Ambush Magazine Volume 37 Issue 04

THE OFFICIAL GAY MAGAZINE OF THE GULF SOUTH™

A Biweekly Publication Celebrating LGBTQ Life, Music & Culture Since 1982 VOLUME 37 ISSUE 04

TUESDAY, February 12

Valentine’s Day & Pre-Mardi Gras

www.GayMardiGras.com

www.AMBUSHMAG.com

Taming the trouser snake

on Valentines Day

was more complicated than

Vanessa remembered!

Play Girlz The Music of

Senator Ken Fridays 7:30–9:30pm

hosted by Gia GiaVanni

Fridays 10–11:30pm

The Music of the

Vanessa Carr Band

Saturdays 7:30–9:30pm

Divas R Us starring Monica Synclaire-Kennedy

Saturdays 10–11:30pm

s sa e n a V The d n a B r Car 0pm

The Half-Assed Straight Boys Sundays 3–9pm

Best L GBTQ

Bar

Jubilee: Dragging for Jesus

s@7:3 y a d r Satu The Official Home of Southern Decadence.

with Reba Douglas Sundays 5–7pm

Best Happy Hour

in the Quar ter!

Golden

THE

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, Carnival season is here and Mardi Gras balls are in full swing!

Several balls have already taken place but there is still time to grab your tux or best dress and catch serval more balls before Carnival ends. Look inside this issue of Ambush for a complete list of Mardi Gras balls and when they’ll be.

At the time of this writing, I’ve had the opportunity to attend the balls for the Krewe of Mwindo and the Krewe of Narcissus. If the purpose of a ball is for everyone to have a good time, then both can declare mission accomplished.

The Krewe of Mwindo had great food, music and a large turnout. The theme for their 21st ball was “The Wiz” and the entertainment had several people dressed up as the cast from the fantasy land of Oz. The Krewe of Narcisses had the theme of “The Jock Ball” for their 4th annual ball. The entertainment consisted of several different “Jocks” and New Orleans own rugby team, Rougaroux.

Flip through the pages of this issue for pictures of these balls and more!

I would encourage each of you to consider supporting your local gay community and make plans with your friends to attend a ball in your area.

There are balls coming up in New Orleans, Lafayette, Birmingham and along the Gulf Coast. Members of each Krewe spend countless hours having fundraisers and making costumes for all of us to enjoy.

I want to give a shout out to the Order of Dionysus who are having their inaugural ball on February 16th on the coast in Mississippi. The first time you put on an event is the most difficult so I’m thankful for all the people helping to bring Carnival pageantry to the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Buy your tickets to the Order of Dionysus’ ball and show our friends along the Gulf Coast some love! Tickets are available from any Krewe member, at Sipps Bar in Gulfport or you can contact the Krewe on Facebook for more information.

KREWE OF QUEENATEENAS The Krewe of Queenateenas will hold their 25th King Cake Queen Coronation on Tuesday, February 26th, at the home of Ambush owner and

Inside this Issue of Ambush Book Suggestions

6

Musings by Catherine

7

All Genres of Writing Represented at SAS 2019

8

Snap Paparazzi Crossing

9

THE ROCKFORD FILES: Valentine’s Gay Massacre: The Day Romance Died

10

Out & About with Lords of Leather

12

Real Estate 101: Cheating Partners and Séances

14

Snap Paparazzi Out & About with the Krewe of Amon-Ra

16-17

Party Down

18

Snap Paparazzi Out & About with Tony Leggio

19

Under the GayDar: New Orleans Hot Happenings

20-24

Under the GayDar: Mobile Hot Happenings

24

Moments in Gay New Orleans History

26

Snap Paparazzi The Corner Pocket

27

Snap Paparazzi Out & About with the Krewe of Mwindo

28-29

Trodding the Boards

30-31

Book Review: Southernmost. Silas House.

32

Choosing a New Credit Card? Read This First

32

Snap Paparazzi Out & About with at Sipps Gulfport Snap Paparazzi Out & About with the Krewe of Apollo

33 34-35

LGBT Owned & Friendly Business Directory

36

A Community within Communities: Mardi Gras then Lent

38

Snap Paparazzi Out & About with the Krewe of Narcissus

40-41

New Hope Announcements

42

Gay Mardi Gras 2019

43

Sports

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

publisher TJ Acosta. We are excited to present to carnival society this year’s King Cake Queen Tiffany Alexander, The Silver Anniversary Queen. This is a formal affair and invite is by invitation only. Invitations will be mailed this week so be on the lookout. I am both honored and humbled to be able to keep Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain’s tradition of the Krewe of Queenateenas alive.

CONGRATULATIONS FELICIA PHILLIPS On behalf of myself and everyone at Ambush, we would like to congratulate Felicia Phillips on being named the new emcee and DJ for the Corner Pocket’s Friday night New Meat Amateur Dance Contest. She will be following in the tradition of two legends, Miss Fly and Lisa Beauman. Felicia Phillips is a wonderful entertainer and we look forward to many Friday nights with her at the Corner Pocket. The Friday night dance contest at the Corner Pocket is the longest running all boy dance contest in America. Felicia Phillips is a former Southern Decadence Grand Marshal (XLII) and Grand Reveler (IV). Congratulations again Felicia - we love you!

MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOAGE will host its next Potluck Dinner on Wednesday, February 20th from 6:30 to 8:30 pm at St. Anna’s Episcopal Church. This is a great opportunity to eat, network and make new friends. You are encouraged to bring a food dish and a non-perishable food item for St. Anna’s Food Pantry but no donation is required to attend the potluck dinner. Community members of all ages are welcome. St. Anna’s is located at 1313 Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans.

The Krewe of Mwindo will have its annual membership Rush Party on Sunday, March 10, from 5 to 7 pm at The Page. If you are interested in joining the Krewe just show up and bring a friend. For more information you can contact ball captain Bobby Mackie at 504-975-9937. The Page is located at 542 N. Rampart Street.

Flashback thru the Decades 3, a fundraiser for NOAGE, will be held on Sunday, April 28th, from 6 to 8 pm at AllWays Lounge & Cabaret. There is a $10 donation at the door and a 50/50 raffle will be held. Several entertainers will be there to take you thru the decades once again. NOAGE is a nonprofit that advocates on behalf of the LGBT older adult community. Allways Lounge & Cabaret is located at 2240 St. Claude Avenue.

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©

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR info@ambushpublishing.com CIRCULATION

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

PUBLISHER TJ Acosta EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Reed Wendorf SENIOR EDITOR Brian Sands CONTRIBUTORS Brian Sands, Catherine Roland, Crescent City Sports, Frank Perez, Jim Meadows, Pastor Alisan Rowland, Persana Shoulders, Rev. Bill Terry, Rodney Thoulion, Ryan Rockford, Scot Billeaudeau & Tony Leggio LOCAL ADVERTISING sales@ambushpublishing.com Reed Wendorf 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. ©1982-2019 AMBUSH PUBLISHING LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS & PHOTOS.

Cover Photos by Ambush & Staci Brimer

4 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 5

COMMUNITY VOICE

Book Suggestions

Jim Meadows Executive Director, NOAGE info@noagenola.org I feel like I left you hanging with my last column. I reviewed Matthew Todd’s Straight Jacket: Overcoming Society’s Legacy of Gay Shame, a book that neither adequately explains nor offers meaningful solutions to the common struggles we share. I mentioned The Velvet Rage, which is a very useful book, but as I’ve reflected on it, I’ve realized that it would be a disservice not to provide you with some more suggestions.

Shame and internalized stigma have wounded many of us, and the effects can manifest themselves in almost every sphere of our experience; from our biological and psychological health, to our intimate relationships and friendships, to how we experience our place in society.

We have shown the world our strength and resilience. Many of us have come out of the closet when it meant losing friends, family, jobs, and housing, and in doing so we have created a better world for young people coming of age today, and for generations to come.

And we continue to fight. It’s important to remember how far we’ve

come, and how we have beaten the odds time and time again. But it’s also important to acknowledge that we are human. We have triumphed, but we have been hurt. We are not responsible for the way we have been treated, but we are responsible for how we treat ourselves as we move forward, individually and collectively. I hope that some of the books that I’m recommending here will be helpful to you.

General LGBT Self-Help Note: There are an abundance of mainstream press self-help books for gay men, but relatively few for lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people.

The Velvet Rage: Overcoming the Pain of Growing Up Gay in a Straight Man’s World (Second Edition, 2012), by Alan Downs Trans Bodies, Trans Selves: A Resource for the Transgender Community (2014), edited by Laura Erickson-Schroth Becoming Gay: The Journey to Self-Acceptance (Second Edition, 2009), by Richard Isay 10 Smart Things Gay Men Can Do to Improve Their Lives (Second

Edition, 2016), by Joe Kort Coming Out The Key to Unlocking the Closet Door: A Coming-Out Guide on a Journey Toward Unconditional SelfLove (2014), by Chelsea Griffo Overcoming Shame The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are (2010), by Brené Brown Coming Out of Shame: Transforming Gay and Lesbian Lives (1996), by Gershon Kaufman and Lev Raphael Trauma The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma (2015), by Bessel van der Kolk The Drama of the Gifted Child: The Search for the True Self (Third Edition, 1996), by Alice Miller Religion Note: The following books are geared to Christians who are either trying to find their place in that religion or to leave unaccepting denominations.

Changing Our Mind (Third Edition, 2017), by David P. Gushee Leaving the Fold: A Guide for Former Fundamentalists and Others Leaving Their Religion (Second Edition, 2006), by Marlene Winell Addiction/Recovery Note: There are endless books devoted to this topic. I have chosen a practical, easy to read, and evidence-based guide developed by SMART (Self-Management and Recovery Training).

SMART Recovery Handbook: Tools and Strategies to Help You on Your Recovery Journey (Third Edition, 2013), edited by Rosemary Hardin Body Image/Eating Disorders Note: Eating disorders and body image disturbance are very common in the LGBT community. It’s a problem that we have not talked about enough, and one that I will be addressing very soon in this column.

The Body Image Workbook: An Eight-Step Program for Learning to Like Your Looks (Second Edition, 2008), by Thomas Cash 8 Keys to Recovery from an Eating Disorder: Effective Strategies from Therapeutic Practice and Personal Experience (2011), by Carolyn Costin and Gwen Schubert Grabb Relationships/Intimacy The Science of Trust: Emotional Attunement for Couples (2011), by John Gottman Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples (20th Anniversary Edition, 2007), by Harville Hendrix

Cruise Control: Understanding Sex Addiction in Gay Men (2013), by Robert Weiss Evidence-Based Psychotherapy Note: Evidence-based therapies like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) have been scientifically proven to help people overcome problems like depression, anxiety, substance abuse, eating disorders, and maladaptive thoughts and behaviors in general.

Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy (Revised and Updated Edition, 1999), by David Burns Overcoming Destructive Beliefs, Feelings, and Behaviors: New Directions for Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (2001), by Albert Ellis The Dialectical Behavior Therapy Skills Workbook: Practical DBT Exercises for Learning Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation, and Distress Tolerance (2007), by Matthew McKay and Jeffrey C. Wood History Note: “A people without the knowledge of their past history, origin, and culture is like a tree without roots.” – Marcus Garvey Making Gay History: The Half Century Fight for Lesbian and Gay Equal Rights (2002), by Eric Marcus Queer: A Graphic History (2016)

by Meg-John Barker (Author) and Julia Sheele (Illustrator) Transgender History: The Roots of Today’s Revolution (Second Edition, 2017), by Susan Stryker Finding Meaning Note: This list could be expanded upon ad infinitum. There are 7.53 billion of us trying to do this every day, each of us in our own way. These are just a few that have been helpful to either myself or friends of mine.

The Hero with a Thousand Faces (1949), by Joseph Campbell When Things Fall Apart: Heart Advice for Difficult Times (20th Anniversary Edition, 2016), by Pema Chödrön Love is Letting Go of Fear (Third Edition, 2010), by Gerald Jampolsky Wherever You Go, There You Are: Mindfulness Meditation in Everyday Life (1994), by Jon Kabat-Zinn I want to hear from you. What am I leaving out? What books have been most helpful to you? I’ve purposefully chosen to only include nonfiction books in this list. In a future article, I’d like to share a list of great LGBT-related fiction. Send your recommendations, comments, and (preferably constructive) criticism to info@noagenola.org.

6 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

MUSINGS BY CATHERINE Rock and Roll Era in Lesbian and Women’s Sexual History: A Snapshot Catherine Roland catherineroland12@gmail.com

Let me tell you a story about “straight” women and girls in the early rock and roll time period, the late 1950’s – early 1960’s.

A long time ago, a pop singer named Connie Francis (some of you will know this) had a big hit with Where the Boys Are. An anthem as a girl?

Probably. It was an era where sexual outreach was pretty much forbidden, women didn’t ‘look’ for men, girls didn’t show any undue interest in boys. At 7th and 8th grade school dances all over the US, it was a common scene to see a gymnasium or cafeteria filled with students, boys hanging out by the punch table, or sneaking out to smoke cigarettes outside, with a very few brave guys actually trying to dance with girls.

The majority of the girls were surrounding the dance floor, either seated or standing, shyly watching with their friends. And then there were the brave girls who were dancing – with each other. Yes, having nothing to do with sexual identity at that point, girls wanted to dance. It may have been the music, it was heartfelt, freeing, had a good beat, and often forbidden or at least frowned-upon.

Usually no boys were available, or if they were, none of the girls would have given them the time of day. Girls danced with girls, giggled and sometimes even held hands. And all the while, girls were moving to the beat of whatever rock and roll song was being played on the stereo, sometimes singing the loudest, having what appeared to be a very fun time. And enjoying ‘close’ friendships with their girlfriends – some closer than others, of course.

Very close, in time, for many.

That time has been referred to as a sort of sexual enlightening for females, referring to “straight” girls and women. And of course, it was that for ALL girls and women, including those of us who are lesbian, bi, or fluid through the lens of gender identity. It allowed all females to face the sexual curiosities of their own bodies and lives, as well as become acutely aware that sex, sexual freedom, sexual expression, and natural feelings toward another person often includes a sexual connection, with activities to strengthen that connection.

Those girls who dared to explore were not very popular or welcome in schools or in friends’ homes, however. That period of time unfortunately featured a new and creative array of disciplinary tactics as well as taunting names some girls were called, such as “slut”, “bad girl” and “sad girl” to list only a few.

Because there was absolutely no

sexual education on how to take care of oneself, protect against unwanted pregnancy, or STD’s, punishments emerged that ranged from being locked in a bedroom outside of school hours; academically failing girls and leaving them back a grade because sexual acting out was seen as counterintuitive to achievement in school; forcing individual counseling on the wayward girl (never family counseling); and mean-spirited beatings from one or both parents, older siblings or school disciplinarians. Brutal beatings, leaving girls and young women who strayed from the “straight and normal” with cuts and bruises; broken bones also occurred at alarming rates.

And teen pregnancy? Back then, the fact that a teenage girl was pregnant often resulted in all of the above, with the addition of being “sent away” during the pregnancy to a home for wayward girls or worse. There was no typical end to that scenario. One had to either give up the baby for adoption; have an abortion that was illegal in every state which resulted in many deaths; or just wait it out in a hidden location, have the child and then the family would care for her or him (whatever that meant). Sometimes there was an undesired, forced marriage which, I’d bet, didn’t and couldn’t work out very well for anyone.

So why am I, an out lesbian, writing about the history of an earlier time and what “straight” girls and women went through? Because it’s important to examine our history as members of the LGBT+ community, our individual coming out process, and the gender bias all women and girls have always faced as an integral part of that history.

To be gay or lesbian at that time was a dangerous admission, especially because of the small-mindedness of that sexually repressed era. Music might have been breaking out, sounding freer and riskier; families weren’t.

Schools weren’t. Society was as rigid as ever, and perhaps became a bit more so as the era tried to shift toward the important political protest songs of Bob Dylan and Joan Baez, and followed by the Beatles, the Stones, and Jim Morrison who screamed into our lives, proclaiming that sexual freedom was good and was right. Society did not.

Also important is the insight to understand and digest the plight of the female, especially those girls and women who recognized that they were gay and loved women. Whatever misery was falling on “straight” girls and young women who dared to examine their own bodies and sexual connections

with males, was often multiplied tenfold for women and girls who were beginning to notice a desire to be around other girls. Young women who knew in their heart and soul that they loved women realized that their lives would undoubtedly be more difficult, terribly dangerous, and often lonely. Sexual freedom was costly.

I would like to make a plea for the Lesbian community here in the greater New Orleans area to come out, meaning take part in the social world here, at least a bit more often. Much can be gained from socializing with other lesbians, our gay brothers, and members of the broader LGBT+ community.

I wonder how safe lesbians feel going out at night, how comfortable we feel at venues with which we are not very familiar, and when will we as lesbians fully enjoy our diverse, colorful, and exciting city, without fear or looking over our shoulder at the shadows?

I wonder if our history of maltreatment and judgmental punishments for being who we are, for being curious so long ago, has caused some social shyness, so to speak, or reticence to be recognized as lesbian, or a member of the

greater LGBT+ community, even now.

History and fear doesn’t always go away, and for sure it doesn’t vanish quickly. It may now be time to help it along. What do we need then? More open discussion perhaps, more specific events for lesbians. More women writing for the media. Lesbians volunteering for city-wide, community organizations that offer social gatherings.

Doing good works, they say, yields a better life. We’ll need to be encouraging, plan outings ourselves. Reading groups, walking groups, age-related as well as mixed stage gatherings. Anyone want to help?

I’ll pledge to work on it, if some members of my Lesbian sisterhood would volunteer to help.

For some of us, our early anthem, lo those many years ago, may have been Connie Francis’ Where the Boys Are. I like to call it “Where the Girls Are”. Since that time, however, we have experienced what has become a more modern anthem, especially for lesbians, and that is Melissa Etheridge’s Come to My Window. And so many of us did just that. Let’s forge on together.

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 7

LITERARY SPOTLIGHT

All Genres of Writing Represented at SAS 2019

Christian Baines

Michael Carroll

Cheryl Head

Connie L Tittle

The Saints and Sinners Literary Festival was founded in 2003 as a new initiative designed as an innovative way to reach the community with information about HIV/AIDS, particularly disseminating prevention messages via the writers, thinkers and spokespeople of the LGBT community. It was also formed to bring the LGBT literary community together to celebrate the literary arts.

The Festival has grown into an internationally-recognized event that

brings together a who’s who of LGBT publishers, writers and readers from throughout the United States and beyond. The Festival, held over 3 days each spring at the Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter, features panel discussions and master classes around literary topics that provide a forum for authors, editors and publishers to talk about their work for the benefit of emerging writers and the enjoyment of fans of LGBT literature.

The 16th annual Saints and Sin-

ners Literary Festival takes place March 29—31. For more information, please visit http://sasfest.org/#home A few of the authors who will be at the 2019 Festival include Christian Baines, Michael Carroll, Cheryl Head, and Connie Tuttle.

Christian Baines has written on travel, theatre, film, television, and various aspects of gay life, factual and fictional. Some of his stranger thoughts have spawned novels, including the queer urban fantasy series The Arcadia Trust, the horror novella Skin, and Puppet Boy, which was a finalist for the 2016 Saints and Sinners Emerging Writer Award. Born in Australia, he now travels the world whenever possible, living, writing, and shivering in Toronto on those odd occasions he can’t find his passport.

Michael Carroll won the 2015 Sue Kaufman Prize for First Fiction from the American Academy of Arts and Letters for his collection Little Reef and Other Stories. Little Reef was also nominated for a Lambda Literary award and a Publishing Triangle award. His work has been included in the Yale Review, Southwest Review, Open City, The Harvard Review and many other journals, as well as such anthologies as The New Penguin Book of Gay Short Stories. His second collection, Stella Maris and Other Key West Stories (Turtle Point Press) is a multi-character sequence set in Key West. As a Peace Corps volunteer, he taught in Yemen and the Czech Republic. He’s taught in the summer writing program at John Cabot University in Rome. Married, he lives in New York.

Cheryl Head had a long career in public television and public radio before turning to fiction writing. She is inspired by storytelling in all forms, but poetry frees her to write everything else. Her book, Long Way Home: A World War II Novel, was a 2015 Next Generation Indie Book Awards finalist in the Historical Fiction, and African-American

Literature categories. Head is the author of the Charlie Mack Motown Mystery series (Bywater Books). The first book in the series, Bury Me When I’m Dead was a 2017 Lambda Literary Awards finalist. The next books in the series are: Wake Me When It’s Over (May 2018) and Catch Me When I’m Falling (March 2019). Head’s short story Girls Just Want to Have Fun is included in the award-winning anthology Happy Hours—Our Lives in the Gay Bars (Flashpoint Publications). Sales of the anthology support LGBTQ youth-service organizations at the Ali Forney Center in New York, and The Attic in Philadelphia. Head is the Director of Inclusion at the Golden Crown Literary Society. She resides in an 1870 rowhouse on a diverse street in Washington, DC’s Capitol Hill.

Connie Tuttle is the pastor of Circle of Grace, a small, progressive, ecumenical, feminist, Christian house church in Atlanta. After seminary and before founding the church with a group of spiritual renegades, she directed the Atlanta Hunger Walk and later worked with the Southern Prisoners’ Defense Committee. She is committed to social justice and has a passion for cooking and providing hospitality. Her memoir, A Gracious Heresy: The Queer Calling of an Unlikely Prophet was published in July 2018.

Enter the discount code: Ambush20 for a 20% discount on your registration.

The 16th annual Saints and Sinners Literary Festival takes place March 29—31.

For more information, please visit http://sasfest. org/#home

8 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Crossing PEOPLE ARE CROSSING NOLA TO SEE AND BE SEEN AT CROSSING NOLA | PHOTOS BY TEAM CROSSING

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HAPPY HOUR DAILY 7 AM – 9 PM OPENING HOURS 7 AM – 1:30 AM ADDRESS 439 Dauphine Street New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 523-4517

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 9

THE ROCKFORD FILES

Valentine’s Gay Massacre: The Day Romance Died Ryan Rockford RyanRockfordNYC@gmail.com

“For even as love crowns you, so shall he crucify you…”

Khalil Gibran

Love is a many-splendored thing, until it isn’t. And never is that more true than on the 14th of February. The word “love” is as ambiguous as it is versatile and it gets tossed around quite liberally on a day to day basis. “I love your shoes” or “I love casual Fridays”. In those instances, the use of the word “love” isn’t held to the same standard as it is when it’s used between people.

That’s when things can get complicated. For instance, I like Jesus, but I he loves me, so… it’s awkward.

Except on Valentine’s Day. On Valentine’s Day, all bets are off. Everyone loves everyone in one big sugar coated, ribbon wrapped shit-show.

Before we can have a discussion about Valentine’s Day, let’s get on the same page about a few things. Anyone over the age of seven knows that there is nothing romantic about Valentine’s Day. February 14th is a fabricated “holiday” created by, and aimed at, heterosexuals which shamelessly promotes a

contrived sense of love. How touching that such an amorous occasion was engineered by the greeting card industry, for no other reason than to spice up revenue, during an otherwise holidayless stretch of the calendar year.

And it worked! With an estimated 18 billion dollars a year in retail sales, Valentine’s Day is a marketing bonanza, exploiting consumerism with the help of an angelic, obese toddler, armed with a quiver and bow. A toddler that, in my opinion, has more in common with Chucky the killer doll than he does with angels. Whether it’s Cupid with his arrows or Chucky with a kitchen knife, it’s a chubby little person with a maniacal look in his eye chasing after you with a weapon.

The irony is that, for many couples, this holiday, designed to celebrate love, accomplishes just the opposite.

According to a study conducted

by CNN, the highest number of Facebook break-ups occur post Valentine’s Day. Is it any wonder? Social media outlets explode with postings of enormous floral bouquets, expensive gifts, fancy dinners and outrageous demonstrations of affection, all in the name of

“love.” Little surprise then that seeing such dramatic and often embellished spectacles of devotion appearing on timelines and news feeds can create false expectations of what should be.

From that perspective, it becomes almost impossible not to fall into the pit of comparison. Comparisons that often lead to dissatisfaction with our own celebrations, our choice of partners, etc., which can ruin what was otherwise a perfectly enjoyable and heartfelt experience.

As if keeping up with the Joneses doesn’t dampen romance enough for you, for most men Valentine’s Day becomes a test. This is when LOVE hits the fan. Thanks to the internet and society’s need to overshare everything, Valentine’s Day has become a gauge by which your partner will rank the level of your admiration, a Love-O-Meter of sorts. The results of which, determined

by Emoji expressions, public opinion, and side-eyed adjudications, will be posted for all the world to see.

These days, the amount in which you love, cherish and value your partner is in direct proportion to how much effort, time and money you spend demonstrating that fact. Publicly. If you think that you’re going to skate by picking up your sweetheart a Whitman’s sampler and card from Walgreens, you have got one long and lonely night coming your way.

Getting those romantic lovey-dovey feels yet? Didn’t think so.

The whole idea seems a bit redundant. The celebration of a relationship and the love that two people share for one another on a specific day of the year is called an Anniversary, isn’t it?

Do we really need to do it twice? Just sayin’.

My trouble is, although I openly resist and discourage the corporate siege of love on a trumped up holiday, deep down I am a hopeless romantic. Very few people, even those closest to me, know that. It’s a side of me that New York has taught me to keep hidden, a trait seldom discussed and rarely seen.

Once I thought I knew what love was. I believed that love would help solve my problems. I believed there would be someone who would love me, as I am, authentically, unconditionally and forever. I believed that there would be someone who would make me a priority and see me the same way that I see them. I was in love with the idea of being in love, until I found myself in a real relationship.

I was 22 when I met C.J. We were together for six years. It is, to date, the longest relationship I’ve ever been

in. One of the most vivid memories of our time together was on a Valentine’s Day. Like so many other performers in New York, C.J. and I were both working odd jobs to make ends meet. There was no extra money to be spent on V-Day lavishness. Still, I was in love, and I wanted to express that to him in the best way I could.

Aside from being a romantic, I’m also pretty talented in the arts and crafts department. No money? No problem. A little digging through the junk drawer, and our stash of leftover Christmas decorations, yielded a bunch of Popsicle sticks, a few green pipe cleaners and a red, metallic/glittery gift box saved for re-gifting. On the nights leading up to Valentine’s Day, while he was at work, I painstakingly cut out and folded pieces of the glittery gift box into petals. I cut out enough petals to create a dozen shiny and sparkly mini-roses.

Keep in mind, this was before Google, so there were no Instructables or DIY websites to consult. I was winging it, fueled only by my desire to impress upon him how much he meant to me. I wanted him to know that I understood that expressing love didn’t require a lot of money. It only required a little effort.

I twisted the green pipe cleaners into long stems, with leaves, and attached them to my cardboard flora. The Popsicle sticks were cut, and sanded to remove the rough edges. They were then painted, stacked and glued, log cabin-style, to create a wooden tower that would serve as the vase to this one-of-a-kind, beautiful bouquet of the finest red roses I could muster.

Valentine’s Day morning we were both in the kitchen having coffee and wondering what to do about “Audrey”, a houseplant left for dead by the previous tenant. She was thriving and literally climbing the walls of our tiny kitchen. Before long I couldn’t contain my enthusiasm. I was so proud of my V-Day roses, and I was sure he would be as impressed as I was, probably more so.

I presented my miniature bouquet of roses and requisite card to C.J. with a grand gesture: “Happy Valentine’s day, babe. I love you.”

To which he replied: “Shit.” [Long silence] “I meant to get you something last night, but … ” “But..?”

“Fuck. I don’t know…I’m sorry.”

In that moment, our romance died.

I didn’t care that he didn’t get me a gift.

I was hurt that he didn’t care enough to make an effort. ANY effort. I vowed

10 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

never to expose my emotions and step out on that ledge again. Certainly not with C.J. Maybe not with anyone.

Although our relationship went on for several years after this, I have never viewed love or Valentine’s Day the same way again. I’ve spent years resenting the notion of Cupid and refusing to acknowledge V-Day as anything more than just another cold day in February. In fact, until recently, if I were ever to see Cupid on the street, I would bitch-slap that motherfu*ker blind, before shoving his diaper down one hole and his arrows up the other.

Now things are different. I don’t know exactly why. I’m still single, but I’ve had a change of heart, as it were.

Frankly, it’s become too exhausting, spending so much energy trying to ignore or discount Valentine’s Day, and the love it celebrates. This year, I’ve decided to surrender and let love have its day. I’m tired of fighting it.

It’s been many years since C.J. and the days of cardboard roses. Back then I thought I knew what love was.

Turns out, I didn’t know a damn thing.

The word “love” is dangerous. And it hurts as often as it heals.

I’ve come to learn that love means many things to many people. There’s no all-encompassing definition, rules do not apply. I didn’t know then that love could be messy, fleeting, destructive, casual, mesmerizing, unrequited, lonely, maddening, exhilarating, and

a million other things. Love is ambiguous.

I know that I have great capacity to give love although I’m not sure that I know how to be loved, how to allow myself to be so vulnerable and exposed and accepted. Is it possible for someone to know me, stand in the presence of my imperfections and still be willing to love me? I don’t know.

So now what?

Several years ago, I came to grips with the fact that if I was going to concede to the power of The V-Day, I would have to do some thinking about what this invented holiday meant to me. I don’t have a “significant other” so I had to find a way to become present to what is, accept it, and allow myself to be comfortable enough participate in Valentine’s Day. For me, the answer became celebrating love as it presents itself in my life and in my way, with my family, extended family and friends. It’s a day for me to express my gratitude and appreciation to those most important to me.

I don’t do that often enough. I don’t think any of us do.

And if it takes an invented holiday to remind myself to take a step back and give thanks for those I love and for those who have the courage to love me in return, so be it.

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 11

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Lords of Leather PHOTOS OF LORDS OF LEATHER ROYALTY APPRECIATION PARTY | PHOTOS BY AMBUSH PUBLISHING On Sunday, Jan. 27, the Lords of Leather held its annual royalty appreciation event upstairs at Lafitte’s Bar in Exile. The party was well attended including representatives from the Krewes of Narcissus, Stars, Armenius and Amon Ra among the members of the Lords. Good food and camaraderie made for a fun time as guests shared in the Mardi Gras season.

The 2019 honor goes to Mike Melancon, Lord Consort, and Tommy Stubblefield, Lord King bal masque XXXVI. The Ball’s theme this year is Forbidden (except for you) and is held at the Alario Center on Sunday, March 3rd.

Tickets can be purchased through any member or by visiting the website lordsofleather.org.

ANNOUNCEMENT Phoenix, Renegade Bears offer free shuttle rides to Lords of Leather Bal Masque NEW ORLEANS — The Phoenix and the Renegade Bears of Louisiana today announced it will offer a free shuttle service to and from the Alario Center, site of The Lords’ Bal Masque on Sunday, March 3.

There will be two trips to the event: one leaving from the Phoenix (located

at 941 Elysian Fields Ave.) at 5:30 p.m. and another an hour later at 6:30 p.m.

At the conclusion of the Bal, when they declare open court, the shuttle will leave immediately to return to the Phoenix. Only one shuttle will go back to the bar.

The Phoenix, a platinum sponsor

of The Lords of Leather, is proud to be the official host of the afterparty immediately following the Bal. The shuttles are offered on a firstcome, first-served basis, so patrons should arrive early in order to guarantee themselves a spot on the shuttles.

Tipping the driver is optional, but en-

couraged.

Located in the Marigny, patrons can find plenty of free street parking near the bar before boarding the shuttle. Shuttle riders will get their drinks at happy hour prices prior to boarding.

12 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

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INTERVIEWS FROM KEY WEST

Real Estate 101: Cheating Partners and Séances Kevin Assam kevin-assam@hotmail.com Stephanie Barnow is a rising LGBTQ real estate agent with The Swan Team of Keller Williams Key West Compass Realty. She’s brave enough to answer nonsensical but possible real estate scenarios I have conjured when she’s not busy baking orgasmic chocolate chip cookies or building log cabins. With the smell of roses and drug store chocolates in the air here’s a somewhat romantic blast of realtor knowledge.

I feel like my agent is too busy, not responding in a timely fashion, and possibly too friendly with the owners of certain properties. How do I painlessly break up with them?

Be sure you really want to. Often you can have a conversation asking for more attention. Sometimes an agent is torn between how attentive to be. You want them to be friendly with the other owners of listings so that when you want to see them it’s easy. However, if you feel like you’re giving someone else more attention than they’re giving you, the first step is to ask for more attention. If they don’t follow through,

thank them for all of their hard work but say it’s no longer a good fit. If they don’t try harder, you’re right to leave.

My bet is, however, that they will. There is an unfair assumption that real estate agents are omnipotent beings all seeing and all knowing. The truth is they’re just humans working on being there for you, but not being too obnoxious at the same time.

I think my partner is falling in love with my agent. They’re too flirty and I found them having dinner without me at a really nice chicken and waffles place. What should I do?

Fire your agent and get couples counseling. Stat.

My neighbor’s partner passed away within the last year. The property is starting to get unkempt and go downhill. Should I say anything?

Always come from a place of heart. You can offer to help if they need something. While you’re out clearing your yard, offer to cut their grass at the same time. Coming from concern and kindness is always the best way to op-

erate.

I’m a realtor and a recently single client appears to be dropping hints that we should connect beyond work. I’m worried about possible professional backlash. Help!

As with any profession, date outside of your sphere! If you’re interested and the connection looks like more than a false start begin all conversations with “I’m not lowering my commission for you” and if they persist, start with coffee! Date after the closing.

My tenants are performing séances and making offerings to the dead. Do I have any recourse for getting them to stop?

Well, no. Asking them to stop falls under religious discrimination. If they damage property you may have legal recourse, but other than that they’re free to talk to great-great-great-grandma any time they like.

My partner earns income several times my own. We’re moving ahead with purchasing her second home but my first. Is it normal to feel uncomfortable with the financial and experience imbalance?

Sure it is. The level of trust and clear communication that goes into a successful relationship is equally necessary when buying a home together.

Finances and expectations should be clear and, most importantly, in writing.

Buying a home together is really a sign that two people want to grow together. It’s usually the largest purchase a person will make in their lifetime and so it warrants thought, trust, and legal clarity.

Most people think realtors don’t really care about people, only the bottom line. When I got into real estate, people who knew me were a bit skeptical.

I think of myself as a realtor with heart because I actually care how each customer feels about this decision. Careful not to mistake kindness for weakness.

Because I care, I’ll fight for what my customers believe is important, but I have to connect first before I know what that is.

Are open houses good places to connect with other singles? Is it an appropriate setting?

[Laughs]. Not at all. You’d have better luck at the grocery store than an open house. Typically looking for love and making a financially life changing decision don’t go hand in hand. Unless, of course, you know the realtor holding the open house is single. And cute. And not an ex.

Kevin Assam is an average writer and hilarious interviewer originally from the Caribbean. He can be best described as a forty year old imaginative mind trapped in a pint sized twenty something year old body. His upcoming book is a collection of outrageous things overheard in Key West.

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14 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

JUNE 2019 NYCPRIDE.ORG/2019

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SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with the Krewe of Amon-Ra 2019 AMON-RA 54TH ANNUAL BALL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMBUSH PUBLISHING

16 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with the Krewe of Amon-Ra 2019 AMON-RA 54TH ANNUAL BALL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMBUSH PUBLISHING

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 17

Party Down Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com The Carnival Season is in full swing in the Crescent City!

The city vibrates in anticipation for the parades to start rolling. Purple, green and gold decorations blanket nearly every corner of New Orleans and its surrounding areas. And just recently, the city had one of its largest parties, rivaling Carnival Day itself, but it had nothing to do with the Mardi Gras season. It did though have everything to do with a celebrated season - Saints Season. But we will discuss that in good time. These last two weeks have included parties, theatrical performances, art openings, parties, potlucks and, of course, a boycott!

Mondays may be tough for many people, especially after that devastating loss, but NOAGE has a way to lift your spirits in a healthy way. Every Monday, NOAGE does a walking group at Lafitte Greenway starting at Bayou Beer Garden. Each week, the members walk approximately two miles. It is a great way to meet people and keep fit. You should definitely check it out.

Later in the week, I went to the Halloween Hosts Party at the home of Jason Waguespack and Jeff Morgan. The new Board members were announced and a check for $50,000 was presented to Lazarus House. It was a wonderful evening as hosts,

sponsors and volunteers were on hand as Dustin Woehrmann handed over the reins as president to Neil Savoy.

Last year was a huge success and this year’s event is shaping up to be just as fabulous. So keep an eye out soon for the announcement of the theme and venues.

New Orleans is a city well-known for its parties. I was honored to be invited to the grand unveiling of a new venue in the Central Business District. The Capital on Baronne is a gorgeous space that is poised to become one of the hottest new wedding and event venues in the city. Besides being a spectacular place to hold your party, it has a very interesting history.

Emile Weil, a prominent New Orleans architect, designed The Canal Bank & Trust Building at 210 Baronne Street. Built in 1927, Weil used mahogany trim, Tennessee marble, travertine floors and brass embroidery to line the corridors, and he embellished the façade with limestone statues. The building housed professional offices and one of the largest banks in the South for almost 90 years. The original bank lobby, with its sense of grandeur and scale, has been transformed into the Capital on Baronne and every detail has been preserved.

The following day, New Orleans

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.

Magazine hosted their monthly Hobnobber’s party at Generations Hall, another great party venue. Originally built as a sugar mill in the 1820s, Generations Hall was at one time one of the hottest dance clubs in the city affectionately called The Metropolitan. In its day, the lines to get into this nightclub stretched around the block. I love a place that brings back great memories and has lots of history.

After the NO Magazine party, I hopped over to NOAGE’s monthly potluck event at St. Anna’s Episcopal Church. NOAGE (New Orleans Advocate for GLBT Elders) hosts this monthly potluck that grows in size with each one; it’is a great way to meet people in the community and make connections.

Also, I want people to know that while NOAGE’s mission is to help the GLBT elder community, its events are open to all ages. No one escapes aging and isn’t it great to know there’s an organization out there that helps with the needs of our ever evolving community.

On Thursday, I attended the first of two theatrical productions. Le Petit Theatre presented A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder, which starred Ricky Graham as numerous characters, each one just as hysterical as the next. Graham appeared as members of the D’Ysquith family with unbridled glee. This Tony Award-winning musical kept the laughs (and the brutal murders) coming. It’s definitely a must-see!

Before the show, my friend and I had dinner at the new French Quarter restaurant Justine. Opened by the husband and wife team Justin and Mia Devillier (owners of Le Petit Grocery and Balise Tavern), Justine is a true French brasserie. Located in the former Hurwitz Mintz building, this 200 seat restaurant is gorgeously decorated and offers classic French cuisine (their onion soup is spectacular) and an impressive craft cocktail and wine selection. The place has been open only a few weeks and was already packed and, according to friend that works there, is already booked up for the next few months.

On Saturday, I attended the art walk on Julia Street which is always on the first Saturday of the month; it’s one of the best free things to do in the city. All the galleries on Julia Street

open their doors as participants stroll by, checking out the hottest new artists from NOLA and around the globe. And who knows--you might find that perfect piece for your home or office.

After the walk, I attended the show Landscape with Figures presented by the Contemporary Arts Center. I would classify this work by Andrew Ondrejcak as experimental theatre. Personally I love this type of avant garde theatre even if I never can fully understand what is going on. That was certainly the case with this show. But who doesn’t love a show where one of the characters plays bingo the entire 80 minutes.

I ended my two weeks doing what most people in New Orleans did -- not watching the Super Bowl. After that atrocity of a game with the terrible call (or lack thereof) from the referee that contributed to us losing the game, seriously, why is this guy still a referee?

Anyway, one of the reasons I love our city is when life gives you lemons, we add vodka, throw on a costume and host one of the biggest parties of the year.

The Boycott Bowl happened at Fulton Street with live music, food and an extreme amount of cocktails. In addition to the event at Fulton, there were parties and second lines across the city. No one in New Orleans had the Super Bowl on, at least not publicly. I attended this amazing event that had thousands of people packing the soldout event. My friends and I were on the balcony of Ernst Cafe with a birds-eye view of the stage and all the festivities.

We danced and drank away our sadness of not going to the Super Bowl.

I think in hindsight, New Orleans was the real winner of the Super Bowl; I know I certainly had more fun at this party then I ever had at any Super Bowl party, except maybe for the year we won. And, L.A., I am so sorry your Rams got your asses handed to you on the field by the Patriots, but karma is a bitch!

Until next time, stay calm and party on, because Mardi Gras is coming.

Cue Game of Thrones music.

Do you want your party or event covered? Invite me! ledgemgp@ gmail.com

crescentcitysports.com facebook.com/ccsdaily @ccsdaily @ccsprep

18 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com Untitled-5 1

6/1/18 1:01 PM

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Tony Leggio AT SAINT ANNA’S FOR THE NOAGE MONTHLY POTLUCK | PHOTOS COURTESY OF TONY LEGGIO

AT ERNST CAFE ON FULTON STREET FOR THE BOYCOTT BOWL | PHOTOS COURTESY OF TONY LEGGIO

AT THE HALLOWEEN NEW ORLEANS RECEPTION AT JASON WAGUESPACK’S HOME | PHOTOS COURTESY OF TONY LEGGIO

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 19

UNDER THE GAYDAR

New Orleans Hot Happenings

Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com

I cannot believe the first month of the year is already over. Time soars by when you are in the middle of the Mardi Gras season. Here are some Carnival (and more ) festive suggestions for your calendar. (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).

WEEKLY EVENTS EVERYDAY

Happy Hour: Crossing; 439 Dauphine St. 7 days a week from open until 9pm (7AM to 9PM). It’s $3 domestic beer and well drinks. $1 off everything else.

MONDAY

Martini Mondays: Crossing; 439 Dauphine St. (all day) Tito’s and Deep Eddy martinis will be $3.

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.

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 for LAZY SUSAN KARAOKE with music

by DJ Lucius Riley. Mondays are a drag, so make them fabulous and sing the night away. The line up this month is 2/18 Debbie With a D and 2/25 Tarah Cards.

NOAGE & Stonewall Sports Walk/ Run Club; Lafitte’s Greenway; 6:15 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 at Lafitte Greenway. The Stonewall Run Club joins this weekly event for walkers 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’ll meet in front of Bayou Beer Garden at 326 N. Jefferson Davis Parkway. 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.

Underwear Night: The Eagle at the Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields Ave.; starting at 9 p.m. The Eagle now is open EVERY Monday night. Happy Hour prices if you’re in your underwear.

Doors open at 9 p.m. and NO COVER. Primal Nights: Bacchannal Wine; 600 Poland Avenue; 5:30 - 8:30 p.m.

The team at Bacchanal is happy to announce a new season of Primal Nights!

If you’ve been to a Primal Night before, you know that they’re big old backyard bbqs to benefit a good cause! Guest chefs come and grill out a personalized

menu, the plate donations (~$20) all go to the charity of their choosing. Primal Nights have raised over $18,000 for notable local causes. They’ve decided to donate all of Winter 2019 Primal Nights to the Calfund Wildfire Relief.

TUESDAY

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 the Big easy Stompers 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

20 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

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.

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

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.

Kafe Karaoke: Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 9 p.m. – midnight. $25.00 Bar tab and free Shots & Givea-ways with Happy Hour all day.

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

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

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.

Happy Hour All day and Night: 700 Club; 700 Burgundy; 9 p.m. - 2 a.m.

Every week on Tuesday from 9:00 PM to 2:00 AM the next day.

THURSDAY

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 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. Retro Night: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; starts at 10 p.m. Enjoy drink special from 10 p.m. to midnight and the best hits from the 80’s and 90’s.

Looped: Mags 940; 940 Elysian Fields; 7 p.m. Looped is a play by Matthew Lombardo that ran on Broadway in 2010. Starring Elizabeth Bouvier as Tallulah Bankhead & featuring Greg Nacozy as Danny Miller. Get tickets on their Facebook page and through Eventbrite.

FRIDAY

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. Anyone can enter - $100 cash prize.

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 All Star Season 4 Viewing Party with Laveau Contraire: Kajun’s Pub; 2256 St. Claude Avenue; 7 - 9 p.m. Get those heels down to Kajun’s Pub for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 4! This season, each episode is a whopping 90 minutes followed by an episode of Untucked! Each week, Laveau will be joined by a co-host from the local drag scene to help entertain you with insightful commentary, witty banter, and dazzling performances! They’ll also have prizes, drink specials, interactive games and did I say prizes?

Misc4Misc: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 9 p.m. Enjoy this wonderfully weird drag show hosted every week by Apostrophe. Cover is $5.

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 21

Gay Mardi Gras 2019 JANUARY 6

MYSTIK KREWE DE LA RUE ROYALE REVELERS

6TH ANNUAL 12TH NIGHT PARTY

JANUARY 26 KREWE OF STARS 3RD ANNUAL BALL &

KREWE OF APOLLO, BATON ROUGE, 38TH ANNUAL BALL

FEBRUARY 1 KREWE OF MWINDO 21ST ANNUAL BALL

FEBRUARY 2 KREWE OF NARCISSUS 4TH ANNUAL BALL

FEBRUARY 9 KREWE OF AMON-RA 54TH ANNUAL BALL

FEBRUARY 16 KREWE OF APOLLO, LAFAYETTE, 43RD ANNUAL BALL &

ORDER OF DIONYSUS INAUGURAL BALL

FEBRUARY 23 KREWE OF PETRONIUS 58TH ANNUAL BALL &

KREWE OF APOLLO, BIRMINGHAM, 43RD ANNUAL BALL

FEBRUARY 26 KREWE OF QUEENATEENAS 25TH KING CAKE QUEEN CORONATION

MARCH 2 KREWE OF ARMEINIUS 51ST ANNUAL BALL

MARCH 3 LORDS OF LEATHER 36TH ANNUAL BALL

MARCH 5 MARDI GRAS DAY & 55TH ANNUAL BOURBON STREET AWARDS

www.GayMardiGras.com

Late Night Happy Hour: Cru NOLA; 535 Franklin Avenue; 10:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. Come by and get to know Executive Chef Marlon Alexander and sushi and vegan Chef Kelseay Dukae during their late night happy hours.

They look forward to serving you some delicious drink specials and amazing food from our kitchen. Come chill out in the iconic courtyard.

Beat The Clock; 700 Club; 700 Burgundy; 5 - 9 p.m. Well Drinks: 5 PM - 6 PM $1.50, 6 PM - 7 PM $2.00, 7 PM - 8 PM $2.50, 8 PM - 9 PM $3.00

SATURDAY

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.

Drag Dingo: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 6 - 8 p.m. Catch ChiChi Rodriquez and Persana Shoulders 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!

Late Night Happy Hour: Cru NOLA; 535 Franklin Avenue; 10:30 p.m. - 2 a.m. Come by and get to know Executive Chef Marlon Alexander and sushi and vegan Chef Kelseay Dukae during their late night happy hours.

They look forward to serving you some delicious drink specials and amazing food from our kitchen. Come chill out in the iconic courtyard.

SUNDAY

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.

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.

The Original Trash Disco: Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 410 p.m. Includes the original napkin toss and the best music videos to sing along with.

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

Join DJ Dereesha as he plays Karaoke.

The Half Assed-Straight Boys: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 3 - 5 p.m.

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 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.

Drag Dingo: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 6 - 8 p.m. Catch ChiChi Rodriquez, Persana Shoulders 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.

Vanessa Carr Presents Mama Honey’s Drag Brunch; Cru NOLA; 535 Franklin Street; 11 a.m. For tickets, go to www.crunola.com. Vanessa Carr presents Mama Honey’s Drag Brunch featuring an amazing menu from Chef Marlon Alexander and awesome entertainment! Come celebrate with the phenomenal talents of Vanessa Carr Kennedy and Friends!

Drink and Drown: 700 Club; 700 Burgundy Street; 5 - 8 p.m. Unlimited well drinks, Bud Light and Miller Lite draft $10

SPECIAL EVENTS TUESDAY 2/12

Last Call Open Mic: LGBT Community Center; 2727 South Broad Street; 7 - 9 p.m. Got something you’ve been working on and want to share in a low-stakes format in front of a loving audience? We’re excited to make space to nurture your next work of art--be it music, poetry, performance--so long as it’s under 5 minutes and doesn’t need more tech than a microphone! Email info@lastcallnola.org to sign up in advance.

WEDNESDAY 2/13

The Dark Art Market with the Green Demons: The Goat; 1301 St. Bernard Avenue; 7 p.m. - 1 a.m. The Dark Art Market features musical guest The Green Demons and lots of great vendors and a food Pop Up by Holly Tamale. NO COVER Sons of Tennessee Williams Screening and Panel with Puddin Tain: Prytania Theatre; 5339 Prytania Street; 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. Get in the Mardi Gras spirit and come learn about the history of New Orleans’ Gay

22 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

Krewes with the documentary Sons of Tennessee Williams and have a Q&A with the director and panel of Krewe veterans and experts in the art form. This goes to benefit the “Sons...” themselves, the Krewe of Armeinius.

This will be held in the historic Prytania theatre and will have king cakes and a special performance by the avant-garde queen herself Puddin Taine. Grab your friends and family and come learn about our extravagant art and get into the Mardi Gras fabulosity. For tickets, go to their Facebook Page or https:// ticketing.us.veezi.com.

Kinky Cabaret: The Allways Lounge; 2240 St. Claude Avenue; 8 10 p.m. As Sondheim said, IT TAKES TWO. And we’re pretty sure he was referring not to love, but to MUSIC! So this month, on the Eve before the Holiday That Must Not Be Named, Kinky Kabaret will be celebrating DUETS. Songs for Two. The Double Chanteuse. Our fabulous cast and some fabulous guests will be filling the room with natural Stereo Sounds at New Orleans’ newest THEATRICAL CABARET. Be prepared for drag, all kinds of burlesque, all-live singing, naughtiness at the piano, and a variety of eyes-andears candy! The cast includes Dede Onassis, Expecta Patrone, Angie Z and Trey Bien with Special Guests: AshleyRose Bailey, Amber Martin, pianist Zach Goodman and of course our KINKY KITTEN, Danny Girl!. $10

cover at the door, VIP tables and Bottle Service available!

The Transiberian Nightmare Before Valentine’s Day: Siberia; 2227 St. Claude; 9 p.m. The Transiberian Nightmare is BACK!! Hosted by ST!NK and CARINA VON TUNA & featuring Luna Rei, Daisy Konfused, and Squirt Reynolds and a ONE ON ONE amateur lip sync SMACKDOWN! Contestants interested in entering the competition should message St!nk. Winner will be decided by the crowd and receive a paid spot in March’s Transiberian Nightmare show.

FRIDAY 2/15

Love Is A Drag: Mags 940; 940 Elysian Fields; 7:30 - 10:30 p.m. The New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus is combining their Valentine’s concert with their annual drag show.

It’s De’Lovely! A Valentine’s Day Cabaret: The Azienda Theatre; 2000 Paris Road; starts at 7 p.m. Looking for a romantic event for Valentine’s Day weekend? Just a fan of classic jazz standards of the 20s-40s? Neither of those things but want to help support a totally awesome community theatre?

Whatever the case, join us for a night of music, drinks, and magic! One night only! Doors open at 7, performances start at 7:30. Admission: $15 (includes performances and open bar (beer and wine)). The event is hosted by The Company: A St. Bernard Community

Theatre.

Bear It All Bearlesque: The Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields; 10 p.m. The men of Bear-It-All Bearlesque are back for another unbearably sexy show! If you’ve never seen this unique version of male burlesque, now’s the time to fix that. It’s burlesque, BUT WITH BEARS! The cast includes Teddy Bareback, Hoel Cabana and hosted by Trey Bien. NO COVER! Flamboyant: The Allways Lounge; 2240 St. Claude Avenue; 11 p.m. The New Revolution of Boylesque is back Feb. 15th at the Allways Lounge with FlamBOY Expecta Patrone and Eros Sea hosted by the non-binary wonder Atomyc Adonis. See you at 11pm $10 cover.

SATURDAY 2/16

Queer Meditation: Mid City Zen; 3248 Castiglione Street; 10:30 a.m. A queer and trans centered meditation group meeting regularly on Saturday mornings. Open to all LGBTIQ+ people, and all folks interested in holding and sharing an intentionally queer-centering mindful space. Join them to sit, breathe, notice, rest; to cultivate presence and kindness together. *Free/by donation* NOAGE Coffee Talk - Open Discussion: New Orleans Healing Center; 2372 St. Claude Avenue; 10 - 11:30 a.m. Join the New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders (NOAGE)

for Coffee Talk! They will meet in Room #250 of the New Orleans Healing Center which has a parking lot behind the building. PJ’s coffee and pastries will be provided. Moderated by Dr. Catherine Roland, a private practitioner for over 30 years, with adults in transition, older adults, couples and families and diverse populations.

It’s Showtime on Rampart Street; GrandPre’s; 834 North Rampart St.; 10 p.m. Come out and catch this exciting drag show starring Moanalot Fontaine and special guests.

FEMME’s ROOM New Orleans; Poor Boys Bar; 1328 Saint Bernard Avenue; midnight - 5 a.m. TRAX ONLY + FUNCTION presents Chicago’s FEMME’S ROOM featuring Harry Cross (Chi); Total Handjob ; Heavy Pleasure ; Tspeanutbutter ; Puddin’ Taine ; XIVIX ; Quick Weave ; Asics ; Father Figure and hosted by: BIJOUX.

MONDAY 2/18

Imposters: The Allways Lounge; 2240 St. Claude Avenue; 9 – 11:30 p.m. Darling Darla James and Dede Onassis bring back the revival of IMPOSTERS, the show where no one is who they claim to be. Get ready for a night of New Orleans-based drag, burlesque, and variety entertainers doing their very best (loving) imitation acts of their fellow performers. Who will be portraying whom? You’ll have to come to find out! Cover: $10. Cast includes

Sat, 02/16 - 10pm

HoneyBee Trivia Thursdays 7:00 PM

Happy Hour Daily noon - 9:00 PM $3.00 wells and

domestics

Best place to watch the Barkus Parade!

Wednesday Video Game Night 7:00 PM

Fri, 2/22—10 pm

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 23

Versula Bottom, Tarah Cards, Gayle King Kong, Dolly Pardon?, and Angie Zeiderman.

TUESDAY 2/19

Crave: The Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields; 8 p.m. Happening UPSTAIRS at the Phoenix! $10 cover, cash bar upstairs. These just keep getting hotter, so if you haven’t seen it yet, now’s your chance! It’s male burlesque with extra flavor. It’s a celebration of body and sexuality. It’s upstairs at the Phoenix, so you get the idea. Door opens at 7:30pm, Showtime 8:00pm.

WEDNESDAY 2/20

NOAGE Potluck; St. Anna’s Episcopal Church; 1313 Esplanade Avenue; 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Join the New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders for their monthly potluck! Come to eat, network, and make new friends! If you are able, please bring a dish (main dishes, meats, sides, soups, salads or vegan/ vegetarian dishes, desserts, and beverages). Please also consider bringing non-perishable food items for St. Anna’s Food Pantry. There is limited parking and an accessible ramp on the right side of the building, so be sure to arrive early. Please call Mike at (423) 505-1488, or Jim at (504) 228-6778 if you have any questions.

THURSDAY 2/21

GLMA New Orleans Meet and Greet; University Medical Center; 2000 Canal Street; 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

GLMA cordially invites you to a Meet

& Greet on February 21, to network with your colleagues as they prepare for the GLMA Annual Conference on LGBTQ Health. Information regarding the conference, which will take place September 11-14 in New Orleans, will be shared at this event! This event is open to all individuals who are interested in the GLMA Annual Conference, as well as those who support GLMA’s mission of ensuring LGBTQ health equity.For more information, including how to RSVP, visit our website at www. glma.org/nola2019. GLMA is a national organization committed to ensuring health equity for LGBTQ and all sexual and gender minority (SGM) individuals, and equality for LGBTQ/SGM health professionals in their work and learning environments. To achieve this mission, GLMA utilizes the scientific expertise of its diverse multidisciplinary membership to inform and drive advocacy, education, and research.

Boys Wanna Be Her: The Allways Lounge; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 8 - 10 p.m. BOYS WANNA BE HER is a drag show with female and non-binary performers sure to piss you off!

Drag without men? Drag Kings! BioQueens! Faux-Queens! Drag Things!

Ho-Queens! New Orleans best female and non-binary identifying drag performers are serving you drama, comedy, lewks, and ferocity! Get ready for a drag showcase unlike any other you’ve ever seen. Hosted by Squirt Reynolds and featuring Tarah Cards, Napoleon Complex, Titibaby, Mammary Lane, Lash Wednesday, Shocktavia, Bellagio Showers and CeCe V DeMenthe.

Doors at 8 p.m.; Show at 9 p.m. Cover $10.

FRIDAY 2/22

Big Easy Sisters Beer Bust: The Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields, Ave.; 9 p.m. - midnight. Kick off the countdown to Mardi Gras w/The Big Easy Sisters for their bi-monthly Beer Bust benefiting local charities.$10 gets you all the draft beer you can drink from 9PM til midnight!. Jell-o shots for a mere $1.

SATURDAY 2/23

Queer Meditation: Mid City Zen; 3248 Castiglione Street; 10:30 a.m. A queer and trans centered meditation group meeting regularly on Saturday mornings. Open to all LGBTIQ+ people, and all folks interested in holding and sharing an intentionally queer-centering mindful space. Join them to sit, breathe, notice, rest; to cultivate presence and kindness together. *Free/by donation* The Krewe of Petronius Ball Masque LVIII; Sigur Cultural Center; starts at 8 p.m. The theme of this year’s Bal Masque is Liquored Up Literature.

Tickets available on Eventbrite.com.

The Country Club; 634 Louisa Street; 7 - 9 p.m. Come experience local breweries & neighborhood personalities at the Country Club. This event features live music by Dianella. ALL LOCAL beer, Shindig Vodka, Parade Rums, Crescent Vodka, and Roulaison Rum will be $5 each. 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. A classical violinist turned rock vocalist with her head stuck in the clouds, Dianella delivers songs of imaginative metaphors driven by compelling rhythms.

FRIDAY 3/1

Stonewall Sports First Friday Happy Hour: Phillip’s Bar and Restaurant; 733 Cherokee; 5 - 8 p.m. Join fellow Stonewallers for a monthly happy hour on the first Friday of every month at Phillip’s Bar, one of our Stonewall Sports New Orleans Sponsors.

SATURDAY 3/2

It’s Showtime on Rampart Street; GrandPre’s; 834 North Rampart St.; 10 p.m. Come out and catch this exciting drag show starring Moanalot Fontaine and special guests.

OUTclimb | LGBT+ Climb Night: New Orleans Boulder Lounge; 2360 St. Claude Ave.; starts at 7 p.m. OUTclimb is a New Orleans based LGBT+

climbing club dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming space for queer & trans people to climb. With support from the New Orleans Boulder Lounge on St. Claude, they are able to offer a night of climbing FREE to the LGBT+ community of New Orleans and surrounding areas. Allies are welcome to attend and should donate $5-$15 as you are able. Donations will go to a local LGBT+ organization.

Armeinius Bal Masque 51--Shh, It’s a Secret: Mardi Gras World; 1380 Port Of New Orleans; starts promptly at 8 p.m. Armeinius is back for its 51st installment of its infamous Bal Masque. After its triumphant 50th ball Armeinius has lots of secrets to tell.

Once again hosted by world-famous drag personality Varla Jean Merman and the outrageous Ryan Landry. You can purchase a whole table or pick individual seats. If you buy tickets you will gain access to the VIP pre-party in addition to your seat. We sell out quickly, so reserve your space now for this saucy and incredible night. Tickets are at https://armeinius.ticketleap.com/armeinius-bal-masque-51

SUNDAY 3/3

Lords of Leather Ball Masque 36: Alario Center; 200 Segnette Blvd.; Tickets are on sale now via Ticketleap. com - http://mystic-krewe-of-lords-ofleather.ticketleap.com/bal-masquexxxvi/

UNDER THE GAYDAR

Mobile Hot Happenings WEEKLY AT FLIP SIDE

WEEKLY AT B-BOB’S

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

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

54 S. Conception St., Mobile, AL (251) 431-8819

213 Conti St., Mobile, AL (251) 433-2262

ARE WE MISSING YOUR EVENTS? Email info@ambushpublishing.com

THURSDAY 2/28

Meet The Locals with Dianella: 24 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

HOSTED BY MICHAEL STYLES, REALTOR & BRYCE NOVOTNY, LOAN OFFICER

NEW ORLEANS FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER EDUCATIONAL SEMINAR FREE CLASS FOR BEGINNERS SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2019 11:00AM-1:00 PM ENGEL & VÖLKERS METAIRIE OFFICE 722 MARTIN BEHRMAN AVE METAIRIE, LA 70005

COME LEARN AND ENJOY A LIGHT LUNCH & MIMOSAS BEFORE KREWE DU VIEUX

LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE. FOR MORE INFORMATION & TO REGISTER, VISIT WWW.NOLASTYLES.COM/SEMINAR www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 25

MOMENTS IN GAY NEW ORLEANS HISTORY Gay Carnival: A Timeline Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com 1949 Steamboat Club’s Lundi Gras Luncheon debuts at Brennan’s Restaurant 1958 Krewe of Yuga, New Orleans’ first gay Carnival Krewe is founded 1962 Krewe of Petronius is founded 1962 Yuga ball is raided 1963 Arthur Jacobs presents the first Bourbon Street Awards at the corner of Bourbon and Dumaine Streets 1965 Krewe of Amon-Ra is founded 1968 Krewe of Armeinius is founded 1969 Amon-Ra presents 1st Miss America Pageant 1970 Mystick Krewe of Apollo debuts at Monteleone; 1st gay ball presented in a hotel 1971 Krewe of Olympus debut, 1st gay ball presented at the St. Bernard Civic Auditorium 1972 Mystick Krewe of Apollo, 1st gay ball to be held at the Municipal Auditorium 1976 Mystick Krewe of Apollo de Lafayette is founded 1977 Mystick Krewe of Apollo/Birmingham debuts 1977 Mystic(k?) Krewe of Celestial Knights (KOCK) is founded 1977 Academy of the Golden God-

dess, Inc. (AGGI)/New Orleans debuts 1978 Mystick Krewe of Apollo (Shreveport) is founded 1979 Police strike cancels parades in New Orleans; patrons of Charlene’s & the Golden Lantern take to the streets as the Krewe of Cancellation 1980 Police cancel Krewe of Cancellation parade because they have no parade permit 1981 Mystick Krewe of Apollo (Baton Rouge) is founded 1981 Krewe of Ishtar is founded 1982-3 Edd Smith hosts Bourbon & St. Ann St. Awards; no Bourbon Street Awards held 1983 Krewe of Polyphemus is founded 1984 Lords of Leather, the 1st leather krewe, is founded 1984 11 gay Carnival krewes present balls, a record in New Orleans 1984 No Edd Smith or Bourbon Street Awards 1986 Bourbon Street Awards resumes & moves to St. Ann & Burgundy

1987 Krewe of Queenateenas debuts, presenting 1st Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss 1991 AGGIs ends 1992 Petronius, Amon-Ra, Armeinius & Lords of Leather present only gay balls in New Orleans 1993 Krewe of Barkus is founded 1994 Krewe of Queenateenas crowns 1st King Cake Queen of Gay Mardi Gras 1998 1st new gay Carnival club since 1984, Krewe of Mwindo, is founded 1999 Lundi Gras Luncheon celebrates 50th anniversary 2000 Le Vendredi de Nuit Mardi Gras Avant debuts benefiting AIDS service organizations 2001 People of Substance’s Krewe of Anubis is founded 2002 Bourbon Street Awards returns to Bourbon & St. Ann Streets 2002 Petronius celebrates 40th anniversary 2003 Krewe of Satyricon is founded 2003 Krewe of Queenateenas celebrates 10th King Cake Queen Coronation 2004 40th Bourbon Street Awards

presented 2005 Amon-Ra celebrates 40th anniversary 2006 Petronius celebrates 45th anniversary 2007 Queenateenas celebrate 20th Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss 2008 Armeinius celebrates 40th anniversary 2008 Lords of Leather celebrates 25th anniversary 2008 Queenateenas celebrates 15th King Cake Queen Coronation 2009 Bourbon Street Awards returns to Bourbon Street 2010 Amon-Ra celebrates 45th anniversary 2012 Petronius celebrates 50th anniversary 2013 Queenateenas celebrates 20th King Cake Queen Coronation 2013 Krewe du Rue Royale Revelers is founded 2013 Krewe of Narcissus is founded 2014 50th Bourbon Street Awards 2015 Krewe du Rue Royale Revelers names first 12th Night Grand Reveler

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Wine Night Sunday Evenings

Half Price Bottles of Wine

DINE IN | TAKE OUT | DELIVERY | CATERING 26 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

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

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 27

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with the Krewe of Mwindo MWINDO 2019 BALL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMBUSH PUBLISHING

28 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with the Krewe of Mwindo MWINDO 2019 BALL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY AMBUSH PUBLISHING

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 29

Trodding the Boards Brian Sands bsnola2@hotmail.com

Varla Jean Merman’s Under a Big Top at Café Istanbul (and thru Feb. 16 in Puerto Vallarta at the Palm)

I’m not quite sure why Varla Jean Merman reused the title of a previous show for her newest extravaganza but that’s the only thing I can’t figure out.

As for the rest, I know from my aching laugh muscles that Under a Big Top qualifies as a hysterical one ring circus.

Under a Big Top celebrates Varla’s 25 years in show biz, or “25 years of shlepping myself from New Orleans all around the world just to entertain you” as she put it. It begins with the love child of Ernest Borgnine and Ethel Merman outfitted in a pink and orange ringmaster’s ensemble and singing, as part of the double entendre-filled title song, about “taking it all in.” Then she gets on a trapeze and swings over the heads of the audience. A friggin’ trapeze!

Assuring us that she’s “not Adele’s grandmother” and promising “acts of legerdemain” Varla sports a wonderful self-deprecating pride and can elicit laughs just by looking demure.

But if my notes say she is “SO Fun-

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.

ny”, it’s the kind of humor--the visible frustration of a “bad” joke not landing, the misplaced optimism that the next one will be better--that I can’t explain why it’s so funny; doing so simply would not do it justice. And it would take all that fun out.

Credit the virtuosity of UaBT to the genius of Jeffery T. Roberson (Varla’s alter ego) and his frequent collaborators Jacques Lamarre (co-writer of the witty and smart material) and Michael Schiralli (direction, perfectly calibrated) who combine to mix humor high and low to glorious effect.

Keeping with the Big Top motif, Varla appears in a fabulous black-andwhite outfit as a mind reader in the style of Carson’s Carnac the Magnificent, and as the Bearded Lady singing “Because She’s Hairy” to the tune of Pharrell Williams’ Happy.

That one and Varla’s other musical parodies have lyrics to savor; a Mexican-themed one manages to rhyme Tijuana, goner and Madonna. (If Varla’s observation that “Puerto Vallarta is like Provincetown but with diarrhea” doesn’t tickle you, you probably shouldn’t be under her big top.)

Other brilliant videos include Varla’s version of Jacques Brel’s Carousel, done like you’ve never seen it before (Hint: it involves clips from Hitchcock’s Strangers on a Train), and No Doubt’s Don’t Speak featuring mimes which had me howling out loud.

The marvelous extravagant costumes by Cecile Casey Covert and Philip Heckman translate Varla’s colorfully bigger-than-life persona into visual expression. And co-conspirator Brian W. Johnston’s cameos remain an integral part of any VJM show.

Under a Big Top concluded with a well-deserved encore medley of Varla’s greatest hits as seen through videos and photos over the past 25 years. Still constantly surprising and delighting audiences worldwide (she’s in Mexico till Feb. 16), here’s to Varla’s next 25 years! Or more!!

Dreamgirls at Jefferson Performing Arts Center through February 24

Having seen Dreamgirls during its original pre-Broadway Boston run, as well as two local productions, I have never been a huge fan of the show.

Let’s face it--if the Supremes had been forced to sing Henry Krieger and Tom Eyen’s second rate songs they’d never have gotten out of Detroit’s inner city.

Scheduling conflicts necessitated my attending the final dress rehearsal

Varla Jean Merman at Café Istanbul of Jefferson Performing Arts Society’s new production which was done before an invited audience, fairly large and certainly appreciative. While I had hoped that Director Christopher Bentivegna would bring a revivifyingly fresh approach to the show, as he had done last year with his phenomenal production of The Wiz, instead he offered a standard interpretation that was best in the group numbers when the main characters revealed their personal conflicts.

Though short of stature, Rahim Glaspy proved bigger than life as James “Thunder” Early, an R&B star patterned on James Brown; the stage lit up whenever Glaspy was front and center. I suspect the other actors were still shaping their performances, and expect that their characters and the relationships among them will come into greater focus as the run continues in the coming weeks.

If you’re a fan of this Motown-inspired musical and/or have never seen this tale of ambition, power struggles, loyalty and corruption before on stage, then head out to Airline Drive in Metairie. And do let me know what you think of it.

Looped at Mag’s 940, Thursdays through February 28

I saw, and admired, Looped in August 2017 at the Valiant Theatre in Arabi. Based on a real event, this comedy/ drama by Matthew Lombardo takes place in the summer of 1965, when Tallulah Bankhead needed eight hours to redub--or loop--one line of dialogue for her last movie, Die! Die! My Darling!

The production has now returned for a limited run at Mag’s 940 with substantially the same cast.

30 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

That cast is headed by Elizabeth Bouvier. Or, rather, Jeff Mallon as Elizabeth Bouvier who, according to the program from the Valiant, was “created in 2006 by Stephen Murrell and Jeff Mallon.” I’m not sure exactly what that means though it sounds like it could fuel a lecture in a gender studies course.

What I do know is that Mallon as Bouvier gave a tremendous performance, one of 2017’s best. He captured the essence of the singular Bankhead without ever falling into mere parody. Sure, her distinguishing vocal and physical mannerisms--the growly voice, the crooked wrist always holding a cigarette--were there, but Mallon never overdid it, presenting Bankhead as a flawed but authentic human being.

That Bankhead could credibly be portrayed by a man should come as no surprise; she’s been a staple of female impersonators for decades. In fact, Charles Isherwood in his NYTimes review of the 2010 Broadway production of Looped described Bankhead as “a pioneering drag queen who just happened to be born female.”

Be that as it may, she was certainly ahead of her time, both with her political views and a forthrightness about sex and sexuality. She would probably even have appreciated a man’s portrayal of her, particularly Mallon’s which avoids any whiff of caricature.

(Interestingly, though Valerie Harper starred as Bankhead in New York and eventually received a Tony Nomination for Best Actress in a Play, the show ran only four weeks. I didn’t see it, but it seems that it played up the comedy at the expense of the drama which this local production compellingly captures.)

Looped features Greg Nacozy as Danny Miler, a film editor who’s been corralled into working that infamous sound editing session as the film’s director has skipped town. Nacozy does everything he can to cajole the star into successfully delivering the garbled line, treating her respectfully, if firmly, until she pushes him too far. Eventually, some secrets are spilled, and if they’re less than earth-shattering, Mallon and Nacozy ring every ounce of emotional truth out of them.

Unlike her contemporary Bette Davis, whose legacy was captured in over 50 years’ worth of memorable films, Bankhead left less of a historical record as two of her greatest triumphs (The Little Foxes and The Skin of Our Teeth) occurred on stage.

As Bankhead has thus faded somewhat from the public consciousness, Looped provides those who remember “Tallu” and, perhaps more importantly, those who don’t really know her a captivating two hours in the presence of someone the like of whom we’ll never see again.

Greg Nacozy and Jeff Mallon as Elizabeth Bouvier (as Tallulah Bankhead) in Looped

Curtain Up

If you’re a fan of Dancing with the Stars, then head over to the Saenger Theatre on February 19 for Dancing with the Stars: Live!--A Night to Remember which will feature fan favorite professional and troupe dancers in a brand-new production showcasing every type of dance style as seen on the hit TV show, ranging from ballroom and jazz to modern and hip-hop.

Promising “a spectacular night of show-stopping dance performances from world-renowned dancers,” the cast includes Brandon Armstrong, Alan Bersten, Witney Carson, Artem Chigvintsev, Val Chmerkovskiy, Sasha Farber, Jenna Johnson, Gleb Savchenko, Emma Slater, Hayley Erbert and Britt Stewart, plus surprise guests.

If you’re a fan of classic musical comedies, through some quirk of the scheduling gods, you’ll have two opportunities this month to see the beloved show Guys and Dolls.

Veteran Broadway performer and Ambie Award-winning director Leslie Castay helms the Tony Award winner for NOCCA’s Musical Theater department. Performances will be February 19-26 in the Nims Blackbox Theater located inside the splendid NOCCA building on Chartres and Press Streets.

If past productions are any indication (Ambie winners Side Show, Floyd Collins, Tommy, as well as last year’s fantastic Anyone Can Whistle), I have no doubt it will be topnotch. And who knows? You may be seeing a future Broadway star!

Over in St. Bernard Parish, Chalmette High School also presents the “musical fable of Broadway” on February 21, 22 and 24 at its state-of-theart Cultural Arts Center (1100 E. Judge Perez Dr.). I saw Anything Goes there a few years ago and I’m sure you can expect a highly polished production

with an overflowing cast of guys and dolls.

And if you’re in the mood for a serious drama and, perhaps, to get away from the Mardi Gras madness for a few hours, take a trip over to St. Tammany Parish for Slidell Little Theatre’s production of Proof which won the 2001 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play.

In this solid drama from the school

of lyrical realism, Catherine, the daughter of a brilliant, recently deceased professor of math, struggles with her own mathematical genius and mental illness. Proof plays February 22-March 10 in SLT’s 55-year-old theater located at 2024 Nellie Drive in Slidell.

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

Just in time for Mardi Gras Steps to St. Charles 1716 Josephine Street #B ∙ 2 Bed, 1 Bath, 1100 SF ∙ $1800/Month Fabulous sunny, happy fully furnished second story two bedroom condo not even two blocks off of St Charles in the Lower Garden District, just in time for Mardi Gras! Loads of New Orleans charm, including hardwood floors, tall ceilings, a back patio and a front balcony with St. Charles Avenue views. The apartment also boasts loads on natural light, a gas range, an onsite storage unit, and comes with a washer and dryer in-unit. Great layout for roommates. Call today!

+1 504-777-1773 ∙ Michael.Styles@evusa.com

ENGEL&VÖLKERS MICHAEL STYLES

Engel & Völkers New Orleans ∙ +1 504-875-3555 ∙ neworleans@evusa.com 722 Martin Behrman Ave., Metairie, LA 70005 ©2019 Engel & Völkers. Each brokerage independently owned and operated. Licensed in Louisiana.

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BOOK REVIEW Southernmost. Silas House.

Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com

Southernmost. Silas House.

Algonquin, 2018. 340 pages. $26.95.

In this stunning novel about judgment, courage, heartbreak, and change, author Silas House, author of five novels, including A Parchment of Leaves, wrestles with the limits of belief and the infinite ways to love.

In the aftermath of a flood that washes away much of a small Tennessee town, evangelical preacher Asher Sharp offers shelter to two gay men. In doing so, he starts to see his life anew—and risks losing everything: his wife, locked into her religious prejudices; his congregation, which shuns

Asher after he delivers a passionate sermon in defense of tolerance; and his young son, Justin, caught in the middle of what turns into a bitter custody battle.

With no way out but ahead, Asher takes Justin and flees to Key West, where he hopes to find his brother, Luke, whom he’d turned against years ago after Luke came out. And it is there, at the southernmost point of the country, that Asher and Justin discover a new way of thinking about the world, and a new way of understanding love.

Reflecting on his creative process in an interview with Lambda Literary, House, a former commentator for NPR’s All Things Considered, once told Carter Sickels: “When I’m working

on a novel, I look for inspiration everywhere, especially in other media. Poetry, film, photography, paintings. Since the majority of this book is set in Key West, I particularly looked at the work of artists associated with it and the main influence there became Elizabeth Bishop. I read a lot of Merton, as does Asher. Zora Neale Hurston’s novel Jonah’s Gourd Vine was a big influence because it’s also about a preacher trying to find his way (and I have a couple of homages to her in the novel—Bell is from her hometown, for instance).

I looked at a lot of stuff about people losing their belief and the best thing I found was Ingmar Bergman’s Winter Light. And I always use a ton of music to guide me. The touchstone musicians

in this book are Patty Griffin, My Morning Jacket, Tom Petty, Joni Mitchell, and Celia Cruz, I listened to them over and over. For years. Also, since this is a novel about being on the run, I was thinking a lot about one of my all-time favorite novels, Paper Moon, about a man and a little girl on the run. I could go on and on.”

Southernmost is a tender and affecting book, a meditation on love and its consequences. It will resonate with gay folk with deeply religious backgrounds. Unfortunately, it probably will not be read by those who could benefit most from its impact—homophobic religious people who have rejected family members because of their sexuality.

FINANCIAL & BUSINESS Choosing a New Credit Card? Read This First Scot I. Billeaudeau, JD, LL.M. ADPA® s.billeaudeau@ampf.com A quick glance at television commercials or online pop-up ads shows that reward programs are the name of the game for many credit cards. If you have a high credit score and pay your bills on time and in full, chances are you can benefit from choosing cards with attractive incentives. Are you getting the most bang for your buck when you pull out the plastic? Here are four tips to consider as you look for a more rewarding approach to using credit cards: Tip #1 – Review your current cards Many investors hold the same cards for years – even decades. While this is often a responsible approach, now may be the time to review the cards you own. Your credit worthiness (as determined by your income, credit history and other factors) can change

over time, along with your financial situation. This means the right cards for you today may be different than the ones in your wallet. Opening and closing accounts may negatively impact your credit score, so proceed carefully.

Tip #2 – Identify cards that offer your best opportunities Determine the type of rewards that matter most to you. Are you looking for airline miles, the chance to earn points toward concert tickets, bikes and other items, or would you prefer cash back? Do your favorite retailers offer cards with appealing rewards?

Consider your financial goals and how credit card benefits could help get you closer to achieving them. For example, earning airline miles could reduce the cost of your annual vacation, or extra cash could be invested in your IRA. Be

selective and don’t fall into the trap of spending money just to earn points.

Tip #3 – Find common ground If you are single, decisions about which credit cards to hold are up to you. But for couples who share financial responsibilities, it’s important to align on which cards to apply for and whether to have joint or separate accounts. Lay out your spending strategy, such as determining who will pay the bills each month or a dollar amount that requires a conversation with your spouse before purchase. Align on how to allocate your reward points so you’re working toward a common goal.

Tip #4 – Be stingy about fees Many attractive credit cards have no annual fee or waive fees for an introductory period. Check the fine print,

particularly if you have plans to travel abroad, as foreign transaction fees may also apply. Minimizing fees can help you maximize the value of your reward points.

Credit cards these days can be rewarding, especially if you use them wisely. Consult with a financial professional if you’d like help reviewing your finances.

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.

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About at GrandPre’s BIRTHDAYS AT GRANDPRE’S | PHOTOS BY AMBUSH PUBLISHING

32 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with at Sipps Gulfport PHOTOS COURTESY OF DWAIN HERTZ

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 33

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with the Krewe of Apollo JANUARY 26, 2019 KREWE OF APOLLO, BATON ROUGE, 38TH ANNUAL BALL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY STACI BRIMER

34 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with the Krewe of Apollo JANUARY 26, 2019 KREWE OF APOLLO, BATON ROUGE, 38TH ANNUAL BALL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY STACI BRIMER

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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 CROSSING (formerly 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 · February 12 – 25, 2019 · 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, 433 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119, www. armeinius.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, Gay-

MardiGras.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.

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.

When you call us you speak to a person, not a machine. See our ad.

photography

New Orleans, LA [504] GRAHAM/STUDIO ONE NEW ORLEANS, by appointment, grahamstudioone. com

restaurants

Metairie, LA [504] Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop & Pub, 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., 835.2022, GumboStop.com

New Orleans, LA [504] The Bombay Club, 830 Rue Conti, 577.2237, www.bombayclubneworleans. com Broussard’s Restaurant & Courtyard, 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 Louisiana Pizza Kitchen Uptown, 615 S Carrollton Ave, 866-5900, www.louisianapizzakitchenuptown.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

LGBT+ Archives Project OF LOUISIANA

Getting Our History Out of the Closet www.lgbtarchiveslouisiana.org

FINAL - Ambush ad - 5 x 2.9375.indd 1

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

Get Listed for $10 per Issue Want to see your business, organization, or event in our next issue?

Email Ambush sales@ambushpublishing.com

11/16/18 7:25 PM

CORNER OF ST. CLAUDE AVE & ELYSIAN FIELDS

NOW ON

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com 37 Untitled-6 1 6/1/18 12:49·PM

A COMMUNITY WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Mardi Gras then Lent

The Very Rev. Bill Terry+ fr.bill@stannanola.org What can possibly be said about Mardi Gras that hasn’t been said by so many others for so long? It is unique, enchanting, dirty, festive, drunken, family friendly, girl friendly, gay friendly, dangerous, “the greatest free show on earth” and a dozen other observations and slogans.

Briefly, this is what I like about Mardi Gras. I like to enter the Quarter from Esplanade Avenue. Fewer crazies and much more fun when I hit Bourbon and St. Ann. I like people watching on the fringes much more than the standard parades.

I was raised here and hit puberty here so the parades lack something for me now; hey, I’m almost 68. What I also enjoy but don’t see as much as I would like, are the wonderful marching clubs that wander about with no destination in mind. When we lived in the Bywater, a marching group would amble by just making beautiful music and having a blast. I like the little stuff.

I like being asked to do the Invocation at Gay Balls. There is just something about me, a traditionalist by some measure from a mainline denomination, offering prayer just before the tableau begins that is fun and really an honor.

I love the running commentaries during these balls. Yes, like everyone else, I critique the costumes and remain amazed at the creativity and beauty of it all. Gay balls are the best as far as I am concerned. I would far rather go to Amon-Ra than Bacchus or any other of the Big Show krewes.

I suppose that is why I like Krewe du Vieux for my parade going pleasure.

Nothing like hanging out at the Friendly Bar with friends and watching the bawdy spectacle unfold.

Once the party is over and once you’ve had your Tylenol or aspirin the next day, it is time to think about what has passed and what is present.

Ash Wednesday is the start of Lent.

In New Orleans that means “getting my ashes.” The ashes are smeared on the forehead as a sign and symbol of what we believe.

Lent is a period of 40 days and 40 nights (excluding Sundays) in preparation for Easter. It is generally recognized in both Western and Eastern Christianity and dates back to the very earliest days of Christian history.

But what is it all about? How can it possibly do any good at all? How might you access this season to make it something meaningful?

First, consider the opening words to Lent, “From dust ye came to dust ye shall return.” In a more 21st century way we might say that this simple sentence says that: a. We are all a part of nature. Our very being is made up of stardust, our person is part of the cosmic enterprise.

We are composed of elements and our DNA is an imprint of nature itself, “From dust ye came…” b. So, when our course is run, likewise, we are “recycled” it is our natural pattern to return in forms of elements to that which created our substance. c. The overall essence is this, you only have one life to live, you only have so much time. Time, believe me, is sacred. It is that measure of our span and what we will do with it.

So, Lent is set aside for us to regroup, consider who and what we are, and, perhaps more, what we want to be and how we will cherish this sacred gift that we have. If things are all screwed up it is a time to unscrew them. If you think life is just not a joyful experience, maybe you are right, but maybe you can find some light to hang your hat on.

Do we really take time just to take a fearless spiritual inventory of ourselves? Some don’t, most should. If

you have a life that is basically pretty satisfactory, do you cherish it and not take it for granted? Lent is a time to give thanks.

Of course it’s New Orleans and so “getting my ashes” is almost a cultural custom as much or more so than a religious ritual. A couple of years ago we processed through the tough parts of the 7th Ward, just a few of us and a cross, in vestments. I remember being chased down by a couple of “working girls” with “Hey, Pastor, can I get me some ashes?” Of course they can.

We did a Eucharist with ashes under the I-10 overpass on N. Claiborne.

A huddle mass we were of maybe ten folks, “gotta get me some ashes.” I suppose for some those ashes are like a talisman warding off some unseen danger.

So, if you “get your ashes” just be mindful that when the words are spoken it is not a condemnation nor is it a threat. The words and symbol are a reminder of how connected we are to one another and all creation and that we have a gift and that is the sacrament of time. How will you use it? Nothing more and certainly nothing less.

ANNOUNCEMENT Books about New Orleans Queer History Garner Awards

Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation, published last year, was recently named a Stonewall Honor Book by the American Library Association.

The Stonewall Book Award-Israel Fishman Non-Fiction Award is presented to English language books that have exceptional merit relating to the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender ex-

perience. Tinderbox was one of five books nominated for the prestigious award. The nomination helps cement the Up Stairs Lounge as an official part of gay historical canon.

The ALA’s Over the Rainbow Booklist Committee also honored another book about New Orleans gay history— Out for Queer Blood: The Murder of Fernando Rios and the Failure of New Orleans Justice, by Clayton Del-

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ery. Delery is also the author of The Up Stairs Lounge Arson, which was named Book of the Year by the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities in 2015.

Delery notes, “ALA lists chose 9 titles as outstanding examples of LGBT History. Bobby and I wrote two of those nine books—which is not a bad percentage in terms of New Orleans representation.”

Tinderbox was also nominated for an Edgar Award in Best Fact Crime, a category won in the past by Truman Capote and Erik Larson. This is the first time a serious queer history has been considered for this honor—a breakthrough considering that the true crime genre normally lumps LGBT+ characters in with pedophile priests and serial killers.

Tinderbox author, Robert Fieseler, observes, “For two major literary organizations, the American Library Association and the Mystery Writers of America, to recognize an Up Stairs Lounge book in the span of a week is unprecedented. I don’t think anyone,

my publisher included, guessed that Tinderbox would have this kind of crossover potential between an LGBT+ audience and a true crime readership—mostly straight, white and conservative. I mean, we’re not preaching to the choir with this story anymore.

We’re converting, changing hearts. I’m skeptical to think that this has anything to do with me; rather, it’s recognition of a vital piece of American history finally getting its due. So many shoulders have worked to lift this legacy higher and higher, and the Up Stairs Lounge is now known, and the victims mourned, among circles we couldn’t have even anticipated a year ago.”

Local historian, author, and President of the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, Frank Perez echoes the sentiments of Fieseler and Delery, “At long last, the seminal moments of our local queer history are getting national recognition. I applaud both Bobby and Clay and encourage them to keep up the good work.”

38 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

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40 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

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www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 41

NEW HOPE CELEBRATES ANNOUNCEMENTS New Hope Celebrates Inc. announces 2nd. Annual Miss New Hope Celebrates Pageant

Gordon Pulaski, NHC Creative Director gordon@newhopecelebrates.com & Jennifer Wohl, Pageant Coordinator jenn@newhopecelebrates.com New Hope, PA – New Hope Celebrates (NHC) and Party Gurlz Productions proudly present the 2nd. Annual Miss New Hope Celebrates Pageant at The Event Center by Cornerstone in New Hope, PA. Saturday, March 16, 2019. Doors Open at 6pm.

Tickets available on www. eventbrite.com or www.newhopecelebrates.com This evening of glitz, glamour, and pageantry stars the incomparable Ginger Alley, Miss New Hope Celebrates 2018. The Ebony Enchantress, Victoria Lace is the Mistress of Ceremonies for this event that is not to be missed.

Joining these lovely ladies is the beautiful Miss Cyannie Lopez, Miss New Hope Celebrates 2017. Also, we are thrilled to announce our very special guest, local and national favorite Shae Shae LaReese, Miss National 2018!

The pageant will showcase the area’s top female impersonators as they compete in several categories including presentation, talent, evening gown and onstage Q&A, battling for the title of Miss New Hope Celebrates 2019.

The evening will also pay tribute to our good friend Ricky Crosby.

Ricky played a pivotal role in bringing pageantry and the art of female imper-

sonation to our amazing community of New Hope. This and all future Miss New Hope Celebrates pageants will take place in his honor. He may no longer be on this earth, but his memory, and all that he taught us will live on...

Tickets for the evening are $55 for General admission and $75 for VIP seating, which includes a catered dinner and our award-winning show. Cash bar will be available for your enjoyment by the Raven.

New Hope Celebrates will host the 2019 Annual NERP (Northeast Regional Pride) Conference held by Interpride. Interpride is an international

organization that unites the Pride organizations throughout the world.

New Hope Celebrates is honored to host the Annual NERP Conference

for the second time and welcomes all to participate, both Interpride and non-Interpride members and local businesses.

ABOUT NEW HOPE CELEBRATES New Hope Celebrates (NHC), is a nonprofit organization focused on

highlighting the history and cultural nuances of New Hope, PA while stimulating the retail, hospitality, and professional community. NHC is comprised of an Executive Board that drives activities and events that serve the diverse LGBT populace through the creation and promotion of marketing opportunities, educational activities, and cultural events.

One such event is the annual, week long PRIDE celebration held annually in May.

“Celebrating our past, Planning our Future�- NERP 2019

GINGER ALLEY CYANNIE LOPEZ SHAE SHAE VICTORIA LACE

Miss New hope Celebrates 2018

Ellen Rosenberg Photography

Saturday, March 16, 2019

The event will also pay tribute to our good friend, Ricky Crosby, former Promoter of Miss Gay Pennsylvania USofA Pageantry and New Hope Local Legend.

RICKY CROSBY

The conference will be held Thursday, March 7, 2019 through Sunday, March 10, 2019 in New Hope, PA. A weekend of activities is planned. Participants will be provided breakfast, lunch and dinner on Friday and Saturday and a breakfast on Sunday.

Workshops are planned at the Raven Resort in New Hope throughout the days. Noted author and founder of the Philadelphia Gay News, Mark Segal will be the keynote speaker. Mark Segal was present at the Stonewall Riots in New York City and is a founding member of New York’s Gay Liberation Front. He also founded the first National LGBT Youth Organization. Segal has spent his life fighting for AIDS awareness and is a nationally respected LGBT activist. 2019 is the 50th anniversary of the Stonewall riots and the beginning of Pride festivities around the world.

After attending workshops, entertainment is planned at night with a dance party and drag show at the Raven Resort. There will also be time to explore the bucolic towns of New Hope, PA and Lambertville, NJ along the Delaware River.

Accommodations for conference attendees will be available at local hotels and Bed & Breakfasts. Local transportation can also be arranged.

For all information on registration fees, workshops, schedule, accommodations and transportation go to www.nerpnewhope.com.

SINCE 2003

42 ¡ The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com ¡ February 12 – 25, 2019 ¡ Official Southern Decadence Guide ¡ www.SouthernDecadence.com

ANNOUNCEMENT In Search of Stonewall: The Riots at 50, The G&LR at 25 Published by The Gay and Lesbian Review Worldwide to Commemorate 25 Years of Publication The Gay & Lesbian Review reached a milestone with the publication of its first issue of 2019: the completion of its 25th year. To commemorate this achievement, the editor has published a book titled In Search of Stonewall, a collection of articles about the LGBT movement’s founding event.

The G&LR was founded in 1994, which was the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots. So this year both Stonewall and The G&LR are celebrating important birthdays. In Search of Stonewall commemorates both anniversaries with a collection of our best articles on the early struggle for equality. The full title is: In Search of Stonewall: The Riots at 50, The Gay & Lesbian Review at 25, Best Essays, 1994-2018.

This is a rare and important collection of essays about the aftermath of the riots in New York City and across the US. The book brings together many of the major LGBT writers and activists of our time in an authoritative collection on the signal event of the modern LGBT movement. Included are the following 31 contributors, whose articles have been selected from the 136 issues published from 1994 to 2018: Dennis Altman, David B. Boyce, Michael Bronski, Frank Browning, David Carter, John D’Emilio, Steven F. Dansky, Michael Denneny, Martin Duberman, Lillian Faderman, D. Gilson,

Eve Goldberg Jewelle Gomez Harry Hay, Amy Hoffman, Andrew Holleran, Karla Jay, Jill Johnston, Arnie Kantrowitz, Dolores Klaich, Larry Kramer, Toby Marotta, Del Martin & Phyllis Lyon, Felice Picano, John Rechy, Will Roscoe, Ellen Shumsky, Bob Smith, Martha Stone and Edmund White.

Richard Schneider Jr., the book’s editor, is the founder and editor-in-chief of The Gay & Lesbian Review Worldwide, which was launched the magazine in 1994 as The Harvard Gay & Lesbian Review (the name changed in 2000). Taking his doctorate in sociology at Harvard in the early 1980s, he taught at the university level for the next decade before founding The G&LR as a sideline while working for a Boston consulting firm in the ’90s. The magazine has been his full-time job since 1999.

The G&LR’s mission is to promote equal rights and equality for all sexual and gender minorities, advance the intellectual life of LGBT people, and educate a broader public on LGBT topics. https://glreview.org $19.95 paperback, 206 pages plus photos ISBN: 978-0-578-41108-8.

For images, interviews or for more information email: michelekarlsberg@me.com or call 917359-2803

GAY MARDI GRAS 2019 61st Year of Gay Carnival is Underway The 61 year of Gay Carnival began on January 6 with the Mistick Krewe de Rue Royale Revelers annual Twelfth Night Party.

The highlight of the annual party, which celebrates the arrival of Carnival Season, is the Procession of Previous Grand Revelers and the presentation of the new Grand Reveler. The identity of the Grand Reveler is a closely guarded secret and not revealed until the night of the party. Attendees at this year’s party, numbering over 300, were surprised when Frank Perez, the Lord of Misrule and founder of the Krewe, introduced Frank Perez as Grand Revst

eler V, the Faux Reveler (note--same name, two different people). Previous Grand Revelers include Jeffrey Palmquist (GR I), Will Antill (GR II, the Financial District Reveler), Rip Naquin (GR III, the Award-Winning Reveler), and Felicia Philips (GR IV, the Cheese Reveler).

After Lord of Misrule Perez introduced Grand Reveler Perez, the outgoing Krewe of Queenateenas’ King Cake Queen (Solitaire), accompanied by the new King Cake Queen (Tiffany Alexander), called upon the Lord of Misrule and the new Grand Reveler for a Royal toast.

This year, Carnival Season is long; Mardi Gras falls on March 5. The calendar is filled with fantastic events between Twelfth Night and Shrove Tuesday:

February 16

Krewe of Apollo, Lafayette, 43rd Annual Ball Order of Dionysus Inaugural Ball

February 23

Krewe of Petronius 58th Annual Ball Krewe of Apollo, Birmingham, 43rd Annual Ball

February 26

Krewe of Queenateenas 25th King Cake Queen Coronation

March 2

Krewe of Armeinius 51st Annual Ball

March 3

Lords of Leather 36th Annual Ball

March 5

Mardi Gras; 55th Annual Bourbon Street Awards

For more information about the Gay Mardi Gras, please visit GayMardiGras.com. www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 43

ANNOUNCEMENT LGBT+ Archives Project Funds Exhibit on Gay Carnival Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com The LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana recently awarded a $5,000.00 grant to the Louisiana State Museum to help produce an exhibit on Gay Carnival.

Grand Illusions: The History and Artistry of Gay Carnival in New Orleans opens June 6, 2019, at the Presbytere on Jackson Square and will be curated by Wayne Phillips, Curator of Costumes and Textiles and Curator of Carnival Collections. The exhibit will be the first ever to deal with Gay Carni-

val. The exhibition’s title is inspired by the theme of the 1976 Armeinius ball, “An Evening of Grand Illusions.”

This pioneering in-depth look at the intriguing history and extraordinary visual artistry of the celebration will showcase the artists and their work with a wide range of artifacts and will include costumes and videos from the famous tableau balls of many of the krewes. Over 100 items will be presented, many of which have never be-

fore been presented publicly.

On exhibit will be an astounding array of costume sketches, never-before-seen photographs from the balls, vintage film and video footage, colorful invitations, commemorative posters, custom-designed ball souvenirs, and numerous lavish costumes.

In addition to the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, other financial supporters of the exhibit include the John Burton Harter Trust, Greater New Orleans Foundation LGBT Fund,

Krewe of Armeinius, Krewe of AmonRa, Lords of Leather, Mr. John Bertrand, Mr. John Welch and Mr. Jason Doyle, and the Friends of the Cabildo.

The mission of the LGBT+ Archives Project is to promote and encourage the protection and preservation of materials that chronicle the culture and history of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender community in Louisiana.

The exhibit runs from June 6, 2019 through December 2020.

Tulane announces 2019 football schedule Tom Symonds, Crescent City Sports NEW ORLEANS – Tulane University released its 2019 football schedule in conjunction with the American Athletic Conference office on Thursday.

The Green Wave’s upcoming slate is highlighted by six home games including a primetime matchup with Houston on ESPN in September.

Tulane’s home schedule includes non-conference games against Florida International (Aug. 29) and Missouri State (Sept. 14). The Green Wave also will welcome league opponents Houston (Sept.

19), Connecticut (Oct. 12), Tulsa (Nov. 2) and twotime defending league champion UCF (Nov. 23) to Yulman Stadium.

Over the past two seasons, Tulane has posted an 8-4 record at home.

The Green Wave’s six road games will include trips to Auburn (Sept. 7), Army (Oct. 5), Memphis (Oct. 19), Navy (Oct 26), Temple (Nov. 16) and SMU (Nov. 30) to close out the regular season. Tulane’s matchups with Army and Navy will be aired nationally on CBS Sports Network.

Tulane enters the 2019 season following a strong 2018 campaign that saw the Green Wave finish with a 7-6 record, a mark that included a win over in-state rival Louisiana-Lafayette in the 2018 AutoNation Cure Bowl in Orlando, Florida. The Green Wave finished 2018 with wins in five of their last six games to clinch just their sixth winning season in the last 37 years and a share of The American West Division title.

The Green Wave return 29 players who have started in at least one game from last year’s team.

Fans can purchase 2019 football

season tickets in non-premium sections by visiting TulaneTix.com or by calling (504) 861-WAVE (9283). Season ticket deposits for premium sections are also on sale. All deposits are $50 and are non-refundable.

Download the official mobile app of Tulane Athletics. Now, you can stay in touch with the Green Wave anytime and anywhere on your Android or iOS mobile device.

Follow Tulane football on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram at @GreenWaveFB. Fans also follow Tulane Athletics on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram.

2019 TULANE FOOTBALL SCHEDULE T h u r s d a y, Aug. 29 vs FIU Saturday, Sept. 7 at Auburn Saturday, Sept. 14 vs. Missouri State Thursday, Sept. 19 vs. Houston* (ESPN) Saturday, Sept. 28 – Bye Week Saturday, Oct. 5 at Army (CBS Sports Network) Saturday, Oct. 12 vs Connecticut* Saturday, Oct. 19 at Memphis* Saturday, Oct. 26 at Navy* (CBS Sports Network) Saturday, Nov. 2 vs. Tulsa* Saturday, Nov. 9 – Bye Week Saturday, Nov. 16 at Temple* Saturday, Nov. 23 vs. UCF* Saturday, Nov. 30 at SMU* Home games in BOLD | * – League Games SCHEDULE NOTES Thursday, Aug. 29: FIU All-Time Series: FIU leads, 1-0 Last Meeting: Tulane fell at FIU, 23-10 (Oct. 14, 2017)

The Green Wave’s upcoming slate is highlighted by six home games including a primetime matchup with Houston on ESPN in September.

Of Note: Tulane will open the year on a Thursday night for the second consecutive season. FIU will make its first-ever trip to Yulman Stadium.

Saturday, Sept. 7: at Auburn All-Time Series: Tulane leads, 1714-6 Last Meeting: Tulane fell at Auburn, 38-13 (Oct. 21, 2006) Of Note: Tulane will be in search of its first win at Auburn since Oct. 25, 1952.

Saturday, Sept. 14: Missouri State All-Time Series: First all-time meeting Last Meeting: N/A Of Note: Tulane has never lost to an FCS opponent at Yulman Stadium.

Thursday, Sept. 19: Houston (ESPN) All-Time Series: Houston leads, 17-6 Last Meeting: Tulane fell at Houston, 48-17 (Nov. 15, 2018) Of Note: The Green Wave will play host to their first ESPN Thursday Night Football matchup at Yulman Stadium.

Saturday, Oct. 5: at Army (CBS Sports Network) All-Time Series: Tulane leads, 119-1 Last Meeting: Tulane won at home, 21-17 (Sept. 23, 2017) Of Note: The Green Wave earned a 34-31 win in their last trip to West Point.

Saturday, Oct. 12: Connecticut All-Time Series: Tulane leads, 2-1 Last Meeting: Tulane defeated Connecticut, 38-13 (Nov. 26, 2016) Of Note: Tulane’s 38-13 win over Connecticut in 2016 gave head coach Willie Fritz his first win in American Athletic Conference play.

Saturday, Oct. 19: at Memphis All-Time Series: Memphis leads, 22-12-1 Last Meeting: Tulane won at home,

40-24 (Sept. 28, 2018) Of Note: The Green Wave will be in search of back-to-back wins over Memphis for the first time since the 1997 and 1998 seasons.

Saturday, Oct. 26: at Navy (CBS Sports Network) All-Time Series: Tulane leads, 1210-1 Last Meeting: Tulane won at home, 29-28 (Nov. 24, 2018) Of Note: Each of the last three matchups have been decided by 7 points or fewer.

Saturday, Nov. 2: Tulsa All-Time Series: Tulsa leads, 11-4 Last Meeting: Tulane won at Tulsa, 24-17 (Oct. 27, 2018) Of Note: In the two teams last meeting in New Orleans, Tulane posted a Yulman Stadium-record 653 yards of total offense.

Saturday, Nov. 16: at Temple All-Time Series: Temple leads 3-1 Last Meeting: Tulane fell at Temple, 31-0 (Nov. 19, 2016) Of Note: The Green Wave will be in search of their first win over Temple since joining The American.

Saturday, Nov. 23: UCF All-Time Series: UCF leads, 5-2 Last Meeting: Tulane fell at UCF, 37-6 (Nov. 5, 2016) Of Note: The Knights have never won at Yulman Stadium.

Saturday, Nov. 30: at SMU All-Time Series: Tulane leads, 1312 Last Meeting: Tulane lost at home, 27-23 (Oct. 20, 2018) Of Note: The last three outcomes have been decided by a total of 11 points.

This article was originally published

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

44 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

Time for Saints to turn the page as 2019 NFL offseason begins Les East, Crescent City Sports METAIRIE – The Super Bowl is over.

So is the Boycott Bowl.

The blown officiating call in the NFC Championship game that tainted the Super Bowl and gave birth to the Boycott Bowl will loom over the New Orleans Saints for a while.

But it’s time to turn the page from the 2018 NFL season to the 2019 NFL calendar.

The Saints’ players will be on their own for a while, but the front office has plenty to do to prepare for off-season work and next season.

Here’s a look at the key dates and events looming during the off-season: Feb. 19 – The first day that NFL teams can designate franchise and transition tags.

It seems unlikely that the Saints will utilize either designation, but how teams do or don’t utilize them provides

the first hint as to what could happen in free agency.

Feb. 26-March 4 – The Scouting Combine.

NFL teams will put the top draft prospects through intensive physical and mental evaluations as a key component in producing their grades prior to the draft.

March 5 – The deadline to apply franchise/transition tags.

T h e s e last-minute decisions will determine the final significant elements that will influence the attractiveness of the free-agent class.

March 11 – First day to contact free agents This will confirm for teams what kind of competition they will face in courting the top free agents on their shopping lists.

March 13 – Free agent signings

Ingram showed no signs of diminishing skills and he left little doubt that his preference would be to stay in New Orleans, but the process isn’t that simple.

and trades can begin The work that is done during the early stages of the off-season will begin to yield results as teams can begin to sign free agents away from each other.

The Saints have 22 players from last year’s team who are eligible for free agency.

The biggest name on the list is running back Mark Ingram II, who’s a vital part of the team, but whose value is also diminished a bit by the presence of Alvin Kamara and the fact that Ingram will enter his ninth season in the fall, which is well beyond the average life expectancy for running backs.

Ingram showed no signs of diminishing skills and he left little doubt that his preference would be to stay in New Orleans, but the process isn’t that simple.

“I was drafted here. I met my wife here. My children were born here,” Ingram said a few days before the NFC Championship loss to the Rams. “Very rarely does anybody get to spend their whole career in one place.

“I love New Orleans. I love this team. I love this organization. Hopefully everything works out, but it’s a business. I’m not looking just to up and

leave New Orleans. We’ve got a good squad. I feel like we could do this type of things for many more years. So I’m not looking to bail out of New Orleans.”

Ingram’s future home likely will be determined by whether his market value proves to be significantly greater than what the Saints feel they can afford to pay a valued player and person who shares is position with a young star.

Here’s a list of New Orleans’ other free agents: DB Chris Banjo LB Vince Biegel QB Teddy Bridgewater DL Jay Bromley WR Dez Bryant OL Jermon Bushrod CB Ken Crawley DT Tyeler Davison CB Justin Hardee TE Michael Hoomanawanui DB Rickey Jefferson RB Daniel Lasco OL Josh LeRibeus WR/RS Tommylee Lewis K Wil Lutz OL Michael Ola LB Craig Robertson LB Manti Te’o CB P.J. Williams

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www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 45

LS Zach Wood Biegel, Hardee, Jefferson and Wood are exclusive rights free agents, meaning they cannot negotiate with other teams.

March 24-27 – League meetings in Phoenix It’s safe to assume that a hot topic of conversation will be whether to add judgment calls, such as pass interference, to the list of reviewable plays by instant replay as a reaction to the egregious non-call that derailed the Saints’ NFC title march.

April 15 – Off-season workouts can begin The Saints have not announced their schedule for off-season work and probably won’t for a few more weeks,

but their off-season work figures to start close to this date.

April 19 – Deadline for restricted free agents to sign offer sheets Wil Lutz is the Saints’ most significant restricted free agent, but it’s unlikely the organization will allow their kicker to test free agency. He figures to be re-signed after a record-setting season.

April 24 – Deadline to exercise right of first refusal for RFAs If the Saints sign any restricted free agents to an offer sheet, this is the deadline by which they will learn if their overture was successful.

April 25-27 – NFL Draft in Nashville, Tenn.

The Saints have a second-round

pick, a fifth-round pick, two sixth-round picks and two seventh-round picks.

The schedule At some point in April, the NFL is expected to release the full schedule for next season – meaning dates and times will be added to the opponents and sites that we already know.

New Orleans figures to be involved in about a handful of prime-time games.

Here’s who the Saints play and where they play: Home Dallas Cowboys Houston Texans Indianapolis Colts Arizona Cardinals San Francisco 49ers Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers Tampa Bay Buccaneers Away Los Angeles Rams Chicago Bears Seattle Seahawks Tennessee Titans Jacksonville Jaguars Atlanta Falcons Carolina Panthers Tampa Bay Buccaneers This article was originally published

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

Absurdity all that’s left at this point in Pelicans season Twenty-six games to go.

That’s the only thing you can really take away from the theater of the absurd that is the New Orleans Pelicans.

There are 26 more opportunities for fans to try to decide whether to praise or bury Anthony Davis, though it will probably meld into a combination of the two.

When Davis was introduced to the Smoothie King Center crowd Friday night before the Pelicans’ 122-117 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves, there was a noticeable contingent of fans who booed the franchise’s greatest player.

Who could blame them? Davis effectively checked out on the season when his trade request became public on Jan. 28, while the Pelicans were still clinging to hopes of putting a fully-healthy team on the floor and making a late-season run to the playoffs.

Davis heard it. He acknowledged as much after the game. “I always love the fans here,” he said. “So it was definitely awkard. Alright boo, okay. But it

David Grubb, Crescent City Sports doesn’t matter. I’m going to go out and and devastating blocked shots. play basketball.”

“I thought he played well the minPressed further on the atmosphere utes he was in there and did a great his trade demand has created, Davis job,” said Alvin Gentry. “He was typical was more terse in his response.

Anthony.”

Strangely enough, his teammates Gentry faced questions both bechose to act as if they heard nothing, fore and after the game about the minsaw nothing, knew nothing. utes that Davis will play on a nightly “I didn’t him them,” said Pelicans basis, now that the NBA has weighed guard Tim Frazier. “They booed him?” in, reportedly threatening the Pelicans Yes, Tim. They did. with a fine of $100,000 per game if DaJrue Holiday also said he hadn’t vis were a healthy scratch. heard the boos either, though they Whether or not he says so, this continued through the first few Pelican’t be easy for Gentry. His team cans possessions precisely when Daseemed to have found some rhythm vis touched the basketball. playing together without Davis in the Those boos did turn to cheers. lineup for the past nine games. With Fans are fans. They want to see wins the playoffs more dream than reality and they want to see talented players at this point, giving minutes to Davis do what they do. Davis won Friday doesn’t seem to benefit anyone. night’s crowd over by accomplishing There were multiple occasions both. when Anthony Davis left his feet and He made spectacular plays on the crowd held its collective breath. both ends of the court, on his way to This reverse alley-oop finish that re32 points, nine rebounds, and three sulted in a three-point play was almost blocked shots in only 24 minutes. a nightmare scenario come true.

There were dunks, powerful rebounds, Embedded video

Andrew Smith @DruProductions All I saw was AD’s knee and my heart stopped. NO ALLEY OOPS! 52 9:33 PM - Feb 8, 2019 See Andrew Smith’s other Tweets Twitter Ads info and privacy How many more times over the next two months will Pelicans fans, management, and presumably Rich Paul, Magic Johnson, and every other potential suitor for Davis’ services for that matter, have to hope that a player that has suffered more dings that a car left in a grocery store parking lot makes it through the season unscathed?

Unless something changes in the near future, we’ve all got…

Twenty-six games to go.

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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46 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · February 12 – 25, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

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