Ambush magazine volume 31 issue 24

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the "official" dish

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

Your Holiday Shopping Guide It seems as though the whole Gulf Coast is gearing up for the holiday season.

Here in New Orleans you'll find holiday lights and decor throughout the French Quarter, and the city, with even our historic street cars all guzzied up for the season. Are y'all getting in the spirit?!?

With all of the wonderful small business shopping available, it should make your gift list easy to accomplish. Our gay boutiques and stores are a treasure trove of unusual eclectic holiday finds. Whether you want something unique, glamourous, sexy or naughty, it's here for the taking. And don't forget, you can pick up a VIP card, bar tab, or t-shirt, cap or other related materials from your favorite bar or watering hole which also makes a great gift. Or how about a gift certificate from your fav restaurant or hair salon. Those are also great choices.

It is also the season for some of most festive fundraisers such as Art Against AIDS on Saturday, Dec. 7th, 8pm, at New Orleans Museum of Art. A great place to bid on an incredible assortment of artwork, hotel packages, restaurant certificates and the like, and all going to a good cause, NO/AIDS Task Force. The city’s most exciting gala event and art auction is celebrating this year’s theme, “Young at Art,” a highlight of a year-long celebration of art programs for clients generously sponsored by Chevron. For more than a quarter century, Art Against AIDS, started by Arthur Roger as a sale of ornaments displayed in his gallery, has been a kick-off to the holiday season, raising more than $2 million for AIDS awareness and services for people affected by HIV and AIDS. Tickets can be purchased by calling 504.821.2601 ext. 216, online at www.ArtAgainstAIDS.ORG, or in person at the Task Force’s main offices at 2601 Tulane Avenue, 5th floor.

Ambush Mag is a proud sponsor of Art Against AIDS. Ambush hopes you will take advantage of all the great things the LGBT community has to offer, and you can find many of those as you flip through our Holiday Shopping Guide.

You can always count on Ambush Mag with over 80 distribution points, or catch it all online at www.AmbushMag.COM including all ads at no additional charge.

New Orleans Auction Galleries to sell Original Terrance Osborne Painting benefiting St. Augustine High School On Sunday, Dec. 8, New Orleans Auction Galleries will sell an original painting by acclaimed New Orleans artist Terrance Osborne to benefit St. Augustine High School. The painting will be sold with over 1,700 lots of fine art, sculpture, furniture, clocks, estate jewelry, designer furs, Asian decorative arts and more during New Orleans Auction’s Dec. 6-8 Estates Auction.

Osborne’s “They’re Coming” was commissioned by St. Augustine High School to be the official poster for their fifth annual Hamp Fest, a music festival that serves as a major fundraiser for the school. Donated by Osborne, the original painting colorfully depicts the renowned St. Augustine “Marching 100.” It is the first in a series of three paintings that Osborne will release each year for the festival.

Osborne is known for his vibrant and whimsical depictions of New Orleans.

He designed the 2007 Official Jazz & Heritage Festival Poster and has worked on projects for clients such as Nike, Harrah’s Casino and the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel.

“We are excited to partner with St. Augustine High School to raise money for such a dedicated group of students and are committed to forming new partnerships in the local community,” said Susan Krohn, CEO of New Orleans Auction Galleries.

New Orleans Auction Galleries is located at 510 Julia St. and is presenting an evening preview reception on Dec. 5 from 5 to 8pm featuring an appearance by members of the St. Augustine marching band. To learn more about the painting, sign up to bid or view the full catalogue, visit www.NewOrleansAuction.com.

Amon-Ra's Annual Gumbo Cook-Off set for Dec. 8 @ The Golden Lantern The Krewe of Amon-Ra's Annual Gumbo Cook-Off will be held at The Golden Lantern, 1239 Royal Street, on Sunday, Dec. 8th. The all you can eat festivities run from 12noon-3pm, and only runs you $10 a ticket to taste, dine, and vote on your favorite gumbo. It is $25 to enter your gumbo which should arrive in a cooker

or slow cooker to keep warm at least a gallon or so. The winner chosen by the vote of tasters takes home $100 cash.

For more information, contact any krewe member or visit www.KreweOfAmonRa.COM.

3rd Original Winter Wonderland benefits Food For Friends Friday, Dec. 13

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

La Familia presents Johnny Passion's 3rd Original Winter Wonderland on Friday, Dec. 13th, 8pm, at Paulie's Pub, 810 N. Claiborne. Sponsored by Ambush Mag, this year's holiday spectacular will benefit Food For Friends. See all of your favorite stars and all the details on pages 1819.

Lords of Leather Teddy Bear House “Gay Night” Party Dec. 20 Can you imagine a party filled with 12,000 “Bears” and a few “Leathermen” mixed in? Sounds like a good time for most of us, right? Well, it will be. Find your way to the Lords of Leather “Gay Night at the Teddy Bear House” Holiday Party on Friday, December 20th from 7-10pm. Come see a spectacular sight and enjoy some holiday cheer with members of the community.

The residence of Ricky Lenart at 1525 Dufossat Street (just off St. Charles Avenue) will be decorated with thousands of teddy bears, showcased inside and out by lights and music. Santa’s Sexy Elves will be there serving food and drinks to guests both naughty and nice.

The Lords will also auction off some original member-decorated teddy bears for you to take home – they might make a great, last-minute gift for someone on your Christmas List.

Tickets are available for $25 from krewe members and also at the door.

Public Tours of the Teddy Bear House Ricky Lenart has graciously invited the Lords of Leather to lead public tours of the home on Saturday December 21st from 510pm and on Sunday, December 22nd from 11am-7pm. Each room on all three floors is theme-decorated and kids young and old will enjoy the accompanying narration. Background lighting and music complete the scene as you pass from room to room and

inside

THE OFFICIAL MAG

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 Texas - Houston

STAFF: PUBLISHER/EDITOR R. Rip Naquin-Delain, New Orleans PRODUCTION DIRECTOR M. Marsha Naquin-Delain, New Orleans GULF SOUTH/NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Rip Naquin-Delain • 504.522.8049 NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Paul Melancon 504.357.8440 THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Blanche-Alabama Frank Joseph, Charles Jenkins, Tony Leggio, Frank Perez, Arthur Severio, Rev. Bill Terry-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

around the house from the outside. Admission for kids will be $5 and adults will be $10. Tickets are available from krewe members in advance and will be available at the house on tour day.

Christmas, New Year's issue out Dec. 17th >DEADLINE: Tues., Dec. 10th

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Celebrity MC Kofi, direct from Houston, and Red Party Chairman Jeff Palmquist hosted the 21st Red Party, the annual turn-a-bout show hosted by Cafe Lafitte in Exile in New Orleans.

Raising $3,567 for Belle Reve this year, the Red Party has now raised $95,039 for charity over the past 21 years. (Photos by Rip Naquin)

celebrazzi

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moments in gay new orleans history

by Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net

“Anita Bryant Comes to New Orleans” When it was announced in 1977 that Anita Bryant, the nation’s leading homophobe, would be coming to New Orleans to perform two concerts, local gay activists Alan Robinson and Bill Rushton must have thought to themselves, “Oh, hell no!”

The popular homophobic singer, and former Miss Oklahoma, had made quite a splash in Miami earlier in the year when she led a campaign to repeal Dade County’s recently passed anti-discrimination ordinance that granted legal protection to gays and lesbians. She called her campaign, “Save Our Children” and argued, “What these people really want, hidden behind obscure legal phrases, is the legal right to propose to our children that theirs is an acceptable alternate way of life. I will lead such a crusade to stop it as this country has not seen before.”

She was also quoted as saying, “As a mother, I know that homosexuals cannot biologically reproduce children; therefore, they must recruit our children” and “If gays are granted rights, next we’ll have to give rights to prostitutes and to people who sleep with St. Bernards and to nail biters.” Bryant went on to found Anita Bryant Ministries, which claimed to “cure” homosexuals by “deprogramming” them.

Robinson, who was a gay activist while studying at the University of Illinois, had arrived in New Orleans two years earlier. He met Rushton while volunteering at the Gay Services Center, a community outreach facility in the Marigny that had been founded in 1974

by Mike Stark. Rushton, a student at Tulane University at the time, had been involved with the Gay People’s Coalition (GPC) and edited the organization’s publication Causeway. The two activists began dating and one night over dinner, they, along with Ann Gallmeyer, founded the Gertrude Stein Democratic Club, which eventually became the Gertrude Stein Society.

Upon learning that Bryant would be coming to town, the Gertrude Stein Society reached out to several local gay organizations and progressive groups and formed HERE (Human Equal Rights for Everyone). The group’s purpose was to plan a protest against Bryant’s concerts. HERE eventually grew into a coalition of fifteen different groups.

In response to Bryant’s upcoming visit, HERE contacted Rod Wagner, a board member of the New Orleans chapter of the American Federation of

Television and Radio Artists, and impressed upon him Bryant’s virulent opposition to gay rights. The New Orleans Board ofAFTRA then unanimously passed a resolution asking its members to not air the Bryant concerts.

Wagner is quoted as saying, “They were afraid, and our board agreed, that her appearance could set up even more of a climate for violence here than we’re already experiencing. And we are having our troubles. For instance, several older gay men have been stabbed to death in the French Quarter in the past few weeks, and I understand the suspect has said, ‘Jesus doesn’t like gay people.’ What also concerns us are the reports of violence in the Miami area.” He goes on to cite a bumper sticker popular in Miami at the time that read, “Kill a Queen for Christ.”

The second prong of HERE’s attack was a rally to be held at Jackson Square followed by a march through the French Quarter to the Municipal Auditorium where Bryant was scheduled to perform. In the weeks before that rally, Robinson and Rushton flooded the French Quarter with flyers announcing the rally. Because Byrant was the official spokesperson for the Florida Citrus Commission, many gay bars in the French Quarter stopped serving Florida orange juice.

On the day of the rally, June 18, Robinson, Rushton and the other organizers were astonished and delighted by the turnout. They had hoped for a couple of hundred people to show up.

Crowd estimates at the time peg the attendance at 2,500 to 3,000 people.

After the speechmaking, the crowd sang “We Shall Overcome” and began marching from the Square along St. Ann Street before turning right onto Bourbon and left onto Dumaine.

In his landmark book on Southern Gayness, Rebels, Rubyfruit, and Rhinestones, James Sears describes the march: “Supporters on wrought iron balconies wrapped with banners cheered. The march extended four blocks from sidewalk to sidewalk . . .

Marking one of the largest civil rights demonstrations in the city’s history, thousands of protestors arrived at the North Rampart Street Municipal Auditorium Entrance. Gertrude Stein was elated: ‘The reaction within the ranks was explosive, euphoric, and pure; the silence of the past is ended’.”

The success of the rally energized the LGBT+ community in New Orleans

under the gaydar

by Tony Leggio Email: ledgemgp@gmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM

Bartender of the Month There is a large gay community in our Gulf Coast region that has some pretty cool bars. I enjoy discovering these hidden treasures and making new friends whenever I travel out of town. It is one of these places that I recently found my bartender of the month for December. Suzie Moore has worked at Club Veaux in Biloxi for eight and also served as a harbinger of the shift in public attitudes toward homosexuality. Similar protests were held in other cities where Bryant performed and the backlash against Bryant’s bigotry caused the Florida Citrus Commission to drop her as its spokesperson.

Her popularity among fundamentalist Christians further plummeted in 1980 when she divorced her husband, Bob Green. She married her second husband, Charlie Hobson Dry, in 1990 and attempted to resurrect her singing career but in 1997, the couple filed for bankruptcy in Arkansas. They would do the same in Tennessee in 2001.

Bartender of the Month Suzie Moore months and already is a customer favorite.

I was in the city recently for a little getaway when I stopped into the bar with some friends for a quick cocktail.

We had so much fun; we ended up hanging out at the establishment for most of the evening. Suzie served us immediately upon arrival and from that moment on remembered our cocktails so when we approached the bar again,

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under the gaydar ...from 8 she had already started making them.

A good memory is one of the key ingredients on being a successful bartender. In a crowded nightclub, she managed not to have anyone waiting for drinks, which was a feat especially when it was Drink and Drown that night.

Those types of events tend to be a drinking frenzy with bartenders understandably just slinging cocktails, not paying attention to their world around them. But Suzie succeeded in making us feel welcome and introduced us to some locals in the bar even amid all the excitement of the night. A lot of gay people travel solo, so making them feel included in the scene is an immeasurably kind and goes a long way in making their trip to your establishment memorable. In addition to taking ads out in gay publications, word of mouth is the next best thing for clubs and bars to get out-of-town clientele. Her simple gestures will make me return to the club whenever I am in the area, as well as recommend it to my friends.

But not only is Suzie a great ambassador for Club Veaux, she is also an excellent bartender. I got to try two of her specialty shots when I was there, Cherry Lemonade and a Purple Hooter; both were extremely tasty and potent.

So the next time you are in Biloxi, go see Suzie and let her serve you up a outstanding beverage. Club Veaux is

located in downtown Biloxi at 834 Howard Avenue.

It’s Electric!

Lightwire Theatre presents the world premiere of A Very Electric Christmas at the Joy Theatre from December 12 – 22. You may remember this New Orleans group from their extensive run on America’s Got Talent. Follow the popular character Max, as he dreams of Christmas while flying south for the winter.

Lightwire Theatre will take you on an epic holiday adventure including a musical score featuring Tchaikovsky, Nat King Cole and Mariah Carey. Check out this one-of-a-kind show that is destined to be an instant holiday classic.

To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.thejoytheater.com or call 1.800.745.3000.

The Early Shopper Gets The Sales It has always been one of my favorite fantasies to be alone in a department store with my friends and fabulous merchandise. I loved that scene in Night of the Comet when the girls went crazy in the shopping mall (just aged myself). Being the first to check out the sales racks without crowds and try on outfits in peace is awesome.

Well FestiGals and Stein Mart are teaming up to make your dream come true

this holiday season on Saturday, December 7 from 8 – 10am at the Metairie Stein Mart located at 2840 Veterans Boulevard.

Guests will be able to check out new arrivals and take advantage of discounts: 20% savings on any two sale items, 30% off any red dot sale items and 50% off home furnishings red dot items. There will also be complimentary morning refreshments and a chance to win $100, $50 or $25 gift cards.

You can also take advantage of personal shopping assistance from Boutique ladies, plus for moms, shop child-free with care and activities by ACCENT on Children’s Arrangements.

Tickets are $10 at the door but may be pre-purchased online at www.festigals.org for $7 each or two for $12. For every ticket purchased, you’ll get a chance to win a Stein Mart gift card, and winners need not be present. Ticket sales benefit FestiGals, the nonprofit organization that brings you New Orleans’ ultimate weekend for women. Come early, the store will be totally yours! Refreshments and other FestiGals benefits will be yours until 10 o’clock but you can stay and shop all day long!

Holiday Tales Get into the Holiday Spirits with Tales of the Toddy 2013, one of the coolest holiday events this season. The

spirited celebration returns December 19 to Generations Hall as the city’s most renowned bartenders and chefs serve up world-class cocktails and cuisine. Nothing goes better with all the wassailing, mistletoe and good tidings than great cocktails. Tales of the Toddy returns for its eighth year to help everyone get into the holiday spirit. Join the fun for the most spirited holiday party of the year with expertly crafted yuletide cocktails, excellent cuisine from local restaurants and live music by Mississippi Rail Co. that will take a contemporary spin on the carols we know and love. This year they have added an extra spin to Tales of the Toddy with an extra element of competition for the talented local bartenders. There will be teams of five that compete for the best nog, bubbles, cider, chocolate and toddy.

To get the competitive spirits flowing, the city’s best bartenders will be pitted against each other in a holiday cocktail shakedown. Teams of five will compete and be judged by their peers in one of five categories—nogs, bubbles, ciders, chocolate and toddies—for bragging rights of being crowned the Tales of the Toddy champions. And the guests will vote to award the best cocktail overall, sounds like lots of fun to me. I have been to this event several years now and it is al-

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under the gaydar ...from 10 ways a blast, but does sell out fast, so get your tickets now and let the holiday spirits flow. A portion of the evening’s proceeds will be donated to educational programming for the New Orleans Chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild. There will also be a Tales of the Toddy Official After Party at Barcadia! For one night only starting at 8:30pm on December 19th bring your special Tales of the Toddy Coin to Barcadia and receive a complimentary Bayou Rum cocktail. For special $10 discount codes, check Tales of the Cocktail on Facebook, Young Leadership Council (YLC) Tidbits and the Tales of the Cocktail® Newsletter. For more information on Tales of the Toddy and to buy your tickets to the event, please visit www.TalesoftheCocktail.com.

Walking In 3rd Winter Wonderland Dec. 13 The holidays are a time for giving and what better way to celebrate them than to remember the reason for the season with friends, food and drag fabulosity! Johnny Passion’s 3rd Annual Winter Wonderland will be on Friday, December 13th at Paulie’s Pub. All the proceeds raised this evening will be donated to NO/AIDS Task Force Food For Friends program.

The bar will be transformed into a beautiful winter wonderland that is assured to make your evening merry and bright. So don your gay apparel and come on out. Dinner will be served at 8pm and the star studded show will begin at 9:30pm.

I am very honored to be co-hosting the event with the wonderfully talented Johnny Passion with a special guest appearance by Persana Shoulders. The cast of stars includes Tami Tarmac, Rikki Gee and DJ Ping, Ava Gina, Princesse Stephaney, Mercedez L’Oreal, Derrick Stevens, Reba Douglas, Beulah Shalom, Imani Black, Karli Essex and the musical talents of pianist Ben Childress.

There is VIP seating for $30 each; tables of 4 for $120 or Tables of 6 for $180. This includes food, champagne, drawings for awesome door prizes and mementos to take home. To buy tickets, go to Johnny Passion’s 3rd Annual Winter Wonderland on Facebook. All VIP seating must be purchased before the event on pay pal for your convenience. Inbox Misti Ates for ticket purchases and remember they go very fast so make your plans now to attend.

General Admission is $10. If you bring a non-perishable food item, you will receive a ticket for a special drawing All items will be donated to Food For Friends in honor of Mina Hernandez.

This event is proudly sponsored by Ambush Magazine, A*Med Ambulance Services, Pigeonhole Mini Storage, Gene’s Po-Boys, Chef Ron’s

Gumbo Stop, just to name a few of the major supporters. See pages 18-19.

Make Christmas A Drag Nothing says Christmas better than an outrageous drag show. Drag queens live for this season. All the bells, tinsel, glitter and lights; it is a drag queen fantasy world. So make sure to attend one of the most bedazzled spectacles of the holiday season. Draggin’ Through The Holidays : A Drag Celebration will take place on Sunday, December 15 at Café Istanbul to benefit Belle Reve.

This is their 2nd annual holiday fundraiser and drag show, Draggin’ Through The Holidays features some of New Orleans best Drag Queen performances by Princesse Stephaney, Tiffany Alexander, Blyss, Rikki Redd, Jasmine Essex, D.L. Broadway, Opal Vanderhurst, Raven Kennedy, Imani Dupree, Daphanie Dupree, Syleena Black Welch, and many more. General admission is $10 or $15 at the door.

VIP tickets are $30 or guests are able to pay $75 for a table of four. For tickets, call 504.945.9455. Café Istanbul is located in the Healing Center at 2372 St. Claude Avenue. Showtime is at 7pm.

Grin and Bear It This Holiday The Krewe of Armeinius is hosting a magical weekend of events December 13-15 at The Teddy Bear House: New Orleans. If you have not been, this home reaches out to the child in all of us as you explore the many rooms of over 12,000 teddy bears of all shapes, sizes and ages. On Friday, December 13 from 7-10pm, enjoy tours of the home, food, open bar and live entertainment for only $25. Then on Saturday and Sunday, December 14 -15 from 18pm, enjoy tours of the home. Advance tickets are $10 Adult/ $5 Children under 12 ($12 Adult/ $6 Children at the door).

For tickets or more information, go to Holiday Soiree and Teddy Bear Tours on Facebook or www.armeinius.org.

Party Down In the past, the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving have usually been quiet.

But since the holiday falls so close to the beginning of December, the party season started early. This immediate beginning means that every day of the season will be busier than I have ever expected. I started my two weeks on Monday with the 50th Anniversary Party of the Court of Two Sisters Restaurant.

613 Rue Royale is named for Emma and Bertha Camors, sisters who once owned a notions and fancies shop here, the Court of the Two Sisters has a long and interesting history.

The lovely three-story building sits on “Governor’s Row,” the 600 block of Royal Street that was once home to five governors, two state Supreme Court justices, a future justice of the U.S.

Supreme Court, and a future President of the United States. 613’s own resident was Sieur Etienne de Perier, the royal governor of colonial Louisiana between 1726 and 1733. Such a famous block lent itself to rumors, and it’s said that the outrageous Marquis de Vaudreuil—the colonial governor who turned New Orleans from marshland into a “petit Paris”—also once lived here. Marriage, reversals of fortune, widowhood—nothing could separate the two sisters. Indeed, as the Picayune was to report, the sisters died within two months of each other in the winter of 1944. They lie side by side at St. Louis Cemetery No. 3, united in death as in life. The Fein family took over the business in 1963 and has made the Court of Two Sisters a culinary favorite of locals and visitors alike.

That night many locals were on hand to celebrate their special night and recall their memories of the restaurant. Food and cocktails were aplenty as guests mingled under the stars in their gorgeous courtyard.

The next day, I attended the Young Professionals Chamber of Commerce event at the Riverview Room, which is an offshoot of the Chamber that helps newcomers in their field network with others in the business community. The Riverview Room is a cool venue space that has a breathtaking view of both the Mississippi River and the French Quarter. Some friends of mine met up with me there afterwards and we went for few cocktails in the Quarter stopping at Oz, then Good Friends for a little Karaoke with DJ Ping and Rikki Gee. That weekend I went to Biloxi which you will read about further in my column. The next week’s party began on Tuesday night with an open house at the Opera Guild Home located on Prytania Street. Now catered exclusively by Ralph Brennan, this stately manor showed guests that it is an exemplary location for private events.

This New Orleans Garden District mansion was formerly known as the Davis/ Seebold Residence and became the home of the Women’s Guild in 1966.

The home was built in 1865 and is furnished in 18th and 19th Century European and American furniture, artwork, antiques and object d’art.

On Thursday, the NO/AIDS Task Force hosted their patron party for Art Against AIDS at the Louisiana Children’s Museum. With the theme Young At Art, this location was a great choice. The Bell Choir from St. Michael’s Special School entertained guests for the evening as they were able to be a kid again and experience all the exhibits.

The event was a great prequel to coming attractions and Food For Friends newly formed food kitchen prepared all the appetizers enjoyed this evening.

The weekend started on Friday with a concert at Xavier University to celebrate their homecoming with a blockbuster show at their new convocation center starring Bill Cosby, En

Vogue and the Commodores. It was an excellent night of great music and entertainment. My friends Laura, Beaux and Barrett and I danced the night away to music from the 70s, 80s and 90s. Loved En Vogie, ahh memories of the past. And, at 76 years old Bill Cosby is still one very funny man.

Saturday, a group of friends and I went to two fundraisers. The first was the Krewe of Petronius’ Holiday Auction and Show at Paulie’s. Countess C Alice, Princesse Stephaney and Lady Facile belted out some holiday numbers as the krewe auctioned off some wonderful wreaths. I honestly think I have an auction sickness, since there are now wreaths hanging from every door in my house including the bathroom. Once I spent enough money there, we traversed to the Quarter to the Red Party at Lafitte’s in Exile where the staff had a great turnabout show and holiday auction. There were also raffle prizes aplenty as well as some very interesting performances. You have to hand it to the staff at Lafitte’s, they all know how to keep an audience glued to the stage.

I had a really long Sunday Funday starting with brunch with my friends Terry and Matthew from Dallas at Café Nero where we polished off several bottles of champagne before visiting Princesse Stephaney who was working behind the bar at Mags 940. The holiday is the perfect time to visit the Princesse, her cocktail repertoire grows extensively with all the new concoctions she dreams up. Her inspiring Black Princesse drink is epic and potent at the same time. After playing with them, I took a quick disco nap before meeting up with my friend Michelle for dinner at Criollo at the Hotel Monteleone. If you have not had a chance to visit their revamped new restaurant, give it a try. The food was delightful and the service was superior.

After dinner, I finally went to the Saenger Theatre for the first time since it reopened to see Ghost. Restored to its former grandeur, this ornate and historic performance hall is a showplace with some very wonderful modifications, built in bars and more restrooms.

Unfortunately, I wish that I chose a better play to see. Ghost was a disappointment and basically forgettable. After all the hype, I expected so much more and left feeling like they delivered so little. No matter good or bad, I am just so glad to have Broadway touring companies back home at the Saenger where they belong.

That concludes my two weeks; I am looking forward to seeing everyone out and about during this holiday season.

Ambush on the Road I love going on quick weekend getaways out of town just to get a change of scenery. These speedy

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under the gaydar ...from 12 road trips to close destinations are always fun and surprisingly sometimes you will find a great gay community in these nearby locales. Recently my friends Beaux, Barrett and I took a jaunt to Biloxi, Mississippi for a weekend at the Beau Rivage. Another reason why I love silent auctions, you get some incredible deals there. I won a two night stay at this Gulf Coast hotel and casino and decided to make an excursion out of it.

We left New Orleans in my lovely new jeep Lola for her first official road mid-afternoon on Friday. I have been to Biloxi many times in the past, but this time I decided to do things that I have always wanted to but never did. First on the way there we stopped at the Stennis Space Center which is right over the Mississippi border. My mom worked for NASA for many years and I have always driven past the place my entire life, but never stopped. I am so glad we decided to go; what an incredible find. I have always been fascinated with science and space, so this interactive attraction was perfect for any age.

I thought you might be interested in knowing some fun facts about Stennis since it is right in our backyard. Much of this I had no idea was there and was awestruck to learn. John C. Stennis Space Center is one of ten NASA field centers in the United States. Because of its important role in engine testing for four decades, Stennis is NASA’s program manager for rocket propulsion testing with total responsibility for conducting and/or managing all NASA propulsion test programs. Stennis tested the first and second Saturn V rocket stages for NASA’s Apollo Program, including those used to carry humans to the moon. In 2009, Stennis completed 34 years of testing space shuttle main engines used on more than 130 lowEarth orbit missions. The high-performance, liquid-fueled engines provide most of the total thrust needed during the shuttle’s eight and one-half-minuteflight to orbit. All space shuttle main engines had to pass a series of test firings at Stennis prior to being installed in the back of an orbiter. Stennis also provided testing for engine components, design modifications and shuttle-related needs as they arose.

Next-generation rocket engines now are being developed to help carry humans beyond low-Earth orbit once more. Using a series of chemical steam generators, operators at Stennis will be capable of providing rocket propulsion testing at simulated altitudes up to 100,000 feet, a critical requirement for engines that must fire in deep space.

The resident agencies at Stennis share the cost of owning and operating the facility, making it more cost-effective for each agency to accomplish its independent mission. The Naval Meteorology and Oceanography Com-

mand, which includes the largest concentration of oceanographers in the world, is headquartered at Stennis, along with the Naval Research Laboratory, the Navy’s corporate laboratory.

My favorite exhibit was the movie on the planets shown in an in the round style theatre.

After our space adventure, we were back on the road heading to Biloxi. We took the beach front path looking at how the coast is making a marked improvement since Katrina. There were so many new things to see in Waveland, Bay St. Louis, Pass Christian, Long Beach and Gulfport. We arrived at Beau Rivage and the place was transformed into a holiday wonderland with gigantic oversized ornaments hanging from the vaulted lobby, ornately decorated flocked trees and mechanized holiday displays. Our room was spacious and had an incredible view of the Gulf. But we wasted no time before we hit the games.

I have to admit, I love casinos, the excitement, the thrill of winning, but most of all those crazy games that have aliens, or tornadoes or the Wizard of Oz. I am such a child, the more bells, whistles and lights, the more I want to play it. Never win, just like shiny, noisy things. For dinner, we tried their buffet at the Beau which was one of the better ones I have tasted. This was extra special since it also included an open bar for wine and beer. Afterwards, we walked to downtown Biloxi to one of the two gay bars in the city, Club Veaux.

The other one is Just Us. Friday night is their ten dollars drink and drown so the place was crowded. Club Veaux had a DJ spinning great dance music as the mixed crowd enjoyed non-stop libations from 10pm to 1am. Quite the bargain. We met lots of locals and the staff was friendly; Club Veaux is a great place for out-of-towners to visit. We returned back to the hotel, gambled some more and hung out at their Coast nightclub listening to some great live music.

The next day was exploring and sightseeing. We walked along the beach in the morning and visited the Biloxi Tourist Center and lighthouse.

The lighthouse gives daily tours, but their visitor center is the real treat.

Inside is a very informative museum of the history of the area and it is free. Not only is the center located in a stately manor on the beach, but it also is a special event space for private parties.

The Biloxi Lighthouse built in 1848 is the only lighthouse in the United States to stand in the middle of a four-lane highway. The lighthouse survived Hurricane Katrina and is reported to be the most photographed landmark on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Next we drove down to Ocean Springs which is a lovely beachside community with a picturesque downtown area. We strolled down the quaint streets lined with cafes, bars, antiques and other specialty shops. We had

lunch at this amazing soda shop called Lovelace Drug Store. This was a throwback to an era of days gone by. The ice cream floats, desserts and food were delicious. We had a great afternoon talking with the people who worked there who told us stories about the city especially the ones about Elvis Presley who had family there and visited often.

That evening, we got changed and went to Beauvior Mansion which is the home of Jefferson Davis, the President of the Confederacy during the Civil War. After taking the tour, I discovered that this man was much more than a little paragraph during the war, he had a very extensive history in politics before that period and some of his accomplishments as Secretary of War were impressive. The house also has a storied past that has stood the test of time and Katrina, although the later did destroy much of it.

In 1877, Jefferson Davis was looking for a quiet retreat to write his books and papers. While inspecting property on the Mississippi Gulf Coast, he paid a courtesy call on Mrs. Dorsey (a family friend). He told her of his plans to try to find a place to write his books and papers. She encouraged him to stay at Beauvoir in one of the two pavilions in front of Beauvoir House to write his books. He agreed to do so only if he paid $50 a month for room and board. After two years, he fell in love with the property and he wanted to buy it. She in turn wanted to sell it to him, so they agreed upon a selling price of $5,500 dollars to be paid in three payments. He made the first payment and six months later, Mrs. Dorsey died. At that time he found out he was her sole heir and he eventually inherited the house along with other property.

Jefferson Davis died in 1889. His daughter, Winnie, then inherited the property and when she died in 1898, Varina, Jefferson Davis’ widow inherited the property. Mrs. Davis sold the property to the Mississippi Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans with two stipulations. The first was that the property be used for a Confederate Veterans Home for the veterans and or their widows at no charge to them and that was done from 1903 until 1957 when the last three widows were transferred to a private nursing home in Greenwood, Mississippi, when it was no longer practical to keep them at the site. The second stipulation for the sale of the property was that it be used as a memorial to Jefferson Davis and the Confederate Soldier; and that has been done from 1903 until the present time.

The home has been decorated for the holidays with lights, live music on their bandstand and train rides over the vast property that includes the cemetery and gardens. The night we visited, there were several different bands performing, but one big band style sang holiday tunes under the oaks and lights. It was a remarkable way to spend the evening.

We went to dinner that night at a little seafood spot on the coast called McElroys. This Biloxi restaurant is on the water and has a spectacular view, the food is mainly seafood and the service was outstanding. After dinner, we went to the Hard Rock Casino which had lots of excitement. The casino has an extensive collection of music memorabilia and the vibe was energetic. The party atmosphere adds to the entire experience of the visit, like having an adrenaline rush. We played a few games then we took a little trip to Gulfport to a gay bar aptly called The Other Bar. The Other Bar is quite an astonishing discovery. The place is a polished high energy lounge with a unique ambiance from the bubble backdrop to the bar, to the dance cages for the male entertainment. On Saturday, there were male dancers and a drag show at midnight starring Raquel Rae and Venus Shante DaVis who whipped the crowd into a frenzy. One thing I noticed about the gay bars along the Gulf Coast, that even though they are considered gay, they all have quite a straight audience. The Other Bar is definitely a gay jewel on the crown of the coast.

Sunday we ended our road trip with brunch at the buffet at the Hard Rock Casino before hitting the road. It was a wonderfully memorable trip. So next time you want to get away close to home, check out Biloxi or anywhere on the Gulf Coast for some close to home excitement.

Tony’s Tidbits of Wisdom Most people who know me realize that I support most charities in the community from gay Mardi Gras krewe fundraisers and gay rights organizations to the Community Center and everyone in between. But there is one group I am particularly passionate about in my support of them and one of their premiere events. The NO/AIDS Task Force’s Art Against AIDS is an exquisite gala event and art auction that will be held at the New Orleans Museum of Art on Saturday, December 7th. This year’s theme, “Young at Art” is a highlight of a year-long celebration of art programs for our clients generously sponsored by Chevron.

I urge everyone to be a part of this incredible event that boasts an evening of great entertainment with headliner band “The Honorable South,” burlesque performances including cast members of “Broadway Bares,” dance routines by “The Sirens of New Orleans,” food donated by local restaurants and caterers, a stellar silent auction of art, a Holiday Boutique and dancing under the stars to the music of DJ Robbie Martin. Tickets for this event are on sale now and are expected to sell out quickly. Art Against AIDS gala tickets start at $85; Patron ticket levels ranging from $200 to $1,000. Tickets can be purchased by calling 504.821.2601 ext. 216, online, or in person at the Task Force’s main offices at 2601 Tulane Avenue, 5th floor. Please purchase your tickets today! Giving has never felt so good or been this fun.

If you have an event, story or idea, you want covered, contact me at ledgemgp@gmail.com.

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New Miss Golden Lantern Imani Black, GL’s James Garner & outgoing Miss GL Gia GiaVanni

Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Tami Tarmac on stage @ Miss Golden Lantern

Miss Golden Lantern 1st Alternate Arylin Roberts

Regina Adams headlines The Gumbo Revue @ Michael’s

King Cake Queen Dusty Debris as Lady Gaga @ Oz Maybelline Maskara on stage @ Miss Golden Lantern

Miss Golden Lantern contestant Pharyst Avdemal

Tony & Rikki Redd @ Miss Golden Lantern

More Lady Gaga from King Cake Queen Dusty Debris @ Oz

Miss Golden Lantern contestant Athena Jewelle

Miss Golden Lantern contestant Lana O’Day

Misti Ates as Tittie Toulouse in Amon-Ra’s Who’s Who @ Oz

Natasha Sinclair as Bootsie DeVille with partner Jimmy @ Amon-Ra’s Who’s Who

Opal Vanderhurst in The Gumbo Revue @ Michael’s On The Park

Raven Kennedy @ Michael’s On The Park in The Gumbo Revue

The always “cheery” Rusty LaRoux @ Michael’s On The Park

Kookie Baker, Reba Douglas, Electra City & Tittie Toulouse in Outrageous @ Michael’s

Electra City in Outrageous @ Michael’s On The Park

Fly away with Kookie Baker in Outrageous @ Michael’s

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Divertissement Spectacle ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Charles Jenkins, Tony Leggio, Paul Melancon

Amon-Ra’s Who’s Who show @ Oz

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00 The Art Against AIDS Patron Party @ LA. Children’s Museum

Vie Nocturne ~ New Orleans, Biloxi, Gulfport, Metairie ~ Photos by Tony Leggio

Petronius’ Queer Bar Shopping Network

Larry & Gigi @ Petronius’ Queer Bar Shopping Network

Mobile’s Venus Shante DaVis on stage @ The Other Bar in Gulfport

Petronius’ Queer Bar Shopping Network

Cheryl & Larry @ Art Against AIDS Patron Party

Princesse, Bebe, Countess & Lady Facile @ Petronius’ Queer Bar Shopping Network

Raquel Rae @ The Other Bar in Gulfport

Petronius’ Queer Bar Shopping Network Barrett, Beaux & Matthew @ Petronius’ Queer Bar Shopping Network

Holiday décor @ Beau Rivage in Biloxi TJ & Stephanie @ Art Against AIDS Patron Party

Alison, Tony & Aynsley join Court of Two Sisters Anniversary Party

Petronius’ Queer Bar Shopping Network DJ Jerome @ 4 Seasons in Metairie

Celebrating @ Club Vieux in Biloxi

The Beauvoir Mansion on the Biloxi coast decorated for the holidays

Princesse & Captain C. Alice @ Petronius’ Queer Bar Shopping Network

Gene, Stuart & Karen @ Petronius’ Queer Bar Shopping Network

Brandon behind the bar @ 4 Seasons

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pensacola

Underwear Blackout Party @ Emerald City ~ Pensacola, Florida ~ Photos by Lauren Mitchell

paparazzi

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spotlight feature

by Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net

The Fabulous Liberace: King of Bling Before Bling was King

a community within communities

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

The Shopping Guide!!!!

On your marks! Get set! GO! It’s the day after Thanksgiving and race is on. Catalogs, boutiques, candle shops, décor, and decadence. It is a peculiar season that is cherished and despised both at the same time. I like to shop one of two ways: catalog is easy, stress free, and generally produce good results. On the other hand a day wandering around smaller shops, perhaps in the Quarter or on Magazine Street where I can shop a bit, grab a cappuccino, shop some more and pass pleasantries with store sales people is a good way to go. One never knows what treasure of good value will appear in a window or tucked behind a shelf. I detest big box store shopping; it is a war of wills, of bargains, of last items on the shelf, of exhaustive bustle. Each year I ask our readers to simplify, enjoy, don’t get caught up in the madness to have “the perfect Christmas.”

Each year, like the one before, we are like lemmings and herd ourselves to the brink. Each year the idea of gifts by the wise men lose significance.

So, we shop. We want to please those around us. I hope that when we shop we do so not to fulfill “the dreaded list.” Rather, to gift give with a purpose, to say you are important to me and I want you to know this by this token of my esteem. Such gifts can be simple, grand, exotic, humorous, or simply useful. But give with purpose not to make sure the “list” is filled out. From my perspective if you are giving to more than ten people you are likely from a very large extended family or you simply are trying to satisfy some cultural imperative not to ‘forget’ someone.

BREATHE before you buy.

Now here it comes the dreaded ‘ask.’ You knew that it would, you knew that when shopping is the subject you’d be called upon by the priest to give beyond personal habit or relationships.

St. Anna’s is blessed because we receive gifts year around from Amon-Ra, Bears and Bear Trappers, bars, and

giving folk both straight and gay. We are gifted. But let’s bring some perspective into this conversation shall we. Perhaps a little brutal honesty might be called for. Toys for disadvantaged children are a very good thing. It makes a Christmas a bit better, so give a toy.

Groceries in the bin for needy families are a good thing they help make a Christmas a bit better, so give some groceries. There is always emotional appeal to such giving. It is a good thing because we feel good about ourselves.

Hopefully, the recipients of this largess also feel good. But to do real good set aside some time; set aside some money; and find a charity that depends on giving; does good work; and make an annual pledge to that charity. Anna’s Arts for Kids, Saint Anna’s Mobile Medical Mission, Buzzy’s Kids, Children’s Hospital, the list goes on and on without end. The needs of non-profits trying to fill voids in society are vast and ever increasing.

An annual pledge in December will insure that your “Christmas Gift” will be well used throughout the year. We really can’t often say that about other gifts that we give. A little less on “the list” a little more for a pledge can help stabilize those things that we need most. Those things reach out to children, disadvantaged adults, ‘at risk’ people of all sorts. Giving by pledging insures Christmas and the gifts of the Wise Men throughout the year. Such things do more than a nice sweater, kitchen gadget, even a delicious bottle of wine. The cost? Who knows it’s up to you. What value can you spare of your hard earned dollars beyond the ‘feel good’ immediacy of ‘The Season? ’Just like Public Radio, pledges can assist good works to continue and plan and make good throughout the year. You can be a vital part of community using ‘pledging’ as a Christmas giving option.

Each year I get a card from a dear friend in Connecticut. She writes a rhyming poem. In it she tells me about

When we think of pop culture royalty, we think of glitz, glamour, and bling—flashy videos, outrageous costumes, and outlandish performances.

Inevitably, certain stars come to mind.

But long before Lady Gaga, Beyonce, Jay-Z, Brittney, Madonna, even before Cher and Elton John, there was one who out-glitzed, out-glamoured, and

obituary

Linda the Lesbian Rest in Peace, Linda the Lesbian.

She never knew a person or a bar stool she didn’t love. She’ll be missed by all. a certain charity that she is giving to that year, as a pledge. She does this in my name so now I am a part of that special gift giving. I feel blessed when she does because what do I really need with another ornament, another gadget, another cross, or picture of Jesus. I have plenty to remind me of whom and what I am as it is. That card means as much to me as anything that someone can buy for me. The other most treasured gifts come from Anna’s Arts Kids, pictures drawn quickly by children adorns my office wall; sometime the refrigerator gets the brightly colored paper. The fondest gifts are those things that bring joy.

But a gift or two, check off a name or two, enjoy a stroll in the Quarter, and have a cappuccino! Perhaps you can find that perfect something online or in a catalog. BREATHE and then think what mission; what good work would benefit from my pledge of my labor and love for a year? Then pledge, send a note to friend perhaps a rhyme or two and do this in remembrance of them.

out-blinged them all: the one, the only, the fabulous Liberace.

Diamonds and sequins and feathers—Oh My! Liberace’s flamboyance is legendary: mink capes with 40,000 crystals, mirror-lined Rolls-Royces, llama fur bedspreads, 50 pound rhinestones, a half dozen homes, 40 cars and 26 dogs. Liberace could teach a thing or two about showmanship to this current crop of pop divas and gangsta rappers, a fact evidenced by Liberace references in rhymes by 50 Cent and Dr. Dre. It was, after all, Liberace who advised Elvis to glitz up his performance outfits.

The flamboyance tends to overshadow the music. Liberace’s career began in the 1937 and by the 1940s, he was a star, often performing in soundies—short, two to three minute musical films, an early version of what we now call music videos. In 1952, he broke into television with “The Liberace Show,” which was an instant hit. With his television success, he then went to Hollywood and acted in several films.

In 1956, during a European concert tour, an article in the UK’s Daily Mirror described Liberace as “the summit of sex—the pinnacle of masculine, feminine, and neuter. Everything that he, she, and it can ever want . . . a deadly, winking, sniggering, snuggling, chromium-plated, scent-impregnated, luminous, quivering, giggling, fruit-flavoured, mincing, ice-covered heap of mother love.” Liberace sued the tabloid for libel and won.

Until his death in 1987 from complications from AIDS, Liberace insisted publicly he was not gay. Clearly he was but such were the times. Interest in

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spotlight feature ...from 28 Liberace has resurfaced recently with the release of HBO’s Behind the Candelabra, a film which stars Michael Douglas and Matt Damon and explores Liberace’s relationship with his much younger lover Scott Thorson.

Despite this renewed interest in

Liberace, many people are still unaware of the performer’s charity work.

In 1976, he founded The Liberace Foundation for the Performing and Creative Arts. Over the past 37 years, the Foundation has awarded more than 2,700 students with scholarships. Of all his achievements, Liberace was most proud of the Foundation. In his book,

The Things I Love, Liberace stated, “a lot of good things have happened to me in show business and I want to do what I can to give others just starting out a career boost. I hope The Foundation projects will continue into the future to offer gifted newcomers financial help, and in many cases, artistic exposure as well.”

Next Ambush DEADLINE Tuesday, Dec. 10 504.522.8049 marsha@ripandmarsha.com

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trodding the boards

by Brian Sands

Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com

The 2013 New Orleans Fringe Festival While I was out of town for most of this year’s Fringe Festival, I got back early on the last day. By then, the town was abuzz with what to see, long lines were more the rule than the exception, and, as I dove in and caught a full spectrum’s-worth of offerings, I was struck by how diverse the crowds were; if only we could get these folks to attend theater regularly the other 51 weeks of the year!

In any case, it was good to be home.

While there were a number of other shows I wished I had been able to see (such as Christmas in Bakersfield, The Rendez-Vous, Drunk Lion, and Blue Book: A Guide to Storyville as well as NOLA Project’s Oregon Trail which was sold out 15 minutes before curtain time), here are some thoughts on those productions I was able to get into (generally after waiting on those aforementioned long lines).

Inspired by Edward Gorey, Victo-

rian nightmares, and Gothic romance, Happenstance Theater’s Cabaret Macabre promised “witty, visual, theatrical collage and live music played with deadly flare.” If only politicians lived up so well to the promises they make.

Cabaret Macabre translated to the stage with perfection that vaguely ominous air that runs through much of Gorey’s works, employing a light touch even when things turned positively sinister.

Flirting with themes of guilt, shame, pride and dimwittedness, the Happenstancers provided stylized, eery fun in about a baker’s dozen-worth of sketches and vignettes. Among the most memorable were “The Curious Cousins” who, finding a washed-up bottle with a note in it, kept the bottle and discarded the note. Similarly, after admiring a dagger, they thoughtfully returned it to its proper place in the corpse that lay before them.

In “Mannequins”, a self-important performance artist who poses as a mannequin in various settings (arms

Happenstance Theater in Cabaret Macabre crossed behind back, looking upstage for “At a Gallery”), withers with professional compliance when instructed to enact “discarded in a fetid marsh,” to the Fringe audience’s glee.

Bewitching innuendo informed “The Spilsby Suitor” as well as pure theatrical artistry as the troupe created the effect of wind-blown clothes through the simplest of devices. The Spilsby Suitor and his bride returned in “Seance” with its balletic tomfoolery involving a poison-laced drink.

Musical Director Karen Hansen simultaneously played a two-headed trumpet and a piano to introduce “The Late Patron”, which went on to reveal Marcel Marceau’s influence on Happenstance (Co-Artistic Director Mark Jaster had studied with the Master Mime); the interplay of the actors, 4 pairs of binoculars and a handkerchief achieved ensemble perfection. And the red, white and black costumes of Sabrina Mandell, Happenstance’s other Co-Artistic Director, added exquisite flair.

With their rubbery faces and boneless limbs, Mandell and Jaster may be first among equals but their colleagues Gwen Grastorf, Sarah Olmsted Thomas and Alex Vernon match them raised eyebrow for raised eyebrow and oblivious visage for oblivious visage. In this collaboratively devised piece, it’s hard to know to whom to credit the direction but it was spot-on.

As Vernon juggling two packages of meat and a cleaver, a mordant song from The Threepenny Opera fitted in well here as did Dancing the Devil Away, a Busby Berkeley-esque number for five people.

In what should have been the finale (the actual ending seemed more whimper than bang), a game of croquet gets completely out of hand and the results, featuring mallets flying in all directions, was performed, brilliantly, in slow motion. No wonder a friend of mine said that of the 15 shows he saw at the Fringe, Cabaret Macabre was his fa-

vorite.

Not being terribly conversant with all things Harry Potter, I was afraid I wouldn’t entirely get John Michael & The Order of the Penix which “attacks reckless behavior using elements from” the landmark saga, but decided to go anyway. (Well, after being turned away from Oregon Trail.)

As it turned out, the HP elements, introduced about halfway through the hour-long monolog, elevated a solid show into the realm of wacky fun and real, insightful humor. I kept looking forward to the return of Mrs. Comb (don’t ask).

With cheeky wit, Dallas-based John Michael Colgin has fashioned a cautionary tale from his own youthful exploits, including getting kicked out of his parents’ house for being messy (“So lame.”). Describing a tryst in a laundry room, he makes you wonder what can happen to your freshly-cleaned clothes if they sit in the dryer too long.

An assured performer with a malleable voice, Colgin effectively draws audience members, willing or not, into his act in which cupcake frosting and ice cream both become metaphoric representations of cum.

With the aid of Director Matthew Tomlanovich, Colgin nicely creates a variety of locales (a car, a Jacuzzi, the adult entertainment emporium where he works) and, using a hoodie and some small lights, inventively brings to life his Daniel Radcliffe-lookalike beau.

Not surprisingly, for someone who cites Spalding Gray and Mike Daisey as influences, Colgin rambles a bit but ultimately pulls together most of the narrative strands with which he’s been weaving his tale. Still, Penix could still use some polishing to bring its various elements into even sharper focus.

Yet despite a strangely flat ending, Penix is an engaging and worthy chronicle that the young’uns of the

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French Quarter/Faubourg Marigny/Bywater

accounting

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, Facebook.COM/GoldenLanternBar GOOD FRIENDS BAR, 740 Dauphine St, 566.7191, GoodFriendsBar.COM KAJUN'S PUB, 2256 St. Claude Ave., 947.3735, KajunPub.COM LE ROUNDUP, 819 St. Louis, 561.8340 MICHAEL'S ON THE PARK, 834 N. Rampart St., 267.3615, MichaelsOnThePark.COM NINTH CIRCLE, 700 N. Rampart, 252.4558 OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, OzNewOrleans. COM PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264, NewOrleansPhoenix.COM RAWHIDE 2010, 740 Burgundy St., 525.8106, Rawhide2010.COM RAINBOW ROOM, 632 Bourbon St., enter thru Fishbowl, 994.1036, Facebook.COM/ rainbowroomonbourbon TROPICAL ISLE: Home of the Hand Grenade, 721 Bourbon St., 529.4109, TropicalIsle.COM 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 Houston, TX [713] NEON BOOTS DANCEHALL & SALOON, 11410 Hempstead Hwy., 677.0828, www.neonbootsclub.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 Lafayette, LA [337] BOLT NIGHTCLUB, 116 E. Vermillion, 524.1380 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, 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 CORNER POCKET, 940 St. Louis, 568.9829, CornerPocket.NET COUNTRY CLUB, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742

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 May 23-26, 2014 Memorial Day Weekend, Pensacola, FL, sponsored by Ambush, GayPensacola.COM Aug. 27-Sept. 1, 2014, 43rd Official Southern Decadence Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture, end of Summer Blowout including the Southern Decadence Parade & loads of activities, bringing over 150,000 revelers to New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush & SouthernDecadence.COM Oct. 23-26, 2014, Halloween 31, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, HalloweenNewOrleans.COM

costumes New Orleans, LA [504] QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633

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

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

galleries New Orleans, LA [504] Court Yard Gallery, 1129 Decatur, 330.0134

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 FEE & ARTS REVIVAL STUDIO, 834 Chartres, 917.318.4300 HEAD QUARTERS HAIR SALON, 900 Rue Dauphine, 522.2666 MICKEY NOLAN'S SALON, 815 Toulouse St., 587.7782 SALON D'MALTA, 1233 Decatur, 565.5555, SalonDMalta.COM

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, E-mail us at theburgundy@cox.net. Gay owned and operated in newly renovated 1890's double. Four guest rooms with private baths, guests' parlor and "halfkitchen", 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] Chateau LeMoyne French Quarter 301 Dauphine St., New Orleans, LA 70112, Phone: 504.581.1303, http:// www.hiclneworleanshotelsite.com/gay-hotelsnew-orleans. Enjoy a stay enriched with the culture and history of New Orleans at Chateau LeMoyne. Our historic building features all the best of old-time architecture and our prime location allows guests to stay just steps from the French Quarter, while still at enough distance to enjoy a peaceful night’s rest. Versatile guest accommodations include charmingly appointed suites and cottages, while on-site amenities include drinks and dining, a scenic courtyard area and pool, and meeting and event space. When you’re ready to explore, top New Orleans attractions are only moments away. We look forward to

32 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Dec em ber 3-16, 2013 • Of fic ial Gay Mar di Gras Guide • GayMar diGras.COM

welcoming you to the “Big Easy.”

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.

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, 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 / For pictures http://www.christophernola.com.

License #LA4553 [is2613]

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

media

New Orleans [504] SKULLY'Z RECORDZ, 907 Bourbon St., 592.4666

New Orleans, LA [504] AMBUSH Mag, Official Gay Easter Parade Guide, Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide, Official Gay New Orleans Guide, Official Gulf South Guide, Official Pride 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

organizations

museum/arts Baton Rouge, LA [225] LOUISIANA ARTS AND SCIENCE CENTER / RIVERSIDE MUSEUM, 100 S. River Road, 344.5272 LOUISIANA GOVERNOR'S MANSION,

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 HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, INC., PO Box 52171, 70152-2171; halloween neworleans.com/ambush HATE CRIMES NATIONAL HOTLINE, 206.350.HATE (4283), National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800.799.SAFE (7233), Hate Crimes Hotline at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights 800.552.6843

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 3083, 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

Sout hernDec adenc e.COM • Dec em ber 3-16, 2013 • Facebook.COM/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 33

trodding the boards ...from 30 20something “let’s-bareback-’causeAIDS-is-a-manageable-disease-likediabetes” set should pay attention to.

And with his piquant blend of sauciness and gravitas, we should also pay attention to John Michael Colgin who, like a young Harry Potter, shows much promise for the future.

Gayland, a new musical about a world where almost everyone is gay, evangelical lesbians hold power, and the marginalized “ungays” are agitating for the right to marry, also showed much promise but failed to deliver.

With gorgeous, classical/pop-style music by Scott R. King and a satirical book/lyrics by Christopher St. John, Gayland is reminiscent of Jerry Springer: The Opera. But with gay marriage gaining widespread support and the ex-gay movement being discredited, Gayland arrives well past its expiration date.

This might not have been such a problem had St. John provided anything but clunky dialog, underdeveloped characters, repetitious lyrics, and scenes that just end with no shape to them.

Only one section, set in a grocery 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

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 confidential pickup & delivery. Also offering shipping for out-side our delivery area. When you call us you speak to a person, not a machine. See our ad.

photography New Orleans, LA [504] Arthur Severio Photography, 834 Chartres, New Orleans, LA 70116, 917.318.4300, ArthurSeverio.COM GRAHAM/STUDIO ONE NEW ORLEANS, by appointment, grahamstudioone.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,

panded unnecessarily into bloated proportions.

Having done such a fine job with The Adventures of Butt Boy and Tigger earlier this year, Director Joseph Furnari has been unable to similarly shape this malarkey. Chard Gonzalez provides admirable choreography but it seems stuck in needlessly.

It’s a real shame because the six person cast, each playing multiple roles, all had beautiful voices.

After too small a part in last summer’s Kiss Me, Kate at Tulane, how nice it was to see Brittany Scofield in a lead. With a presence as lovely as her crystal clear voice, I look forward to seeing more of this singer.

Similarly, I hope to hear Ivan Griffin’s superb, creamy bass-baritone in John Michael Colgin in John Michael & The much better things than Order of the Penix Gayland. And having store, which makes its point indirectly worked with Lesley DeMartin in last instead of head-on, is pleasingly cute. year’s 24 Hour Plays, little did I know Otherwise, Gayland comes off as a that she was possessed of such a ten-minute sketch that has been ex- compelling dramatic soprano voice which can soar over an orchestra.

Madame Rex, an aerialist/dance 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, 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 Organic Banana, 1100 N. Peters, Bay 27, 587.7903 Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro, 720 Orleans Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416, QuartermasterDeli.NET The Ruby Slipper, 2001 Burgundy, 525.9355, TheRubySlipperCafe.Net

retail/shopping New Orleans, LA [504] BOURBON PRIDE, 909 Bourbon, 566.1570 COK (Clothing or Kinkl), 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264 HIT PARADE, 741 Bourbon St.,

Facebook.COM/HitParadeNOLA MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER KITCHEN & BATH, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465 QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633 RAB DAB CLOTHING AND GIFTS, 918 Royal St., 525.6662 SECOND SKIN LEATHER, 521 St. Philip, 561.8167 XXX SHOP EROTIC BOUTIQUE, 1835 N. Rampart St., 232.3063

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 Skin Science, 3213 17th St., Metairie, LA 70002, 504.309.7048, SkinScienceLLC.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 MID-CITY THEATRE, 3240 Toulouse, 488.1460, MidCityTheatre.COM NEW ORLEANS FRINGE FESTIVAL, NOFringe.ORG Slidell, LA [985 CUTTING EDGE THEATER, 742 Robert Blvd., 649.3727, CuttingEdgeTheater,COM

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group from San Francisco, soared over audiences in Icarus, a retelling of the classic myth. Yet despite some graceful balleticism, this Icarus was a little confusing and more earthbound than one would want it to be.

It began with a bird in the air accompanied by rhythmic, edgy music.

The androgynous-looking bird then came down and a young lady plucked some feathers from it and proceeded to fly a bit herself. The bird then seemed to teach the woman the “moves” of how to really fly; eventually in an aerial pas de deux, her wig came off to reveal a young woman with long blond hair.

While this Icarus clearly seems to be an exploration of a lesbian relationship, I think it missed the point of the Icarus story, which relates a tragic example of man’s hubris. And while I have no problem with genderbending, here’s a case where I think a woman would have been more sensible than Icarus who flew too close to the sun, despite his father’s admonishments, and plunged to his death when the heat melted his waxen wings.

As with Gayland, I might not have minded Icarus’ narrative haziness if its circus aspects had been truly spectacular. But after all those Cirque du Soleil extravaganzas, other than one mesmerizing spin on a hoop, Icarus failed to provide as many striking visual images as one would expect, not to mention a consistent WOW factor.

After a well-deserved rest, I’m sure the Fringe folks will soon start planning next year’s festival. And I’ll plan not to miss any of Fringe Fest’14.

Holiday Shows Amidst the egg nog and mistletoe, there’s a good deal of theater left to be had before we ring in the New Year.

Here are a few possibilities to schedule in between parties, bonfires, dinners and the like.

Internationally respected writer, poet, essayist, actress and bonafide cultural icon Penny Arcade comes to the AllWays Lounge & Theatre on December 5 and 6 in her one woman show The Girl Who Knew Too Much.

Born Susana Carmen Ventura to an immigrant, working class Italian family in New Britain, Connecticut, she left home at 13, became Penny Arcade at age 17, and soon after, a teenage superstar for Andy Warhol’s Factory.

Recently profiled in the New York Times, nothing captures the “holiday spirit” better than an evening with the undisputed Queen of Underground Performance.

Also just right for the cheer of the Holidaze is Deathtrap (thru Dec. 15) and booze, broads & bukowski (Dec. 16 & 19) both at the Shadowbox, and Long Day’s Journey into Night at the Art Klub on Elysian Fields (Dec. 6-21).

More traditional, or traditional in

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trodding the boards ...from 34 New Orleans sort of way, is NOLA Project’s A Very Merry Unauthorized Children’s Scientology Pageant (Dec. 6-21) and Running With Scissors’ perennial Geraldine McGunkle’s

Double-Wide Christmas! (Dec. 6-22) both at the Mid City Theater.

For really traditional, check out Black Nativity at the Anthony Bean Community Theater (Dec. 6-22); the Vespers of 1610 at the Marigny Opera House (Dec. 12-14); Tuna Christ-

mas at JPAS’ Westwego theater (thru Dec. 8); Gifts of the Magi at Slidell Little Theatre (thru Dec. 15); This Christmas at Slidell’s Cutting Edge (Dec. 6-8); Annie at Rivertown (Dec. 6-22); and The Best Little Christmas Pageant Ever at Playmakers in

Covington (Dec. 13-15).

And lighting up the season, literally, will be Lightwire Theater’s new A Very Electric Christmas at the Joy Theater on Canal Street (Dec. 12-22).

A Happy Merry Joyful ChrisKwanzUkkah to ALL!!

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36 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Dec em ber 3-16, 2013 • Of fic ial Gay Mar di Gras Guide • GayMar diGras.COM

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The Full Gamut ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Miss Cie & John

Miss Venus with Mark

Coby with Miss Cie @ B-Bob’s

Turn-About with Smiley Virus @ B-Bob’s

B-Bob’s Annual Turn-About Show

The beautiful Miss Ebony InterNational Peachus Vancartyea @ B-Bob’s

Cool nights, warm hearts

Hello Boys...

Pensacola’s Lauren Mitchell @ B-Bob’s

Justin & Family

”Queen For a Day Fundraiser” Winner Renita Mason

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QT Pie’s Robert & Ambush’s Paul @ The Double Play

Estelle pops into Voodoo

Strip-Off host Persana Shoulders gets manhandled @ Oz

Nathan & Kyan shopping @ COK in the Phoenix

Olde Town Inn Jason & Shannon cocktailing @ the Phoenix

Tony & Romeolove getting ready for Rihanna concert @ Michael’s

Bourbon Pub manager Chuck & DJ Chris Allen @ Bourbon Pub & Parade

Kelley welcomes you to Renegade Bears Beer Bust @ the Phoenix

Oz Strip-Off with Persana & Adrian

Chris & Chase from Austin @ the Phoenix

Lisa, Shaundra, Robert & Needra @ Shaundra’s going away party @ Michael’s On The Park

Paul celebrating his birthday with Karol @ Voodoo

Chris & Mr. Steed @ Voodoo

Maurice & Will @ Clover Grill

Raphael & Chronicle @ Rainbow Room

Bartender Justin @ Rainbow Room

Rickey @ the Phoenix

Dave, bartender Eric, Naked James & Adam in for the Saints Game @ the Phoenix

DJ of the Year JRB, Persana & Adrian @ Oz

38 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Dec em ber 3-16, 2013 • Of fic ial Gay Mar di Gras Guide • GayMar diGras.COM

C’est Si Bon ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Paul Melancon, Rip Naquin

Cocktailin’ @ The Double Play

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La Scène des Clubs ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Tony Leggio, Paul Melancon, Rip Naquin

In for the Saints Game @ Bourbon Pub & Parade

Bradley & manager Richard @ Rawhide

Rikki Gee & DJ Ping host Good Friends Karaoke Jay & Antoine @ Ninth Circle

Tony, Matthew, Beaux, Barrett & Terry @ Good Friends Josh & Brandon slinging cocktails for the Saints Game @ the Golden Lantern

Saints fans catch the game @ Michael’s On The Park

Ryan & Craig slingin’ cocktails @ Bourbon Pub & Parade

New bartender Aaron welcomes you to The Corner Pocket

Jim & Keith @ Rawhide

Josh behind the bar @ the Pub

The Men of the Phoenix: Justin, Ted & bartender Tom

Dancer Felix in front of the Corner Pocket Christmas Tree Karaoke time @ Good Friends Bar

Carmine & GM Eric @ Rainbow Room

Christopher behind the bar @ Oz

Kelton behind the bar @ Le Roundup

Chi Chi & Kyle @ Oz

Dancer Tristan on the bar @ The Corner Pocket

Dancer Chris up on the bar @ The Corner Pocket

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40 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Dec em ber 3-16, 2013 • Of fic ial Gay Mar di Gras Guide • GayMar diGras.COM