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THE OFFICIAL LGBTQ+ MAGAZINE OF THE GULF SOUTH

A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION CELEBRATING LGBTQ+ CULTURE SINCE 1982 VOLUME 44 ISSUE 5 OCTOBER 2026

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Ambush Magazine is proud to announce the Grand Marshals for the New Orleans Gay Easter Parade 2027 Matt Dow & Lana O’ Day

For more information on how to be a sponsor of the Gay Easter Parade, or have a walking group or carriage in the parade, email tony@ambushpublising.com.

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AMBUSH

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Gulf South Entertainment Guide Since 1982 PUBLISHER T.J. Acosta

Halloween Issue

EDITOR IN CHIEF Tony Leggio

CONTENTS

The Official Dish TJ Acosta Comments from the publisher From the Editor’s Desk Tony Leggio

Pride and Prose Zach Hunt Top LGBTQ+ Reads

Weekly Events Tony Leggio 12 A list of weekly things to do in and around town Chop Chop Charles Pizzo Our food critic visits

Feature Story Jim Meadows LGBT+ Parkinson’s Row Update

Special Feature Barrett DeLong A New Orleans Ghost Story

Curtain Up Brian Sands 34 A sneak preview of the local theater scene

AMBUSH is published six times a year and has a print circulation footprint across the Gulf Coast. For ad rates and other information email: ledgemgp@gmail.com or camzimmerman504@gmail.com 4

AD SALES Tony Leggio, Cam Zimmerman CONTRIBUTORS Brian Sands, Tony Leggio, Jim Meadows, Felicia Phillips, Charles Pizzo, Kelly Schexnaildre, Cas O’Brien, Jeremy Smith, Barrett DeLong LOGISTICS COORDINATORS Jeffrey Palmquist, Ryne Stoned, Chris Trentacoste, Dwain Hertz PHOTOGRAPHERS Tony Leggio, Dwain Hertz Cover Art Nicholas Myers AMBUSH Magazine is published bimonthly. 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. Copyright 1982-2025 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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The Official Dish by TJ Acosta Dear Ambush Nation, On behalf of everyone at Ambush, Happy Halloween and Happy Thanksgiving! New Orleans is a town known for parties and elaborate costumes, and Halloween brings out the best of both. Check out our digital version of Ambush at AmbushMag.com for our Official Gay Halloween Guide. It is a full list of events for the month of October. I’m sure you’ll have a spooky good time celebrating Halloween in New Orleans. We put out a monthly event calendar called Underthe Gaydar each month, so be sure to follow us at AmbushMag.com and on social media @AmbushMag for our event calendars each month. As we roll through fall and march toward Thanksgiving, let us remember to be thankful for all the blessings in our lives. First, I want to take this opportunity to personally thank you, the readers of Ambush. If not for each of you, there wouldn’t be Ambush Magazine. We have a wonderful team of writers and contributors – they are the ones who make this magazine great! And, although I probably don’t thank them enough, I’m very thankful for all their talents and efforts. Again, on behalf of everyone at Ambush, Happy Halloween and Happy Thanksgiving.

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From the Editor’s Desk by Tony Leggio

The Halloween season brings festive celebrations throughout the Crescent City and the broader Gulf South region. Halloween festivities feature elaborate costumes, decorative embellishments, rhinestones, and sophisticated attire displayed at numerous parties, performances, and events. From the HNO celebrations in New Orleans to burlesque and drag shows at various bars, clubs, and dining establishments, there are abundant offerings designed to create an atmosphere of intrigue and excitement. As always, we want to thank our advertisers and readers who promote Ambush Magazine. Your support means the world to us. However, something genuinely scary emerges in November. It is the midterm elections and the outcome of these races can be terrifying. During these midterm elections, all 435 seats within the U.S. House of Representatives and 35 of the 100 seats in the U.S. Senate will be decided upon as well as 39 state and territorial gubernatorial elections, attorney general elections, and numerous state and local elections will be contested. What makes this election particularly significant for LGBTQ+ individuals? Hate crimes directed toward LGBTQ+ persons have increased consistently throughout this administration. The historical pattern of violence against gay men, lesbians, bisexual individuals, and the transgender and gender-nonconforming community continues to intensify with increasing frequency and demonstrates no indication of decline. Recently, multiple LGBTQ+ establishments and supportive ally businesses throughout the Gulf South have experienced threats of violence, fire bombs, or damaging online reviews. For what reason—a drag performance, pride festival, or parade? This situation is unacceptable. This pattern must cease, and the sole mechanism to achieve this outcome is through civic participation and voting. Therefore, exercise your democratic right and vote!

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Pride and Prose Zach Hunt

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Hi Readers, It’s your friendly neighborhood bibliophile and here are some great books that have come out recently that should be on your radar. First off, we have one of the most talked about books out now in Josh Silver’s Fruit Fly. It has been flying off the shelves in the U.K. and now that it’s finally in the U.S., it’s one of the most desired books of the year and perfect for a group of friends to discuss. Fruit Fly humorously tells us a story of writer Mallory Maddox, who when experiencing a writer’s block, decides to appropriate a young gay man’s story for her newest book. This satirical work will make you cringe with her decisions as she decides how far she will go to get her story. Marlon James’ newest The Disappearers has been rightfully hailed as “the novel of the decade” by the New York Times and it should be a book that you read in your lifetime. James’ skill for writing shines in this story of 8 gay Jamaican men who experience a hate crime one night while rehearsing for a play and how their lives unfold after. It is unabashedly gay and a love letter to those that choose to stay in a place that doesn’t always love them in return. With spooky season upon us, it’s great to dive into a little horror and Gretchen Felker-Martin’s Cuckoo is a frighteningly good work of body horror where seven queer young adults survive a monster that wants to wear your skin while at conversion therapy camp. Sixteen years later, the survivors meet up to take down the demon. This book is perfect for fans of King’s It.

As we still grieve the loss of historian, advocate and our friend, Frank Perez, what better way to honor someone than to celebrate and learn from their teachings. Frank Perez spent his life telling the stories of our queer past and compiled many of those stories in his book, Rainbow Fleur De Lis: Essays on Queer New Orleans History. Having had the pleasure of taking one of his classes, when you read that book, along with Cafe Lafitte In Exile: Queer New Orleans and the Story of America’s Oldest Gay Bar, you are learning about the beloved city that we get to call home and its deep roots with members of the LGBTQ+ community and it’s as if you are sitting in one of his lectures. Remember, if you are interested in these titles or more, please check out your local library or if you would like to have these titles in your personal collection, to shop local! Happy reading! Zach Hunt can be found in your local bookstores, your favorite dive bars or at home with his nose in a book. You can reach me on Instagram (@whatre_you_reading or @zjhunt).

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Weekly Events By Tony Leggio

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Monday: NOAGE New Orleans Walking Group; Audubon Park; 6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA; 6 p.m. NOAGE’s weekly walking group meets on Mondays at 6:00 PM at the Magazine Street entrance to Audubon Zoo. They start walking promptly at 6:00, so be sure to arrive a few minutes early. The walking group will be AUTOMATICALLY CANCELED in the event of inclement weather. Cooking with Monica: The Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St., New Orleans, LA; 5 p.m. Come enjoy delicious food cooked by Monica every Monday at 5 p.m. and stay and enjoy cocktails with her till her shift ends at 2 a.m. Drag Bing: Crossing NOLA; 439 Dauphine St., New Orleans, LA; 7 p.m. Every Monday Drag Bingo 7pm hosed by Mistie Bonet and/or Princess Stephany Betsy Propane Smoke Show; The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 7 p.m. Love the sounds of Traditional New Orleans Jazz? Are you traveling to our city hoping to catch some live music on a non-weekend evening? Enjoy Burlesque? Betsy Propane & The Accessories are a Jazz Trio fronted by a female lead singer, who dabbles in the Ancient Art of Bump & Grind, and wants to share those powerful pipes through song & performance. LAZY SUSAN KARAOKE: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 8:30 p.m. – 1 a.m. Mondays are, once again, a DRAG! See your favorite Queens! Sing your favorite songs! GET WEIRD! With a rotating cast of drag hosts. Almost Naked Karaoke: The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 9:30 p.m. Sign up & sing from 9:30pm till midnight-ish to compete! More karaoke after winner is announced. You vote and decide on who wins!” - (nudity optional). Suggested donation $5 - $10 Tuesday: Trivia Night: Crossing NOLA; 439 Dauphine St.; 7:30 p.m. 5 Rounds of Ten Questions Plus a Bonus Round; Prizes for 1st, 2nd &amp; Last Place; $3 Wells & Domestics til 8PM; Kitchen Open til 10PM. Call the Bar at (504) 523-4517 to Reserve a Table George’s Tuesday Night Trivia; George’s Place; 860 St. Louis St., Baton Rouge; 7 p.m. Come play trivia every Tuesday with a different theme each week. No Judgment Karaoke at Good Friend’s: Good Friend’s Bar; 740 Dauphine St.; 8 p.m. – midnight. Come enjoy karaoke with fabulous hosts and achance to win great prizes. Big Easy Stompers Line Dancing: Okay Bar; 1700 Port St., 3300 Royal St.., New Orleans, LA.; 8 - 11 p.m. The Big Easy Stompers have free dance classes every Tuesday. They have been giving dance classes to the LGBTQ+ community and general public. All are welcome and beginners are welcome. Weekly Pool Tournament; Phoenix Bar; 941 Elysian Fields Ave., New Orleans, LA; 8 – 10 p.m. The Phoenix Pool Tournament is every Tuesday night! $5 buy in, winner takes all. Drink specials begin at 7pm. Slow Jam Tuesday; SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave. Gulfport, MS; 8 p.m. to close. Slide into Tuesday the easy way with chill vibes, smooth throwback tunes & cold drinks! Happy Hour 4PM–6PM. Kyle behind the bar ALL NIGHT! Come out and enjoy Big Gay Trivia with Tara Shay Montgomery. 12

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Weekly Events continued from page 12 Open Talent Night: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Hosted by Debbie with a D. Wednesday: Showtunes Sing-A-Long; Bourbon Pub & Parade; 801 Bourbon St.; 8 – midnight. With VJ Brendan Thompson. Grab a Cocktail and Sing – A – Long to some of your all time favorites. No Judgment Karaoke; Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 8 p.m. – midnight. Come sing you heart out at the oldest Gay Bar in New Orleans. Karaoke: Crossing NOLA; 439 Dauphine St., New Orleans, LA; 8 p.m. Darrioke Karaoke hosted by Darrius Summers 8pm till midnight Line Dancing with Miss Honey Sparkles: The Original Nite Cap; 1300 St Bernard Ave, New Orleans, LA.; 8 p.m. Every Wednesday we are boot scootin and no partner required!! Join us for Line Dancing Night with Miss Honesy Sparkles and leave your two left feet at the door. Happy Hour 5:30pm - 7pm. Line Dancing 8 – 10 p.m. Karaoke Night: SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave. Gulfport, MS; 8:30 p.m. Come join Dakota Goldman behind the bar for happy hour from 4-6pm, then stay for karaoke with Caleb Cuevas at 8:30 til 11:30 p.m. Wednesday Night Variety Show: The Page; 542 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA.; 9:15 p.m. Hosted by Simone Rishard. $5 entry fee and drinks specials all night. The Ladies of Oz Show Night; Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 9:30-11:30 p.m. Featuring the Ladies of Oz and DJ Tim Pflueger. Thursday: PFLAG New Orleans Expanding the Rainbow: WHIVFM.org; 9 a.m. Check out this fabulous radio show every Thursday at 9 a.m. with Frank and Sally and special guests form the LGBTQ+ community. Karaoke at Pub: Bourbon Pub & Parade; 801 Bourbon St.; 7 p.m. – midnight. Sing your heart out every Thursday upstairs at the Parade. There will be a different special host each week. Choose from over 30,000 songs. The Van Ella Bordella: A Storyville Burlesque; The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 8 – 9:30 p.m. The Van Ella Bordella, New Orleans’ Storyville spectacle, is back with an all new show, original music, and courtesans. Join Madam Lola Van Ella and her courtesans for an evening of debauchery, scandal, decadent delights and Victorian era brothel history. For tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com. QUEERS OF COMEDY New Orleans: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 8 p.m. A group of queer comedians performing comedy together. Terrioke: Le Caberet; 834 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA; 10 p.m. Come sing karaoke with Terri Aqui. Oz Strip Off: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 10 p.m. – midnight. Come enjoy the Oz Strip Off contest sponsored by Swiss Navy. Contestants in this male gogo competition can win $300 in cash and prizes for 1st Place. Friday: Drag Bingo: The Roundup; 560 Heinburg St., Pensacola, FL; 6:30 p.m. Special Guest Host Alexis Milano pulls balls and hands out great prizes.

Whiskey & Rhinestones: The Original Nite Cap; 1300 St Bernard Ave, New Orleans, LA. 7 p.m. Join us at our not so secret 7th Ward speakeasy for Whiskey Rhinestones — the city’s most dazzling weekly burlesque affair. Featuring a rotating cast of local and out of town performers each week so no 2 shows are ever the same! Trixie Minx’s Burlesque Ballroom at The Jazz Playhouse: Royal Sonesta; 300 Bourbon St.; 7 and 9 p.m. shows. Come join us for a modern spin on a classic 1960’s Bourbon Street Burlesque Show with a rotating cast of soloists all performing classic strip tease to live music, bringing quality Jazz & Burlesque back to its original home on Bourbon Street. Get tickets at www.eventbrite.com Freaky Fridays: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 8 p.m. Oz New Orleans is the place to be this Friday and all Fridays as Ivy Dripp and JoJo host “FREAKY FRIDAYS ,” featuring performances that are sure to amaze and delight! A show that celebrates glam and horror! Join us for this one of a kind variety show spectacular! Bayou Blues Burlesque: The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 10:30 p.m. Tickets available at eventbrite.com and at the door. An intimate night of live blues music accompanied by burlesque and variety acts. Drink specials by your bartenders and comfy seating to enjoy the art of the strip tease. Music by The Delta Revues Burlesque by Miss Oops C. Karaoke Night @ Sipps: SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave. Gulfport, MS; 9 p.m. – midnight. Come sing your heart out. The Famous Corner Pocket New Meat Contest; The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; 10 p.m. (Boys dancin’ from 7 p.m.). The country’s longest running all-male amateur dance contest (over three decades!) Hosted by Corner Pocket Emcee Felicia Phillips and former Southern Decadence Grand Marshal. Bring your sexiest, skimpiest, and tightest undies or a chance at a cash prize of $100 ($200 if it’s your first time in our contest). Open to all contestants over 21. New dancers encouraged. That’s Drag: The Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 10 p.m. Come out and enjoy a great show with Haus Contraire. Guys Night Fridays: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 10 p.m, Dance the night away at New Orleans’ #1 Gay Dance Club with DJ Tim Pflueger / Adam Joseph / Orlando Ricardo. THE OZ GOGOs DANCING ON THE BAR ALL WEEKEND! Friday Night Drag: George’s Place; 860 St. Louis St., Baton Rouge; 11 p.m. Join us Fridays Nights @georgesplacebr for the area’s best drag entertainers. Saturday Drag Brunch @ the Country Club: Country Club; 634 Louisa St.; 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Enjoy delightful Drag performances and a delicious brunch! Reservations can be made at opentable.com LGBTQIA+ Youth Drop Inn Nights: New Orleans Pride Center; 2762 Orleans Ave., New Orleans, LA: 3 - 5 p.m. Every Saturday from 3-5pm, LGBTQ+ youth (ages 13-24) can join us at The Pride Center for different activities including movies, arts, journaling, and more! FREE to attend! Drag Me To The Lantern: The Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 10 p.m. Vanessa Carr Presents a Mama Honey Production. Dance Bitches Dance: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 10 p.m. Dance the night away at New Orleans’ #1 Gay Dance Club with DJ Tim Pflueger. 15 followed by DJ Adam Joseph or DJ Orlando Ricardo Show Night: SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave.; Gulfport, MS.; 11:30 p.m.Come check out the fabulous Nicole DuBois and a rotating cast of drag performers each week. 15

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Weekly Events continued from page 15 Sunday Drag Brunch @ the Country Club: Country Club; 634 Louisa St.; 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Enjoy delightful Drag performances and a delicious brunch! Reservations can be made at opentable.com Morning Worship: Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans; 5401 S. Claiborne Ave.; 10 – 11 a.m. Our worship services are best described as “Blended”. We strive to incorporate elements from those various backgrounds so that all can feel a little more connected to our services. Solemn High Mass; St. Anna’s Episcopal Church; 1313 Esplanade Ave.; starts at 10:30 a.m. We are a diverse congregation and our slogan is “All are welcomed. None are shunned.” Our worship style is ornate with deep ritual yet it remains warm and inviting. A real community church, St. Anna’s welcomes all members of the LGBTQ+ community. WigSnatchers Drag Brunch: Marigny Brasserie; 640 Frenchmen St. , New Orleans, LA; 12 – 3 p.m. Located in the heart of historic Frenchmen St. comes the hottest Drag Show New Orleans has to offer. Drag Brunch @ Marigny Brasserie guarantees a welcoming and entertaining experience with some of Nola’s finest Drag Queens. Come enjoy performances of some of the most iconic artists of all time while you start the day with a plate of New Orleans, a drink in hand, and a safe space to have fun and express yourself. Email marigny.brasserie@kfkgroup.com about special event offers andgroup pricing of parties of 5 or more Trash Disco & Historic Napkin Toss; Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 1 – 10:30 p.m. Come dance the night away at one of the best places to end your weekend of fun, Lafitte’s in Exile, home of the world-famous napkin toss that happens every Sunday between 8:30 and 10 p.m. Sing-A-Long Sundays: Bourbon Pub & Parade; 801 Bourbon St.; 4 p.m. – midnight. Join Gay Appreciation Award Winner VJ Brendan for Sing-A-Long Sundays. Vanessa Carr: The Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St., New Orleans, LA; 3 – 5 p.m. Come see Vanessa Carr Kennedy sing your favorite songs. The PlayGirlz Show: The Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 5 – 7 p.m. Come out and enjoy the show featuring Gia GiaVanni and special guests each week. Zingo!; The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; 6 p.m. Zingo! with the boy’s pullin’ the balls. Can you say, O 69? Come play to win fabulous prizes and bar tabs (free to play). Corner Pocket Emcee Felicia Phillips hosts. SIPPS Drag Bingo: SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave.; Gulfport, MS.; 7 p.m. Come play bingo for great prizes every Sunday. Drag Bingeaux; Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 7 – 9 p.m. Hosted by Ivy Dripp with gogo boys. 11 games, no cover. The Opulence Hour: Maison; 508 Frenchmen St.; 8 – 9 p.m. The Society of Sin Burlesque & Variety every Sunday at The Maison on Frenchman at 7pm. Every week there will be a different show filled with decadent costumes, extravagant aesthetics, and big moods from our rotating cast of entertainers. For tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com Lipstixx Ladies on Parade; Bourbon Pub & Parade; 801 Bourbon St.; 8 – 10 p.m. Hosted by Miss Aubrey Synclaire. Showtime 8pm Sharp! Reservations accepted on a “first come first serve” at 504-529-2107. The Ladies of Oz Show Night; Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 9:30- 11:30 p.m. Featuring the Ladies of Oz and DJ Tim Pflueger. 16

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Chop Chop Say Ciao to Procida and its Light, Southern Italian Flavors by Charles Pizzo

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If you travel to Southern Italy, you’ll discover the food is much lighter and different than the Italian- and Sicilian-American renditions familiar in New Orleans. Fresh tomatoes still permeat the dishes, but they are cooked down far less. The acidity is balanced. What you won’t find are tomato sauces reduced till very thick and sweet (“red gravy”)—ostensibly an American iteration. And, thus, dining around the Crescent City over the years can cause one to lose perspective. A new generation of Italian restaurants, more true-to-Italy, have been opening lately. Pulcinella! (recommended) springs to mind. You’ll still find meatballs or spaghetti, but not on the same plate. Seafood and vegetable preparations are more common. Enter Procida, whose chef and owner are firmly rooted in the cooking of Southern Italy. The charming osteria–trattoria–ristorante opened with a roar in the Marigny Triangle. Open only three weeks, it was already bustling on my first visit (unfortunately, with noise levels to match). That aside, the food won me over very quickly. It’s light and fresh, and the kitchen shows great promise already. I could sense a buzz in the room; other diners seemed very happy too. The meal starts with chewy bread served with high-quality olive oil for dipping. It’s included, and frankly, it’s nice to see bread make a re-appearance after having disappeared at so many new places. This is a high-quality carb that could quickly become addictive. Procida Crudo (think sushi bathed in liquid) includes raw bluefin tuna, amberjack, and cobia. The fish sit in a pool of colatura (a subtle, light variation on fish sauce) and chili lemon vinaigrette. It’s refreshing, with a mix of lemony astringency and oil. For this to work, the fish must be fresh, and they are. Overall, the taste is mild, and the portion is meant to be shared. At this point, I need to “come out.” Italian restaurants pose challenges for those who are lactose intolerant: so many delicious cheeses and dairy products that pose problems. Procida is unusually adept at handling this. The server listed the dishes that can be modified (cheese on the side for a dining partner or simply left off for one). Some dishes, in which cheese is part of the filling, cannot be changed. Clear, helpful, and impressive. Neapolitan Soffritto (house made meatball, braciole & braised beef served in pomodoro sauce) was modified for me with extra braised beef and no braciole (because of the filling with cheese). The meatball was crumbly and mild, with herbal notes. The beef is braised (in liquid) for a long time and fork tender. Pomodoro sauce is lightly cooked tomatoes in olive oil—fresh, bright, an flavorful. I loved this version but acknowledge it’s not how the dish is usually served. Save some of that good bread to dip into it. Ziti alla Genovese (Neapolitan style ragu of braised beef and onions) may be one of the best pasta dishes I have eaten in years. The pasta is handmade; the meat is incredibly tender, rich, and, dare I use a cliché: bursting with flavor. The modern way to say that is: full of umami. In the New Orleans context, you could compare it to debris, which has become ubiquitous citywide. The meat sits in an intense au jus that is only slightly, but pleasantly, sweet from the onions. 18

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Southern Decadence 2026

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Southern Decadence 2026

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Chop Chop continued from page 18 Risotto di Mare (clams, Louisiana shrimp, mussels, saffron) is gorgeously presented, with seafood artfully layered on top. Clams and mussels in the shell, and shrimp with the heads on are a true sign of freshness. The shrimp are moist, not overcooked. The rice is yellow from the delicate saffron. The totality of this dish is outstanding, and it has a gentle lightness. Flounder Siciliana (blue crab, cherry tomato, Castelvetrano olives, pinenuts, capers) is a joy visually—its palette suggesting the Italian flag. The fish was very flaky, its mildness coaxed higher thanks to sweet, peeled tomatoes and briny olives. Quite satisfying. Contorni (side dishes) come in two sizes, a nice touch, making it more likely guests will sample one. Nonna Pina's Eggplant (grilled & marinated eggplants, red wine vinegar) feature wafer thin slices of eggplant with prominent grill marks. Served at room temperature, they’re light and tender. It’s topped with mint. At the other end of the spectrum, Eggplant Caponata (seasonal peppers, pickled red onion, capers) is dense and heavy. Another cold dish (very common in Europe), it’s earthy and loaded with capers, cooked till brown. It’s meant to have strong flavors, and it succeeds. Grilled Mushrooms (local mushrooms grilled and served with gremolata) were terrific. Forget the more common dish of button mushrooms swimming in white wine… so yesterday! Here, chanterelle and beech mushrooms are sautéed with parsley, garlic and lemon zest till slightly crunchy. This was unexpectedly addictive and highly recommended. Deserts are available, but I was always too full! There’s a full bar and wine list available. The space is lovely, with high ceilings painted with a fern-like motif. Wood is painted blue-gray; there’s a lot of exposed brick and airy windows with café curtains offering privacy at the bottom and light from the top. You would feel comfortable on a date or on business. There’s also a food Happy Hour offered daily with great prices on selections of appetizers or pastas. Together, they would make for a full meal for the budget-minded who can eat early. Procida, 2000 Burgundy St corner Touro, open Wednesday – Sunday, 4:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (10:00 p.m. Friday – Saturday). Reservations strongly advised. (504) 2731100 procidarestaurant.com Charles Pizzo is a native New Orleanian and PR professional. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and former chairman of IABC, the International Association of Business Communicators.

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LGBTQ+ Parkinson’s Rainbow: An Update By Jim Meadows Two years ago, I published an interview with Robert Turner, founder of LGBTQ+ Parkinson’s Rainbow, a peer support group for LGBTQ+ people living with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners I recently caught up with Robert again, alongwith two other members of the group, John Hill and John Weimer, Jr. “The Johns” met in 2009, and married in 2015. Free Peer Support Group The LGBTQ+ Parkinson’s Rainbow support group meets weekly on Zoom. “We can’t offer medical advice, but we offer friendship and mutual support,” said Turner. He recounted how two care partners discovered through the group that they were dealing with the same challenges in caring for their loved ones. They were excited to know that they were not alone, and to learn how someone else was dealing with it. In this way, the group members can share their lived experience and collective knowledge about living with and managing Parkinson’s disease. The group is also a great resource for loved ones who understand the unique challenges of being care partners. After working for years in the tech industry, Weimer is now a full-time care partner for Hill. “Morning medical appointments are impossible,” said Weimer. “It takes a couple of hours to get ready” because of the physical symptoms of the disease, which can include muscle stiffness, slowed movement, loss of balance and coordination, among others. “If it weren’t for him,” Hill said of Weimer, “I’d be in a nursing home.” The group’s Zoom meetings are not just for people in the New Orleans metro area; it’s open to any LGBTQ+ person living with Parkinson’s disease and/or their care partners. For information about joining the group, email ParkinsonsRainbow@gmail.com. You can also visit their new Facebook page at facebook.com/ParkinsonsRainbow. Recognition for Group Members In addition to his work for Parkinson’s Rainbow, Robert Turner has served for several years as an Ambassador for the Davis Phinney Foundation for Parkinson’s, “a national non-profit organization focused on providing programs, education, and tools to help people with Parkinson's disease live well today.” In this role, he is especially interested in continuing to offer support for other members of the LGBTQ+ community who are living with Parkinson’s. He will also volunteer again this year at Louisiana Walks for Parkinson’s on October 3. Earlier this year, John Hill was honored with an induction into the Louisiana Political Museum’s Hall of Fame. Before his retirement, Hill spent decades reporting on local and state-wide politics in Louisiana. He also provided analysis of Louisiana’s political landscape in national outlets like USA Today. After retirement, he served as chair of Forum for Equality, a Louisiana LGBTQ+ human rights organization. John Weimer, Jr. will be honored at Louisiana Walks for Parkinson’s with the 2026 Stephen J. Casamento Parkinson’s Care Partner Award. “I don’t know if I deserve it,” Weimer said. That’s not false humility; he recognizes that there are countless other care partners who have devoted themselves to making life easier for their loved ones with Parkinson’s disease. Turner says the Parkinson’s Rainbow group is adamant that Weimer is indeed an exceptional care partner. They have witnessed countless ways that Weimer cares for Hill twent -four hours a day, including not leaving Hill’s bedside during four hospitalizations in 2025. 24

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Bywater

AMBUSH MAGAZINE BUSINESS DIRECTORY

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Restaurants/Coffee Houses The Country Club634 Louisa St, New Orleans, LA 70117 (504) 945-0742 Faubourg Marigny Bars The Friendly Bar 2301 Chartres St, New Orleans, LA 70117 (504) 943-8929 Allways Lounge & Cabaret 2240 Saint Claude Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117 Wifey’s Queer Bar 1943 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 494-1241 Phoenix Bar 941 Elysian Fields Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117 (504) 945-9264 Restaurants/Coffee Houses Who Dat Coffee Cafe 2401 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70117 (504) 872-0360 Retail Frenchman Art & Books 600 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 301-778 French Quarter Bars Crossing NOLA 439 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 333-5912 Corner Pocket 940 Saint Louis St, New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 568-9829 The Page 542 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 875-4976 Good Friends Bar 740 Dauphine St, New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 566-7191 Rawhide 70116 740 Burgundy St, New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 525-8106 Le CaBARet 834 N Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 298-6812 Café Lafitte in Exile 901 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 569-8582 Golden Lantern 1239 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 529-2860 Restaurants/Coffee Houses Deanie’s Seafood 841 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 581-1316 Clover Grill 900 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 598-1010 Mona Lisa1212 Royal St, New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 522-674 909 Bourbon St, New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 566-1570 Metairie Restaurants/Coffee Houses Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop 2309 N Causeway Blvd, Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 835-2022

To be listed in our directory on line and on the website, contact Tony Leggio at ledgemgp@gmail.com.

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A New Orleans Ghost Story by Barrett DeLong The history of the French Quarter echoes through streets, passageways, and buildings of the Vieux Carré, the “Old Square.” Our queer brothers and sisters walked these streets before us, leaving tales of triumph, tragedy, and horror. Halloween speaks to queer people beyond jack-o’-lanterns and the paranormal. It acknowledges fear, transgresses rules, and celebrates difference. In New Orleans, we have ghosts, not always paranormal.

One of those ghosts is Fernando Rios. In September 1958, Fernando Rios, a 26-year-old gay tour guide from Mexico City, was visiting New Orleans. After a long day translating for his guests, Rios went to Café Lafitte in Exile, where he met handsome Tulane student John Farrell. The two left together, with Rios believing they were heading toward a romantic encounter. Farrell led him toward Pere Antoine Alley beside St. Louis Cathedral. Then came the moment of late clarity: they were being followed, and Farrell knew the men, Tulane students David Drennan and Alberto Calvo. The three had gone out to “roll a queer,” meaning find a gay man, beat him, and rob him.¹ The romantic encounter was a setup.

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Sources Clayton Delery, Out for Queer Blood: The Murder of Fernando Rios and the Failure of New Orleans Justice (Jefferson, NC: Exposit Books, 2017). Frank Perez, “A Climate of Hostility,” in Rainbow Fleur de Lis: Essays on Queer New Orleans History (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2025), 89–91. LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, “Timeline of LGBT+ History in New Orleans,” 1958. Queer Underground Tours, Quinn Bishop, New Orleans. Marcus Shacknow, Walking with the Gay Ghosts of New Orleans. New Orleans Secrets, Ghosts of the French Quarter Tour.

Rios was brutally beaten and robbed. He never regained consciousness and died at Charity Hospital on September 28, 1958.¹ The horror did not end in that alley. The three were charged with murder, but their defense claimed Rios made an “improper advance” toward Farrell, an early version of the gay panic defense. They argued Rios had an unusually thin “eggshell cranium.”¹ All three were acquitted of murder. According to Clayton Delery, author of Out for Queer Blood, “the courtroom erupted in applause and cheering.”¹ None served prison time for Rios’s death. Ghost stories claim an outline appears in photographs where Rios was attacked or a lost man wanders the alley. These stories are uncorroborated, but add to our haunted lore. Our community is still haunted by his murder. That same year, the New Orleans City Council formed the horribly named “Committee on the Problem of Sex Deviates,” which proposed creating “a climate of hostility” toward homosexuals, documented by the dearly missed Frank Perez in Rainbow Fleur de Lis.² But it wasn’t all doom and gloom. A decade before Stonewall, queer New Orleanians were creating spaces of their own. In 1958, the Krewe of Yuga emerged, beginning Gay Carnival in New Orleans.³ We cannot say Rios’s murder created Gay Carnival, but both happened as our community faced harassment and began creating institutions. We can walk Pere Antoine Alley and wonder if Fernando is still there. But Fernando Rios was real, and remembering him matters. This Halloween, explore these histories with queer and queer-friendly guides: Quinn Bishop of Queer Underground Tours, Marcus Shacknow’s Walking with the Gay Ghosts of New Orleans, or companies like New Orleans Secrets with me, Barrett DeLong, and other fabulous guides, offering small-group spooky tours with the historical context many of us desire.⁴ ⁵ ⁶ After all, some of the ghosts haunting the French Quarter are part of our history too.

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Curtain Up By Brian Sands

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The fall season has come upon us, and with it plays, musicals, and all sorts of things to keep us entertained through the Holidaze. Here are some of the upcoming events worth checking out. Aqua Mob, New Orleans’ first and only community-based water ballet ensemble, has returned to The Midtown Hotel with 2001: An Odyssey Into the Deep. For its 9th production, Aqua Mob journeys where no swimmer has gone before with this aquatic operatic retelling of the classic 1968 film.

Written and directed by Cody Evans Gan, whose 2023 Carrie: Blood in the Water was an “evening of wild fun and athletic accomplishment” and was nominated for a Gay Appreciation Award Critic’s Choice Award, 2001 stars Terry Miles, Rebecca Poole, Cody Keech, and Evans Gan as HAL-9000, the nearly sentient creature who foreshadowed our current obsession withartificial intelligence. Featuring live music from local band The Kissing Disease, 2001: An Odyssey Into the Deep runs through October 10...assuming the AI apocalypse doesn’t arrive first. One of the most acclaimed plays of the 20 th century has returned to NOLA as Fat Squirrel presents Peter Shaffer’s Amadeus. Directed by Andrea Watson and featuring Clint Johnson & Rahim Glaspy, this Tony and Oscar-winning drama explores the nature of creativity; it runs through October 10 at CANOA in the Bywater. Fat Squirrel follows Amadeus with another 20 th century classic, Ntozake Shange’s stirring choreopoem for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf. Myni Watson, who tragically passed away in May, was originally supposed to direct for colored girls...; it will now be helmed by Jyna N. Roots November 12-21 at LSUNO Performing Arts Center. Opening Le Petit’s 110 th season, Neil Simon’s Laughter on the 23rd Floor was inspired by Simon’s own experiences toiling alongside the likes of Mel Brooks and Carl Reiner as a young staff writer on Sid Caesar’s Your Show of Shows. This ensemble comedy depicts the harried group of television writers working frantically for the TV star Max Prince as they attempt to one- up each other with punchlines and gags; meanwhile, looming over them is the threat of network censorship compliments of Senator Joe McCarthy. Scott Burrell directs a cast including A.J. Allegra, Yvette Bourgeois, John Jabaley, and Daniel Rigamer. Laughter runs through October 18. The WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen gives the NOLA premiere to Dear Jack, Dear Louise by Ken (Lend Me a Tenor) Ludwig. In it, when two strangers meet by letter during World War II, a love story begins. Whose love story? Ludwig’s parents, U.S. Army Captain Jack Ludwig, a military doctor stationed in Oregon, and Louise Rabiner, an aspiring actress and dancer in New York City. Starring Oriana Lada and Pete Winfrey, the play is directed by Risa Brainin, and will be performed through October 11. One of the fall season’s highlights is bound to be The Curse of the Mummy at the Greenway Station October 8-24. The NOLA Project gives the world premiere to Pete McElligott’s retelling of the ancient Egyptian tale, and I have every expectation that it will be every bit as imaginative and funny and theatrically wondrous as his two previous outings, Dracula and Frankenstein. Leslie Claverie directs Khiry Armstead, Emily Bagwill, Natalie Boyd, Arrianna Chai, Keith Claverie, PJ Ruffins, Matthew Thompson, and Alex Martinez Wallace.

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Next up for The NOLA Project will be Flying Dreams written by and starring James Bartelle and Zarah Hōkūle’a Spalding. Leslie Claverie directs this retelling of the Icarus legend at John Cameron Mitchell’s Temple House in the Bywater November 12-14. Speaking of John Cameron Mitchell, his Hedwig 25th Anniversary Movie Tour arrives at The Fillmore on November 11. Celebrating 25 years since the film version of Hedwig and the Angry Inch came out, a Q&A with Mitchell will follow a restored 4K screening of this groundbreaking musical.

NOBA continues its season on November 14 with Alonzo King LINES Ballet, making its first New Orleans appearance in 15 years. Known for its distinctive sculptural beauty and technical precision, King’s choreography pushes the classical form to its furthest limits. New Orleans Ballet Theatre’s splendid Dracula returns to The Orpheum Theater October 29- 31. Oliver Halkowich’s appropriately moody production delivers the highlights of Bram Stoker’s 1897 novel with a pinch of camp, some melodrama, a soupçon of humor, and a good dose of romanticism, and he provides choreography that is intelligent, sophisticated and beautiful to look at. Reviewing it last year, I wrote “It’s possible that NOBT’s Dracula will become an annual Halloween season event like The Nutcracker at Christmas.” Looks like it has.

Curtain Up continued from page 34

Curtain Up conitiued from page 36

Arriving for Halloween on the Northshore, Mandeville’s 30 by Ninety Theatre presents Zombie Prom, a girl-lovesghoul rock ‘n’ roll off-Broadway musical set in the atomic 1950s at Enrico Fermi High, where the law is laid down by a zany, tyrannical principal; pretty senior Toffee has fallen for the class bad boy; family pressure forces her to end the romance; and he charges off onhis motorcycle to the nuclear waste dump. What happens when he returns glowing and determined to reclaim Toffee’s heart? Find out October 10-25 at 30 by Ninety. For more tricks and treats, head to Slidell Little Theatre for Dracula: A Comedy of Terrors October 16-25. When her sister Mina falls ill with a mysterious disease of the blood, Lucy Westfeldt and her fiancé, Jonathan Harker, enlist the help of famed vampire hunter Dr. Jean Van Helsing. Their hunt for the dangerous and sexy Count Dracula blends Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire tale with Mel Brooks, Monty Python, and The 39 Steps as five actors play over a dozen roles in this send-up of the literary classic, directed by Kylie Barnes. Had there been a rock musical version of Bram Stoker’s novel (well, a good one), Tom Jones might have made a fine Count Dracula. While that was not to be, you can see the pop superstar at the Saenger Theatre on October 12. When I saw the now 86-years-young legendary Welsh singer at Jazzfest in 2023, I wrote “Tom Jones put on an unforgettable set, the best I saw at Jazzfest this year. Not only did he do his hits (It's Not Unusual, What’s New Pussycat?, Delilah, Sex Bomb), but he also did dark, nihilistic songs by Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson and Leonard Cohen about mortality (Growing Old, Not Dark Yet, One More Cup of Coffee, Lazarus Man) that well-suited his age and where his voice sits now. And he made the brilliant choice to encore with Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s Strange Things Happening Every Day”. Don’t know what he has in store for the Saenger, but it would be unusual if it wasn’t fabulous. Jones will be followed at the Saenger by the Tony Award-winning musical The Lion King (Oct. 21-Nov. 8), Director Julie Taymor’s visually stunning retelling of the classic animated Elton John/Tim Rice movie musical. Nearly 30 years after it first opened, The Lion King remains a bewitching and moving theatrical experience.

And just in time for Halloween, The Rocky Horror Picture Show, the longest-running theatrical release in cinematic history, returns to New Orleans on October 29 at the Mahalia Jackson Theater for a screening of the film, in a new 4K restoration, preceded by a Q&A with Barry Bostwick, who starred as “Brad Majors” in this cult classic. Audiences will have an opportunity to participate in a costume contest and interact with a live performance by the local Shadow Cast directed by Lisa Davis Kutner who also appears as Dr. Frank-N-Furter. They will be acting out scenes from the movie on stage while the full, unedited film is shown behind them. “It’s fun, noisy and rude and only exists today because of the dedicated fan base around the world,” said Bostwick, adding “Three generations of party goers have passed it down from one to another. It is a rite of passage from innocence to understanding and questioning!” I suspect this year’s event (last year’s featured Nell Campbell who was “Columbia”) will be somewhat bittersweet due to the recent passing of Tim Curry, the original Dr. Frank-N-Furter, and expect that Bostwick will pay tribute to his co-star. Last, but certainly not least, the New Orleans Fringe Festival returns for the first time since 2014, under new leadership with the blessing and guidance of previous producers, November 12- 15 in various Marigny and Bywater venues. Expect theater, dance, music, spoken word, circus acts, puppet shows, burlesque, and more. And that’s something to give thanks for!

For a retelling of Euripides’ classic play The Bacchae, head to the Music Box Village November 12-22 for Kaleidoscope Theatre Company’s second production. Queer historian Quinn L. Bishop’s adaptation promises dancing, chanting, rhythm, music, and maybe a goblet of wine, all under the stars. Kaleidoscope Artistic Director Aaron Brewer helms this tale of gods punishing mortals that makes most horror movies look like benign after-school specials. Not sure about the chanting, but you should be able to find dancing, rhythm, music, and maybe a glass of wine (at intermission) at the Mahalia Jackson Theater when the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) presents Pilobolus on October 17. Founded in 1971, this adventuresome dance company takes its name from a shape-shifting fungus, and can be counted on to provide beautiful images, acrobatic moves, and engrossing partnerings. The program includes “Bloodlines”, “Lamentation Variations”, and two Pilobolus classics, “Walklyndon” and “Day Two”.

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LIVE AT

OCTOBER 23, 2026 Showtime at 8:00pm | Tickets start at $34

Picture it. Golden Girls: The Laughs Continue is back in an all-new show bringing laughs, cheesecake and a perfect night out!

T I C K E T S IP Box Office | Essentials | IPBiloxi.com | Ticketmaster.com Guests under 21 must be accompanied by a legally responsible adult over 30 at all times.

22227261_22227388Cch_IP_Sept2026_AmbushMagazineGoldenGirls_AD 7.5” x 10.5”