Ambush Magazine Volume 38 Issue 03

THE OFFICIAL GAY MAGAZINE OF THE GULF SOUTH™

A Biweekly Publication Celebrating LGBTQ Life, Music & Culture Since 1982 VOLUME 38 ISSUE 03

TUESDAY, February 11, 2020

Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide™

www.AMBUSHMAG.com

THE “OFFICIAL” DISH

by TJ ACOSTA, PUBLISHER

Dear Ambush Nation, On behalf of myself and everyone at Ambush, Happy Carnival! Mardi Gras is here and there are so many fun events to enjoy. If you haven’t done so yet, you still have time to attend one of the many Gay Mardi Gras balls along the Gulf South. These balls are magnificent productions with amazing costumes.

This issue is our Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide and it’s packed with all the information you need to have a wonderful Carnival. There are events

at bars throughout the French Quarter, Marigny and Bywater. Be sure to check out the bar ads in this issue along with our “Hot Happenings” section for a listing of all the events leading up to Mardi Gras Day! 33RD ANNUAL GAY MARDI GRAS BEAD TOSS Join King Cake Queen XXVI, Felicia Phillips, and friends for the 33rd Annual Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss at the Ambush Office located at 700 Burgundy. The event starts at approx-

Inside this Issue of Ambush Magazine Community Announcements

6

Arts & Culture

14

Health & Wellness

32

Hot Happenings Calendar

36

Business & LGBTQ Owned & Friendly Business Directory

50

Comics, Puzzles & Horoscopes

55

Sports

57

Gulf South LGBTQ Entertainment & Travel Guide Since 1982 New Orleans, Louisiana | info@ambushpublishing.com | (504) 522-8049

imately 2pm on Mardi Gras Day. This is always a highlight of the Krewe of Queenateenas Mardi Gras events.

On a personal note, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Felicia Phillips on being this year’s King Cake Queen. You have been a pleasure to work with and are truly deserving of this honor. May you have a successful reign over Gay Mardi Gras as King Cake Queen XXVI, The Ruby Queen!

17TH ANNUAL SAINTS AND SINNERS LITERARY FESTIVAL The 17th Annual Saints and Sinners Literary Festival will take place from March 27 - 29 at the Hotel Monteleone. This literary festival is an internationally recognized event which brings together LGBTQ publishers, writers and readers from all across the United States. The festival, which is held over 3 days, features panel discussions and classes around literary topics which provide a forum for editors, authors and publishers to discuss their work. For more information and to buy tickets to the festival you can go to sasfest.org.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS This year Easter Sunday will be on April 12th. The 21st Annual Gay Easter Parade will once again roll through the French Quarter on Easter Sunday at 4:30 pm. Keep reading Ambush Magazine for an announcement about this year’s Easter Grand Marshals and updates on Gay Easter Parade Events!

The Project Lazarus Annual Guardian Angel Award Gala will take place on Friday, May 8, from 6:30 to 9:30 pm at the Ace Hotel. The event features a cocktail hour, a three-course dinner, an award ceremony and a silent auction. This year’s recipients of the Guardian Angel Award are Gary Schiro and Jane Wilbert. For more information or tickets, please contact Lily Hannigan at lhannigan@projectlazarus. net.

The Gay Appreciation Awards will be held on July 18. This is the premier event where we recognize members of the LGBTQ community for their outstanding service. Individuals, businesses and organizations are nominated across a variety of categories and then voting takes place to choose the winners. The highest honor each year is the Lifetime Achievement Award which is chosen by Ambush. Last year’s recipient was Larry Bagneris, Jr.

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

700 Burgundy Street, New Orleans, LA 70116

info@ambushpublishing.com

PRINT CIRCULATION

Alabama - Birmingham, 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

OPERATIONS & EVENTS Chris Leonard CONTRIBUTORS Adam Radd, Andrew Watley, Brian Sands, Catherine Roland, Charles Pizzo, Dorian-gray Alexander, Frank Perez, Jim Meadows, Kevin Assam, Lynn Stevens, Rev. Bill Terry, Ryan Rockford, Scot Billeaudeau, Tony Leggio & Crescent City Sports PHOTOGRAPHERS Andrew Hopkins, Charles Pizzo, Doug Adams, Dwain Hertz, Glenn Melancon, Persona Shoulders, TJ Boudreaux, Tony Leggio

LOCAL ADVERTISING sales@ambushpublishing.com 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.

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NEWS & COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS Spotlight on Saints and Sinners LGBTQ Literary Festival Speakers The annual Saints and Sinners LGBTQ Literary Festival will take place in New Orleans March 27-29. For registration information: Sasfest.org Ambush readers can register with a 20% discount by using the code Ambush20 when registering.

In this series, we introduce you to some of the writers in the all-star lineup for #SAS20 this March in the heart of the French Quarter.

Sven Davisson is a New Orleans-based writer, photographer, and publisher at Rebel Satori Press (and imprints QueerMojo and Queer Space). His most recent book, a collection of poetry and photography, is entitled The Desire Line: Memory & Impermanence. Davisson’s previous collections of short fiction and essays are The Starry Dynamo and The Star Set Matrix. His short fiction appeared the anthologies Wilde Stories 2009: The Best Gay Speculative Fiction, Suffering From the Night: Queering Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and Madder Love: Queer Men in the Precincts of Surrealism. www.svendavisson.com Saeed Jones is the author of Prelude to Bruise, a poetry collection that

Sven Davisson

Saeed Jones

Tammy Lynne Stoner

won the 2015 PEN/Joyce Osterweil Award for Poetry, the 2015 Stonewall Book Award/Barbara Gittings Literature Award, was a 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award finalist, and received awards from Lambda Literary and the Publishing Triangle. His latest book is a memoir, How We Fight for Our Lives. Jones is a former co-host of BuzzFeed’s morning show, AM to DM,

and served as BuzzFeed’s LGBT editor and Culture editor. Jones earned a BA at Western Kentucky University and an MFA at Rutgers University-Newark. He lives in Columbus, Ohio.

Tammy Lynne Stoner is the award-winning author of Sugar Land, publisher of Gertrude journal, and wrangler of GERTIE queer book club.

She worked as the Production Man-

ager for OUT, the Advocate, and Alyson Books in their heydays, and now writes full-time. A VCAA Fellow and Sou’Wester Artist-in-Residence, Tammy lost both a Pushcart and a Million Writers Award. She can most often be found in the bathtub. tammylynnestoner.com

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Loyola University and the Need for Higher Quality Tour Guides: An Interview with Tourism Expert Frank Perez Ambush recently had the opportunity to sit down and chat with local tourism expert Frank Perez about the current state of tourism in New Orleans, the quality of tour guides, and the Professional Tour Guiding courses he teaches at Loyola University.

Q: How did you get involved in the tourism industry?

FP: Years ago I was a concierge at a hotel in the CBD. A big part of that job was selling tours. After a few years of doing that, I decided to open my own tour booking agency. I started the Crescent City Tour Booking Agency in 2012 and it’s still going strong eight years later. Because we book almost every type of tour in New Orleans and because there are so many tour operators in the city, I’ve had the opportunity to meet a lot of people in the industry as well as experience a wide variety of tours.

Q: A lot of locals, especially those who live in the French Quarter, have had bad experiences with tour guides, especially at night.

FP: I would consider myself one of those people. I live and operate a storefront in the Quarter and have encountered ill-informed and/or rude guides on numerous occasions.

Q: Rude?

FP: Yes. By rude, I mean guides who block sidewalks and entrances to business, who let their guests sit on stoops and lean on buildings, or who narrate too loudly.

Q: Aren’t there regulations against those things?

FP: Yes and no. The city has a few rules regarding walking tour groups, but they are not routinely enforced.

The most common violations are having more than 28 people on a tour, groups staying at least 50 feet away

from each other, and conducting tours after 10:00pm. Some tour companies are better than others about sticking to those rules, but a lot of tour operators and guides either don’t care or don’t know about the rules. It really comes down to companies setting values and properly training their guides.

Q: 28 people on a tour seems like a lot.

FP: It is a lot, especially in the French Quarter or in St. Louis Cemetery #1.

Q: These are all logistical issues.

What about content? It seems a lot of guides pull “facts” and stories out of thin air.

FP: Indeed they do. Some guides would be excellent fiction writers. Unfortunately, there is no way to effectively police that sort of thing. One of the things I stress in my classes at Loyola is that New Orleans history is so fascinating, there is no need to make things up.

Q: Tell us about the courses you teach at Loyola. Are they just for tour guides?

FP: No, not at all. Professional Tour Guiding is obviously designed for people who want to become tour guides, but a lot of folks who have no interest in becoming tour guides take the course for the history. I also teach a course on French Quarter history and one on Research Methodology.

Q: So is the Professional Tour Guiding course primarily just history?

FP: Yes, there is a lot of history, but it also contains a lot of “nuts and bolts” information regarding being a licensed tour guide in New Orleans— the “ins and outs” of the industry, if you will. Currently, anyone can apply with the city to become a tour guide. If

applicants pass a federal background check and pass a test the city offers, they can get a license. The city will accept the results of the exam I give at the end of my course.

Q: I didn’t realize it was so easy to become a tour guide.

FP: It’s almost too easy. That is why there are, unfortunately, so many bad guides on the streets.

Q: Are the class sessions all lecture format?

FP: No. Classroom sessions consist of instructor lectures, guest speakers, and student presentations. Previous guest speakers have included representatives from the Tour Guides Association of Greater New Orleans, Save Our Cemeteries, the National WWII Museum, the Friends of the Cabildo, various tour operators, an authentic Voodoo Priest, an expert on Native Americans, and a representative of the Opera Guild. And there are two field trips in the form of walking tours of the Garden District and the French Quarter. As I mentioned, students also have the option to take the Tour Guide Permit exam for the City of New Orleans on the last night of class.

Q: The French Quarter History class sounds really fun.

FP: It is. That class has no assignments and no test—just a lot of great information and stories about the Quarter. Tour guides would certainly benefit from it, but anyone who loves the Quarter would enjoy it.

Q: What do you focus on in the French Quarter class?

FP: Everything! Including the neighborhood’s underbelly. Sure we talk about architecture and demographics and the artistic and literary heritage of the neighborhood—the “serious stuff”— but we also dive into

drinking culture, the Mafia, sex work, how Bourbon Street became Bourbon Street, and a lengthy section on eccentric characters! And all of the above, of course, feature a lot of LGBT+ history.

Q: Honestly, that sounds more exciting than Research Methodology.

FP: I suppose so, but here’s the draw of the research class—students get to select a topic in which they are personally interested and then do a deep dive into that topic. Each week I bring in representatives from various area institutions to assist students in their own research. It’s sort of like a workshop each week.

Q: What are some of the institutions who come to the class?

FP: The Historic New Orleans Collection, The Louisiana State Museum, Amistad Research Center, the Notarial Archives, the Catholic Archdiocese Archives, Special Collection Division of Tulane, the New Orleans Public Library, the Newcomb College Archives, and others.

Q: How can potential students learn more about these courses?

FP: They can go to https://pacs. loyno.edu/individual-courses Each course meets once a week in the evenings and are all non-credit. All three begin the week after Mardi Gras. Registration is now open.

In addition to being a long-time licensed tour guide, Perez is a member of the New Orleans Sustainable Tourism Task Force, a volunteer with the Friends of the Cabildo tour guide training program, the owner of a tour booking agency, and the author of Treasures of the Vieux Carre: Ten Self-Guided Walking Tours of the French Quarter.

Letter to the Editor: What Valentine’s Day Means A Letter to the Editor from John East Like many gay men, I find the traditional holiday season somewhat cold.

Thanksgiving is a landmine of politics, in-laws, and the proverbial drunk uncle. Christmas is really for families with kids. My partner and I, even in liberal circles, are not totally accepted during these family-focused receptions. Even demonstrations of acceptance seem to prove the point. For many gay men, the holidays are bittersweet times.

Valentine’s Day is my holiday. It’s only about the person you love.

We’ve come a long way in a short time. Roughly 25 years ago, like many gay men, I was threatened (me with expulsion) for wanting to bring a man

to prom. The school called my parents, my mother cried and threatened to kick me out of the house.

Many gay teens never even got that far, burying their love because of the reactions of their family or those who were supposed to be caring for them. Make no mistake: those days are not entirely behind us either.

But Valentine’s Day is not what you inherit by circumstance, it’s what you choose.

On Valentine’s Day, I can bring my same-sex lover to a restaurant and be served. And they know you are gay because, well, it’s two men sitting together on Valentine’s Day. Maybe because of the progress among the young who tend to be servers, you will almost

always be served graciously. That’s meaningful.

I can’t imagine having to purchase The Green Book, a pamphlet really, which told fellow dark- skinned people where they could eat or stay. Even in this eternal creole, vibrant city, the entries were scant indeed. I’ve looked at every edition: the only place in New Orleans still extant from any of the editions is Dookie Chase. God Bless Leah Chase for bringing people together!

We don’t face a civil rights struggle of such magnitude on Valentine’s Day even when we are “putting your gayness in my face” as we dine. Yet sitting together with the person you love on Valentine’s Day is nonetheless acting up for equal rights. There is a reason

that the Civil Rights movement focused on the seemingly small luncheonette counter.

Valentine’s Day is my holiday because it embodies tolerance. St. Valentine demands that you profess your love freely. You engender community.

Now, we can marry freely. We can sit with our partners in a hospital room (that denial was perhaps the cruelest arrow of yesteryear). But those were other people’s strictures. On Valentine’s Day, we get to celebrate our own love.

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NOTES FROM THE ROAD

New Orleanians’ Experience Caucusing for Pete in Iowa A Letter to the Editor & Photos from Rick Duplantier

If you ever have the opportunity to attend the Iowa Caucus during election season, just do it! Attending the Iowa Caucuses last week was an exhilarating, energizing experience. The initial and then final results of the Caucuses confirmed what we believed: Pete Buttigieg has the ability to build a coalition to win the 2020 presidential election.

For me, it all started with a random message via LinkedIn. Early last year, I heard Pete Buttigieg speak at an event and was intrigued by his presence, as well as his message. I read his book, “Shortest Way Home,” and became further convinced that he had the ability to bring a new generation of leadership to our nation. And yes, it was vitally important to me that a gay person could be a viable candidate for our nation’s highest office.

So, I researched and found the name of his Campaign Finance Director, Marcus Switzer, and sent him a note. Within a day, I was talking with a campaign staff member encouraging me to participate. Discussions eventually led us to plan a fundraiser with Pete during The Essence Festival last

July. In October we had another event, this time, at the Arthur Roger Gallery with Pete’s husband, Chasten Buttigieg and Mandy Moore. I remained engaged with the campaign, mainly with fundraising and bringing awareness to Pete’s message. My husband, Rob Clemenz, and I were encouraged to join the campaign in Iowa.

Rob and I spent five days in Des Moines canvassing for Pete and serving as Precinct Observers on Caucus night. We were not fully prepared for the experience. Just a few days before we left, the campaign called to provide a schedule, and remind us to bring snow boots because we would be trekking through the ice and snow of Iowa.

I only fell on my fat ass one time.

When we arrived in Iowa on Friday, we met with campaign staff and had extensive training on door-to-door canvassing. While knocking on doors we used advanced technology. There’s an App for that! The level of campaign staff enthusiasm and organizational ability was like a well-oiled machine.

On Friday night we were sent into the cold to knock on doors.

You might think that on a Friday evening we would not get many doors opened or receive enthusiastic re-

Hitting the streets with Craig Koch (Atlanta), Rick Duplantier and Rob Clemenz

sponses. When Iowans answered their doors, they wanted to talk about the candidates and hear about Pete. The people in Iowa take their unique role seriously and consider it an important duty. On Saturday morning we spent a few hours going door-to-door, at least it was a sunny Saturday despite still being below freezing.

Saturday night was spent learning how to serve as caucus observers.

Pete’s Campaign had identified a Precinct Captain in every single Iowa precinct. Pete’s Campaign was the only one that was able to achieve this goal.

So we knew that Pete had a representative in each precinct, and then those of us from out of town would act as “caucus observers“ to assist in the process and provide guidance to ensure that caucus rules were followed.

Sunday we were back out canvassing, with a side stop to see Pete speak at the final Iowa rally at Lincoln High School in Des Moines. The gym was full and brimming with energy. Pete’s speech that afternoon left us encouraged for the final push to win. Then on Monday morning, we went to the West Des Moines campaign headquarters with over 100 other volunteers. Pete personally gave us a pep talk. He was going to every volunteer office to thank volunteers and encourage us to get out the vote. Pete is tireless.

The caucuses begin precisely at 7:00 PM. We were all instructed to arrive by 5:00 PM to meet the Team Pete Precinct Captains. By 6:00 PM my caucus site lines were out the door to register. There were at least 120 people at my particular precinct location that registered to vote that day or change their party from Republican to Democrat.

It is difficult to explain the chaos that ensues. After everyone has registered and signed the voter registration logs, they are basically locked into a room. voters gather in groups for the candidate they support. In order to be considered “viable“ you have to have

15% of the people in your group. After initially gathering in an area for the various candidates, a temporary chairperson then counts what is the called the first alignment, meaning does each candidate have the requisite number of voters supporting them to be considered a viable candidate.

Each candidate has an opportunity to have a supporter make a pitch for that candidate, which was not easy in such a loud and dense room. While it was generally a friendly process, it did get a little tense. After all, you are in a room with your neighbors publicly showing who you support, and where you stand politically. Quite different from the privacy of our voting booths here in Louisiana.

We had 400 people in my precinct, so 60 were needed to be deemed viable. On first alignment, Pete was clearly viable with 107 voters in his corner.

We had already won that precinct by a large margin. Pete led all of the other candidates by at least 20 votes. After that first alignment, you then get into the second alignment to determine the final candidates that will be viable.

In my precinct, Elizabeth Warren on first alignment was one vote shy; she had 59 votes and was not viable. Amy Klobuchar had 51 votes and was not viable. Tom Steyer and Andrew Yang had minimal votes thus also not viable.

The people in nonviable groups have the opportunity as part of the second alignment to join another group or stay with their non-viable candidate. After the second alignment Elizabeth Warren was able to achieve viability at 62 votes. Pete was able to expand his lead as his number went to 129 votes, with many of Klobuchar and Steyer voters joining the Pete campaign. Once the total votes for each candidate is calculated on second alignment, then the number of delegates from the precincts are divided up by percentages. Pete earned the most votes and the most CONTINUED ON PAGE 12

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Pete thanking volunteers at West Des Moines office on Caucus Monday

Running into Donna Brazile in the hotel lobby on caucus day

Final Get out the Vote Rally at Lincoln High School

Eddie Miller, LA Home Inspector 504.579.4501 LHI#10453

Home Inspections 1.800.905.1558 www.housecallsusa.net emiller@housecallusa.net www.housecallusa.net/eddiemiller

Rick Duplantier, middle, meeting Miss Black America, Ryann Richardson (left), and Hasoni Pratts, National Constituency Director for Pete for America Campaign

Caucus observer badge

Canvassing with Liz and John Buchanan from Chicago, Illinois

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10

information that had been gathered by the campaign, we knew that we were going to win or tie. By the time Pete took the stage on Monday night we knew that this campaign was viable for the long-haul.

Pete is running a campaign focused on the future, with a message of unity, and an effort to restore decency and belonging to the whole nation.

The worst thing you can say about Pete, politically, is that he has yet to gain much support from black voters.

But that’s a huge opportunity. He has a strong agenda to offer these voters (read the Douglas Plan before you object https://peteforamerica.com/policies/douglass-plan) and is working to build trust. In a general election against Trump, Pete is best suited to shore up his support from African American voters.

Pete can win. When you meet Pete, you will discover that he’s well prepared to lead the country—the whole country, not just a party or a movement—in addressing the challenges of the next four years. Give him a chance, and he will inspire you to join his movement, just like he has inspired me to board a plane and walk for hours in snowy Iowa to ensure that his message of hope and unity are heard. When Pete does well in New Hampshire, cynics and opportunists will scoff that he’s not electable. Don’t believe it….

For more information, please feel free to contact Rick Duplantier at RDuplantier@yahoo.com

delegates from my particular precinct.

As an observer non-voter, we were not allowed to participate and were confined to a corner to ensure we were not counted in the vote. This is understandable, but quite frustrating as you want to make the case for your candidate. As part of Pete’s Campaign we were reporting back to headquarters the results for each precinct. The staff and volunteers were also sharing information, so we knew that things were going well for Pete. By the time I left my precinct, three hours after it started, we were getting reports that Pete was in the lead. I picked up Rob from his neighboring precinct (which Pete won as well), our hearts were beating with excitement. We headed to Drake University where the Campaign was gathering for the results. By the time we got to the University, the campaign had gathered enough information to know that Pete was going to win or be a very close second.

Pete qualified in the overwhelming majority of Obama/Trump precincts, and performed better than expected in these precincts. Pete was viable in the vast majority of rural precincts, and Pete qualified in nearly 90% of suburban precincts and performed better than expected in these areas. Pete put together the widest coalition of any candidate.

The Iowa Democratic Party’s inability to release the results on election night was frustrating, but based on the

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SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About at The Phoenix Bar AT THE PHOENIX | PHOTOS BY PAULY CAJUN

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ARTS & CULTURE

Trodding the Boards Brian Sands bsnola2@hotmail.com

Folk Rhythms/Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra at the Orpheum

Much as I enjoy Beethoven and Mozart and Chopin and Bach, when I go to hear live classical music, I prefer something I’m not likely to encounter elsewhere. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) delivered that abundantly with its recent Folk Rhythms featuring composer and oud player Simon Shaheen, and a program of uncommon, and wonderful, works you don’t get to enjoy too often.

The evening opened with Roberto Sierra’s Fandangos (2001), a fantasy on a keyboard fandango by Antonio Soler and the fandango finale from one of Luigi Boccherini’s Guitar Quintets.

From its beginning brass flair, conductor Carlos Miguel Prieto brought forth a lush, full sound from the LPO, capturing the work’s rhythmic drive with the propulsive force of the percussion section from which erupted the sparks of castanets.

Unexpectedly twisting and turning with a hint of mystery, Fandangos seemed like a cousin to such other Spanish/Latin musical forms as flamenco and tango. Unlike most other compositions, however, I’m not sure how Sierra even achieved some of his dazzling musical effects. LPO’s fantastic brass section stood out in this work, and I would happily listen to this phenomenal & so different composition again.

Shaheen’s Concerto for Oud was a nice blending of an ancient instrument with a traditional orchestra.

This expert musician’s nimble fingers flew over the instrument’s frets as he offered a series of hypnotic variations

Simon Shaheen

merging Middle Eastern, Western and jazz styles of music. It was a absolute pleasure to hear the oud’s timeless, earthy sound.

Afterwards, Shaheen gifted the audience with two encores, the first an oud solo from 1992 and then, on the second instrument of which he’s a virtuoso, a superb violin improvisation.

Shaheen appeared obviously, and understandably, pleased with himself and while his performances & compositions were undeniably great, he doesn’t seem to understand the concept of

“always leave them wanting more”; had each of his pieces been, say, 15% shorter, they would’ve been that much better.

The evening ended with Sergei Rachmaninov’s Symphonic Dances, Op. 45 from 1941. Starting with a brisk tempo, Prieto brought out its vibrancy, shaping it with bold, but never inappropriate, colors, and giving each component room to breathe. In addition to the marvelously fluttering woodwinds, in the gorgeous second movement, the brasses added a melancholy undercurrent to the waltz beat; with its sweeping grandeur one could envision a stageful of dancing couples.

If Dances loses its focus a bit in the third movement that’s Rachmaninov’s fault and it quickly gets back on track. In all, Prieto and the LPO gave a commanding performance of this thrilling work.

Ending with a rousing encore of Antonin Dvorák’s Slavonic Dance no.

8, Op.46, Folk Rhythms gave New Orleans a unique and utterly fantastic evening of singular music.

Up next at the Orpheum, on February 27, is Nature’s Awakening featuring Charles Ives’ Symphony No. 3, “The Camp Meeting”; Sergei Prokofiev’s Piano Concerto No. 1 in D-flat

Major with Ziang Xu, 2018 MASNO International Piano Competition winner; and Beethoven’s “Pastoral” Symphony. For those of you still in Chewbacchus mode, this will be followed on March 7 and 8 by The Music of John Williams with lotsa Star Wars, E.T., and Harry Potter tunes. May the LPO be with you!

Metropolitan Opera HD Encore/Wozzeck at AMC Elmwood Palace 20 through May 13

Alban Berg’s Wozzeck, based on Georg Büchner’s unfinished play, can almost make Carmen or Aida, with their bulls and elephants, look like a fun time, despite their tragic endings.

For Wozzeck offers a grim view of a dystopian universe in which happiness is fleeting and misery is the norm.

Berg’s powerful, propulsive music and Director William Kentridge’s astounding new production for the Metropolitan Opera, however, made a recent viewing of the HD Encore broadcast a most worthy evening.

Though the soldier Wozzeck is bullied by his Captain and a Doctor who uses him for absurd experiments,

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that’s nothing compared to his being cuckolded by his common-law wife Marie, the mother of his child. Suffice to say, things lead to tragedy.

Wozzeck starts off a bit talky, as does the play, but Berg leavens the seriousness with passages involving the Captain and the Doctor (Gerhard Siegel and Christian Van Horn, respectively, both excellent), two of the great comic monsters of dramatic literature.

As the drama progresses, and the story focuses in on Wozzeck, Marie, and her paramour the Drum Major, it gets more and more involving.

Amid discussions of morality, Kentridge presents their world in smudges of gray accented by blacks and whites.

As with his previous productions of The Nose and Lulu, he uses animation to comment indirectly on the action, amplifying the music & the libretto, and adding to his fine staging. As imaginative as these expressionistic projections of maps and stars and arrows are, on the movie screen, they were sometimes a bit difficult to fully make out.

As Wozzeck, Peter Mattei sang with anguished passion and made clear all of this common man’s conflicting emotions. Elza van den Heever’s harrowing portrayal of Marie made this “poor woman” feisty yet moving as she performed exquisitely the punishing music of this terribly sad role.

It sickens the soul that in the 200 years since Büchner first penned Wozzeck things have changed so little; think of the headlines telling us that some of our soldiers are on food stamps. Berg/Kentridge’s dark world is thus all too apt a reflection of our times.

In a first for these broadcasts, because of Wozzeck’s brevity, there was a “post-game” interview of the principals as they came off the stage, a wonderful bit of lagniappe that these broadcasts provide. Having just led the great Met orchestra in a magnificent rendition of this challenging score, Conductor Yannick Nézet-Séguin--cute, French Canadian, and openly gay-offered insightful comments about the production in a well-spoken and very composed manner. It was a welcome few moments that allowed us to return to our own world from the brutal one of the opera.

The Met HD Transmissions conclude with the Met premiere of Handel’s Agrippina (Feb. 29 and Mar. 4); a new production of Wagner’s Der Fliegende Holländer (Mar. 14 and 18); Tosca with Anna Netrebko (Apr. 11, 15 and 18); and Diana Damrau & Jamie Barton in Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda (May 9 and 13). Any and all of these are well worth a trip out to Harahan to see and enjoy.

Liz Callaway/Broadway@ NOCCA

The final show of Broadway@

NOCCA’s eighth season brought Liz Callaway back to New Orleans for the first time since her 2016 cabaret at Le Petit. This visit, though, with the inimitable Seth Rudetsky as Host/Music Director, provided a looser, less structured evening.

In fact, as Rudetsky prompted Callaway to do Helen Reddy’s I Am Woman, a song she often sang throughout her first job in New York as a singing waitress but which she “hadn’t sung in a long time,” she may not have been prepared to perform this classic anthem, but it was a delight seeing her adroitly handle that by getting the audience involved in the number.

Callaway gave us tales of Sondheim and how she came to be involved with his Merrily We Roll Along; Baby, her first lead on Broadway for which she garnered a Tony nomination; and what it was like doing Miss Saigon, as Chris’ wife Ellen, while pregnant (not always easy!).

We also learned that her sister, singer/songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway, wrote the theme song for The Nanny, which featured Liz. In one of many cute moments, Liz performed just her part--which, comically, didn’t amount to a whole lot.

Similar to The Nanny theme, Callaway also performed her part from one of Merrily’s songs (also not a lot but very funny). She did give us, however, glorious renditions of complete songs including Cy Coleman/Barbara Fried’s lovely You There in the Back Row, Meadowlark by Stephen (Wicked) Schwartz, Sondheim’s witty tribute to NYC What More Do I Need?, Anastasia’s Oscar nominee Journey to the Past, as well as songs from Baby, Miss Saigon, and off-Broadway’s Brownstone.

One of the evening’s highlights was Callaway’s special guest and longtime friend Bryan Batt who did the hysterical Way Ahead of My Time (The Caveman Song) to perfection. He then joined Callaway for a delicious version of Little Shop of Horror’s Suddenly Seymour. I would be tempted to complain that Batt should’ve had more to do, but if Audra McDonald’s special guest in December, her husband Will Swenson, only got to do two songs, well, I guess that’s the nature of the “Special Guest” job.

Callaway ended the 100-minute evening with Another 100 Lyrics Just Went Out of My Brain, a gleeful parody (with lyrics by Lauren Mayer) of Sondheim’s notoriously difficult lyrics that she pulled off with panache. Let’s hope Callaway comes back to NOLA again soon. And congratulations to producer Mark Cortale for another successful Broadway@NOCCA season. Already looking for to B@N9!

Miss Saigon/Charlie & the Chocolate Factory (Feb.

Liz Callaway & Bryan Batt (photo by B. Sands)

11-16) at the Saenger Theatre

Having seen Les Misérables on Broadway and the movie version and Tulane Summer Lyric’s version and possibly a previous Saenger stop, I wasn’t all that excited when it came here last year. But you know what? It was a new magnifique production, a joy to watch and listen to--I had actually forgotten how many great songs it has.

So I was looking forward to Miss Saigon which I had only seen on Broadway and when Rivertown did it in 2008.

Well, it turns out a Miss is not as good as a Miz. The production that recently played the Saenger Theatre is pretty much a recreation of the original one and has been touring for about 16 months. It seemed a little tired by now, lacking that crucial spark.

More importantly, unlike Les Miz with its rich score, lightning did not strike twice for composers Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg. Miss Saigon has many pleasant numbers, but none that have the timelessness of I Dreamed a Dream, One Day More, On My Own, Do You Hear The People Sing, etc. And its great 11 o’clock number, the scathing The American Dream, well, that American dream ain’t what it used to be.

To be sure, there were still pleasures to be had at this Saigon. As Kim, the Vietnamese bargirl who meets an American GI, falls in love with & marries him, and bears his child with tragic consequences, Emily Bautista sang fearlessly with a strong voice and

made an extremely touching and sympathetic figure.

Bruno Poet’s evocative lighting cut through the overall gloom to magically define stage spaces. Mick Potter’s sound design added a crucial verisimilitude. And that helicopter, used for the evacuation of the US Embassy, still impresses.

Devin Archer, an understudy as the American GI Chris, and Ellie Fishman, as his American wife Ellen, were properly vanilla, but hardly compelling. Red Concepción as the manipulative Engineer was suitably crass but could’ve given this complex character much greater shadings as Jonathan Pryce had done in his Tony-winning turn.

It may be unlikely that Boublil and Schönberg will write any new songs for their successful musical, but they might take a cue from Les Miz and, next time, give us a wholly new staging and production design for it. What do they have to lose, other than a helicopter?

Now playing at the Saenger, through Feb. 16, is Charlie & the Chocolate Factory. Though it ran only nine months on Broadway (it did have a much longer run in London), Roald Dahl’s winningly sinister and surreal children’s story with its “appropriately fanciful” (as per the NYTimes) sets and costumes might be just the thing to kick off the first weekend of Mardi Gras parades. Hope someone throws you a golden ticket!

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

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Important Facts About DOVATO This is only a brief summary of important information about DOVATO and does not replace talking to your healthcare provider about your condition and treatment.

What is the Most Important Information I Should Know about DOVATO? If you have both human immunodeficiency virus-1 (HIV-1) and hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection, DOVATO can cause serious side effects, including: • Resistant HBV infection. Your healthcare provider will test you for HBV infection before you start treatment with DOVATO. If you have HIV-1 and hepatitis B, the hepatitis B virus can change (mutate) during your treatment with DOVATO and become harder to treat (resistant). It is not known if DOVATO is safe and effective in people who have HIV-1 and HBV infection.

• Worsening of HBV infection. If you have HIV-1 and HBV infection, your HBV may get worse (flare-up) if you stop taking DOVATO. A “flare-up” is when your HBV infection suddenly returns in a worse way than before. Worsening liver disease can be serious and may lead to death. ° Do not run out of DOVATO. Refill your prescription or talk to your healthcare provider before your DOVATO is all gone. ° Do not stop DOVATO without first talking to your healthcare provider. If you stop taking DOVATO, your healthcare provider will need to check your health often and do blood tests regularly for several months to check your liver.

What is DOVATO? DOVATO is a prescription medicine that is used without other antiretroviral medicines to treat HIV-1 infection in adults who have not received antiretroviral medicines in the past, and without known resistance to the medicines dolutegravir or lamivudine.

HIV-1 is the virus that causes Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It is not known if DOVATO is safe and effective in children.

Who should not take DOVATO? Do Not Take DOVATO if You: • have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine that contains dolutegravir or lamivudine.

• take dofetilide.

What should I tell my healthcare provider before using DOVATO? Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: • have or have had liver problems, including hepatitis B or C infection.

• have kidney problems.

• are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. One of the medicines in DOVATO (dolutegravir) may harm your unborn baby. ° Your healthcare provider may prescribe a different medicine than DOVATO if you are planning to become pregnant or if pregnancy is confirmed in the first 12 weeks of pregnancy. ° If you can become pregnant, your healthcare provider will perform a pregnancy test before you start treatment with DOVATO. ° If you can become pregnant, you should consistently use effective birth control (contraception) during treatment with DOVATO. ° Tell your healthcare provider right away if you are planning to become pregnant, you become pregnant, or think you may be pregnant during treatment with DOVATO.

©2020 ViiV Healthcare or licensor.

DLLADVT190033 January 2020 Produced in USA.

Learn more about Alphonso and DOVATO at DOVATO.com

Tell your healthcare provider about all of your medical conditions, including if you: (cont’d) • are breastfeeding or plan to breastfeed. Do not breastfeed if you take DOVATO. ° You should not breastfeed if you have HIV-1 because of the risk of passing HIV-1 to your baby. ° One of the medicines in DOVATO (lamivudine) passes into your breastmilk. ° Talk with your healthcare provider about the best way to feed your baby.

Tell your healthcare provider about all the medicines you take, including prescription and over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and herbal supplements.

Some medicines interact with DOVATO. Keep a list of your medicines and show it to your healthcare provider and pharmacist when you get a new medicine.

• You can ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist for a list of medicines that interact with DOVATO. • Do not start taking a new medicine without telling your healthcare provider. Your healthcare provider can tell you if it is safe to take DOVATO with other medicines.

What are Possible Side Effects of DOVATO? DOVATO can cause serious side effects, including: • Those in the “What is the Most Important Information I Should Know about DOVATO?” section.

• Allergic reactions. Call your healthcare provider right away if you develop a rash with DOVATO. Stop taking DOVATO and get medical help right away if you develop a rash with any of the following signs or symptoms: fever; generally ill feeling; tiredness; muscle or joint aches; blisters or sores in mouth; blisters or peeling of the skin; redness or swelling of the eyes; swelling of the mouth, face, lips, or tongue; problems breathing.

• Liver problems. People with a history of hepatitis B or C virus may have an increased risk of developing new or worsening changes in certain liver tests during treatment with DOVATO. Liver problems, including liver failure, have also happened in people without a history of liver disease or other risk factors. Your healthcare provider may do blood tests to check your liver.

Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following signs or symptoms of liver problems: your skin or the white part of your eyes turns yellow (jaundice); dark or “tea-colored” urine; light-colored stools (bowel movements); nausea or vomiting; loss of appetite; and/or pain, aching, or tenderness on the right side of your stomach area.

• Too much lactic acid in your blood (lactic acidosis). Lactic acidosis is a serious medical emergency that can lead to death. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the following symptoms that could be signs of lactic acidosis: feel very weak or tired; unusual (not normal) muscle pain; trouble breathing; stomach pain with nausea and vomiting; feel cold, especially in your arms and legs; feel dizzy or lightheaded; and/or a fast or irregular heartbeat.

• Lactic acidosis can also lead to severe liver problems, which can lead to death. Your liver may become large (hepatomegaly) and you may develop fat in your liver (steatosis). Tell your healthcare provider right away if you get any of the signs or symptoms of liver problems which are listed above under “Liver problems.” You may be more likely to get lactic acidosis or severe liver problems if you are female or very overweight (obese).

SO MUCH GOES INTO WHO I AM HIV MEDICINE IS ONE PART OF IT. Reasons to ask your doctor about DOVATO: DOVATO can help you reach and then stay undetectable* with just 2 medicines in 1 pill. That means fewer medicines† in your body while taking DOVATO You can take it any time of day with or without food (around the same time each day)—giving you flexibility DOVATO is a once-a-day complete treatment for adults who are new to HIV-1 medicine.

Results may vary. *Undetectable means reducing the HIV in your blood to very low levels (less than 50 copies per mL). † As compared with 3-drug regimens.

ALPHONSO‡ Living with HIV

What are Possible Side Effects of DOVATO (cont’d)?

• Changes in your immune system (Immune Reconstitution Syndrome) can happen when you start taking HIV-1 medicines. Your immune system may get stronger and begin to fight infections that have been hidden in your body for a long time. Tell your healthcare provider right away if you start having new symptoms after you start taking DOVATO. • The most common side effects of DOVATO include: headache; diarrhea; nausea; trouble sleeping; and tiredness.

These are not all the possible side effects of DOVATO. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Where Can I Find More Information?

• Talk to your healthcare provider or pharmacist.

• Go to DOVATO.com or call 1-877-844-8872, where you can also get FDA-approved labeling.

October 2019 DVT:2PI-2PIL Trademark is owned by or licensed to the ViiV Healthcare group of companies.

Compensated by ViiV Healthcare

‡

Could DOVATO be right for you? Ask your doctor today.

THE ROCKFORD FILES

Valentine’s Gay Massacre Ryan Rockford RyanRockfordNYC@gmail.com

The Day Romance Died

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 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 14 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 indus-

try, for no other reason than to spice up revenue, during an otherwise holiday-less stretch of the calendar year.

And it worked! With an estimated 15 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.

You can call it love. I call it ‘Child’s Play’. I almost feel sorry for men in relationships who are obligated to suffer through it.

The irony of the situation 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; outrageous demonstrations of affection -- all in the name of ‘love’.

There is little surprise that seeing such dramatic and often embellished spectacles of emotion 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, choice of partners, etc. and can ruin what was otherwise a perfectly enjoyable and heart-felt experience.

As if keeping up with the Joneses doesn’t wring enough romance out of 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 absolutely 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, determined by Emoji expressions, public opinion, and sideeyed adjudications, will be posted for all the world to see, courtesy of The FaceSnapTwatGram love machine.

These days, the amount 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. There was a time when 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 twenty-two 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, creating 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 Valentine’s Day roses, and I was sure he would be as impressed as I was, probably more so.

In the gayest of flourishes, I presented my miniature bouquet of roses and requisite card to C.J. “Happy Valentine’s day, babe. I love you.”

To which he replied: “Shit.” [Long silence] “I meant to pick up something last night after work and but … ” “But..?”

“I don’t know. I was tired, I forgot…I’m sorry.”

For me, in that moment, our romance died. I vowed 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, 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 Valentine’s Day as anything more than just another cold day in February. In fact, until recently, if I were ever to see Cupid on the CONTINUED ON PAGE 20

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CHOP CHOP Fry Me a River: Barrow’s Catfish Swims in Flavor Charles Pizzo pizzocharles@gmail.com

Deep fried food has long been a staple in the South. The reasons are many, owing to an abundance of lard, cultural influences, and economic reality. Hogs, as opposed to cows, were raised in tracts of land along the Mississippi River and its tributaries. Fat is a by-product of slaughtering—tons of fat. It renders into a tasty and cheap medium in which to fry.

During the South’s agricultural era, creative cooks fried anything they could grow, hunt, or catch for sustenance.

The tradition of frying was firmly rooted in the cuisine of Africa and, some say, Scotland too. Even the most humble of ingredients becomes palatable when fried crisply and seasoned well.

Fast forward to the modern era, when vegetable and peanut oils became more common. Lard faded in use due to health concerns, but the technique of frying—for better or worse—remains.

Barrow’s Shady Inn was a legendary Black-owned restaurant in its heyday, spoken of in the same breath as Dooky Chase and Chez Hélène (sadly gone). Barrow’s was destroyed in the flood that occurred at the time of Hurricane Katrina. Now, the family has brought it back at a new location.

Call me a food snob, but I usually trek out to Middendorf’s in Manchac or Spahr’s in Des Allemands for really great catfish. Armed with a recommendation from a foodie friend whose tastebuds I trust, however, I checked out Barrow’s Catfish.

Bottom line: it’s a revelation in the city limits. The catfish is the main attraction. It’s unbelievably light, crisp, and flavorful. These are full fillets, neither thin nor chips. The coating is crisp though not crackling, and the flaky white flesh steams when broken.

There’s a discernible seasoning at play, a tad salty with the slow burn of pepper that creeps up but never overpowers.

And it’s moist. In its pure state,

Barrow’s’ catfish tastes like the sea, as people say. And that’s a glorious thing.

If you’re so inclined, add a squeeze of fresh lemon and a dash of hot sauce.

The fillets are large. Catfish platters are available in three sizes. Because I was craving it, I ordered the largest on a return visit. That was too much, and I had trouble eating it all.

Catfish platters come with your choice of fries, potato salad, or a green salad. I opted for the potato salad, a chunky version that’s cool in contrast to the fish. It’s not quite as mashed as some local varieties, and there’s a slight crunch from chopped vegetables.

It should be noted that one friend received a piece of catfish that contained the dreaded blood line (usually butchered out). It’s a dark-colored stripe of fish that tastes strong and can be off-putting. Earlier in the meal, he had proclaimed it one of the best and freshest catfish po’ boys he had ever eaten.

But a later bite ruined the entire experience for him. The restaurant manager spotted the fact he had pushed it aside and asked why. That was proactive, but the house’s gesture of crediting the bill by less than $2 became the butt of jokes all night.

Catfish is available in combination with other seafood. The pairing with charbroiled oysters (four) sounded intriguing, but the oysters lacked the punch of garlicky flavor one expects.

Cheesy Crawfish Pasta features a creamy cheese sauce with a generous portion of crawfish tails over linguini; it too is paired with a catfish fillet.

The sauce has a rich flavor, but a little goes a long way. The pasta itself was well cooked, toothsome and seasoned, and stayed moist. While very good, the fried catfish upstaged the dish.

The seafood gumbo was an excellent starter. In New Orleans’ African-American community, cooks often

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 18

truth. That truth, as told to me by Kristine W, who heard if from Diana Ross who got if from Peaches and Herb is that, “love is The Boss”.

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 is no all-encompassing definition, and rules do not apply. I didn’t know then that love could be messy, fleeting, destructive, casual, mesmerizing, unre-

street, I would be tempted to bitch-slap that motherfu*ker blind, before shoving his diaper down one hole and his arrows up the other.

Now things are different. 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. I didn’t want to believe it, but when it comes to love, there is a universal

The signature catfish platter at Barrow’s is a simple, satisfying dinner

Cheesy Crawfish Pasta is good for diners who want more than catfish

pair seafood with meat. That’s true for Barrow’s, at which beef smoked sausage adds a delicious dimension to broth laced with shrimp and peppers.

There’s some heat too. The overall effect is quite balanced, and I would order this again. A few more shrimp or bits of sausage would be welcome, but the broth with white rice is extremely satisfying. I dabbed French bread in the cup to get every drop.

Crawfish and Corn Bisque marries land and sea with heavy cream. Unlike the gumbo, it was chock full of crawfish and creamed corn flecked with chopped green onions. It has a mildly sweet flavor with a buttery and gentle

seafood aftertaste. It too is rich, though more soupy and easy to finish.

At Barrow’s, catfish is the signature dish. Stick to that and a cup of gumbo for a simple, satisfying meal.

Barrow’s Catfish, 8300 Earhart Blvd (mid-block, tucked into a strip center), Mon. - Thurs. 11am - 9pm, Fri. - Sat. 11am - 10pm, Sun. 12pm - 6pm, all major credit cards, (504) 265-8995, www.barrowscatfish.com

quited, lonely, maddening, exhilarating, and a million other things.

Love is ambiguous. I know that I have great capacity to give it. I’m not sure I know how to take it; 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. I may never know, and that’s okay.

So now what? I don’t have a ‘significant other’ so I had to find a way to accept what is, and allow myself to be comfortable with it. For me, the best way to celebrate Valentine’s Day is to

celebrate love as it presents itself in my life: with my family, extended family and chosen family. It’s a day for me to express my gratitude and appreciation to those most important to me, a day to let people know how grateful I am for who they are and what they mean to me.

If you love someone, let them know. It’s important. If it takes an invented holiday for us to take a step back and give thanks for those we love and those who love us in return, so be it.

Charles Pizzo is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America. If you’re interested in having your dining establishment covered by Ambush Magazine, please contact him.

20 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

MUSEUM SPOTLIGHT Los Islenos Museum and Village Deep in the heart of St. Bernard Parish, about 15 miles from New Orleans, is Los Islenos Museum and Village.

Spanish colonists from the Canary Islands came to Louisiana between 1778 and 1783 to populate Louisiana and halt British colonial expansion west of the Mississippi River. The Canary Islanders called themselves Islenos or Islanders, a tradition that continues to this day. The Isleno contributions to Louisiana are undeniable and can be explored at the Museum & Village, the last vestige of Spanish Colonial Louisiana.

The Museum and Village is managed by Los Islenos Heritage & Cultural Society, made up of descendants of the original settlers. The village consists of nine structures on roughly 22 acres including: the Coconut Island Barroom, a 1920 cypress board and batten structure; the Estopinal House and kitchen, a mud and moss between posts structure built by the Spanish Government in 1790; the Esteves and Caserta/Cresap houses, built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries; and a replica of a fur trapper’s cabin.

The museum is housed in a replica

of a 19th century Creole cottage constructed in 1840. Exhibits interpret the historical and cultural presence of the Islenos in the Canaries and in St. Bernard Parish.The Ducros Museum, built before 1800 by an Isleno colonist, is also on the grounds; it houses changing exhibits and museum documents.

La Fiesta de los Isleños (Los Isleños Fiesta) is held annually on the property as a means to promote Louisiana’s Spanish heritage. Likewise, the Society supports local public schools through Museum Days as well as a Canary Islander Descendants Scholarship. The 45th annual La Fiesta de los Isleños will be held March 7-8 at the Museum Complex. The festival features rides, live music, folk art, and great food.

There is a $5 charge for guided tours of the Islenos Museum. Hours of Operation are Wednesday-Sunday, 11:00am-4:00pm. Closed Monday and Tuesday and on all Federal Holidays.

The museum is located at 1345 Bayou Road in St. Bernard.

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 21

COMMUNITY VOICE Recent Bills Would Criminalize Professionals Who Help Trans Kids Jim Meadows Executive Director, NOAGE info@noagenola.org It’s still early in the year, but there have already been dozens of anti-LGBT bills introduced in states across the country. In addition to the usual bathroom bills, conservative lawmakers continue to push for “religious exemptions” (also known as “a license to discriminate”) that would, for example, allow adoption agencies to refuse to place kids with LGBT parents.

Or allow healthcare professionals to withhold life-saving treatment to LGBT patients. There have also been bills in Florida and West Virginia that would prevent county and municipal ordinances from protecting LGBT people.

But lawmakers have been especially eager recently to introduce bills that would punish healthcare professionals who work with transgender children.

Lawmakers in at least ten states have either introduced, or threatened to introduce, bills that would criminalize doctors and other healthcare professionals who treat trans kids. These include South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri, Illinois, Colorado, Oklahoma, Florida, and South Dakota; each of those states have had these bills introduced already. Texas Representative Matt Krause has threatened to intro-

duce a similar bill, as has Georgia Representative Ginny Ehrhart. It must be noted that all of these bills have been authored by Republican lawmakers.

On January 29, South Dakota’s House of Representatives passed a bill that would ban physicians from treating transgender minors with hormones or surgery. That bill died in a committee of the state’s Senate on February 10. If it had passed state Senate, doctors in South Dakota would have been at risk of being charged with a misdemeanor and sentenced to up to a year in jail for providing these treatments. The Florida bill, which would have led to felony prosecution of doctors (who would have faced up to 15 years in prison), appears to be off the table after it died in a committee meeting on February 3.

Why is all this happening now?

Well, for starters, it’s an election year; fear and hysteria drive voters to the polls. But a few other things may be behind this trend.

In August of 2018, Lisa Littman, an assistant professor at Brown University‘s School of Public Health, published a paper summarizing her interpretation of data from a survey of some transgender youth and their parents.

The paper described what Littman calls “rapid onset gender dysphoria” in children. Basically, Littman suggests that some transgender youth aren’t really transgender; they just “caught” it from their peers and the media via “social contagion.”

Many of Littman’s academic peers pointed out major flaws in her methodology, pointing out that she had recruited her sample directly from visitors to websites that were biased against transgender people. Others took issue with what they described as leading questions in Littman’s survey. The controversy sparked by this study has continued among both academics and trans activists.

Then in September of 2018, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) published, for the first time, a policy statement on gender dysphoria in children, with a focus on affirming trans kids’ gender identities. Among the AAP’s recommendations: “Providing youth with access to comprehensive gender-affirming and developmentally appropriate care,” and “Supporting insurance plans that offer coverage specific to the needs of youth who identify as transgender, including coverage for medical, psychological and, when appropriate, surgical interventions.”

It’s difficult to imagine a scenario in which that last phrase, “surgical interventions” (for children) would not create major controversy. The AAP has not indicated anything more specific about when exactly surgical interventions for minors experiencing gender dysphoria would be appropriate. That being said, is such a thing actually happening on such a scale that it has become a national emergency? Is there any evidence that physicians (not to mention parents) are now automatically defaulting to surgical interventions for children with gender dysphoria?

That seems incredibly unlikely.

There is significant evidence showing that transgender youth are at an incredibly high risk of suicide. In advance of their 2018 policy recommendations for youth with gender dysphoria, the AAP published a study (based on surveys of over 100,000 students) that found that up to 51% of transgender adolescents (aged 11-19) have attempted suicide.

Given these shocking statistics, it seems clear that trans kids are suffering on a massive scale, and they are in need of help. Now. Is legislating their identities and imprisoning their healthcare providers (or their parents) the answer? Some lawmakers seem to think so. But any area of policy affecting health should be informed by

the consensus of researchers and specialists, and decisions about individual healthcare should be made by the professionals, in consultation with patients and their families. Not by politicians who are trying to score cheap political points in the most uninformed, cynical, and harmful way possible.

The Endocrine Society is the leading international organization of professionals working in the field of endocrinology. In October 2019, they issued a press release in response to Rep. Krause’s proposed Texas bill (which came about following controversy over a Dallas child custody case). I will let them have the last word here, with several direct quotations from that release.

“Claims that a transgender child would receive surgical or irreversible hormonal treatment do not reflect the reality of medical practice. The Endocrine Society’s Clinical Practice Guideline, which sets the standard of care for transgender individuals, recommends avoiding hormone therapy for transgender children prior to puberty.”

“As noted in our evidence-based guideline, transgender individuals, both children and adults should be encouraged to experience living in the new gender role and assess whether this improves their quality of life.

Mental health care is recommended throughout this process, and only a mental health professional with training or experience in childhood and adolescent gender development should make a diagnosis of gender incongruence in a child or teenager.”

“Over the last few decades, understanding of gender identity has rapidly expanded. Considerable scientific evidence has emerged demonstrating a durable biological element underlying gender identity. There do not seem to be external forces that genuinely cause individuals to change gender identity.

The Endocrine Society called for policies to reflect this reality in our position statement on transgender health.”

“Suppressing puberty is fully reversible, and it gives individuals experiencing gender incongruence more time to explore their options and to live out their gender identity before they undergo hormone or surgical treatment. Research has found puberty suppression in this population improves psychological functioning.”

“It is critical that transgender individuals have access to the appropriate treatment and care to ensure their health and well-being.”

22 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

COMMENTARY

American Things Lynn Stevens

A few things have occurred in the past few weeks that all kind of speak to a certain aspect of our currently changing culture.

Harvey Weinstein’s trial started in Los Angeles in January.

The film producer has faced accusations of sexual misconduct from at least 100 women but as The Cut reports, “He is currently facing five felony counts for alleged non-consensual encounters stemming from the accusations of two women: Mimi Haleyi and Jessica Mann.”

Those felonies Weinstein is on trial for include two rapes, a criminal sexual act, and two counts of “predatory sexual assault.”

Other women have taken the stand who claim to have been assaulted or raped by Weinstein though their cases are outside the statute of limitations.

These testimonies will be used to establish a pattern of behavior for Weinstein.

The stories these women are telling do show a pattern and are similar in nature. Weinstein, they say, would harass them, call them, show up unannounced at their homes or hotel rooms, rape them, and continue calling and harassing them for years afterward.

Weinstein, if he is convicted, could go down as the posterman for predatory behavior.

Joe Rogan, as far as I know, is not a predator.

Joe Rogan is, however, a problematic media personality. He hosts a pop-

ular podcast called, The Joe Rogan Experience.

He has issues with women and trans people, or more specifically, their pronouns.

His show features interviews with people, mostly men, from a vast swath of culture, from scientists to conspiracy theorists, actors to far-right wing nuts.

He does this in a very conversational non-combative way and sometimes with the help of marijuana or alcohol.

My view of Rogan’s politics, which I’ve heard recently described as “progressive” or “hard left” appear to more in line with the Left-Libertarian side of things which borrows the individual freedoms of the right and the social stances of the left.

Late in January, Rogan said on his show that he will probably vote for Bernie Sanders. His saying so turned up in a Bernie Sanders campaign video and some progressives did not take this well.

As NPR’s On the Media pointed out, however, Rogan has 25,000,000 listeners and may be the most popular podcast in the country.

His audience is, more than likely similar to Joe Rogan, white men who lean toward libertarianism and feel disenfranchised by the scary “#MeToo” movement. These could be the type of people who might vote to re-elect the President.

Devin Gordon, who recently wrote a piece about Rogan for The Atlantic

said on that same episode of On the Media, taking into account those who took issue with Rogan’s support of Bernie Sanders, “This is the kind of political calculus that happens in electoral politics all the time and at some point, if you’re going to be a general election candidate, you’re going to have to get elected with the help of some people who many of your core supporters really dislike.”

Then, at the end of January, Kobe Bryant died in a helicopter crash.

Tragic, certainly, especially since his young daughter also died in the crash.

Kobe Bryant was the type of sports superstar who transcends his sport and even those who know nothing about sports know his name and what team he played for.

Bryant was a 5-time NBA champion over a 20-year career with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was also put on trial for raping a woman in 2003.

I don’t mean to make something crass out of something tragic, but it’s a fact that the case was dropped after the accuser decided not to testify, and Bryant stated at the time: “Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual, I recognize now that she did not. After months of listening to her attorney, and even her testimony in person, I now understand how she feels that she did not consent to this encounter.”

The woman later filed a civil suit and settled out of court.

Bryant’s statement almost appears like an insightful reaction to learning of the wrong one has done but also rejects that he did nothing wrong in his mind.

It illuminates the exact type of mindset that lives in the ills of some

men.

The Associated Press first reported at the end of January that our own New Orleans Saints’ leadership may have aided, “the area’s Roman Catholic archdiocese to help it contain the fallout from a burgeoning sexual abuse crisis. “ The team and the archdiocese are both fighting the release of a series of emails in which executive members of the Saints leadership attempted to aid the archdiocese with the media fallout of more than 50 priests who have been “credibly accused of sexual abuse.”

The AP “filed a motion with the court supporting the release of the documents as a matter of public interest” since, “this case does not involve private individuals but well-known mega-institutions that collect millions of dollars from local residents to support their activities.”

Slate says that there may be evidence that the Saints’ “senior vice president of communications had met with an unnamed third party to discuss ‘removing priests from the pedophile list’.”

Are Joe Rogan’s fans right to be scared in this new environment? Maybe. Is there a “safe space”? Maybe not.

It’s certain that this disease of predatory actions is not just the scourge of Hollywood, Catholic priests and sports superstars, but something which exists in our culture. It’s a darkness that lives in the depths of some men’s minds and manifests itself in compulsorily horrific ways.

Anyone, regardless of gender, can abuse or be abused. The cases above, however,all involve cis-gendered people and the same pattern, i.e., men abusing women. Why is that I wonder...

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About at The Bourbon Pub & Parade AT THE BOURBON PUB & PARADE | PHOTOS BY DWAIN HERTZ

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 23

THE HERE AND THE NOW

Gay Mardi Gras: Celebrating the Time Pre-AIDS Catherine Roland catherineroland12@gmail.com I love the energy of Mardi Gras, the excitement, the colors, the way our community “comes out” for the festivities.

Yes, traffic is awful, parking is almost impossible, dining out is all about waiting for the line to move. And many folks really do drink too much. Or at least challenge their tolerance for alcohol (among other things) so much that they may become compromised.

As Mardi Gras approaches, I frequently talk with people about this year’s festivities. They often share tales of past Carnivals that are meaningful for them, including comments about Gay Mardi Gras Balls. When this time comes around, I think of a different, past time here in New Orleans when acceptance of diversity wasn’t what it is today. This was the time just prior to the AIDS epidemic in New Orleans.

Let me offer a personal recollection of this time, from 1977 when I first moved to New Orleans until I moved away in 1994 for career opportunities (always knowing I’d be back).

In 1977, Mardi Gras krewes, gay and straight, were a delightful surprise to me. I already loved New Orleans,

having visited one time prior to relocating, but one time was all it took. My first Mardi Gras is a bit dim in my mind, but I checked out every women’s bar I was taken to by dear and wonderful women who adopted me and with whom I remained friends for years.

I vividly recall trying to find my car on Dauphine Street for what seemed like hours until some friends said they’d seen it. That’s what having New York plates will do in the Quarter I guess.

Back then, Gay Krewes were not in my mind, in my vocabulary, or in my dreams. During those first years, I did attend Mobile’s Black Mardi Gras parade and Ball as a guest of a distinguished Mobile family--what a joy and privilege! I was enthralled by the excitement, the music, and the clothes! I’d never seen so many gorgeous gowns, all unique and stunning. I learned a whole lot about the Deep South those first two years here, both wonderful and, historically, not so wonderful.

I first experienced a New Orleans Gay Ball in the St. Bernard Cultural Center for the Krewe of Petronius. For my partner at the time and me to be invited to Petronius was a really big deal.

I’m pretty sure it was in 1980--what a joy! To see our friends in the Krewe strut that stage, feathered in bright blue and brilliant purple with diamond-like sleeves and harnesses that held up the headdresses, is something I’ve never forgotten. And never will.

At all the balls I went to, the entertainment was always cutting edge, often pushing the envelope of acceptable Southern decorum which is what made them so very special. These years had an inner trust in the community that the Balls were the venue in which to shine, whether as members of the Krewe who were performing or as invited guests, dressed to the nines.

An unwritten ‘suggestion’ had women wearing long gowns, not cocktail dresses; few of us balked at that, since women could also wear tuxedos, as my partners often did. I hadn’t had a gown since my senior prom in high school (not counting weddings I was in). This was different, very different.

The clothing became a part of each Mardi Gras. I loved buying a new gown each year in anticipation of the Gay Ball season.

One could always sense a celebratory feel in the air leading up to Ball season. Much connecting took place as tables were arranged for large groups of friends, sprinkled with ‘special seating’ for those guests who were invited by the royalty. What an honor to be sitting in those seats, cheering on beloved friends as they were crowned King of their Krewes.

And the costumes were glorious.

The men who were featured in the tableau spent countless hours making costumes, dedicating special spaces in their homes to the endeavor. And such creativity, all for the sake of beauty and joy In the next several years, I attended Armeinius, Amon-Ra, Lords of Leather, and always, Petronius.

When I recall the laughter and jokes, the hugs and the hook-ups in the early ‘80’s, the absence of caution or worry, I think only of the pleasantness, the joy that came from some simple comment made about a costume, an inquiry on where a friend may have secured his beautiful feathers. It illustrated to me that this city and our community was the best, most friendly and loving place I could have chosen. It was family.

Of course, family dynamics change. Ours did. One change I experienced was the time just before we learned that AIDS was AIDS, how serious it had become, and that our government was doing nothing about the danger. That some young men were

dying and no one could say exactly why brought many closer.

It also encouraged people to hold meetings in their homes, because as free as it seemed here, it wasn’t.

Somehow, we knew to meet in private homes initially, then in churches. And before I realized it, energy had begun to shift to action--visiting City Hall, writing the CDC and lobbying Washington DC. To the quest for beauty and fun at formal events slowly was added ways of helping, giving back, raising money and demanding action.

As I think back to my early encounters with Krewes and Balls, I picture certain men, long gone, in their finery, strutting and marching across the stage. Crowds imbibing, dancing, always dancing, and laughter. Loud and uproarious, or quiet chucking between two people. Long loving looks, holding hands until reaching the parking lot, drinking wine in private homes before the balls with intimate friends.

I pulled out a photo of one of my dearest young friends in his King’s crown, outfitted in bright blue & purple, and hung it back up where it had been for years. I am heartened that our community, post-AIDS, post-Katrina has come back to the Mardi Gras season with joy, eagerness and respect for the past, learning from it, and revering it.

Let’s continue to band together as a community, a group of social justice warriors, and invite some fabulousness into our lives. Memories are precious parts of you, take care of them, protect them.

Happy Mardi Gras 2020 everyone, enjoy this time to the fullest in any way you wish.

Dr. Catherine Roland, LPC, is a therapist in private practice, specializing in our LGBTQ+ community for 25 years. Catherine is a member of the Board of Directors of both CrescentCare-NO/AIDS Task Force, and NOAGE - New Orleans Advocates for LGBTQ+ Elders.

24 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About at The Krewe of Narcissus AT THE KREWE OF NARCISSUS BALL | PHOTOS BY DWAIN HERTZ

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 25

BOOK REVIEW

Gay Faulkner: Uncovering a Homosexual Presence in Yoknapatawpha and Beyond Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com Gay Faulkner: Uncovering a Homosexual Presence in Yoknapatawpha and Beyond. Phillip Gordon.

UP of Mississippi, 2020. 298 pages.

Billy Faulkner moved to New Orleans from Mississippi in 1924 thinking he was a poet, but ultimately found his voice as a novelist. Upon arriving in the French Quarter, he took a job with the Times-Picayune newspaper and moved into a small apartment on Pirates Alley where he wrote his first novel, Soldiers’ Pay. Faulkner shared that apartment with William Spratling, one of a handful of gay men with whom Faulkner became close friends over the course of his life. Faulkner was not gay, but

he had gay friends and his proximity to the closeted gay subculture of his time influenced his writing.

Faulkner’s life and works have generated numerous biographical studies exploring how Faulkner understood Southern history, race, his relationship to art, and his place in the canons of American and world literature.

Some details on Faulkner’s life collected by his early biographers, however, never made it into published form or, when they did, appeared in marginalized stories and cryptic references.

The biographical record of Faulkner’s life has yet to come to terms with the life-long friendships he maintained with gay men, the extent to which he im-

mersed himself into gay communities in Greenwich Village and New Orleans, and how profoundly this part of his life influenced his “apocryphal” creation of Yoknapatawpha County.

Phillip “Pip” Gordon’s Gay Faulkner: Uncovering a Homosexual Presence in Yoknapatawpha and Beyond explores the intimate friendships Faulkner maintained with gay men, among them Ben Wasson, Spratling, and Hubert Creekmore, and places his fiction into established canons of LGBTQ literature, including World War I literature and representations of homosexuality from the Cold War. The book offers a full consideration of his relationship to gay history and identity in the twentieth century, giving rise to a

A COMMUNITY WITHIN COMMUNITIES

What shall we do?

The Very Rev. Bill Terry+ Rector St Anna’s Episcopal Church fr.bill@stannanola.org It is in the middle of Mardi Gras and what is there really to talk about?

Trump and impeachment, the Kansas City Chiefs Super Bowl, The State of the Union Address, or maybe the Hard Rock Hotel collapse and subsequent fiasco? None of this is good fodder for our chat. If anything it’s good fodder for having a double of whatever it is that you are drinking! I suppose that bartenders across the land, like good comedians, love the current climate--it leads to unbridled drinking and great comedy routines.

What shall we do? I ask this because when any of the foregoing transpires, social media seems to light up.

Yes, that includes critique for whomever is voted as best Drag Queen, Candy Queen, Bartender, Karaoke Host, or any of a myriad of other notable and significant honors. We seem to live in a society that is so socially competitive.

True that is only one aspect of our social engagement, but it is a very vocal and public one.

What shall we do? Will we continue to polarize ourselves and stand in corners throwing memes at each other? The new agora is social media. But unlike the Agora of Athens or Forum in Rome body language is out and # is in. The ugliness and vicissitudes that our society seems to be going through on these social platforms is, to say the least, disappointing.

A post will be made, say on Facebook, and strings and rancor will too often ensue. I know some perfectly delightful and polite people that seem to turn into a many-headed hydra when they lay into some of these posts. Political posts are all too often filled with hate, vitriol, misogyny, racism, and anti-everything epithets. And such behavior is not the purview of your enemy. It

is all too often the person sitting next to you in the church pew or bar stool -- wherever your cathedral may be. It is also not just the extreme right or left.

Why? Why do we need to put so much anger into the world?

I know that some use the media as a way to vent. OK. But why at someone else’s expense? I will say that the rancor can sometimes be creative like the word “#shitgibbon” is interesting--it has a certain ring to it, don’t you think?

There seems to be an inclination to taunt. I understand arguing as a political principal or position; I understand expressing a view about a show etc., but, lawdy, the hurrah that went on about the Super Bowl halftime show!

Really! Those women performed their hearts out and two Latina on a world stage giving it their all is no small matter. Is there not a bit of charity left?

So, why am I, a priest, getting so upset about social conduct on social media. Well, it’s because it degrades us all. It expends energy and sends out messages of hatred and disquietude.

Do not hear me say that I am asking for silence in the face of hate speech for instance. I am not. I have pushed up against that for years. But, I hope, not at the expense of the other.

There is a young man I know; a member of the church, in fact. He is bright, fun, and he happens to be gay.

He makes several posts sometimes in one day. He is absolutely politically engaged and resolute in his political affiliation. He does critique the opposition, but usually he emphasizes and raises up his political positions rather than engaging in rancor against his opposition.

new understanding of this most important of American authors.

William Faulkner is probably not the first name that springs to mind when people think of gay history and gay history is probably not the first thing people think of when they hear the name William Faulkner, but there was a connection between the two and Gordon, who was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and grew up in nearby Jackson, has done historians, both queer and literary, a valuable service by shedding light on that connection.

Fans of Faulkner will also enjoy this book and take away from it a deeper appreciation of not only Faulkner the writer, but also Faulkner the man.

His posts are wise, well-crafted, and generally respectful.

On the other hand, innocently, things can go terribly wrong. I made a post about suicide once. Before I knew it the conversation somehow morphed into a long three way conversation about the Second Amendment and Gun Rights vs. Gun Safety. I do not believe that the Second Amendment and Gun Safety legislation are mutually exclusive topics or positions.

But that slippery slope went from some reasoned positions to the absurd in no time flat. Such is the seductive nature of social media.

Whew. I feel better. I suppose at the end of the day I do enjoy those gif. files that offer puppies and dancing elephants etc. I stand in awe of great stories of recovery, redemption, release, and pure joy. I think it a good thing whenever a post celebrates life or applauds another person or event.

So, knock it off with the rough stuff.

“Be nice or leave.” Sit on the proverbial stoop and chat a bit. The thing that is, imho, worthy of a disparaging critique are NFL refs and the Atlanta Falcons.

Even then we can use humor instead of direct insult.

“Let all guests who arrive be received like Christ, for He is going to say, “I came as a guest, and you received Me” (Matt. 25:35). And to all let due honor be shown, especially to the domestics of the faith and to pilgrims.”

This is from the Rule of St. Benedict. So, maybe just maybe, we can establish a rule of Google or FB that is similar. Respond to posts as if you were responding to a visiting Angel even when they appear as a visiting demon.

Make charity a part of your Mardi Gras diet. Eat it well and fully. Pass a plate or portion of tolerance and intellect. We will all be better for it.

26 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

COMMENTARY Who Dat! Nah, More like WTF? Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com At the beginning of their recent season, the New Orleans Saints were embroiled in a minor kerfuffle surrounding quarterback Drew Brees’ support of a homophobic hate-group. Now they are in damage control mode again. A potentially explosive scandal is currently brewing regarding the Saints organization and accusations of pedophilia against the Roman Catholic Church.

According to ESPN News, “The New Orleans Saints are going to court to keep the public from seeing hundreds of emails that allegedly show team executives doing public relations damage control for the area’s Roman Catholic archdiocese to help it contain the fallout from a burgeoning sexual abuse crisis.”

And why would the Saints organization do that? Because Saints owner Gayle Benson is devoutly Catholic and has given millions of dollars to the Church of Rome in recent years. She

and the Archbishop are buddies.

After the sexual abuse scandal became public, church officials asked for advice on how to handle the public relations nightmare. The Saints’ response to that request for advice is the subject of the emails which the sports organization, as well as the Archdiocese, are fighting in court to keep hidden from the public. The emails were exchanged in 2018 and 2019.

“The advice was simple and never wavering. Be direct, open and fully transparent, while making sure that all law enforcement agencies were alerted,” the Saints said. “The New Orleans Saints, Greg Bensel and [team owner] Mrs. Gayle Benson were and remain offended, disappointed and repulsed by the actions of certain past clergy.

We remain steadfast in support of the victims who have suffered and pray for their continued healing.”

The Associated Press, which has

extensively covered clergy sexual abuse in a series of stories over the past year, filed a motion with the court supporting the release of the documents as a matter of public interest.

“This case does not involve intensely private individuals who are dragged into the spotlight,” the AP argued, “but well-known mega-institutions that collect millions of dollars from local residents to support their activities.”

The crux of the scandal are accusations against George F. Brignac, a former schoolteacher and deacon in the church. Brignac was defrocked in 1988 after a seven year-old boy came forward with charges of molestation.

Ten years prior, in 1978, Brignac was acquitted of three counts of indecent behavior with a juvenile.

ESPN reports that “Church officials permitted Brignac, 85, to act as a lay minister until local news accounts of his service in 2018 prompted his ouster and an apology from the archdiocese.

The AP last year reported that Brignac, despite his supposed defrocking, maintained access to schoolchildren and held leadership roles as recently as 2018 in the Knights of Columbus.”

Brignac was recently indicted on rape charges. The archdiocese has quietly settled several lawsuits against Brignac.

The Saints organization claims it merely gave the archdiocese public relations advice. As if that isn’t bad enough, the whole ugly affair raises troubling questions.

Why would the Saints want to help minimize the stigma that comes with pedophilia?

Why not release the emails?

What are the Saints hiding?

Were any of Gayle Benson’s financial gifts to the church used to settle lawsuits against Brignac?

Was Saints’ money, directly or indirectly, used to pay off sexual abuse victims for their silence?

Despite their name, the Saints are not a religious organization and should avoid entanglements with religious institutions. Why it would even go near the Catholic Church’s pedophilia scandal is beyond me. WTF?

MOMENTS IN GAY NEW ORLEANS HISTORY Remembering Polyphemus Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com One day in 1982, Gary Martin was at Van Gogh’s Ear chatting with his friend Michael “Fish” Hickerson. The two were discussing Carnival and Mardi Gras, and in the course of the conversation, Martin casually remarked, I wouldn’t mind starting a krewe. Thus was conceived the fabulous Krewe of Polyphemus.

A New Orleans native, Martin had grown up appreciating Carnival. His father had been heavily involved in straight Mardi Gras, having served as President of Thoth. He was also associated with several other krewes including Iris, Venus, and Freret. When Martin came of age, he inherited his father’s appreciation of straight Carnival, but also came to value gay Carnival as well. He knew and admired Bill Wooley, one of the pioneers of gay Carnival.

After chatting with Fish, Martin gathered some of his friends together. Among the charter members were Gary Martin, Fish, Eugene Fenasci, and David Smith. After a trip to the library to check out a book on mythology, the small group assembled a list of names and threw them all in a hat.

Someone drew the name Polyphemus and the Krewe was officially born.

For the record, in Greek mythology, Polyphemus is the one-eyed gi-

ant son of Poseidon and Thoosa, the nymph daughter of the primordial sea god Phorcys. One of the Cyclopes described in Homer’s Odyssey, Polyphemus’ name means “abounding in songs and legends”. While he’s generally portrayed as straight, in one of Euripides’ plays, for comic effect, he’s made out to be gay.

From the beginning, the krewe took immense pride in what they were doing and determined to outshine the older, more established krewes. As Captain, Martin insisted on supervising the costume-making and set a high bar of artistic excellence. Martin’s dedication paid off at the krewe’s first ball, whose theme was “Gems.” Fish reigned as Queen Polyphemus I and David Smith reigned as King Polyphemus I. Polyphemus outdid itself in its third ball, “I Do! I Do!” Carnival historian Howard P. Smith writes the ball “showed incredible attention to detail: each of the tables for special guests had a two-tiered white wedding cake topped with two male grooms.” Rip Naquin remarked in Ambush, “It was hard to believe anything could top the festivities thus far but believe us the new royalty did just that. King (Kevin Bergeron) and Queen Polyphemus III (Gregory Pichon) dazzled the audi-

ence with their thousands of plumes and stones, the most breathtaking costumes we have ever seen. The Captain of Polyphemus is certainly to be congratulated on the superb costuming, choreography, and showmanship of this exquisite production.”

Martin’s attention to detail and high expectations paid off the following year as well. The 1986 “Deco and Design” ball had been inspired by the art deco designer and artist, Erté. After the ball, one of the costumes was displayed in the window at Saks. Erté himself noticed the gown and later complemented Martin on the design.

Polyphemus had established itself as the producer of highly creative and exquisite balls. For the krewe’s fifth ball “The Envelope Please,” Martin selected a Broadway theme and was determined to maintain the krewe’s reputation for excellence. Martin insisted that all costumes be made at the den, “under my watchful eye,” but one member, whose costume upon which the tableau hinged, insisted on making it at his home.

As the ball approached, Martin went to the man’s home to inspect the costume only to discover it was nowhere near finished. The man was unceremoniously expelled from the krewe

and other members worked around the clock to complete the costume.

During the ball, just as member Kevin Keller walked out in this costume, police interrupted the ball because of a bomb threat. The auditorium was cleared as the bomb squad searched the auditorium. Two hours later, after no bomb was detected, the ball resumed. Many attendees remain convinced the expelled member phoned in the anonymous bomb threat. Hell hath no fury...

Three years later, the Polyphemus den was destroyed in a tragic arson on New Year’s Eve. Because all the costumes were destroyed, there was no ball in 1990.

But vengeful queens and fires were not the only things Polyphemus (and the other gay krewes) had to worry about. The AIDS epidemic literally decimated the gay community, including many of the krewes. By 1992, Martin had lost so many friends and krewe members to AIDS, he was ready to call it day. The 1992 ball, “Holidays,” in which Martin served as both Captain and Queen, was the krewe’s last and, in the words of historian Smith, “signaled the end of the Golden Age of Gay Carnival.”

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 27

INTERVIEWS FROM KEY WEST Musician Tony Baltimore Wouldn’t Mess with the Chickens of Key West Kevin Assam kevin-assam@hotmail.com Tony Durante aka Tony Baltimore is not afraid to step in it. Right in it. His candor and sizable following to back it up makes him a refreshing musician to talk to about all things Moby, vegans, and the hardened lives of coastal chickens.

Is it Tony Durante, Tony Baltimore, or Tony Worldwide?

Tony: Tony Durante & the Worldwide Baltimore’s. Why can’t I have everything?

Let’s clear up this Baltimore thing. Are you obsessed with the city?

Tony: Maybe a little. It’s a nickname I was given in Tampa many years ago and certainly not something I’d go by in the actual city of Baltimore.

It sort of followed me here. I like it because people from Baltimore or even Maryland usually have an instant connection with me.

What sort of monikers did you assign yourself while in Baltimore?

Tony: I’m not sure I’ve ever assigned myself a moniker. Usually I’m Tony. That is, unless my mother, grandmother or lady are mad at me — in that case I’m Anthony. Although, my friend

Toby used to call me Professor X due to my bald head.

Was Professor X of any interest to you growing up in your pre-bald era?

Tony: Possibly, he was the leader of the X-Men after all. But prior to my bald head I had fairly long blond hair. So, I’d say I was also rather fond of Bodhi’s — Patrick Swayze — hair in Point Break. Now, I rather lean towards the Bruce Willis look and firmly against the Moby look.

You’re saying you weren’t a fan of Moby’s music or just his personal look? Play was a pretty impressive album.

Tony: I don’t give a f*** about Moby, never have. His music is shit aside from that Jason Bourne song. I liked that. Moby is responsible for waking a bunch of annoying, slumbering vegans and now we all have to listen to them bitch about our diets.

Many vegans advocate from the point of sustainability. The sheer volume of clean water used to produce a vastly disproportionate quantity of meat for example. In a time of extreme climate degradation, is their

Tony Durante aka Tony Baltimore

28 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

approach better long term?

Tony: Look, eat what you want and be a responsible person. But could you leave me alone while doing it? Maybe eat less. It’s not like vegans are the skinniest and healthiest lot of the bunch. I’m all for sustainability. This very island could focus on sustainability. but there doesn’t seem to be too much focus on that, is there? And you can’t even touch the chickens here!

Let alone eat them. There are starving people in Marathon. I’m kidding. We shouldn’t joke.

The chickens here look tough.

They’ve been hardened by all the horrors and exploits witnessed on this island. Should we treat the chickens and roosters with more respect and kindness?

Tony: Sure, why not? I wouldn’t mess with the chickens here. I think they’re all on meth and the cats are on acid. Skittish f***ers, those cats. I feel sorry for the chickens because you’ll have a four-year-old boy chasing one while his parents are drunk trying to get a picture by the Mile 0 sign. You ever notice you never see a chicken get run over here? Spry little fowl, chickens.

Who got you your first instrument?

Tony: My parents bought me my first drum set when I was in the fourth

grade. My first guitar we acquired against my aunt’s will when I was in eighth grade. Something about wanting one of my cousins to play it. That never happened. You have to take what you want in this world, right?

How did you discover your vocals weren’t too shabby?

Tony: Someone had to do it and it fell to me. The band I was in years ago was called Skip, Hop & Go Naked.

I only sang backup and the occasional tune. I wrote a lot, but it was more of a group effort. The songs I wrote on my own wouldn’t have gotten into that band, so I went my own way. Here I am.

What do you drink now in the morning? Was it immediately clear that you would be able to make a living from throwing yourself into the entertainment scene full time?

Tony: Earl Grey tea and honey every morning. I’ve been performing since I was a teenager, so it made sense that I’d do this as a career. I hated everything else. Bartending was fun, but not something I could do with any longevity. Although bartenders are some of my favorite people. I like sitting at the bar, not working behind it.

Ten years was enough for me.

How does a performer get their first stable gig on an island arguably

crowded with talented musicians?

Tony: Depends on what you consider talent. Ever see a douchebag with a beautiful girl on his arm? Some are just all gimmicks. That should tell you enough. Ever listen to any Bro-Country before? Let’s leave it at that.

Why won’t some places try solo musicians?

Tony: Actually, most places have solo musicians. Especially during the day and early evenings. It suits noise levels and budgets. You may notice there’s no music during the day at places like the Parrot. Currently my monthly round-up includes the Green Parrot, Willie T’s, Schooner Wharf, Sunset Tiki, Sloppy Joe’s, Blue Heaven, the Conch Farm, and Hog’s Breath.

It’s still a largely tip-based job, right? Do these bigger bars actually pay a livable wage?

Tony: Oh no, we’re taken care of.

Key West does well with that. Nashville is solely tip-based, which is why I’ll never play that circuit. I don’t know how they get away with that. The tips we make are basically gifts for a job well done or monetary applause from the audience.

How should a new musician with nothing but her rucksack, a Brussels Griffon, a tambourine, and a day-shift selling water sports ex-

cursions go about landing her first big musical gig?

Tony: Make sure you put that dog on stage with you. People eat that shit up! I know a number of very talented musicians who rip it up in the living room. But the idea of getting on a large stage in a big room packed full of people is terrifying to them. I would suggest some smaller venues with fewer people to cut your teeth before you try to entertain huge crowds. It can be scary. But the dog might help.

What does Tony Baltimore envision for his end game? Albums?

Tours? Soundtracks for The Star Wars franchise?

Tony: As long as John Williams is around that’s his job. I’ll probably keep making records as long as that spark and energy still present themselves. I love writing songs and I love the production end of it as well. Not the engineering bit though. I’m not sure I have an end game or that there is one. Right now, I imagine I’ll continue on this wandering path until I decide I can’t wander any further.

So, be honest. How is Disney’s The Mandalorian?

Tony: Some are saying it’s the best thing since A New Hope and Empire. That’s a pretty good assessment.

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About at The Crossing Nola AT THE CROSSING NOLA | PHOTOS BY DWAIN HERTZ

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 29

HEALTH & WELLNESS HEALTH & WELLNESS Coronavirus Crisis Chenier Reynolds-Montz Director of Outreach & Development for Access Health Louisiana CReynolds@accesshealthla.org “Coronavirus is a global emergency described by the World Health Organization (WHO) and as well as the United States as a national health emergency,” warns Dr. MarkAlain Déry, DO, MPH, FACOI. “Because of its transmission, secondary to respiratory distress, it’s prudent to monitor individuals form Wuhan, China, because we see person-to-person transmission is more evident.” Just this month, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) confirmed its second case of person-to-person transmission in the U.S. Both cases involved husbands and wives after one spouse returned from a visit to Wuhan.

The spread of the 2019 novel coronavirus (nCoV) is being monitored by the CDC, as well as WHO. Coronaviruses are viruses that typically cause illness in humans after exposure to an animal source. This latest outbreak is believed to have started in a large

public animal market in Wuhan. At this time, there are a lot of unknowns such as the type of animal which may have caused the outbreak. Coronaviruses are named for their appearance; under a microscope, the viruses look like they are covered with pointed structures that surround them like a crown.

Experts say the coronavirus is vastly different from SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) and MERS (Middle Eastern Respiratory Syndrome) which spread years ago.

This virus spreads from person-to-person. Person-to-person transmission happens among close contacts especially when an infected person sneezes or coughs. Typically, with most respiratory viruses, people are thought to be most contagious when they are most symptomatic or at their sickest point.

“The SARS, MERS, and the new virus are similar in nature,” says Dr. Déry. “Whereas the SARS virus was

virulent, it wasn’t that infectious like influenza. We don’t know where Coronavirus sits in this spectrum. Likely it’s not very virulent but the transmissibility isn’t very high, and mortality hasn’t been very high yet either.” When viruses are spread person-to-person, the way they spread can vary. Some viruses like the measles are highly contagious; however, others are less so.

Doctors say symptoms of nCoV take a little while to appear. Most patients are seeing symptoms within 14 days of exposure. Symptoms of coronavirus include lower respiratory tract symptoms, fever, shortness of breath, cough and pneumonia; however, there are some inconsistencies according to the CDC. Dr. Déry agrees, “early data shows that nCoV affects the elderly symptomatically, while younger people are appearing to be asymptomatic.

The virus does not appear to affect all individuals the same way.” nCoV isn’t easy for doctors to diagnose with a routine physical exam either. That’s because mild cases of the new coronavirus appear like signs of a bad cold or flu. A laboratory test must be done to confirm the diagnosis.

“At this time, there is no treatment for nCoV, except for supportive care,” says Déry. “People are being encouraged to update their flu shots. Also, early HIV medications such as lopinavir and Ritonavir are being used as off-label treatments.”

So far, nCoV has claimed more than 700 lives abroad. Only 11 Amer-

icans have tested positive for the virus here in the U.S. as of February 4.

About 82 patients in the U.S. are awaiting test results to confirm or refute the virus.

Currently, the WHO is calling the coronavirus an “outbreak” so it’s not yet a pandemic. Dr. Déry explains, “a pandemic is a breakout of clusters of epidemic disease in multiple locations. An epidemic is considered any outbreak that is above a baseline. This is a new organism, so any cases are above the baseline.” While the immediate risk to the American public is currently low, it’s wise to take precautions.

The best protection for now is to wash your hands frequently for at least 20 seconds, use alcohol-based hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available and stay home when you are sick. The CDC is not recommending that Americans use face masks in this country yet. For the latest information on the coronavirus crisis, visit the cdc.gov.

Chenier Reynolds-Montz is Director of Outreach & Development for Access Health Louisiana, a registered 501(c)3 organization. She can be reached at creynolds@accesshealthla.org. For information about our services, log onto our website at accesshealthla.org

32 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

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WELLNESS

Fighting the Valentine’s Blues Dr. Andrew Watley Professional Counselor in the State of Louisiana Pink and red are displayed in every store you enter! There are hearts and roses, chocolates and balloons, puppies, and bears,. The checkout lines get longer as the day approaches. No matter how hard you try, you cannot escape the inevitability of Valentine’s Day. For many people, this day is one in which they can openly display their love for their significant other. Like a peacock, men and women alike go out of their way to show acts of love.

For others, it can be a day that is a reminder of how lonely they may feel because of their “single” status. It is hard to avoid, especially now in the days of

social media. It seems like Cupid’s little arrow has found its way into the hearts of everyone, except a few people.

Although Valentine’s Day can bring joy and anticipation for some, it can bring anxiety and depression for others. It seems that there is more pressure on us to get into a healthy relationship the older that we get. For some, Valentine’s Day is a reminder of how much we aren’t living up to, not only our family’s expectations, but society’s as well.

I’ve experienced years of this Valentine’s Day Depression. I watched my parents, siblings, and friends jump head first into acts of love for their sig-

nificant others while I gifted myself with a box of chocolate, a bottle of wine, and movies that had nothing to do with the concept of love.

In recent years, I’ve dated two guys who didn’t want to celebrate the day with me. That should have been a red flag, but in my naiveté, I somehow translated that as a normal part of our relationship. Many of my friends would say that moments like these led me to become what they believed was bitter, but I think a more accurate word would be “isolated”. It seemed like I didn’t fit in with the rest of society. Growing up as the only gay person in a Catholic family definitely didn’t help to encourage me

to display the love that I wanted, but that’s a story for another article.

We know the day is coming! What can people who find themselves in this “isolated” state do to survive this day of love?

First, we need to change our attitudes. It is easy to allow ourselves to fall into a moment of despair, which often leads us to the thought that there is something wrong with us. We believe that these flaws have led us to be alone and that this loneliness will continue forever. Let’s get that out of our heads.

Finding a compatible partner may take time. It may not happen when we want it to, but we have to try to have faith that it will happen when we’re ready.

Secondly, pay attention to the ways that we may isolate ourselves. I know that it doesn’t help to lock myself in my bedroom while the rest of the world loves one another. Sometimes small changes can change our attitudes or approaches to situations. I’ve learned that since I can’t escape it, I should work harder to embrace it.

Lastly, remember that Valentine’s Day doesn’t only have to be a day that shows romantic love. Instead, spend a little time focusing on self love. Do something nice for yourself. Treat yourself to a nice meal, go get a massage, or cuddle up with a good book. Do the things that you enjoy to show yourself that you appreciate yourself. If that does not sound like a good idea, grab some friends and do something together. Go to a bar or to dinner. Spend time with the ones that you love on that day.

All love is love!

Do your best to enjoy the day as much as you can. If for some reason you still can’t shake the approaching Valentine’s Day blues, remember that it is only temporary. The day will come and go and before you know it, the Valentines displays will disappear and will be replaced with displays welcoming the Carnival Season. Turn your eyes toward a positive future and always be open to the idea of love!

Dr. Andrew Watley is a licensed professional counselor in the state of Louisiana. His practice is geared toward helping adolescents, members of the LGBTQ+ community and men who experience concerns with their masculinity and body image. More information about Dr. Watley and his practice can be found on his website, www. drandrewwatley.com.

34 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Southern Decadence AT SD XLV GRAND MARSHALS’ CHECK PRESENTATION TO ODYSSEY HOUSE OF LOUISIANA | PHOTOS BY CHARLES PIZZO

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 35

HOT HAPPENINGS UNDER THE GAYDAR New Orleans Hot Happenings Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com Mardi Gras madness is all around us as we enter the second month of the year! Everything is happening from the gay carnival balls to the parades as we kick into high gear for the season.

Beads, boys and balls abound so enjoy everything purple, green and gold.

Here are just a few of the things to fill 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: The 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.

777 Happy Hour: Kajun’s Pub; 2556 St. Claude Ave.; 7 a.m. - 7 p.m.

Happy Hour: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 7 days a week from 8 a.m - 8 p.m.

Happy Hour: The Bourbon Pub; 801 Bourbon St.; 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. (except Monday) Happy Hour: GrandPre’s; 834 N Rampart St.; 12 p.m. - 9 p.m. $3 Well/ domestics Happy Hour: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 4 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Kajun’s Karaoke: Kajun’s Pub; 2556 St. Claude Ave.; Karaoke from 5 p.m. until.

Happy Hour: The Bourbon Pub; 801 Bourbon St.; 5 p.m. - 8 p.m. (except Sunday) Happy Hour: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; bargain prices starting with draft beer or Schnapps for only $1.50—plus six more specials. Weekdays: Noon - 7 p.m., Weekends: 10 a.m, - 6 p.m. | Boys dancin’ on the bar nightly 9 p.m. till close.

WEEKDAYS

Happy Hour: Good Friends Bar; 740 Dauphine St.; 5 a.m. - 9 p.m.

Happy Hour: The Phoenix Bar; 941 Elysian Fields Ave.; 6 a.m. - 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. - 7 p.m.

MONDAY

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

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.

Happy Hour All Night: The Page Bar; 542 N Rampart St.; Open to close.

Well, domestic, and wine.

Primal Nights: Bacchanal Wine; 600 Poland Ave.; 5:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. $20 donation. Guest Chefs grill a personalized menu and the plate donations go to the charity of their choosing.

NOAGE & Stonewall Sports Walk/ Run Club: Lafitte Greenway; 6:15 p.m. Join Stonewall Sports New Orleans and NOAGE starting at 6:30 p.m..

Meet for the walk/run at Bayou Beer Garden. The Stonewall Run Club joins

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.

If you need assistance or have questions, call Jim at (504) 228-6778.

Queer Meditation: Mid City Zen; 3248 Castiglione St.; 6:15 p.m. A queer and trans centered meditation group meeting regularly on Monday evenings. Practice includes sitting and walking meditation, as well as sensory and body based awareness exercises.

Open to all LGBTIQ+ people, and all folks interested in holding and sharing an intentionally queer-centering mindful space. Free/by donation.

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.

Lazy Susan Karaoke: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 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

36 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI The Corner Pocket MEET ME ON ST. LOUIS—WHERE THE BOYS ARE DANCIN’ NIGHTLY ON THE BAR | PHOTOS BY CHARLES PIZZO

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

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make them fabulous and sing the night away.

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.

Night of S.I.N.: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; from 9 p.m. till close. Get your S.I.N. (Service Industry Night) card from Ashlee to unlock Happy Hour prices every Monday night. | Boys dancin’ on the bar 9 p.m. till close.

Pool Tournament: Rawhide 2010; 740 Burgundy St.; 9:45 p.m. $2 PBR and $50 gift certificate for Rawhide S.I.N.: Kajun’s Pub; 2256 St. Claude Ave.; 1 a.m - 4 a.m. 2 for 1 drinks.

TUESDAY

Tequila Tuesdays: Crossing; 439 Dauphine St.; (all day) Tequila drinks $5.

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

Happy Hour: The Page Bar; 542 N Rampart St.; 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Burlesque Bingo with Lefty Lucy: The AllWays Lounge; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 6 p.m. - 8:30 p.m There’s no cover for this grown-up game show where everyone’s a winner! Just buy a drink from the bar & Tsarina Hellfire will give

you a Bingo card. Each round winner gets a bucket of prizes including exclusive prints & a grand finale prize from Abita Brewing Company! Just for showing up you get to enjoy the free burlesque side of this unique game.

Between every round, Lefty Lucy performs an improvised striptease to a song the crowd selects, removing only one item per round—don’t miss your chance to win the finale prize, and to see the tassels twirl!

Trivia: Cutter’s; 706 Franklin Ave.; 7:30 p.m. Join your host, bartender and local music legend Johnny Sketch.

Join a trivia team or bring your own and test your knowledge across multiple categories to win an often odd and useful assortment of prizes!

Queens Against RuManity: Kajun’s Pub; 2256 St. Claude Ave.; 7:30 - 9 p.m. Welcome to Queens Against Rumanity, a new game night at Kajuns Pub with Laveau Contraire and some of her fabulous friends for a RuPaul’s Drag Race themed game of Cards Against Humanity! If you’ve never played, it’s a fill in the blank game where each player tries to come up with answers using cards with iconic drag race quotes on them. Join them for Queens Against Rumanity featuring live drag performances, fun prizes and drink specials.

Tito’s Tuesday: The Bourbon Pub; 801 St Ann St.; 8 p.m. - close. $5 Tito’s cocktails

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 p.m. See the Men of Oz like you have never seen them before. The show stars Atomyc Adonis, Bobby B, Franky, Phathoms Deep and other special guests. Hosted

by Trixie Minx.

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

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.

Weekly Pool Tournament: The Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields Ave.; 8 - 11 p.m. Tuesday Night Pool Tournament! 8 p.m. with $5 buy-in, winner takes all. $3 Abita Brewing Company during the tournament! Hosted by Wayne Nettles. Afterward, stick around for Strip To Your Jockstrap Pool.

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.

WEDNESDAY

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.

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.

Happy Hour: The Page Bar; 542 N Rampart St.; 5 p.m. - 8 p.m..

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.

Monster Movie Night: Dat Dog on Freret; 5030 Freret st.; 7:30 p.m.

Come get scary campy at Monster Movie Night every Wednesday on Freret, 7:30PM! Happy Hour deals (like $5 double wells and a menu of $5 ‘dogs) extended throughout the movie, in case things get too scary. Cocktail specials for each film.

Show Tunes Night: The Bourbon

Pub; 801 St Ann St.; 8 p.m.- Midnight 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.

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. Bingo with Bridget Tunnel: Dat Dog; 601 Frenchman Street; 9 p.m.

Biggest, baddest, brassiest Bingo with superstar Bridget Tunnel starting at 9 p.m. Prizes for every round to keep you drunk and fed.

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 Rodriquez and Dominique DeLorean.

THURSDAY

Happy Hour: The Page Bar; 542 N Rampart St.; 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

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.

Drag Race UK Viewing Party: Kajun’s Pub; 2256 St. Claude Ave.; 7 p.m. Mama Ru’s in search of the UK’s very first drag race superstar. Prepare for the ride of your life! Join us every Thursday for Rupaul’s Drag Race UK Season 1 Viewing Party at Kajun’s Pub! Laveau Contraire has nvited some of her best squirrel friends to come give insightful commentary, sickening drag numbers, and a healthy dose of SHADE. Don’t get left at the starting line! See you every Thursday at Kajuns Pub for Rupaul’s Drag Race viewing on all 5 TV screens at 7pm!

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.; from 9 p.m. till close.

The Hits of the 80’s and 90’s. $3 well vodka drinks and $4 Long Island iced teas. | Boys dancin’ on the bar 9 p.m. till close.

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

38 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

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

CROSSING

Neighborhood video bar with a steampunk theme in the historic Vieux Carré.

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 · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 39

ALL THAT DRAG Weekly Drag Shows in New Orleans

TUESDAY

Tacos, Tequila, & Tiaras - 8PM - Buffa’s Bar & Restaurant Hosted by Vanessa Carr Kennedy

WEDNESDAY

Show Night - 10:30PM - Oz New Orleans Persana Shoulders presents this production featuring the fabulous ladies of Oz and music by DJ Tim Pflueger.

Hello Gorgeous - Every third Wednesday - Southern Rep Theater DeDe Onassis hosts this circus cabaret alongside aerialist Liza Rose that includes contortion, music, drag, and more.

THURSDAY

Turnin’ Da Page - Every other Thursday - 9PM - The Page Serenity L. Lord emcees this bi-weekly marvel

FRIDAY FRID

Misc4Misc - 9PM - Oz New Orleans A weird and wonderful show presented by Apostrophe and featuring a new cast every week.

Play Girlz - 10PM - Golden Lantern Hosted by Gia Giavanni Illusions - 10:30PM - The Bourbon Pub The Queens of Illuisons offer up superstar female impersonation

SATURDAY

Drag Brunch - 11AM & 1PM - The Country Club Enjoy bottomless mimosas at one of the most popular drag events in the city. Reservations are recommended.

Drag Brunch - 11AM & 1PM - Trinity Swing by Trinity in the French Quarter for a Saturday morning show starring the Ladies of Trinity.

Divas R Us - 10PM - Golden Lantern Hosted by Monica Synclaire Kennedy Illusions - 10:00PM - The Bourbon Pub The Queens of Illuisons offer up superstar female impersonation Showtime on Rampart - 10PM - GrandPre's 1st, 3rd & 5th Saturday,.Hosted by Moanalot Fountaine & Sable Starr

SUNDAY SUND

Mama Honey’s Drag Brunch - 11AM & 1PM - Cru Bottomless beverages, a decadent brunch prepared by Chef Marlon Alexander, and the talents of Vanessa Carr.

Diva Drag Brunch at the Fillmore - 11:30 AM Weekly drag brunch featuring some of New Orleans best drag queens and fun themed shows.

The Reba Douglas Jubilee - 5PM - Golden Lantern Hosted by Reba Douglas Divas at the Dive - 5PM - Kajun’s Pub Hosted by Vanessa Carr Lipstixx - 8PM - The Bourbon Pub Oz Show Night - 9:30PM - Oz New Orleans Hosted by Persana Shoulders Are we missing your show? Email us at info@ambushpublishing.com

FRIDAY

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

Happy Hour: The Page Bar; 542 N Rampart St.; 3 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Take It Off Fridays: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; 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.

New Meat Dance Contest: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; 10 p.m. Amateurs and pros compete to win cash prizes ($100 winner, $200 if on the first attempt). Open call; guys register with ID (21+) by 9 p.m. | Boys dancin’ on the bar 9 p.m. till close.

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.

Bayou Blues Burlesque: The Allways Lounge and Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 8-10 p.m. An intimate night of live blues music accompanied by burlesque and variety acts. Drink specials and comfy seating to enjoy the art of the striptease. Music by The Delta Revues; burlesque by Andrea Louise Duhe´ (Ooops C.) Cherry Brown and special guests. Doors: 7:00pm; Show: 8:00pm; Cover: $10.

Jock Night: The Eagle at the Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields Ave; 9 p.m. Happy hour prices for wearing a jock or singlet.

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

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

Late Night Happy Hour: Cru NOLA; 535 Franklin Ave.; 10:30 p.m.

- 2 a.m. Executive Chef Marlon Alexander and sushi & vegan Chef Kelseay Dukae serve delicious drink specials and amazing food during late night happy hours. Come chill out in the iconic courtyard.

SATURDAY

Queer Meditation: Mid City Zen; 3248 Castiglione St.; 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 for a sit, breathe, notice, rest; to cultivate presence and kindness together. Free/by donation.

Burlesque Brunch: Cru NOLA; 535 Franklin Ave.; Join the incomparable Angie Z and friends for a boozy, burlesque brunch every Saturday from

11-3pm. For reservations, go to www. opentable.com.

Happy Hour: The Page Bar; 542 N Rampart St.; 3 p.m. - 8 p.m.11 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Beer Bash: The Bourbon Pub; 801 Bourbon St.; 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. $10 pitchers of beer, $9 pitchers of Miller Light draft (upstairs only) 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 St.; 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 and goes till 8 pm in the upstairs bar with your favorite bottom, Jake, slinging drinks for you all night long!

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 top 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 special guest stars.

Late Night Happy Hour: Cru NOLA; 535 Franklin Ave.; 10:30 p.m.

- 2 a.m. Executive Chef Marlon Alexander and sushi & vegan Chef Kelseay Dukae serve delicious drink specials and amazing food during late night happy hours. Come chill out in the iconic courtyard.

SUNDAY

Mama Honey’s Drag Brunch: Cru NOLA; 535 Franklin St.; 11 a.m. Vanessa Carr presents Mama Honey’s Drag Brunch featuring Chef Marlon Alexander’s amazing menu and the phenomenal talents of Vanessa Carr Kennedy and Friends! For tickets, go to www.crunola.com 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.

Happy Hour: Good Friends Bar; 740 Dauphine St.; 1 p.m. - 11 p.m. $3.75 well drinks and domestic beer.

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

Beer Bash: The Bourbon Pub; 801 Bourbon St.; 3 p.m. - 6 p.m. $10 pitchers of beer, $9 pitchers of Miller Light draft (upstairs only) Happy Hour/ Drink Til You Drop: The Page Bar; 542 N Rampart St.; Happy Hour 3 p.m. - 8 p.m. and Drink Til You Drop $12 6 p.m. - 9 p.m.

The Original Trash Disco: Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 4-10 p.m. Includes the original napkin toss and the best music videos to sing along with.

Jubilee: Golden Lantern; 1239

40 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Oz New Orleans PHOTOS BY DWAIN HERTZ AND OZ STAFF #OZNEWORLEANS & SUBMITTED BY PERSANA SHOULDERS

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

OPENING HOURS

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

ADDRESS 800 Bourbon Street New Orleans, LA Phone: (504) 593-9491 www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 41

Royal St.; 5 p.m. This Sunday Funday show stars Reba Douglas and special guests.

Divas at the Dive: Kajun’s Pub; 2256 St. Claude Ave; 5 p.m. Vanessa Carr LIve. 6:30 p.m. Drag Karaoke. 8 p.m. Audience Karaoke Sinful Sunday: Crossing; 439 Dauphine St.; 5 - 8 p.m. Drink & Drown, $15 well drinks or top shelf & bottled beer $25 - includes free burger cookout.

Drag Dingo: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 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 the upstairs bar with your favorite bottom, Jake, slinging drinks for you all night long.

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.

Zingo!/It’s Raining Men: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; 6 p.m.

Play for free to win prizes or bar tabs. | 9 p.m. Boys bouncin’ on the bar to the beats of gay anthems from DJ Barry Bareass.

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

Join DJ Dereesha as he plays Karaoke.

Sunday Swing: The Allways

Lounge and Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; starts at 8 p.m. Every Sunday, local swing dance instructors offer a community class from 8-9pm. From 9 till midnight there is live, local music and social dancing! There is NO cover, but a one drink minimum is required per set.

Jock Night: The Eagle at the Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields Ave; 9 p.m. Happy hour prices for wearing a jock or singlet.

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.

SPECIAL EVENTS TUESDAY 2/11 – SUNDAY 2/16

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Saenger Theatre; 1111 Canal St.; Tickets for Roald Dahl’s Charlie and the Chocolate Factory start at $30 and can be purchased at BroadwayInNewOrleans.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, by calling (800) 982-2787 or at the Mahalia Jackson Theater Box Office located at 1419 Basin St. The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday-Thursday: 7:30 p.m.; Friday: 8 p.m.; Saturday: 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday: 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.

TUESDAY 2/11

Clown Town V-Day Massacre: The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 7 - 10 p.m. Special guests: The Darling and Blyre Cpanx. $10 cover. For tickets, go to www. eventbrite.com.

Sundown Striptease - Love Bites: The Allways Lounge & Cabaret: 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 10:30 p.m.

- 1:30 a.m. Dick Jones and Velvet Spade are bringing you the dark and enchanting side of romance. To celebrate everyone’s favorite greeting card store holiday, they’re paying tribute to history, literature, and film’s most sensual bloodsuckers. An evening of erotic frights and bloody delights. Featuring Anjle, Chere Noble, Dick Jones (and The Great Dane!), Gigi Envie, Juno, Miss Monarch M, Mortale Synn, Velvet Spade. $15 cover An Evening of Integrity with Miranda Kelli: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.: 10:30 p.m. Come spend the evening with Miranda and show your support as she makes her way to capturing the title of Miss Gay Louisiana USofA. There will be a fabulous lineup of entertainers for the evening as well as raffle items and a 50/50 raffle. It’s going to be a great drag show.

WEDNESDAY 2/12

The Sons of Tennessee Williams Review: The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 8 - 10 p.m.

Come out to the AllWays Lounge and watch this beautiful film about the origins and survival of gay Mardi Gras culture. This is the homecoming of where this film originally premiered. Followed with Q&A with the director and king cake! $15 suggested donation.

THURSDAY 2/13

Valentine’s Day Drag Dinner: Broussard’s; 819 Rue Conti St.; 6:30 and 8:30 p.m. seating. Come out and see the Southern Barbiturates Drag Show with a fabulous dinner with that special someone. For reservations, call 504-581-3866.

Sirens of Salvage Airlift Annual Masked Ball: The Music Box Village; 4557 N. Rampart St.; 7 p.m. The Music Box Village opens the 2020 Spring Season with our 4th Annual Mardi Gras Ball: Sirens of Salvage, featuring Big Freedia. This event benefits future artwork in The Music Box Village by artist Lonnie Holley for Prospect New Orleans 2020! Their VIP Hour kicks off with special performances and annual wearable art souvenir. For tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com.

Untitled Drag Show: The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2249 St. Claude Ave.; 10 p.m. - 1 a.m. In this [untitled drag show] they seek to let some of New Orleans’ most capable drag artists explore deeper into the realm of drag as art. This revealing approach to drag brings the unexpected to the

surface in a show that has shown itself equally capable of being moving, silly, sad, and sexy. Doors at 10. Show at 11. $10 admission at the door.

FRIDAY 2/14

Dermot Kennedy: The Fillmore; 6 Canal St.; 7 p.m. Performing with SYML. Ticket Link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1B00572CB8C43FDF Mystic Krewe of Apollo Resurrection Bal Masque: Hotel Monteleone; 214 Royal St.; 8 - 11:30 p.m. After over three decades of being dormant, the Mystic Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans is rising again in 2020 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first ever Krewe of Apollo Bal Masque with its Mystic Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans Resurrection Bal Masque. On this night, we celebrate each milestone where it all began in 1970. The event will feature a plated full service dinner, dancing and the presentation of Apollo New Orleans newest Royalty -- all with a true Bal Masque. Tux or Evening Gown with Masque required for entry. Feel free to purchase a masque with your ticket if you wish. Quantities are limited. The event will feature the full coronation ceremony of King and Queen Apollo New Orleans XVIII, as well as tidbits from the history of the Apollo franchise, music. dancing and dinner. For tickets and information, go to www.mkanola.com.

A Cure for VD: The Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields Ave.; 9 p.m. - midnight.

It’s the Lords of Leather final bust before our Bal Masque XXXVII. A $5 buyin gets all-you-can-drink from 9 - 10 pm, then $1 refills from 10 - midnight.

Their beer busts are a Cure for VD! (Valentine’s Day!) Sisters of St. Claude: The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 9:30 - 11:30 p.m. Each episode of this monthly affair will gather together a few faces oh so familiar to the AllWays stage and let them loose in a show that puts drag classics and golden oldies back in the spotlight! Dede Onassis yelling in Liza voice. Hosted and produced by Dede Onassis & Siren. Admission is $10 at the door The Graduates: The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; starts at 10 p.m. A monthly show featuring students and graduates of The New Orleans School of Burlesque.

Each show will feature a cast of current and past students who have studied extensively, perfecting their craft and developing new acts! Doors at 10 p.m.

Show at 11 p.m. $10 cover.

The Heartbreakers Ball - A Dark Dance Party: The Goat; 1301 St. Bernard Ave.; 10 p.m. - 3 a.m. The Heart Breakers’ Ball: A Dark Dance Party is ready for Valentine’s Day. Red and black attire encouraged. DJs include Nothing, Olivette and Sadisgate.exe.

No Cover.

42 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Sipps Bar Gulfport, MS PHOTOS BY DWAIN HERTZ

SIPPS BAR GULFPORT Our beer is cold, patio is shaded, and pool tables and nightlife dance floor are waiting for your moves at Sipps bar Downtown Gulfport.

OPENING HOURS Everyday 5pm - TILL ADDRESS 2218 25th Ave, Gulfport, MS Phone: (228) 206-7717 Email: sipps25th@gmail.com

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 43

SATURDAY 2/15 – SUNDAY 2/16

Mardi Gras Costume and Supply Sales: 1200 Franklin Ave.; 11 a.m. 7 p.m. each day. Mambo down to the most festive sale ever! Mother Tucker and Kookie Baker have teamed up for an EPIC sale just in time for carnival.

They will have costumes, jewelry, fox tails, feather shoulder pieces, headpieces, costuming supplies, rhinestones, ostrich plumes, Mehron makeup, cosmetic glitter, and much more.

SATURDAY 2/15

29th Annual Carnival Costume Bazaar: The New Orleans Healing Center; 2372 St. Claude Ave.; 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Threadhead Cultural Foundation Presents the 29th Annual NOLA Designer Carnival Costume Bazaar. It is everyone’s favorite go-to spot for creative Carnival costumery! After nearly three decades, we’re an institution, kids! Vendors include founding designer Oliver Manhattan and other longtime local favorites, along with some talented newcomers: Krewe of Petronius Bal Masque: The Frederick Sigur Center; 8245 W. Judge Perez Dr.; 8 p.m. Come join the oldest Gay Krewe for a night of fun. Meet the newly crowned King and Queen, take photos with all the Krewe’s costumes after the ball. There

will be an after ball party for dancing with DJ Kenny and food will be served.

Doors open at 7 pm, ball 8-10 after party 10pm till 12 am.St Bernard Sigur Civic Center. The theme this year is the Dark Side of Disney. For tickets, go to www.kreweofpetronius.net.

The Pantry: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 8 - 10:30 p.m. Come join the excitement for the first Pantry at Oz New Orleans of 2020! KP, Millie Meringue, Cosette LaFemme, William Nixon, and Alexa Avery DeLorean are going to be putting on the best local rap and drag performances New Orleans and Baton Rouge have to offer.

COVER - $5.

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.

Attrition: The Goat; 1301 St Bernard Ave.; 10 p.m. - 4 a.m. Attrition brings :goth, industrial, ebm: by DJs Nothing, Olivette and Sneauxball. NO COVER.

SUNDAY 2/16

Drag Diva Sunday Brunch - The Whitney Houston Edition: The Fillmore; 6 Canal St.; 10:30 a.m. For tickets, go to http://www.fillmorenola. com/. It is always best for your group to purchase tickets together to ensure that you’ll be seated together. Large groups, please call 504.872.3303 or

email FillmoreNOLABoxOffice@livenation.com for accommodations. Buffet Includes: Scrambled Eggs, Country Potatoes, Bacon, Sausage, Baked Chicken, Fried Catfish, Baked Macaroni, Asparagus Salad w/ Grape Tomatoes, Spring Mix Salad w/ Honey Basil Vinaigrette, and an Assortment of Pastries and Desserts.

Drag Brunch: The Fairgrounds Race Course & Slots; 1751 Gentilly Blvd.; 12 p.m. Party with the Queens at the Track--enjoy a brunch buffet, horse racing, and a drag show all in one! Tickets are $40/person. Please call 504.943.2200 to reserve your spot!

WEDNESDAY 2/19

NOAGE Potluck: St. Anna’s Episcopal Church; 1313 Esplanade Ave.; 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. Join NOAGE for a potluck at St. Anna’s Episcopal Church! If you are able, please bring a dish. We’ll need main dishes, meats, sides, soups, salads or vegan/vegetarian dishes, desserts, and beverages. The potluck is in the back of the Parish House (the building to the right of the church itself, located at the corner of Esplanade Ave. and Marais St.) PLEASE ENTER FROM THE BACK DOOR; the front door remains locked at all times. There is limited parking and an accessible ramp on the Marais Street side of the building. Please consider bringing non-perishable food items for St. Anna’s Food Pantry.

Misti Gaither’s Spotlight Project: Carnaval Lounge; 2227 St. Claude Ave.; 8:45 - 10:30 p.m. Each month Misti will be inviting a different guest to share the stage, collaborate and perform in this intimate setting. This month’s guest will be Jim Meadows.

Doors open at 8 p.m. Showtime 9:00, $5.00 @ door.

Wet Jockey Shorts Contest: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; 10p.m. Mardi Gras kicks off with a splash! Our famous Wet Jockey Shorts Contest features male dancers in tighty whitey briefs. It’s a sight not to be missed. If you’re really bad, you can come up on stage to pour water over a hot guy.

THURSDAY 2/20

Talk To The Hand! 3rd Thursdays Totally ‘90s/00’s: GrandPre’s 834 N. Rampart St.; 10 p.m. Join the fun at GrandPre’s for their monthly Third Thursday Totally ‘90s (and early ‘00s) Dance Party! It’s gonna be a retrolicious rewind. No cover!

Dark Time XII - The Mardi Gras Edition: One Eyed Jacks; 615 Toulouse St.; 10 p.m. - 4 a.m. DARK TIMES XII featuring 80s sounds - Dark 80s. DJs include Nothing, Olivette and Schadenfreude. $5 cover.

Van Ella Bordea A Storyville Burlesque: The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 8 - 11 p.m.

The Van Ella Bordella is an immersive,

storytelling burlesque experience featuring performers from around the country. Utilizing comedy, singing, and an exciting mix of solo and group performances, The Van Ella Bordella is produced by international showgirl Lola van Ella, whose Bordella has most recently opened for cabaret artist/actress Sandra Bernhard.

Queerly Beloved Dance Party: The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 10 p.m. - 2 a.m.

311: The Fillmore; 6 Canal St.; 8 p.m. Ticket Links: Night 1: https://www. ticketmaster.com/event/1B005775E475A4BD; Night 2: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1B005775E47BA4C0 Mardi Gras Day Dancers/Bar open 24 hours: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; 3 p.m. till late. Enjoy boys dancin’ on the bar from the afternoon until the wee wee hours of the night.

The bar stays open 24 hours during Carnival. VIP passes for seven days and nights of fun available (at the bar, on Facebook, or CornerPocket.net).

Mardi Gras Metal Madness: Crossing, 439 Dauphine St.; 24 hours.

America’s only gay steampunk video bar will be open 24 hours Fri - Tues of Mardi Gras. Full bar only one block off Bourbon Street. Eight 70” HD TVs and state of the art sound system.

FRIDAY 2/21 – SUNDAY 2/23

Vaude d’Gras - Baroquen Circus: Marigny Opera House; 725 St. Ferdinand St.: 7:30 p.m. every night. Entering its sixth year, Vaude d’Gras returns to New Orleans with “Baroquen Circus,” a dazzling theatrical performance that transports the viewer into Carnival’s past. The show lights up the stage at the Marigny Opera House featuring an eclectic entourage of the finest performing artists in the Crescent City. Witness tantalizing and unique performances by LadyBEAST, Franky Canga, Clay Mazing, Sam Aquatic and the fabulous Gogo McGregor. Tickets: $25 - $45 at www.eventbrite.com.

Questions? info.ladybeastproductions@gmail.com.

FRIDAY 2/21

Armeinius Bal Masque LII - An Armeinius Paradox: Mardi Gras World; 1380 Port of New Orleans Pl.; 8:30 11:30 p.m. Our historical ball date has moved to FRIDAY February 21. We need your help, our leading scientist Varla Jean Merman and her trusty but optimistically promiscuous Assistant Ryan Landry are going to sort this mess out and teach us how time works.

Join us as the Krewe of Armeinius fixes the future this Mardi Gras. New Orleans’ largest gay krewe returns with its absurd and fabulous Bal Masque for its 52nd year. World renowned for our opulent costumes and grand tableaux.

311: The Fillmore; 6 Canal St.; 8

44 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

Beyond Burger Beyond Clover

G N I V R E S NOW

Beyond Clover Burger

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 45

p.m. Ticket Links: Night 1: https://www. ticketmaster.com/event/1B005775E475A4BD; Night 2: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1B005775E47BA4C0 Mardi Gras Day Dancers/Bar open 24 hours: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; 3 p.m. till late. Enjoy boys dancin’ on the bar from the afternoon until the wee wee hours of the night.

The bar stays open 24 hours during Carnival. VIP passes for seven days and nights of fun available (at the bar, on Facebook, or CornerPocket.net).

Mardi Gras Metal Madness: Crossing, 439 Dauphine St.; 24 hours.

America’s only gay steampunk video bar will be open 24 hours Fri - Tues of Mardi Gras. Full bar only one block off Bourbon Street. Eight 70” HD TVs and state of the art sound system.

SATURDAY 2/22

Silversun Pickups: The Fillmore; 6 Canal St.; 8 p.m. Performing with Eliza and the Delusionals.

Ticket Link: https://www.ticketmaster.com/ event/1B005779261A9D7F. Dad’s Ball 2020 - New Orleans Mardi Gras: Cafe Istanbul; 2372 St. Claude Ave.; 9 p.m. - 3 .am. Welcome To Dad’s Ball. Theme: Victorian Fetish Masquerade - a Trax Only + Hit It collaboration. For tickets, go to www. eventbrite.com.

Spring 2020 Social Sports Registration: City Park; 1 Palm Dr; 9 am - 9

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

pm. NOLA Fray leagues are the best way to stay active and meet new people! With a variety of awesome sports to chose from, we make fun possible.

Early Bird Registration for the spring season will be open February 4th- February 11th. General Registration will be open February 12th- March 31st! See all the leagues and register at https:// www.nolafray.com/leagues/ Mardi Gras Day Dancers/Bar open 24 hours: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; 3 p.m. till late. Enjoy boys dancin’ on the bar from the afternoon until the wee wee hours of the night.

The bar stays open 24 hours during Carnival. VIP passes for seven days and nights of fun available (at the bar, on Facebook, or CornerPocket.net).

Mardi Gras Metal Madness: Crossing, 439 Dauphine St.; 24 hours.

America’s only gay steampunk video bar will be open 24 hours Fri - Tues of Mardi Gras. Full bar only one block off Bourbon Street. Eight 70” HD TVs and state of the art sound system.

SUNDAY 2/23

Drag Diva Sunday Brunch - Mardi Gras Yaasss!: The Fillmore; 6 Canal St.; 10:30 a.m. For tickets, go to http:// www.fillmorenola.com/. It is always best for your group to purchase tickets together to ensure that you’ll be seated together. Large groups, please call 504.872.3303 or email FillmoreNOLABoxOffice@livenation.com for accommodations. Buffet Includes: Scrambled Eggs, Country Potatoes, Bacon, Sausage, Baked Chicken, Fried Catfish, Baked Macaroni, Asparagus Salad w/ Grape Tomatoes, Spring Mix Salad w/ Honey Basil Vinaigrette, and an Assortment of Pastries and Desserts.

Lords of Leather Bal Masque XVII “Whorrore”: John A. Alario Sr. Events Center; 2000 Segnette Blvd.; 7 p.m.

For tickets, go to https://mystickrewe-of-lords-of-leather.ticketleap. com/bal-masque-xxxvii-whorrore/.

Valparaiso Men’s Chorus: The Saturn Bar; 3067 St. Claude Ave.; 9 p.m. 1 a.m. Individually, they’re some of the most talented musicians in the great city of New Orleans, plus a few outlying ne’er do-wells and general lowdown characters. Collectively, they’re the Valparaiso Men’s Chorus, and together they’re a glorious mess, an unruly assemblage of wannabe swabs.

Mardi Gras Day Dancers/Bar open 24 hours: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; 3 p.m. till late. Enjoy boys dancin’ on the bar from the afternoon until the wee wee hours of the night.

The bar stays open 24 hours during Carnival. VIP passes for seven days and nights of fun available (at the bar, on Facebook, or CornerPocket.net).

Mardi Gras Metal Madness: Crossing, 439 Dauphine St.; 24 hours.

America’s only gay steampunk video bar will be open 24 hours Fri - Tues of Mardi Gras. Full bar only one block off

Bourbon Street. Eight 70” HD TVs and state of the art sound system.

MONDAY 2/24

Function Presents: Umfang (Discwoman): Poor Boys Bar; 1328 St Bernard Ave: 10pm - 6am. “Lundi Gras All Nighter Fiasco” Featuring: Umfang, Discwoman co-founder, Tristan Dufrene, Mr. Legwork, Function Residents: Xivix, Quickweave, Asics. Limited Early Bird Tickets available through Resident Advisor: https://www.residentadvisor.net/events/1382316# Mardi Gras Day Dancers/Bar open 24 hours: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; 3 p.m. till late. Enjoy boys dancin’ on the bar from the afternoon until the wee wee hours of the night.

The bar stays open 24 hours during Carnival. VIP passes for seven days and nights of fun available (at the bar, on Facebook, or CornerPocket.net).

Mardi Gras Metal Madness: Crossing, 439 Dauphine St.; 24 hours.

America’s only gay steampunk video bar will be open 24 hours Fri - Tues of Mardi Gras. Full bar only one block off Bourbon Street. Eight 70” HD TVs and state of the art sound system.

TUESDAY 2/25

The 33rd Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss: Ambush Magazine Balcony; 700 Burgundy St.; Starting at 2PM. Catch beads thrown by King Cake Queen XXVI and her entourage.

Mardi Gras Day Dancers/Bar open 24 hours: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; 3 p.m. till late. Enjoy boys dancin’ on the bar from the afternoon until the wee wee hours of the night.

The bar stays open 24 hours during Carnival. VIP passes for seven days and nights of fun available (at the bar, on Facebook, or CornerPocket.net).

Mardi Gras Metal Madness: Crossing, 439 Dauphine St.; 24 hours.

America’s only gay steampunk video bar will be open 24 hours Fri - Tues of Mardi Gras. Full bar only one block off Bourbon Street. Eight 70” HD TVs and state of the art sound system.

WEDNESDAY 2/26

Ash Wednesday Brunch: The Country Club; 634 Louisa St.; 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Relax, Refresh, Rejuvenate after Mardi Gras madness and join us on Ash Wednesday for a Special Brunch. They will have their usual Brunch menu, full Bloody Mary bar, and a la carte mimosas. To Make Reservations: http://www.thecountryclubneworleans.com/restaurant/ reservations/.

THURSDAY 2/27

FlamBOYant: The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. The new Revolution of Boylesque is back to get this summer scorching HOTT! The next

installment of FlamBOYant brings you all the GLAM, all the BOYS, and all the FLAME! All hosted by the NonBianary Wonder of New Orleans Atomyc Adonis. Come grab a seat at the best kept secret of New Orleans FlamBOYant. $5 cover.

FRIDAY 2/28

Big Easy Sisters Beer Bust: The Phoenix; 941 Elysian Fields Ave.; 9 p.m. - midnight. Big Easy Sisters BEER BUST with $5 buy in w/ $1 refills.

Sisters of St. Claude: The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 9:30 - 11:30 p.m. Each episode of this monthly affair will gather together a few faces oh so familiar to the Allways stage and let them loose in a show that puts drag classics and golden oldies back in the spotlight! Dede Onassis yelling in Liza voice. Hosted and produced by Dede Onassis & Siren. Admission is $10 at the door Jock Strap Lube Wrestling: The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 11 p.m. - 2 a.m. There will be the babes in jockstraps, loads of fun squirting lube, amateur yet ferocious wrestling, and the talents of famed, local drag queens. There will be a cash prize of $100 given to the winner. JSLW is an all inclusive, no judgement, exhibitionist platform. At no time during the show are photos or videos allowed. All wrestlers sign up under their own consent. $15 cover | Show at midnight | Jockstraps provided.

SATURDAY 2/29

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.

SUNDAY 3/1

Drag Diva Sunday Brunch - The Beyonce Edition: The Fillmore; 6 Canal St.; 10:30 a.m. For tickets, go to http://www.fillmorenola.com/. It is always best for your group to purchase tickets together to ensure that you’ll be seated together. Large groups, please call 504.872.3303 or email FillmoreNOLABoxOffice@livenation.com for accommodations. Buffet Includes: Scrambled Eggs, Country Potatoes, Bacon, Sausage, Baked Chicken, Fried Catfish, Baked Macaroni, Asparagus Salad w/ Grape Tomatoes, Spring Mix Salad w/ Honey Basil Vinaigrette, and an Assortment of Pastries and Desserts.

Are we missing your events? Email Us at info@ ambushpublishing.com

46 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

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

TUESDAY

Gay Bar BINGO 9:30 & 11PM

THURSDAY

MONDAY

Service Industry Night

TUESDAY Karaoke

p.m. No Cover. Ladies drink half off

Ladies Night w/ Piano 6pm

THURSDAY

Movie Night with Chris 8pm

Drag Bingo & Show

Drink & Drown Karaoke; $10 selective alcohol with $1 refill

PENSACOLA THE ROUNDUP

Amateur Drag Night 11PM

WEDNESDAY Rock n Roll Bingo 8PM

FRIDAY & SATURDAY

THURSDAY

Karaoke; 9 p.m. - 2 a.m.

SATURDAY

Speed Quizzing Trivia; 7 p.m. - 9 p.m.

Midnight Drag Show

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

Karaoke

SEC Football

SUNDAY

Along the Gulf South BATON ROUGE MON-FRI

Happy Hour: The Park Pub & Patio; 4619 Bennington Avenue; 3-7p.m.

Upstairs Karaoke: Splash Nightclub; 2183 Highland Rd; 9pm $1 Martinis 9-10pm

SATURDAY

MONDAY

Non-stop Dance Music: Splash Nightclub; 2183 Highland Rd Dancing in the Park: The Park Pub & Patio; 4619 Bennington Avenue;

TUESDAY

Sunday Social Brunch: The Park Pub & Patio; 4619 Bennington Avenue; Noon-3:00p.m. $20 Buffet with Bottomless Mimosas, Bloody Mary’s and Draft Beer

WEDNESDAY

LAFAYETTE BOLT BAR & PATIO

Game Night: George’s Place; 860 St. Louis St; 10p.m. Hosted by Chance SIN Night: The Park Pub & Patio; 4619 Bennington Avenue; 30% Off

Fat Tuesdays & Billiards & Darts Tournaments: The Park Pub & Patio; 4619 Bennington Avenue

Queens Karaoke: George’s Place; 860 St Louis St; 10p.m. Hosted by Alvin McGee Free Cover Wednesdays: Splash Nightclub; 2183 Highland Rd; 9pm Open Mic w/ Ryan Jenkins: The Park Pub & Patio; 4619 Bennington Avenue; 9p.m.

TUESDAY

THURSDAY FRIDAY

GALVESTON 23RD ST. STATION

1706 23rd Street Happy Hour every day until 7 p.m.

MONDAY

Texas Hold ‘Em 7pm

TUESDAY

THURSDAY FRIDAY

Live Entertainment 6pm

SATURDAY

Live Entertainment 9pm

SUNDAY

Sing Along Sundays w/ Piano 4pm7pm

RUMORS

3102 Seawall Blvd.

Happy Hour every day until 7 p.m.

FRIDAY & SATURDAY Show Nights 11 p.m. & 12:30 a.m.

SUNDAY THRU THURSDAY Karaoke 8 p.m.

SUNDAY

The Sunday T with Carly & Kymber 4:30 p.m.

Tube-ular Tuesday with Jim 8pm

SUNDAY

114 McKinley St

THURSDAY

Thirsty Thursday; No Cover. $4 Double Wells and $2 wine

FRIDAY

THURSDAY

Double Trouble Thursday: George’s Place; 860 St Louis St; 7pm. $6 Double Wells and $10 Double Calls Show Night: Splash Nightclub; 2183 Highland Rd; 11:30pm. Featuring the Bombshells of Baton Rouge Think and Drink Trivia: The Park Pub & Patio; 4619 Bennington Avenue;

FRIDAY

560 E Heinberg St

Drag Bingo with Monica Heart; 6 p.m.

- 8 p.m. Win cash and prizes

Funday with Karaoke

WEDNESDAY

WEDNESDAY

The Ladies of Bolt; 11:30pm. $5 cover

SATURDAY

Dance Night; No Cover. Happy Hour 5 p.m. - 8 p.m.

LAKE CHARLES CRYSTAL’S DOWNTOWN 720 Ryan Street

$5 Fridays: The Park Pub & Patio; 4619 Bennington Avenue;

TUESDAY

Anything But Techno Tuesdays; 10

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 47

Party Down Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com Carnival season is officially in full swing. Not only are there parades and balls happening, but the parties and fundraisers are plentiful. My two weeks incorporated Mardi Gras festivities as well as theatrical productions (more than usual), hospitality parties, dinners with friends and a smattering of drag queens.

Over the last two weeks, I attended an overabundance of theatrical performances, both professional and community. In celebration of Martin Luther King Day, I saw The NOLA Project’s production of Harry and the Thief on Monday at the Contemporary Arts Center. It was a packed house for this hysterical play about time traveling, racial struggles and Harriet Tubman.

This mash-up of science fiction, historical drama, and comedic farce was an incredible evening of entertainment.

The premise in Sigrid Gilmer’s new play revolves around Mimi, a professional thief, whose cousin Jeremy has a PhD in physics, a brand-new time machine, and a plan to send her back to 1863 to alter history by providing Harriet Tubman with modern-day guns.

This dark comedy had a talented cast that worked together to keep the audi-

ence laughing the entire length of the show. Congrats to NOLA Project for another home run.

I followed up the Civil War time period with another period play that takes place during and around the Vietnam War. Miss Saigon celebrated its 30th anniversary with this tour which was part of the Broadway Season at the Saenger Theatre. Miss Saigon is a musical by Claude-Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil based on Giacomo Puccini’s opera Madama Butterfly.

It similarly tells the tragic tale of a doomed romance involving an Asian woman abandoned by her American lover. The setting is relocated to 1970s Saigon during the Vietnam War, and Madama Butterfly’s story of a marriage between an American lieutenant and a geisha is replaced by a romance between a US Marine and a 17-yearold South Vietnamese bargirl.

I remember seeing Miss Saigon in the early ‘90’s in Houston and again at the Mahalia Jackson Theatre here.

It was visually awe-inspiring when a real helicopter landed on the stage. It made my young gay theater heart soar and the music was spectacular with incredible pop-inspired tunes and heart-

felt ballads. The cast of this tour is topnotch, and although they did not drop a real helicopter onto the stage, they were able to make it work. That said, I have seen better constructed props at the gay carnival balls; maybe for Armeinius’ next fundraiser, they can help build stage sets for traveling Broadway shows.

On Thursday, I went to dinner at one of the city’s hidden gems for both tourists and locals alike, The Palm Court Cafe. Restaurateur and music aficionado Nina Buck opened The Palm Court in 1989 to provide an enjoyable and interesting jazz atmosphere with live music, dining, music information and a collection of jazz recordings which can be played on request. It had been years since I had been to the venue and it was simply delightful from the service and the food to the music which was Leroy Jones with the Crescent City Joymakers. There are many restaurants that have jazz music, but none that devotes itself to traditional jazz with some of the best musicians in the city. Not only was it amazing to see the young musicians there, but I would say that over half the audience were people under the age of thirty. Just goes to show that jazz is truly music for all ages. If you have guests visiting and want to give them a true New Orleans dining experience, go to Palm Court Cafe.

Speaking of jazz, on Friday I attended the opening of a new nightclub reminiscent of the Jazz Age in the Roaring Twenties. Double Dealer is located in the basement of the Orpheum Theatre. This new lounge is modeled after a speakeasy and includes hidden booths obscured by curtains with secret windows where a bartender can pass your cocktail to you.

There is a full service whiskey bar as well as a stage for performances. Models dressed as cigar girls passed truffle popcorn and specialty cocktails, while sideshow acts like sword swallowers and jugglers mingled with the guests.

Their cocktail list is long and has an array of classic cocktails as well as new conceptions such as Dying Gladiator, Black Oxen Hat of Destiny. I love their names. So take a step back in time and check out the city’s newest cocktail lounge, you’ll not be disappointed.

On Saturday, I attended the exciting grand opening of Dixie Brewery in New Orleans East on Almonaster Road and it was quite impressive. Dixie Brewery opened shop on a vacant lot on Tulane Avenue in New Orleans in 1907. It produced the flagship brand as well as others for 99 years until Hurricane Katrina devastated the facility in 2005. In 2017, Saints’ owners Tom and Gayle Benson purchased a majority stake in Dixie Beer and committed to bringing production back home to NOLA with the goal of creating jobs, and preserving an iconic local brand.

Well, they made good on their

promise. In late 2019, Dixie had restored its brewing production here with an 85,000 square foot facility. It houses a 100-barrel brewhouse as well as a 15-barrel craft system for the creation of new beers. The public can tour the facility, the production process, learn more about its history and sample its many tasty brews. The afternoon was all about celebration with bands and tours during the event. The facility is an incredible way to spend an afternoon taking a tour and enjoying lunch and beer tastings in their taproom restaurant. The grounds are also massive with lots of space for picnic goers and live music concerts. I see many more events happening here, bringing new life to this area of the city.

I am an avid reader and on Sunday, I went to the book sale at the LGBT Community Center on South Broad Street. There were so many books on sale, including non-fiction, biographies, self-help, coffee table books, instructional and just about every genre of fiction by LGBT authors as well as others. I was in heaven, and it was so inexpensive, $10 for a bag of books and all the proceeds help the Center.

Like their Facebook page (or check the Ambush calendar of events) to keep up with the different activities they host at the Center. They have a lot of fun things for the community.

Next I attended the Lords of Leather Soup and Salad event at GrandPre’s. This is always a popular soiree as the members of Lords show off their culinary prowess by making different soups for guests to judge.

This afternoon, there were eight soups, a few salads and an array of desserts to tantalize your taste buds. I loved the chili! All the proceeds of the day went to fund their Ball, which has one of my favorite themes - “Whorrore”. It was another wonderful afternoon hosted by a krewe that truly believes in fellowship.

On Monday, I saw Something Rotten! at Le Petit Theatre. Set in 1595, this musical comedy follows the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, who struggle to find success in the theatrical world, as they compete with the wild popularity of their contemporary William Shakespeare. This show was brilliantly done with a refreshing score and great cast.

After the show, I jetted to the Love’s Lost Lounge for the Southern Decadence check presentation. Daryl Dunaway (Countess C Alice) and William Antil raised $14,703 for Odyssey House. There were lots of people in attendance for the event including many past grand marshals such as Adikus Sulpizi, Frank Perez, Kathleen Conlon, Jeff Palmquist and myself. Congrats to William and Daryl for a job well done and also getting Southern Decadence on Disney Plus. If you haven’t seen the show, check it out, it is a wonderful promotion for the city and Southern

48 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

Decadence.

On Wednesday, I attended the House of Blues hospitality party showing off the new facelift on their restaurant. After celebrating their 25th anniversary last year, the venue has undergone several exciting new changes with more on the horizon. They have an entirely new menu (do not worry, some of their old favorites have been kept) as well as a refurbished new look to the restaurant. They served lots of their best dishes including a French Fry bar, complete with assorted toppings (talk about a carb lover’s dream).

They also had several screens around the venue displaying the new look to their Voodoo Garden which will undergo renovations within the next few months. If you have not eaten at the House of Blues, go back for a visit (and a concert).

Also, our House of Blues has the distinction to now be the oldest one in their family. NOLA was the second one opened, but when the Boston House closed down, we moved to the number one position. And even though the House of Blues is a chain, it certainly does not feel like one. Its atmosphere, vibe and food all scream New Orleans.

And now, along with their sister property, The Fillmore, they have pretty much cornered the market on great concert offerings.

After the party, I went to NOAGE’S Potluck at St. Anna’s Episcopal Church on Esplanade Avenue. The New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders does a monthly potluck to pro-

mote networking and community. I love this event because I meet some of the most interesting people. You do not have to be elderly to attend (or even be a member) and you also do not have to bring a dish (although it is suggested). NOAGE does several monthly events, this one being one of their more popular ones. If you would like to find out more about the organization, go to www.noagenola.org.

On Thursday, I attended another hospitality event for Element. This event rental company pulled out all the stops for an evening of entertainment and fun. Imagine the cool things a decor and rental company can do when they throw a party--a lighted swing set, decorated bars, illuminated signage, a red rose red carpet, hedge wall photo opps and gorgeous lounge seating areas. The food was provided by local restaurants & caterers and there was a live band & DJ. I use Element as a vendor and just love their stuff. If you are looking for anything from tables and chairs to linens and decor, check out their website at www.youreventdelivered.com.

After their party on the Westbank, I returned to the Eastbank to attend the Armeinius Royalty party at the Allways Lounge and Cabaret. In addition to announcing their royalty, the krewe hosted a drag show reminiscent of the days of the My Oh My Club. Fatsy Cline, Debby with a D, Theresa Adams, Ivy Dripp and Trey Ming were just some of the performers. Also congratulations to their newly named Queen

Fatsy Cline and King Kevin Hemenger.

Enjoy your reign.

On Friday some friends and I tried a new restaurant recently opened in the Warehouse/Arts District Located at the corner of Julia and St. Charles Avenue, True Food Kitchen has quickly become one of the city’s hotspots. In a city that touts so much rich and decadent food, it’s great to have a healthier alternative. True Food Kitchen is inspired by the philosophy that food should make you feel better, not worse.

Oprah has given her seal of approval by investing heavily in the restaurant.

If it is good enough for Oprah, it’s good enough for me. But seriously, the food is delicious, fresh and inspired. Their unique dishes (and craft cocktails) have me hooked. Some of my favorites are the Brussel sprouts and cauliflower appetizers as well as their bowl dishes. Their Thai Coconut Sea Bass is simply marvelous as is their Cauliflower Polenta dish. In addition to the food, the service is impeccable and also there is plenty of hot eye candy working there. I love a man in a shirt that says Truth or Trust--it pays to advertise, I highly recommend checking out this place.

On Saturday, I went to my first Ball of the season. Amon-Ra held its 55th annual ball with the theme “Aviary.”

There were plenty of birds of a feather flocked together at the Sigur Center that evening. Returning royalty Queen Bryelle St.Anne and King Matt Easley looked majestic as they made their last walk before announcing the new roy-

alty who came out as Antarctic--you were frigidly fabulous! Other costumes of note were John Zeringue and Robert Cook as the Madagascar lovebirds and Crystal Deville as Venice. All the costumes were wonderful and kudos to the Krewe and Captain Bill McCarthy for another incredible year. The ball was dedicated to two special longtime krewe members who passed away last year, Barry Rutherford and Jerry Scavo. I know they were smiling down from heaven on everyone.

I ended my two weeks of merriment with the last of my theatre shows. I saw The Mousetrap at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center. The Mousetrap is a murder mystery by Agatha Christie which opened in London’s West End in 1952, and has been running continuously since then. It’s the longest-running West End show, and has by far the longest initial run of any play in history, with its 25,000th performance taking place in 2012. I love a good murder mystery and this one did not disappoint. There were lots of twists and red herrings to keep you guessing until the surprise ending when the killer was revealed. The professional cast kept the play moving steadily, and the lighting & set made for a spooky atmosphere as seven strangers were trapped in a guesthouse during a snowstorm with a killer. I loved this show.

That ends my two weeks of good times. Hope to see everyone along the parade route!

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Armenius AT ARMEINIUS ROYALTY ANNOUNCEMENT PARTY AT THE ALLWAYS LOUNGE | PHOTOS BY B. SANDS

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 49

BUSINESS FINANCIAL & BUSINESS

Are You and Your Spouse on The Same Page About Retirement?

Scot I. Billeaudeau, JD, LL.M. ADPA® s.billeaudeau@ampf.com Retirement is one of the most important financial goals for many married couples. It’s something you may dream about and work hard to reach.

But, even if you feel like you are on track in terms of meeting your financial objectives, there is an equally important factor to consider – are you both on the same page about your vision and plans for retirement?

For example, what if your ideal experience in retirement is to travel, but your spouse is looking to stay local to be near family. Have conversations in advance of retirement to make sure you and your spouse are on the same page.

Planning is critical The years leading up to retirement are an important time to compare ideas and see if there are any obvious con-

flicts. Among the different topics to address: When you plan to retire – if one spouse wants to work longer than the other, that may be fine if the spouse who retires earlier can pursue other activities in the interim. But if your plans are dependent on being together, you’ll want to come to an agreement on when your actual retirement together will begin.

Where you plan to live – this is a critical issue that requires a mutual understanding. Will you stay in your current home or geographic location? Do you plan to spend winters in a warmer climate? What are your thoughts on living abroad? Make sure you have a plan that works for both of you.

Your vision of a retirement lifestyle – what will keep you occupied in retirement? Are there activities that you will both enjoy, or are you fine with pursuing aspects of retirement independently? The more you define this in advance, the better prepared you’ll be.

Try to find middle ground Don’t be alarmed if you and your spouse don’t have the exact same idea of how retirement should work for you.

It isn’t unusual. What’s important is finding ways to come to an agreement.

That may mean each side has to give a little to make it work.

Flexibility is also key. Once the reality of retirement sets in, either person’s viewpoint might change and that could affect your decisions. Be prepared for the possibility that a medical event could alter your plans, as this is

more likely to be a factor as you grow older. Your financial circumstances are also always a consideration. Have a discussion with your financial advisor about your retirement plans and try to have an agreed-upon strategy in place before you wrap up your working years.

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.

50 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

LGBTQ Owned & Friendly Business Directory NEW ORLEANS

ACCOMMODATIONS

The Burgundy Bed and Breakfast, 2513 Burgundy St, (504) 261-9477, theburgundy.com Aaron Ingram Haus, 1012 Elysian Fields Ave, (504) 949-3110, ingramhaus.com Blues60 Guest House, 1008 Elysian Fields Ave, (504) 324-4311, blues60guesthouse.com The BEARigny Suites, 2226 N Rampart St, (504) 309-0062, thebearignysuite.com Available March: 3 Bed, 2 Bath, 1 BLK Vets/Bonnebel. Newly Restored.

2 Min I-10. 10 Min Airport. Off street parking 6 vehicles, new appliances, 3 covered decks great for entertaining. $1,975/mo. Call “Chick” (504) 3303477

BARS & CLUBS

Betty’s Bar & Bistro, 700 Burgundy St, Bar: (504) 354-1376 Kitchen: (504) 354-1222 Bourbon Pub/Parade, 801 Bourbon St, (504) 529-2107, bourbonpub.com Café Lafitte in Exile, 901 Bourbon St,

(504) 522-8397, www.lafittes.com

St. Claude Ave

(504) 875-4976

Corner Pocket, 940 St Louis St, (504) 568-9829, www.cornerpocket.net

VooDoo Lounge, 718 N Rampart St, (504) 265-0953

Cutter’s Bar, 706 Franklin Ave, (504) 948-4200

The Country Club, 634 Louisa St, (504) 945-0742, thecountryclubneworleans. com

Crossing NOLA, 439 Dauphine St, (504) 523-4517 Four Seasons & Patio Stage Bar, 3229 N. Causeway Blvd, (504) 8320659

Phillips Bar, 733 phillipsbar.com

Cherokee

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop, Bourbon St, (504) 593-9761

St, 941

Friendly Bar, 2301 Chartres St, (504) 943-8929

700 Club, 700 Burgundy St, (504) 5611095, 700nola.com

Golden Lantern, 1239 Royal St, (504) 529-2860

Black Penny, 700 N Rampart St, (504) 304-4779, facebook.com/ blackpennynola

GrandPre’s, 834 N Rampart St, (504) 267-3615 Kajun’s Pub, 2256 St Claude Ave, (504) 947-3735 Mags 940, 940 Elysian Fields Ave, (504) 948-1888 Oz New Orleans, 800 Bourbon St, (504) 593-9491, ozneworleans.com Phoenix Bar, 941 Elysian Fields Ave, (504) 945-9264, phoenixbarnola.com Rawhide 2010, 740 Burgundy St, (504) 525-8106, rawhide2010.com The Page Bar, 542 N Rampart St,

Big Daddy’s, 2513 Royal street, (504) 948-6288 Big Easy Daiquiris, Several locations throughout the French Quarter Good Friends Bar, 740 Dauphine Street, (504) 566-7191, goodfriendsbar.com Napoleon’s Itch, 734 Bourbon St, (504) 237-4144 Tropical Isle, 721 Bourbon St, (504) 529-4109, tropicalisle.com Allways Lounge and Cabaret, 2240

BOOKSTORES

Faubourg Marigny Art and Books, 600 Frenchmen St

CIRCUIT / EVENT

Gay Easter Parade, Easter Sunday, gayeasterparade.com Gay Mardi Gras, gaymardigras.com New Orleans Pride, June 7-9, 2019, NewOrleansPrideFestival.com Southern Decadence, Labor Day Weekend, SouthernDecadence.com Halloween New Orleans, October 25-27, 2019, HalloweenNewOrleans. com Gay Appreciation ambushpublishing.com

Awards,

GALLERIES

Casell Bergen Gallery, 1305 Decatur St, (504) 478-6744, casellbergengallery.com Martin Lawrence Galleries, 433 Royal St, (504) 299-9055, martinlawrence. com, Royal Street is the French Quarter’s crown jewel in terms of elegance, decorum and culture, which makes it the perfect location for our

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 51

LGBTQ Owned & Friendly Business Directory flagship New Orleans art gallery.

The Chamber is a network of LGBT and ally business owners, corporate partners, and community leaders that support business development and equality.

Mission To promote an inclusive business environment by connecting LGBT-owned/operated and allied businesses in the Gulf South.

GROCERIES

Matassa’s Market, 1001 Dauphine St, (504) 412-8700, https://www. matassas.com

Krewe of Petronius, PO Box 1102, kreweofpetronius.net

GUIDES

Official Gay Easter Parade Guide, gayeasterparade.com Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide, gaymardigras.com Official Gay New Orleans Guide, gayneworleans.com

HAIR SALONS

FiFi Mahony’s, 934 Royal St, (504) 525-4343, fifimahonys.com Head Quarters Hair Salon, 906 Bourbon St, (504) 522-2666 Micky Nolan Salon, 717 Toulouse St, (504) 587-7782, mickeynolansalon. com

HARDWARE

Respect Diversity Inclusivity

Equality Knowledge Community

Mary’s Ace Hardware, 732 N Rampart St, (504) 529-4465, acehardware.com

The Mystic Krewe of Amon-Ra, PO Box 57783, kreweofamonra.com Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans, P. O. Box 770973, www.mkaneworleans. com Krewe of Armeinius, 433 N. Broad St, armeinius.org Krewe of Mwindo, PO Box 51031, (504) 913-5791 Krewe of Stars, 1010 Conti St, kreweofstars.com Krewe of Narcissus, PO Box 3832, (504) 228-9441 Mystic Krewe of Lords of Leater, 1000 Bourbon Street #B415, lordsofleather.org Renegade Bears of Louisiana, PO Box 3083, renegadebearsoflouisiana@ gmail.com Crescent City Leathermen, 941 Elysian Fields Ave, crescentcityleathermen.org NOAGE, noagenola.org The Krewe of King kreweofkingarthur.com

Arthur,

HEALTHCARE

New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus, www.nogmc.com

Odyssey House, 1125 North Tonti Street, ohlinc.org

LGBT Community Center, 2727 S Broad Ave, (504) 333-5412

Access Health Louisiana, 3300 South Broad Street, 234 Loyola Ave. Ste 300B, accesshealthla.org

Gulf South Chamber of Commerce, (504) 754-5279, gulfsouthchamber. com

UMC - HIV Outpatient Program, 2000 Canal Street, 4th Floor, 4C Clinic, (504) 702-4344, umcno.org/ infectiousdisease

Friday Night Before Mardi Gras, fridaynightbeforemardigras.com

CrescentCare, 1631 Elysian FIelds Ave, (504) 821-2601, crescentcare. org

MUSEUMS

gslgbtchamber.org

Rougaroux,

Robert’s Fresh Market, 2222 St. Claude Ave, (504) 207-0162, robertfreshmarket.com

Two Guys Cutting Hair, 2372 St Claude Ave #125, 215.519.5030, (504) 239-2397

Values

Crescent City rougarouxrugby.org

Stonewall Sports, facebook.com/ groups/stonewallneworleans

Official Southern Decadence Guide, southerndecadence.com

A society where individuals and businesses have equal rights, equal representation, and equal opportunities.

NOLA Softball League, nolasoftball. org

Quartermaster Deli, 1100 Bourbon St, www.quartermasterdeli.net

Official Pride Guide, neworleanspridefestival.com

Vision

565-8860, latransadvocates.org

Mardi Gras Museum, 813 Bienville St, (504) 523-5433

ORGANIZATIONS

Louisiana Trans Advocates, (877)

Krewe of Queenateenas/ King Cake Queen Royalty Club, gaymardigras. com P-Flag New Orleans, (504) 617-5987, alberto.oliver@cox.com Mystic Krewe of Apollo de New Orleans, mkaneworleans.com

PHARMACY

Mumfrey’s Pharmacy, 1021 W. Judge Perez Dr., (504) 279-6312,

52 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

LGBTQ Owned & Friendly Business Directory mumfreyspharmacy.com Avita Pharmacy, 2601 Tulane Ave Ste 445, (504) 822-8013 Access Health Louisiana Pharmacy, 843 Milling Avenue, Luling, (985) 7855826 *Free Home Delivery Available*

PHOTOGRAPHY

G Douglas Photography, LLC, Wedding and Portriat Photography, By Appointment Only, gdouglasadamsphotography.com Craig Fremin Photography, By Appointment Only, craigfremin.com Graham/ Studio One, By Appointment Only, grahamstudioone.com Parker Studios, By Appointment Only, halle.parker15@outlook.com

REAL ESTATE

Steve Richards Properties Latter & Blum, 712 Orleans Ave, (504) 2581800 Michael Styles Realtor, Engel & Volkers, (504) 777-1773, nolastyles. com, Michael specializes in helping first-time homebuyers and real estate investors find the perfect New Orleans properties.

RELIGION

St. Anna’s Espicopal Church, 1313 Esplanade Ave, (504) 947-2121, stannanola.org Metropolitan Community Church New Orleans, 5401 S Claiborne Ave, mccneworleans.com

RESTAURANTS

801 Royal, 801 Royal Street, (504) 581-0801, 801royal.com Broussard’s Restaurant & Courtyard,

eatnola.com

St, (504) 872-0360, whodatcoffee. com

Envie Espresso Bar & Cafe, 1241 Decatur St, (504) 524-3689, cafeenvie.com

Who Dat Coffee Cafe, 9207 W. St. Bernard Hwy, (504) 354-8452

Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails, 337 Chartres Street, (504) 598-5005, kingfishneworleans.com

Mr. Binky’s Boutique, 107 Chartres St, (504) 302-2095

Lousiana Pizza Kitchen, 615 S. Carrollton Ave, (504) 237-0050, louisianapizzakitchenuptown.com

819 Rue Conti, (504) 581-3866, broussards.com

Mona Lisa, 1212 Royal St, (504) 5226746, monalisaneworleans.com,

Cafe Sbisa, 1011 Decatur Street, (504) 522-5565, cafesbisanola.com

NOLA Poboys, 908 Bourbon, (504) 655-3312, nolapoboys.com

Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop , 2309 N. Causeway Blvd, (504) 835-2022, gumbostop.com

Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro, 720 Orleans Ave, (504) 5231930, Orleansgrapevine.com

Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St, (504) 598-1010, www.clovergrill.com

Royal House Oyster Bar, 441 Royal Street, royalhouserestaurant.com

Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa Street, (504) 945-0742, thecountryclubnreorleans.com

Santa Fe Restaurant, 3201 Esplanade, (504) 948-0077, santafenola.com

Cru, 535 Franklin Ave, (504) 446-0040, crunola.com

The Bombay Club, 830 Rue Conti, (504) 577-2237, bombayclubneworleans. com

Dat Dog on Frenchmen, 601 Frenchmen St, (504) 309-3362, datdog.com

The Ruby Slipper Café, 2001 Burgundy St, (504) 525-9355, therubyslippercafe.net

EAT, 900 Dumaine St, (504) 522-7222,

Who Dat Coffee Cafe, 2401 Burgundy

RETAIL

QT Pie Boutique, 241 Dauphine St, (504) 581-6633 Skully’z Recordz, 907 Bourbon St, (504) 592-4666 Bourbon Pride, 909 Bourbon Street, (504) 566-1570 COK (Clothing or Kink), 941 Elysian FIelds, Located inside the Phoenix Bar XXX Shop, 1835 N. Rampart St, (504) 232-3063

SERVICES

Formal Connection, 299 Belle Terre Blvd, 985.652-1195 Washing Well Laundryteria, 841 Bourbon St, (504) 523-9955 Bear Hebert Yoga and Life Coach, bearteachesyoga.com NOLA Healer: Lawrence Gobble, nolahealer.com , Massage Therapy

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 53

LGBTQ Owned & Friendly Business Directory A&B Errand Services, (504) 3197227, aandberrandservices.com

South Ste 225, (713) 592-0211, avitapharmacy.com

Brirmingham, (205) 703-9778, chapelbarinfo@gmail.com

Flambeaux CrossFit, 505 N Causeway Blvd, Metairie, flambeauxcrossfit.com

SOUTH LOUISIANA

Club 322, 322 N Lawrence Street, Montgomery, club322.business.site

Splash, 2183 Highland Rd, Baton Rouge, (225) 242-949, splashbr.com

Icon, 516 Greensboro Ave, Tuscaloosa

George’s Place, 860 St. Louis St, Baton Rouge, (225) 387-9798, georgesplacebr.com

Wildwoods Hideaway, Eutaw, AL, (205) 860-0836, wildwoodshideaway. com

THEATERS

Cafe Istanbul, 2372 St. Claude Ave #140, (504) 974-0786, cafeistanbulnola.com Southern Rep Theater, 2541 Bayou Road, (504) 522-6545, southernrep. com

TOURS

Crescent City Tours, 638 St. Ann, (504) 568-0717, Gay New Orleans Walking Tours

HOUSTON

BARS & CLUBS

BARS & CLUBS

The Park Pub & Bar, 4619 Benningotn Ave, Baton Rouge, Facebook @ theparkbr Bolt, 114 McKinley St, Lafayette, (337) 534-4913, facebook.com/boltlaffy Crystals, 112 W. Broad St, Lake Charles, (337) 433-5457

CIRCUIT / EVENT

CAMPING

CIRCUIT / EVENT

Sexacola, May 23, Pensacola, FL, sexacolabeach.com

TBA,

Eagle Houston, 611 Hyde Park Blvd, (713) 523-2473, houstoneagle.com

Pride of SWLA, Date TBA, prideofswla. org, info@prideofswla.org

The Spectrum Center, 210 S 25th Ave, Hattiesburg, (601) 909-5338

Neon Boots Dancehall & Saloon, 11410 Hempstead Rd, (713) 6770828, neonbootsclub.com

Krewe of Apollo de Baton Rouge, apollobatonrouge.com

Ripcord, 715 Fairview St, (713) 5212792, theripcord.com

Krewe of Apollo kreweofapollo.com

The Ranch Hill Saloon, 24704 Interstate 45 Ste 103, (281) 298-9035, ranchhill.com Axelrad, 1517 Alabama St, (713) 5978800, alexradbeergarden.com Poison Girl Cocktail Lounge, 1641 Westheimer Rd. Ste B, (713) 5279929, poisongirlbar.com

CIRCUIT / EVENT

ORGANIZATIONS de

Lafayette,

PHARMACY

Avita Pharmacy, 5551 Corporate Blvd, Baton Rouge, avitapharmacy. com

NORTHERN LOUISIANA, MISSISSIPPI & ALABAMA BARS & CLUBS

Houston Pride, June 22, pridehouston. org

Club Pink, 1914 Roselawn Avenue, Monroe, myclubpink.com

The Woodlands Pride, September, thewoodlandstxpride.wordpress.com

Central Station, 1025 Marshall St, Shreveport, (318) 222-2216

QFEST, Houston Gay & Lesbian Film Festival, q-fest.com

The Korner Lounge, 800 Louisiana Ave, Shreveport, thekornerlounge. com

ORGANIZATIONS

UH LGBTQ Resource Center, 4465 University Drive, (832) 842-6191, www.uh.edu/lgbtq The Montrose Center, 401 Branard Street, (713) 529-0037, montrosecenter.org AIDS Foundation of Houston, 6260 Westpark Dr. Suite 100, (713) 6236796, aidshelp.org

PHARMACY

Avita Pharmacy, 6800 West Loop

BAR 3911, 3911 Northview Drive, Jackson, (601) 586-1468, Open: Thurs & Fri 8PM–2AM, Sat 8PM–4AM Our Place, 2115 7th Ave Birmingham, (205) 715-0077

S,

Al’s on 7th Street, 2627 7th Ave S, Birmingham, (205) 422-4218 Quest Bar, 416 24th Street S, Birmingham, (205) 251-4313, info@ quest-club.com

CIRCUIT / EVENT

Central Alabama Pride, June 1-10, 2019, Birmingham, AL, facebook. com/centralalabamaprideinc

Acadiana Pride, acadianapride.org

Pearl Houston, 4216 Washington Ave281.757-3229, facebook.com/ pearlbarhouston/

Sipps Bar Gulfport, 2218 25th Ave, Gulfport, (228) 206-7717, sippsgulfport.com

Gulf Coast Pride, June 29, 2019, Biloxi, MA, gcpride.org

JR’s, 808 Pacific Street, (713) 5212519, jrsbarandgrill.com

HEALTHCARE

Just Us Lounge, 906 Division Street, Biloxi, (228) 374-1007

Oxford Pride, April 28-May 5, Oxford MS, oxfordmspride.rocks

Druid City Pride, October 2019, Tuscaloosa, AL, druidcitypride.org

HAART (HIV AIDS Alliance Region Two, Inc), 4550 North Blvd. Ste 250, Baton Rouge, (225) 927-1269, haartinc.org

Rumors Biloxi, 3540 Bienville Blvd, Biloxi, (228) 875-4131

Mobile Pride, October 5, 2019, Mobile, AL, mobpride.org

Baton Rouge Pride, June 15, brpride. org

Guava Lamp, 570 Waugh Drive, (713) 524-3359, guavalamphouston.com

Cabaret, 101 S Jefferson Street E, Pensacola, (850) 607-2020

CENLA Pride, May 31 - June 2, Alexandria, LA, facebook.com/ cenlaclasspride

Rich’s, 2401 San Jacinto Street, www. facebook.com/richshouston

Date

Street, Pensacola, (850) 433-8482

ORGANIZATIONS

Krewe of Apollo mkabirmingham.com

Birminham,

RELIGION

Safe Harbor Family Church, safeharborfamilychurch.org Joshua Generation joshuageneration.rocks

MCC,

GULF COAST BARS & CLUBS

The Midtown Pub, 153 Foorida Street, Mobile, (251) 450-1555 Gabriel’s Downtown, 55 South Joachmin Street, Mobile, (251) 4324900 B-Bob’s, 213 Conti Street, Mobile (251) 433-2262, b-bobs.com Flip Side Bar & Patio, 545 S. Conception Street, Mobile, (251) 4318819, flipsidebarpatio.com The Roundup 560 East Heinberg

Memorial Weekend Pensacola, Pensacola, FL, johnnychisholm.com Pensacola Pride, June 15-16, facebook.com/pensacolapride

HEALTHCARE

Oasis Florida, 25 E Wright Street, (850) 429-7551, oasisflorida.org Coastal Family Health Care, 1046 Division St, Biloxi, coastalfamilyhealth. org

HIV CARE AND SERVICES

My Brothers Keeper, 407 Orchard Park, Ridgeland, MS, (769) 257-7721, mbkinc.org

ORGANIZATIONS

Order of Osiris, PO Box 1991, Mobile, AL, orderofosiris.com Order of Dinoysus D’Iberville, MS, https://www.facebook.com/Order-OfDionysus Gulf Coast Transgender Alliance, (850) 332-8416, gulfcoasttransgenderalliance.com, gctransgenderalliance@gmail.com Gay Grassroots, 6847 N. 9th Avenue, Ste A, Box 317, Pensacola, ggnwfl. com

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

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54 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

COMICS, PUZZLES & HOROSCOPES CROSSWORD & WORD SEARCH 1 2

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PUZZLE WORD BANK BARKUS MUSES FEMME FATALE PYGMALION CHOCTAW OSHUN KING ARTHUR BOHEME’ BABYLON TUCKS REX NYX CHAOS CARROLLTON KREWE DU VIEUX DRUIDS DELUSION PONTCHARTRAIN FRERET CORK SPARTA ZULU CHEWBACCHUS ALLA ENDYMION CLEOPATRA

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · 55

HOROSCOPES

Messages from the Oracle in New Orleans Dan Beck, #1 Astrologer in New Orleans dan@innermakeup.net Once upon a time, humans engaged with the possibilities of the future through omens, prophecies, and oracles. The art of astrology evolved out of these practices and now emphasizes your moment of birth, the celestial reflection of who you are. This combination of your birth chart and the usage of that document to divine the past, present, and future is here for your taking.

Astrology offers the LGBTQ community a chance to reclaim a space lost to modern science and religion.

Ancient pagan cultures venerated divination and celebrated what we now recognize as modern gay elements.

These horoscopes are for your entertainment, so let’s start the party that will take us to the stars!

Happy Valentine’s Day! This holiday finds its roots in the courtly love espoused in the times of Geoffrey Chaucer, defined as love that privileges the virtues of nobility, chivalry, and social acts.

Nowadays, as opposed to such immaterial gift-giving, the display of love is more often seen as the consumption of gifts in the form of restaurant meals and commodities to be exchanged.

Last year, however, I decided to forgo the obligatory heart-shaped box and instead offered a lecture to an audience at the East Jefferson Parish Regional Library called What Astrology Has to Say About Love. The audience was comprised of largely older women who knew better than to accept the usual Valentine’s Day trappings.

So what does astrology have to say about love? Even if you know nothing about astrology you know that Venus represents love. In antiquity Venus was said to find her joy in the astrological sector of love, creativity, children, and good fortune.

In modernity that area has much

more to do with the sun which embodies romance via will and ego assertion.

There is a conflict between these two concepts—gestational creativity vs. self-driven dramatics. To further complicate matters, the sector of astrology that governs daily routines and health is said to be averse to romance. This makes sense—fun recreational love and sex rarely have to do with the mundane aspects of long term relationships. It is a challenge to integrate these two concepts.

What to do then? The song My Funny Valentine is instructive. The lyrics tell of loving one whose looks are laughable or whose figure is less than Greek.

As the comedian Greg Stone once said, “real love isn’t when everything is going well, it’s when it is not going well.” So yes, you need love and you need to feed your ego, but you also need to look for love in the most unlikely of places—the mundane world of your daily existence.

ARIES

March 21 - April 19 Out of all the signs, you are the lover this Valentine’s Day. However, because you are the most aggressive of all the signs, there is a dissonance of harmony and discord within. What this is really about is your wanting to create stability for yourself in matters of the heart. Act on your vision of love that is seeking structure, and you will triumph.

TAURUS

April 20 - May 20 Watch out that a love affair doesn’t get you in trouble this Valentine’s Day. You need to think about how love can disrupt what you’ve been constructing for yourself. You’ve had some sweet peace as of late, especially among friends, and going off on a fling might

be your undoing. Let this one go.

GEMINI

May 21 - June 20 Things are a little foggy with regard to career matters. You do best in the coming months to review what’s been going on at work. Retreating a bit come March will do you some good and by May, your head will be clear about what you need to do. This will all lead to personal gains.

CANCER

June 21 - July 22 Focus on yourself for the next four months or so! You are able to make the kind of gains that only come astrologically once every eighteen years. There will be a lot of action relationship-wise in the next couple of months, but don’t put any extra effort into this. The energy is already celestially there. But to truly progress, your personal karmic future is where it’s at.

LEO

July 23 - August 22 Your will is truly focused on a relationship right now. Some business dealings are holding you up, however.

You might have to postpone things until a later day. Plan for a trip down the road. This will ease the current tension with that partnership.

VIRGO

August 23 - September 22 Circumstances around a relationship are unclear. You do best to sort this out over the next few months and not make any moves. You might have to juggle a bit to have the romance you want this Valentine’s Day. Hey, Jeff Bezos said to his mistress, “I want to talk to you and plan with you.”

LIBRA

September 23 - October 22 Things could really heat up for you this Valentine’s Day—for better or worse. Finding harmony through the fire is not always easy. Those types of energies are best funneled into concrete actions. Working through pain points will allow you to use the passions to take your relationship to new heights.

SCORPIO

October 23 - November 21 You’re going to be a real talker for the next couple of months. Your communication style takes on an aggressive, driving tone. On one hand this is good for you. Scorpionic energy strug-

gles to get things out. But don’t let the cat get your tongue. You might be the one who ends up getting your ass bitten in the end.

SAGITTARIUS

November 22 - December 21 You have a chance over the next couple of months to make some money moves, but it will be volatile. It will be a combination of acting, juggling, staying steady, and making some deep, sometimes cataclysmic changes that need to occur. While this is regarding your money, you make gains more easily with investments and even tax refunds.

CAPRICORN

December 22 - January 19 You’re coming down the pike of what feels like a loss of self. This is not bad, and it gives you spiritual insights.

Losing oneself is painful, but the dissolution of identity is freeing at the end of the day. You make progress when you focus on partnerships and how you relate to others in general.

AQUARIUS

January 20 - February 18 Something is unclear about your finances right now. Don’t make any moves in the next couple of months.

Let the facts surface as they will. Come this spring you will be in a good position to take some healthy risks.

PISCES

February 19 - March 20 Things are a little unclear for you physically. You do best to wait this spell out. Don’t make any big changes with regard to your health. Come this spring you’ll get to the bottom of what’s going on and the matter will end.

Astrology was originally understood as omens, prophecies, and oracles. Whenever you go to a psychic, tarot reader, or astrologer like me, you’re engaging with the possibilities of the future. Modern astrology, however, is also the alignment of the heavens at your moment of birth that serves as the signature of your personality. This combination of your star chart and sun sign—Aries, Taurus, etc.—and the usage of that tool to divine the future is here for your taking.

Thanks for reading. I’m Dan Beck, #1 Astrologer in New Orleans. Contact me for readings, parties, events, corporate trainings and more at dan@innermakeup.net or by calling 504-3138706. Visit http://www.innermakeup. net.

56 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™: www.AmbushMag.com · Feb 11 – 24, 2020 · Official Southern Decadence Guide™ · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SPORTS Pelicans depth continues to emerge as huge asset Ken Trahan, Crescent City Sports No Brandon Ingram, no Zion Williamson, no problem.

How many teams in the NBA can play without its two leading scorers – its two best weapons – and win on the road against a good team with a good record in the NBA? While there is no quantitative answer to the question, it is a difficult feat, to say the least.

It was not for the Pelicans Saturday night, who made it two straight road wins with a solid 124-117 win at Indiana.

It was the second win in as many games for New Orleans over Indiana.

The Pelicans swamped the Pacers 120-98 on Dec. 28 at Smoothie King Center.

New Orleans won despite playing without Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson, both nursing ankle injuries.

That left the Pelicans without 44.7 points, 13.9 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game to play without.

Again, it was no problem but it was

nothing new.

Darius Miller has not been seen this year. Kenrich Williams has not been seen in quite some time.

Zion Williamson was not seen until January. Derrick Favors missed several games after the death of his mother.

Jrue Holiday missed time.

At Indianapolis, Holiday, who had been in a slump, scoring just 27 points in his last three games, pumped in 31 points, dished out 10 assists and had three steals. That included 4-of-7 from 3-point range. It was a pleasant sight to see and it was a relief.

Though no one would say anything about it, Holiday was rumored to possibly get moved prior to the trade deadline. It never materialized.

While Holiday would never say anything about it, the rumors are bound to have an affect on anyone. Holiday looked the part of a man who was relieved, loose and confident. He gladly accepted the alpha dog role of taking over without Ingram and Williamson

Saturday night but he was not alone.

JJ Redick pumped in 23 points.

Favors had 15 points and 11 rebounds and Lonzo Ball had 15 points and seven assists.

Nicolo Melli and Josh Hart stepped into the starting lineup and combined for 18 points and 10 rebounds while Frank Jackson, who has hardly played of late, got 22 minutes and took advantage of the opportunity, scoring nine points and pulling down four rebounds.

Another illustration of the superior depth of the Pelicans is that the New Orleans bench outscored Indiana reserves 45-26 despite being without Ingram and Williamson.

The Pacers lost despite shooting 53 percent from the field, largely because the Pelicans pounded Indiana 53-37 on the boards, including 16 offensive rebounds to just two for the Pacers.

Next up, the Pelicans face one of the teams they must catch in the Western Conference in Portland at Smooth-

ie King Center Tuesday evening.

The Blazers (24-29) are two games ahead of the Pelicans. New Orleans is in the 11th spot in its quest to reach the eighth and final playoff spot. Memphis remains eighth at 26-26, a full four and a half games clear of New Orleans.

A home game with Oklahoma City follows on Thursday night and the Thunder have been perhaps the biggest surprise in the league, posting an impressive 32-20 record and occupying the sixth spot in the Western Conference.

When you have the kind of depth that New Orleans features, you can mitigate the loss of key players. The Pelicans have quality depth. Now, it is time to get those two quality young stars back sooner, rather than later.

This article was originally published

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

Tulane becoming more attractive to local football recruits Les East, Crescent City Sports NEW ORLEANS – Tulane was an easy sell to Noah Taliancich.

It wasn’t quite as easy to Adonis Friloux.

But both River Parishes defensive linemen bought into what Green Wave coach Willie Fritz was selling – most importantly Tulane’s historic two-year run – and became key members of Fritz’s fifth recruiting class, which grew by two members on National Signing Day on Wednesday.

Taliancich is from Destrehan and Friloux is from Hahnville. Both are three-star recruits. Both are examples of how Tulane under Fritz is incrementally becoming an attractive destination for local football products who now have a chance to stay at home and play for a winning program in one of the better conferences in the NCAA bowl subdivision.

“Tulane has always had a close place in my heart,” Taliancich said inside Yulman Stadium shortly after Fritz announced the 22-member class, “but there’s more incentive to come now that we’ve started winning.”

Taliancich knows the history of Tulane football better than most recruits.

He comes from a Tulane family that includes a pair of Tulane graduates – his maternal grandfather and his stepmother’s grandfather, who was a ticket

seller at old Tulane Stadium.

“It’s huge,” Taliancich said of him becoming the first member of his family to play football for the Green Wave.

It’s even bigger because Taliancich is arriving in the early days of what could be a golden era of Green Wave football.

Tulane has had a winning record each of the last two seasons, which hadn’t happened since 1997-98. Tulane has been playing football for 126 years and the consecutive bowl victories after the 2018 and 2019 seasons produced an unprecedented parlay.

Friloux committed to Houston, a West division rival of Tulane’s in the American Athletic Conference, last summer but decommitted. He’s one of eight Green Wave signees who are enrolled and will participate in spring practice beginning Feb. 27.

“At first a lot of people were sleeping on Tulane and now that they’ve come back and won back-to-back bowl games,” Frilouz said. “That’s really big.

I think all of the recruits that are coming in under coach Fritz we’re going to take the program a long way.”

Taliancich noted the increased visibility for Tulane under Fritz as Green Wave football has popped up on billboards and apparel is showing up in CONTINUED ON PAGE 58

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Potential LSU football transfer options to watch Rene Nadeau, Crescent City Sports LSU is in the market for college football “free agents.” Actually, Ed Orgeron is scouring the countryside for a grad transfer or two, players who can immediately arrive and offer depth.

The three areas that could use upgrading overall from prospective transfers are offensive line, linebacker and even quarterback.

Other than guard Ed Ingram and tackle Austin Deculus, no one else on the Tigers roster offers much experience on the offensive line. Dare Rosen-

thal made five-game appearances with three starts at tackle in 2019. Chasen Hines hit the field in 10 contests but was not in a game for the opening snap. Four starters departed from the Joe Moore Award winning starting five, making them the No. 1 unit in all of college football.

Myles Brennan is the perceived starter at quarterback. Joining him at the position are a pair of new signees, Max Johnson and T.J. Finley, along with redshirt freshman Peter Parrish.

H N S A R C A E RA T X E

Patrick Queen, K’Lavon Chaisson, Micheal Divinity and Jacob Phillips left for the NFL while the future of ’19 signee Donte Starks is uncertain due to an off-field issue. The linebacker position lacks experienced depth.

Here are just a few names to track to fill those Purple and Gold voids.

There will be more as the spring semester unfolds. LSU is in no hurry to fill any spots. Finding the right fit is the key. All of these listed are grad transfers and are immediately eligible.

QB Peyton Ramsey (6-2, 216) Indiana — In 2019, he tossed for 2,454 yards with 13 touchdowns and 5 interceptions with a very good completion percentage of 68. He assumed the starter’s spot after Michael Penix went down with injury early in the season.

The son of a high school coach, Ramsey made 28 starts for the Hoosiers while dealing with injuries.

OT Clayton Bradley (6-5, 295) USC – Given a 6th year of eligibility, he had a back injury in ’18. Bradley made 17 appearances for the Trojans and brings potential at guard and tackle.

OT Jaylen Miller (6-3, 315) Duke – An ACC player with starter’s experience at left tackle, he fractured his ankle in 2019.

OG/C Liam Smith (6-5, 270) Duke — Previously moved from tackle, Smith may be able to play anywhere on the line. He has battled injuries, making six appearances total.

LG Cam DeGeorge (6-6, 290)

UConn – With 34 starts for Huskies under his belt, he could be someone to take a closer look into as a utility lineman.

OLB Tyree Thompson (6-1, 235) UCLA – Injured in ’19, he had made 12 starts the previous season resulting in 55 tackles, including 11 against Utah.

He covers the flat well and takes good drops but he doesn’t always take proper angles to the ball and sometimes over-runs play.

ILB Kyle Johnson (6-0, 221) Air Force – An intriguing prospect who tallied 70 stops with 7.5 for loss in 2018, he recorded 82 tackles with 5.5 for loss and 2.5 sacks in 2019. The Jacksonville, Florida product may have military obligations that complicate matters but he is an eligible grad transfer with a 3.94 GPA. Jonhson is extremely intelligent and a leader on and off the field as you’d expect with his background. A fan favorite, Johnson diagnoses plays quickly and takes great angles to ball carrier with no false steps.

I do not anticipate any one of these grabbing a starter’s role if they end up in Baton Rouge except if injuries open opportunities. But quality depth cannot be undervalued.

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 57

“When coach Fritz called me everything changed,” Taliancich said. “It was the easiest decision of my life.”

Choosing Tulane is getting easier and easier for in-state recruits as well as out-of-state recruits. This class includes players from nine states.

Linebacker Jesus Machado is an early enrollee from the Miami area.

“I saw that they were growing and I knew I could be a big part of that,” Machado said. “This recruiting class can help them grow more.”

Next, all eyes will be on the quarterback position where former USM quarterback Keon Howard, the backup to Justin McMillan last season, and true freshmen Michael Pratt from Boca Raton, Fla., and Justin Ibieta of Country Day will battle it out.

Fritz said he expects to have the depth chart at quarterback figured out by the end of spring practice.

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“That just makes my day,” he said.

“Five years ago you didn’t see that.”

Taliancich was determined to play close to home so he committed to Louisiana-Lafayette after the Ragin’ Cajuns were the only Louisiana school to offer him a scholarhip.

But …

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This article was originally published

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

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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