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the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
14th Gay Easter Parade Rolls March 31 through the French Quarter The 14th annual Gay Easter Parade is Sunday, March 31 led by Easter Grand Marshals XIV Tommy Elias and Starr Daniels. This year the colorful parade will bring to the streets some 30 carriages, wagons and trolleys; 2 bands; 3 walking groups; and some 15 trucks and cars. The parade is now closed to further entries due to parade permit and insurance requirements. The parade showcases the fashion and creativity of the entire GLBT community with gentlemen in summer suits/ tux with hats, and ladies in Easter suits/dresses with Easter hats. The afternoon line-up starts at Michael's On The Park, 834 N. Rampart with: 2:30-4pm Pre-Parade Party & Buffet, 3-4pm Parade Check-in with Parade Line-up Chair Steve Patrick at front door, 4-4:30pm Board Carriages, Vehicle Line-up, 4:30pm 14th Gay Easter Parade rolls; ending at 700 Club, 700 Burgundy with 6pm Post-Parade Party & Buffet. The parade begins at 4:30pm following its traditional route through the French Quarter beginning at N. Rampart and St. Ann, down St. Ann to Bourbon, left on Bourbon to Esplanade, right on Esplanade to Royal, right on Royal to St. Louis, right on St. Louis to N. Rampart. right on N. Rampart to Toulouse, right on Toulouse to Burgundy, left on Burgundy to St. Peter ending at St. Peter. The parade rolls rain or shine. There are no cancellations or refunds. The parade minus expenses benefits Food For Friends (FFF), a program of the NO/AIDS Task Force and has been supplying groceries and home delivered meals to HIV infected and affected individuals in the greater New Orleans area for over 15 years with the NO/AIDS Task Force serving our community for over 26 years. Over 600 meals a week are currently being delivered to clients who are home bound or otherwise unable to prepare their own meals or shop. Over 300 clients receive pantry items per month (last year’s Gay Easter Parade’s $36,252 donation allowed 100 new pantry clients for the year). Over 42,000 meals were delivered through the Home Delivered Meals Program in 2012. Presently volunteers deliver meals every Tuesday. Over the past eleven years, the parade has generated $147,439 for charity. The Sponsors of the Gay Easter Parade play an integral part to the
You can make an added difference by becoming a sponsor today. Get your sponsorship form at GayEasterParade.COM or at 828-A Bourbon Street. For more info call 504.522.8049. Past Grand Marshals include EGMs I Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain, II Larry Bagneris and the late Miss Do Moreland, III Timm Holt and Teryl-Lynn Foxx, IV George Simons and Electra City, V Brett Messmer and Princesse Stephaney, VI James Swire and Lisa Beaumann, VII the late Doc Reed and Opal Masters, VIII Michael Elias and Rona Conners, IX Orlando Aloe and Safonda Peters, X Tony Leggio and the late Marcy Marcell, XI Chuck Turner and Tittie Toulouse, XII Gary Vandeventer and Elizabeth Bouvier, and XIII Darwin Reed and Rhonda Roget.
14th Purple Party March 23 @ Double Play
success of this venture. Presented by Ambush Mag, sponsors include: Platinum: Friday Night Before Mardi Gras, Oz New Orleans; Gold: Stuart Nettles & EGM IX Safonda Peters, EGM XII Gary Vandeventer, Todd J. Blauvelt, Krewe of Amon-Ra, Queen Amon-Ra XLVIII Deja Deja-Vue’ & Jim May; Silver: EGM XII Elizabeth Bouvier, EGM XIII Darwin Reed & EGM VII Opal Masters, EGM VIII Rona Conners, Dwain Hertz/Al Dugas & Gene Theriot, EGM XIII Rhonda & David Roget, EGM VIII Michael Elias & Jay Sewell/The Corner Pocket, Frankie Fierce & King Cake Queen XX Dusty Debris, Glen Kahrman & Noel Twilbeck, Thomas C. Schoonenberg, Bobby Vallecillo & Rene Leaumont, Michael Cookmeyer/ Michael’s On The Park, Wood Enterprises, Jeffrey Palmquist & Coca Mesa, Misael Rubio/Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, EGM IV Electra City & EGM XI Tittie Toulouse; Bronze: EGM XIV Starr Daniels & Justin Moffatt, EGM X Tony Leggio, Charlotte Sullivan, EGM VII Orlando Aloe/Society Page, Charles Jenkins/ Krewe of Ursus, EGM V Princesse Stephaney, Krewe of Satyricon, EGM II Larry Bagneris, Frank & Pete Abbruscato, National Association of Caterers & Events (NACE), Bootsie DeVille, Roy Smith & Nick Olivares, Ranzy Montet & Creig Istre, Michael Sullivan, Michael Sullivan, Michael Durocher, Ken Marino/Fabulous Flowers LLC, Bebe & Chris ScarpinatoLinwood, Frank Perez/Crescent City Tour Booking Agency, Glenn O'Berry & Roger Copehaver; Venue/In-Kind: 700 Club, 4 Seasons, Cutter’s, The Double Play, Larry Graham, Michael’s On The Park, Oz.
The Gay Easter Parade's 14th annual Purple Party Easter Grand Marshals reception is set for Saturday, March 23, 8-10pm, at The Double Play, 439 Dauphine in New Orleans. Honoring Easter Grand Marshals XIV Tommy Elias and Starr Daniels, the elegant party is one of the hits of the Easter Season. It's an evening with one of Chuck and Bill's legendary buffets, raffles, prizes and auctions, all for a mere $5 donation at the door. Some of the auction highlights include Big Purple Bunny Basket worth over $500, Imperial Dynasty Faberge’ Egg donated by Rona Conners, beautiful cuff bracelet donated by GOGO Jewelry, and progressive auction-NFL Drew Brees Autographed Football donated by Pepsi and Dwayne Jones. The evening also celebrates the 42nd anniversary of club proprietors Chuck Turner and Bill Miller. Get your purple ready and join the reason for the Easter Season, benefiting Food For Friends. Visit GayEasterParade.COM for more info.
4th Bunnies in The Big Easy Good Friday, March 29 Gay Easter Parade presents the "4th annual Bunnies in The Big Easy: Put the Good Back in Friday," March
inside
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 Frankie Fierce, Charles Jenkins, Tony Leggio, Frank Perez, Arthur Severio, Rev. Bill Terry, Rory Wright-New Orleans Bob Brunson, MIss Cie & 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 NaquinDelain, 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. ©1982-2013, AMBUSH, INC.,ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDINGAD LAYOUTS, MAPS and PHOTOS. AMgrant - AMbush Advertising Grant Donation
29, 7-10pm. This year the party will be hosted at Bourbon Vieux, 501 Bourbon Street. Advance tickets are $35, and [continued on 6]
French Quarter Fest issue out April 2 DEADLINE: Tues., Mar. 22
celebrazzi drag extravaganza paparazzi real estate commentary under the gaydar moments in gay new orleans history bunnies in the big easy gay easter parade classifieds reVIEW
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a community within communities trodding the boards snap paparazzi/new orleans ambush paparazzi/new orleans 40th upstairs fire memorial pensacola paparazzi ambush paparazzi mobile paparazzi chop chop/nola restaurant guide
Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 828-A Bourbon St. • New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 • 504.522.8049 marsha@ripandmarsha.com
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4th Bunnies in The Big Easy Good Friday, March 29 Gay Easter Parade presents the "4th annual Bunnies in The Big Easy: Put the Good Back in Friday," March 29, 7-10pm. This year the party will be hosted at Bourbon Vieux, 501 Bourbon Street. Advance tickets are $35, and only 100 tickets will be sold. Call Tony Leggio 504.252.5476, or Rip Naquin 504.522.8049. It's an evening with a hot spinning DJ, special performances, hot Bunny Boys, incredible live auctions, plus complimentary award winning cuisine, vodka cocktails, wine & beer bar, non-alcoholic beverages. For more information, visit GayEasterParade.COM.
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the "official" dish ...from 4 only 100 tickets will be sold. Call Tony Leggio 504.252.5476, or Rip Naquin 504.522.8049. It's an evening with a hot spinning DJ, special performances, hot Bunny Boys, incredible live auctions, plus complimentary award winning cuisine, vodka cocktails, wine & beer bar, non-alcoholic beverages. For more information, visit GayEasterParade.COM.
12th Drag Extravaganza raises $5,000 for GEP/Food For Friends The 12th annual Super Star Studded Drag Extravaganza brought in $5,000 for the Gay Easter Parade benefiting Food For Friends. Hosted at Platinum Sponsor Oz in honor of Easter Grand Marshals XIV Tommy Elias and Starr Daniels, it's the one time each year when reigning royalty of several gay carnival krewes appear on stage with the King Cake Queens of Gay Mardi Gras. GEP Board’s Tony Leggio was coemcee with King Cake Queen XIX Nicole DuBois. GEP Board's Opal Masters, Electra City and Tittie Toulouse helped with the incredible auctions for the event. The celebrity performers included King Cake Queen (KCQ) XX Dusty Debris, Queen Amon-Ra XLVIII Deja Deja-Vue', Queen Petronius LII Lanacayne, Queen Satyricon XII Aida Cockswell, KCQ IV Reba Douglas in her first performance in 15 years, KCQ IX Lisa Beaumann, KCQ XIII Raven
Kennedy, KCQ XIV Princesse Stephaney, KCQ XV Marsha NaquinDelain in her only performance this year, KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac, and KCQ XIX Nicole DuBois who just won Miss Gay Louisiana USofA Classic. One of the biggest highlights was the "Man I Feel Like A Woman put Lord King XXX Pat Johnson in Drag" auction raising $1,429. The financial report shows that $1,190 was raised at the door, $696 in stage performance tips, $130 Golden Queen Easter Bonnet won by Queen Petronius LII Lanacayne, $160 Wine Dinner Basket won by Walter Chaboude, $75 Oz VIP Pass won by Michael Boulas, $400 Napoleon Faberge' Egg won by Walter Chaboude, $700 Mega White Bunny Basket won by Queen Petronius Lanacayne, $95 donation by Queen Petronius Lanacayne, $125 of $450 NFL Progressive Drew Brees Autographed Football won by Michael Elias for a subtotal of $3,571. The "Man I Feel Like A Woman Put Lord King Pat Johnson in Drag" auction brought in $200 for the Dress won by Serenity dela Terre, $100 for Blush & Eye Shadow won by Michael Ducote, $200 for Lipstick won by Gary Vandeventer, $150 for Eyelashes won by Rhonda Roget, $40 for Earrings won by Rip Naquin, $50 for Wig won by Ben Bourgeois, $50 for Shoes won by Rip Naquin, $300 for Name That Queen Rhoda Kill won by Michael Ducote, $250 for Song/Man I Feel Like A Woman won by Serenity dela Terre, $89 for Stage Performance Tips, for a subtotal of $1,429.
The total for the event was $5,000. There were no expenses. Under the direction of GEP Board's Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain, the couple would like to express their sincere appreciation to each and everyone who made the event a huge success.
First Presbyterian Church Prepares to Ring in Easter Week First Presbyterian in Uptown at S. Claiborne and Jefferson is all about pushing boundaries these days. Starting with calling an out gay pastor to the most historic Presbyterian congregation in Louisiana (Rev. Fred Powell, III),
now they are offering a free “Creative Prayer” supper series on Thursday evenings at 5.30pm that explores prayer from many faith traditions to connect your body, mind and soul to God; dance as prayer, Buddhist and Sufi meditation techniques, labyrinths as prayer, a protestant rosary…even a presentation on SEX as prayer. Then in the week before Easter, First Pres is offering an “Upper Room” worship service at 6pm on Thursday, March 28, with a meal, foot washing and communion; on Good Friday (March 29) there will be an open prayer time in the church from noon to 3pm with many self-guided meditation options based [continued on 14]
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celebrazzi
12th Super Star Studded Drag Extravaganza hosts Marsha & Rip Naquin-Delain join Easter Grand Marshal XIV Tommy Elias in proudly announcing the event raised $5,000 at Oz New Orleans benefiting Gay Easter Parade’s reason for the Easter Season, NO/AIDS Task Force Food For Friends program! Many thanks to all of the royalty performers, and the generosity of those who made this all possible.
The Krewe of Petronius' new board welcomed new members for their 53rd Rush Party hosted at Michael's On The Park in New Orleans.
Lords of Leather's Lord King XXX Pat Johnson was a hit in the "Man I Feel Like A Woman Put Lord King Pat in Drag" auction raising $1,429 for the 12th annual Super Star Studded Drag Extravaganza. You could bid on everything including the Dress, Blush & Eye Shadow, Lipstick, Eyelashes, Earrings, Wig, Shoes, Name This Queen, and Song. Michael Ducote bid $300 to name the queen Rhoda Kill. This particular auction has been held for the past four years, and Pat's has been the most successful to date. Hosted at Oz New Orleans, the event brought in a total of $5,000 with no expenses.
Cookie St. Ann was crowned the 4th Playboy Bunny Reject by last year's queen Frankie Fierce winning a carriage in the Gay Easter Parade from the Krewe of Amon-Ra.
The family, originally from Baton Rouge and Denham Springs, Reba Douglas with her childhood baby sitter, Marsha Delain and partner Rip Naquin for the historic return of Reba Douglas after some 15 years to the stage at Oz.
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”This Girl is on Fire” by King Cake Queen XV & Easter Grand Marshal I Marsha Naquin-Delain
Co-MC King Cake Queen XIX Nicole DuBois
Queen Petronius LII Lanacayne wins Golden Easter Bonnet auction bidding $130 with model GEP Board’s Electra City
Michael Boulas wins Oz VIP Pass bidding $75 with MC Tony Leggio
Queen Satyricon XI Aida Cockswell
Corner Pocket’s Michael Elias bid $450 on Progressive Drew Brees Signed Football with Tittie Toulouse
Queen Petronius LII Lanacayne KCQ IV Reba Douglas’ historic return for the first time in over 15 years
KCQ XIII Raven Kennedy
Electra & Tami present the Mega White Bunny Basket to Lanacayne with winning bid of $700
And yes, the wig came off for Reba’s return
Queen Amon-Ra XLVIII Deja Deja-Vue’
KCQ XIV & EGM V Princesse Stephaney
Easter Grand Marshal XIV Tommy Elias & EGM VIII Michael Elias
KCQ IX & EGM VI Lisa Beaumann
snap paparazzi
KCQ XVI Tami Tarmac
GEP Board’s Tittie & Electra present Walter Chaboude the Napoleon Faberge’ Egg won by his $400 bid
Reigning King Cake Queen XX Dusty Debris
EGM XIII Darwin Reed & partner GEP Board’s Opal Masters
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12th Super Star Studded Drag Extravaganza raises $5,000 for Gay Easter Parade/Food For Friends @ Oz ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Darwin Reed
Walter Chaboude wins Wine Dinner Basket Auction bidding $200 with GEP Board’s Tittie Toulouse
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the "official" dish ...from 6 on the “Creative Prayer” series. On Easter Sunday (March 31) you are invited to a sunrise service at 7am at the cross in front of the church (for those who’re just leaving the bars there WILL be breakfast afterwards) then an Easter Egg Hunt for children at 10am, followed by a Festive Communion at 11am. First Presbyterian Church, which is the only fully LGBT affirming Presbyterian Church in New Orleans is located at 5401 S. Claiborne Ave at the corner of Jefferson Ave in Uptown. Visit FPCNO.ORG for additional information.
11th Marigny Bunny Hop led by Bunny Marshal Princesse Stephaney The 11th Annual Marigny Bunny Hop, an Easter bonnet bar crawl, will be held on Saturday, March 30, 2013. Everyone is invited to don their most creative or outrageous Easter “bonnet” and join the bar crawl as it makes its way to eight gay owned businesses in the Marigny. At each stop, bonnets will be judged in various categories by the bartenders and staff, and trophies will be presented. This year, the Bunny Marshal (BM) leading the festivities will be local celebrity Princesse Stephaney. She will be responsible for guiding the Easter revelers along the route. Previous Bunny Marshals (BM’s) include: I-III Lewis Routh; IV Guadelupe; V Poncho; VI Fish; VII Rip & Marsha; VIII Joann & Lisa Guidos; IX Tony Leggio; and X Marty Curtin & Jeff Mallon. The event will begin at 2pm at Kajun’s Pub, 2256 St. Claude Ave., and will make stops at the following locations where trophies will be presented: 1. Kajun’s Pub - Sissiest Bonnet 2. The Phoenix - Butchest Bonnet 3. JohnPaul’s - Best Couple 4. Who Dat Cafe - Best Newbie (1st time participant) 5. Cutter’s - Most Glamorous Bonnet 6. Big Daddy's - Widest Bonnet 7. Mimi’s - Tallest Bonnet 8. The Friendly Bar - Betties Best Group (3 member minimum) Ambush Magazine presents Best of the Best, and Event Organizers Marty Curtin present the Meyer-Routh-Murrell Spirit Award, both at The Friendly Bar.
Easter Festival Mass @ St. Anna's Episcopal Church March 31 Easter Festival Mass is set for Sunday, March 31 at St. Anna's Episcopal Church, 1313 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans. "All are welcomed none are shunned" at the little stone church just
blocks from the French Quarter. The lovely mass includes horns and the Treme Community Choir and a wonderful intimate setting to start off the Easter Season with. The High Mass and Principal Service begins at 10:30am. Bring your bonnets and rejoice for the Lord Is Risen Indeed!
Commemoration Ceremonies Planned for 40th Anniversary of Upstairs Lounge Fire A series of events is planned for Monday, June 24, 2013, to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Upstairs Lounge fire. In 1973, the Upstairs Lounge was a popular gay bar in the French Quarter. An arsonist set the bar on fire and killed 32 people. At the time, public reaction was extremely homophobic. Some family members of the victims even refused to claim the bodies. The Commemoration Ceremonies planned for June are designed to afford the 32 victims the dignity and respect they were denied at the time. Commemoration events are as follows: > A brief lecture by artist Skylar Fein at the Williams Research Center of the Historic New Orleans Collection to be followed by a viewing the Center’s archival material concerning the fire. > A Jazz funeral procession from the Williams Research Center to the site of the fire at the corner of Iberville and Chartres Streets. > A solemn reading of the victim’s names. > A second line parade to a cocktail party at Café Lafitte in Exile. > The New Orleans premiere of Upstairs, a new musical by Wayne Self. These events are being sponsored by the publishers of Ambush magazine, Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain, and are being organized by Frank Perez, co-author of In Exile: The History and Lore Surrounding New Orleans Gay Culture and Its Oldest Gay Bar.
Event To Kickoff “Young@Art” New Orleans’ Newest Arts & Culture Event Series NO/AIDS Task Force is proud to announce its newest initiative, Young@Art, New Orleans’ newest arts & culture event series, underwritten by Chevron. The series “blasts off” with an Instant Art Event at The Green Project Warehouse at 2831 Marais Street on Saturday, March 23, from 8pm to 11pm. Jimmy Descant, a.k.a. The Rocketman, will team up with local rock band DiNOLA to out-perform and out-create one another at this special event. This is only the third time this show of massive action, rock ‘n roll, and art
has been seen in New Orleans. Previous shows left the crowds wide-eyed and awe-struck at what they just experienced! The piece created at the Instant Art Event on March 23rd will be donated to NO/AIDS Task Force to auction at their annual art auction and holiday gala, Art Against AIDS, to be held on December 7, 2013 at the New Orleans Museum of Art. “You don’t want to miss this show. The only way to describe it is a live, mixed-media art experience. Crowds get to see two unique pieces of art created before their eyes. Jimmy creates and actual tangible piece, but the way the band and Jimmy feed off one another throughout the show makes the performance itself a one-of-a-kind piece of art,” remarked Michael Weber, Events Coordinator. Young@Art, produced by NO/AIDS Task Force and presented exclusively by Chevron, seeks to capitalize of the power of art beyond the aesthetic experience. The membership-based quarterly art series seeks to present unique arts and cultural experiences that highlight art’s ability to heal, inspire, nourish and create connections. Proceeds from Young@Art will fund arts and culture education and experiences for clients of NO/AIDS Task Force. “We’re really excited to be partnering with Chevron to bring the community and our clients together around the arts and culture through collaboration to create unique experiences and educational opportunities. This instant art event will kick off, or more appropriately, “blast off” our Young@Art series and will be really representative of what we hope to achieve through the series,” said Cheryl Grace, Director of Development for NO/AIDS Task Force. Memberships are $200 and include admission to all three quarterly events plus Patron-level admission to Art Against AIDS. Additional member benefits include (4) free regular admissions to NOMA and select Green Project member benefits. Memberships to Young@Art are available at www.noaidstaskforce.org/YoungAtArt . Individual tickets for the Blast Off event are $25 and can also be purchased at the above link or at the door the night of the event, based on availability. Upcoming events for 2013 will feature a culinary experience with local slow food maven Poppy Tooker and a performance by internationally renowned dancer Silas Riener formerly of the Merce Cunningham Dance Company, in his only appearance in New Orleans this year. The final event in the series will be Art Against AIDS, the long-standing holiday gala and art auction that benefits NO/AIDS Task Force. Jimmy Descant, aka The Rocketman, grew up in Chalmette, and lived most of his life in and around New Orleans before moving outside of Denver, CO after Katrina. He got the name
‘Rocketman’ from his 15 years of showing his vacuum cleaner art at the Contemporary Art section of the Jazz Fest, exhibiting Buck Rogers type rocket ships made from parts from the Golden Age Of Manufacturing. Now he is a fullscale, live Instant Art performance/ assemblage artist who builds art onstage with a band. All events are one of a kind, as well as the art created, which is always given or auctioned for charity. Jimmy says, “I wanted to severely connect with the pieces and parts of the debris of America in a completely pure inspirational moment, and get it out of me and onto a canvas of plywood in messages of peace and compassion.” More information about Jimmy Descant and his work can be found on his website: www.deluxerocketships.com. For more information, please visit www.noaidstaskforce.org or call 504.821.2601.
1970 Jazz Fest Movies Screened at Old U.S. Mint, April 25th Join the Friends of the Cabildo and the New Orleans Film Society as the Louisiana State Museum’s collection of seven different 16mm film reels from the first Jazz Fest will be shown at the Old U.S. Mint 3rd Floor Performance Space Thursday, April 25th at 7pm. Dr. Charles Chamberlain, will moderate the event as well as the Band-In-APocket Jazz Trio will be performing in sections that do not have sound. Don Perry, one of the founders of the New Orleans Jazz Club and a former WDSU cameraman filmed the first festival in 1970 and donated the reels in 1978 to the Louisiana State Museum (LSM). The LSM digitized the films in 2012 allowing them to be preserved for generations of Jazz Fest and music fans. The seven separate films show artists such as Duke Ellington, Pete Fountain, Danny Barker and Mahalia Jackson. The 1970 Jazz Fest Movies will be screened at the Old U.S. Mint at 7pm, Thursday April 25th. Tickets are a donation to the Friends of the Cabildo/New Orleans Film Society at a cost of $10 and $7.50 for Friends of the Cabildo/Louisiana Museum Foundation/New Orleans Film Society Members. There will be a cash bar for drinks and reservations are limited. To reserve your space, please contact Kaydee Nenninger at the Friends of the Cabildo Office 504.523.3939. More information can be accessed at www.friendsofthecabildo.org and www.neworleansfilmsociety.org. Friends of the Cabildo is a private nonprofit volunteer group that provides financial and volunteer support for the Louisiana State Museum, its projects and its property. Since incorporating in 1956, the Friends of the Cabildo has grown into a large statewide membership organization, a dynamic and motivating force in broadening and supporting the aims of the Louisiana State Museum.
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real estate Using Your IRA Money for a Home Purchase Down Payment A traditional IRA does in fact allow you to withdraw up to $10,000 in order to finance a deposit for a first-time home purchase. Although it allows you to do this without paying an early withdrawal penalty (a standard 10% is usual) you may still have to pay income tax on the $10,000 withdrawal. There are a lot of things to consider when attempting using IRA money for a home purchase down payment. If you wish to avoid paying income tax on an IRA early withdrawal on a firsttime home purchase you do have several options, there are certain qualifiers that allow you to withdraw $10,000 from a traditional IRA; The first qualifier is based on age, you must be below 59 years old, and if you are below this age you are required to qualify for the next part. The second qualifier that you must pass if you wish to avoid paying taxes on your withdrawal = you cannot have owned a house for at least 2 years, and that you are only
commentary Why does the LGBT community eat its young? by Mark Segal One item you will rarely see in this column is something about New York — simply because the mainstream media is headquartered there and believe that anything that happens in New York is somehow important to you and me everywhere else. And, of course, they want to remind themselves that they, as they like to say, live in the best city in the world. Sorry, New York, far from it. But that is another column. This column is about something happening in New York that also takes place around the country. It’s about killing our own, or how the LGBT community keeps itself down. In this case, it’s Christine Quinn, who happens to be the out president of the New York City Council and a buddy to Mayor Michael Blumberg — as well as the frontrunner in the coming mayoral election. From my friends in New York, there is much grumbling about her candidacy among those not supporting her — who are saying everything from she’s a crony to Bloomberg, to she doesn’t know the issues, to she doesn’t treat our community well. First, no politician is universally loved. But, unless you can show me something unethical — a campaign based on a lie or some personality trait that would keep her from obtaining that position — it is in the LGBT community’s best interest to stand tall with her. If you’ve made it to the position of heading City Council, you most likely understand politics and know how to maneuver. And if, by this time in her career, there are no scandals, then your opinion on her may likely be based on her political positions — how right or left she is or who her political bedfellows are. This is one overriding issue that really should make you see that your philosophical positions should be
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504.522.8049 marsha@ripandmarsha.com
put to the side. Quinn would be the first out mayor of one of the nation’s top media markets. The media love to broadcast almost anything New York-related. Translation: Quinn will get lots of national exposure, which translates into LGBT exposure around the nation, especially in places where they do not see LGBT issues often. And, more importantly, she can and will be a role model for lesbian women. My theory on LGBT equality has been based on media since the 1970s. Yes, you read that right. It has been my career to appreciate how media can help us gain equality. Quinn is now part of that equation. Having a person from the LGBT community not at the table but at the head of the table is a major step forward, especially in a high-profiled media market important for this community nationwide, similar to the experience of Tammy Baldwin’s election to the U.S. Senate. One major point of any civil-rights movements is that people have a place at the table. Those opposed to the LGBT community gaining power need to read history. Jump onboard or stay in the ghetto. Mark Segal is the nation’s mostaward-winning commentator in LGBT media.and has been recognized by the National Newspaper Association, Pennsylvania News-media Association, Suburban Newspapers of America and the Society of Professional Journalists, among others. He can be reached via Facebook or Twitter.
withdrawing a maximum of $10,000. In order to qualify for a tax exempt withdrawal from your IRA you must pass the above qualifiers as well as passing the following requirements; you must ensure that the house you are buying is going to be your primary residence (no second homes or income properties). Another requirement is that the purchase of the home must be done within a set time limit. With this kind of withdrawal you have a maximum of 120 days to purchase the home, failure to do so will result in the money being returned to the IRA and that will be your life time limit used up until you hit the threshold again. Careful consideration must be made when trying this because if the sale of the house falls through it leaves you vulnerable to legal issues. With a traditional IRA you can only withdraw $10,000 in the lifetime of the IRA. The $10,000 limit means that once you have withdrawn this amount you cannot withdraw any more for other expenses that go along with purchasing a house until you have reached the IRA threshold. So it is important that before attempting to use IRA money for a down payment on a home you make sure that you are able to afford all of the other expenses that accumulate when purchasing property. If you are withdrawing the IRA money for your child or your partner to buy their first home it is possible to do
so without paying tax on the withdrawal as long as the above qualifiers and requirements are followed. When using your IRA money to help your loved one purchase their first home there is a time limit that you can take advantage of that often helps avoid the money being taxed. There is a 60 day payback clause that means that if you manage to get either a portion or all of the withdrawn money back into the account within 60 days the amount of cash put back in will not be considered a distribution and will not be taxable. With a traditional IRA you should be aware that there are disadvantages to withdrawing money that goes beyond tax. The biggest disadvantage is that if you tap into your IRA money it is no longer there for you to use on other things such as other investments that could be more lucrative than a first time home. It could also cause you problems by pushing you into a higher tax bracket. Using money from an IRA can be quite complicated, so we always recommend that above and beyond anything you may have learned here, you seek the advice of a qualified CPA who can look at your own personal circumstances and can advise how best to proceed. Author Jeff Hammerberg is the Founding CEO of http:// www.GayRealEstate.com.
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under the gaydar by Tony Leggio Email: ledgemgp@gmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
Book of the Month It seems like everyone has gone Fifty Shades of Grey in the head. With that novel, erotica is making a more commercial comeback (no pun intended). But erotica has been around for decades written by some the most noteworthy authors usually writing under a pseudonym such as the Anne Rice’s Sleeping Beauty trilogy. She wrote those books as A. N. Roquelaure and they were huge bestsellers. My book of the month is S.E.C.R.E.T., an erotic novel set in New Orleans. It is written by L. Marie Adeline, which is also a pseudonym for another best-selling author, who is yet still unnamed. I have never been a huge fan of erotic novels, especially straight ones, but this was a very interesting and enticing read. The sex scenes were vivid and over the top. But what I loved about the book is that the city took center stage. The Crescent City comes alive in this book. For anyone who lives in New Orleans, the description and attention to detail of the city is wonderful. I know where the author is when she talks about the locales, I have walked the same streets as the characters. The main protagonist even lives in my neighborhood one block away from me. How cool is that. The premise is about a waitress named Cassie Robichaud whose life is filled with extreme loneliness since the death of her husband. Her boring existence is shaken when she discovers a notebook belonging to a mysterious customer that leads her to an underground society of women called S.E.C.R.E.T. This group comprised of a variety of different women is dedicated to helping other ladies accomplish their wildest and most intimate fantasies. This sexual realization and freedom is a ten step program and Cassie soon begins her journey with some randy adventures. S.E.C.R.E.T. is a fast read that kept my interest from start to finish. It is a bold novel that brings the reader along with the main character on her path of empowerment and self-discovery. I enjoyed the novel which is part of a trilogy and could relate to the main character. Cassie is a vulnerable person who just wants to feel alive again. The book ends perfectly with the set up for the next installment. As a gay man, I have to admit, the novel was sexy. The men are extreme specimens and the erotica passages are deliciously descriptive. I actually found myself wanting to be Cassie on numerous occasions, the lucky girl. S.E.C.R.E.T. blends the erotica
nicely into the storyline without it being overbearing. I highly recommend this book especially for locals. For more information on the novel, go to www.secretnovels.com.
Putting the Good Back into “Good Friday” Hop along the bunny trail this Easter with one of the sexiest and coolest parties of the season on Good Friday. Bunnies in the Big Easy starts the festive Easter weekend of events on March 29. But this Good Friday fete is like none other you have ever seen before. This year it will be held at the Bourbon Vieux, an elegant event venue located on Bourbon Street. It boasts the largest balcony on the thoroughfare and is one of the most popular spaces in the French Quarter to host a soiree. This year guests will enjoy an evening of holiday revelry. I along with Rona Conners and the entire Easter Parade Board are the hosts for the evening. Tickets are $35 and it includes scrumptious award winning cuisine, open beer, wine and vodka bar, music, dancing and the very sensual 2013 Bunny Boys as they parade their “baskets.” Only 100 tickets are sold to this party, so be sure to buy them early since none will be sold at the door. There will be special guest performers this evening as well as a DJ spinning the hottest tracks. Remember all proceeds raised from this event go to benefit Food For Friends. Once again, Bunnies in the Big Easy is from 7pm to 10pm on Good Friday, March 29 at the Bourbon Vieux. For tickets, call Ambush at 504.522.8049 or my number at 504.252.5476.
Lisa Guidos; IX Tony Leggio; and X Marty Curtin & Jeff Mallon. The event will begin at 2pm at Kajun’s Pub, 2256 St. Claude Ave., and will make stops at the following locations where trophies will be presented: Kajun’s Pub; The Phoenix; JohnPaul’s; Who Dat Cafe; Cutter’s; Big Daddy’s; Mimi’s in the Marigny; and the Friendly Bar. Additional awards are sponsored by Ambush Magazine and the event organizers Marty Curtin and Jeff Mallon. Trophies will be awarded for the following categories: Sissiest Bonnet, Butchest Bonnet, Best Couple, Best Newbie (for first time participants), Most Glamorous Bonnet, Widest Bonnet, Tallest Bonnet, the Betties Best Group (three member minimum), Best of the Best, and the Meyer-Routh-Murrell Spirit Award. As a past Bunny Marshal, I can vouch that there is no better way to spend a Saturday afternoon then taking a leisurely stroll around the Marginy, sipping on cocktails and parading your best hat for all to see.
More Easter Events In addition to Bunnies in the Big Easy, there is another Gay Easter Parade event on Saturday, March 23. The 14th Annual Purple Party will take place from 8 – 10pm at the Double Play. Tickets are $5 and include a buffet, raffle, prizes and live auction. All the events are led by our wonderful Grand Marshals this year Tommy Elias and Starr Daniels. We also have another reason o celebrate on the 23rd; it is the owners Chuck and Bull’s 42nd Anniversary. Chuck was Easter Grand Marshal XI and has been a constant supporter of the parade since its beginning. The Double Play is located at 439 Dauphine Street. And all these fundraisers lead up to the big day, Easter Sunday. The 14th Annual Gay Easter Parade begins at
4:30pm with a pre-parade party at Michael’s On The Park beginning at 2:30pm This parade has grown so much in size that it is now one of the most attended events during Easter weekend. So pull out your bonnet and join the party. You might even see Judy Garland out on the streets. Well, at least a more manlier (and alive) New Orleans version of her.
Party Down Easter is almost upon us and Spring fever is in the air. We have now moved into Daylight Savings Time, so we have more time to enjoy the beautiful weather we have been experiencing. My two weeks have been a mix of business and pleasure. My good times started on Wednesday of week one when I went to a rooftop penthouse party hosted by MMI Catering in the building that houses Restaurant August. MMI Culinary Services is an upscale catering company and this penthouse is one of their venues you can rent. It is spacious with a wrap -around balcony and an amazing view. They allowed guests an opportunity to sample some of their delicacies and view the space. Afterwards, some of my coworkers and I went to the opening of Dominique’s on Magazine, the newest eatery by award winning chef Dominique Macquet. The cuisine was delicious and inspired. From the moment you enter the restaurant, you are enveloped in a sense of style that makes this restaurant a stand out dining experience. The elegant dining room has been beautifully detailed and the patio is a tropical oasis that is the perfect setting for a romantic dinner. Accentuated with visual art and hydroponic gardens, the outside area is stunning. There are also many private spaces both inside and out for events. [continued on 20]
Hop To It Another one of my favorite events will be held on the following day. The 11th Annual Marigny Bunny Hop, an Easter bonnet bar crawl, is on Saturday, March 30. Participants in this funfilled afternoon are invited to don their most creative or outrageous Easter “bonnet” and join the bar crawl as it makes its way to eight gay owned businesses in the Marigny. At each stop, bonnets will be judged in various categories by the bartenders and staff, and trophies will be presented. This year, the Bunny Marshal (BM) leading the festivities will be local celebrity Princesse Stephaney. She will be responsible for guiding the Easter revelers along the route. Previous Bunny Marshals (BM’s) include: I-III Lewis Routh; IV Guadelupe; V Poncho; VI Fish; VII Rip & Marsha; VIII Joann &
Bunny Marshal XI Princesse Stephaney to lead 11th Marigny Bunny Hop
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moments in gay new orleans history by Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net
“Tennessee Williams: Out in the Quarter; In on the Stage” This week thousands of people will pack the Hotel Monteleone and other venues around the French Quarter to celebrate the life and work of Tennessee Williams. The Tennessee Williams / New Orleans Literary Festival is an annual event held each March in honor of the playwright’s birthday. The event features readings, lectures, panel discussions, theatrical productions, literary walking tours and the famous Stella yelling contest in Jackson Square. In addition to being New Orleans’ most famous literary resident, Williams also integrated himself well into the gay community in the French Quarter. He rented no less than four different apartments throughout the Quarter (429 Royal, 722 Toulouse, 711 Royal, and 632 St. Peter) before buying a GreekRevival townhouse at 1014 Dumaine in 1962. He was a regular at several gay bars, especially Café Lafitte in Exile, and he loved to dine at Marti’s—a favorite eatery among gay Quarterites in the 1970s. Although Williams did not officially come out of the closet until the final years of his life (something for which he was chastised by gay critics), his homosexuality was an open secret and certainly not a surprise to anyone familiar with his works. In fact, a careful reading of Williams’ literary canon suggests a man who was deeply conflicted about homosexuality. Alternatively, such a reading may also reveal a profound and disturbing exploration of the closet and all its psychological implications. In the vast majority of Williams plays, the gay character is dead before the action begins. In his most famous work, A Streetcar Named Desire (1947), Blanche DuBois arrives in New Orleans to begin her gradual descent into madness. Why? Because she earlier discovered her husband having sex with another man, a discovery which caused him to kill himself. At one point in the play, Blanche sings “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” whose lyrics declare if both lovers believe their imagined reality, then it’s no longer make believe. Not only does the act of being outed lead to suicide, the false reality of the closet leads to insanity. Suicide is also very much a part of Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (1955). The main character, Brick, no longer has sex with his wife and “hasn’t been right” since his “good friend” Skipper committed suicide. Brick’s implied homosexuality is echoed in his father’s back story: Big Daddy was taken in by two queens as a young man. The play is set
on the plantation they bequeathed to him. Death is also linked with gayness in Suddenly Last Summer (1958). In this play, the gay character is cannibalized by a group of young men with whom he paid to have sex. Later, when Sebastian’s sister recalls for their mother the bizarre circumstances of his death, the mother tries to have a lobotomy performed on her to remove the memory—clearly an autobiographical reference to Williams’ own sister who was subjected to a lobotomy. While the gay characters are ambiguous and in the background of Williams’ plays, they are explicit and in the forefront of his poetry and short stories. For example, the short story “Hard Candy” features an older man who dies of a heart attack as he kneels in front of a young man and performs fellatio on him. The consistent association of homosexuality with death throughout Williams’ work raises the question: was Williams’ sexual orientation a source of self-loathing? I tend to think not. Rather, Williams was in a unique position, and possessed the literary talent, to explore the status of homosexuality in the culture in which he lived. In this regard, his work reflected the homophobic attitudes of his time. That is not to say, Williams was not a troubled man. His alcoholism and drug addiction certainly point to that. Albert Carey remembers meeting Williams at Lafitte’s in the 1970s: “I saw Tennessee Williams standing by the flame. As I neared him I could see he was very, very drunk but I introduced myself anyway. He gave me a very limp handshake, like a dead fish, and mumbled something incoherently, which kind of grossed me out, and he almost fell down in the process.” Dr. John Meyers also recalls meeting Williams at Lafitte’s: “I was sitting at the bar and I knew who he was but I didn’t make a big deal out of it. Then he came over and introduced himself as Tom, which was his given name. We fell into conversation and he ended up taking me to lunch at Antoine’s. I was in medical school at the time and thinking of going into psychiatry. He spoke of his sister’s lobotomy—something I don’t think he ever recovered from. He seemed more interested in drinking than eating. In fact, I ate most of his food. We had a wonderful conversation and overall it was a delightful afternoon.”
Despite his troubled genius, Williams lived as an openly gay man as much as the times would permit. In 1946, while he was writing Streetcar in his apartment on St. Peter Street, his lover Pancho Rodriguez lived with him and although the romantic relationship did not last, the two remained friends into the 1970s. This brief relationship was followed by a serious fourteen year commitment to Frank Merlo. After Merlo’s death in 1963, Williams’ alcoholism and addiction to pain killers became progressively worse until his death in 1983.
In the French Quarter, Williams found a certain freedom that eluded him elsewhere. Upon first arriving in New Orleans, he wrote in his journal that the “town is wide open” and “Here, surely, is the place I was made for.” He would eventually call New Orleans his “spiritual home.” Such a libertine environment allowed Williams’ genius to flourish. It’s a shame, and somewhat ironic, that the theatre world of Williams’ time censored a more frank exploration of homosexuality. Such homophobia may also explain, at least in part, Williams’ personal demons.
under the gaydar ...from 18
adds for some interesting moments. And thank you Chase for the alcohol wipes they came in handy. Next up was the Petronius rush party at Michael’s On the Park. The color was red as the krewe festively greeted potential new members, Petronius is the oldest krewe and their members are very gracious to all those who attend their functions. Finally, I went to the Armeinius Rush Party at Oz. They had a very large crowd enjoying the upstairs balcony and the glorious weather. After hanging out with so many of my friends in the different krewes, I called it an evening. It was very assuring to see so many people coming out to rush the various organizations. I then made it to the Marigny for a few cocktails at JohnPaul's, then across the street to celebrate the start of the Gay Softball League’s season. Many of the hot softballers were on hand at the Phoenix to party after their opening double header (pun intended). After working late night events the first part of the next week, on Wednesday I attended a reception for the National Association for Caterers and Events at Deanie’s Restaurant in the French Quarter. The food as expected was tasty, but what I enjoyed was seeing their private rooms for parties. They have several places to hold private receptions and one of the cutest courtyard rooms in the city. It is an ideal place for hosting your next event and you can be assured the food will be top notch. On Thursday, I went to two receptions. The first was the opening of the Bistreaux at the Bank in The Whitney Wyndham hotel on Poydras Street. This is a popular dining establishment that is conveniently located on the ground floor of the hotel. Bistreaux at the Bank has a cool ambiance in the historic bank building, making it one of the most intriguing New Orleans restaurants and event spaces. There is even a real bank on the other side of the restaurant. Then I went to a reception at the Chicory which is the event space next door to long-time favorite bar Ernst Café. They have revitalized this old building and turned it into a sleek party venue that still keeps the New Orleans
Dominique’s is definitely a welcome new addition to the culinary scene in New Orleans. The restaurant is located at 4213 Magazine Street. On Thursday, I took a client to dinner at Arnaud’s Restaurant which is still one of my favorite dining experiences in the city. From the potatoes soufflé to the Café Brulot, the entire meal was brilliant. As a local, I feel like we forget that we have some of the best restaurants in the world, and Arnaud’s is one of them. If you have not been in a while, you need to make a point to go and enjoy a night out. Friday was one of those nights where my friends and I just flitted around the Quarter going to some of the bars we had not been to in a few weeks. We started out at the Deals, Dares and Dancer’s at Oz, then we went and caught Drag Queen Bingo at Michael’s On The Park, then stopped at New Meat Night at the Corner Pocket, drinks upstairs at Good Friends then finally ending back at Michael’s for Princesse Stephaney’s show. Sometimes the best times can be had without a game plan. I returned back to Michael’s on Saturday for the 5 th Annual Eggstravaganza Gay Easter Parade fundraiser. I was honored to emcee with co-GEP board member Opal Masters who is one of the most glamorous and classy performers in the city. And she is a riot to work with as emcee; she kept me in stitches the entire time. There were some great drag stars that evening and we raised $2,217 for Food for Friends. Our illustrious hostess Cookie St. Ann was the star of the night looking very glamorous in her high hair and sequined outfit. Thank you to all the performers who made the night very special for all those who attended. Sunday was a day of rush parties. I bounced from bar to bar so quickly, I needed a scorecard to remember which krewe I was visiting. As captain of Satyricon, I love to support all my sister krewes because each one works hard to keep this wonderful art form alive. My first stop was the Lords of Leather rush party at the Phoenix. There is something to be said about attending a party with pizza, beer and a sling. It
[continued on 21]
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under the gaydar ...from 20 charm with exposed beams and brick walls. Their caterer was outstanding and all the food served that night was absolutely delicious. On Saturday, I attended another Gay Easter Parade fundraiser at Oz. The 12th Super Star Studded Drag Extravaganza was a massive success bringing in $5,000 and having a stellar cast that comprised past and present King Cake Queens and current Mardi Gras royalty. I got to emcee with the fabulous Nicole DuBois who is a dynamo on the microphone. It was quite a challenge keeping up with her quick wit. There were so many stand out numbers like Easter Grand Marshal I Marsha Naquin-Delain’s rendition of “This Girl is on Fire” by Alicia Keyes to Reba Douglas’ rousing spiritual. I also have to give a shout out to my own Queen Satyricon Aida Cockswell for her funny and popular number. But the spotlight of the night had to be transforming Lords of Leather’s current King Pat Johnson into a vision in drag. Now he is what we call a man in a dress, but in his defense the dress was a Christian Dior. He was a great sport and raised an incredible amount of money, $1,429. Who knew that putting eyelashes and lipstick on someone would go for so much? We appreciate all the people who came out and supported the cause. Without your support the Gay Easter
Parade would not be possible. Sunday was another marathon of events for me. I went to brunch with my mom in River Ridge at this hidden gem of a sushi restaurant called Taste of Tokyo. This place has become my favorite new sushi spot with their creative rolls, inexpensive prices and excellent service. Then I went to see “Noises Off” at Rivertown Repertory Theatre. They have another hit on their hands with this talented cast. Then I went back to the Quarter to catch the tail end of Amon-Ra’s Playboy Bunny Reject event at Oz. They had a full house as several contestants strutted their stuff on the catwalk selling their baskets. Tittie Toulouse and Electra City hosted this hilarious fundraiser for the krewe. The winner of the night went to Cookie St. Ann who won the crown and a carriage in the Gay Easter Parade. I concluded my night at a birthday celebration for my friends Channing and Barrett at Albert Carey’s condo in the Warehouse District. There is no better way to cap off a weekend than having cake and champagne with good friends. Happy birthday guys. That ends my two weeks of fun. See you on the streets for Easter and do not forget to come out and catch me in the Gay Easter Parade. Yell for me on my carriage and I will make sure to give you a treat. Happy Easter.
Tony’s Tidbits of Gay Wisdom The old adage is true, it is better to give than receive. Now that I got the attention of all the bottoms and some curious tops, I can continue. What I actually mean, is that so many people in our community are in trouble and need help. In these trying times of economic hardship and social upheaval, people can stumble on their path in life that is why it is so important that when we be cognizant of friends who have fallen on hard times either financially or emotionally. It is important to give back to the community whenever you can. There are many ways you can help those who require it the most, financially is an obvious way. This city is laden with lots of fundraisers to support. I like calling this partying with a purpose. You get to have fun and still give to worthwhile causes. Every time you buy a ticket to one of these events, you are doing a good deed. Many people may not say that is helping, but a person can give back however they wish, there is no right or wrong way. But like so many, I can’t always afford to go to every event. In that case, you can give one of the most valuable assets a person has, their time. When you volunteer, you take helping others to a more personal level. Whether you work in the kitchen or sit with a person and read to them, you are
brightening their day. I believe that the worse thing about being sick is the isolation and the loneliness. Anytime you are able to put a smile on someone’s face, you have done an amazing feat. Last but certainly not least, become a spokesperson for a cause. You do not have to be on stage with a bullhorn to be a mouthpiece for a nonprofit or an organization. Educating people on the good things these groups do and enlisting others to become involved is priceless. It takes the phrase “paying it forward” to a new level. During the Easter season, you now have an ample opportunity to help a great cause. Food for Friends delivers meals to people shut in with HIV and AIDS, as well as provides a food/ supply kitchen for many others who are more ambulatory but find themselves financially strapped because of their condition. You can party with a purpose by coming to any of the events leading up to the Gay Easter Parade – the Purple Party, March 23 and Bunnies in the Big Easy – March 29. You can become a sponsor (GayEasterParade.COM), or you can volunteer at the NO/AIDS Task Force. This is just several ways to help make our community and our city a better place to live. If you have an event, story or idea, you want covered, contact me at ledgemgp@gmail.com.
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French Quarter/Faubourg Marigny/Bywater
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] BOLT NIGHTCLUB, 116 E. Vermillion, 524.1380 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 CAFÉ LAFITTE IN EXILE, 901 Bourbon Street 522.8397, Lafittes.COM CLUB TANGO, 1000 Bienville, 523.4111 CORNER POCKET, 940 St. Louis, 568.9829 COUNTRY CLUB, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 CUTTER'S, 706 Franklin, 948.4200 THE DOUBLE PLAY, 439 Dauphine, 523.4517 THE FRIENDLY BAR, 2301 Chartres, 943.8929 GOLDEN LANTERN, 1239 Royal, 529.2860 GOOD FRIENDS BAR, 740 Dauphine St, 566.7191, GoodFriendsBar.COM JOHNPAUL'S, 940 Elysian Fields Ave., 948.1888, JohnPaulsBar.COM KAJUN'S PUB, 2256 St. Claude Ave., 947.3735, KajunPub.COM LE ROUNDUP, 819 St. Louis, 561.8340 MICHAEL'S ON THE PARK, 834 N. Rampart St., 267.3615, MichaelsOnThePark.COM NAPOLEON'S ITCH, 734 Bourbon, 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 RAINBOW ROOM, 632 Bourbon St., enter thru Fishbowl, 994.1036 ROUX BAR, 3162 Dauphine St. on the patio @ Prime Grille, 301.1740 SOCIETY PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., 299.0156. VOODOO BAR, 718 N. Rampart, 265.0953 Slidell, LA [985] BILLY'S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, 847.1921 Biloxi, MS [228] CLUB VEAUX, 834 Howard Ave., 207.3271
book stores New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700
chiropractic 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 [is213
circuit/events Easter Sunday, March 31, 14th Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade.COM May 24-27, Memorial Day Weekend, Pensacola, FL, sponsored by Ambush, GayPensacola.COM Aug. 28-Sept. 2, 42nd 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. 24-27, Halloween 30: I3OO, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, HalloweenNewOrleans.COM Dec. 27, 2013-Jan. 1, 2014, Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.COM Feb. 28-Mar. 4, 2014, Official Gay Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush, GayMardiGras.COM
costumes New Orleans, LA [504] QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633 SOUTHERN COSTUME COMPANY - 951 Lafayette St., 523.4333, SCCNOLA.COM
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] BLISS McCALL STUDIO, by appointment, 631 Elysian Fields Ave., 391.9131, BlissMcCall.COM
guides America Damron Travel Guide, 800.462.6654, www.damron.com Gulf South/United States AMBUSH Mag, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049,
ambushmag.com; email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com International GayBars.COM, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, marsha@ripandmarsha.com
groceries/delis New Orleans, LA [504] QUARTERMASTER DELI, THE NELLIE DELI, 1100 Bourbon, 529.1416
hair salons 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
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 distance to most New Orleans attractions. Several favorite bars are within one block. [0713] BURGUNDY BED AND BREAKFAST, 2513 Burgundy St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE/ FAX: 504.942.1463, Toll Free (Continental US only): 1.800.970.2153, theburgundy.com, Email us at theburgundy@cox.net. Gay owned and operated in newly renovated 1890's double. Four guest rooms with private baths, guests' parlor and "half-kitchen", courtyard and 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. [0813] THE FRENCH QUARTER GUEST HOUSES, 1005 St. Peter, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone: 877-681-5087 frenchquarterguesthouses.com. Email: info@stpeterhouse.com. Four meticulously restored boutique Inns located in the heart of the French Quarter’s most popular LGBT neighborhood. Each building’s individual character and charm provides an unforgettably authentic French Quarter experience! 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. A locally owned and operated French Quarter hotel that has been beautifully transformed into spacious multi-bedroom suites. Several historical townhouses are also available to accommodate larger groups of up to 26. Just 3 blocks from Bourbon St., free WiFi, swimming pool, and continental breakfast included. Off street parking is available. MAISON DE MACARTY BED & BREAKFAST, 3820 Burgundy St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: 504.267.1564, MaisonMacarty.COM, Email 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. [0114]
24 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Mar c h 19-April 1, 2013 • Of fic ial Gay East er Parade Guide Guide • GayEast erParade.COM
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, Official Host Hotel of OZ New Orleans. A 19th century home that has been historically restored and transformed into a locally owned and operated hotel. Experience the rich history and hospitality of New Orleans at an affordable price. Just 3 blocks from Bourbon St, free Wi-Fi, swimming pool, and continental breakfast included. Off street parking is 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 (Swedish/Deep Tissue); heated table; private studio; tropical garden; Faubourg Marigny Area, French Quarter. Upgrade (Salt Scrubs Bodywork & Thai/Sport Stretching massage). Call/text 504.458.5996 / website righttouchnola.com for pictures, location & special. License #LA4553 [is2613]
media New Orleans, LA [504] AMBUSH Mag, Official Gay Easter Guide, Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide, Official Gay New Orleans Guide, Official Gulf South Guide, Official Southern Decadence Guide, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; email: 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 10am5pm 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 10am-4:45pm LONGUE VUE HOUSE AND GARDENS, 7 Bamboo Rd, Metairie, 488.5488, Mon-Sat 10am4:30pm, 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, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART, 925 Camp St., 539.9600 OLD U.S. MINT, 400 Esplanade, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm PRESBYTERE, 751 Chartres, Jackson Square, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL, Jackson Square, Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1:30-5pm
music New Orleans [504] SKULLY'Z RECORDZ, 907 Bourbon St., 592.4666
organizations Mobile, AL ALABAMA PRIDE FEST, MobileAlabamaPride.COM 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 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, www.bigeasymcc.com, 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 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 GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, info@gayeasterparade.com, GayEasterParade.COM GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM GLSEN [Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network], 482.4081, Fax 595.8587, E-mail: glsenno@hotmail.com, glsenno.org GULF GENDER ALLIANCE [GGA], NonProfit Support Group for Transgender persons. Monthly meetings, socials and political activism. Privacy respected and expected. Interview required. Nondiscriminatory. Call 504. 324.4035 or write PO Box 56836, New Orleans, LA 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 AMON-RA, PO Box 7033, Metairie, LA 70010, KreweOfAmonRa.COM KREWE OF ARMEINIUS, PO Box 56638, New Orleans, LA 70156-6638, kreweofarmeinius.org 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 KREWE OF URSUS, kreweofursus@aol.com LaCARP [Louisiana Community AIDS Research Program], 584.1971 LA-LIFT, Social Club for Lesbians, age 50+, who have fun together on weekends. E-mail: armyvet20@webtv.net LAMBDA CENTER, 831 Elysian Fields Ave., 70117 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NEW ORLEANS, 234 Loyola, Suite 421, 70112; 581.9106 LORDS OF LEATHER, P.O. Box 770435, New Orleans, LA 70117-4035, LordsOfLeather.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 BEAR AND BEAR TRAPPER SOCIAL CLUB, P.O. Box 57756, New Orleans, LA 70157-7756, 504.452.3564, theneworleansbears.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., Suite 500, 70119; 821.2601; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM N'R Peace, 3201 Gen. DeGaulle Dr., Suite 201, 70114, 364.1950 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 REGIONALAIDS 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. SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM ST. ANNA'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1313 Esplanade Avenue New Orleans, LA 70116 947.2121, stannanola.org 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 YWCAAIDS MINORITY COMMUNITY OUTREACH, 700 Pierre Ave., 71103; 226.8717
pets New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MIKE'S ANIMAL HOUSE, 1120 N. Rampart, 523.4455 LAKEVIEW VETERINARY HOSPITAL, 482.2173, LakeviewVet.COM
pharmacy 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.AvitaPharmacy.COM.
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reVIEW...books, movies, cds by Blanche Email: ambushreview@aol.com Photo by Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
Another F-Word “Another F-Word” is a new novel by Lissa Brown. She is from North Carolina and the book would be considered gay fiction. It is the story of growing up different, coming out and finding your place in the world. It is a story of love and hate, courage and determination. Every gay man and woman has a story similar to Rory Calhoun Wilson’s...some better, some worse. Rory Calhoun Wilson was named after the 1950s cowboy. He is the son of Ruth and Darrell Wilson; grandson of Lily and Grady Wilson, Darrell’s parents. The story is set in rural East Tennessee. Rory was born in the early 1990s. He is the child Ruth and Darrell always wanted but not the son Darrell expected. Boxing gloves are bought and a trip is made to the Bristol Motor Speedway. Rory is not interested. He would rather be at home working in his flower and vegetable garden. Rory hears his dad refer to him as a “faggot” and the line is drawn in the sand.
New Orleans, LA [504] MUMFREY'S PHARMACY, 1021 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043, 504.279.6312, www.MumfreysPharmacy.COM. Supporting & serving the LGBT Community for over 20 years. Local pharmacy offering personalized family-like service, automatic refills & free metro wide confidential pickup & delivery. Also offering shipping for out-side our delivery area. When you call us you speak to a person, not a machine. See our ad.
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 New Orleans, LA [504] Gay-Owned Agency — New Orleans Relocation LLC, Mark Boline, Realtor/Broker, mark@nolarelo.com, 504.273.0088, 1027 Touro Street, New Orleans, LA 70116. Visit NOLArelo.com to search all NOLA properties for sale. Latter & Blum INC/French Quarter, Steve Richards, LGBT Realtor, 712 Orleans @ Royal, Cell: 504.258.1800, Office: 504.529.8140, Website: www.SteveRichardsProperties.com, Email: SRichards@LatterBlum.com LATTER & BLUM, Agent Brian M. Pawlowski, brianrealtor@aol.com, Agent Stace McDonald, stacerealtor@aol.com, 840 Elysian Fields, 451.2495
Rory is bullied by his dad at home and his classmates at school. He has the support of his mother and his paternal grandparents. He has one friend, Ashley, the girl down the street. Then Jake and his family move to Craggy Grove and he has a male friend. Ruth and Darrell divorce. Rory remains close to Meemaw and Papaw...Lily and Grady. The bullying at school intensifies, leading to the “incident”. The “incident” behind the athletic field at school sorta divides the book. After that, “Another F-Word” has as many twist and turns as Lombard Street in San Francisco. You begin to wonder “what’s next”? Perhaps everything that could happen to Rory does happen to him and maybe that’s the point. “Coming out” can be hard...whether you do it in the 1960s like I did or in the 1990s like the character Rory in the book. “Another F-Word” brings back memories...I came out in a small southern town. The book is about relationships...between Rory and his
restaurants New Orleans, LA [504] Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, CloverGrill.COM Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 Deanie's Seafood, French Quarter: 841 Iberville, 581.4141; Bucktown: 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie, 831.1316; Deanies.COM Fatoush Mediterranean Grill, Coffee House & Juice Bar, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #130, FatoushRestaurantNOLA.COM, 504.371.5074 Krystal, 116 Bourbon at Canal, 523.4030 Lil Vic's Rosticceria, 719 Toulouse, 304.1238 Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, 95 French Market Pl., 522.9500 Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 MUNCH @ 700 Club, 700 Burgundy, 561.1095, 561.1098, 700NOLA.COM Organic Banana, 1100 N. Peters, Bay 27, 587.7903 Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro, 720 Orleans Prime Grille, 3162 Dauphine, 301.1740 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 LA MINA STERLING, 840 Royal St., 324.3423 MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER KITCHEN & BATH, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465 PANDA BEAR, 415 Bourbon St., 529.8064 QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633 RAB DAB CLOTHING AND GIFTS, 918 Royal St., 525.6662
mom, Ruth...between Rory and his dad, Darrell...between Rory and his grandparents, Grady and Lily. and the one between Grady and Lily and their son, Darrell. “Another F-Word” is a quick read, 235 pages divided into 49 chapters. Educators and advisors should read it. Parents should read it, it is about tolerance and acceptance. Young adults should read it, especially if you're questioning your sexuality. The book won’t make you gay, but it might answer some questions and help you understand that you're not alone...whether you're the child, the parent, or the grandparent.
COMING ATTRACTIONS... A quick look at some movies that will be coming your way. As always, dates are subject to change.
MARCH March 22, 2013 “Admission”...the surprising detours we take in life to find love and happiness...with Tina Fey, Paul Rudd and Lily Tomlin “Olympus Has Fallen”...saving the President, the White House and much more...with Gerard Butler, Morgan Freeman, Angela Bassett, Aaron Eckhart, Ashley Judd and Dylan McDermott March 28, 2013 “G I Joe: Retaliation”:...the Joes band together...with Channing Tatum, Dwayne Johnson, RZA and Bruce Willis March 29, 2013 “Tyler Perry’s Temptation”...a marriage counselor has trouble addressing issues in her own marriage...with Jurnee Smollett, Lance Gross, Vanessa Williams, Jerry Stiller and Kim Kardashian SECOND SKIN LEATHER, 521 St. Philip, 561.8167
spas New Orleans, LA [504] CLUB NEW ORLEANS, 515 Toulouse, 581.2402, www.the-clubs.com PLANET BEACH, A Contempo Spa, 301 Burgundy St., 525.8266, PlanetBeach.COM
theatres New Orleans, LA [504] ALLWAYS LOUNGE & THEATRE, 2240 St Claude Ave., TheAllwaysLounge.NET 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 NEW ORLEANS FRINGE FESTIVAL, NOFringe.ORG Slidell, LA [985 CUTTING EDGE THEATER, 742 Robert Blvd., 649.3727, CuttingEdgeTheater,COM
tours New Orleans, LA [504] GAY NEW ORLEANS WALKING TOUR, Crescent City Tour Booking Agency, 638 St. Ann St. , 568.0717
"Mr. X at a gay publication" accepts his "Academy Award" for healing eye health in Metairie Mar. 16th. “The Host”...from the author of “Twilight Saga”, a love story set in the future...with Saorse Ronan, Max Irons, Jake Abel, William Hurt and Diane Kruger
APRIL April 5, 2013 “Jurassic Park 3-D”...release of 1993s “Jurassic Park” as a remastered and IMAX 3D film...with Sam Neil, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenbourough and Samuel L Jackson April 12, 2013 “Scary Movie 5”...a complete reboot of the “Scary Movie franchise...with Ashley Tisdale, Lindsay Lohan, Charlie Sheen, Kate Walsh and Heather Locklear “42”...the story of baseball player Jackie Robinson...with Chadwick Boseman, Harrison Ford, T R Knight and Christopher Meloni “To The Wonder”...an exploration of love in its many forms...with Javier Bardem, Rachael McAdams and Ben Affleck April 19, 2013 “Oblivion”...the search for truth and hope for the future...with Tom Cruise, Olga Kurylenko, Melissa Leo and Morgan Freeman “jOBS”...the story of Steve Jobs...with Ashton Kutcher, Ron Eldard, Lesley Ann Warren, James Woods, Lukas Haas and Mathew Modine April 26, 2013 “The Big Wedding”...follows a modern family trying to survive a weekend wedding...with Robert De Niro. Diane Keaton, Kathrine Heigl, Topher Grace, Robin Williams and Susan Sarandon “Pain and Gain”...true story of bodybuilders caught up in criminal enterprise...with Dwayne Johnson, Mark Wahlberg, Tony Shalhoub and Ed Harris Happy Easter to everyone. To those who gave up drinking for Lent, congratulations....remember, wear a pretty hat...
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a community within communities
by The Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal Church Email: fr.bill@stannanola.org
Easter – Hippity Hoppity Bunnies, Buggies and Chocolate” Yep, chocolates, lots of chocolates! Bunnies, with sugar eyes, sugar chic’s dyed in yellow; marshmallow eggs; the litany of Easter goes on. For adults one must surly know it is when we can once again where light colors especially white suits after Easter and on Easter. Some will join a wonderful parade with buggies, bonnets, and bustiers (the latter no doubt optional). The Dodwell House was favored with a great gift from the very publication last year as an auction item, a full carriage ride and inclusion in the LGBT Easter Parade. What a gift! Do you have your favorite brunch all set? Some say Easter Ham others Lamb, others seafood, others stuffed merliton. Do you have it all ready yet? Is it off to the clothier for you? Unlike Christmas the pressure is off. It’s about clothing that YOU wear; dinner that YOU eat; candies that YOU want; parades that make YOU feel good. Why? Because it is resurrection Sunday! Yes the real name for this Sunday is Resurrection Sunday. Rebirth a new birth and time of blossoming and being reborn; it is not just another feast day. It is THE feast day. It is the day that Christians celebrate that gives purpose to all of the other feast days that are both religious and secular. Resurrection Sunday! EASTER!!!!!!! According to Christian tradition, doxologies, and Creeds of various sorts, not to mention the Bible, today is the day that a crucified Jew rose from the dead and began what we might call His resurrected ministry. Nope he did not immediate ascend into heaven. Nope he wasn’t a ghost (the scriptures attempt to make that critically obvious), no despite some conjecture otherwise it was not just a passionate thought or memory of Jesus. It is/was a pin point
in sacred and real time in which all things changed now, then, and forever. One of my favorite characters in this drama of post resurrection history is “doubting Thomas the disciple.” Peter and the boys in a locked room saw Jesus and he spoke with them – post crucifixion. Thomas was not there. When told about Jesus being present Thomas said, and I para-phrase, “Yea I hear ya but I just don’t buy it. Not until I see the marks in his hands.”As they say, ‘time pass’ and the boys are together again and this time Thomas is there. Jesus appears. “Here are my wounds,” he says and Thomas is immediately transformed. The words that follow are startling: “Because you have seen me you believed; blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.” So, what have you not seen and believed. Have you not SEEN love but believed? There is Jesus. Have you not seen companionship and yet are solitary? There is Jesus. Have you not seen but felt a peace in the midst of
chaos? There is Jesus. Have you not seen justice but knew what was right in the midst of injustice? There is Jesus. Like Thomas, many of us want to touch, feel, sense, and see Jesus in order to believe. We want to test Jesus, we want to bait Jesus, we want to make Jesus jump through our intellectual hoops, yet there is Jesus. When you embrace in love his arms are around you both. When you see the poor and feel compassion, it is His compassion that fuels you. When you are hurt by word or deed but somehow, some way, find a way forgive- it is the force of the spirit of Jesus that compels you. This Jesus guy is simply counter intuitive; counter cultural; and stands at the center of what is possible. We all by his resurrection stand in the possibility of new life, new hope, new ways, and community. We live by faith with hope and thanksgiving for this Messiah, this Prophet, and this Lamb of God who takes away death and gives LIFE. So, put on a bonnet, have a meal, hug a lover, enjoy a glorious day, eat a piece of chocolate! And as the doxology says: Praise God from whom all blessings flow Praise Him all creatures here below; Praise Him above ye heaven host; Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost. AND HAVE A GREAT EASTER – RENEW, RESTORE, REDISCOVER THE PEACE THAT PASSES ALL UNDERSTANDING.
28 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Mar c h 19-April 1, 2013 • Of fic ial Gay East er Parade Guide Guide • GayEast erParade.COM
trodding the boards by Brian Sands
Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com
Noises Off at Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts through Mar. 24 I knew I was in good hands when the guffaws started coming in an evenfunnier-than-I-remembered first act. And while the British accents may not be perfect, just about everything else is in Rivertown Theaters’ rollicking revival of Noises Off, Michael Frayn’s brilliant farce about a farce. Frayn shows what happens to a touring production of a typically inane, British sex farce, Nothing On, starting with its final technical rehearsal that’s going so poorly that the director opines that the next day’s first performance in front of an audience will be the de facto dress rehearsal. (Sound familiar anybody?) Four weeks later at a matinee performance, we observe the fallout after various romantic rivalries and misunderstandings have begun to take their toll. And seven weeks after that, we see another matinee performance by which time the actors just don’t give a sh*t any more. While the first and third acts have the farce’s set facing the audience in typical fashion, Frayn ingeniously places the second act backstage so we get a perspective on the shenanigans going on unbeknownst to the “audience”. David W. Hoover has staged all of this beautifully, giving the madcap second act particularly precise, breakneck timing. As the actors’ real lives fall apart, we watch with glee—and I, for one, laughed uproariously—as they
attempt to keep the world of the play going smoothly. Wisely, Hoover instructed his cast to make their characters, if not the ones in the actual farce, as real as possible to allow us to identify with their plight. Dotty Otley, the beloved older actress who stars in the tour, may not be able to remember all her stage business but her hormones are still raging as she goes after one then another of her co-stars. Tracey E. Collins doesn’t bring any condescension to this, but shades Dotty’s essential sweetness with lust, pride, frustration (of various types) and a little daffiness in a hilarious performance that eclipses memories of Dorothy Loudon, Broadway’s original Dotty. At first, Gary Rucker’s Garry Lejeune, Dotty’s paramour and the leading man, comes off as a decent enough chap but we soon realize just how vapidly pompous he is. Rucker marvelously conveys this with subtle determination that masks the blankness that occupies most of Garry’s mind. And credit Stunt Director Jason Armit for helping Rucker pull off one of the grand-
Brittany Chandler, Trina Beck, Gary Rucker, Tracey E. Collins, Jimmy Murphy and Mike Harkins in Noises Off est pratfalls seen here in a long time. As the injury-prone second leading man, Jimmy Murphy wins our empathy, and our laughs, as he tries to find psychological depth in the silly script. Brittany Chandler, a recent Loyola graduate, gives a masterful account of the dim-witted ingenue Brooke Ashton, who’s always losing a contact lens. I usually despise a semaphoric acting style but it’s just right for Brooke who, in the final scene, keeps saying her lines and doing her shtik just as she always has even as her castmates flounder and improvise around her. Hysterical. Mike Harkins is perfect as the frustrated director, trying to stay cool until pushed over the edge by his band of crazies. In a role that can sometimes be overlooked, Trina Beck stands out as Belinda Blair, the second leading lady, whose seemingly level head likes to stir up mischief; the “my love” and
“my sweet” that she sprinkles her conversations with turn from little endearments into stiletto daggers by the end. Michael Martin as the troupe’s senior member, always in danger of becoming soused, and Chrissy Garrett Decker and Justin Bupp, as the putupon backstage crew, are all fine and add to the merriment. Eric Porter’s set, both front and back, allows the comedy to carry on clearly. The only thing from the original that I missed was shag carpeting (omitted, I suspect, due to budgetary concerns) which made the dropped sardines and missing-contact-lens searches even more ridiculous. If you’re in need of a so-funny-ithurts outing, you have one weekend left to catch this comic gem. Just get to the theater early so you can fully enjoy the very sharp program within the program. [continued on 30]
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Coming Soon
trodding the boards ...from 29
Boys’ Life at The Shadowbox through Mar. 23 Reviewing the original Lincoln Center production of Howard Korder’s Boys’ Life, I wrote “Any play that contains the line ‘Everybody’s worried about the world getting blown up. What if it doesn’t? What if we keep going on just like this?’ represents a comic perspective too rarely found today.” I still feel the same way. Unfortunately, while twenty-five years later Korder’s observations about post-college, pre-adulthood men/boys and the women/girls who complicate their lives still seem remarkably fresh, the rest of the play still doesn’t measure up to that memorable quip. Korder ends his short scenes just as they get interesting and one wishes the dialog was all on the same high level as about 60% of it is. But Korder does provide wry wit and something to think about at play’s end, two commodities that are often in short supply in more recent plays. Harold Gervais gave Boys’ Life its New Orleans premiere and is directing it again. (As his Director’s Note states, “24 years ago, I was the same age as the characters and now I’m old enough to be their father.”) Gervais has wisely changed some cultural references and subtly updated the play’s time frame (Out: Watergate and Emerson, Lake & Palmer; In: O.J. Simpson and the Cranberries, as well as, of course, cell phones and texting); by shifting the setting, a certain poignancy attaches to these youthful characters facing so many of today’s challenges as we pro-
cess the play with a different perspective than the original “greed is good” ‘80s. Though his actors could occasionally savor Korder’s words more (that favorite line of mine was regrettably rushed), Gervais has paced the show with commendable brio; set changes do slow the pace down but I suspect that’s improved since I saw it during the opening weekend. And including a bong made from a Mr. Potato Head supplied a memorable sight gag. Leading these pot-smoking man/boys who think with their dicks, Richard Mayer’s Jack is smooth but not as smooth as he thinks he is. As the smart guy of the bunch, Mayer delivers multiple variations on the one or two notes Jack’s given; we see that he is immoral, even evil, but Korder never allows us to really get to know him. With his slightly nasal voice and lean build, Mayer creates a more insidious presence than a frat boy type might have been. Women should probably run from Jack’s pal Don who’s “afraid of being punished” for his sexual peccadillos, yet “wanting to see if he can get away with it”. Yet as embodied with cuteness and a hunky body by Matt Story, Don can get away with sooo much. Story, though, hints that there’s something going on beneath Don’s surface and, by evening’s end, he’s the only one of the boys who’s changed; maybe not entirely but he’s at least begun the journey to manhood. While Jake Bartush is good as the third member of the triumvirate, he could bring more emotional shadings to the hypochondriacal Phil, an admittedly overwritten part. As for the ladies, Lucy Faust’s Lisa, with her intelligence, attractiveness (though not, as per the script, model pretty) and wound-able pride, seems like she just might be able to tame Don. Do not miss the wondrously thoughtful look on her face as she tries to figure him out. Leslie Boles has only one scene as Phil’s once and possibly future girlfriend but she makes the most of it, building to just the right level of inebriation without going overboard. She’s dry as champagne, but with a quirky fizziness, and watching her body go limp and then pop back up is a visual delight. Nicole Rae adds a dollop of warmth in the final scene as Jack’s wife, revealing that there’s a side to him that can be loved while Lena August is seductive and very appealing as a selfdescribed “strange young lady.” Ashton Akridge is okay as a jaded jogger who flirts with Jack but she’s up against the least well-written role; Felicity Huffman was still able, however, to make it more memorable in the original. While Boys’ Life may not be one of the all time great dramedies, it’s worth seeing every 25 years or so just to see how little men have changed. Catch it while you can.
The Martha Graham Dance Company makes its New Orleans debut on March 23 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater. Highlighting the program will be a performance of the legendary work Appalachian Spring, set to Aaron Copeland’s music with original sets by Isamu Naguchi, and Panorama from 1935, danced by a cast of 33 New Orleans youth in celebration of the 20th Anniversary of the NORDC/NOBA Center For Dance, a partnership between NOBA and the New Orleans Recreation Development Commission. Also on the program is Graham’s revolutionary solo Lamentation (1930) as well as Lamentation Variations, a collection of dances that echo the essence of Lamentation. The evening begins with Prelude and Revolt: Denishawn to Graham, a trio of rarely seen solos from Graham’s years performing with the Denishawn Company and her early seminal works. It’s hard to believe it’s taken 87 years for Martha Graham to come to New Orleans. Don’t miss it. Of course, The Tennessee Williams Festival (March 20-24) comes to the French Quarter every year but that’s no reason to ever miss it. Theatrical highlights include A Tennessee Williams Songbook: Only A Paper Moon featuring the hit songs Williams chose for his plays’ scenes sung by Tony-nominee Alison Fraser (The Old U.S. Mint); readings of three Williams one-act plays (The Palooka, Something Unspoken, and Talk to Me Like the Rain and Let Me Listen...) by Cristine McMurdo-Wallis, Nell Nolan, Harry Shearer, Fraser and Bryan Batt (Hotel Monteleone, Queen Anne Ballroom); and Southern Rep’s production of Mold by John Biguenet (CAC). Also, UNO presents Jessica Alexander’s Jumpers, winner of the Festival’s 2012 One-Act Play Contest (Hotel Monteleone, La Nouvelle Ballroom); Four Humours Theater brings back its wacky yet thoughtprovoking production of The Gnadiges Fraulein, a demented plea on the trials of the artist (Napoleon’s Itch); and Auto-Da-Fe will be staged at the historic Hermann-Grima House, in a production featuring costumes from the Krewe of Armeinius and a live Dixieland band parading down the street. It doesn’t get more N’awlins than that! NOCCA’s Musical Theatre Division has done outstanding work in the past including three Ambie winners for Best Musical (Side Show (2003), Floyd Collins (2004), Tommy (2008)) and last year’s Bat Boy and Lucky Stiff that were each probably better than the original NYC productions. They’ll be presenting 1961’s Carnival, a gentle tale about a traveling troupe of circus performers, from March 20 to 23. It’s a rare opportunity to see this charming show. Louisiana Theatre Initiative and Actors Equity Association present Rockers United for Furry Friends (RUFF), a Broadway Rock Concert benefitting the Humane Society of Louisiana and ARNO (Animal Rescue New Orleans), on Friday and Saturday, March 22 & 23. The performances feature prominent singers and actors from the Greater New Orleans area including Rich Arnold, John Bostic, Ross Britz, Leslie Castay, Marshall Harris, Vatican Lokey, Meredith Long, Katherine McClain, Wendy Miklovic, Scott Sauber, and Mary Vigueira. Edward Cox will be the MC. The March 22 performance takes place at 7:30pm at Elite Acting (4244 Hwy. 22, Ste. 3, Mandeville). The March 23 performance takes place at 2pm at the Castle Theatre (501 Williams Blvd., Kenner). Tickets are $30 and will be sold at the door, but for reservations and any questions, contact louisianatheatre@gmail.com.
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Serenity delaTerre gets the dress for $200
Rip gets the shoes for $50
Michael Ducote gets the blush & eye shadow for $100
Michael Ducote gets to name that queen Rhoda Kill for $300
Gary Vandeventer gets the lipstick for $200
snap paparazzi
Rhonda Roget gets the eyelashes for $150
Rip gets the earrings for $40
Serenity delaTerre picks the song for $250
Rhoda Kill brings in another $89 performing “Man I Feel Like A Woman”
32 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Mar c h 19-April 1, 2013 • Of fic ial Gay East er Parade Guide Guide • GayEast erParade.COM
NOLA Softball League Opening Games @ City Park & Opening Party @ The Phoenix ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Charles Jenkins, Tony Leggio
12th Drag Extravaganza’s “Man I Feel Like A Woman Put Lord King Pat Johnson in Drag” auction raises $1,429 for GEP/Food For Friends @ Oz
Partner Ben Bourgeois gets the wig for $50
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Bartender Anthony & dancer Kyle @ The Corner Pocket
Corner Pocket dancers Jimi, Kyle & Harley
Jam @ Society Page
Double Play bartender Phillip Irish Mike & Marty @ Voodoo
Bartender Steven @ Lafitte’s
Second Skin manager Alley
Ambush’s Frank, Corner Pocket’s Guido & Q.T. Pie’s Robert @ Double Play
Ambush’s Paul, Don, Ryan & Saundra @ Red Umbrella Walk in Congo Square
Aussie & Randy @ Le Roundup
Bobby, Butch & Deanna @ Le Roundup
Dancers Bulldog & Pacman @ Rainbow Room
Clover Grill’s Errol & Garrett flank new Lafitte’s mgr. Wren
Josh shows off the latest @ Bourbon Pride Jacob & Thomas headline @ Rainbow Room
Wood Enterprises’ Michael with bartender Scott @ Lafitte’s Keith & Derrick @ Society Page
Scott welcomes you to Skully’z Recordz
Max & Bruce @ Clover Grill
34 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Mar c h 19-April 1, 2013 • Of fic ial Gay East er Parade Guide Guide • GayEast erParade.COM
Checking Out The Scene ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Paul Melancon
Bartender Jake getting ready for his Blue Ball B-day @ Good Friends Bar
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pensacola Hot & Sassy @ Emerald City ~ Pensacola, Florida ~ Photos by Lauren Mitchell
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Country @ Organic Banana
Greg, Steven & John @ Bayou Burger
Brice & bar baron Matt enjoy Thursday Steak Night @ 700 Club
Dick & Golden Lantern's Wilhemina @ Lafitte’s
Drew & Clover Grill Will @ Michael’s On The Park
Matt, Sarah, Scott & Lil Vic welcome you to @ Lil Vic’s
Stylist Clint @ Head Quarters
Clark, Logan, bartender Travis & Rene @ 700 Club
Chris, Chuck & Matt @ Bourbon Pub & Parade
Amon-Ra Playboy Bunny Reject contestants with reigning PBR Frankie Fierce @ Oz
Kajun’s Pub’s reps join Petronius Rush Party @ Michael’s On The Park
Bartender Brad welcomes you to The Double Play
Good Friends Kerry & friends celebrate a birthday
Bar baron Dennis Monn welcomes you to Allways Lounge & Theater
Renegade Bears’ Duaine & Bill @ The Phoenix
The Armeinius Rush Party @ Oz
Bartender Barry @ Kajun’s Pub
Kajun’s Pub bartenders Robin & Lorie
Lord King Pat & Danny @ Lords of Leather Rush Party @ The Phoenix
38 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Mar c h 19-April 1, 2013 • Of fic ial Gay East er Parade Guide Guide • GayEast erParade.COM
Excitement Reigns ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Tony Leggio, Paul Melancon
New morning bartender Nic @ Lafitte’s
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Nightlife by the Bay ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Leon Weekley
Amber Douglas & Matt strike a pose @ B-Bob’s
Leon & Leon serving it up @ B-Bob’s
Maury & Corey @ B-Bob’s
Bartender Cary serving it up @ Gabriel’s
Samantha Foxx & Co. partying @ B-Bob’s
Dustin & Wendy share a moment @ Gabriel’s
Jarmarkus & Brenda celebrate their birthdays @ B-Bob’s
The seductive Jawatema Davenport @ B-Bob’s
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chop chop by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
New Orleans Muffuletta (generous helping of ham, salami, provolone and olive salad) @ Restaurant/Deli of the Year Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St.
Shrimp, Andouille & Stoneground Grits @ The Country Club, 634 Louisa St.
Special Combo Pizza (pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, onions, mushrooms, green peppers & black olives with jalapenos & anchovies optional) @ Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St.
Salmon Wellington @ Prime Grille, 3162 Dauphine
BBQ Shrimp @ Deanie's Seafood, French Quarter: 841 Iberville; Bucktown: 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie
New Orleans Restaurant Guide 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. Deanie's Seafood, French Quarter: 841 Iberville, 581.4141; Bucktown: 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie, 831.1316; Deanies.COM. Featured on the Travel Channel’s “Man v. Food,” Deanie’s signature BBQ Shrimp served the New Orleans way--jumbo head-on Louisiana Shrimp served in our unique blend of seasonings with a crusty baguette. For 50 years Deanie's has been serving huge portions of the best boiled, broiled and fried seafood in New Orleans. 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 offer thrills that are appealing, exciting, and best of all, healthy. Open 7am10pm daily serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Krystal, 116 Bourbon at Canal, 523.4030. Open 24 hours, it's one of the best stops for fast food with tasty burgers, hot dogs and breakfast. Lil Vic's Rosticceria, 719 Toulouse, 304.1238, is a great stop in the Quarter for homemade gelato, pastries, espresso, Sicilian style small plates, and pizza focaccia. It's the new late night spot open til 2am Fridays and Saturdays. Open Sun. - Thurs. 7am11pm, Fri. & Sat. 7am - 2am. 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 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. Munch @ 700 Club, 700 Burgundy St., 561.1095, 700NOLA.COM, is serving apps & snacks, quesadillas, flatbread pizza, signature sandwiches, and top shelf burgers in the French Quarter. Restaurant hours are 6pm til Wed.-Sun. Organic Banana, 1100 N. Peters, Bay 27, 587.7903, serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages including Margaritas, Piña Colada, Daiquiris etc., all made using the freshest seasonal ingredients from local farmers and suppliers including local rum, Old New Orleans Rum. Open 10am-6pm daily. 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, 504.301.1740, is the Bywater's newest eatery featuring casual fine dining at reasonable prices. Located in the old Bywater Bar.B.Que spot, the interior has been transformed into a snappy bistro which definitely enhances a comfortable dining experience. Serving lunch, dinner plus Saturday and Sunday brunch. Open Tue. - Thur. 11am 9pm, Fri. - Sat. 11am - 10pm, Sat. Brunch 11am-3pm, Sun. Brunch 10am - 3pm, Tue. - Sat. dinner starts @ 5pm. 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.
Next DEADLINE
Arancini: fried rice balls coated with breadcrumbs& filled with ragù (meat sauce), tomato sauce, mozzarella, and peas @ Lil Vic's Rosticceria, 719 Toulouse, 304.1238
World Famous Hamburger @ Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St.
Hot Appetizer Platter @ Fatoush Mediterranean Grill, Coffee House & Juice Bar, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #130
Housemade Vegan Burger with Onion Rings @ Munch @ 700 Club Restaurant, 700 Burgundy
Garlic Shrimp Pasta (jumbo shrimp with garlic butter sauce over angel hair pasta) @ Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, 95 French Market Place
Fri., March 22nd
504.522.8049 marsha@ripandmarsha.com
Breakfast @ Krystal, 116 Bourbon
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44 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Mar c h 19-April 1, 2013 • Of fic ial Gay East er Parade Guide Guide • GayEast erParade.COM