gulf Coast Bear Contest

Midtown Pub owners James & Darryl

A handsome crowd gathers to watch Mr. GCB Contest

King Stevie of Osiris with Judson @ Bacchus

Amber Douglas performing @ B-Bob’s... Go Saints!

New Orleans #1 DJ Tim Pflueger spins for B-Bob’s Disco Party

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under the gaydar ...from 20 emony: The Gay Marriage Plays at St. Anna’s Church. It was an enjoyable, funny and poignant at times. I even relished my time on stage in my cameo role as an altar boy. Now that is sacrilege. As we said good-bye to the 4th of July, we prepare for another big holiday in our city, Southern Decadence. On Friday, the Southern Decadence Grand Marshals, TJ Conard and Pat McArdle announced the charity-Belle Reve, song-Starships and unveiled the poster. The official colors are white, purple and silver and the theme is Peace, Love and Hope = Monkey Dance. It was a wonderful evening with friends both local and from out of town. Some friends of mine were here from Dallas so they tagged along with me to the party. Congratulations to TJ and Pat for what is definitely going to be a festive year. Afterwards, we made the gay bar rounds in the Quarter stopping at the 700 Club, Corner Pocket, Oz and Napoleon’s Itch. But it was Oz, where I had to call uncle and go home. On Saturday, the Mystic Krewe of Satyricon celebrated another holiday with a Bastille Day soiree at Luthjens in the Marigny. There was free flowing champagne, a plentiful dessert buffet and a drag show. But it would not be Bastille Day without a Marie Antoinette costume contest and we had six entrants. Dancing, chocolate and liquor, I can think of no better way to spend a Saturday. We even had a guillotine, but no one lost their head. Now I did here that some people did get …… Never mind, PG rated column. Every July, I travel out of town to a conference for the National Association for Catering and Events (NACE). But this year, New Orleans was honored to have the meeting in our city. Contessa Breaux and I were the chairs for this event which brought over 500 hospitality specialists in catering and events from around the country. And the Crescent City put their best foot forward and showed them a memorable few days. The gay community also played a part in their fun, because they hit the nightlife almost every evening. Sunday the conference kicked off with a welcome reception at Generations Hall. Over 20 different local restaurants and caterers supplied the food for this night filled with music, dancing and unlimited cocktails. The entertainment was the Storyville Stompers and the 610 Stompers, who were a colossal hit with their crazy antics. If you have never seen these guys perform, check them out, their offbeat showmanship impressed this group of jaded professionals beyond words, and that is a hard feat. Also, hot guys in short shorts bumping and grinding, really, who would not like them.

On Monday, we had classes, seminars, general session and a luncheon with John Besh as our guest speaker. That evening, some of my out of town friends from all corners of the country went to dinner at SoBou, which was just fantastic. It may have just opened but this restaurant, located in the W French Quarter, is quickly becoming the city’s newest hot spot. That night, we had a disco set up on the top floor of the Marriott overlooking the entire city. This becomes a very popular place for all those who want to work off all the calories consumed all day. On Tuesday, again we had classes all day and ended the evening with a costumed Masquerade Ball, which included a four course dinner, opera singers, a samba band, a high school drum line and the cover band Mojeaux. What a great way to cap off the night. Afterwards, I took a few of the more venturesome sorts to a special tour to some of the gay bars. They loved all the places and the locals went out of their way to make them feel at home. Some even went so far as to take them home. Now that is what I call Southern Hospitality at it’s finest. Wednesday was the wedding brunch and more classes. We had a post conference reception at Patrick’s Bar Vin in the Hotel Mazarin followed by a tour of the new restaurant Revolution and dinner at the Royal House. I would like to thank everyone in the gay community who did their best to make these people’s time in our city special. It paid off in great reviews for NOLA. After dealing with the conference for several days, I rested, but was up and running on Saturday with the Gay Appreciation Awards at Oz. It was so nice to see so many new winners this year, and thanks should go to Rip and Marsha from Ambush for hosting this lovely event that had its’ 25th anniversary this year. So that is all for this now: stay tuned for the next issue when you hear about Tales of the Cocktail. Can you imagine a conference that celebrates drinking? Did someone say heaven?

Tony’s Tidbits of Wisdom

ike Betty White, I am an avid animal lover. I have always been a big advocate of having pets, any kind of pet. From the norm of dogs and cats, fish and birds, to the more exotic creatures like snakes and pot-bellied pigs, it does not matter; I think that having a pet makes you a kinder person. I have two dogs, a miniature dachshund and a Katrina rescue German Shepherd/chow mix (or mutt). But I never like to use that word in front of him, would hate to make him feel less superior. Rose and Dandelion, respectively enhance my life in so many ways. This year I lost Lily, my other miniature dachshund and putting her

to sleep was probably the hardest thing I have ever had to do. But no matter what the pitfalls, the joy of having a pet far outweighs any negative. The unconditional love a pet supplies his or her owner cannot be described. It is truly love and loyalty in its rawest form, and something we get very little of from our fellow humans. So I decided that I would do a little research on what the experts say about owning a pet. These facts even surprised me. > Pet owners have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels and in general, this puts them at a reduced risk for heart disease. > Pet owners report fewer headaches, fewer bouts of indigestion and less difficulty sleeping. > Dog owners in particular, exercise more though you can certainly get exercise playing with an energetic cat or kitten. > Pets help safeguard against depression or loneliness. > Pets actually help improve social skills. > For children, owning a pet im-

proves their self-esteem - someone who loves them unconditionally and wants their undivided attention. > Pets reduce the number of visits to a doctor by elderly patients > Pets help to ease loss. An older person whose spouse has died is less likely to experience deterioration in health if he or she is attached to a pet. > And I would like to add to this, pets also make great security systems in your home. Bad people do not like large dogs that bark real loud. But with owning pets comes a huge responsibility, so make sure you are well equipped to care for your pet both financially and mentally before getting one. And one more thing, pets are man magnets (and chick magnets, whatever your preference), just visit a dog park and you will understand what I am saying. So if you finally want to meet that special creature that loves you without question and is loyal beyond all means; then get a pet. You won’t regret your decision. If you have an event, story or idea, you want covered, contact me at tonymgp@hotmail.com.

Michael Glassberg Wins First Place in the Herbsaint Melodic Mixology Cocktail Competition

ichael Glassberg, bartender at the famous Carousel Bar & Lounge in the historic Hotel Monteleone, took 1st place in the Herbsaint Melodic Mixology Cocktail Competition held on July 16th as part of th the 10 annual Tales of the Cocktail. Glassberg competed against four other finalists to claim the prize for creating the best musically inspired cocktail. The five finalists were required to concoct their recipe for three judges as they shared their musical inspiration behind their cocktail. The three judges, Kevin Richards (Sazerac Bar), Ann Tuennerman (Tales of the Cocktail) and Elsa Hahne (Offbeat Magazine), came to the decision that Glassberg’s cocktail, created as a tribute to New Orleans Jazz musician Sweet Emma Barrett, topped them all. Glassberg named his winning cocktail “Bell Gal” inspired by Sweet Emma “The Bell Gal” Barrett, famous for “I Ain’t Gonna Give Nobody None of this Jelly Roll.” Glassberg’s winning cocktail was featured at this year’s Tales of the Cocktail event at the Herbsaint Lounge July 28th. “The Bell Gal” created by Michael Glassberg: Ingredients: > .5oz lemon juice > .5oz simple syrup (1:1) > 6 mint leaves > 1oz Legendre Herbsaint > 1oz Lairds Applejack > 2 dashes Peychaud’s Bitters Directions: Muddle mint with lemon juice and simple syrup in a cocktail shaker. Add remaining ingredients and shake with ice. Finely strain into a highball with fresh ice. Top with club soda and gently stir to combine. Garnish with lemon wheel and mint sprig. For more information about the famous Carousel Bar & Lounge and the Hotel Monteleone, please visit www.hotelmonteleone.com. Tales of the Cocktail is the world’s premier cocktail festival, bringing together the most respected minds on mixology for five days of cocktails, cuisine and culture. Held annually in New Orleans, this international event has something for cocktail professionals and enthusiasts alike with a spirited schedule of seminars, dinners, competitions and tasting rooms where brands showcase their latest products. Tales of the Cocktail returned in 2012 for a historic milestone—its 10th Anniversary of rocking the cocktail world. The celebration was July 25-29. For more information on Tales of the Cocktail, visit www.TalesoftheCocktail.com.

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Sizzlin’ Hot in Pensacola ~ Photos by Lauren Mitchell

emerald city paparazzi

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SDGMs XXXVIII TJ & Pat gives us a heads up on Southern Decadence 41 VIP Table sponsor Double Play Sheaman & Hair Salon of the Year winner Head Quarters’ Monalot Fontaine

Miss Gay Louisiana America Maybelline Maskara addresses the crowd VIP Table sponsor Kajun Pub's Joann & Lisa Guidos

Production number by Show Bar of the Year Finalist JohnPaul’s

VIP Table sponsor Michael’s On The Park

Tommy joins brother Michael of Corner Pocket fame Production by Show Bar of the Year Finalist Tubby’s Golden Lantern

Production by Show Bar of the Year Finalist Oz

Production by Show Bar of the Year Finalist Bourbon Pub Parade

Steve Patrick & Paul Melancon welcome guests at the door

Bartender of the Year Finalist Jeff Palmquist from Cafe Lafitte in Exile

Stephanie Lee & Transgender of the Year Finalist Dee Cooley

David, John & Ronnie @ VIP Table sponsor Roy & Nick

Electra City, Entertainer & Cheridon Comedy of the Year Finalist Tittie Toulouse & Oz Show Director Coca Mesa

MGLA Maybelline Maskara & Big Momma LaVouge

DJ of the Year Finalist Myke Kolb & Max

VIP Table sponsor Safonda Peters & Stuart Nettles

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25th GAA Gala Raises $3,432 for Buzzy’s Boys & Girls @ Oz ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Devin, Tony Leggio

Production by Show Bar of the Year Finalist Michael’s On The Park

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Slidell, LA [985] OLDE SLIDELL ANTIQUE DISTRICT, First & Erlanger Streets, antique malls, gift shops, doll shop & restaurants, 643.4790, SlidellAntiques.COM

autos Metairie, LA [504] WALKER ACURA, 8951 Veterans Blvd., 464.4004, WalkerAcura.COM

bars Mobile, AL [251] B-BOB'S DOWNTOWN, 213 Conti St., 433.2262, b-bobs.com GABRIEL'S DOWNTOWN, 55 South Joachim St., 432.4900 THE MIDTOWN PUB, 153 Florida St., 450.1555 Pensacola, FL [850] EMERALD CITY, 408 E. Wright St., 433.9491, EmeraldCityPensacola.COM THE ROUNDUP, 560 East Heinberg St., 433.8482 Baton Rouge, LA [225] GEORGE'S, 860 St. Louis, 387.9798, HOUND DOGS, 668 Main St., 344.0807 SPLASH, 2183 Highland Rd., 242.9491, SplashBR.COM

Houma LA [985] THE DRAMA CLUB, 126 N. Hollywood, 580.2582 Lafayette, LA [337] JULES DOWNTOWN, 533 Jefferson, 264.8000 TONIC, 2013 Pinhook Rd., 269.6011 Lake Charles, LA [337] CRYSTAL'S, 112 W. Broad, 433.5457 Metairie, LA [504] 4-SEASONS / PATIO BAR, 3229 N. Causeway, 832.0659, 4seasonsno.com CLUB LAX, 2301 N. Causeway, 834.7979 New Orleans, LA [504] 700 CLUB, 700 Burgundy, 561.1095, 561.1098, 700ClubNewOrleans.COM BIG DADDY'S, 2513 Royal, 948.6288 BOURBON PUB & PARADE, 801 Bourbon St., 529.2107, BourbonPub.COM BYWATER PATIO BAR, 3162 Dauphine St., 944.4445 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 CUTTER'S, 706 Franklin, 948.4200, CuttersBar.BIZ THE DOUBLE PLAY, 439 Dauphine, 523.4517 THE FRIENDLY BAR, 2301 Chartres, 943.8929 GOOD FRIENDS BAR, 740 Dauphine St,

employment Baton Rouge, LA [225] LOOKING FOR A FEW GOOD MEN! Dancers wanted, license required, George’s, 860 St. Louis St., Baton Rouge, LA 70802. Call for info @ 225.387.9798 between 12noon-4pm, Mon.-Fri or email georgesplace@bellsouth.net. New Orleans, LA [504] HELP WANTED - Cashier/backup needed at Club New Orleans. Drug test required. Submit application at 515 Toulouse St.

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

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

galleries

New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700 MR. BINKY'S NEW ORLEANS, 2441 Paris Rd., 270.9900

New Orleans, LA [504] BLISS McCALL STUDIO, by appointment, 631 Elysian Fields Ave., 391.9131, BlissMcCall.COM DIETY ARTS OF THE EXTREME ORIENT, 830 N. Rampart, DietyNOLA.COM TANNER ORIGINAL ART, 830 Royal St., 524.8266, HauntingArt.COM

cable shows

guides

New Orleans, LA [504] THE GAR WILLIAMS SHOW, Every Wed. &Sat., 8:30am & 8:30pm, Access Television Channel 99

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: marsha@ripandmarsha.com International GayBars.COM, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, marsha@ripandmarsha.com

book stores

chiropractic

FI EL D S

French Quarter/Faubourg Marigny/Bywater

antiques

566.7191, GoodFriendsBar.COM JOHNPAUL'S, 940 Elysian Fields Ave., 948.1888, JohnPaulsBar.COM KAJUN'S PUB, 2256 St. Claude Ave., 947.3735 LE ROUNDUP, 819 St. Louis, 561.8340 MICHAEL'S ON THE PARK, 834 N. Rampart St., 267.3615 NAPOLEON'S ITCH, 734 Bourbon, 371.5450 NINTH CIRCLE, 700 N. Rampart, 252.4558 OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, OzNewOrleans. COM PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264 RAWHIDE 2010, 740 Burgundy St., 525.8106, Rawhide2010.COM SOCIETY PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., 299.0156. TUBBY'S GOLDEN LANTERN, 1239 Royal, 529.2860, TubbysBar.COM VOODOO BAR, 718 N. Rampart, 265.0953 Slidell, LA [985] BILLY'S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, 847.1921 Bay St. Louis, MS [228] CLUB RED, 317 Reese St.,, 467.5920, ClubRedBSL.COM Biloxi, MS [228] CLUB VEAUX, 834 Howard Ave., 207.3271

Chalmette, LA [504] SIMPLY PRECISE CHIROPRACTIC, Dr. Domingo De Los Reyes D.C., 9135 West Judge Perez, Suite B, 504.302.1718, SimplyPreciseChiropractic.COM [is213] New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MICHAEL LECHLEITER, D.C., 1526 Magazine, 566.1833 [is1612]

groceries/delis

circuit/events

New Orleans, LA [504] QUARTERMASTER DELI, THE NELLIE DELI, 1100 Bourbon, 529.1416

Aug. 29-Sept. 3, 41st Official Southern Decadence 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. 25-28, Halloween 29, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, halloweenneworleans.com Dec. 28, 2012-Jan. 1, 2013, Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.COM Feb. 8-12, 2013, Official Gay Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush, GayMardiGras.COM Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013, 14th Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade.COM May 24-27, 2013 Memorial Day Weekend, Pensacola, FL, sponsored by Ambush, GayPensacola.COM

hair salons

counseling Lafayette, LA [337] COUNSELING/THERAPY, James Huval, MSW, LCSW - Psychotherapy for individuals and couples/sliding scale. Lafayette office location. Accepting new clients. Day/evening appointment times available/For more information: www.HuvalMSW.COM or 337.356.1343

Mandeville, LA [985] RESTORATION HAIR DESIGN, 1800 W. Causeway Approach, Suite 119, 626.4353 New Orleans, LA [504] BOBBY BLUE CONTEMPORARY BARBER & BEAUTY PARLOR, 906 Bourbon St., 527.5100 HEAD QUARTERS HAIR SALON, 900 Rue Dauphine, 522.2666 MICKEY NOLAN'S SALON, 815 Toulouse St., 587.7782

hardware New Orleans, LA [504] MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER HARDWARE, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465

insurance New Orleans, LA [504] ALLSTATE: Buckwalter Insurance Group LLC, 2002 20th St., Kenner, 504.469.4800;101 Schexnayder Ln., Destrehan, 985.764.3833

lodging/accommodations New Orleans [504] AARON INGRAM HAUS, 1012 Elysian Fields, New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: 504.949.3110, E-mail us at ingramhaus@yahoo.com. Condos with queensize beds, private entrances; located only six blocks from Bourbon Street and walking dis-

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tance to most New Orleans attractions. Several favorite bars are within one block. [0712] 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, E-mail 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 half-open 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. [0812] FRENCH QUARTER SUITES HOTEL, 1119 North Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone 504.524.7725, Toll Free: 800.457.2253,FrenchQuarterSuites.COM. Email us at Reservations@bpmhotels.com. Official Host Hotel of OZ New Orleans. One of several French Quarter residences that have been painstakingly restored and transformed into spacious multi-bedroom suites. Beautiful and spacious townhomes available to accommodate groups of any size adjacent to the hotel. Just 3 short blocks from Bourbon St, with free Wi-Fi and complimentary continental breakfast and access to two beautiful pools. Covered off street parking available. MAISON DE MACARTY BED & BREAKFAST, 3820 Burgundy St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: 504.267.1564, MaisonMacarty.COM, E-mail us at kurt@maisonmacarty.com. Luxury gay owned and operated bed and breakfast. 8 bedrooms with ensuite baths, pool, sun deck and beautiful courtyard. Sleep, eat and play at Maison de Macarty. Book it now! 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. [0113] NEW ORLEANS COURTYARD HOTEL, 1101 North Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone 504.522.7333, Toll Free: 800.457.2253, NOCourtyard.COM. Email us at Reservations@bpmhotels.com, “Spectacular, very unusual piece of property” with balconies of varying design ringing the courtyard. Circa 1880 Historic New Orleans Home lovingly restored and converted into beautifully appointed rooms. Just steps away from Armstrong park, Bourbon St, and most of the popular gay clubs, bars, and restaurants. With two pools, free WiFi and complimentary continental breakfast. Secured off street parking available. 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

marketing & printing New Orleans, LA [504] SIR SPEEDY, 343 Carondelet, 586.9812, 586.9817, offering printing and marketing services including web design and hosting. info@sirspeedyneworleans.com, sirspeedyneworleans.com

massage New Orleans, LA [504] RIGHT TOUCH MASSAGE -- Christopher - Full body therapeutic massage; heated table; private studio; tropical garden; Faubourg Marigny Area, French Quarter. Upgrade (Salt Scrubs Bodywork & thai massage/bodywork). Call 504.458.5996 / website righttouchnola.com for pictures, location & special. License #LA4553 [is2612]

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, Offi-

cial Southern Decadence Guide, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com AMBUSHonLINE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049, ambushonline.com, email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com

museum/arts Baton Rouge, LA [225] LOUISIANA ARTS AND SCIENCE CENTER / RIVERSIDE MUSEUM, 100 S. River Road, 344.5272 LOUISIANA GOVERNOR'S MANSION, 1001 Capitol Access Rd., 342.5855 LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES, 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 EDGAR DEGAS HISTORIC HOME, 2306 Esplanade Avenue, tours by appointment: 504.821.5009, the house tour lasts one hour, is led by a great-grand-niece of Degas, and includes the award-winning documentary video, Degas in New Orleans: A Creole Sojourn 1850 HOUSE, 523 St. Ann, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm GALLIER HOUSE, 1132 Royal, 523.6722, Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm GERMAINE WELLS MARDI GRAS MUSEUM, 2nd Floor Arnaud's, 819 Bienville HERMANN-GRIMA HISTORIC HOUSE, 820 St. Louis, 525.5661, Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm HISTORICAL PHARMACY MUSEUM, 514 Chartres, 524.9077, Daily 10am-5:30pm HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION, 533 Royal, 523.4662, Tues-Sat 10am4:45pm LONGUE VUE HOUSE AND GARDENS, 7 Bamboo Rd, Metairie, 488.5488, Mon-Sat 10am-4:30pm, Sun 1-5pm MUSEE CONTI HISTORICAL WAX MUSEUM, 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, TuesSun 10am-5pm OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART, 925 Camp St., 539.9600 OLD U.S. MINT, 400 Esplanade, TuesSun 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., 592.4666

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 THE SOUTHERN RENEGADES, a Levi/ Leather Club, southernrenegades.com 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] AIDSLaw of Louisiana, 4560 North Boulevard, Suite 118, 302.5968, AIDSLAW.org 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 METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF BATON ROUGE, 7747 Tom Drive, 70806, Worship Sunday, 11am, Bible Study Wednesday, 7pm, 225.248.0404, mccbr.org 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 OF APOLLO / 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] ACLU and ACLU Foundation of Louisiana, P.O. Box 56157, New Orleans, LA 70156, 504.522.0628 x25, Fax: 888.537.0384, laaclu.org AIDS HOTLINE, 821.6050 in New Orleans, 1.800.99.AIDS[2437]-9 toll free statewide AIDSLaw of Louisiana, 3801 Canal St., Suite 331, 568.1631, AIDSLAW.org ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, 838.3399 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 12:15pm Solumn Mass, 5pm Praise & 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, w w w . b i g e a s y m c c . c o m , pastor@bigeasymcc.com BIG EASY STOMPERS, 1317 Pasadena Ave., Metairie, LA 70001 www.NewOrleansHoedown.com BROTHERHOOD, INC., To decrease the spread of AIDS and HIV among African Americans, 1661 Canal St., Suite 3230, 70112;

566.7955 CHURCH OF CHRIST THE LIBERATOR, Sun. 11am Service, 607 Marigny St. (behind The Friendly Bar), ChristTheLiberator.ORG 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 FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 944.6028 FORUM FOR EQUALITY, 336 Lafayette, Suite 200, 70130; 947.2981, ForumForEquality.COM FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE MARDI GRAS (FNBMG), PO Box 791376, New Orleans, LA 70179-1376; 733.3311, fridaynightbeforemardigras.com, fnbmg@cox.net 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, Email: 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 701566836; gga.org, E-mail: info@gga.org HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, INC., PO Box 52171, 70152-2171; halloween neworleans.com/ambush 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. KREWE OF ARMEINIUS, PO Box 56638, New Orleans, LA 70156-6638, info@kreweofarmeinius.org, 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, 1001 South Broad St., Suite 115, New Orleans, LA 70125, KreweOfPetronius.ORG 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 70117-4035, 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 MYSTIC KREWE OF SATYRICON, 2443 Halsey Ave., New Orleans, LA 70114, 504.906.7990 Todd J. Blauvelt / Secretary, krewe.of.satyricon@gmail.com, MysticKreweOfSatyricon.COM NEW ORLEANS GAY MEN’S CHORUS, 322.7007, nogmc.com; nogmc@aol.com NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL, nojazzfest.com NO/AIDS TASK FORCE, 2601 Tulane Ave.,

28 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 31-August 13, 2012 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

Suite 500, 70119; 821.2601; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM N'R Peace, 3201 Gen. DeGaulle Dr., Suite 201, 70114, 364.1950 OFFICIAL GAY EASTER PARADE, 828A 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, 828-A 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 PRIDE NEW ORLEANS CELEBRATION NOLAPride.ORG PROJECT LAZARUS, A Residence for PWAs, PO Box 3906, 70177-3906; 949.3609 REGIONAL AIDS INTERFAITH NETWORK [RAIN], 523.3755 SOFTBALL LEAGUE – Great fun for all skill levels, beginner to advanced. Visit nolasoftball.com for full details and find us on Facebook. ST. ANNA'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1313 Esplanade Avenue New Orleans, LA 70116 947.2121, stannanola.org THE COMMUNITY COALITION OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS LGBTQ Organizations & Businesses, tccgno.org, 569.9156 Until It Is OVER, Inc., Executive Director Don S. Evans, Sr., 5837 De Bore Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana 70126, Phone 504 722 1694, Fax 504 286 5784 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] PHILADELPHIA CENTER, PO Box 44454, 71134-4454; 222.6633 YWCA AIDS MINORITY COMMUNITY OUTREACH, 700 Pierre Ave., 71103; 226.8717

Quarter. Cell: 504.258.1800, Office: 504.529.8140, Email: SRichards@LatterBlum.com LATTER & BLUM, Agent Brian M. Pawlowski, brianrealtor@aol.com, Agent Stace McDonald, stacerealtor@aol.com, 840 Elysian Fields, 451.2495

pets

New Orleans, LA [504] CLUB NEW ORLEANS, 515 Toulouse, 581.2402, www.the-clubs.com

New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MIKE'S ANIMAL HOUSE, 1120 N. Rampart, 523.4455

pharmacy New Orleans, LA [504] & Baton Rouge, LA [225] AVITA DRUGS SPECIALIZED PHARMACY, free discrete delivery serving Louisiana, Mississippi & Texas. Certified pharmacists caring for HIV/AIDS, new-to-market & hard-to-find medications including Serostim. Local pharmacy that supports the LGBT community. www.AvitaDrugs.COM. 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

plumbers New Orleans, LA [504] PIPES "R" US PLUMBING, “Let us PEEP in your pipes”, 140 N. Carrollton Ave., Office 504.866.2730, Fax 504.484.0907, PipesRUsNewOrleans.COM

real estate agents New Orleans, LA [504] Latter & Blum INC/Realtors, STEVE RICHARDS, 712 Orleans @ Royal, French

restaurants New Orleans, LA [504] 700 Club Restaurant, 700 Burgundy, 561.1095, 561.1098, 700ClubNewOrleans.COM Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, CloverGrill.COM Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 The Decadence Shoppe (coffehouse & cafe), 806 N. Rampart, 529.8874, DecadenceShoppeCafe.COM Fatoush Mediterranean Grill, Coffee House & Juice Bar, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #130, FatoushRestaurantNOLA.COM, 504.371.5074 Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, 95 French Market Pl., 522.9500 Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 Organic Banana, 1100 N. Peters, Bay 27, 587.7903 Prime Grille, 3162 Dauphine, opening soon Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416, QuartermasterDeli.NET

retail/shopping New Orleans, LA [504] BOURBON PRIDE, 909 Bourbon, 566.1570 BUNGALOWS, 719 Royal St., 522.9222 PANDA BEAR, 415 Bourbon St., 529.8064 RAB DAB CLOTHING AND GIFTS, 918 Royal St., 525.6662 RAZZLE DAZZLE, 524 Royal St. 568.0001, RazzleDazzle.COM RAB DAB CLOTHING AND GIFTS, 918 Royal St., 525.6662 SECOND SKIN LEATHER, 521 St. Philip, 561.8167

spas tattoos New Orleans, LA [504] AART ACCENT NEW ORLEANS, 1041 N. Rampart St., 581.9812

theatres New Orleans, LA [504] CAFE ISTANBUL, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #140, 504.974.0786, CafeIstanbulNOLA.COM MAHALIA JACKSON THEATRE OF PERFORMING ARTS, 801 N. Rampart, Armstrong Park, mahaliajacksontheater.com, 525.1052

travel New Orleans, LA [504] Adventures Actually, Kate Alexander, 220.5503, AdventuresActually.COM

websites OFFICIAL GAY EASTER PARADE, GayEasterParade.COM OFFICIAL GAY MARDI GRAS, GayMardiGras.COM OFFICIAL GAY NEW ORLEANS, GayNewOrleans.COM OFFICIAL SOUTHERN DECADENCE, SouthernDecadence.COM

Next Ad Deadline Aug. 7th

504.522.8049

Gay East erParade.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayNew Orleans.COM • J uly 31-August 13, 2012 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 29

trodding the boards by Brian Sands

Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com

Urban Education Smackdown at The Shadowbox Theatre through August 18

t the start of Urban Education Smackdown, its playwright/per former Jim Fitzmorris asks “What in the name of Zeus’ bum hole would induce someone to become a teacher in New Orleans?” I’m not sure he ever answers that question (I certainly don’t think it’s the pay), but over the next 80 minutes or so he delves into the often surreal world of local public education with eye-opening and ultimately moving insights. Fitzmorris quickly makes clear what he is not going to be talking about. Urban Education Smackdown is not about posh, or even semi-posh, all boy, all girl, Catholic or any other kind of school whose teachers and parents have “accepted Ira Glass as their personal savior.” Rather, to avoid the taint that accrued to monologist Mike Daisey after it was revealed that parts of his supposedly journalistic The Agony and the Ecstasy of Steve Jobs were actually fabrications, Fitzmorris posits the Plessy vs. Ferguson Middle School at Gentilly and St. Bernard (next to the Racetrack, natch) and qualifies UES as a “complete work of fiction based entirely on fact.” At Plessy vs. Ferguson, “achievement is nowhere in the syllabus,” Fitzmorris claims, “just survival.” (For those who’ve forgotten, this was the case that enshrined the noxious “separate but equal” doctrine into our laws for over half a century; now the descendants of Plessy and Ferguson have a foundation that advocates for civil rights, so there is some hope in this designation.) We are introduced to a world of 14, 15, and 16 year-old eighth graders sporting tattoos whose families can be parceled roughly into two socioeconomic divisions: the working poor (security guards, nurses’ assistants, construction workers, etc.) and the “middle, middle, just-made-it-to the middle class” (policemen/women, nurses, etc.) In an archetypically American way, all these parents want their kids to make it to the next rung on the ladder. But, as Fitzmorris trenchantly observes, “the first group can’t read” and so cannot help their kids the way other parents can. How very, very sad. Fitzmorris keenly breaks the kids into three groups—the good, the bad, and the ones that can go either way— though he does so with much more rhetorical flair than I just have for, after a while, I stopped, for the most part, writing down verbatim what Fitzmorris said (you can see the show for that), and just listened and exulted in his finely chiseled narrative. So we get images of kids who

sound like they should be lawyers as they split metaphorical hairs with teachers. And the assurance that “the only weapon you have as a teacher is fairness.” And “when it is a he-said/shesaid situation of teacher vs. student, the teacher always loses.” And how “your job as an urban educator is to say to the endlessly talky kids ‘Shut the f*ck up’ without using three of those words.” Fitzmorris began this employment a year ago as a replacement for a teacher who went “screaming from the room.” He displays a true affection for most students and other hard-working teachers and administrators. But for the slackers and ne’er-do-wells, it’s a take-no-prisoners approach as he forms art from reality and gives an audience lots to ponder often casting things in a new light that we see or pass by every day.(A rock garden in a public school? What were they thinking?) Fortunately, though Fitzmorris claims he’s “not smart, just pissed off”, he is smart, very smart. And he knows how to write. In typical Southern style, he constructs finely honed sentences and, from them, paragraphs with seductive cadences and repetitions that enforce his message. That said, I would’ve welcomed a few more laugh-out-loud moments of absurdity like his description of a bank of cell phones so parents of troublemakers don’t recognize the school’s phone number when the inevitable call pops up on their caller ID. This way, they might actually answer the call. Working with Fitzmorris, Director Mike Harkins, did a good job to insure that the pacing never lagged. There are times, however, when Fitzmorris spits out his words so fast that they are difficult to understand and, even when comprehensible, are not allowed to sink in as fully as they should be. Harkins could also have encouraged a little more movement from Fitzmorris; by the show’s second half, the stage image has become much too static. Vic Woodward’s lighting could have been employed a bit more as well; quick changes when Fitzmorris gives pop quizzes to the audience offer nice dramatic frills and additional effects would have been theatrically enhanc-

D. Michael Stevens, Jeff Mallon & Veronica Russell in Standing on Ceremony at St. Anna’s Episcopal Church (Photo © Glenn Meche) ing such a production to its sanctuary. ing. Frederick Mead, Glenn Meche and Apparently, Fitzmorris had twice Karen Shields, divvying up the directoas much material from which he whittled rial duties, wisely kept the staging down his script. There’s a small bit of it, simple but it was no less effective for say, ten to fifteen per cent, that is more being so. descriptive than insightful that could, The playlets range from Wendy perhaps, be replaced with something MacLeod’s This Flight Tonight, in more dramatic. If there’s an occasional which a chic lesbian couple is heading bit of patting oneself on the back, how- to Des Moines to get married with the ever, I suppose anyone who’s made it diva of the pair having last minute jitthrough a year of teaching in a New ters, to White Marriage by Jeffrey Orleans public school deserves some Hatcher whose couple, in parallel of that. monologues, reveal how they’ve had a As Urban Education satisfying marriage despite some quesSmackdown heads towards its emo- tions of the husband’s sexuality. tionally rewarding conclusion that inPaul (Addams Family Values) cludes Fitzmorris’ marching in four Rudnick is the only playwright to have Mardi Gras parades in six days and two works in the mix and rightly so as some surprising little triumphs, a truly he is a funny, funny man. In My Huscompassionate portrait of a dedicated band, a Jewish mother has a surprise public servant emerges. I wonder if for a her single gay son while in The Fitzmorris is interested in turning his Gay Agenda a narrow-minded suburone man show into a screenplay? For banite gets her comeuppance but not if he is, a New Orleans version of Up before she tries to show how openthe Down Staircase might one day minded she is by complaining about all appear in cinemas across the nation. those big screen romantic comedies Of course, as possible titles go, Beasts with “sassy gay best friends” that are of the Southern Wild is already taken. “taking roles away from black women!” Jordan Harrison’s The Revision Standing on Ceremony: is cute as Wallace and Nate, a stickler for words, emend their vows to make The Gay Marriage sure they’re covered even with the Plays at St. Anna’s “ever-shifting whims of state and constitutional law,” while This Marriage is Episcopal Church reak the Mold Productions Saved by Joe Keenan was an overrecently presented Stand- the-top comic delight with its portrayal ing on Ceremony: The of a Reverend, who’s been caught with Gay Marriage Plays, an evening of 10 a 19 year old hustler, and his forgiving brief plays by some A-list writers, at St. in-her-own-way wife, as they go on a Anna’s Episcopal Church. It’s a sign of TV chat show to redeem themselves in how rapidly society’s changing that, the public eye. And leave it to Neil (reasons to be though presented off-Broadway just pretty) LaBute to provide us with a tale eight months ago, its Anderson-Coothat starts out atypically sunny for him per-in-the-closet joke is already outbut, by its end, is the one play here dated. where things don’t turn out so happily Despite some echoes in the chapel ever after. and an occasionally noisy air condiIn a cast of assured pros (Nelson tioner, Standing on Ceremony worked Gonzalez, Jeff Mallon, Rebecca McNeill very well in its church setting and St.

Anna’s is to be applauded for welcom-

[continued on 33]

30 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 31-August 13, 2012 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

ambush

papar azzi

Clubs, Cocktails, Parties ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Tony Leggio

Frankie, SDGM TJ, Dusty & MC Lisa @ The Corner Pocket

Julian with one of the Napoleon’s Itch hunky dancers

Bar Baron Michael Elias & Troy welcome you to The Corner Pocket Behind the bar @ Napoleon’s Itch

Nightlife @ 700 Club

Dallas, Texas’ Matthew & Terry flank Persana @ SD Press Party

In for Armeinius’ Anything Goes opening night @ Tulane Summer Lyric Belle Reve’s Vicki joins SDGMs Pat & TJ @ SD Press Party

Joining Armeinius’ Anything Goes opening @ Tulane MC Lisa Beaumann & one of the hot boys @ Corner Pocket

Cocktailin’ after the GAA Gala @ Good Friends Bar

Justin behind the bar @ Good Friends

Tiffany joins SDGM Pat on stage @ JohnPaul’s SD fundraiser

Former SDGMs Tittie & Electra flank SDGM Pat @ SD Press Party

SDGM TJ does drag with Chris @ JohnPaul’s SD fundraiser

Tony in his cameo role in Standing on Ceremony, The Gay Marriage Plays benefiting Satyricon

Cocktailin’ @ JohnPaul’s

Regina & Ceasar flank SDGM TJ @ Bourbon Pub Parade for SD Press Party

Former SDGMs Lisa & Toby flank Dusty @ SD Press Party

Former SDGM Julien & Brad @ the Parade for SD Press Party

Gay East erParade.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayNew Orleans.COM • J uly 31-August 13, 2012 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 31

ambush

papar azzi

Bartender Randy welcomes you to Voodoo

Brett & Todd join Cutter’s Pajama Party

Decadence Shoppe/Prime’s Kevin & Matt flank Kajun’s David @ CAN benefit hosted by Michael's

Bar Baron Mac gets into it @ Cutter’s Pajama Party

Greg & Michael @ CAN Project fundraiser

You can catch Shayne behind the bar @ Ninth Circle Best Marie Antoinette costume winner Merangue Antoinette @ Satyricon’s Bastille Day bash

Supporting the CAN Project fundraiser @ Michael’s On The Park Spinning for Travis & Andrea’s costume b-day bash @ 700 Club

Welcome to Travis & Andrea’s Anything & Everything costume bday bash @ 700 Club

A wild time @ Cutter’s Pajama Party

Robert & Herb @ Cutter’s Pajama Party

Stephaney, Stephen & Nick join Satyricon’s Bastille Day Party

SDGMs entourage in for Michael’s CAN Project fundraiser

Klorocks Bleachman in CAN Project benefit @ Michael's

Bootsie DeVille & Princesse Stephaney do “Wear A Condom, Save A Life” benefit @ Michael’s

Armeinius’ Nick & Rick @ CAN Project fundraiser @ Michael’s

King & Queen Satyricon X Stephen & Brick @ Satyricon’s Bastille Day Party

Celebrating the life of Marie Antoinette @ Satyricon’s Bastille Day Party

32 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 31-August 13, 2012 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

Parties, Fundraisers, Krewes ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Tony Leggio

SDGM Pat McArdle rakes in the dollars for CAN Project benefit

trodding the boards ...from 30 Meyers, Doug Mundy, Veronica Russell, Karen Shields, Diana Shortez, D. Michael Stevens—all working at top form), Ben Carbo, a NOCCA grad who recently returned to New Orleans after graduating college, was a real find;

though he had some of the less showy roles, he shined with a winning naturalness in all of them. And kudos to our local actors who memorized their lines unlike New York’s Equity members who read their scripts from onstage stands. There is an unavoidable sense that Standing on Ceremony is preach-

ing to the choir. I almost wished that one anti-same sex marriage piece had been included, penned by one of those master wordsmiths like, say, Ricky Schroder or Anita Bryant so we could possibly understand what makes them so hot’n’bothered. As with gays in the military, I suspect a hundred years from now, people will look back and wonder

what all the fuss was about. Or maybe even sooner. There’s talk that this production may be remounted at the Shadowbox later this year. Whether you’re planning nuptials or not, it’s an enjoyable evening, so if anyone asks if you would like to go see it, just say “I do.”

Gay East erParade.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayNew Orleans.COM • J uly 31-August 13, 2012 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 33

reVIEW...books, movies, cds by Blanche Email: ambushreview@aol.com Photo by Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM

y definition a trinity is a group of three closely related persons or things. The Holy Trinity is the unity of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit into one Godhead. This is according to Christian doctrine. Also referred to as the holy trinity in Cajun and creole cuisine we find onions, bell peppers, and celery. Variations on this might include garlic, parsley, or shallots. A different and much lighter use of the term would be drugs, sex, and rock and roll....a battle cry of sorts since rock began. Currently there are three films in theaters that fall into this category. I reviewed ROCK OF AGES in the July 3-16 issue of AMBUSH. It was full of rock music and liquor with the implication of sex and drugs. MAGIC MIKE has an abundance of all three. From director Steven Soderbergh, MAGIC MIKE is the story of Adam (Alex Pettyfer) who has moved

to Tampa and is living on his sister, Brook's (Cody Horn), couch. He got a job as a roofer on Craigslist. I have gotten lots of things off Craigslist, never a roofer. But I digress. At the construction site Adam meets Mike (Channing Tatum). Adam has no experience in roofing and is caught stealing Dr. Peppers so he is fired. Mike gives him a ride home. Running into Mike later that night in what must be the entertainment district, Adam ends up at XQUISITE, the male strip club where Mike works. One of the regular dancers can't go on, so Adam is pushed out onto the catwalk. Talk about your "new meat night". Adam goes from being penniless to male stripper money. Dallas ( Matthew McConaughey) is the owner of the club and is planning a move to Miami. The dancers are Ken (Matt Bomer), Tarzan (Kevin Nash), Tito (Adam Rodriguez), and Big Dick

Richie (Joe Maganiello). They are shaved, tanned, and buff. The shows are well choreographed and please the straight female audience. There are many numbers scattered throughout the movie. Mike is stripping to make money to start a custom furniture business. Living up to his promise to Brooke to watch out for Adam, Mike uses most of his savings to bale Adam out of a drug deal that has gone bad. This is where the movie suddenly ends. Mike quits stripping. Adam, THE KID, takes his place in what will be the last show in Tampa before the move to Miami. Mike ends up with Brooke. End of movie. MAGIC MIKE will not be nominated for an Academy Award. It is a "fun" movie with just enough plot to hold it together. The dancers are hot; their routines entertainig. Channing Tatum was actually a stripper in Florida at the beginning of his career. Don't look for any of these guys at THE CORNER POCKET. They are a bit old for "Boys on the Bar." The movie is drawing a mixed crowd... women and gay men. Needless to say, here in south Alabama, I was the only queen there. Oh well... Which brings us to the third part of

chop chop by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com

New Orleans Restaurant Guide 700 Club Restaurant, 700 Burgundy St., 561.1095, 700ClubNewOrleans.COM, is serving sliders, paninis, quesadillas, and more at the popular club in the French Quarter. Restaurant hours are 7pm til Wed.Sun. with extended Decadence hours. Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, CloverGrill.COM, is open 7 days and features breakfast including build your own omelettes. But let’s not forget their fab burgers grilled right under a hub cap and then there’s all those sandwiches, sides, desserts and shakes. Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., 945.0742, TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM. The chef has paid attention to detail and ingredient, and focused on a more contemporary menu at an even more affordable price point. Still the best food, but at even more unbelievable value! Serving 7 days 11am-10pm and Sunday Brunch 11am-3pm. The Decadence Shoppe, 806 N. Rampart, 529.8874, DecadenceShoppeCafe.COM is part coffee shop, part cafe, and part bakery. "We take pride doing all our own baking, and you can order your next spe-

cial treat from us," says owners Matt and Kevin. This little neighborhood place will fulfill your sweet tooth or both your breakfast or lunch cravings in a quiet setting while serving "desserts like Mom use to make". Located across the street by the Armstrong Park arch, the cafe is open Wed.-Sun. 7am - 3pm. Fatoush Mediterranean Grill, Coffee House & Juice Bar, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #130, 504.371.5074, FatoushRestaurantNOLA.COM, is truly a fresh new restaurant with a 23-year history of serving New Orleans and guests from all over the world. Think of Fatoush as a combination coffee house, herbal teahouse, natural juice bar, and organic restaurant offering a unique selection of the richest and healthiest foods from around the world. Handcrafted dishes that contain only the finest natural ingredients and a variety of cuisines and innovative taste offfer thrills that are appealing, exciting, and best of all, healthy. Open 7am10pm daily serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, 95 French Market Place, 522.9500 or visit LouisianaPizzaKitchen.COM, is famous for its wood fired gourmet pizzas, pastas, salads and appetizers. Open 7 days from 11am-10pm. Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212

Shrimp, Andouille & Stoneground Grits @ The Country Club, 634 Louisa St.

Gourmet Sliders with Onion Rings @ 700 Club Restaurant, 700 Burgundy

Hot Appetizer Platter @ Fatoush Mediterranean Grill, Coffee House & Juice Bar, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #130

our trinity, SAVAGES, directed by Oliver Stone. This movie is all about sex, drugs, and rock and roll and is easily the best of the three. Ben (Aaron Johnson) and Chon (Taylor Kitsch) are top marijuana growers, perhaps the best in the business. They live on the California coast in a deluxe house. O, short for Ophelia (Blake Lively) is their shared love interest. O is the sometimes narrator and lets us know early on that Chon is the hot f*** and Ben makes love. Johnson and Kitsch, he was the bad boy on FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS, both have have cute asses. As usual, no frontal nudity. Salma Hayek is Elena, the head of the Baja Cartel. She wants to take over Ben's and Chon's business. Benicio Del Toro (Lado) helps with the kidnapping of O. He is wonderful, as usual, in his bad guy role. John Travolta (Dennis), in his first role since the death of his son, plays the corrupt DEA agent. The movie is full of violence in what turns out to be a "you can't trust anybody" world. If the real Mexican drug wars are anything like this, I say "no thank you." There are twist and turns, especially as the kidnapping plays out. And just when you think it's over, well, it isn't. According to the online site, Box Office Mojo, MAGIC MIKE is doing very well at the box office. In it's second week, it has made $72 million on $7 million production cost. SAVAGES has grossed $16 million on a $45 million investment in it's first week. On the other hand, ROCK OF AGES, has only grossed $36 million on a $75 million budget in it's fourth week. These figures are based on the domestic totals ending the weekend of July 6-8. Guess Mr. Cruise has to get paid. But who knows, it may do well in DVD sales and rentals. Royal St., 522.6746, features Italian specialties including salads, pizzas, sandwiches and both lunch and dinner entrees. Open Mon.-Thurs. 5-10pm, Fri. Sun. 11am-10pm. Orleans Grapevine Wine & Bar Bistro, 720 Orleans, 523.1930, is located in a beautiful renovated 1809 building offering a pleasant atmosphere, extensive wine list with 200 selections, and delicious food including soups, salads, appetizers, entrees and house made desserts that will delight any palate. Open daily at 4pm serving dinner Sun.-Thurs. 5-10:30pm, Fri.-Sat. 5-11pm. Prime Grille, 3162 Dauphine, the city's newest restaurant is opening soon. Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St., 529.1416, QuartermasterDeli.NET, voted Restaurant/Deli of the Year, is open 24 hours 7 days. Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night menu, the deli offers free delivery.

34 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 31-August 13, 2012 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

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36 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 31-August 13, 2012 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM