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the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
Memorial Day Weekend, Saints & Sinners Ambush Mag Gears up for Summer Season It's time once again with the official kickoff of the summer season, Memorial Day Weekend coming at the end of the month. These pages are chock full of events and activities in the two weeks leading up to and including the holiday. For those who are making their annual trek to Pensacola, get all the latest on pages 21-22. It will be another exciting holiday for beach lovers. For those who will be staying in New Orleans, the clubs have pulled out all the stops adding even more and more Memorial Weekend events to make it an action packed holiday for both visitors and locals alike here! And don't forget our friends in both Baton Rouge and Mobile, you won't be disappointed.
Oz Sets Memorial Weekend Festivities May 23-27 Oz New Orleans will kick off their Memorial Weekend festivities on Thursday night, May 23 with the Oz Strip Off at midnight. Hosted by Persana Shoulders, the winner walks away with $200 in cash and prizes. The contest is sponsored by Swiss Navy Lube and Planet Beach Comtepo Spa French Quarter. DJ Tim Pflueger spins 90s before the show and remix top 40 after and will feature a spotlight performance from Miss New Orleans Pride Mercedez Ellis Loreal. Friday afternoon, May 24 from 6-8pm, its the game show Deal, Dares, and Dancers where patrons have a chance of winning fabulous prizes with every cocktail purchased. Later that night at 10pm the club features the Military Maneuvers Party hosted by Persana Shoulders with DJ JRB and DJ Tim Pflueger. Club dancers, “The Men of Oz,” will dance on the bar tops all weekend long. Saturday, May 25, Oz brings New Orleans #1 Dance Party featuring the DJ Trio: DJ BULL, DJ JRB, and DJ Tim Pflueger with weekend lights by the fabulous Johnny Eubanks. SUNDAY FUNDAY, May 26, starts with Dingo at 6pm, Boy Next Door contest at 8pm, and Show time at 9pm, all hosted by Blanche Debris. The show stars Coca Mesa, Mercedez Ellis Loreal, Dominque DeLorean, and Zhane Kennedy with DJ JRB. On Memorial Day, May 27, 2pm, join Oz for the second to last pit stop as they show their support for their two contestants competing in the 14th MASCARa Drag Race with DJ JRB spinning Memorial Day.
14th Annual MASCARa Race Memorial Day Weekend in New Orleans May 24-27 Sponsored by Wood Enterprises and Budweiser, the 14th Annual MASCARa Race promises to be even bigger and better with events surrounding the race all weekend long May 24-27. All proceeds from the event benefits the NOCCA Institute which supports NOCCA Riverfront. It assists all students who need help with tuition and any other supplies needed. It also helps with each production NOCCA puts on. Each MASCARa runner/contestant is asked to get sponsors to donate money raising as much as they can. On the day of the race, each team will sign up and turn in all the monies raised. Since 2002 more than $99,000 has been raised for this very worthy charity. On Friday, May 24, Good Friends Bar at the corner of St. Ann and Dauphine Streets, will hold the 13th Annual Hamster Derby beginning at 5pm. One can bet
Pre-Pride, Salute to Organizations issue out May 28 DEADLINE: Tues., May 21
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celebrazzi a community within communities spotlight/wayne self upstairs, the musical snap paparazzi/new orleans news 7th lgbt community survey 40th upstairs lounge fire memorial memorial day weekend/pensacola dish pensacola
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on the races using Hamster Bucks ($1 gets you 10 Hamster Bucks) which can be purchased at the betting booth. These Hamster Bucks can be used later at the charity auction with prizes that have been donated by local retailers. On Sunday, May 26, Rawhide, located at the corner of St. Ann and Burgundy, will host its annual Crawfish Boil at 5pm at $10 per plate. They brag that they make the best crawfish in the South. The MASCARa $5 Beer Bust will be hosted at the same time. The race itself will be held Memorial Day, Monday, May 27 at Clover Grill, corner of Bourbon and Dumaine, promptly at 2pm. As the contestants are announced, they will take their seat at Clover Grill, where they will be served a piping hot order of chili cheese fries. Once the horn sounds, the contestants begin eating. All foodstuff must be consumed before the runner can leave the table. Then it’s off to… Café Lafitte in Exile, the 2nd Pit Stop; where the runner will slip into his stockings and heels while consuming a shot of peppermint schnapps. Yes, the heels will be measured before the runner can leave. Leaving through the front door, the runner will then proceed down Dumaine Street, turning left at Burgundy. Once arriving at Rawhide, the 3rd Pit Stop, the runner will consume a 16oz. Bud Light while putting on their earrings, two rings, a bracelet and a necklace. Once completed, the runner will proceed up St. Ann to Good Friends Bar, the 4th Pit Stop; where they will enjoy a Separator while applying their make-up, eye lashes, and fake nails. Contestant must have ten nails and they must be painted! Leaving Good Friends, the runner will proceed to the Bourbon Pub, 5th Pit Stop; where they will consume a mind eraser and apply their bra, boobs, and wig. Crossing the street to Oz, 6th Pit Stop; the runner will then consume a surprise drink while putting on their dress. The final sprint: the runner will continue up Bourbon back to Clover Grill, 7th Pit Stop, to cross the finish line. The runner will enter through the Dumaine side, put on their hat and purse, and exit through the door facing Bourbon Street. The runner must have everything on accumulated through the Pit Stops, and will be judged for all points at this stage. There are three categories of competition: Fastest Time, Best Drag and Most Money Raised. Contestants will be awarded points in each category with a trophy being awarded in each category. The person who receives the most points will be declared Ms. Mascara 2013. The award ceremony will be held later that day, at 5pm at Rawhide, located at 740 Burgundy Street. To become a contestant or for
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
more information, contact Michael Printy at 504.525.6724.
Celebrate Saints and Sinners with a 50% Discount for Locals As part of its 10th anniversary celebration, the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival is offering a half-price discount to everyone in the New Orleans Area. The festival takes place May 2326 at the Hotel Monteleone and other venues in the French Quarter. Since its founding, Saints and Sinners has grown into an internationally recognized event that brings together some of the most enlightening and spirited publishers, [continued on 8]
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Johnny Chisholm presents the return of One Mighty Weekend, Orlando, FL, Friday, May 31-Sunday, June 2 including the much-loved Reunion Pool Parties along with the return of Magic Journeys at Arabian Nights. Visit OneMightyWeekend.COM for details. Here are the headliners:
DJ Dani Toro
DJ /Producer Danny Tenaglia Marilyn Monroe, the artistic flair of Kabrina Watson is on view inside Ninth Circle at Congo Square in New Orleans. Many of the creations in this popular club are the handy work of the flamboyant artist.
celebrazzi
DJ /Producer Rosabel
DJ /Producer Gustavo Scorpio
DJ Eddie Martinez Splash Beach Fest is Memorial Day Weekend, Friday-Sunday, May 24-26, 10am-7pm @ Park East on Pensacola Beach, Florida.
DJ /Producer Joe Gauthreaux
DJ Mike Cruz
DJ great Roland Belmares headlines Wave Beach Party, Saturday, May 25, 10pm-4am @ Park East on Pensacola Beach.
Lauren Mitchell host Memorial Weekend Beach Bingo @ Emerald City in downtown Pensacola Friday, May 24, 6-8pm. DJ Miik Martorell DJ Phil B
Wave Beach Party is Saturday, May 25, 10pm-4am @ Park East on Pensacola Beach. See MemorialWeekendPensacola.COM for more info.
DJ Roland Belmares
DJ Power Infiniti
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the "official" dish ...from 4 writers, and readers throughout the United States and beyond. The 50% discount applies to events for the entire duration of the festival, from Thursday through Sunday. Tickets are available at www.sasfest.org or by phone at 504.581.1144. At the time of purchase, simply apply the discount code SINNERS after scrolling to the bottom of the ticketing page. 2013 speakers include Dorothy Allison, whose best selling novel Bastard out of Carolina was nominated for a National Book Award; Guggenheim grant and NEA Fellow Bernard Cooper, whose most recent book The Bill From My Father was selected by David Sedaris as his recommended reading for 2012; Greg Herren, the award winning author and editor and New Orleanian; Andrew Holleran, the acclaimed journalist and recipient of the 2007 Stonewall Book Award; Ayana Mathis, whose debut novel The Twelve Tribes of Hattie was selected for Oprah’s Book Club 2.0; Justin Torres, author of the critically acclaimed We the Animals; Summer Wood, whose novel Raising Wrecker was a Bookof-the-Month Club selection and a UK Bookseller’s Choice; and many more. Registration and the Box Office will open on-site Friday, May 24 at 9am in Royal Salon A in the Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal Street. The full schedule is available at www.sasfest.org. Featured events include: Book Launch Party and Fundraiser: An evening of cocktails and readings from Saints and Sinners 2013: New Fiction from the Festival. Proceeds from the book launch party will benefit NO/AIDS Task Force. Finalists from the 4th annual fiction con-
test will read from their creative works. All guests receive complimentary drinks as well as a copy of the book. Thursday, May 23, 7pm. With discount: $17.50. Glitter with the Literati: This welcome party takes place in the beautiful courtyard of the historic Hermann-Grima House. This is a great opportunity to meet the authors who will be speaking during the weekend. Friday, May 24, 6:30pm. With discount” $12.50. Master Classes: A chance to get the inside scoop on writing and publishing from leading authors. Each session is 1 hour and 15 minutes with a lively give and take between audience and facilitators. Topics include: the art and arc of creative non-fiction, transforming personal experience into fiction, the singular charm and technique of sudden/flash fiction, the performative aspects of writing, dilemmas in crafting autobiographies and memoirs, the role of theme in turning language into art, and how to keep scenes full of potential and free from our own expectations. Friday, May 24, 10am-3pm. With discount: $12.50. Panels: Panel discussion topics include voice, historical research, narrative arc and endings, role of editors, alternative methods of book promotion, and the question of responsibility when writing engages the cultural politics of society at large. Saturday, May 25, 10am-3pm. With discount: $12.50. Reading Series: Expect to be entertained, engaged and thrilled as festival authors debut their latest works. Readings will take place on Saturday, alongside panels. With Discount: $12.50. Tickets come with various bundling options to help reduce costs. A complete Weekend Pass offers access to
every event for the discounted price of $75. Day passes for Saturday / Sunday are also available for $25. The reading series pass is $12.50. Single event tickets can be purchased for each event at the door.
ULF Headliner Spectacular May 18 @ Oz with 1st Time Mother-Daughter MCs Blanche & Dusty Debris Ambush Mag is proud to host the ULF Headliner Spectacular on Saturday, May 18th, 8-10pm, at Oz New Orleans. Door donation is $10. A limited number of VIP Tables with four stools are $100. Call Rip Naquin at 504.522.8049 for table reservations. Benefiting the Upstairs Lounge Fire LGBT Commemoration Ceremonies on the 40th anniversary of the horrific event, June 24th, proceeds minus expenses will be donated to The Historic New Orleans Collection in memory of the 32 victims. For the first time together as emcees, Mother and Daughter Blanche and King Cake Queen Dusty Debris will do the honors for the Spectacular. Headliners from every walk of the LGBT community were carefully chosen in an effort for this benefit to be totally inclusive. The exciting lineup donating their talents and tips includes The Big Easy Sisters: The Sisters of the Muddy Waters, Regina Adams (partner of ULF victim Reginald Eugene Adams, Jr.), Entertainer of the Year Monique Michaels, Miss Gay New Orleans America Monica SynclaireKennedy, Miss Splash America Aubrey Synclaire, Miss Louisiana Leatherette Countess C. Alice, Miss Golden Lan-
tern Gia GiaVanni, Lesbian of the Year Misti Ates, Easter Grand Marshal Starr Daniels, Amon-Ra Prom Queen Athena Jewelle, and Slidell's Queen of Comedy Big Momma Lavouge. A giant basket worth over $1,000 in prizes and liquor including an Ambush full page color ad will be up for auction. For more information, visit www.NOLAPride.ORG. The LGBT Commemoration Ceremonies are scheduled for June 24 and are designed to remember this significant event in our history and to afford the 32 victims of the fire the dignity and respect they were denied at the time. Commemoration events are as follows. The ceremony begins at 3pm at the Williams Research Center of the Historic New Orleans Collection (410 Chartres Street). Artist Skylar Fein will give a brief lecture accompanied by a slide show on the fire. Author Clay Delery will discuss the weeks following the fire. Both will be followed by a viewing of the Williams Research Center’s archival material concerning the fire, including the original police report as well as an original manuscript of Johnny Townsend’s 2011 book about the fire entitled Let the Faggots Burn: The UpStairs Lounge Fire. In 2008, The Upstairs Lounge tragedy was memorialized with an art exhibit by Skylar Fein at the Contemporary Arts Center as part of the first annual Prospect 1, a city-wide collection of art exhibits. It was restaged in 2010 in New York by “No Longer Empty.” Fein and Delery’s lectures, and the exhibit will be free and open to the public. The Historic New Orleans Collection event will be followed by a Jazz funeral procession at 4:15pm from the Williams Research Center to the site of [continued on 10]
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a community within communities
by The Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal Church Email: fr.bill@stannanola.org
A Peaceful Place The priest, in this case me, stand before the congregation at the end of worship to offer a blessing. By then many of the congregation are already checking out. You can almost see the cartoon bubbles popping up over their heads: “Where to have lunch?” “The choir was good today.” “What kind of socks are Stewart wearing today, and his t-shirt gotta check out his t-shirt.” So the minds of many wander. The traditional blessing given starts like this: May the peace of God which passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God and of His son Jesus Christ and etc. Peace that passes all understanding. This phrase is at least rooted in part from the Gospel of John (14:27) wherein Jesus, predicting his own death offers assurance to those that love him and that he loves. He does so with these words: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” In this day and age nothing could or can be more elusive. “The peace that passes all understanding...” Does this mean contentment with what we have; perhaps but likely not. Does this mean some sort of blessed existence that somehow avoids the toils and snares of a busy world; perhaps but likely not. Does this provide us with a deep contemplative place away from the world; perhaps but likely not. Why? Because it simply does not stack up with the reality of being human; being in a community; being around others good and bad. So, what might this peace be? It is certainly rooted in relationship, as that same Gospel goes on to say, a profound spiritual connection with the cre-
ated and creator. It transcends our individual concerns because it, peace, is so large so big so encompassing. It is so large that it cannot be measured or understood in comparative terms. By this I mean, “I feel at peace today because the sky is blue, the temperature cool, and all things are right with the world (in my life).” But as we saw the first weekend of Jazz Fest the weather can change and with it our mood. So this kind of peace is not referenced by our mood which is often regulated by weather, environment, genes, and hormones; oh and occasionally libations. No this is a permanent state of being. Once a man asked each time we met for over a year, “Bill, I keep asking God for the peace that passes all understanding and I am still restless and unhappy; my life is just in the pits.” Clearly he rejected any real notion of the peace that passes all understanding by continually looking inward and judging his state of being by his environment or perhaps ignoring signs of clinical depression and seeking treatment for such. He wanted that magical “WOW” moment and he wanted it for a lifetime. In some way I suspect all of us want what he wanted. In some way all we really need is peace. Reflect for just a moment on the feeling of peace. If you do what you may discover is that it comes with some senses of: security, belonging, quiet, safety, self-worth, identity, and perhaps a bit of love of things around us. In short, we have a safe place. According to the beloved disciple John there is a place for all of us in this thing we call The Kingdom of Heaven. It is equally clear that The Kingdom of Heaven is not removed from this place but is a part of this place, time, dimension, and space. So much so that ac-
cording to the Gospels: ‘do you not know that you are so loved that the Father has even numbered the hairs upon your head’-intimacy with the Creator; ‘do you not know that I go to prepare a place for you’- relationship with the Creator; ‘do you not know that my Father’s house has many rooms and one is prepared [JUST FOR YOU]?’The Gospels and teachings of the one that I follow, Jesus, are quite clear that there is space for us – all of us not just an elect; nor just the ‘righteous’ nor the pious or prattling pontificating puritans – though there is room for them as well...but there is room enough for all of us. It comes with a catch you see. The catch lies in the rules of Jesus and most dominantly in his proclamation and final commandment: “Love one another as I have loved you.” Jesus met and greeted those that he encountered; he was not patronizing nor was he a push over. Jesus sent authentic love into the world around him pushed some to give up those things that separated them from having a place at the table. He scolded those that abused and even a city wrought with malice and anger and divided we wept for, “Oh Jerusalem Jerusalem . . . I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing.” The Peace that passes all understanding is clearly rooted in being in that “place” that divine presence that is always with us. It is in going about the business of being present to one another as a body of spirit and faith; it is always knowing that we are neither alone nor forgotten. That “place” is open, waiting, and safe. That place need only be accessed by participation in the grand march, the cotillion of heaven and natures dance with us. A song goes like this: Seek ye first the kingdom of God And His righteousness (read social justice And all these things shall be added unto you Allelu, alleluia The Peace that passes all understanding is “the place at the table” join it – don’t reject it – let it be a reservation for you that is standing and open and available. Find your place at the table for you days, like mine, are numbered.
When you sit at table with our friend, as he calls himself, Jesus and his community you will find the peace that passes all understanding. It is that PLACE where you may forever be you.
the "official" dish from 8 the fire at the corner of Iberville and Chartres Streets. There at 4:30pm a special blessing by Fr. Bill Terry of St. Anna's Episcopal Church, and a solemn reading of the victim’s names by Lesbian of the Year Misti Ates will take place. After the ceremony, there will be a second line parade (4:45pm) to a cocktail party in The Balcony upstairs at the oldest gay bar in North America, Café Lafitte in Exile. The commemoration ceremonies will be capped off at 8pm at Café Istanbul with the New Orleans premiere of Upstairs, a new musical by Wayne Self. Self is an activist playwright and composer whose theatre, music, advocacy, and writings have inspired, educated, and entertained thousands. He is a GLAAD media spokesman and a Huffington Post blogger, whose own website provides a needed platform for thoughtful, compassionate LGBT voices. Upstairs, Self’s third musical, was inspired by his time as a Music Director for a Metropolitan Community Church—a gay-affirming denomination whose New Orleans congregation lost many members to the Upstairs Lounge Fire. Self has an MFA in Musical Theatre Performance with an emphasis in Composition from Notre Dame de Namur University and is a candidate for a MTS from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. Tickets to the performance are $35. Proceeds will be donated to benefit the NOLA LGBTQ community.
One Mighty Weekend May 31-June 2 in Orlando Gay Day Wknd. Johnny Chisholm and One Mighty Weekend, Friday, May 31-Sunday, June 2, are proud to announce the return of the Reunion Pool Parties to the Buena Vista Palace at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL. The addition of the much-loved Reunion Pool Parties along with the [continued on 12]
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the "official" dish from 10 return of Magic Journeys at Arabian Nights will set the stage for an unforgettable experience and hearken back to the spectacular Gay Day weekends of years past. Held at the ever-popular host hotel, The Buena Vista Palace, the Reunion Pool Parties will feature lots of hot bodies, fun in the sun and an incredible line-up of the fantastic DJs you’ve come to expect from One Mighty Weekend. There are limited rooms still available so book your room now and don’t miss the chance to “Stay where you Play!” Friday, May 31, 2013: The weekend kicks-off on Friday with the opening of the One Mighty Weekend Welcome Center at the Buena Vista Palace at 10am (daily) where you can take care of all of your ticket and information needs. At noon, the first Reunion Pool Party gets under way with the multitalented DJ Power Infiniti followed by the energizing sounds of DJ Mike Cruz. The afternoon festivities continue until the sun sets. Midnight marks the triumphant return of Magic Journeys to Arabian Nights. Miami-based DJ Miik Martorell gets the party jumping, paving the way for the return of Grammy Award nominated DJ/Producer Danny Tenaglia of New York until 8am. (Shuttle service will be available from the Buena Vista Palace to Arabian Nights each night of Magic Journeys.) Saturday, June 1, 2013: DJ Eddie Martinez gets the pool balls bouncing at noon for the second Reunion Pool Party. Later in the afternoon, groove to the high energy of DJ Roland Belmares as he keeps the
crowd hopping until the sun goes down. Your Magic Journey continues at midnight with the Brazilian flare of DJ/ Producer Gustavo Scorpio of Rio De Janeiro. As the night heats up, worldrenowned DJ/Producer Joe Gauthreaux of New York takes control of the dance floor until the wee hours of the morning. Sunday, June 2, 2013: Reunion Pool Party’s last installment of the weekend begins with DJ Dani Toro of Barcelona at noon. DJ Phil B wraps up the Reunion Pool Parties with his unique stylings until day’s end. Miami-based Grammy Award Nominated, DJ/Producers Rosabel rule the dance floor at your last Magic Journey. This promises to be an unforgettable night and a fitting end to an incredible One Mighty Weekend. Visit OneMightyWeekend.COM for more information and to purchase tickets or visit us on FaceBook @ One Mighty Weekend.
WICKED Announces $25 Seat Lottery @ Mahalia Jackson Theatre A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held for WICKED at the Mahalia Jackson Theater with performances through June 2. Two and one-half hours prior to each performance, people who present themselves at the Mahalia Jackson Theater box office will have their names placed in a lottery drum; thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person. Lottery participants must have a valid photo ID when submitting their
entry form and, if chosen, when purchasing tickets. WICKED, with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Godspell, Pippin, Disney’s Enchanted, Academy Award® winner for Pocahontas and The Prince of Egypt) and book by Winnie Holzman (“My So Called Life,” “Once And Again” and “thirtysomething”), is based on the 1995 best-selling novel by Gregory Maguire. The musical is directed by two-time Tony® Award winner Joe Mantello (Take Me Out, Love! Valour! Compassion!, The Vagina Monologues) and features musical staging by Tony® Award winner Wayne Cilento (Aida, The Who’s Tommy, How To Succeed…). WICKED, the untold story of the witches of Oz, is produced by Marc Platt, Universal Pictures, The Araca Group, Jon B. Platt and David Stone. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One – born with emerald green skin – is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. WICKED tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good. WICKED features set design by Tony® Award winner Eugene Lee (Ragtime, Show Boat, Candide, Sweeney Todd), costume design by Tony® winner Susan Hilferty (Spring Awakening, Into the Woods, Assassins), lighting design by Tony® winner Kenneth Posner (Tony® Award winner for The Coast of Utopia, Hairspray) and sound design by Tony Meola (The Lion King). Stephen Oremus is the show’s music director. Orchestrations are by William David Brohn, with dance arrangements by James Lynn Abbott.
The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday through Friday evenings at 8pm; Saturday at 2pm & 8pm; Sunday at 2pm & 7pm. Tickets are available at the Mahalia Jackson Theater Box Office, BroadwayInNewOrleans.com, Ticketmaster.com/Wicked all Ticketmaster outlets or by calling 1.800.982.2787 (ARTS). Best seats are available on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday evening performances.
Friends of Cabildo Spring Fundraiser Friends of the Cabildo, the support organization for the Louisiana State Museum, announced its 2013 Spring Fundraiser, a French Quarter Courtyard and Home Tour, set for Sunday, May 19 from 4-7pm. Guest will be able to visit seven homes and courtyards within the lower section of the French Quarter as well as taste wines at Madame John’s Legacy (632 Dumaine Street). Also included with the ticket price are Madame John’s Legacy Architectural tours and The Palm, the Pine and the Cypress: Newcomb Pottery of New Orleans exhibit tours hourly. Homes featured include: 516 St. Philip Street, 623 Royal Street, 630 Dumaine Street (Madame John’s Legacy), 806 Chartres Street, 828 Chartres Street, 830 Bourbon Street, 1131 Dauphine Street, and 1227 Royal Street. Self-Guided Tours begin at the 1850 House at 523 St. Ann Street on Jackson Square and are available to purchase in advance. Ticket sales to end at 6pm. Maps will be provided to ticket purchasers at the 1850 House Museum Store. Tickets are $40 per person, $30 FOC members; and Couple Price $60, $45 FOC members. Tickets can be purchased online at www.friendsofthecabildo.org or the day of the event at 1850 House Museum Store. Parking will be available at a reduced rate at the Premium Parking Garage at 535 Chartres Street.
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spotlight feature by Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net
Wayne Self / UPSTAIRS the Musical The 40th anniversary of the UpStairs Lounge is fast approaching and commemoration ceremonies are planned for Monday, June 24. The ceremony begins at 3pm at the Williams Research Center of the Historic New Orleans Collection (410 Chartres Street). Artist Skylar Fein will give a brief lecture accompanied by a slide show on the fire and author Clayton Delery will discuss the public reaction in the days following the tragedy. Both presentations will be followed by a viewing the Williams Research Center’s archival material concerning the fire, including the original police report as well as an original manuscript of Johnny Townsend’s 2011 book about the fire entitled Let the Faggots Burn: The UpStairs Lounge Fire. In 2008, the UpStairs Lounge tragedy was memorialized with an art exhibit by Skylar Fein at the Contemporary Arts Center as part of the first annual Prospect 1, a city-wide collection of art exhibits. It was restaged in 2010 in New York by “No Longer Empty.” Fein’s lecture and the exhibit will be free and open to the public. Delery is currently writing a book about the fire entitled Seventeen Minutes of Hell. The Historic New Orleans Collection event will be followed by a Jazz funeral procession at 4:15pm from the Williams Research Center to the site of the fire at the corner of Iberville and Chartres Streets. There at 4:30pm a special blessing by Fr. Bill Terry of St. Anna's Episcopal Church, and a solemn reading of the victim’s names by Lesbian of the Year Misti Ates will take place. After the ceremony, there will be a second line parade (4:45pm) to a cocktail party in The Balcony upstairs at the oldest gay bar in North America, Café Lafitte in Exile. The commemoration ceremonies will be capped off at 8pm at Café Istanbul with the New Orleans premiere of UPSTAIRS, a new musical by Wayne Self. Self is an activist playwright and composer whose theatre, music, advocacy, and writings have inspired, educated, and entertained thousands. He is a GLAAD media spokesman and a Huffington Post blogger, whose own website provides a needed platform for thoughtful, compassionate LGBT voices. Upstairs, Self’s third musical, was inspired by his time as a Music Director for a Metropolitan Community Church—a gay-affirming denomination whose New Orleans congregation lost many mem-
Wayne Self bers to the Upstairs Lounge Fire. Self has an MFA in Musical Theatre Performance with an emphasis in Composition from Notre Dame de Namur University and is a candidate for a MTS from Pacific School of Religion in Berkeley. Tickets to the performance are $35. Proceeds will be donated to benefit the local GLBTQ community. Wayne Self is a playwright and composer from Natchitoches, LA and now residing in Orange County, CA with his partner Cody and his dog Hambone. He is a progressive Christian who has served as Director of Music at Peninsula Metropolitan Community Church and College Heights United Church of Christ, both in San Mateo, CA. This year, he will receive two Master’s degrees; one in Musical Theatre and one in Theological Studies. He’s written full-length musicals, choral works, hymns, and “straight” plays exploring the religions and spiritual lives of individuals who live outside society’s prescribed gender roles and behaviors. “As a gay Louisiana native, I was shocked I had never heard about this crime,” said Self. “This was a great tragedy and it was swept under the rug. Once I became aware of it, I had to do my part along with others give voice to the victims, many of whom identified as gay, and as Christian. It’s a lesson in the perils of silence.” Self draws much of his inspiration for the musical from the work-inprogress book about the incident, called Seventeen Minutes of Hell by Professor Clayton Delery, PhD, who continues to provide support and guidance for the project. Unlike the Stonewall Riots in New York City, which sparked the modern day LGBT Civil Rights Movement, the UpStairs Lounge Fire is un-
known by most people, including LGBT activists and allies, even though it is arguably the largest crime against LGBT people in U.S. history. “There were few proclamations of outrage or sadness from politicians at any level. There were no charges filed,” said Delery. “There would have been no memorial service if the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC), a primarily LGBT Christian denomination whose New Orleans church counted many of its members among the dead, hadn’t sent its founder, Troy Perry, into town to organize one. Reverend Perry and other clergy and activists had a difficult time even finding a location for a service.” They were turned down by clergy and leadership from several denominations. An Episcopal Church hosted a small prayer service and only one Unitarian congregation and one unusually liberal Methodist congregation were willing to cooperate by conducting formal memorial services. “In a way, the whole city was staying in the closet about the fire,” Delery continued. “This arrangement protected tourism for the city, protected religious leaders from having to choose between compassion or condemnation, and protected New Orleans’ gay community from ‘coming out’ of the quiet arrangement they had with the New Orleans Police Department and entering a political and legal fight for equality that they didn’t think they could win.” Rather than focus on the aftermath of the fire and the city’s silence, Self has chosen to tell the specific stories of the victims, including stories of heroism and inspiration in the midst of tragedy. Though based on historical details and thorough research, and named in homage to the victims, the characters and events presented in UPSTAIRS are fictional and composite in nature. The musical is infused with a complex, haunting blend of New Orleans jazz-like arrangements. “When I first heard the songs I was moved to tears,” said UPSTAIRS director, Zach McCallum, a gay San Francisco resident originally from Nashville, Tennessee. “I grew up knowing about Stonewall, about the AIDS Quilt, and about Harvey Milk. How did I not hear about the UpStairs Lounge Fire? This story cannot be forgotten. It should be in the cultural mindset of everyone who cares about LGBT equality.” “The musical is meant to put a face to the tragedy, said Self. “These were real people who lived, breathed, loved. Many of those who died had children, families.” The play follows six principal characters, including the arsonist himself, and hones in on their lives as seen before and after the fatal fire. For some, the paradox of a deathly tragedy rendered through song and dance raises the question, “Why a musical?” “It’s a fair question” said Self, the
answer to which lies in the musicality of New Orleans itself: “New Orleans is a famously musical city. Music is fundamental to the environment, and it was a big part of the experience at the UpStairs Lounge. Histories of the bar reveal sing-alongs, cabaret shows, and fervent closing-time odes alongside the jukebox. A jazz pianist was counted among the victims. Any dramatic work about the tragedy should do a lot to acknowledge the musicality of the environment.” Self, however, is quick to assert that UPSTAIRS is a far cry from the jaunty optimism of The Sound of Music and other happy musicals. “The music is used to set a mood and to explore the emotional state of the characters.” The sound of the piece, said Self, relies heavily on the influences of mid-century jazz and blues and seeks to capture the particular musical timbre of 1970s New Orleans. Music and history are not the only ways in which UPSTAIRS is rooted in New Orleans. UPSTAIRS is a strictly not-for-profit show. “Any profits from the special premiere will go directly back into the New Orleans LGBTQ community,” said Self. The show is predominately selffunded, supplemented by roughly $10,000 raised from a February Kickstarter campaign. In addition, Self has plans to eventually incorporate New Orleans based actors into the show in an effort to lend performances heightened authenticity. Self, who, along with the majority of the cast, currently lives in California, claims that premiering the show in New Orleans is essential for commemorating those who died in the fire. Depending on the success of the New Orleans premiere, Self has future plans of taking the show nation-wide. “The goal is to start in New Orleans and, moving outward, spread the story of the UpStairs Lounge across cities everywhere,” said Self. Self observes the title UPSTAIRS is a metaphor for the play itself, reflecting a theme of ascendancy—the ways in which the play seeks to ascend from, and otherwise transcend, the fear and torment of the 1973 arson. “UPSTAIRS, for good or ill, is what I have to offer to the victims and their families,” said Self. “This is what I can do. It’s not enough, but what could possibly be?” UPSTAIRS will run June 20 at 8pm June 21-22 at 7pm, June 23 at 2pm and June 24 at 8pm at the Café Istanbul theatre, 2372 St. Claude. The play will consist of two acts with a fifteen minute intermission, for a total run time of two hours. Tickets are $35 and available online at UpstairsMusical.BrownPaperTickets.COM.
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Cocktails on the veranda @ The Country Club
Great eats from Country Club kitchen staff Antonio, Wualeska, Tino & Chef Maryjane
Bartender Richie joins one of the guys @ Good Friends
Josh @ Bourbon Pride
Joseph welcomes you to Bourbon Pride
Bartender Jake & Lafitte’s manager Wren @ Queen’s Head Pub
Sexy Andres giving a little skin @ Oz
Jello shot magic @ Good Friends Bar
Abba cover band Bjorn @ Zoo to Do in Audubon Zoo
Celebrating @ Jazz Fest in the Miller tent
Cocktailin’ @ Bourbon Pub Parade The wild ones in La Familia @ JohnPaul’s
Celebrating @ Good Friends
Sunday Gentleman @ Good Friends
Appletini Revue’s own Stephanie & Dee
David & Ronnie celebrate their 33rd anniversary @ Michael’s On The Park which was originally Travis’
Catherine & Misti celebrate 4th anniversary
More fun in the Miller tent @ Jazz Fest
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The Scene ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Charles Jenkins, Paul Melancon, Tony Leggio
Jamaal, Brennan, Josh, Drew & Erika (front) in the Cabana Bar, pool side @ The Country Club
Barbara & one of the scantily clad young men @ Good Friends Bar
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news Sir Speedy in New Orleans Now Offers Website Design Wayne Chambless, owner of Sir Speedy located at 343 Carondelet Street, is pleased to announce that his business is now offering website design to
complement his full suite of printing and marketing services. Sir Speedy’s new website design services include a menu of offerings including strategy and planning, graphic design, content development, programming and hosting. “As a printing and marketing services provider, we offer our clients more than just printing,” said
Chambless. “Our creative resources now include professional web developers, copywriters, graphic designers and programmers. “Our website design services are targeted for small- to mediumsized companies that either want to freshen up an existing website or start with a brand new one,” continued Chambless. “A good website is essential for every business today. It is the first place people go to learn about a company and you have to be ready with a professional design, content and functionality.” Wayne and his Sir Speedy can design websites for a variety of needs including, general information, promotional, ecommerce and landing pages for integrated marketing campaigns. Sir Speedy takes care of all aspects of developing the website, from copywriting and graphic design to programming and more. To make the process even easier, they can also arrange for hosting. Wayne Chambless has operated his Sir Speedy in New Orleans for 17 years at the same Carondlet location. In addition to printing and marketing services, website design is part of a full suite of services designed to support branding, lead generation, cross-sell /upsell, customer retention and customer reactivation campaigns. Sir Speedy specializes in the creation and execution of growthoriented printing and marketing solutions for small- to medium-sized businesses. More than 500 locations world wide offer robust digital and offset printing, integrated marketing campaigns, data and mailing services, signage, promotional products, graphic design, and online services that help companies advance their Web presence. Whether the client objective is branding, lead generation, customer retention, reactivation, cross-sell, upsell, or campaign measurement, Sir Speedy offers more ways for businesses to grow. Sir Speedy has received numerous awards and recognition including the Franchise Times Top 200, Entrepreneur Franchise 500, Quick Printing Top 100, Printing Impressions 400, an AllStar Top 300 Award, a Franchise 50 Award and a Franchisee Satisfaction Award from Franchise Business Review. Contact Sir Speedy 5 0 4 . 5 8 6 . 9 8 1 2 , info@sirspeedyneworleans.com, or visit SirSpeedyNewOrleans.COM.
Next Ambush DEADLINE Tueday, May 21st
504.522.8049 marsha@ripandmarsha.com
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dish pensacola by Lauren Mitchell Email: dishpensacola@aol.com
Get Ready for Memorial Weekend Hey kids. It’s that time again. You’ve been dieting and tanning (God knows I have!) and it’s time to come to the beach and show off your hard work and hard bodies! And, I have just the place for you to do it… SPLASH BEACH FEST at Pensacola Beach, Florida for Memorial Day Weekend!! The SPLASH BEACH FEST starts on Friday, May 24th at 10am. There will be lots of food, music, ice, drinks and FUN with free admission! The festivities go until 7pm and the FEST continues through Sunday, May 26th. The highlight of the SPLASH BEACH FEST will be the “WAVE” party on Saturday, May 25th. The party will begin at 10pm and go until 4am. International DJ, Roland Belmares, will headline the event and promises to keep this beach-bash jumping until the wee hours of the morning! Tickets are still available for $50.00 at MemorialWeekendPensacola.COM. Once you are done with your fun-inthe-sun, you can turn the heat up at Emerald City nightclub. The weekend line-up starts at Emerald City on Thursday, May 23rd with “FOREPLAY” featuring EC resi-
dent DJ, Dewight Barkley at 9pm. Get a “jump” on the weekend with this fantastic kick-off party. Friday, May 24th, don’t forget “Beach Bingo” from 6-8pm at Emerald City starring, yours truly, Lauren Mitchell. We’ll have a great time with fantastic prizes, liquor and more attitude than you can shake a stick at!! Friday night at EC, DJ Dewight Barkley headlines the “STRIP-DOWN” party at 9pm. More hot bodies and high energy all night until 3am! Saturday, May 25th is the “SWEAT” party with DJ Jay-R, a home-town favorite who is returning from Charlotte, NC for the weekend. Sunday, May 26th, get ready for “FRICTION, a BLACKLIGHT UNDERWEAR PARTY” at 9pm. DJ Dewight Barkley will return to spin this blowout event. The party will feature free clothes check and day-glo body painting. Don’t miss this one!! Monday, May 27th will be the “CLIMAX” party with DJ Jay-R at 9pm. This is the “Drink & Drown” special that will have everyone left in town screaming for Tylenol! Free well drinks and draft beer from 9pm until 1am!! The festivities continue until
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baton rouge, the capital city Avita Drugs Pharmacy Sponsor's HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two (HAART) AIDS Candlelight Memorial March 19 The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is celebrating its 30th Anniversary on Sunday, May 19th. The Memorial, held annually on the 3rd Sunday in May, is a program of the Global Network of People Living with HIV
and is the world’s largest and oldest grassroots mobilization campaign for HIV/AIDS Awareness. The event honors all those affected by the AIDS pandemic, educates about HIV/ AIDS, influences local and national policy makers, and generates community dialogue about HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment. HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two (HAART) and other local AIDS service organizations is coordinating the observance for Baton Rouge. Held on Sunday, May 19 at 6:30 pm. in downtown Baton Rouge’s North Boulevard Town Square, the memorial sponsored by Avita Drugs Pharmacy will feature Baton Rouge Councilwoman Donna Collins-Lewis, The New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus and a Candlelight Vigil. The Memorial will include a walk through downtown in the style of a jazz funeral with music performed by The Michael Foster Project. A wreath will be laid on the steps of City Hall to remind our city leaders of the epidemic affecting Baton Rouge. Refreshments, acupuncture, and free HIV testing will be available to all that attend. As one of the three largest AIDS organizations in Louisiana, HAART seeks to improve the Baton Rouge community through health and wellness education, and the provision of comprehensive quality services. HAART strives to assist those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in Baton Rouge community, which is #1 in the US for new AIDS cases and #3 for HIV cases. For further information about HAART’s World AIDS Day event, please contact Lori Lauve at 225.927.1269 x111 or via email at llauve@haartinc.org.
dish pensacola ...from 22 3am with shows at 11pm and 1am featuring…ME!... and my supporting cast, the Jewels of the Emerald Coast. So, pack your bags and activate your GRINDR for a long weekend of surf, sun and schlong …and don’t forget the lotion, lube and liquor!! See you there!! Your favorite “Beach Bitch,” Lauren Mitchell
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pensacola
Gearing up for Memorial Day Weekend @ Emerald City ~ Pensacola, Florida ~ Photos by Lauren Mitchell
paparazzi
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ambush
Cinco de Mayo cutie with Marquis Marcell & Blanche Debris @ Oz
paparazzi
Bebe & Princesse work Petronius’ Cinco de Mayo @ Michael’s
Glazer rep Jason & Trent do Cinco de Mayo @ 700 Club New dancer Jonathan in Mexican headdress @ The Corner Pocket’s Cinco de Mayo party
Cinco de Mayo with show director Coca Mesa @ Oz
Cinco de Mayo @ 700 Club with Guiness rep Tracy
Corner Pocket dancer Kyle, aka The Cat, on the bar @ The Corner Pocket
Brad, Sam, Shane & Jeff celebrate Cinco de Mayo @ Oz
Capt. Countess C. Alice makes $$$ for Petronius’ Cinco de Mayo
Barry Bareass & his Corner Pocket Boys celebrating Cinco de Mayo @ The Pocket
Zhane Kennedy in the Cinco de Mayo show @ Oz
King Petronius Lee serves up tacos to Stuart @ Petronius’ Cinco de Mayo
Corner Pocket dancer Ronnie
”The Wall of Drag” Tami Tarmac joins Petronius’ Cinco de Mayo show
Queen Amon-Ra Deja Deja-Vue' & Petronius’ Natasha Sinclair work Petronius’ Cinco de Mayo
Bartender Robin welcomes you to Kajun’s Pub
Bartender Brad does Cinco de Mayo @ Double Play
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Fiesta Time in The Big Easy ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Charles Jenkins, Paul Melancon, Rip Naquin, Darwin Reed
Cinco de Mayo @ 700 Club
Pres. & Queen Petronius Larry & treasurer David welcome you to Petronius Cinco de Mayo @ Michael’s On The Park
Good Friends’ Cha Cha celebrates his birthday with bartender Jeff @ Cafe Lafitte in Exile
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CANAL STREET
100 IBERVILLE
200 BIENVILLE
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RAMPART
500 TOULOUSE
BURGUNDY
400 ST. LOUIS
DAUPHINE
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CHARTES
DECATUR
CONTI
BOURBON
ST. PETER ORLEANS ST. ANN
800
book stores
900
New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700
1000
chiropractic
DUMAINE
ST. PHILIP
URSULINES
1100 GOVERNOR NICHOLLS
1200 BARRACKS
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classifieds
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French Quarter/Faubourg Marigny/Bywater
attonreys New Orleans, LA [504] Littlefield Law LLC, Attorney R. Kelp Littlefield, 639 Loyola Ave., Suite 1820, 504.525.1328
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
part 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
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. Ram-
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 [is613]
circuit/events 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 Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014, 15th Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade.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
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; 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] NEW ORLEANS COURTYARD HOTEL, 1101 North Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116,
28 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Facebook.COM/ AmbushMag • May 14-27, 2013 • Of fic ial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.ORG
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 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 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, 1701 Frenchmen St., New Orleans, LA. 70116 KreweOfPetronius.ORG, petronius1961@cox.net 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 Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans , Interim Pastor Gail Minnick , Service time: Sundays 5pm, 1333 South Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118, 504.270.1MCC, www.MCCNewOrleans.COM, Pastor @MCCNewOrleans.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 RENEGADE BEARS OF LOUISIANA, PO Box 3803, New Orleans, LA 70177; renegadebearsoflouisiana@gmail.com 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. 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 confi-
Sout hernDec adenc e.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayEast erParade.COM • May 14-27, 2013 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 29
under the gaydar by Tony Leggio Email: ledgemgp@gmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
Bartender of the Month My next bartender of the month has been around for many years at various establishments in and around the French Quarter and Marigny. She is sarcastic, wickedly funny, opinionated and adored by many fans both local and out-of-town. My bartender for the month of May is none other than
Bartender of the Month Rusty LaRoux, Allways Lounge dential 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
restaurants Mandeville, LA [985] The Po-Boy Shack, 1703 N. Causeway Blvd., 626.1303 New Orleans, LA [504] Borracho @ Kajun's Pub, 2256 St. Claude,
the lovely Rusty LaRoux. Rusty is a mainstay in the gay community, having been Southern Decadence Grand Marshal XXXI. Currently, Rusty is slinging drinks at the Allways Lounge on St. Claude Avenue. The best way to describe Rusty is, you take Carla from Cheers mix her with Flo from Alice and sprinkle with a dash of Julia Sugarbaker form Designing Women and you got yourself a genuine New Orleans character. She is abrasive in a good way and tells you exactly what is on her mind whether you agree with it or not. A word of advice, it usually is better to agree. But all kidding aside, Rusty’s Zoo Revue show at Big Daddy’s, was one of the first drag performances I ever saw when I moved into the Marigny. And to this day, I have yet to see a show that has rivaled it in getting such a diverse crowd of people. I quickly became a fan of the show and her personally. I have supported her every place she has worked. Her bartending skills are superior and she is sure to have you falling off your barstool with laughter
267.6108. 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 Gene's Po-Boys, 1040 Elysian Fields, 943.3861 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
(and her very potent libations). No matter if it is politics or religion, no subject is taboo for her. Sometimes I go to her bar just to hear her interact with everyone who comes in. Talk about dinner theatre. My favorite is when she screams out a curse at someone and explains it on her turrets syndrome. Even more amusing is when I walk in and ask her to tell me about her week. You cannot pay for entertainment like that. So visit Allways and check Rusty out. Allways Lounge is located at 2240 St. Claude Avenue.
Saints and Sinners Literary Fest is Almost Here Saints & Sinners Literary Festival turns 10 years old this year May 23 – 26 at the Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter. There is plenty to celebrate including the addition of novelist Ayana Mathis to the lineup. Ayana’s The Twelve Tribes of Hattie has won rave reviews from everyone from Marilynne Robinson to Oprah. The novel traces the lives of an African-American family through Great Migration and beyond. Oprah chose her book for her club and is quoted, “I can’t remember when I read anything that moved me in quite this way, besides the work of Toni Morrison.” Ayana will speak to “finding your characters voice” and will participate in the reading series. Other celebrity authors who will be on hand this year are Ellen Hart, Dorothy Allison, Val McDermid to just name a few. Events include master classes, panel discussions, readings, tours and parties. The Saints and Sinners Literary Festival was founded in 2001 as a new initiative designed as an innovative way to reach the community with infor-
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
mation about HIV/AIDS, particularly disseminating prevention messages via the writers, thinkers and spokes-people of the GLBT community. It was also formed to bring the GLBT literary community together to celebrate the literary arts. The Festival has grown into an internationally-recognized event that brings together a who’s who of GLBT publishers, writers and readers from throughout the United States and beyond. For more information on the festival or to buy tickets, go to www.sasfest.org.
Do Not Forget Your Meat! Just a reminder that the Renegade Bears of Louisiana present a Steak Night on Saturday, May 18 at Michael’s On The Park. For only $12, you can eat a ribeye steak with all the salad and baked potatoes you can eat. The event is from 4 – 8pm. Michael’s is located at 834 North Rampart Street
It’s a Varla World! Varla Jean Merman is staying busy during the month of May and the Mystic Krewe of Satyricon is bringing her to you in two krewe fundraisers. The first is the opening performance of ReDesigning Women on May 22 at MidCity Theatres. The roles of the lovely Atlanta ladies from Designing Women will be fabulously embodied by Varla Jean Merman, Sadie Shepard, Ricky Graham and Jack Long as they bring to the stage three episodes from the hit comedy. There will only be 100 tickets sold to this special performance so get your tickets now. Doors open at 7pm with the show at 8pm. Tickets are $30. The Mid-City Theatre is located at 3540 Toulouse Street. Then on Tuesday, May 28, Varla Jean is premiering her new show Twice Upon a Mattress before it goes to Provincetown for the summer. This entertainment extravaganza is directed by Ricky Graham and features Jefferson Turner. The show will be held at Café Istanbul in the New Orleans Healing Center located at 2372 St. Claude Avenue. Learn valuable lessons from Varla on how to make your prince come at this laugh riot premier. Tickets are $20 and the show starts at 8pm. Once again only 100 tickets will be sold for this event so get your tickets early. For tickets and more information for both shows; call 504.252.5476.
Broadway at NOCCA Concludes Two Powerhouse Shows Audra McDonald and Megan Hilty will round out the finale of the Broadway series at NOCCA. Audra, who I was lucky to interview in the last issue is a five-time Tony Award winner and recent star of Porgy and Bess on [continued on 31]
30 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Facebook.COM/ AmbushMag • May 14-27, 2013 • Of fic ial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.ORG
under the gaydar ...from 30 Broadway and TV’s Private Practice. She makes her New Orleans debut with two shows only on May 18 at 7:30 and 9:30. The series, which previously featured Patti LuPone, Sutton Foster and Megan Mullally, is produced by Mark Cortale, long time producer/manager of Jeffery Roberson aka Varla Jean Merman, and is hosted by Sirius/XM radio star Seth Rudetsky at the piano. The Broadway @ NOCCA series announced last month that it will initiate a new, $2,500 per-year scholarship. The scholarship will be awarded annually to one graduating NOCCA senior who will be going on to a conservatory or college and specializing in Musical Theater performance. Each annual award recipient will be selected by the school’s faculty, based on merit and need. The first recipient of the Broadway @ NOCCA scholarship will be awarded onstage by Tony-winner Audra McDonald immediately after her performance at Broadway at NOCCA on May 18. On June 1 at 7:30pm for one show only, Megan Hilty star of NBC’s Musical Drama Smash, ends the season. Hilty stars as the seasoned triple-threat Ivy Lynn in “Smash”, which is currently in its second season. She was recently signed to Sony Music in a partnership between Sony Masterworks and Columbia Records and her new album, “It Happens All The Time,” was released in March. It includes fresh interpretations of compositions by contemporary songwriters and producers. Hilty was previously seen as Lorelei Lee, the diamond-loving blonde made famous by Carol Channing, in the Encores! production of “Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,” to which she earned rave reviews. She recently wrapped production on Summertime Entertainment’s animated film “Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return” with Kelsey Grammer, Hugh Dancy and Lea Michele, slated for release in 2013. She can also be heard alongside Placido Domingo on the opera star’s duet album. A native of Seattle, Hilty moved to New York City after graduating from the prestigious Carnegie Mellon University, and quickly made her Broadway debut as Glinda in “Wicked.” She went on to perform the role in both the national tour and in Los Angeles. After receiving critical acclaim for her portrayal of Doralee Rhodes in Broadway’s “9 to 5: The Musical,” Hilty was honored with nominations for Lead Actress in a Musical at the Drama Desk Awards, Outer Critics Circle Awards, the Drama League Awards and L.A. Stage Alliance Ovation Awards. For tickets please visit www.broadwaynola.com/.
Hurricane Update Last time we left off our heroes Matt Kugleman and Roy Haylock (aka Bianca del Rio) were working on a
movie. Well, Hurricane Bianca, the feature screenplay Matt has been writing the last few years, is ready for production! The gist of the story is simple, it is a comedy about a NYC teacher who moves to small-town Texas, gets fired for being gay, and returns disguised as a mean lady to get revenge on the folks that were nasty to him. We can all guess who the mean lady is (no not Rusty LaRoux) but Bianca in all her bitchy form. But they still need our help. First you may have been need to “like” us on Facebook. Then the fun part, as we all learned in the 2012 election truly great things come from grassroots fundraising, so here is one more: http:/ /www.indiegogo.com/projects/hurricane-bianca. Please help them fund this amazing film. They have put together some thank you gifts for all sorts of contribution levels. Remember it is better to give then to receive. And that also is the case in this particular instance.
Party Down I cannot remember when we have experienced such glorious weather at the end of April/beginning of May in such a long time. Usually there seems to be a hot switch that turns on right after French Quarter Festival and turns off in October. How I love our long hot summers in New Orleans. But the last two weeks have been fantastic and so have the events. Let’s begin on Monday, when I went to the opening of Tableau Restaurant, the spectacular new Dickie Brennan eatery connected to Le Petit Theatre. The place is absolutely magnificent and the food was spectacular. Its open air feel downstairs lends itself perfectly to the French Quarter. The courtyard has remained intact and the old little theatre space is now an open kitchen and dining room. The bar is wonderfully appointed and a perfect place for before and after theatre cocktails. Upstairs is a series of dining rooms that can be used for private event spaces. The upstairs bar is especially convenient as it opens up directly into the second floor of the theatre. And in case you are wondering, yes they have added more and nicer bathrooms to the place. But my favorite area is the balcony, which has been extended for dining and has an amazing view of Jackson Square. This was the first time I ever had been up there. I highly recommend trying the place out, you will be pleasantly impressed. On Thursday, I traveled to Metairie for the unveiling of the new Porsche model. I am always excited about a party that is all about fast cars. It was the perfect place for me to dream about the ideal car I can never have. I live in the Marigny, that vehicle would disappear quicker from in front of my house than a gay boy’s virginity when he first comes out. The party was still fabulous with great food done by Pal-
ate Catering and a DJ spinning hot dance tracks. After that night, I went to the opening party of Pearl Wine Co. located in the American Can Building in Mid City. The store and adjacent bar is located in the old Cork & Bottle. There were wall to wall racks of wine and great bites for guests. The bar area has a swanky lounge feel and features live music. This is definitely a welcome addition to the neighborhood. After the parties, I met my friends Beaux and Barrett for dinner at the recently reinvigorated Sugar Park restaurant on St. Claude in the Bywater. They have a brand new Spring menu and the food is outstanding. It is a great dining experience with a very cool vibe and the patio is beautiful right now. Their pizzas are especially superb. This week I was up for trying new places, on Friday the boys and I went to Buca di Beppo on the Westbank for dinner. Located in Gretna, this Italian restaurant may be a chain, owned by Planet Hollywood, but it brings in the stars at all their locations. I was a little reluctant to go there, but after some coaxing, I have to admit, the food was pretty good and I enjoyed the entire ambiance of the place. It helps to be Italian though. Dishes are authentic Italian fare inspired by Northern and Southern Italian cuisine and served family style. We got the complete tour and next time I want to make sure they seat my party either in the kitchen or at the Pope’s Table. No lie, they have a bust of John Paul at a table in the place. The friendly staff made the night fun as we dined amidst the walls covered in family photos and candid shots of ItalianAmerican icons such as Sophia Loren and Joe DiMaggio, while you listen to the classic tunes of Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin. I felt like I was transported back into a Mafia movie. Afterward, we really went all out and hit Harrah’s for some fun gaming and a few cocktails at Masquerade. Now that club is hopping in the evening, from the dancers on pedestals to DJ spinning all the latest dance hits, it is a fun alternative place to party it up. On Saturday, we took advantage of the gorgeous weather by attending a rooftop party at Albert Carrey’s house in the Warehouse District. It was a nice evening to sit poolside and throw back a few cocktails. Then we traipsed into the Quarter stopping at Good Friends and Oz for a little whirl. Sunday was a Jazz Fest day with my friend Nick and even though it was wet and muddy we still managed to have a great time. Crawfish bread and unlimited music, who could ask for more. We visited a few tents such as Miller and the Sheraton before settling down at Congo Square to see Earth, Wind and Fire. Since it started to rain, the crowds were light so we were up front and personal as we danced to some of my favorites like Fantasy and September. What a memorable day.
I swear when you do Jazz Fest on a Sunday, you need a day to recover. The following Tuesday, I went to the opening party of Barcadia in the Warehouse District. This bar/restaurant has over 40 beers on tap and has 80’s arcade games plus a host of other interesting ways to spend a quarter like Pop a Shot, Skeetball and some Big Game Hunting machine that proves I should never be given a shotgun. The place is great for private parties and there is an Asian themed trendy club called Ohm as part of the facility. It is worth checking out if for no other reason than to play Space Invaders again. After I met up again with Beaux and Barrett to try another new restaurant in the Bywater called Pizza Delicious located in a cool warehouse space. Once again, the Bywater has attracted another trendy little restaurant with good food. Wednesday was one of those unforgettable nights. My co-workers and I were taken on a tour of all the Dickie Brennan properties for an incredible dine-a-round. We got to sample some of the best dishes of Palace Café, Bourbon House, Tableau and Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse. In addition we also were able to see their private dining spaces for events, which gave me lots of new ideas for some of the gay fundraisers I help throw. Did you even know Palace Café has this breathtaking third floor dining room space and wine room that are awesome? Then we had some crazy weather and the heavens seemed to open up, but a soggy ground and the cold did not dampen the fun of the Zoo To Do on Friday night. Beaux, me, some of my co-workers and a large group of our clients attended the event in full force and I for one loved the climate. Usually it is so disgustingly hot that you are drenched in sweat by the end of the night. This year, it was cool and enjoyable. The restaurants were showcasing their best dishes and I especially loved the gang at Louisiana Pizza Kitchen’s pasta. Orlando from the Society Page hosted one of the bars and the gays were out in full force there. One of the main reasons this year was fantastic, other than the multiple open bars, was the entertainment this year which was tremendous. The headliner this year was Bjorn gain, the Abba cover band. It was a magical night dancing under the stars with some of my best friends to Dancing Queen, Mamma Mia and all of the hits that we love. It was spectacular. Keeping the momentum going, the next day Beaux and I went to Jazz fest and played in the gorgeous weather. Great music, fun in the Miller and Sheraton tents and lots of shopping for unique art highlighted the day. But the culmination was Fleetwood Mac with Ms. Stevie Nicks, who just brought the house down. They played all of their hits as well as all of their hits from their solo careers, I do not think I stopped dancing the whole weekend. Afterwards, we did a little Cinco De Mayo celebration at Michael’s On The Park. The Krewe of Petronius put on a themed fundraiser that had drag queens, great cuisine by Superior
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moments in gay new orleans history by Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net
“Saints and Sinners Literary Festival” New Orleans hosts the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival, an annual conference celebrating GLBTQ literature May 23-26. Authors, publishers, aspiring writers and lay people from around the United States will converge on the Hotel Monteleone for a weekend of panel discussions, writing workshops, master classes, readings and performances. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the festival. Founded by the NO / AIDS Task Force in 2003 as a way of raising awareness about HIV / AIDS and also as a means of bringing together the gay writing community in New Orleans, the festival has grown in stature and earned the reputation as one of the premiere gay literary festivals in the world. The festival began as the brainchild of Paul Willis who had previously organized a similar event for the Lambda Literary Foundation in Washington, D.C. New Orleans based mystery novelist and NO/AIDS Task Force Prevention Director Jean Redmann conceived the
name “Saints and Sinners.” Attendees at the first festival created a Saints and Sinners Literary Hall of Fame, the first inductees into which were Dorothy Allison, Katherine V. Forrest, Felice Picano, and Patricia Neil Warren. Also in that first year, the infamous Gennifer Flowers hosted an erotica reading at her nightclub. In subsequent years the festival would feature playwriting and short fiction competitions. The first play to win the contest, Nighthawks by Evan Guilford-Blake, was performed at Cowpokes and the Marigny Theater in 2007. Since 2008, winners and finalists in the fiction contest have had their stories published in the annual festival anthology, Saints and Sinners: New Fiction from the Festival. It’s appropriate that New Orleans hosts the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival considering the long tradition of gay writers the city has produced and inspired. Three giants of American literature—Walt Whitman, Tennessee Williams, and Truman Capote—were profoundly inspired by New Orleans and went on to greatly influence Ameri-
trodding the boards by Brian Sands
Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com
The Adventures of Butt Boy and Tigger at The Elm Theatre through June 8 Steven Dawson's The Adventures of Butt Boy and Tigger starts off with two guys meeting on an Internet sex site. Tigger is a 30something Bywater resident who doesn't seem to have wheels. Twenty-four year-old Butt Boy's car is in the shop so it might be difficult getting away from Algiers for a tryst as he still lives with his mother. Thus begins Steven Dawson's surprisingly charming comedy that mixes naughty sex with the all-too-realistic challenges of finding Mr. Right. Unable to hook up, Tigger (Garrett Prejean), horny, leads Butt Boy (Chris Marroy) into the world of fantasy play and over the next few weeks they have some doozies—coach and athlete, rancher and stablehand, sergeant and soldier—all online but acted out for the audience. Fun as these scenes are, they get a bit tedious after a while, cause, hey, we know what their endings will be. Still, it's hard not to laugh at the ridiculousness of sex talk outside of the bedroom. (Has anyone ever really said, "My asshole is like a bucket of leeches" with a straight face?) What makes Butt Boy and Tigger attention-worthy, though, is the delicacy
with which Dawson limns the ebb and flow of the real emotions of Tigger and Butt Boy, aka Matt and Jamie, as their relationship goes beyond mere cyberland. Dawson came up with the idea for the play after a couple of his friends had tried online cruising sites with varying degrees of success, but the apt dialog and inherent pitfalls (old photos, thinly written profiles, overall flakiness, etc.) that he explores with keen accuracy makes me wonder if he didn't do a little personal online research himself. Though written some years ago (references to Janis Ian, Joni Mitchell and Tom Selleck kinda give this away), Dawson's funny, true-to-life words hold your attention despite the lack of action other than the aforementioned sex-ish scenes. Well, maybe not completely true-to-life—we all wish we could be so on-the-spot witty. But as Dawson explores the pull of the internet as a substitute for actual human interaction and the difficulty of connecting in our CyberAge, The Adventures of Butt Boy and Tigger draws you into its world
can literature. While Whitman and Williams and Capote are names known to many, there have been several other important gay writers from New Orleans whose names may not be as familiar. Perhaps the most influential gay man of letters in New Orleans history is Lyle Saxon. In addition to reporting news stories for the TimesPicayune, Saxon also wrote cultural commentary on the city and occasional fiction pieces. He quickly established himself as a leading figure in the city’s literary scene. Because of the times in which he lived, Saxon did not live as an openly gay man and there is nothing particularly gay about his body of work. Gay / lesbian / bisexual / transgender / queer literature as we understand that term today did not emerge until after Lyle Saxon’s death. But when it did, New Orleans had a role to play in its growth and continues to produce glbt literature today. A gay themed literary festival like Saints and Sinners would have been incomprehensible to Saxon and yet in those closeted times gay writers were writing gay themed literature. Truman Capote’s Other Voices, Other Rooms (1948), James Baldwin’s Giovanni’s Room (1956), and John Rechy’s City of Night (1963) all helped nudge the literary closet door open. But it wasn’t until after the Stonewall Riots in 1969 that gay literature finally began to truly emerge from the closet. In time, noted authors such as Dorothy Allison, Michael Cunningham and Mark Doty would win both recognition and awards from the mainstream for their works. Despite the increasing acceptance of GLBT literature, gay themed literature continues to earn very little media attention and has far fewer publishing options than straight literature. Saints and Sinners is important in that it helps to ensure the written work of the LGBT community will continue to have an outlet, and that people will have access to books that will help dispel stereotypes, alleviate isolation, and provide resources for personal wellness. Literature has long nurtured hope and
with genuine humaneness. Director Joseph Furnari endows what could've been a static script with as much movement as possible, taking his actors to the limit in the fantasy scenes without going so far overboard that it becomes completely absurd. Unlike previous productions, judging by online clips of them, Furnari even got little details right like the speed at which Jamie and Matt would be typing. Most importantly, he has guided Marroy and Prejean to give finely calibrated performances, each revealing feelings and then shutting himself off again. I;ve rarely seen straight guys play "gay" so well, both Marroy, as the naive, nice Butt Boy and Prejean as Tigger, a more experienced player. Listen, in the latter parts of the play, as Marroy becomes quieter and
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inspiration, and has provided an avenue of understanding. A steady stream of LGBT novels, short stories, plays, and non-fiction works has served to awaken lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgendered persons to the existence of others like themselves, to trace the outlines of a shared culture, and to bring the outside world into the emotional passages of LGBT life. Saints and Sinners is open to the public and this year the festival is offering a 50% discount to locals who want to attend part or all of the festival (the discount code is sinners). The festival takes place May 23-26. Tickets can be purchased at www.sasfest.org or by phone at 504.581.1144. The program includes a book launch party and fundraiser, a social mixer with the featured authors, master classes, panel discussions, and a reading series.
under the gaydar ...from 31 Grill and a sombrero decorating contest. What an amazing two days, but when the event was over, all that fun caught up with me and I had to call it a night. Sunday was a slightly easier paced day, brunch with mom and then I went to see the Clifton Monroe Chronicles that evening at the Shadowbox Theatre. This is the third in a series of murder mystery radio broadcast shows and the cast was fun and the writing quick and witty. The fourth one is set to come out in the Fall. That ends my two weeks of good times, as we move into the summer, remember that the temperature is not the only thing that is hot so are the parties and the events.
Tony’s Tidbits of Gay Wisdom If there is one thing I have learned in my life is that you should always be grateful for everything you have. Being ungrateful not only shows a lack of manners, but also a undeserved sense of entitlement. I recently gave someone a ticket to an event and they had the nerve to afterwards complain to a mutual friend that they were upset because I did not give them the VIP tickets. Really? You can imagine where their name will fall on the guest list of my next event. You ever bring cookies or give a person sweets and they say something like I am on a diet. Don’t you just feel like saying to them, just say thank you and keep your mouth shut. I do not care if you eat them, give them to someone else or throw them away after I leave. Take the pie and shut the hell up and be happy I thought of you. When someone gives you something nice or invites you to a party or an event, send your gratitude. A thank you note or email will go a long way in making you stand out and showing how much you appreciate their friendship. Keep in mind this is not necessary if you go to a wedding or birthday party in which you bring a gift to the host. The power of the thank you note holds more weight than people can imagine. So go buy some nice stationary and show others how much you appreciate their thinking of you. The five minutes you will spend doing this means so much. If you have an event, story or idea, you want covered, contact me at ledgemgp@gmail.com.
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trodding the boards ...from 32 more truthful while Prejean raises his voice as though to cover up his emotions. And though the sex scenes may be silly, Prejean and Marroy give'em all the gusto they deserve with applause-worthy results. Btw, not sure exactly who deserves credit—I suspect all the parties above—but the adaptation from the original Australian setting to NOLA was smoothly done. And Anna Henschel's lighting smartly defines the tale's various locales. Every gay man, and maybe a few straight ones, will recognize themselves in The Adventures of Butt Boy and Tigger. And if the ending seems a little too unrealistically rosy or at least optimistically so, isn't that why we go to the theater? Go see it. And let's hope that there might some day be The Further Adventures of Butt Boy and Tigger.
Crimes Against Nature: A Love Story at The AllWays Lounge & Theatre through June 3 Otter's Crimes Against Nature: A Love Story opened at the Backyard Ballroom five years ago and went on to win the Ambie Award for Best Original Work. It is coming back to the AllWays Theatre for a limited run starting on May 17. Apparently a couple of songs have been added as part of Ratty Scurvics' original score and the book has been tweaked. But Thomas Little & Lisa Vanwambeck's animation returns as do Otter, Dennis Monn and Veronica Belletto; Sick the Clown and Thugsy will be replacing Miss Led and Dwight C. Byrd, respectively, but I'm sure they'll get into the proper Crimes spirit under Monn's direction. Here's my original review which ran in April 2008: "Crimes Against Nature starts off with an animated (in every sense of the word) sex scene and keeps getting more
outrageous as it goes along. Billed as AA Love Story," it's an episodic road comedy with tragic flourishes as when conjoined twins fall off a train and are eaten by alligators. "A throwback to Off Off-Broadway in the 1960s, Crimes Against Nature owes much to commedia dell'arte, Punch & Judy shows, and underground comics in its gender-bending celebration of sex, bestiality, death and dismemberment. And if all that sounds like something from an old Jerry Springer show, Otter's script sprinkles it with such joie de vivre that what could've been somewhat twee emerges as wicked fun. "Against Dennis Monn's pop art set on which a two-dimensional cactus, train and giant bong appear, Crimes Against Nature tells the tale of Happy Daye (Monn) and Gaye Daye (Otter). These lovers traverse the desert and head to the Big Easy where the churlish Happy succumbs to NOLA's evil charms. As Gaye, innocent if naughty at heart, gives away all sorts of bodily parts to support Happy's drug habit, one has to wonder why she stands by her slug of a man, but eventually they triumph. While one wishes the verbal dexterity matched the show's visual wit, it's all delightfully perverse. "As Gaye, Otter achieved true pathos like a weirded out Giulietta Masina from Fellini's movies. The androgynous Miss Led, busty Veronica Belletto and protean Dwight C. Byrd, whose Hump and Dump just may be the strangest character(s) I've ever seen on stage, all contributed to the manic fun. "Weenie jokes; a dance on roller skates; Mardi Gras-esque costumes by Otter & Oliver Manhattan; fabulous wigs from Fifi Mahoney's; Thomas Little & Lisa Vanwambeck's dirty animation; a very welltrained dog; and nudity both real and illusory, further add to the merriment. I look forward to seeing more works birthed from Otter=s extravagant imagination." Following the Saturday, May 18th, show there'll be a dance party celebrating John (Hedwig and the Angry Inch)
Cameron (Shortbus) Mitchell's 50th birthday. The party cover will be included in the Crimes ticket purchase. Only in New Orleans.
Coming Attractions Much Ado About Nothing continues as The NOLA Project and the New Orleans
Museum of Art enter their third year of partnership to present Shakespeare inside the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Director Jason Kirkpatrick has set this production near the turn of the century in
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mobile
paparazzi
Miss Cie & Matt sing @ B-Bob’s Karaoke
Hello Michael & Brandi
Miss Cie with King Stevie & LeRoy
Miss B-Bob’s CoCo Elise, 2013 B-Bob’s bartender Brenda & bar owner Jerry
Happy Graduation Jessica & Brandon Happy Mobile Gay Pride, 2013 Flo & Terry
Meet & Greet @ B-Bob’s with Drag Race’s Alaska
From Rupaul Drag Race, Alaska, with Miss Cie @ B-Bob’s Jawakatema Davenport & DJ Scotty @ B-Bob’s
Happy Cinco de Mayo, Love Judy
Bartender Bob & Venus Shante DaVis @ B-Bob’s
Hello, to the greatest person ever...Timothy with Miss Cie
Happy Birthday Miss Cie
Miss Venus @ B-Bob’s
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The Whole Gamut~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Cie Anne & John, Leon Weekley
Hot Poiseden Sea on the upstairs bar @ B-Bob’s
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Splash’s Mia joins Nicole DuBois pageant benefit @ Splash
Bootsie DeVille does Petronius Cinco de Mayo @ Michael’s On The Park
Opal Masters opens the Jewel Box Revue @ Michael’s On The Park Maryam & Andrea @ Zoo To Do
Pat & Tami join Rikki Redd benefit @ Golden Lantern to send her to Miss USofA Classic Pete, Deja & Frank celebrate Cinco de Mayo
Cookie St. Ann stars in the Jewel Box Revue @ Michael’s Bubblz Champagne does Rikkie Redd pageant benefit @ Golden Lantern
Cinco de Mayo with Dusty, Coach & Frankie @ Michael's
Laura takes in the Jazz tent @ Jazz Fest
Miss Louisiana USofA Classic Nicole DuBois gets support for her national pageant benefit @ Splash in Baton Rouge
Miss Splash America Aubrey Synclaire @ Splash benefit
Twiggy from Head Quarters Salon joins Rikki Redd pageant benefit @ Golden Lantern
Bartenders Dee & Kara welcome you to Michael’s On The Park
Queen Amon-Ra Deja Deja-Vue’ stars in the Jewel Box Revue @ Michael’s On The Park
Dwain & Darwin catch the Jewel Box Revue
Guest star Georgeanna Belle in the Jewel Box Revue @ Michael’s
Lord Consort Joey ready for Cinco de Mayo
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C’est Si Bon ~ New Orleans, Baton Rouge ~ Photos by Tony Leggio, Rip Naquin, Arthur Severio
Tony, Rob & Beaux join Zoo To Do @ Audubon Zoo
The Jewel Box Revue: Cookie, Deja, Georgeanna, Opal & MC Frankie @ Michael’s
trodding the boards ...from 33 the old American South. Kathlyn Tarwater and NOLA Project Artistic Director A.J. Allegra star as the famously feuding duo, Beatrice and Benedick, in a war of words and wits. Much Ado runs through May 26. Also showing now is Troop Glamour Girls by Jenny Gesvantner which is getting its world premiere at the Cutting Edge Theater in Slidell. This musical finds Victoria, an Upper East Side housewife, in the middle of a divorce, and trying to find focus in her life by taking over her daughter=s Campfire Girl troop; of course, each of the girls comes with her own set of humorous challenges. Troop Glamour Girls plays Friday and Saturday evenings and Sunday matinees through May 26. On a more serious note, Other Places, Harold Pinter’s early80s collection of bleak, blackly comic oneacts, runs through May 25 at The Dryades Theatre presented by Four Humours Theater. These four playlets (Victoria Station, Family Voices, One for the Road, and A Kind of Alaska) offer mysterious situations confronting ordinary people. Southern Rep Theatre gives the regional premiere to the Tony Award-winning Next to Normal, beginning previews on May 15 at the Contemporary Arts Center. Brian Yorkey and Tom Kitt's musical strives to understand what “normal” means in an unknowable, complicated world as it tells the story of a suburban mother’s fight with mental illness and her family’s attempt to hold it all together for her and themselves. Multiple Ambie Award-winner Blake Coheley directs Richard Hutton, Madison Kerth, Clint Johnson, Matthew Thompson, Michael Krikorian and Leslie Castay in the tour de force role of Diana Goodman. Next to Normal will play through June 9. From May 17 to June 23, Cripple Creek Theatre Co. will give the regional premiere to another Pulitzer Prize-winner, Bruce Norris' Clybourne Park. A response to Lorraine Hansberry's A Raisin in the Sun, Clybourne Park takes place in a house in south Chicago over a span of 50 years. In 1956, the house is located in a white neighborhood and sold to an AfricanAmerican family (the Younger family of Raisin). Then in 2009 the neighborhood has changed into
an AfricanAmerican community and the house is sold to a white couple. To say that "complications ensue" would be an understatement. Francesca McKenzie directs Martin Bradford, Monica R. Harris, Ian Hoch, Dylan Hunter, Mary Pauley, Jackson Townsend, and Emilie Whelan at The Shadowbox Theatre on St. Claude Avenue. And just in time to make Memorial Day weekend even more memorable, ReDesigning Women debuts on May 23 at Mid City Theatre (3540 Toulouse Street, between N. Cortez and Jeff Davis Pkwy, just behind the American Can Company; there's a bar, and free
parking all around the building). Varla Jean Merman, Ricky Graham, Brian Peterson, and Jack Long deliver their latest wacky takeoff as those cracked Southern Belles from Sugarbakers reimagined as only our local “ladies” can. 1980s clothes, Suzanne’s hair, and Julia’s favorite rants— I can't wait for what promises to be an evening of uproarious fun. Don't wait to get tickets—these Women will only be around till June 2!
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Bartenders Tom & Andre welcome you to SKYY Vodka-2(x)IST Underwear Party @ the Phoenix
Bartenders Rusty & Rebecca @ Allways Lounge
Madame Mizell @ Voodoo Bar
Lord King Ben & partner Pat join Phoenix bar baron Clint for SKYY2(X)IST Underwear Party Deals, Dares & Dancers with Sexy Andres & Crazy Earl @ Oz Bartender Matt on the pole @ Rainbow Room
Clover Grill’s Billy & Kevin having Mango Martinis @ Voodoo Bar
New Orleans Bears Beer Bust @ The Phoenix during SKYY-2(X)IST Underwear Party
DJ Travis @ Rainbow Room
Dancer Posiedon Fridays @ Oz in Deals, Dares & Dancers
Little John & Derrick join SKYY2(X)IST Underwear Party @ The Phoenix
Bartender Brian making the 9th Circle Shot @ Ninth Circle
Bartender Paloma & Marquis Marcell @ Bourbon Pub & Parade
Miss Paul cocktailin’ @ Le Roundup
Kentucky Derby @ Good Friends Bar
Drew joins Rawhide Pool Tournament winner Clover Grill’s Will @ Rawhide
DJ Builder spins for SKYY-2(X)IST Underwear Party @ The Phoenix
Shut Up Greg, Lanie & Don @ Voodoo Bar
Billy @ Le Roundup
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In The Heat of the Night ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Paul Melancon, Rip Naquin
Catch Mike in Deals, Dares & Dancers @ Oz
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