Ambush Magazine Volume 36 Issue 21

THE OFFICIAL GAY MAGAZINE OF THE GULF SOUTH™

A Biweekly Publication Celebrating LGBTQ Life, Music & Culture Since 1982 VOLUME 36 ISSUE 21

TUESDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2018

www.AMBUSHMAG.com

Oktoberfest, National Coming Out Day & Pre-Halloween

OCT 20

CELEBRATE GULF SOUTH

PRIDE & EQUALITY THIS OCTOBER

OCT 9–14

! e n s z e y o e o u o b b Q e e g h h a t t r D d d n n e i a s Th to f a w e r e e h h w .

S . . ew

Help us raise $1200 for Winter Wonderland! $

60 We’re a 0 Platinum Sponsor

kn

A

Play Girlz The Music of

Senator Ken

hosted by Gia GiaVanni

A V I D

Fridays 10–11:30pm

Fridays 7:30–9:30pm

The Music of the

Vanessa Carr Band

Saturdays 7:30–9:30pm

Divas R Us starring Monica

Synclaire-Kennedy

Saturdays 10–11:30pm

...and she knew how to party!

The Half-Assed Straight Boys

DIVA S “R” US • SATURDAYS 10 –11:30PM

Golden

The Official Home of Southern Decadence.

Sundays 3–9pm

THE

Best L GBTQ

Bar

Jubilee: Dragging for Jesus with Reba Douglas Sundays 5–7pm

Best Happy Hour in the Quarter!

Lantern

1239 Royal St. New Orleans • facebook.com/GoldenLanternBar

HAPPY HOUR 8AM – 8PM DAILY

N E V E R A C O V E R AT THE GOLDEN LANTERN

THE “OFFICIAL” DISH

by TJ ACOSTA, PUBLISHER

Dear Ambush Nation, I’m sure everyone is already in Halloween mode and thinking about what costume they plan to wear this year.

But let’s not forget a few other events along the Gulf Coast before Halloween that are worthy of our support.

Our friends in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, are having their Pine Belt Pride presented by The Spectrum Center this week. It’s a multi-day celebration starting on Wednesday, October 10, and running through the 13th with the Pride in the Park Celebration. For more information about Pine Belt Pride and The Spectrum Center visit TheSpectrumCenterOfHattiesburg.com or email info@TheSpectrumCenterOfHattiesburg.com Biloxi, Mississippi, also has a party before Halloween. The Gulf Coast Equality Fest is October 20, from 11 am to 6 pm on Harrah’s Great Lawn.

This festival will have live music, multiple vendors, food, and kid activities.

Harrah’s Gulf Coast is located at 280 Beach Blvd, Biloxi. For more information check out GulfCoastEqualityFest. org

OFFICIAL GAY HALLOWEEN GUIDE With Halloween less than a month

away, we at Ambush are excited to bring you the Official Gay Halloween Guilde in our next issue. Much like we did for Southern Decadence, we plan to have a comprehensive list of all the Halloween parties, events, Happy Hours, costume contests and much more! If you have an event you’d like listed in our guide or if you’re interested in purchasing an ad, please email us at info@ambushpublishing.com. You can also Like our Gay Halloween New Orleans event on Facebook for more information. You can find us on Facebook at @AmbushMag. HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMBUSH Ambush Magazine was founded by Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain in October of 1982. They owned and operated Ambush until I purchased the magazine on October 12, 2017. Ambush is the oldest regional LGBTQ publication serving the Gulf South and its best days are ahead. Everyone on our team would like to say “thank you” to each and everyone of you, our loyal readers. You can pick up a copy at numerous bars and locations throughout the Gulf South or sign up as a subscriber online and you’ll receive a digital copy of the magazine every other

Inside this Issue of Ambush Art Against AIDS returns to Club XLIV on World AIDS Day

6

PINE BELT PRIDE October 9-14

7

Snap Paparazzi NOLA Softball League

8

25th Anniversary Belle Reve New Orleans

9

Snap Paparazzi Oz New Orleans

10

Gulf Coast Equality Fest

12-14

Snap Paparazzi Out & About with Ambush

15

Snap Paparazzi Out & About

16

New Orleans Hot Happenings

18-23

Patriarchy Threatened

24

Tiffany Alexander and Southern Decadence 2011

25

Gay Carnival at the Louisiana State Museum

26

Snap Paparazzi The Corner Pocket

28

BOOK OF THE MONTH: Miss Ella of Commander’s Palace

29

Tricentennial Profiles in History: Enrique Alferez

29

Snap Paparazzi Out & About at the Double Play/Crossing

29

Party Down

30

Snap Paparazzi Out & About with Tony Leggio

31

Trodding the Boards

32-33

When Leadership Serves

34

A Community within Communities: The State of “Welcome!”

35

LGBT Owned & Friendly Business Directory

36-37

Snap Paparazzi Out & About with Apollo

38-39

4 Steps to Help You Have a Confident Retirement

40 41-42

Sports Gulf South LGBTQ Entertainment & Travel Guide Since 1982 New Orleans, Louisiana info@ambushpublishing.com

Tuesday in your inbox. For the next issue, I’m planning on writing an article about my thoughts and experiences during my first year as the owner of Ambush so be sure to check it out!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS The Krewe of Amon-Ra will hold their annual gumbo cook-off on Sunday, November 11, from 11 am to 2 pm at GrandPre’s. This is a great way to support the Krewe as they prepare for their 54th annual Ball and have some delicious gumbo! GrandPre’s is located at 834 N. Rampart Street.

New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders (NOAGE) will hold its 4th annual Gala on Friday, November 16, from 7 to 10 pm. The theme for this year’s Gala is “Under the Sea” and will be held at the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. NOAGE is committed to ensuring that all LGBT older adults can live their best lives with dignity, respect, and good health. For more information, contact NOAGE at info@ noagenola.org The 32nd annual Art Against Aids gala is a fundraiser for CrescentCare to help support men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS in the New Orleans community. This year’s event will take place on World AIDS Day, December 1 at Club XLIV - Superdome.

Art Against AIDS began with local art students making holiday ornaments to sell and raise money. Today, the gala features some of the finest art and food the city has to offer. Be on the lookout for more information in the coming weeks. For more information email Chris.leonard@crescentcare.org

ADVERTISE Looking to reach the LGBTQ community from Texas to Florida?

Print rates start as low as $96 per issue! sales@ambushpublishing.com

Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 • Texas-Florida ANNUAL READERSHIP OVER 1M+ 260,000+ Print/780,000+ Online Official Gay Easter Parade Guide© Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide© Official Gay New Orleans Guide© Official Pride Guide© Official Southern Decadence Guide©

LETTER TO THE EDITOR info@ambushpublishing.com CIRCULATION

Alabama - Mobile; Florida - Pensacola; Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Slidell, Monroe, Alexandria; Mississippi - Bay St. Louis, Biloxi

PUBLISHER TJ Acosta EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Reed Wendorf SENIOR EDITOR Brian Sands CONTRIBUTORS Brian Sands, Crescent City Sports, Frank Perez, Jim Meadows, Pastor Allie Rowland, Persana Shoulders, Rev. Bill Terry, Rodney Thoulion, Scot Billeaudeau, Shane Womack & Tony Leggio LOCAL ADVERTISING sales@ambushpublishing.com Reed Wendorf Shane Womack Jim Tomeny NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Ambush Magazine is published on alternate Tuesdays of each month by Ambush Publishing. Advertising, Copy & Photo DEADLINE is alternate Tuesdays, 5pm, prior to publication week, accepted via e-mail only: info@ambushpublishing.com. 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 Magazine. ©1982-2018 AMBUSH PUBLISHING LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS & PHOTOS.

4 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

UPCOMING

Art Against AIDS returns to Club XLIV on World AIDS Day Art Against AIDS began in 1986 with local art students making holiday ornaments to sell and raise money. Today, 32 years later, the gala features some of the finest of what New Orleans offers: great food from local restaurants, a holiday boutique, a juried auction of art, and live entertainment.

This year, Art Against AIDS takes place on World AIDS Day, December 1, 2018. In addition to the food, drinks and entertainment, this year’s event will highlight how far we have come (and how far we still have to go) in the fight against HIV/ AIDS. This is an opportunity for the New Orleans Community to unite in the fight against HIV, to show support for people living with HIV, and to commemorate those who have died from an AIDS-related illness. The event will honor artist, David Lumpkin, and will include two of the New Orleans panels of the AIDS Quilt as well as an interactive memory wall and remarks from government officials.

Guest of honor for the event is ABC reporter, Karl Schmid. Karl, originally from Australia, has worked with famous comedian Barry Humphries (a.k.a Dame Edna Everage) and in 2008 Karl relocated to Los Angeles where he has been the host of the Logo TV show, “Operation Vacation,” a regular host to TV Guide Network’s Big Movie Premiere specials, as well as a contributor and guest host to TV Guide Network’s Hollywood 411. Karl has recently come out as HIV positive and will give a keynote on stopping the stigma and the u = u campaign where it has been found that a person living with HIV who has undetectable viral load does not transmit HIV to their partners.

Tickets and more information are available at 501auctions.com/crescentcare. Purchase your tickets prior to October 23 and save! Early ticket sales are only $40.

GENE’S PO BOYS & ILY’S BISTRO 1040 ELYSIAN FIELDS AVE. NEW ORLEANS, LA 70117

GENE’S: 504-943-3861 ILY’S: 504-947-8341

CORNER OF ST. CLAUDE AVE & ELYSIAN FIELDS

NOW ON

Untitled-6 1

6 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

6/1/18 12:49 PM

PINE BELT PRIDE OCTOBER 9-14 HOSTED BY THE SPECTRUM CENTER OF HATTIESBURG, MS FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.THESPECTRUMCENTEROFHATTIESBURG.COM

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 7

SNAP PAPARAZZI NOLA Softball League AT THE GSWS IN TAMPA, FL | PHOTOS COURTESY OF JOHN VALDEZ Congratulations to the three teams who represented NOLA Softball at the 42nd Annual NAGAAA Gay Softball World Series in Tampa, FL. This year saw over 190 teams and 3,000 athletes competing in A, B, C, D, and Masters Divisions from September 3-8, 2018. The week long tournament featured over 770 games and hosted competitors from 45 cities across North America, and is recognized as one of the largest LGBTQ sporting events in the world.

We are proud of all three of our teams who represented New Orleans at the 2018 Gay Softball World Series: The Wizards of Age (Masters), The Big Easy Bears (D), and especially The Southern Belles (C), who finished 3rd in their division. Great job NOLA Softball League!

8 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

25TH ANNIVERSARY BELLE REVE NEW ORLEANS

SILVER ANNIVERSARY BRUNCH & TEA DANCE October 14, 2018 | 12:00pm – 4:00pm The Audubon Tea Room 6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA 70118 Tickets $70 ($75 At Door) Belle Reve NOLA is asking for your sponsorship at our Silver Anniversary Brunch and Tea Dance. For 25 years, Belle Reve NOLA ha provided permanent and transitional housing to individuals and families living with disabilities, including those living with HIV/AIDS. Each year, we continue to advance our mission of providing a safe environment, with a wide variety of social services. We work very hard to ensure our residents leave Belle Reve NOLA with many of the skills they need to lead productive, responsible lives. Many of our residents come to us without any resources and our government grants are unable to cover the cost of all their needs. Your generosity provides hope, comfort and dignity to our residents, changing their lives for the better.

Belle Reve NOLA is a tax-exempt 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and all donations are tax-exempt. You can purchase tickets directly or donate securely online, through specialevents@bellerevenola.org or contact us directly, by calling 504-207-4375. You can also go to our website at www.bellerevenola.org.

boneyard don’t be scared to enter the

FEATURING OUR SPECIAL GUEST

Brad Kalvo OCTOBER 26 THROUGH OCTOBER 28

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 28, 4 P.M.

Tea dance and football

4

$

DANCE, THEN WATCH THE SAINTS GAME ON OUR HUGE SCREENS

3

$

ALL OCTOBERFEST BEERS ALL MONTH LONG!

941 ELYSIAN FIELDS FOLLOW US TO THE FUN @PHOENIXBARNOLA

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 9

SNAP PAPARAZZI Oz New Orleans PHOTOS BY DWAIN HERTZ, MARK DAVID, JOJO WOWW, JAKE MORRIS, ANDREW HOPKINS & SUBMITTED BY PERSANA SHOULDERS

OZ New Orleans 2-story, 24/7 gay dance club with DJs, drag shows, go-go dancers & a balcony for people-watching.

OPENING HOURS

FRI, SAT & SUN: 24/7 MON–THURS: Opens at 1PM

ADDRESS 800 Bourbon Street New Orleans, LA Phone: (504) 593-9491 10 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

FORUM FOR EQUALITY’S 20TH ANNUAL ACCLAIM AWARDS GALA

HONORING GOVERNOR JOHN BEL EDWARDS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13, 2018 I N T E R C O N T I N E N TA L N E W O R L E A N S 4 4 4 S T C H A R L E S AV E N U E NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130

GET TICKETS NOW AT FORUMFOREQUALITY.ORG

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 11

Dear Welcomed Guests:

On behalf of Gulf Coast Equality Council, Harrah's Gulf Coast, and Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort, It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Second Annual Gulf Coast Equality Fest.

Gulf Coast Equality Fest celebrates our community, along with our allies, and the diversity that both strengthens and energizes us. We recognize that each person is unique, and together we will work towards recognizing our individual differences.

Our theme this year is Hope. Hope is a simple word that is so important to anyone going through a difficult time. It can mean the difference between going on and giving up. Hope will keep us working for the day that there will be equality for everyone.

Please enjoy your day with us and be sure to sample all we have to offer with amazing vendors, food, and entertainment. We very much appreciate you being here and for your support.

Sincerely,

John Perkins President Gulf Coast Equality Council

12 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 13

GULF COAST EQUALITY COUNCIL WITH HARRAH’S GULF COAST AND SCARLET PEARL CASINO RESORT PRESENTS: GULF COAST EQUALITY FEST Gulf Coast Equality Fest The Great Lawn at Harrah’s Gulf Coast Biloxi 280 Beach Blvd. Biloxi, MS 39530 October 20, 2018 11am to 6pm www.gulfcoastequalityfest.org Gulf Coast Equality Fest will take place on October 20, 2018 on The Great Lawn at Harrah’s Gulf Coast Biloxi from 11am to 6pm. The festival will feature vendors, music, food, speakers, information, and kid’s activities.

“The Gulf Coast Equality Council” was formed to celebrate the diversity of our LGBTQ+ community and our allies. We hope to educate the public about needs, issues, and various aspects of our culture and provide outreach and community services and are working for a future community center on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

Gulf Coast Equality Fest Entertainment Schedule October 20, 2018 11:00AM DJ Paddy 11:30AM Opening - John Perkins, President and Ashton Day, Entertainment Chairperson 12:00PM James Gillies and Rob Gronkoski - Music Performance 12:30PM Raffle 12:35PM James Gillies and Rob Gronkoski - Music Performance 1:00PM DJ Paddy 1:20PM Katerina Novavich - Christina Aguilera Drag Performance 1:30PM Speaker - Toni Dee, Drag Icon 1:35PM Champagne Munroe - Diana Ross Drag Performance 1:45PM Raffle 1:50PM DJ Paddy 2:00PM Blackwater Brass - Music Performance 2:30PM Raffle 2:35PM Blackwater Brass - Music Performance 3:00PM DJ Missy 3:10PM Speaker - Stacy Lentz, President and CEO of Stonewall Inn Gives Back Initiative 3:20PM Toni Dee - Cher Drag Performance 3:30PM Speaker - Douglas Myatt, Ohr O’Keefe Museum of Art 3:35PM Raffle 3:45PM Spikey Van Dykey 4:00PM Dana Abbott Band - Music Performance 4:30PM Raffle 4:45PM Dana Abbott Band - Music Performance 5:10PM Closing - Gulf Coast Equality Council 5:30PM Grand Finale Drag Performance - “What Makes Us Proud” Starring The Goddesses of Equality: Toni Dee, Lexis Redd D’Ville, Kara Mel D’ville, Jawakatema Davenport, Misty B. Knight, Miss Catastrophe, and Amanduh Pleaze

Gulf Coast Equality Council With Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort & Harrah’s Gulf Coast Present

HARRAH’S GREAT LAWN 11AM – 6PM Harrah’s Gulf Coast 280 Beach Blvd Biloxi, MS 39530 For more information or to become a vendor, please visit our website at GulfCoastEqualityFest.org

Gulf Coast Equality Council reserves all rights. Must be 21 or older to gamble. ©2018, Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort. ©2018, Caesars License Company, LLC. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-522-4700.

14 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

EN

J

F RO Y ID BR 8 A AY E A M - SU K - 1 N FA 1 A DA S M Y T

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 15

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Ambush AT WALK TO END HIV

16 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About AT OCHSNER PRIDE LGBTQ HEALTH SUMMIT LIVING WELL TOGETHER

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 17

UNDER THE GAYDAR

New Orleans Hot Happenings

Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com

October is finally here and that means ghosts and goblins and things that go bump in the night. With so many hot happenings this month, worldly and otherwise, here are just a few suggestions to keep you up at night. (If you have a fundraiser, party, show or event coming up and would like to be listed in the calendar, please email me at ledgemgp@gmail.com).

TUESDAY 10/9

Kocktail Karaoke: Good Friends Bar; 740 Dauphine St.; 9 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Join us at Good Friends Bar for Kocktail Karaoke with the winner gets a $25.00 bar tab. $5 Fireball.

Country Dance Lessons: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart St.; 8 p.m.

Tuesdays are Country Dance lessons with dancing from 8 - 11 p.m.

Bourbon Boylesque: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 8:00 p.m. See the men of Oz like you have never seen them before. The show stars Atomyc Adonis, Bobby B, Franky, Phathoms Deep and other special guests. Hosted

by Trixie Minx.

Tacos, Tequila and Tiaras: Buffa’s

Bar and Restaurant; 1001 Esplanade Ave.; 8 p.m. Tacos, Tequila, and Tiaras is one of New Orleans’ only family friendly drag shows! Join hostess Vanessa Carr Kennedy every Tuesday, have a taco or two, and learn a little bit about the art of drag.

Twofer Tuesdays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drinks special is two for one drinks until 10 p.m.

Tunes Tuesday: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; Open to close. Free Jukebox credits with a $4 drink purchase.

Trivia Night: MRB; 515 St. Philip St.; Starts at 8 p.m. Every Tuesday at 8 you can join us for Who Wants A Dollar? Trivia! Free to Play. Plenty of Prizes. Tons of Fun. Teams of 1-6 welcome. Enjoy some killer drinks, amazing food from Woodies @ MRB, and out of this world trivia.

WEDNESDAY 10/10

WednesGays at LPK Uptown: Louisiana Pizza Kitchen; 615 South Carrollton Ave.; 5 p.m. Join us every Wednesday to celebrate diversity. See old friends or make some new ones

and find out what’s happening in the Nola community. All this while enjoying 1/2 price drinks from the bar. Invite your friends.

You Better Sing Karaoke; Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 9 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. Join DJ Kory and DJ Derek as they play Karaoke at Cafe Lafitte in Exile. Behind the bar slinging drinks for you are Jeremy, Ryan, and Tim. $5 Fireball, $25 Gift Certificate for GFB, plus Free Tatertots Gift Card for Clover Grill.

Oz Show Night: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 10:30 p.m. This popular drag show is hosted by Persana Shoulders and features Lisa Beaumann, Connie Hung, Anastascia Davenport; ChiChi Rodriquez and Dominique DeLorean.

Game Night: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart St.; 7 p.m. Wednesdays are Game Night with Honey Bee at 7 p.m. with free jello shots and Bar Tabs.

Half-Price Hump Days (Wednesdays): Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. All drinks are half price until 10 p.m.

Hump Day: Rawhide 2010; 740 Burgundy St.; 4 - 9 p.m. 2 for $4 wells,

draft, and domestic beers.

Wine Night: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; 5 p.m. close. $15 bottles of wine.

Video Game Night: GrandPre’s; 834 N. rampart Street; 8:30 – 10 p.m.

It’s Video Game Night! Every Wednesday at Grand Pre’s! Hosted By Eureeka Starfish and a very Special Co-Host ! Come early to sign up for limited spots for three mini tournaments of the video game we provide!

Hey Kitty Girl – A Drag Pop-Up: Santos Bar; 1135 Decatur Street; 10 p.m. – 2 a.m. An evening of drag-inspired cocktails benefitting BreakOUT! and Planned Parenthood, sponsored

by Campari and Bitter Queens Bitters.

Come enjoy a THRILLING drag show hosted by the marvelous SIREN, featuring performances by the DAZZLING Laveau Contraire, Annie Bacterial, Tarah Cards, and Fabigail Tchoupitoulas!

Dance party to follow. All tips and proceeds will go to charity! Original craft cocktails created by Alex Utter and Ryan Joyce of Arnaud’s French 75 Bar. $5 minimum door cover.

18 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

THURSDAY 10/11

Honey Bee Trivia: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart St.; 7 p.m. Thursday is Honey Bee Trivia at 7 p.m. Four rounds with jello shots to the winner of each round and a Bar Tab to top person/team of the night.

Girl | Crush: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 9 p.m. Girl | Crush brings you a weekly event for girls who like girls, and their friends! This flavor of CRUSH entitled DTF is exclusive to New Orleans’ #1 Dance Club, Oz and happens every Thursday night.

The Jeff D Comedy Cabaret; Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 10 p.m. The Comedy Cabaret stars Jeff D. featuring Gia Giavanni. Enjoy hilarious comedians, amazing talent and the Ladies of Oz. Strip Off: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; midnight Persana Shoulders hosts the Strip Off every Thursday night. Sign up begins at 11 p.m. and the show features a spotlight performance by Miss Gay Louisiana America 2013 Mercedes Ellis Loreal. Winners receive 1st PLACE - $100 Cash • 2nd PLACE - $50 Bar tab Three-Dollar Thursdays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink special is $3 Fireball and Jagermeister shots all day and night.

Prime Time Trivia: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; starts at 9 p.m. Come out and enjoy trivia with great prizes with your host Honey Bee.

Dragula Season 2 Viewing Party with Laveau Contraire: Kajun’s Pub; 2256 St. Claude Avenue; 7 - 9 p.m. Do you like Glamour, Horror, Filth and all things ooky spooky? Dragula is a web show, created by The Boulet Brothers to find the world’s next drag supermonster! Each week, Laveau will be bringing in two co-hosts to watch the show, give our thoughts, opinions, and even a few LIVE drag performances throughout the night. As always, you get FREE swag with every purchase of one of our drink specials AND we will have a drawing at the end for a BUCKET full of FREE swag. You get a ticket for the drawing for every special you buy, so buy a lot and increase your chances of winning!

FRIDAY 10/12 – SUNDAY 10/14

I Wrote A Song Play: Cafe Istanbul; 2372 St. Called Avenue. “I Wrote a Song,” is a musical comedy-drama coming-out story in 2 acts. Dates are Oct. 2, 13, 14 - 7:30 PM all nights.

Tickets $25 online or $30 at the door.

Purchase tickets and merchandise here: https://www.slottedspoonproductions.com/pre-order-tickets-now

FRIDAY 10/12

Music of Senator Ken: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Enjoy live music with Senator Ken

The Double Play

n o I

T I s

n a

In

Tr

439 Dauphine Street New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 523-4517

playing all your favorites.

Play Girlz: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 10 - 11:30 p.m. Drag show featuring Gia GiaVanni and special guests.

New Meat Amateur Dance Contest: Corner Pocket; 640 St. Louis St.; 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Lisa Beaumann, anyone can enter - $100 cash prize.

Long Island Fridays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink special is $5 Long Island Iced Teas all day and night.

Fireball Fridays: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; open to close. $4 Fireball Shots.

Take It Off Fridays: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway; 5 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. Includes $2.50 domestic beers and $3 well drinks from 5 - 9 p.m.; $15 drink and drown from 9 - 11 p.m. all well cocktails; and Underwear Party with free well cocktails for those who strip down to their underwear from midnight to 12:30 a.m.

RuPaul’s Drag Race: Werq the World - New Orleans; Joy Theatre; 1200 Canal Street; 8 p.m. - midnight.

The Official RuPaul’s Drag Race World Tour returns with an all new show for 2018! Hosted by celebrity judge Michelle Visage with sickening performances by Season 10 finalists Aquaria, Asia O’Hara, Eureka and Kameron Michaels along with fan favorites Bob the Drag Queen, Kim Chi and Violet Chachki!. 8:00PM Doors. All Ages.

Meet & Greet Option: Enjoy a private

meet and mingle with queens before the show! Includes a customized VIP laminate with lanyard and a seat in the first few rows of the theater. Guests must arrive by 7PM. For tickets, go to www.ticketfly.com.

The Experience: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; 10:30 p.m. Analia XO and 4 performers get on The Four Seasons stage to brighten up your night . This month’s performers include, Versula Bottom , Debbie with a D, Hale Santana and Mrs. Holly N Dazed. Doors: 10:00pm; Show: 10:30pm. NO COVER ; 21+ Cocktoberfest Beer Bust: The Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields; 9 p.m. midnight. Oktoberfest means BEER! (C)ocktoberfest means... BEER! Join The Lords of Leather for our monthly 2nd Friday Beer Bust. $10 gets you so much; keg beer, snacks, and the company of a fine group of leather oriented Krewe members. Donations go to their Bal Masque XXXVI to be held on Sunday, March 3, 2019 at The Alario Center in Westwego, Louisiana!

SATURDAY 10/13

Music of Vanessa Carr Kennedy; Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Enjoy songstress Vanessa as she sings some of the tops hits of yesterday and today.

Divas R Us; Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 10 - 11:30 p.m. This wonderful drag show directed by Mon-

7AM-9PM HAPPY HOUR $3 Domestic Beers $3 Wells $1 Off Everything Else

ALL WEEK LONG

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 19

ica Sinclaire Kennedy includes a special guests stars.

Piano Bar with Trey Ming; Good Friends Bar; 740 Dauphine St.; 4 – 7 p.m. Sing along with your favorite songs with talented piano player Trey Ming.

CAT 5 Hurricane Saturdays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink specials are $5 Hurricanes all day and night and from 8 - 10 p.m. Doubles for the price of a Single on all alcohol.

Drag Dingo: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 6 - 8 p.m. Catch ChiChi Rodriquez, Persana Shoulders or Lisa Beaumann for Drag Bingo! 11 games of Bingo, 11 chances to win prizes! All the fun starts at 6 pm till 8 pm in their upstairs bar with your favorite bottom, Jake, slinging drinks for you all night long!

Forum for Equality Acclaim Awards Gala: Hotel Intercontinental; 444 St. Charles Avenue; 5 - 10 p.m. 2018 Acclaim Award Recipient: Governor John Bel Edwards; Patron Welcome Reception 5:00pm to 6:00pm; Dinner, Auction, and Accolades 6:00pm to 10:00pm; Tickets: http://bidpal.net/acclaim. As always, the Acclaim Awards will feature a silent auction, open bar, dinner, and entertainment. The Acclaim Awards is an opportunity to celebrate the great work being done by and on behalf of our community, and it is also the Forum for Equality’s largest annual fundraiser. This year is particularly exciting because we will be hon-

oring Governor John Bel Edwards for his unrepentant support of full equality here in Louisiana. As a vanguard in the Deep South, Governor Edwards is leading the movement and we will be honoring his continued work on behalf of the LGBTQ community. More information: https://www.forumforequality. org/2018-acclaim-awards-gala.

Carnal Coven’s Sinful; Sideshow: The Goat; 1301 St. Bernard Ave.; 9 p.m - 1 a.m. Join Requiem for a Tease at The Goat for the October installment of Carnal Coven entitled Sinful Sideshow! This show will consist of a whopping 10 twisted sideshow acts! Doors open at 9pm; Show starts at 10 and will last until 1am. Cover is $10. There will be a costume contest and other raffle prizes!

Glitter Girls: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; 10:30 p.m. Join Countess C. Alice and her friends at this lively drag show. Doors: 10:00pm; Show: 10:30pm. NO COVER ; 21+

SUNDAY 10/14

Bottomless Sundays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink special is $15 Bottomless Bloody Marys and Mimosas from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Bottomless Mimosas:Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 1 - 4 p.m.

Bottomless Mimosas are offered upstairs from 1 - 4 p.m. for $12.

You Better Sing Karaoke; Grand-

Pre’s; 834 North Rampart St.; 7 p.m.

Join DJ Kory and DJ Derek as they play Karaoke.

Jubilee: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 5 p.m. This Sunday Funday show stars Reba Douglas and special guests.

Zingo: Corner Pocket; 640 St. Louis St.; 6:30 p.m. Play Bingo followed by the Barry BareAss Dancer of the Week Contest.

Oz Show Night: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 9:30 p.m. This popular drag show is hosted by Persana Shoulders and features Lisa Beaumann, Connie Hung, Anastascia Davenport; ChiChi Rodriquez and Dominique DeLorean.

Drink Drown and Drag: The Bourbon Pub; 801 Bourbon St.; 6 - 9 p.m.

Sunday Funday upstairs at The Parade. $15 Drink and Drown from 6 – 9 p.m. with a star studded drag show starting at 8 p.m.

Sunday Worship: Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans (MCCNO); 5401 S. Claiborne Ave; 10:00 a.m. New Orleans first LGBTQ church welcomes you to join us for our Sunday worship service where they celebrate God’s Love for everyone.

Drag Dingo: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 6 - 8 p.m. Catch ChiChi Rodriquez, persana Shoulders or Lisa Beaumann for Drag Bingo! 11 games of Bingo, 11 chances to win prizes! All the fun starts at 6 pm till 8 pm in their upstairs bar with your favorite bottom, Jake, slinging drinks for you all night long!

Belle Reve’s Silver Anniversary Brunch and Tea Dance: Audubon Tea Room; 6500 Magazine Street; Noon 4 p.m. Belle Reve NOLA invites you to our Silver Anniversary Brunch and Tea Dance. For 25 years, Belle Reve NOLA has provided permanent and transitional housing to individuals and families living with disabilities, including those living with HIV/AIDS. Each year, we continue to advance our mission of providing a safe environment, with a wide variety of social services. We work very hard to ensure our residents leave Belle Reve NOLA with many of the skills they need to lead productive, responsible lives. Many of our residents come to us without any resources and our government grants are unable to cover the cost of all of their needs. Your generosity provides hope, comfort and dignity to our residents, by changing their lives for the better. For tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com.

Music Under the Oaks--Loyola University School of Music; Newman Bandstand at Audubon Park; 5 - 6:30 p.m. Music Under the Oaks returns to Audubon Park this October! Bring your lawn chairs for a special concert series to celebrate the Audubon Park Conservancy presented by Bellwether Technology and Hancock Whitney.

Food and drink will be available to purchase. Contributions to the Conser-

vancy directly support the annual care and improvements of Audubon Park, including ongoing needs such as lawn care, seasonal flower planting, and the protection of historic live oak trees. Admission: Free and open to the public.

MONDAY 10/15

Karaoke Monday: The Bourbon Pub; 801 Bourbon St.; 7 - 9 p.m. Enjoy happy hour prices all night long. Hosted by Denny with VJ Dollabill.

S.I.N. Night: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; Starting at 9 p.m.

Come drink with Ashlee. Get your SIN card and receive $2.50 canned beer Margarita Mondays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink special is $3 margaritas all day and night.

Pool Tournament: Rawhide 2010; 740 Burgundy St.; 9:45 p.m. $2 PBR and $50 gift certificate for Rawhide Lazy Susan Karaoke: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Join bartender Mark and a revolving cast of drag queen hostesses (Gracias De Nada) for LAZY SUSAN KARAOKE with Music by DJ Lucius Riley. Mondays are a drag, so make them fabulous and sing the night away.

NOAGE & Stonewall Sports Walk/ Run Club; Audubon Park; 6500 Magazine Street; 6:30 p.m. Join an exciting new partnership between Stonewall Sports New Orleans and NOAGE! Starting at 6:30 p.m., meet for the walk/ run around the Audubon Park jogging path. This will be a weekly event for walkers and the Stonewall Run Club will join every 3 weeks. This group is for ALL fitness levels, and you can go at your own pace. Whether that’s running, jogging, leisurely walking, or using a wheelchair or walker, this group is for you. If you are worried that you’ll be left behind, don’t worry; someone will walk with you. If you are the fastest person there, we’ll see you at the finish line. Please Note: We will meet at the parking lot on the Magazine Street entrance to the park jogging path (6500 Magazine St.). If you need assistance or have questions, call Jim at (504)2286778.

Service Industry Night: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; Open to close. $2.50 domestic beers; $3 well cocktails; $3.50 imported beer; $5.50 Tito’s; $6 Jameson.

We Hear You Have Goblins: Mags 940; 940 Elysian Fields; Starts at 7:30 p.m. New Orleans’ Favorite And Also Only Live Action Fantasy Roleplaying Game Improv Show returns for a second season, now in an easier-to-schedule-ahead format: the third Monday of every month! If you’re worried about starting in the middle, don’t! We Hear You Have Goblins is a lot like Dungeon & Dragons but with less numbers, more jokes, more characters named Celine Dion, and not taking place in your mother’s basement. Our heroes Tiraxa Nolasname, Dirkbod Kalabos,and Bar-

20 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

tholomew Mirthmember must fight, flirt, and negotiate their way through any number of fantastic scenarios thrown at them by our narrator and game master, Lynx Murphy, who is also in charge of every roll of the dice. From time to time we’ll need a few extra monsters to fight or some people and places in need of bizarre names, so be ready to embrace your inner hobgoblin get creative! And don’t forget, if you don’t like a roll of the dice, you can always change the world with a small tithe at the Altar of Fate, so bring a few extra bucks, just in case.

Admission is $10 (cash OR card!) at the door, and late admission will be accepted during intermission; Mag’s 940 is an 18+ venue. We Hear You Have Goblins is presented by Rockfire Theatre, LLC

TUESDAY 10/16

Kocktail Karaoke: Good Friends Bar; 740 Dauphine St.; 9 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Join us at Good Friends Bar for Kocktail Karaoke with the winner gets a $25.00 bar tab. $5 Fireball.

Country Dance Lessons: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart St.; 8 p.m.

Tuesdays are Country Dance lessons with dancing from 8 - 11 p.m.

Bourbon Boylesque: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 8:00 p.m. See the Men of Oz like you have never seen them before. The show stars Atomyc Adonis, Bobby B, Franky, Phathoms Deep and other special guests.Hosted

by Trixie Minx.

Tacos, Tequila and Tiaras: Buffa’s Bar and Restaurant; 1001 Esplanade Ave.; 8 p.m. Tacos, Tequila, and Tiaras is a one of New Orleans’ only family friendly drag shows! Join hostess Vanessa Carr Kennedy every Tuesday, have a taco or two, and learn a little bit about the art of drag.

Twofer Tuesdays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drinks special is two-for-one drinks until 10 p.m.

Trivia Night: MRB; 515 St. Philip St.; Starts at 8 p.m. Every Tuesday at 8 you can join us for Who Wants A Dollar? Trivia! Free to Play. Plenty of Prizes. Tons of Fun. Teams of 1-6 welcome. Enjoy some killer drinks, amazing food from Woodies @ MRB, and out of this world trivia.

Tunes Tuesday: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; Open to close. Free Jukebox credits with a $4 drink purchase.

WEDNESDAY 10/17 – THURSDAY 10/25

New Orleans Film Festival: all around New Orleans. The 29th edition of the Oscar-qualifying New Orleans Film Festival kicks off on October 17th!

Are you ready for 9 days of 200+ films, fantastic parties and Q&A’s with filmmakers and actors, artist talks, pitch competitions and more? Discover the diverse lineup of #NOFF2018 with 80% of all films helmed by women and/or

filmmakers of color. Explore the lineup at neworleansfilmfestival.org. All type of passes (All Access, Weekender, Unlimited Film, Six Film, and Student) for the 29th New Orleans Film Festival are on sale here. New Orleans Film Society members get special discounts on pass purchases.

WEDNESDAY 10/17

WednesGays at LPK Uptown: Louisiana Pizza Kitchen; 615 South Carrollton Ave.; 5 p.m. Join us every Wednesday to celebrate diversity. See old friends or make some new ones and find out what’s happening in the Nola community. All this while enjoying 1/2 price drinks from the bar. Invite your friends.

You Better Sing Karaoke; Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 9 p.m. - 1:00 a.m. Join DJ Kory and DJ Derek as they play Karaoke. Behind the bar slinging drinks for you are Jeremy, Ryan, and Tim. $5 Fireball, $25 Gift Certificate for GFB, plus Free Tatertots Gift Card for Clover Grill.

Oz Show Night: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 10:30 p.m. This popular drag show is hosted by Persana Shoulders and features Lisa Beaumann, Connie Hung, Anastascia Davenport; ChiChi Rodriquez and Dominique DeLorean.

Game Night: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart St.; 7 p.m. Wednesdays are Game Night with Honey Bee at 7 p.m. and free jello shots and Bar Tabs.

Half-Price Hump Days (Wednesdays): Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink special is all drinks are half price until 10 p.m.

Hump Day: Rawhide 2010; 740 Burgundy St.; 4 - 9 p.m. 2 for $4 wells, draft, and domestic beers.

Wine Night: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; 5 p.m. close. $15 bottles of wine.

Video Game Night: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart Street; 8:30 p.m. midnight; The bar is doing Video Game Night starting at 9 p.m. Come and compete for prizes and Grab some Drinks.

THURSDAY 10/18

Honey Bee Trivia: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart St.; 7 p.m. Thursday is Honey Bee Trivia at 7 p.m. Four rounds with jello shots to the winner of each round and a Bar Tab to top person/team of the night.

Girl | Crush: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 9 p.m. Girl | Crush brings you a weekly event for girls who like girls, and their friends! This flavor of CRUSH entitled DTF is exclusive to New Orleans’ #1 Dance Club, Oz and happens every Thursday night.

The Jeff D Comedy Cabaret; Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 10 p.m. The Comedy Cabaret stars Jeff D. featuring Gia Giavanni. Enjoy hilarious

comedians, amazing talent and the Ladies of Oz. Strip Off:Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; midnight Persana Shoulders hosts the Strip Off every Thursday night. Sign up begins at 11 p.m. and the show features a spotlight performance by Miss Gay Louisiana America 2013 Mercedes Ellis Loreal. Winners receive 1st PLACE - $100 Cash • 2nd PLACE - $50 Bar tab Three-Dollar Thursdays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink special is $3 Fireball and Jagermeister shots all day and night.

Prime Time Trivia: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; starts at 9 p.m. Come out and enjoy trivia with great prizes with your host Honey Bee. Dragula Season 2 Viewing Party with Laveau Contraire: Kajun’s Pub; 2256 St. Claude Avenue; 7 - 9 p.m. Do you like Glamour, Horror, Filth and all things ooky spooky? Dragula is a web show, created by The Boulet Brothers to find the world’s next drag supermonster! Each week, Laveau will be bringing in two co-hosts to watch the show, give our thoughts, opinions, and even a few LIVE drag performances throughout the night. As always, you get FREE swag with every purchase of one of our drink specials AND we will have a drawing at the end for a BUCKET full of FREE swag. You get a ticket for the drawing for every special you buy, so buy a lot and increase your chances of winning!

Meet The Locals: The Coun-

try Club; 634 Louisa Street; 7 - 9 p.m. Come experience local breweries & neighborhood personalities at the Country Club. ALL LOCAL beer, Shindig Vodka, Parade Rums, Crescent Vodka, and Roulaison Rum will be $5 each! This month is hosted by the Country Club in conjunction with NOLA Brewing with special surprises to be announced! The event will immediately follow happy hour to give you another great reason to spend more time at the Club. Our Happy hour features $3.00 well drinks and a wonderful small plates menu.

NYC Drag SuperStar Levonia Jenkins in Gender Fluids!: AllWays Lounge; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 10 p.m.

- 1 a.m. After dates in Fire Island, San Francisco and Los Angeles, bearded Brooklyn and YouTube drag sensation Levonia Jenkins graces the New Orleans Stage with her hit half-woman show, Gender Fluids. See Levonia lip stink, debut original parodies and share her spin on gender identity and hook up apps. A cabaret engagement not to be missed. Click here for tickets: https://neworleans.boldtypetickets. com/events/57665563/levonia-jenkins-in-gender-fluids.

Gear Night: Rawhide; 740 Burgundy Street; 9 p.m. - 4 a.m. October’s Monthly themed Gear Night will be Leather themed. $5.00 Door charge for those not in Leather; $10.00 Beer Bust 9p-midnight; $3.75 Happy Hour Prices all night. Hosted By Crescent City Leathermen.

LOCALLY OWNED AND OPERATED, CCS COVERS AREA SPORTS ON THE HIGH SCHOOL, COLLEGE & PRO LEVELS WITH A KEEN EYE TOWARD PROVIDING THE NEWS & ANALYSIS YOU WANT. crescentcitysports.com facebook.com/ccsdaily @ccsdaily @ccsprep

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · October Untitled-5 9 – 22, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 21 1 6/1/18 1:01 PM

FRIDAY 10/19

Music of Senator Ken: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Enjoy live music with Senator Ken playing all your favorites.

Play Girlz: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 10 - 11:30 p.m. Drag show featuring Gia GiaVanni and special guests.

New Meat Amateur Dance Contest: Corner Pocket; 640 St. Louis St.; 6:30 p.m. Hosted by Lisa Beaumann, anyone can enter - $100 cash prize.

Long Island Fridays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink special is $5 Long Island Iced Teas all day and night.

Fireball Fridays: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; open to close. $4 Fireball Shots.

Take It Off Fridays: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway; 5 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. Includes $2.50 domestic beers and $3 well drinks from 5 - 9 p.m.; $15 drink and drown from 9 - 11 p.m. all well cocktails; and Underwear Party with free well cocktails for those who strip down to their underwear from midnight to 12:30 a.m.

SATURDAY 10/20

Music of Vanessa Carr Kennedy; Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Enjoy songstress Vanessa as she sings some of the tops hits of yesterday and today.

Divas R Us; Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 10 - 11:30 p.m. This wonderful drag show directed by Monica Sinclaire Kennedy includes a special guests stars.

Piano Bar with Trey Ming; Good Friends Bar; 740 Dauphine St.; 4 – 7 p.m. Sing along with your favorite songs with talented piano player Trey Ming.

CAT 5 Hurricane Saturdays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink specials are $5 Hurricanes all day and night and from 8 - 10 p.m. Doubles for the price of a Single on all alcohol.

Drag Dingo: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 6 - 8 p.m. Catch ChiChi Rodriquez, persana Shoulders or Lisa Beaumann for Drag Bingo! 11 games of Bingo, 11 chances to win

prizes! All the fun starts at 6 pm till 8 pm in their upstairs bar with your favorite bottom, Jake, slinging drinks for you all night long!

Cocktoberfest 2018: Armeinius Den: 433 N. Broad Street; 7 - 10 p.m.

Come out to the Krewe’s annual Cocktoberfest ! Last year we celebrated our 6th year you but this year is all about the Sieben (German for 7 you dirty bird) and going to be messier than ever before. Come enjoy a festive night of German food, beer, and entertainment.

Experience what some have billed as one of the most oddly awesome events of the year. Come and be festive with us. Be a contestant in one of our many competitions from the classic beer chug with a twist, sausage eating/ deep throat, or our new Fireball contest, or the beloved Chicken Scheiss Bingo. Any ticket you buy helps us afford to put on our Ball 51 so bring your friends and grab your lederhosen (not required) and join us for one of the gayest Oktoberfests on earth. For tickets, go to armeinius.ticketleap.com.

NOLA Mac and Cheese Festival: Louis Armstrong Park; 11 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.This is the second annual New Orleans festival celebrating the greatest comfort food known to man - Macaroni n’ Cheese! The festival is FREE to enter. Food/drink tickets and other swag are available for presale on their Facebook page. This year’s festival will showcase even more restaurants than last year as well as another outstanding musical lineup, new vendors, and attractions!

SUNDAY 10/21

Bottomless Sundays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink special is $15 Bottomless Bloody Marys and Mimosas from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Bottomless Mimosas:Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 1 - 4 p.m.

Bottomless Mimosas are offered upstairs from 1 - 4 p.m. for $12.

You Better Sing Karaoke; GrandPre’s; 834 North Rampart St.; 7 p.m.

Join DJ Kory and DJ Derek as they play Karaoke at Good Friends Bar. Behind the bar slinging your drinks are

UNDER THE GAYDAR

Mobile Hot Happenings WEEKLY AT FLIP SIDE 54 S. Conception St., Mobile, AL (251) 431-8819

WEEKLY AT B-BOB’S 213 Conti St., Mobile, AL (251) 433-2262

SUNDAY Funday with Karaoke MONDAY Service Industry Night TUESDAY Karaoke WEDNESDAY Rock n Roll Bingo 8PM THURSDAY Karaoke

TUESDAY Gay Bar BINGO 9:30 & 11PM THURSDAY Amateur Drag Night 11PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY Midnight Drag Show

SATURDAY SEC football

22 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

Jeremy, Ryan, and Tim. Jubilee: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 5 p.m. This Sunday Funday show stars Reba Douglas and special guests.

Zingo: Corner Pocket; 640 St. Louis St.; 6:30 p.m. Play Bingo followed by the Barry BareAss Dancer of the Week Contest.

Oz Show Night: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 9:30 p.m. This popular drag show is hosted by Persana Shoulders and features Lisa Beaumann, Connie Hung, Anastascia Davenport; ChiChi Rodriquez and Dominique DeLorean.

Drink Drown and Drag: The Bourbon Pub; 801 Bourbon St.; 6 - 9 p.m.

Sunday Funday upstairs at The Parade. $15 Drink and Drown from 6 – 9 p.m. with a star studded drag show starting at 8 p.m.

Sunday Worship: Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans (MCCNO); 5401 S. Claiborne Ave; 10:00 a.m. New Orleans first LGBTQ church welcomes you to join us for our Sunday worship service where we celebrate God’s Love for everyone.

Drag Dingo: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 6 - 8 p.m. Catch ChiChi Rodriquez, persana Shoulders or Lisa Beaumann for Drag Bingo! 11 games of Bingo, 11 chances to win prizes! All the fun starts at 6 pm till 8 pm in their upstairs bar with your favorite bottom, Jake, slinging drinks for you all night long!

Music Under the Oaks--New Orleans Concert Band; Newman Bandstand at Audubon Park; 5 - 6:30 p.m. Music Under the Oaks returns to Audubon Park this October! Bring your lawn chairs for a special concert series to celebrate the Audubon Park Conservancy presented by Bellwether Technology and Hancock Whitney.

Food and drink will be available to purchase. Contributions to the Conservancy directly support the annual care and improvements of Audubon Park, including ongoing needs such as lawn care, seasonal flower planting, and the protection of historic live oak trees. Admission: Free and open to the public.

MONDAY 10/22

Karaoke Monday: The Bourbon Pub; 801 Bourbon St.; 7 - 9 p.m. Enjoy happy hour prices all night long. Hosted by Denny with VJ Dollabill.

S.I.N. Night: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; Starting at 9 p.m.

Come drink with Ashlee. Get your SIN card and receive $2.50 canned beer or well drinks and $1.50 draft.

Margarita Mondays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drink special is $3 margaritas all day and night.

Pool Tournament: Rawhide 2010; 740 Burgundy St.; 9:45 p.m. $2 PBR and $50 Gift Certificate for Rawhide Lazy Susan Karaoke: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Join bartender Mark and a revolv-

ing cast of drag queen hostesses (Garlic Junior) LAZY SUSAN KARAOKE with Music by DJ Lucius Riley. Mondays are a drag, so make them fabulous and sing the night away.

NOAGE & Stonewall Sports Walk/ Run Club; Audubon Park; 6500 Magazine Street; 6:30 p.m. Join an exciting new partnership between Stonewall Sports New Orleans and NOAGE! Starting at 6:30 p.m., meet for the walk/ run around the Audubon Park jogging path. This will be a weekly event for walkers and the Stonewall Run Club will join every 3 weeks. This group is for ALL fitness levels, and you can go at your own pace. Whether that’s running, jogging, leisurely walking, or using a wheelchair or walker, this group is for you. If you are worried that you’ll be left behind, don’t worry; someone will walk with you. If you are the fastest person there, we’ll see you at the finish line. Please Note: We will meet at the parking lot on the Magazine Street entrance to the park jogging path (6500 Magazine St.). If you need assistance or have questions, call Jim at (504)2286778.

Service Industry Night: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; Open to close. $2.50 domestic beers; $3 well cocktails; $3.50 imported beer; $5.50 Tito’s; $6 Jameson.

TUESDAY 10/23

Kocktail Karaoke: Good Friends

Bar; 740 Dauphine St.; 9 p.m. - 1 a.m.

Join us at Good Friends Bar for Kocktail Karaoke. The winner gets a $25.00 bar tab. $5 Fireball.

Country Dance Lessons: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart St.; 8 p.m.

Tuesdays are Country Dance lessons with dancing from 8 - 11 p.m.

Bourbon Boylesque: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 8:00 p.m. See the Men of Oz like you have never seen them before. The show stars Atomyc Adonis, Bobby B, Franky, Phathoms Deep and other special guests. Hosted

by Trixie Minx.

Tacos, Tequila and Tiaras: Buffa’s Bar and Restaurant; 1001 Esplanade Ave.; 8 p.m. Tacos, Tequila, and Tiaras is one of New Orleans’ only family friendly drag shows! Join hostess Vanessa Carr Kennedy every Tuesday, have a taco or two, and learn a little bit about the art of drag.

Twofer Tuesdays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St. The drinks special is two for one drinks until 10 p.m.

Tunes Tuesday: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; Open to close. Free Jukebox credits with a $4 drink purchase.

Trivia Night: MRB; 515 St. Philip St.; Starts at 8 p.m. Every Tuesday at 8 you can join us for Who Wants A Dollar? Trivia! Free to Play. Plenty of Prizes. Tons of Fun. Teams of 1-6 welcome. Enjoy some killer drinks, amazing food from Woodies @ MRB, and out of this world trivia.

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 23

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Patriarchy Threatened

Howard Philips Smith & Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com In his classic novel, 1984, George Orwell wrote, “We know that no one ever seizes power with the intention of relinquishing it.” Indeed, those in power are loathe to lose it, even more so to give it up willingly. This reluctance to cede power has never been more evident than in the recent controversy surrounding Brett Kavanaugh’s nomination to the Supreme Court.

Some would have us believe the recent uproar surrounding this nomination and the tumultuous hearings regarding Dr. Christine Blasey Ford’s allegations of sexual assault are a case of partisan politics taken to the extreme, but it is much more than that.

It is a classic case study on how those in power react when their power is challenged.

I’m referring, of course, to the Patriarchy that has ruled our nation since its inception (I could have just as easily written western civilization since antiquity). The drama that has unfolded in recent weeks regarding Dr. Ford’s allegations is a microcosm of a larger cultural shift that has been brewing for decades.

And the actors in this drama could not be more emblematic of the social conventions being threatened. Judge Kavanaugh—the epitome of the privileged white male. In his case, the arrogant, self-entitled frat boy trope is more than a trope; it is literal.

The Senate Judiciary Committee members—on the Republican side: eleven men (all white); on the Democratic side: six men and four women (of a variety of ethnicities).

The President—an old white man who has boasted of his own skill and delight at sexually assaulting women.

And let’s not forget that Republicans voted overwhelmingly against the Violence Against Women Act in 2013, including a majority of the Republicans on the Judiciary committee.

Colin Jenkins has noted, “’Elites’ aren’t accustomed to adversity, being challenged, or having their birthright entitlements questioned. They coast through their prep schools and Ivy League, and slide into their preordained adult lives without ever experiencing the daily struggles of working people. Their lives exist in a collective

bubble, constantly protected from the harsh realities of life that most of us face. In fact, our miserable existence is what allows them to live as they do in the first place—oppressive systems like capitalism, patriarchy, and white supremacy thrive on this interplay.”

And what happens when the Patriarchy is challenged? A temper tantrum like we saw during the Senate Judiciary hearing. For all his crocodile tears and desperate claims that he was a choir boy in high school, Kavanaugh’s unhinged emotional outbursts revealed a seething rage and furious anger. The notion of his behavior and character being questioned was too much to bear. The idea he might not get away with it was agonizing. His self-entitlement exploded into an outburst worthy of a four-year-old who doesn’t get his way. “Bwaaaa!! Bwaaaa! I want that Supreme Court seat!” Bwaaa! It’s mine!”

The Republican men on the committee were just as childish. When Dr. Ford was testifying, they chose not to speak to her, instead hiring a “female prosecutor” to speak for them, as if speaking to a woman was beneath them, as if listening and responding to a woman was an alien and terrifying concept.

Dr. Ford’s testimony of her attempted rape was so credible and compelling, the Republicans (the few who did not insist she was making it all up) tortured and twisted logic until they came up with the absurd idea that while the assault happened, Dr. Ford was suffering from a case of “mistaken identity.”

She was “mixed up,” as Senator Orrin Hatch put it.

And what do we make of Senator Lindsey Graham’s frenzy of hysterical threats and accusations that it was a liberal conspiracy to destroy a decent man’s life? Some suggest he was auditioning to be Trump’s new Attorney General. If Graham is a closet case, as many suspect, his decades in the closet have perfected his acting skills.

That, or a case of the vapors.

In addition to anger, hypocrisy also boils over when the Patriarchy is challenged. Can you imagine what the reaction would have been if Dr. Ford acted the way Kavanaugh did during the hearing? She would have been labeled too emotional and unstable.

Her testimony would have been dismissed as female hysterics. That old double-standard.

For all the feigned Republican indignation over “partisanship,” Republicans had no problem at all stonewalling President Obama’s nominee to the Court, Merrick Garland. They refused to even give him a hearing for over a year. And when Trump nominated Neil Gorsuch, who went to the same high school as Kavanaugh, to fill that same seat, Democrats offered minimal opposition. Gorsuch also managed to sail through the confirmation process with no allegations of sexual assault. So much for the vast left-wing conspiracy.

White male privilege will be on the ballot next month and Republicans know it. It is very possible they will lose control of both houses of Congress.

And they are very, very scared about that prospect. Hence the anger and resentment, the umbrage and bitterness, the acrimony and hostility.

A recent Newsweek / PBS NewsHour / Marist Poll indicated that a majority of Republican voters want Kavanaugh confirmed even if the allegations against him are true. Let that sink in. Read it again. A majority of Republicans don’t care if a drunken would-be rapist is on the Supreme Court. This from the party of “family values.” This apathy, which is motivated by a desire to overturn Roe v. Wade, is reflected by the Republican men on the Judiciary Committee, who might as well have told Dr. Ford, “It’s not that we don’t believe you. It’s that we just don’t care.”

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24 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

MOMENTS IN GAY NEW ORLEANS HISTORY Tiffany Alexander and Southern Decadence 2011 Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com On April 1, 1996, Tiffany Alexander (Mitch Kinchens) moved to New Orleans to retire from doing drag. She had taken a job in the cosmetic industry and, after tremendous success in Baton Rouge as an entertainer, she was ready to move on from performing.

But fate had other plans.

Before arriving in New Orleans, Tiffany had amassed a rather impressive drag resume: Miss Gay Louisiana America (twice), Miss Gay Louisiana U.S. of A., Miss Apollo (Baton Rouge & Lafayette), Miss Baton Rouge, Miss Capital City, and Miss Louisiana Entertainer of the Year.

After a few years of settling into her new life in New Orleans, Tiffany’s friend Scarlett O’ Hara Butler, who worked at the Bourbon Pub, secured her a job at the Pub in 1998. In addition to reviving her drag career and performing regularly, Tiffany eventually became the Pub’s Show Director. So much for retiring.

One night after a show in 2011, Pub manager Julien Artressia called Tiffany into the office. Tiffany had no idea what the meeting was about and was delightfully surprised when Julien asked her to succeed him as Southern Decadence Grand Marshal. Artressia’s fellow Grand Marshal, Toby Lefort, selected Misael Rubio, popular owner of the Quartermaster Deli, to be his successor.

Thus, Southern Decadence 2011 featured Tiffany Alexander and Misael Rubio as Grand Marshals. It was a productive pairing. Each had been very involved in helping their predecessors the year before in producing the parade and each knew what had to be done. And even though they did not know each other very well, they got along with each other, which is not always the case with two or more concurrent Grand Marshals.

Alexander and Rubio selected as their theme “Viva New Orleans: What Happens in New Orleans Stays in New Orleans.” Their colors were pink, silver, and black and for their official song, they chose Firework by Katy Perry.

Continuing a tradition established

by Lefort and Artressia the year before, they named an official charity—something every Grand Marshal since has done. Alexander and Rubio selected the NO/AIDS Task Force. Alexander recalled Toby saying, “We raised $5,000. I challenge you to raise more.”

They met the challenge by raising $8,000.

Another challenge was the weather. As Parade day approached, so did Tropical Storm Lee. It stormed all day on Friday and Saturday. On Friday

night, during a float parade Toby Lefort organized, Tami Tarmac stood next to Alexander holding an umbrella over her so she would not get drenched as the parade rolled in the pouring rain. On Saturday evening, the police informed them they might not be able to walk on Sunday, but they got the green light on Sunday morning.

Sunday morning was very windy and overcast but as the parade started, the rain held. Determined not to get

rained on, Alexander set a rapid pace for the parade. She laughingly remembers the police asking her why she was walking so fast.

After the parade dispersed, the Grand Marshals proceeded to the Ambush headquarters for the traditional Bead Toss, at which point the heavens opened. A torrential downpour ensued for over two hours.

When asked what advice she would give future Grand Marshals,

Alexander replied, “Enjoy every moment because it goes so fast.” She also suggested future Grand Marshals pause during the parade and look back on the procession behind them in order to take it all in. The parade, she says, was the best memory of her reign.

And the most challenging aspect of being Southern Decadence Grand Marshal? Alexander didn’t hesitate to respond, “Making all the former Grand Marshals happy.”

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 25

ANNOUNCEMENT

Gay Carnival at the Louisiana State Museum Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com Friends of the Cabildo will host a free, public lecture on the History of Gay Carnival on Thursday, October 11, at the New Orleans Jazz Museum (the old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Ave.). The lecture will be given by Wayne Phillips, curator of the Louisiana State Museum’s Carnival Collection.

Running from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m., the talk will also feature a sneak peak at some of the items that will be part of a new exhibit on Gay Carnival called Grand Illusions: The History and Artistry of Gay Carnival at the Presbytere. The exhibit, curated by Phillips, is scheduled to open in June of 2019.

Gay krewes began emerging in the 1950s and slowly grew in number until there were over a dozen active krewes in the mid-1980s. However, the onset of HIV/AIDS and the struggling economy took its toll on the gay community until by the early 1990s there were only four krewes left. Today there are several more gay krewes.

Phillips has served as the curator

of Costumes & Textiles as well as the Carnival Collection since 1998. He is responsible for over 25,000 artifacts, including historic and contemporary clothing, accessories, and textiles of all kinds, and an encyclopedic collection of artifacts documenting all aspects of Louisiana Carnival celebrations statewide. Over the course of his career, he has attempted to expand the State Museum’s holdings, with a special emphasis on documenting Louisiana’s LGBT community, particularly its gay Carnival krewes.

Phillips also serves on the Board of the Directors for the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana.

In addition to Phillips’ talk, copies of Howard Philips Smith’s book Unveiling the Muse: The Lost History of Gay Carnival in New Orleans will be available for purchase. Unveiling the Muse was published late last year and is the only book published on the history of gay carnival.

The Louisiana State Museum and Friends of the Cabildo’s Second Thursday Lecture Series offers a dif-

ferent topic each month which explores Louisiana’s unique history. Programs are free of charge; refreshments courtesy of Friends of the Cabildo. Remaining lectures in 2018 include Digest of the Civil Laws Now in Force in the Territory of Orleans, 1804-1808 by Jacques Royal on November 8, and The Incomparable Magazine Street

by John Magill on December 13.

Friends of the Cabildo is a private non-profit volunteer group that provides financial and volunteer support for the Louisiana State Museum, its projects, and its properties. Since incorporating in 1956, Friends of the Cabildo has grown into a large statewide membership organization, a dynamic and motivating force in broadening and supporting the aims of the Louisiana State Museum, which include: --Providing significant annual monetary support to the Museum for its education and exhibition programs --Maintaining an active volunteer program that supplements the Museum’s professional staff

HoneyBee Trivia

Happy Hour Daily

Thursdays 7:00 PM

noon - 9:00 PM

Free Jello Shots & Bar Tab

--Operating the 1850 House Museum Store on Jackson Square and giving daily year-round tours of it --Giving daily walking tours of the French Quarter for tourists and special groups --Publishing a series of award-winning architectural books on the historic districts of New Orleans --Maintaining a unique oral history project comprised of taped interviews with interesting citizens on a wide range of topics --Offering a comprehensive training program for walking tour guides and docents For more 504.523.3939.

information,

contact

The Louisiana State Museum, founded in New Orleans in 1906, is a statewide system of National Historic Landmarks and modern structures across Louisiana, housing thousands of artifacts and works of art reflecting Louisiana’s legacy of historic events and cultural diversity.

Wednesday Video Game Night 7:00 PM

Come watch the Saints on any one of our five large screen TVs. Free shots when they score a touchdown!

26 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 27

SNAP PAPARAZZI The Corner Pocket PHOTOS BY JEREMY

THE CORNER POCKET Where the Boys are dancing nightly on the bar starting at 9PM!

OPENING HOURS Everyday Noon - TILL ADDRESS 940 St Louis Street, New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 568-9829 www.cornerpocket.net

28 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

BOOK OF THE MONTH Miss Ella of Commander’s Palace Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com My Party Down column this issue was mostly about food. Fittingly then, this month’s book is the autobiography Miss Ella of Commander’s Palace.

This incredible woman just recently left us but she leaves an amazing legacy.

The tag line quote from Ella herself on the front cover -- “I Do Not Want a Restaurant Where A Jazz Band Can’t Come Marching Through” -- pretty

much sums up the context of the book, a summation of a love affair Ella had with the city, our cuisine and, most importantly, her family.

Written by Ella and her daughter Ti Adelaide Martin, Miss Ella is a behind-the-scenes glimpse of a restaurant dynasty family. The Brennans are powerhouses not only on the local but national restaurant scene. The book

chronicles Ella’s childhood; her introduction to the business by her brother Owen; the founding of Brennan’s Restaurant then Commander’s Palace; and finally her rise to international acclaim as one of the top restaurateurs in the world. Ella Brennan was a pioneer in a male-dominated industry and you learn how she helped the careers of some of the most extraordinary tal-

ent, including Emeril Lagasse, Paul Prudhomme, Jamie Shannon and Tory McPhail.

Family plays a pivotal feature in the book and how it impacted Ella’s life and career. Ella Brennan was one of the most fascinating women in our city and the hospitality industry. I highly recommend this book!

TRICENTENNIAL PROFILES IN HISTORY Enrique Alferez Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com When Enrique Alferez’ sculpture Fountain of the Four Winds was unveiled at Shushan Airport (now Lakefront) in 1937, people were shocked.

Alferez depicted the four winds as three women and one man, all of whom were nude. Nudity, especially in a civic space, was considered quite uncalled for.

One government official was so

offended he threatened to destroy the sculpture with a sledgehammer. In response, Alferez stood guard at the fountain with a rifle. The “scandal” even reached the White House when local writer Lyle Saxon wrote Eleanor Roosevelt about it. The First Lady sent word she approved of the statue and the controversy eventually faded away.

Alferez, a native of Mexico, was

no stranger to conflict. At the age of 12, he ran away from home and fought alongside Pancho Villa in the Mexican Revolution. He eventually made his way to Chicago where he studied with the famed Art Deco sculptor, Lorado Taft, before arriving in New Orleans in 1929.

He taught at the influential Arts and Crafts Club, and directed the city’s

sculpture program for the Depression-era Works Progress Administration. His work can be seen throughout New Orleans at twenty different public sites. Alferez was a regular at Café Lafitte and designed the iconic flame fountain at the legendary bar’s entrance.

Alferez died in 1999 of lung cancer.

He was 98.

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About at the Double Play/Crossing

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 29

Party Down Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com October is my favorite month for a multitude of reasons. It includes my birthday, Halloween (one of my favorite holidays), and more events & festivals than you can count. But before we start a new month, the end of September had lots of exciting happenings that kept me busy from theatrical performance, hospitality events, fundraisers, exercise meet-ups and new restaurants.

On both Mondays, I attended NOAGE’s new exercise gathering. Every Monday evening at 6:30 p.m., the New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders meet at Audubon Park and walk the two mile loop. Every third week, the running club from Stonewall Sports joins the group. NOAGE constantly inspires with all their unique events from their monthly potlucks to their movie nights and now a weekly exercise group.

It’s a well known fact that you are more likely to exercise if you have someone with you, making this gathering perfect for the avid walker/runner to the beginner; people are always there to walk at your level. I’ve met so many really great people there, and Audubon Park is just gorgeous with all the oak trees, lagoons, birds, and sexy men running shirtless (which is reason enough to walk). If you’re interested, meet at the entrance on Magazine Street, right by the golf course parking lot. You can find out more information on NOAGE’s Facebook page and on-

line at www.noagenola.org.

On Thursday night, the Eliza Jane held its opening party. The Eliza Jane is a boutique hotel located at 315 Magazine Street in a 19th-century building that was formerly the offices of The Daily Picayune newspaper; in fact, the hotel is named after Eliza Jane Nicholson, the paper’s first female publisher.

The opening party featured live music, bites from their new restaurant Couvant, hotel tours, cocktails and custom made t-shirts printed on-site while you waited. The Eliza Jane is a wonderful new addition to our city’s hotel inventory. With a beautiful and hip esthetic, the Eliza Jane is poised to be one of the city’s newest hot spots, so check it out, you will not be disappointed.

My first weekend kicked off with another hotel event when the Loews Hotel presented its new art collection in its lobby. The permanent exhibition is entitled Spindalia Delicata by Michalopoulas. Some great pieces are located in the lobby as well as in the new restaurant/bar Poydras and Peters.

Afterwards, I met up with some friends and we went to the Halloween New Orleans Happy Hour at Richard Perque’s gorgeous home. A great crowd kicked off the weekend with lots of cocktails. If you have not had a chance to get your Halloween New Orleans tickets, get them now. This three-day festival is one of the largest gay events in the city. Hot men and

women in masks--what’s not to like about all that sexiness?! For more information on HNO, go to https://togetherwenola.com/halloween. Also, Richard is a great and supportive member of the LGBT community and he’s running for Judge in Orleans Parish Civil Court, so remember to give him your vote this November.

On Sunday, some friends and I celebrated Mama Leggio’s birthday with brunch at Picnic, Provisions and Whiskey (I just love the name). Their most popular dish--and its reputation is well-earned--is their crab boil fried chicken. It’s a little slice of high cholesterol heaven and worth every fat gram! The food was amazing and the atmosphere is cute and trendy. The BBQ Black Angus Beef Rib and Cookie Dough Amores are not to be missed.

They do need to work out a few kinks on the service end, but I chalk that up to being open less than three months.

Picnic is the brainchild and creation of Ti Martin and Tori McPhail of Commander’s Palace and Reginelli’s Pizza owner Daryl Reginelli.

The following week, on Tuesday, some co-workers and I were treated to dinner at Tujague’s to try out their new menu. The city’s second oldest restaurant has a fascinating history.

Guillaume and Marie Abadie Tujague married and set sail for America from Bordeaux France in 1852.

Guillaume worked as a butcher in the French Market for three years before they established Tujague’s Restaurant in 1856. They began by serving breakfast and lunch to the dock workers, market laborers and seamen who crowded that part of the riverfront. The reputation of Tujague’s from the be-

ginning was built on two dishes – a piquant remoulade sauce flavoring spicy cold shrimp, and succulent chunks of beef brisket boiled with aromatic vegetables and served with a horseradish sauce.

Before Tujague’s death in 1912, he sold the restaurant to Philibert Guichet, who had come to work there from Guichetville, a community near Raceland in Lafourche Parish. Tujague’s closest competition always had been Begue’s, a few doors up Decatur at the corner of Madison. The proprietor-chef there was the legendary Elizabeth Kettenring Dutreuil Begue, a Bavarian emigrant.

In 1906, Madame Begue, died and her restaurant was taken over by her daughter and son-in-law, the Anouilles.

One of the employees at Madame Begue’s was Jean-Dominic Castet, who had come to New Orleans from France in 1905. Castet and Philibert Guichet decided to join forces, and in 1914 they bought Elizabeth Begue’s restaurant from her now-widowed daughter and hung out a new sign reading “Tujague’s”. It’s been Tujague’s for the past 104 years.

In 1982, Steven Latter took the helm and painstakingly restored the restaurant to its early state. In the dining room and the connecting saloon, Latter has covered the walls with photos, clippings and other memorabilia relating to the history of Tujague’s. He’s also resurrected many of the restaurant’s culinary traditions as well. Today, customers are still served several traditional Tujague’s specialties – shrimp remoulade, beef brisket with horseradish, “cap” bread (a Tujague’s original) and dark coffee in shot glasses.

Tujague’s has always been one of

30 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

my favorite places to bring friends who visit. Steeped in history, it has great food and wonderful service. I also love that you can order off the menu items like their Bonne Femme, a fried chicken with enough garlic to kill a slew of vampires. Make it a point to go check out the new menu items at Tujague’s, one of the best places to savor the history of our city.

It seems food was a priority these last few weeks. On Wednesday, I went to New Orleans Social House (NOSH) for their wine pairing dinner with La Crema. These affordable dinners happen every month at the Warehouse District eatery and showcase some amazing spirits and cuisine.

This evening the dishes included Duck Canape, Bacon and Oyster Salad, Crispy Smoked Quail, Seafood Stuffed Pork Loin and Creole Cream Cheese Millefoglie each paired with a different La Cream Pinot Noir. Talk about a dining experience. The chef (who, btw, is a sexy-as-hell Italian with these killer bedroom eyes) explains each dish and what goes into making it, and then is joined by a person from the winery to discuss each wine. Educational and delicious!

The next two days were all about theatre in New Orleans, both professional and community. I saw Aladdin at the Saenger and then The Music Man at Rivertown Theatre in Kenner.

Aladdin is a fabulous romp that brings

the Disney cartoon to vivid life with eye-dazzling costumes and well-choreographed dance numbers. The true standout is Trevor Dion Nicholas who plays the Genie. His quick and witty dialog is delivered fast and furious. He is a tour de force on the stage and captures every scene he is in. That does not diminish the remainder of the cast who are amazing. Aladdin was nominated for five Tony awards (winning one) and is a thrilling spectacle to see.

The Music Man is an American theatrical classic. Rivertown does an amazing job at bringing Meredith Wilson’s musical to life. With a terrific cast and a well-designed set and costumes, the show will keep you mesmerized from the start. One standout is Rachel Looney who plays Marian Paroo. She commands the stage when she sings.

Her voice and stage presence are incredible. Our city is so lucky to have so much noteworthy talent.

On Saturday, I attended the Take PAWS Rescue fundraiser at the Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes and Culture. My friend Tico Soto is on the Board and got me involved in this worthwhile organization. The mission of Take Paws Rescue is to meet the moral obligation to protect and save the lives of pets in need of rescue in Louisiana.Take Paws Rescue enacts this mission by pulling pets from shelters and preparing them for transport to fosters, adopters, rescue organiza-

tions, and other shelters around the U.S. in need of adoptable pets.

At the fundraiser they premiered this new “Mutts and Mansion” calendar which shows a sexy model with a rescue pet posed seductively in a New Orleans mansion. The evening was complete with free-flowing libations, food, silent auction and pretty fur babies ready for adoption. All three on hand that evening found a good home, I’m happy to say. Being a dog lover, this group has a new place in my heart.

Don’t want to commit to a pet? This is your opportunity to foster one, till they find a forever home. Think of it as fun babysitting. And who knows you may fall in love and your little one may find a home with you. For more information on Take Paws, go to www.takepawsrescue.org.

I ended my two weeks by taking my fur babies Magnolia and Dahlia for a stroll at the Walk to End HIV formerly known as the NO/AIDS Walk. The event was held at Crescent Park this year and was a huge success. There was food, libations, a dunking booth and music. The special guest this year was none other than the Queen of Bounce herself Big Freedia.

The weather was nice for a two mile walk along the Mississippi River for a great cause. The funds raised at the Walk allows CrescentCare (NO/ AIDS Task Force) to continue to provide critical help to the thousands of

individuals who depend on its essential services: primary medical care, HIV and STI testing, counseling, prevention education, housing and nutritional assistance.

This year marked the Walk’s 29th year, I still cannot believe we have been fighting this disease for that long and even though we have made great strides, it is still around. So many of our friends lost. I pray for the day when we will know we can totally eradicate this disease. And I believe we will do it, taking one step at a time. Thank you Crescent Care for a great event once again.

Afterwards some friends and I tried another brand new restaurant located in Mid City called Piece of Meat. Well, if the name does not give it away, the place is a meat-centric eatery that is also a butcher shop. The food is outstanding and the aroma of the restaurant alone is enough to get your stomach rumbling. They have a delectable brunch menu with my favorite dish being the steak and eggs. Their ribs are also finger-lickin’ good. If you are a carnivore enthusiast like me, then you have to check this place out. It is located at 3301 Bienville Street (www. pieceofmeatbutcher.com). That’s all for me this week, until next issue, Enjoy the party!

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Tony Leggio AT THE HALLOWEEN NEW ORLEANS EVENT AT RICHARD PERQUE’S HOUSE

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 31

Trodding the Boards Brian Sands bsnola2@hotmail.com

Shear Madness at JPAS’ Westwego Performing Arts Theatre through Oct. 28

It’s been running for nearly 40 years in Boston, and over 30 years in Washington, DC, two of the longest-running productions in American theater history.

Currently, you can see it in Paris, Athens, Seoul, Kraków, Mexico City, and Saskatoon.

“It” is Shear Madness, “America’s Favorite Comedy” as a Google search will tell you, a “comedy-whodunit [that] takes place today in the ‘Shear Madness’ hairstyling salon,” according to its press release, and “during the course of the action, a murder is committed, and the audience gets to spot the clues, question the suspects, and solve the funniest mystery in the annals of crime.”

Having somehow never seen Madness anywhere in the last four decades, I approached its New Orleans metro area debut, courtesy of the Jefferson Performing Arts Society, knowing little more than the above. I expected it to be silly and it was. But it was also very entertaining, quite involving, funny, and extremely well-done. I can see why it’s been sooo popular.

Loosely adapted from a German murder mystery by Paul Pörtner, part of the genius of Shear Madness is that it mutates into virtually a new play with each different production as local references get put in and others are updated, keeping the material super fresh.

Thus we hear about Uber, Naked and Afraid, Tinder, Bette Midler in Hello, Dolly!, Stormy Daniels, Grey’s Anatomy, and even something as upto-the-minute as the burning of Nikes.

Given that, namechecks of Prozac, Martha Stewart, Hakuna Matata, and the Spice Girls seem a wee bit past their prime. Conversely, shout-outs to such local icons as Morris Bart, Ochsner Hospital, Waggaman, The Times-Picayune, and, of course, Chris Owens elicited knowing chortles from the crowd.

Apparently Director Kris Shaw and the cast had free rein to fine-tune the script and they went at it with wicked glee, adding their own terrible puns and naughty wordplay to those Adaptors Marilyn Abrams and Bruce Jordan originally included. Whether good or bad (“Lebanese” confused for “lesbian”? Really??), they just keep coming and coming, including some funny jibes at Mitch Landrieu’s expense and the worst Viagra joke ever.

I suspect the original, from the precell phone, Reagan era, must seem like a historical document by now. The only unessential part of that which seems to remain are dated, not-veryfunny gay panicky jokes which are too lame to really offend and are far less appalling than anything coming out of politicians’ mouths these days.

Shear Madness gets off to a wacky start involving some mistaken identities. After a while, however, it begins to bog down into a daffy episode of NCIS: New Orleans. Never fear as, just then, the cast breaks the fourth wall and everything the press release promised comes true until the murder eventually gets solved with a Perry Mason-like ending. Whether it’s the absolute “funniest mystery in the annals of crime,” I’ll leave to you to decide, but it certainly delivers lotsa laughs.

Shaw wisely has his cast invest Madness with as much real emotion as possible; to camp it up would force an audience to stretch its suspension of disbelief in unreality to (beyond?) the limit. He adds kooky visual jokes that enhance the liveliness and, though the action takes place “today,” sprinkles 1980s hit songs throughout infusing the show with a sense of the era in which it began.

Kristin Blatchford’s spacious set features a black and white houndstooth floor with blood red chairs throughout the salon. Rodrigue and Michalopoulos posters adorn the walls and there’s even a working hair washing station.

All six actors, playing various suspects and investigators, hit just the right level of tomfoolery for their parts.

Janet Shea, as an Uptown matron who needs her hair done before catching a flight, knows how to get the most out of comic shtik. Alison Logan’s plucky assistant stylist may be unlucky in love but can be a tough cookie when necessary. (Logan’s one woman comedy cabaret Courted: The Halloween Edition will be at The Howlin’ Wolf’s The Den (907 S. Peters St.) on Oct. 17.)

Casey Groves deftly keeps us guessing if he’s a nefarious mobster or an innocent “used antique dealer”.

Jonathan Damaré convinces as someone who may not always know exactly what they’re doing.

As the salon’s proprietor, Glenn Boyer adds a layer of authenticity to the production as, offstage, he actually is a professional hairdresser. In a role that borders on cliche, Boyer may not be “the most flamboyant homosexual since Torch Song Trilogy”, but he comes close. Returning to the stage after a 25 year hiatus, Boyer hardly turns in a subtle performance, but subtlety is

Glenn Boyer (standing) and John Detty in Shear Madness hardly what’s called for and he acquits himself very well.

(I should mention Mr. Boyer is a friend of mine but I had been unaware of his thespian background.)

John Detty, who endures an onstage shave, not only dispenses malaprops with casual assurance, but proves himself a reliable leading man, able to be the steady eye of the stage’s zany storm as well as the show’s interlocutor who gets answers to the audience’s probing questions. In a town occasionally lacking for sturdy young adult male actors, I trust we’ll be seeing a lot more of him.

I happened to catch Shear Madness along with an exceptionally good audience, full of budding Hercule Poirots and Miss Marples. As ridiculous as the show is, I can now appreciate how it can run and run as each performance is unique thus encouraging repeat visits.

JPAS has done itself proud with this Madness. Though currently scheduled only through October 28, let’s hope appointments for its services can soon be booked up for many years to come.

Till then, appointments can be made for JPAS’ next production Peter Pan playing at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center (6400 Airline Dr., Metairie) October 19-28.

“Uncle” Wayne Daigrepont directs this classic Broadway musical in which Peter and his mischievous fairy side-

kick, Tinkerbell, visit the nursery of the Darling children late one night and, with a sprinkle of pixie dust, begin a magical journey that none of them will ever forget. Shelbie Mac stars as Peter Pan along with Jimmy Murphy as the villainous Captain Hook.

Aladdin and School of Rock at the Saenger Theatre

With Peter Pan soon to touch down, this seems to be the season for flying in NOLA’s theaters as Aladdin’s magic carpet recently glided through the air at the Saenger Disney’s long-running Broadway smash kicked off the 2018-19 season of Broadway in New Orleans. As with Shear Madness, it offers no great profundity, but in these trying times, there’s a lot to be said for pure entertainment terrifically done.

Based on the 1992 movie, it hews pretty closely to the film though Iago the parrot has become Iago the portly comic henchman and Aladdin now has three goofy but loyal pals. We hear of “obeying traditions” vs. “love”, and “following your heart” interspersed with silly jokes and easy humor (Observing the chorus boys and girls, one character comments “Everybody here has 0% body fat.”).

Unlike the stage versions of Beau-

32 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

ty and the Beast and The Little Mermaid which have exposition-laden first acts that could practically be jettisoned, under Casey Nicholaw’s buoyant direction, Aladdin chugs amiably along until Aladdin gets trapped in a cave and he rubs a lamp and the Genie appears and we get the magnificently over-the-top Friend Like Me number that goes on and on, constantly outdoing itself, and giving new meaning to “razzle-dazzle.”

Like Beauty and Mermaid, the second act is more involving as the plot thickens and ultimately gets happily-ever-after resolved bringing a lump to your throat along the way.

Aladdin, however, is no The Lion King; its cartoon origins show. But it’s visually splendid with squadrons of sumptuous costumes by Gregg Barnes, spectacular sets by Bob Crowley, pecs galore courtesy of a chorus of cuties, and really, really cool special effects.

Other than the second act opener Prince Ali; the Oscar- and Grammy-winning A Whole New World, which kinda gets lost amid the flying carpet ride and its gloriously twinkling stars; and the aforementioned Friend Like Me, all from the movie, the score, including some tunes written for the stage version, is bouncy and nice enough but hardly memorable. Like most scores these days.

As the Genie, Trevor Dion Nicholas brought the show to life whenever he was on stage. Lissa deGuzman made for a spunky Princess Jasmine. Cute Clinton Greenspan gave us a properly sweet and down-to-earth Aladdin who learns life lessons on his magical journey.

Did I enjoy Aladdin? Absolutely.

And if you should have the chance to see it on Broadway or the West End or on tour or in Australia or Germany or Japan, I’m sure you will too.

But frankly, I much prefer another show set in the desert that features real people, unforgettable songs, and simple, yet eternal, truths, this year’s Tony-winning musical The Band’s Visit. Make sure to ask a genie for tickets to it.

Up next at the Saenger, classes will go from October 30 thru November 4 for School of Rock – The Musical.

When I saw it in New York two years ago, I wrote: “I’m not much of a fan of rock’n’roll.

I haven’t enthused about an Andrew Lloyd Webber show for over 30 years.

And I never saw the movie School of Rock. So I wasn’t sure what to expect from Lord Lloyd-Webber’s new musical. But you know what? I loved it!” as it turned out to be “one of the most unexpectedly enjoyable shows I’ve seen in ages.”

Get your tuition payment ready and plan to enroll soon.

The cast of Aladdin in flight (Photo by Deen van Meer)

Curtain Up

The NOLA Project returns to playwright Martin McDonagh’s oeuvre with The Pillowman, a dark comedy which centers on a writer in an unnamed totalitarian state who is being interrogated about the gruesome content of his short stories and their similarities to a series of murders.

Mark Routhier directs James Bartelle, Michael Joel Bartelle, Meredith Owens, Michael Aaron Santos, Wade Rogers and Nadia Eiler at Lusher’s Lion’s Gate Theater (5624 Freret St., entrance around the corner on Nashville) running October 18-November 3.

The Projecteers have a special affinity for McDonagh; Pillowman marks their fourth outing with him. Their second, The Lieutenant of Inishmore, won an Ambie Award for Best Comedy of 2007.

A newer company, The Radical Buffoons, will also be presenting a show about storytelling October 18-November 3.

Stories without Words uses the universal language of the modern music video to blend theater and dance into an evening involving a queen struggling to rise, a scientist in flight, a storm at sea, a high speed chase, and robots seeking touch. The Buffoons promise this will be “at times funny and light, at others dark and aggressive.”

Conceived, directed, & choreographed by Jon Greene & Jarrell Hamilton, Stories without Words features Milli Marie Brown, Owen Ever, Alyson Hetzel, Ebony Johnson and Nathan Stevens at The Fortress of Lushington (2215 Burgundy St.).

There’ll be theater and dance, especially of the tap variety, at the WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen when Dames at Sea drops anchor October 19-November11.

Dames celebrates the golden era of movie musicals, with a tongue-incheek version of those large, flashy, 1930s Busby Berkeley-style extravaganzas in which the naive chorus girl arrives in New York, steps into a role

on Broadway, and becomes a star.

Life mirrored art when the original long-running Off-Broadway production launched the career of 20-year-old Bernadette Peters.

Not sure if she’s a dame at sea, but after dates in NYC, San Francisco and Los Angeles, bearded Brooklynite Levonia Jenkins makes her New Orleans cabaret debut at the AllWays Lounge (2240 St. Claude Ave.) on Thursday, October 18, in her half-woman show, Gender Fluids. Levonia promises to “sing her greatest shits, lip stink, warble original parodies and share her spin on gender identity, hook up apps and so much more.”

Levonia Jenkins is the drag alter shego of Greg Scarnici, a comedic artist and musician whose videos have been viewed over 10 million times on YouTube and a host of other sites. His work has also been featured on MTV, VH1, and CNN. He currently works as an Associate Producer at Saturday Night Live.

Who knows? Maybe Leslie Jones or Pete Davidson & Ariana Grande will be in the audience on the 18th. Stranger things have happened in the Marigny...

Please send press releases and notices of your upcoming shows to Brian Sands at bsnola2@hotmail.com.

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 33

When Leadership Serves Pastor Allie Rowland Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans alisan.rowloand@gmail.com How do you measure success?

In our American culture, we often measure success based on what we achieve; how much education we have; the position we have at work and the money we earn; or the car and the house that we buy. We think of people who are successful as powerful leaders; those who supervise many people; people at the head of companies or organizations (CEOs, elected politicians, the Pope).

Who do you think of as successful or heroic? What type of leader is that person? Is this person a celebrity, an athlete, an artist, a public servant, a spiritual leader? What is it in that person that you perceive as great? How does that person serve others? Is there a way that you have tried to follow this person’s example in how you serve other people?

Robert K. Greenleaf, who was born in Indiana in the early 1900s became an ethicist and started a modern day movement around the 1970s based on the idea of “servant leadership.” He started the Center for Servant Leadership and wrote several books describing his concept of “servant leadership.”

Business leaders began reading his books and sought to implement his

techniques. In The Essentials of Servant-Leadership, Greenleaf wrote: “The servant-leader is servant first... Becoming a servant-leader begins with the natural feeling that one wants to serve, to serve first. Then conscious choice brings one to aspire to lead. That person is sharply different from one who is leader first... The difference manifests itself in the care taken by the servant first to make sure that other people’s highest priority needs are being served. The best test, and the most difficult to administer, is this: Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants?”

Greenleaf believed that this style of leadership was not incompatible with modern business. In fact, he believed that those who based organizations on servant leadership would be more successful. Instead of hierarchical leaders who simply passed down unilateral decisions, Greenleaf understood servant leaders to be people who listened closely to others’ needs, who worked to help create consensus with those around them, who were willing to consider and honor opposing views, and

who worked to create compromises instead of creating “us versus them” decisions. Greenleaf saw his model of servant leadership as being based on the teachings of Jesus, and on leaders such as Gandhi, Nelson Mandela, Cesar Chavez, and Mother Teresa.

Even though you may not think of yourselves as a leader, we all set the example for those around us. Our actions are noticed by those around us.

And all of us have people around us who are seen as “less than” by society in some way. Who are those people around you? Who are the people in your life who others have judged or bullied? Are some of those people ones that you could reach out to in some way, and serve them?

There are so many groups in our translesbigay community that your support and service could make a huge difference for: Crescent Care NO/AIDS Task Force (HIV healthcare support and access to PreP); NOAGE (support for older LGBT adults); PFLAG (support for LGBT parents and families), Louisiana Trans Advocates (LTA); BreakOUT (activism and support for transgender people of color); LOUD (diverse youth-led theatre group); Prism (LGBT spirituality group

led by Tulane and Loyola college students); NOLA Gaymers (connecting with other LGBT gamers); The Brotherhood, Belle Reve, and Project Lazarus (all serving people who live with HIV); Stonewall Sports (serving LGBT athletics); The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (fundraising for our community); and the LGBT Community Center (providing meeting space for LGBT groups).

These are only some of the organizations who serve our community, and if you don’t know them, it’s not too late to learn who they are, and how your service and your leadership could support them.

People in our community sometimes lack confidence because we’ve internalized the belief that others have had that we were “less than” in some way. The truth is that we have an ability to love others in a way that is transformational when we reach out in love to serve them. We can be the person we would have wanted support from when we were coming out and trying to deal with life challenges. Let leaders who have inspired you motivate you to step into leadership in your community. And lead with love!

34 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

A COMMUNITY WITHIN COMMUNITIES

The State of “Welcome!”

The Very Rev. Bill Terry+ fr.bill@stannanola.org Shalom! Welcome! I want to invite Welcome children of God. You are you in. I want to affirm that you are a beloved. You are bearers of peace. gift. Ubuntu! Zulu for “humanity” but You have been called to do mighty meaning more and ubuntu is now a things. philosophical idea that says, “I am beLovely isn’t it? We really believe cause you are.” It is a way of saying this. I wanted to get the word out so I that you help define me and I define posted an advertisement on Facebook you so we are all connected. WELwhich has very inexpensive ad rates.

COME! IT WAS REJECTED. It was rejected On St. Anna’s Facebook page we because the content was “of a political recently launched a sweet video that nature and/or a topic of national imporinvites all sorts of people to join us, a tance.” I was amazed. I was stunned. It quintessential “WELCOME.” The aucould not be so. dio overlay is done with a voice that I reapplied not once but twice. I reminds me of that sweetness that wrote to the mystical man behind the Bernadette Peters has - gosh I had a machine. The virtual Great and Tercrush on her. The person on the vidrible OZ once again said “NO!” I had eo is equally sweet wearing overalls, a to “register” so that Facebook would sweater, clipped black hair and glassknow who I really was. Then once they es. She creates some art that speaks verified that I was not a “bot” or “troll” to diversity and hospitality. It is a welthe Advertisement would say who pubcome mat. WELCOME! Here is what is lished it and I would be compliant. said....

Now, we all recognize the why of Welcome to the bruised and the broFacebook’s actions. Since the Presken and the whole and the healing. idential election, massive press has Welcome to the lonely and the conbeen given to Mr. Zuckerberg and his nected, the bereaved and the joyful, Facebook platform. “Fake News” is the the practically perfect and the supnew “Red Scare.” The thing is that we posed screw-up. now know that our social media platWelcome brothers and sisters, strangforms have been manipulated. So, ers and sojourners.

I think to myself, “no harm no foul; it Welcome labor and management, makes sense. Good, they are at least Democrats, Republicans, hawks and trying to vet information sources.” doves.

Sitting in the smoke room at the Welcome gay, straight, bisexual, Phoenix and staring at that giant dusty married, single, divorced or none of Fireball logo that is propped up, I was the above. momentarily alone, left with my smoke

and thoughts. I began to wonder what we have turned into when “WELCOME” becomes so threatening? When has an open door and hospitality become a national issue or perhaps even a political issue? WELCOME. That word, I began to muse, has real power today.

Not the sort of off-the-shelf “welcome” you get at a restaurant or bar. I am talking about the honest hospitality that was so vital in the 1st century when Rabbi Yeshua wandered around. For desert people and their urban counterparts hospitality was important. It was part of an honor code.

“WELCOME” has power today.

What has become of us that we live in fear and need to build walls or that we have to retrench and rebuild ghettos just to feel safe. Yes, self imposed ghettos. The Gay Ghetto, gated communities, specialized centers for LGBTQ runaways, and the litany goes on. Are we now all “special needs” citizens driven by fear and disenfranchisement?

Some of our social response says “yes.” If I am a black man, I will be afraid most of the time if stopped by a police officer irrespective of economic status. Likewise, if I am a police officer can I approach a vehicle without fear of being shot? (Fyi, we read the names of police officers shot or murdered in the line of duty almost each week.) Is the right to marry whom one wants an irrevocable “right?” As an example an

NBC report notes: At least 129 anti-LGBTQ bills were introduced across 30 states during the 2017 state legislative season, according to a new report published by LGBTQ advocacy group Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Twelve of these bills — which range from adoption laws to “religious freedom” legislation — became law, the report noted.

What are we doing to ourselves?

One of the most challenging, yet wise, teachings of Rabbi Yeshua, according to his biographer Matthew, is when he said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? ... And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?

So, perhaps beyond the noise and beyond the vitriol that seems like a virus that is indwelling among us, perhaps we can step back and think for just a moment....

“Welcome to the bruised and the broken and the whole and the healing.

WELCOME” Because, “WELCOME” has power.

BOOK REVIEW The Faubourg Marigny of New Orleans Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com The Faubourg Marigny of New Orleans. Scott S. Ellis. LSU Press, 2018.

280 pages. $40.00 As one of New Orleans’ oldest and most colorful neighborhoods, the Marigny has long deserved a book detailing its history.

In the first complete history of this celebrated neighborhood, Scott S. Ellis chronicles the incomparable vitality of life in the Marigny, describes its architectural and social evolution across two centuries, and shows how many of New Orleans’ most dramatic events unfolded in this eclectic suburb.

Founded in 1805, the Faubourg Marigny benefited from waves of refugees and immigrants settling in its borders. Émigrés from Saint-Domingue, Germany, Ireland, and Italy, in addition to a large community of the city’s an-

tebellum free people of color, would come to call the Marigny home and contribute to its rich legacy. Shaped as well by epidemics and political upheaval, the young enclave hosted a post– Civil War influx of newly freed slaves seeking affordable housing and suffered grievous losses after deadly outbreaks of yellow fever. In the twentieth century, the district grew into a working-class neighborhood of creolized residents that eventually gave way to a burgeoning gay community, which, in turn, led to an era of “supergentrification” following Hurricane Katrina.

Now, as with many historic communities in the heart of a growing metropolis, tensions between tradition and revitalization, informality and regulation, diversity and limited access contour the Marigny into an ever more kaleidoscopic picture of both past and

present.

Born in France near the city of Orleans, author Ellis lived in the French Quarter in the 1980s. He also wrote Madame Vieux Carré: The French Quarter in the Twentieth Century.

Of particular interest are the insights Ellis provides concerning Bernard Marigny, after whom the neighborhood is named. Marigny ranks with Jean Lafitte and Marie Laveau as one of the most mythologized figures in the city’s history. Among the more common myths surrounding Marigny’s life are the misconceptions he was a degenerate gambler and that his wife played a crucial role in the subdivision of the neighborhood. Ellis skillfully cuts through much of this mythology and finally sets the record straight. Tour guides would especially benefit from Ellis’ meticulous research

Ellis also sheds light on gay life and culture in the neighborhood from the founding of the Faubourg Marigny bookstore on Frenchmen Street to classic gay bars such as Charlene’s and the Phoenix on Elysian Fields.

The book also discusses the NO/AIDS Task Force’s presence on Frenchmen as well as the gay nexus at Franklin and Royal Streets. The Gay Services Center on Burgundy and the first Gay Fest (forerunner to Pride) are also mentioned.

Equally informative and entertaining, this nuanced history reinforces the cultural value of the Marigny and the importance of preserving this alluring neighborhood. The Faubourg Marigny of New Orleans is an invaluable book. All who love New Orleans should read it.

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 35

LGBT Owned & Friendly Business Directory

bars

Job Opportunities Ambush Magazine is growing!

Freelance & Contributing Writers Wanted

We want to hear from you if you are a working or aspiring journalist interested in covering topics meaningful to the LGBTQ community.

Snap Paparazzi Photographer Wanted

Do you frequent the LGBTQ bars and events? We want to hear from you if you are interested in regularly covering the bars and events.

If you are interested, please email your resume, cover letter, and portfolio to info@ambushpublishing.com

Mobile, AL [251] B-Bob’s Downtown, 213 Conti St., 433.2262, B-Bobs.COM Flip Side Bar & Patio, 54 S. Conception St., 431.8819, FlipSideBarPatio.COM GABRIEL’S DOWNTOWN, 55 South Joachim St., 432.4900 The Midtown Pub, 153 Florida St., 450.1555 Pensacola, FL [850] THE ROUNDUP, 560 East Heinberg St., 433.8482 Baton Rouge, LA [225] GEORGE’S, 860 St. Louis, 387.9798, SPLASH, 2183 Highland Rd., 242.9491, SplashBR.COM Lake Charles, LA [337] CRYSTAL’S, 112 W. Broad, 433.5457 Metairie, LA [504] FOUR SEASONS & PATIO STAGE BAR, 3229 N. Causeway, 832.0659, FourSeasonsBar.com New Orleans, LA [504] 700 CLUB, 700 Burgundy, 561.1095, BIG DADDY’S, 2513 Royal, 948.6288 BIG EASY DAIQUIRIS, 216 Bourbon, 501 Bourbon, 409 Decatur, 617 Decatur THE BLACK PENNY, 700 N. Rampart BOURBON PUB & PARADE, 801 Bourbon St., 529.2107, BourbonPub.COM Café Lafitte in Exile, 901 Bourbon Street 522.8397, Lafittes.COM. Café Lafitte in Exile is the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the United States.

CORNER POCKET, 940 St. Louis, 568.9829, CornerPocket.NET 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, Facebook.COM/GoldenLanternBar Good Friends Bar, 740 Dauphine St, 566.7191, GoodFriendsBar.COM. Designed for a casual night out or a quiet evening with that special someone, we offer a wide selection of liquor, beer, and the world renowned Separator.

GRANDPRE’S, 834 N. Rampart St., 267.3615, Facebook.com/grandpres KAJUN’S PUB, 2256 St. Claude Ave., 947.3735, KajunPub.COM MAG’S 940, 940 Elysian Fields Ave., 948.1888 NAPOLEON’S ITCH, 734 Bourbon St., 237-4144 OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, OzNewOrleans. COM THE PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., 875.4976 PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264, www.phoenixbarnola.com Rawhide 2010, 740 Burgundy St., 525.8106, Rawhide2010.COM. Leather, Dark Rooms, & Bears All Around. You can feel the throb of excitement and smell it in the air. This isn’t just a bar. This is an experience!

TROPICAL ISLE: Home of the Hand Grenade, 721 Bourbon St., 529.4109, TropicalIsle.COM VALIANT THEATRE AND LOUNGE, 6621 St. Claude Ave., Arabi, LA, 504.900.1743 Slidell, LA [985] BILLY’S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, 847.1921

Biloxi, MS [228] CLUB VEAUX, 834 Howard Ave., 207.3271

bookstores

New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700

circuit/events

Easter Sunday, April 11, 2018, 19th Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade. com

costumes

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

galleries

New Orleans, LA [504] CASSELL-BERGEN GALLERY, 1305 Decatur St., cassellbergengallery.com, 504.524.0671

guides

AMBUSH Mag, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; marsha@ripandmarsha.com

groceries/delis

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

hair salons

New Orleans, LA [504] Two Guys Cutting Hair, 2372 St. Claude Ave., Suite 125, appointments: Adikus 215.519.5030, Trent 504.239.2397

hardware

New Orleans, LA [504] MARY’S FRENCH QUARTER HARDWARE, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465. More than just a hardware store, Mary’s Ace French Quarter Hardware also features an extensive selection of kitchen and bath items upstairs.

accommodations

New Orleans [504] AARON INGRAM HAUS, 1012 Elysian Fields, New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: 504.949.3110, www.ingramhaus.com/xqey, e-mail us at ingramhaus@yahoo.com.

Condos with queen-size 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. [0118] BLUES60 GUEST HOUSE, 1008 Elysian Fields Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117, Phone: 1.504.324.4311, www.blues60guesthouse.com, info@blues60guesthouse.com. The Blue60 Guest House with 5 suites provides a peaceful retreat in the center of the Faubourg Marigny, just blocks from the French Quarter and Frenchman St. [1115] 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, www.theburgundy.com, E-mail us at theburgundy@cox.net. Gay owned and operated in newly renovated 1890’s double. Four guest rooms with private baths, guests’ parlor and “half-kitchen”, courtyard and half-open tubhouse with spa (hot tub/ whirlpool). Clothing optional in sunbathing and hot tub area. Walking distance to French Quarter. Immediate vicinity of gay and lesbian bars/venues. [0815] The french quarter guest houses, 1005

36 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

St. Peter, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone: 1.800.367.5858, FrenchQuarterGuestHouses.com, email: Info@frenchquarterguesthouses.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 unforgettable authentic French Quarter experience!

media

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, P.O. Box 2587, LaPlace, LA 70069, 522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; email: info@ambushpublishing.com

organizations

FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 504.821.2601 ext. 254 FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE MARDI GRAS (FNBMG), 504.319.8261, www.fridaynightbeforemardigras.com GAY APPRECIATION AWARDS, 828A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049; AmbushMag.COM/GAA 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 HAART (HIV/AIDS Alliance Region Two, Inc.), 4550 North Blvd. Ste. 250, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, 225.927.1269, www. haartinc.org, offers a complete continuum of care to people living with HIV/AIDS including housing, primary care, medications, case management, and an array of supportive services. In addition HAART provides HIV prevention education and FREE testing to the Baton Rouge area.

HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, INC., PO Box 52171, 70152-2171; HalloweenNewOrleans.COM 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 NARCISSUS, PO Box 3832, New Orleans, LA 70177. Contact: 504.228.9441 KREWE OF PETRONIUS, PO Box 1102, Kenner, LA. 70063-1102, www. kreweofpetroius.net KREWE OF QUEENATEENAS / KING CAKE QUEEN ROYALTY CLUB, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM/KCQ LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana,

1308 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.475.7911, www.lgbtarchivesla.org MYSTIC KREWE OF LORDS OF LEATHER, 1000 Bourbon St #B415, New Orleans, LA 70116, www.lordsofleather.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 NO/AIDS TASK FORCE, 2601 Tulane Ave., Suite 500, 70119; 504.821.2601; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM NEW ORLEANS PRIDE, info@neworleanspridefestival.com; 504.321.6006; NewOrleansPrideFestival.COM; NOLAPride.

ORG; New Orleans Pride fully embraces the message of “One CommUNITY” as we celebrate our history and promote the future prosperity of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region. We use public awareness and education about the LGBT+ community as a way to combat “phobias” and discrimination. Our programs, seminars and events leading up to, and during Pride weekend, are meant to include individuals from all walks of life.

RENEGADE BEARS OF LOUISIANA, PO Box 3083, New Orleans, LA 70177; renegadebearsoflouisiana@gmail.com 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 504.947.2121, stannanola.org Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans (MCCNO), 5401 S. Claiborne Ave — Pastor Alisan Rowland: New Orleans first LGBTQ church welcomes you to join us for our weekly Sunday worship services at 10:00 AM, where we celebrate God’s Love for everyone.

819 Rue Conti, 581.3866, http://broussards.com Cafe Sbisa, 1011 Decatur St., 522.5565, www.cafesbisanola.com Cheezy Cajun, 3325 St. Claude Ave., 265.0045, www.TheCheezyCajun.com Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, www.CloverGrill.com. Since 1939, our quirky, cozy, unique diner has been home to the best breakfasts & burgers on Bourbon Street–maybe even the whole French Quarter!

Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., www.TheCountryClubNewOrleans. com, 945.0742 Gene’s Po-Boys & Daquiris, 1040 Elysian Fields Ave., 943.3861, www.genespoboys.com Ilys Bistro, 1040 Elysian Fields Ave., 947.8341, www.Facebook.com/ILYSBistro Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails, 337 Chartres St. 598.5005, www.KinfishNewOrleans.com Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro, 720 Orleans, 523.1930, www.OrleansGrapevine.com Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416, www.QuartermasterDeli.net Royal House Oyster Bar, 441 Royal St., 528.2601, www.RoyalHouseRestaurant.com

real estate

New Orleans, LA [504] Engel & Völkers New Orleans, Michael Styles, Realtor — Michael specializes in

helping first-time homebuyers and real estate investors find the perfect New Orleans properties. 504.777.1773, NolaStyles.com Latter & Blum, Steven Richards Realtor, 504.258.1800, SteveRichardsProperties.com

retail/shopping

New Orleans, LA [504] BOURBON PRIDE, 909 Bourbon, 566.1570 COK (Clothing or Kinkl), 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264 MARY’S FRENCH QUARTER KITCHEN & BATH, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465 QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633 XXXSHOP, 1835 N. Rampart St., 504.232.3063

services

New Orleans, LA [504] Formal Connection, 299 Belle Terre Blvd. LaPlace, LA, 985.652.1195

theatres

New Orleans, LA [504] CAFE ISTANBUL, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #140, 504.974.0786, CafeIstanbulNOLA.COM

tours

New Orleans, LA [504] Gay New Orleans Walking Tour, Crescent City Tour Booking Agency, (LGBT Business of the Year) 638 St. Ann St., 568.0717. follow Gay New Orleans Walking Tour @ Facebook.COM

pharmacy

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.

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FINANCIAL & BUSINESS

4 Steps to Help You Have a Confident Retirement Scot I. Billeaudeau, JD, LL.M. ADPA® s.billeaudeau@ampf.com

Our legacy is yours.

New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders (NOAGE) provides services and advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults in the New Orleans metro area.

We host regular social events for LGBT older adults and their allies, and we provide cultural competency trainings for healthcare and other service providers.

To learn more, visit www.noagenola.org, or call (504)517-2345.

The road to retirement is full of twists and turns that can make even the most financially secure person wonder if they saved enough for their next chapter. If you feel similar emotions, know you are not alone. Breaking down your retirement savings into four distinct components can help take the uncertainty out of planning for your financial future.

Cover the essentials A fundamental step is to make sure your essential expenses are covered in retirement. Essential expenses include mortgage payments, groceries, utilities, transportation, insurance and other items that keep your life running. A good way to handle these costs is to use reliable sources of income, which may include Social Security, an employer’s pension (if you have one), proceeds from the sale of a business and annuity payments. As you look at what basic expenses you may incur, be sure to account for inflation.

Ensuring your lifestyle Beyond the essentials, you will need money for discretionary spending. This is what you will spend pursuing hobbies,

traveling and maintaining your current lifestyle. To cover these expenses, consider tapping into other sources of income such as retirement accounts, savings accounts and investments.

Determine how much you can comfortably withdraw monthly or annually from these sources to put toward your passions, while remaining invested for what could be decades in retirement.

Keep in mind that you are required to take a minimum distribution from your retirement accounts starting at age 70 1/2.

Preparing for unexpected events No matter how carefully you plan, life can throw a curveball. Accidents, unexpected expenses, illness, disabilities and the loss of a family member are examples of events that may derail your financial future. Cash reserves, life insurance, disability insurance (during your working years), long-term care insurance (primarily for later in life) and appropriate health care coverage are critical to protecting your retirement plan.

Leaving a legacy People often want to support loved ones and give

back to the charities and causes they value. This starts with making sure your estate plan is in order. Ensure your accounts have the right beneficiaries named and your will updated. Being thoughtful about your legacy also ensures you have a strategy around your charitable giving, both today and in the future.

Although worrying about your retirement savings is common, it doesn’t have to be. You can feel more confident that you will have enough money to last. Consider where you stand today and the steps you could take to get – or keep – your retirement on the right track.

Scot I. Billeaudeau, JD, LL.M. ADPA®, is a Financial Advisor with Waterfront Wealth Management, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. He specializes in addressing the unique needs of the diverse LGBTQ community, fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies, and has been in practice for 11 years.

Your financial needs are unique.

Whether you want to provide for your loved ones, support the organizations that are important to you, or plan for your own comfortable retirement, I can help you plan for your goals. I’ll look at all aspects of your finances, then find solutions that are right for your unique needs. I’ll be there to adjust your plan as life unfolds. When you have the right approach, life can be brilliant.

Scot I. Billeaudeau, JD, LL.M., ADPA® Financial Advisor Waterfront Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. 3939 N Causeway Blvd, Ste 400 Metairie, LA 70002 504.889.1704 s.billeaudeau@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/s.billeaudeau

Ameriprise Financial is proud to be recognized with another perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.

Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser.

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2018 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

40 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · October 9 – 22, 2018 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

Tulane reverts to previous form to shrink chances for bowl game Ken Trahan, Crescent City Sports When it comes to Tulane football, it is more of the same, unfortunately.

Just when you are ready to embrace the Green Wave after a stunning, stellar performance in an upset victory over Memphis, the same old Green Wave returned Saturday in a game I was able to view until its bitter end.

First, give Cincinnati credit. The Bearcats are unbeaten and are a good, not great team. A year ago, Tulane looked like a better team than Cincinnati in New Orleans but the Green Wave lost a brutal 17-16 decision.

What a difference a year makes!

Cincinnati is significantly better while Tulane, which was expected to be better, is not.

Tulane gets a much needed week off before hosting SMU a week from Saturday. A year ago, it was the Mustangs that got away with one in Dallas which Tulane may have actually won, depending on your point of view.

SMU is 2-4, with losses to North Texas (5-1), TCU (3-2), nationally-ranked Michigan (5-1) and unbeaten Central Florida (5-0). The Mustangs have given up an average of 39.7 points per game. This should be a game Tulane gets well on offensively.

Of course, that is largely depen-

dent on an offense playing much better than it did in Cincinnati.

Justin McMillan led Tulane on a pair of first half scoring drives, the first of which was a thing of beauty. That earned him the entire second half, in which he was largely ineffective until a late score.

Unwittingly, Willie Fritz has created a quarterback controversy. He has a decision to make.

Clearly, Fritz is unhappy with the way Jonathan Banks has performed inconsistently in this, his senior season. Banks was a primary reason for significant optimism for Fritz and his staff internally and for Tulane fans and observers, including myself, externally.

It simply has not happened. Banks has struggled with accuracy and decision making.

Fritz has an extra week to decide who to go with. A team needs a leader that it can follow.

Tulane has made offensive line adjustments but the Green Wave got beat up front by a good Cincinnati team.

Defensively, Tulane would stop the Bearcats for two or three plays but then gave up the big play. The Bearcats had touchdowns covering 81, 25, 28, and 25 yards while the other was from 15

yards out.

Perhaps more troubling are the mistakes.

You cannot allow a punt to be blocked. This was reminiscent of the Curtis Johnson regime.

You cannot get a stop and then commit a critical, bone-headed 12-men-on-the-field penalty. Instead of getting the ball back, Tulane quickly yielded a touchdown, crippling its momentum and chances to pull the upset.

You cannot be penalized 12 times for 90 yards on the road as an underdog and expect to have a chance to win. You cannot lose time-of-possession when that is supposedly your personality.

Then, you have a receiving corps that should be improved but continues to drop way too many balls, regardless of who the quarterback is.

If you are looking for a silver lining, freshman Amare Jones was explosive on kickoff returns.

Still to come are conference road games at Tulsa, South Florida and Houston. The other home games include East Carolina and Navy.

At 2-4, Tulane must five of its final six games to have a winning season, four of its last six to get to .500 and be

bowl eligible.

Tulsa played Texas tough but is just 1-4. South Florida is unbeaten and nationally ranked. Houston is 4-1, scoring points in bushels, averaging 50 points per game and will be bent for revenge at home against the Green Wave. East Carolina is 2-3 but the Pirates beat North Carolina and played South Florida tough. Navy is 2-3, losing by one to SMU and beating Memphis by a point.

It is quite possible that Tulane will defeat Tulsa, East Carolina and Navy but that only gets you to five wins and none of those is by any means a sure thing. Tulane would have to sweep those games and find a win against either South Florida or at Houston.

Despite a remaining schedule that it can compete with, it is hard to muster confidence in Tulane’s ability to accomplish the goal which I predicted the Green Wave would reach prior to the season. That is truly disappointing.

This article was originally published

by Crescent City Sports. For the most comprehensive sports coverage in the Big Easy, visit crescentcitysports.com.

Hale: ‘Don’t put a ton of stock’ in Pelicans’ preseason start Lenny Vangilder, Crescent City Sports NEW ORLEANS – The countdown to the NBA regular season is on.

Though the Pelicans have played a pair of preseason games, Fox Sports reporter Jen Hale said Tuesday that the NBA preseason schedule doesn’t have much of a reflection on the 82game regular season.

“I know the Pelicans are (winless),” Hale – the sideline reporter for Pelicans broadcasts on Fox Sports New Orleans – said at the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation Quarterback Club presented by Home Bank at Rock ‘n’ Bowl, “but I don’t put a ton of stock in the preseason.”

Besides the duo of Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday, Hale has an eye on two other players – one a newcomer, one effectively a newcomer – in the preseason.

“Frank Jackson, who missed all of last season, has been really aggressive,” she said. “Also, the addition of Julius Randle is huge. He’s been playing at multiple positions but he’s also been a leader in the locker room.”

Elfrid Payton was expected to be the Pelicans’ backup point guard, but when Rajon Rondo signed with the Los Angeles Lakers, it thrust the local product into a more prominent position.

“The loss of Rondo is going to be harder to recover from than the loss of Boogie Cousins,” Hale said. “Hopefully, Elfrid can develop into that leader and into that starting position.”

Hale also covers the NFL for Fox Sports as a sideline reporter on Sunday afternoons. She has been impressed with the Saints’ bounce-back from a Week 1 home loss to win three consecutive games.

“They really seemed to have turned things around,” Hale said.

Hale noted how running back Mark Ingram met his teammates at the airport two minutes after his suspension was up at midnight Monday.

“He and Alvin (Kamara) were the last two there talking,” Hale said. “You like to see that bond, that friendship.”

A pair of second-year players besides Kamara are getting attention around the league, Hale said.

“Ryan Ramczyk has developed unbelievably,” she said. “Taysom Hill … is just everywhere. I’m really excited to see what he can do.”

Hale provided a personal moment during her speech Tuesday. Earlier this year, Hale revealed health issues she has had over the last two years.

“I was diagnosed with cardiomy-

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opathy,” Hale said. “The left side of my heart had stretched out and wasn’t pumping enough blood to my body. By the time I got diagnosed, my heart was down to 16 percent function.”

Hale had three male family members, including her father, die from heart disease.

“Please be good to your body and listen to your body,” she said. “I am so

blessed that God let me have my life back. Any time I have a moment with folks, I encourage them to take their life seriously.”

This article was originally published

by Crescent City Sports. For the most comprehensive sports coverage in the Big Easy, visit crescentcitysports.com.

How good LSU really is still up in the air after first loss David Grubb, Crescent City Sports It was physical. It was intense. It came down to the final minutes. It was just another chapter in the LSU/Florida rivalry.

But on Saturday in Gainesville, LSU didn’t have the one big play late in them. Not this time. This time it was the Gators who came through in the clutch.

With the Tigers trailing 20-19, Brad Stewart Jr., the only Louisiana native on the Florida roster, intercepted Joe Burrow and returned it 25 yards to make it 27-19.

“I saw him,” Burrow said. “It was man to man. He made a great play.

He was sitting flat-footed and made a good play.”

With one final opportunity to tie the score, and the ball on the Tigers’ 41, Burrow threw his final pass of the day and his second interception. Florida quarterback Feleipe Franks took a knee to run out the clock on the game and the hopes for a perfect season at LSU. It also marked the fourth consecutive time that the Gators have beaten LSU at The Swamp when the Tigers

were ranked in the Top 5.

In the end, the reasons that LSU was beaten on the scoreboard were pretty obvious.

The Tigers were dominated by the Florida offensive line. The Gators ran the ball 43 times for 215 yards, both season highs against Dave Aranda’s defense. LSU missed assignments and tackles.

In the fourth quarter, Florida ran the same play over and over, a simple pitch from Franks to Lamical Perine, and each time the Tigers reacted as if they were seeing it for the first time.

LSU also failed to record a sack for the first time this season.

“I felt like at times we let up as players,” said defensive tackle Breiden Fehoko. “It wasn’t the coaching. It was on us, guys like myself bearing down and taking leadership. I’ve got to take leadership in those tough times. I felt like we were the better team out there, but the scoreboard just didn’t show it.”

The offense was no less problematic. LSU went 4-for-17 on third down.

The passing game was inconsistent as

the receivers dropped some catchable balls nearly as often as Burrow threw some iffy ones.

LSU’s offensive line continues to be an issue. Florida was able to sack Burrow five times and finished with 11 tackles for loss. Of course, Burrow didn’t help his own cause by holding on to the ball for a beat or two too long on more than one occasion.

“We couldn’t drop back and throw the football,” Orgeron said. “Our guys were getting beat one-on-one. You can only chip one or two guys. You can’t chip all five. We’ve got to get better pass protection. I’ve said that all year.”

Burrow also accounted for all three Tiger turnovers. Besides his pair of picks, he gave up a fumble on LSU’s second drive of the game. It has become a troubling trend for Burrow, who has five turnovers in his last three games. Prior to this stretch, LSU had gone 12 straight games without a giveaway.

“Put it on me,” head coach Ed Orgeron said. “It’s always going to be my fault. Give them the credit when we

win. When we lose, it’s always my fault.

I’m the boss. I’ve got to get them better, and that’s it.”

The Tigers just aren’t good enough to overcome all of those deficiencies, either at home or on the road. Not many teams are.

Was this loss simply a bad day on the road to a tough conference foe? Or was it the pulling back of the curtain that reveals a flawed team that will disappoint once again?

There’s no better way to start to find out than when Georgia visits Tiger Stadium next weekend. A win would be a huge statement for the team and Orgeron. A loss could signal another October spiral out of contention.

But that’s the life of an LSU fan. Always living on the edge.

This article was originally published

by Crescent City Sports. For the most comprehensive sports coverage in the Big Easy, visit crescentcitysports.com.

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