Ambush magazine volume 26 issue 27

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the "official" dish

by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain RipandMarsha.COM E-mail: marsha@ripandmarsha.com

Ringing In The New Year

R

eaders across the Gulf South are ready to ring in the New Year Wednesday, December 31st. As you flip through the last edition of 2008, you will find the best hot spots to celebrate the dawning of 2009.

In New Orleans, there are mega stars performing live, DJs, bands, hot male strippers, contests, special shows,

THE OFFICIAL MAG

GulfSouthEntertainment/TravelGuideSince 1982 • Texas-Florida Official Gay Easter Parade Guide Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide Official Gay New Orleans Guide OfficialSouthernDecadenceGuide OFFICE/SHIPPING ADDRESS: 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 USA OFFICE HOURS: 10am-3pm Monday-Friday [Except Holidays] E-mail: marsha@ripandmarsha.com PHONE: 1.504.522.8049 • 1.504.522.8047 ANNUAL READERSHIP: 650,000+ in print/3.5 Million+ On-line NATIONAL CIRCULATION: USA... Alabama-Birmingham, Mobile Florida - Pensacola Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Shreveport, Slidell Mississippi - Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Jackson Texas - Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Galveston, Houston, South Padre Island

STAFF: PUBLISHER/EDITOR R. Rip Naquin-Delain, New Orleans PRODUCTION DIRECTOR M. Marsha Naquin-Delain, New Orleans GULF SOUTH/NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Rip Naquin-Delain • 504.522.8049 LESBIAN/POLITICAL ISSUES Toni J.P. Pizanie, New Orleans THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands, Patrick Shannon AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Brad Benedict-Baton Rouge, LA Patrick Clinton-Lafayette, LA Rev. Clinton Crawshaw, Donnie Jay-New Orleans DJ Chromatic, Craig Powell, Leon Weekley-Mobile, AL Roy Williams-Pensacola, FL NATIONAL ADVERTISING REP Rivendell Media~212.242.6863 AMBUSH Mag is published on alternate Tuesdays of each month by Ambush, Inc., R. Rip Naquin-Delain, President. Advertising, Copy & Photo DEADLINE is alternate Tuesdays, 4pm, prior to publication week, accepted via e-mail only: info@ambushmag.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 Mag. Subscription rate is $45 for 1/2 Year; $75 for 1 year. Sample Copy is $3 First Class Mail. ©1982-2009, AMBUSH, INC., ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS and PHOTOS. AMgrant - AMbush Advertising Grant Donation

regular shows and everything in between. And it's not just one night. It starts New Year's Eve and runs through Sugar Bowl weekend ending Sunday, January 4. The Sugar Bowl is played in the Louisiana Superdome on Friday, January 2 at 7pm with Utah vs. Alabama.

It will be difficult to figure out just where you will want to ring in the New Year. Most parties start at 9 or 10pm.

Here are some of the club highlights New Year's Eve: 4-SEASONS / PATIO BAR, 3229 N. Causeway, Metairie, starts its New Year's Eve Party at 10:30pm with free champagne and party favors at 12midnight.

700 CLUB, 700 Burgundy, celebrates the New Year with drink specials, and at 12midnight, complimentary champagne.

BIG DADDY'S, 2513 Royal, will host its annual New Year's Eve Bash.

BILLY'S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, Slidell, starts out with Big Mama's Annual New Year's Eve Show and Party at 10:30pm followed by free champagne and party favors at 12midnight.

CAFÉ LAFITTE IN EXILE, 901 Bourbon, brings in the New Year with free party favors and a champagne toast at 12midnight.

CLUB TRIBUTE, 3202 N. Arnoult Rd., Metairie, will feature drink and shot specials all night long to ring in the New Year right.

CORNER POCKET, 940 St. Louis, promises boys, boys and more boys, plus party favors and surprises for all, and free champagne at 12midnight, hosted by Lisa Beaumann.

COUNTRY CLUB, 634 Louisa St., is hosting a special New Year's Eve menu and celebration.

CUTTER'S, 706 Franklin, will host Jack Ass Flats live beginning at 10:30pm followed with free champagne and party favors.

THE DOUBLE PLAY, 439 Dauphine, starts it's New Year's Eve Blowout at

10:30pm with free champagne and party favors at 12midnight.

THE FRIENDLY BAR, 2301 Chartres, host its traditional New Year's Eve Party.

GOLDEN LANTERN, 1239 Royal, begins their celebration with its New Year's Eve Show featuring Donnie Jay at 10pm followed by a champagne toast at 12midnight.

GOOD FRIENDS BAR, 740 Dauphine, welcomes in the New Year with your friends with free party favors and champagne at 12midnight.

JOHNPAUL'S, 940 Elysian Fields, joins their friends beginning at 10pm, ringing in the New Year at 12midnight with free champagne.

LE ROUNDUP, 819 St. Louis, begins its New Year's Eve Bash at 10pm with free party favors and champagne at 12midnight.

NAPOLEON'S ITCH, 734 Bourbon, rings in the New Year with hot hunk Philip and the crew of Napoleon's Itch, plus a live performance by Sandy Vee Anderson as Dolly Parton and Carlos Saenz, along with complimentary party favors, a balloon drop with prizes and free champagne at 12midnight.

OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, shows why its Dance Club of the Year winner year after year with a special live performance by Jeanie Tracy, along with the talents of DJ's Tim Pflueger and Jason Lanoux, lights by Johnny Eubanks, and of course, those tantalizing Men of Manwatch dancers. And here to there's a balloon drop with prizes and free champagne at 12midnight.

PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, New Year's Eve Party rings in 2009 after the fireworks with free party favors and champagne at 12midnight.

RAWHIDE 2010, 740 Burgundy, rings in the New Year with a champagne toast and free party favors at 12midnight.

SOCIETY PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., rings in the New Year beginning at 9pm followed by free champagne and party favors at 12midnight.

STARLIGHT BY THE PARK, 834 N. Rampart St., welcomes in the New Year with the Starlight Extravaganza hosted by Jaded Jade and Marcy Marcell beginning at 10pm, followed by a champagne toast at 12midnight, with omelets served at 1am.

27th Anniversary, Mardi Gras Classic Edition due out Tues., Jan. 6th

inside

AMBUSH/main celebrazzi snap paparazzi, new orleans snap paparazzi, new orleans cookin' with auntie dee king cake queen xvi tami tarmac chop chop/nola restaurant guide ambush paparazzi/new orleans commentary/transnation ambush paparazzi/metairie, nola e-mail/letters

DEADLINE: Tues., Dec. 30th 6 8 10 12 13 14 16 17 18 29

EXPOSE/center sappho psalm the pink pastor one last song trodding the boards mobile paparazzi classifieds hot tails of red stick/baton rouge red stick paparazzi/baton rouge in the spotlight commentary, e-mail

Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 828-A Bourbon St. • New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 • 504.522.8049 info@ambushmag.com

2 2 4 6 10 12 16 18 20 20

VOILA, 300 Decatur St., celebrates New Year's Eve with free champagne and $3 Cosmos and Crown Royal drinks til 11pm.

Satyricon’s 7th Annual 12th Night Ball January 3

T

he Mystic Krewe of Satyricon will present its seventh an nual 12th Night Ball three days early, on Saturday, January 3, 2009 at the Country Club, 634 Louisa Street in New Orleans.

The ball, open to the public, will feature DJ music, a scrumptious buffet catered by the Country Club, a silent auction, the selection of a King and Queen of 12th Night from among the guests, and the presentation of King and Queen Satyricon VII, who will reign over the krewe’s Mardi Gras ball on February 15.

Tickets for the party are $20 in advance or $25 at the door, and cocktail attire or costumes are requested. Call 504.525.4498 for tickets and information.

FAB Salutes 2009

F

AB salutes the New Year of 2009 with the addition of New Orleans music books, CD’s, and vintage vinyl records for our customers to enjoy and purchase. It is only appropriate for FAB to feature the stories and music of legends like Fats Domino, Dr. John as well as favorites such as Jon Boutte, Ellis and Jason Marsalis, Irvin Mayfield and Allen Toussaint and others. The collection includes a variety of both classic and current artists from Cat Stevens, Village People, Kermit Rufins, Esquizito, the Neville Brothers to the White Bitch, Morning 40 Federation, Shill, and the Atomic Bitch.

Come take a peak at our new music offerings and pick up a 2009 Huli Louisiana Festivals and Events or Pit Bulls of New Orleans or Bel Ami calendar. Start our New Year off right.

FAB – Faubourg Marigny Art & Books is located at 600 Frenchmen Street at Chartres, just 8 short blocks from Jackson Square. Store hours are from Noon till 10pm every day.

FAB features New Orleans and Louisiana new and used fiction, nonfiction and coffee table photo and art books as well as new, used and signed GLBT novels and nonfiction – the most extensive GLBT book collection in the Gulf South. The highlight of your visit will include viewing the FAB male nude art gallery featuring original paintings, drawings, photographs, and prints and posters as well as sculpture, all of which is available for purchase.

FAB continues an extensive showing of vintage gay bar posters and magazines, some more that 25 years old. All of these unique works are available with special, discount pricing offers for purchases of multiple magazines and posters.

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celebrazzi (celebrations-paparazzi)

B

rad Pitt and Angelina Jolie came to their New Orleans home base for the screening of The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Brad's newest film, at the AMC Elmwood Palace on December 1. The 150 million dollar age-defying film is also set in New Orleans. Pitt and Jolie have a home in the French Quarter.

(Photo by Steven Forster/Paramount Pictures)

M

ike Cookmeyer and Matt Giglio hosted 700 Club’s first Christmas Party with open bar and catered buffet. Always festive, the club raised $1,527 for Project Lazarus through door donations, a raffle and personalized photo buttons. Guests packed the club pouring out onto St. Peter and Burgundy Streets in the French Quarter.

J

T

oby Lefort kicks off his annual Christmas Party raising over $5,000 for the Make A Wish Foundation hosted at 4 Seasons in Metairie. In the spirit of the holidays, the fund-raiser sends a child on a dream trip that they will remember for the rest of their lives.

L

e Roundup’s Collette Ambrose and Candise Holman flank Double Play’s Doc Reed for the opening of the Double Play’s annual Christmas Feast on Christmas Eve in New Orleans. Doc personally prepares all of the great food and desserts himself, much appreciated by his friends and their holiday guests.

ohnPaul’s Paul Chiriaco and John Vignone join Corner Pocket’s Michael Elias (center) for the Pocket’s annual Christmas soiree in New Orleans. Catered by Restaurant/Deli of the Year Quartermaster, guests brought gifts for children in need.

Miss Ashlee and Anthony served up your favorite complimentary cocktails to go along with the great eats.

O

z’s Johnny Chisholm welcomes Halloween’s Mark, partner Cy, Stacey, Mia, Peter and Josh to the mega Christmas bash filling up Dance Club of the Year Oz in New Orleans. In addition to open bar, guests were treated to the huge buffet on both floors created by Oz’s Glenn Fonte and Emerald City’s Ted McCrary which is always a treat. Guests also brought in a truck load of gifts for children in need.

G

lazer’s Megan and Kirt flank Wood Enterprises GM Ken Grandpre for the annual Wood Enterprises’ Employee Christmas Party. All of the employees bring their fav culinary delights, it's open bar, and of course, the trademark of this party, started by Tom Wood, is open boxes and boxes of Godiva Chocolates all around the Balcony Bar above Cafe Lafitte in Exile in New Orleans.

C

ollette and “Little” Mark Ambrose join manager Candise Holman in welcoming their guests to Le Roundup’s annual private Christmas Party in New Orleans. Serving an open bar and a tasty buffet, guests got to mingle and catch up with their favorite St. Louis Street celebrities.

J

im Hochadel joins Jerry Scavo and Kenny Walker for their fab Christmas Party hosted in their new Versailles Boulevard digs in New Orleans. It was amazing to see the resilience of these New Orleans residents who practically lost everything in Lakeview due to Hurricane Katrina. The new home is chock full of antiques, art, crystal, china, porcelain and so much more.

B

-Bob's own Santa Jerry with Venus, DJ Chromatic, Miss Cie and Daryl celebrating at the giant B-Bob’s Holiday Bash in downtown Mobile, Alabama complete with open bar, food and friends. It followed Saturday night's sold out concert performance of Colton Ford live.

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Edward, Michael, Oz Chef Glenn & Vicki Vynes

Oz’s Paulina

Corner Pocket’s Michael Elias & Satyricon’s Tony Leggio

Emerald City Chef Ted & Janice Craig Trentecosta & Reynaldo Gonzalez with Ambush’s Brian Sands

Jerry Scavo

Chisholm Properties’ Cy & Stacey

Oz DJ Tim & showgirl Coca Emerald City’s Lauren, Chisholm Properties’ Angie & Leslie

Frank Pizzolato & Oz’s Johnny Chisholm

Salon D’Malta’s Charles Grant, Lester Perkins, Rab Dab’s Dave Rabalais & Raven Kennedy

Oz bartender’s Robert, Woggie, Andrew & Blake

Miss Ashlee & Anthony sling cocktails for the bash

snap

Corner Pocket’s Jerry & Double Play’s Doc

paparazzi

Oz’s Carl & GM Tommy

Electra & Jerry

Bartenders Bruce (top) & Frederick (bottom)

Partners Tommy & Carl

Lisa, Michael & Electra

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Corner Pocket’s Christmas Party ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Ambush

Dance Club of the Year Oz's Annual Christmas Party ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Ambush

Oz emcee Persana Shoulders & Stephen

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Rory & partner Spencer (Good Friends) Lafitte’s Karaoke MC Alex & Country Club’s Bert

Lafitte’s DJ Myke & partner Max

Clover Grill’s James & Drew Mother Moses, Charlene & Juliet pop in for the Double Play’s Christmas Eve Party & Buffet

Good Friends manager Cameron & partner TJ

Manager Lauren & bartender Preston welcome you to Rubyfruit Jungle which is now open on Decatur St.

snap New Lafitte’s manager Matt & DJ Johnny Love

paparazzi

Lafitte’s Richie & Lafitte’s Shawn Rawhide manager Joe & partner Troy

Rawhide’s Eric, William (back), Cary, Tom & Eddie

Lafitte’s Elijah & Good Friends’ Sammy

Rawhide’s Jerry & Lafitte’s Michael behind the bar

Le Roundup’s Justin & Flex’s Kyle join the Double Play’s Christmas Eve Party & Buffet

Nancy Rose & Danielle slingin’ holiday cocktails at The Friendly Bar

Bartender's Chris & Poncho in the holiday spirit at Cutter’s Double Play’s Christmas Eve Party brought in Selice & Melissa

Marsha & Arnold at Double Play’s Christmas Eve Party & Buffet

Coca & Jeff celebrate Christmas Day at Cafe Lafitte In Exile

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The Holidays Around The City ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Ambush

Wood Enterprises’ Employee Christmas Party in the Balcony Bar at Cafe Lafitte in Exile ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Ambush

Wood Enterprises’ Rudy & Paola join Wood Enterprises’ Gary

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cookin' with auntie dee

by Donnie Jay E-mail: auntiedeej@hotmail.com Photo©GrahamStudioOne.COM

Is There Fruit In The House?

W

ell I’m sure the answer to that question is a resounding yes, whether it is fresh, canned or walking around the household. Well this column features fruit in all the recipes from soup through main dishes and to desserts.

RED PEPPER & PEAR SOUP 2 tablespoons butter 2 tablespoons olive oil 3 large red peppers sliced 2 carrots, sliced 2 shallots, sliced 2 Anjou pears, peeled and sliced 1 (32-ounce) container fat-free chicken broth 1 ½ teaspoons dried crushed red pepper ½ teaspoon ground black pepper Garnish: fresh sliced pears, sour cream, chopped chives

ents, tossing gently to coat.

PRUNE STUFFED PORK LOIN ROAST ¾ cup dry sherry 1 (12-ounce) package pitted prunes 2 cups apple cider 1 (8-ounce) can pineapple slices, drained 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger 1 teaspoon seasoned salt 1 teaspoon lemon-pepper seasoning 1 (6-7 lb) boneless double pork loin

roast, trimmed

slices and reserved prunes.

Heat ¾ cup sherry in a saucepan just long enough to produce fumes (do not boil); remove from heat, and ignite.

Let flames die down and set aside.

Combine prunes and cider in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil, reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, twenty mi uses.

Remove from heat, stir in ½ cup heated sherry. Pour remaining ¼ cup sherry over pineapple slices; set aside. Combine seasonings; rub over entire surface of meat. Place 1 roast, fat side down on a rack in a roasting pan.

Reserve four prunes in liquid; remove remaining prunes with a slotted spoon, and place on roast. Place remaining roast fat side up, atop prunes. Tie roast at two inch intervals with heavy string.

Bake at 325 degrees for three hours, basting often with reserved prune liquid.

Remove pineapple from sherry; discard sherry. Garnish roast with pineapple

ROASTED APPLES & SWEET POTATOES 3 lbs sweet potatoes peeled 2 large Granny Smith apples, peeled 2 tablespoon butter, melted 2 tablespoons light brown sugar 1 teaspoon grated orange rind 1 teaspoon salt ½ teaspoon black pepper Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Cut peeled sweet potatoes into 1 inch cubes.

Cut apples into ½ inch slices. Stir together melted butter, brown sugar, and orange rind in a large zip-top freezer bag, until blended. Add sweet potatoes and apples. Seal bag and toss to coat.

Place potato mixture in a single layer in a lightly greased aluminum foil-lined 15 x 10 – inch jelly roll pan. Bake for 35 [continued on Main-14]

Melt butter with olive oil in a Dutch oven over medium heat; add bell peppers and next three ingredients, and sauté ten minutes. Stir in chicken broth and next four ingredients. Bring to boil and simmer thirty minutes. Let cool for twenty minutes. Process soup, in batches, in a food processor until smooth. Return to Dutch oven and keep warm until ready to serve. Garnish with sliced pears, a dollop of sour cream and sprinkle with chopped chives.

CRANBERRY-NECTARINE SALAD 1 (13-ounce) package Oriental flavored ramen noodle soup mix ¼ cup dried cranberries 1 cup hot water ½ cup canola oil 1 tablespoon light brown sugar 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar 2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar 1 (10-ounce) package gourmet salad greens 3 large nectarines, peeled and cut into wedges ½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts 1 (4-ounce) package crumbled feta cheese Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Reserve flavor packet from soup mix.

Crumble noodles, and place in a single layer in a shallow pan. Bake at 350 degrees for five minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from oven and cool completely. Place cranberries in a small bowl and cover with hot water, allow to stand for five minutes; drain. Whisk together reserved flavor packet, canola oil and next four ingredients in a large bowl. Add ramen noodles, cranberries, gourmet greens and next three ingredi-

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chop chop

by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain www.ripandmarsha.com E-mail: info@ambushmag.com

New Orleans Restaurant Guide Bywater Restaurant, Deli & BBQ, 3162 Dauphine St., is noted for its gumbo, barbeque, pizza, sandwiches and specials serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. Hours are 9am-9pm Mon.Fri., and Sat. & Sun. Closed Wed. Call 944.4445 for additional info. MasterCard/ Visa accepted.

Cafe Amelie, 912 Royal St., offers romantic courtyard or indoor dining along with both eclectic culinary creations and drinks. Serving lunch and dinner, Wed.-Sun. 11am-9pm, and Sun., brunch 10am-3pm. Call 412.8965 for reservations or additional information.

Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., is open 7 days and features breakfast including build your own omelettes. But let’s not forget their fab burgers grilled right under a hub cap and then there’s all those sandwiches, sides, desserts and shakes. Call 598.1010 or visit CloverGrill.COM. Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St. Under the new direction of Chef Sam Allen, he has taken attention to detail and ingredient, and focused on a more contemporary menu at an even more affordable price point. Still the best food, but at even more unbelievable value! As always, the specials are available online, as is the entire menu.

Serving 7 days 11am-10pm 7 days and Sunday Brunch 11am-3pm. Visit TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM or call 945.0742 for more information.

Krystal, 116 Bourbon at Canal, Open 24 hours, it's one of the best stops for fast food with tasty burgers, hot dogs and breakfast. Call 523.4030 for more info.

Magazine Perks, 4332 Magazine, serves gourmet coffee, sandwiches, pastries, danish and cakes. Open 7 days 7am-10pm. Call 899.2911 or visit MagazinePerks.COM. Mardi Gras Zone Grocery & Deli, 2706 Royal St., is open for for full service catering and delivery not to mention everyday breakfast, lunch and dinner items.

Call 947.8787 for information. Open 48 hours a day, 8 days a week, Sunrise to Sunset.

Marigny Perks, 2401 Burgundy, serves gourmet coffee, sandwiches, pastries, danish and cakes. Open 7 days 7am-10pm. Call 948.7401 or visit www.marignyperks.com.

Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., features Italian specialties including salads, pizzas, sandwiches and both lunch and dinner entrees.

Lunch 11am-5pm Thurs.-Mon., Dinner 5pm-10pm 7 days. Call 522.6746 for info.

NOLA Smoothies, 315 Decatur St., features smoothies, fresh juices, bubble tea, supplements and more.

Two of the most popular smoothies are the Raspberry Cheesecake with raspberries, fat free cream cheese, honey, graham cracker, soy milk and whey protein, and the Bananas Foster with banana, brown sugar, low fat vanilla ice cream, isopure protein and soy protein.

Open 7 days, Mon.-Sat. 10am-8pm and Sunday 10am-6pm. Call 302.1185 for delivery and information.

Orleans Grapevine, 720 Orleans, is located in a beautifully renovated 1809 building offering a pleasant atmosphere, extensive wine list with over 350 selections and delicious food including prime steaks, lobster tails and rack of lamb. Serving dinner 5-11pm daily. Call 523.1930 for additional information.

Petunias, A Restaurant, 817 St. Louis, is open daily 8am-10pm serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, crepes, poboys, salads, gumbo, Cajun/Creole specialties and dinner. Call 522.6440 for more info.

Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St., was voted Restaurant/Deli of the Year once again and is open 24 hours 7 days. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, the deli offers free delivery. Call 529.1416 to order.

Tomatillo’s Restaurant, 437 Esplanade Ave., is open Tues., Wed. 11am10pm; Thurs.-Sun. 11am-11pm. The restaurant refers to itself as “A Mexican Joint” featuring appetizers, soups, salads, make your own combination plates, house specialties, burritos, desserts, and of course, specialty margaritas.

Call 945.9997 for reservations. cookin' with auntie dee ...from Main-12 minutes or until potatoes are done.

PINEAPPLE MERINGUE PIE 2 cups pecan shortbread crumbs 1/3 cups sweetened coconut flakes, divided ¼ cup butter, melted 2 cups milk ¼ cup cornstarch 3 large eggs separated 1 cup sugar, divided 1 (20-ounce) can crushed pineapple, drained 1 tablespoon butter 1 teaspoon vanilla Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together cookie crumbs, 1 cup coconut, and ¼ cup melted butter; firmly [continued on Main-17]

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ambush

700 Club’s 1st Christmas Party Raises $1,527 for Project Lazarus ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Ambush

Le Roundup’s Carol & Tommy welcome guests to Le Roundup’s X-mas Party Project Lazarus’ Kelp & Angie

Arnold & Double Play’s Doc pop in for Le Roundup’s X-mas Party

700 Club’s Matt & JohnPaul’s John

Bruce & Petunias’ Hoyle join Le Roundup’s X-mas Party

Project Lazarus Director of Administration Irby & Aaron

Glenn & Roger Marsha gives Santa her wish list on Dumaine Street

Le Roundup’s Mark & Michael at Le Roundup’s X-mas Party

Bartender’s Cody, Michael & Paul

Tip, Marcy, Regina & Gary enjoy Christmas Day at Starlight By The Park

Santa 700

Scott & Scott celebrating their 25th anniversary

Partners Seth & Deanna celebrate at Le Roundup’s X-mas Party

Santa Princesse hits the stage at JohnPaul’s in The Golden Age Revue

DJ of the Year Richie Rich & JohnPaul’s Paul

700 Club’s Mike & JohnPaul’s Paul

Matt, Mama Cookmeyer & son Mike

Le Roundup’s Maggie & Tony grab a cocktail at Le Roundup’s X-mas Party

The Golden Age Revue’s Zaa Zaa Delahore at JohnPaul's

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The Spirit of The Holidays ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Ambush Tommy Elias’ Surprise InBirthday Bash Hosted by Glenn Fonte at Oz ~ New Orleans

paparazzi

Specializing in Historic Properties Full-time Licensed Realtor for 12 years French Quarter Property Owner To Buy, Sell, or Lease, call Mary Lind!

Phone 504.948.3011 or 504.581.2020

commentary TransNation: 2008 Trans Year in Review

by Jacob Anderson-Minshall etween the collapse of the economy, California’s same sex marriage flip-flops and Obama’s election it took a pregnant man to capture mainstream press’ at-

B

cookin' with auntie dee ...from Main-14 press on bottom and up sides and onto lip of a 9-inch pie plate. Bake at 350 for ten minutes or until lightly browned.

Remove to a wire rack and cool completely. Whisk together milk and cornstarch in a heavy saucepan. Whisk in egg yolks and ¾ cup sugar, till blended.

Cook over medium heat, whisking constantly eight to ten minutes or until a pudding thickness is achieved. Remove from heat; stir in pineapple, 1 tablespoon butter and vanilla. Spoon mixture into cooled pie crust. Beat egg whites at high speed with electric mixer until foamy. Add remaining ¼ cup sugar, 1 teaspoon at a time, beating till stiff peaks form. Spread meringue over hot filling, sealing edges. Sprinkle remaining 1/3 cup coconut over meringue.

Bake at 350 degrees for ten minutes or

tention. But while media outlets around the globe carried that trans story, most of the year’s transgender highlights received short shrift. Here’s some of what they missed: BOOKS Last year, Haworth Press estab-

until golden. Remove from oven and cool. Chill at least four hours before serving.

TWO LEGGED FRUIT This is great served just before retiring with a bottle of bubbly.

1 current significant other 1 large container cool whip 1 quart strawberries, rinsed well Hershey’s chocolate sauce Shower your significant other well and pat dry; place them on a mat. Pour champagne; spread cool whip lavishly on your partner. Dip strawberries in chocolate. Serve your partner strawberries, alternating with sips of champagne.

Lick off the cool whip and just let yourself go.

Happy New Year!

You may contact me at donniejay@hotmail.com.

lished itself as the publisher of trans related nonfiction. In 2008, the Press delivered Principles of Transgender Medicine and Surgery and Head Over Heeels: Wives Who Stay With CrossDressers and Transsexuals. Financially crippled, the company was acquired by Taylor & Francis, who may or may not continue publishing transgender titles.

Two controversial memoirs—Thomas Beatie’s Labor of Love: The Story of One Man’s Extraordinary Pregnancy and Savannah Knoop’s Girl Boy Girl: How I Became JT Leroy—overshadowed less contentious, but equally important Intersex: (for lack of better word)

by Thea Hillman and Scott Turner Schofield’s Two Truths and a Lie. Other notable releases include: the global anthology Trans People in Love, Susan Stryker’s Transgender History and 10,000 Dresses, a fabulous children’s book by Marcus Ewert about a boy who dreams of wearing dresses.

FILM Trans actor Joshua Bastion Cole starred in Joie Rey Cohen’s short film Gender; Jules Rosskam’s experimental documentary, Against a Trans Narrative; and Trannywood’s erotic film, Cubbyholes: Trans Men In Action, (nominated for a 2008 GAYVN Award). But he wasn’t in Morty Diamond’s docu-porn [continued on Main-19]

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ambush

paparazzi

Auctioneer Sam raising $$$ for the Make A Wish Foundation at 4 Seasons

Celebratin’ the season at Toby’s Christmas Party at 4 Seasons in Metairie

Manager Bill in the holiday spirit at Cowpokes

Snowing for the holidays outside of Oz Has Been Miss Ho Amanda with new Miss Ho Heze at JohnPaul’s

Snowing on the Ambush patio Former Miss Gay America Patti Le Plae Safe, direct from Dallas, guests stars at JohnPaul’s

Mimi’s own Mimi joins Cowpokes’ Trenton, Michael & Cowpokes’ DJ Buddy for Saturday Night's Charity Poker Game at Cowpokes

Adam & Steve peering at the snow from the Ambush balcony on Bourbon St.

Queen Amon Ra Opal Masters on stage at JohnPaul’s

SDGM Tittie Toulouse & some of the boys at Toby’s Christmas Party at 4 Seasons in Metairie

Marleka getting a paper in the snow outside Clover Grill, corner of Bourbon & Dumaine Randy with his Baby Daddy Karbin at the Phoenix

Snowing at Cafe Lafitte in Exile

Vincent, Gregory & Mike enjoy Toby’s Christmas Party at 4 Seasons in Metairie

It’s the holidays with Brian at the Eagle

Snow covering the Ambushmobile on St. Ann St.

Catching the snow with Steve & Adam on Bourbon St.

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’Tis The Season ~ Metairie, New Orleans ~ Photos by Chris Ward & Ambush

Red & Chuck join Toby’s Christmas Party benefiting Make A Wish Foundation at 4 Seasons in Metairie

SDGM Tittie shows off Rafton Lefort’s carved decoy bringing in $700 from Chris Ward as the high bid of the night for the Make A Wish Foundation at 4 Seasons

commentary/transnation ...from Main-16 Trans Entities: The Nasty Love of Papi’ and Wil. Trans women were subjects of Girl Inside (about a trans woman’s bond with her grandmother); Catwalk ’08, (documenting the first high fashion trans modeling pageant); and film fest fav: She’s a Boy I Knew (a selfbiography of filmmaker Gwen Haworth).

The award-winning Two Spirits examined the life and death of Fred Martinez, a Navajo teen murdered for being a nadlee—someone with both masculine and feminine traits.

MEDIA COVERAGE While trans kids continued to be a delicacy for daytime talk shows hosts, at least Atlantic Monthly and National Public Radio provided fair and compassionate coverage of gender variant youth and their issues.

Out magazine covered the trans community in a special issue, edited trans author T Cooper, who also became Out’s newest columnist. The LGBT syndicate, QueerCents also brought on a new trans writer, launching the column, “Our Money is as Good as Your Money,”

by Ashley Wilson. Positively Aware magazine examined the high rates of HIV-infection in the trans community; while in other news, Los Angeles Times’ sportswriter Mike Penner quietly returned to work under his masculine persona, 8 months after coming out as Christine Daniels.

MUSIC Trans-fronted The Cliks, started 2008 off with their Complicated video as LOGO’s first number one of the year. Then they won a Nexty Award; appeared on MTV’s TRL rejoined Cyndi Lauper’s True Colors Tour and later toured both Germany and South Africa.

Trans pop star Joshua Klipp’s L1FE remix made it onto a Billboard music chart and the video for Tell Me The… reached LOGO’s top ten Click List. Baby Dee’s fourth album, Safe Inside the Day, was lauded by Britain’s The Daily Telegraph as “the most remarkable record of the year so far.”

Coyote Grace—trans musician Joe Stevens and his partner Ingrid Elizabeth—played with the Indigo Girls, toured with Melissa Ferrick and produced a live album.

Other new albums include jazz bassist Jennifer Leitham’s Left Coast Story and gender-bending model/actress Jeffree Star’s Cupcakes Taste Like Violence EP. PERFORMANCES A plethora of trans playwrights premiered theater pieces, including Scott Turner Schofield’s sold out Becoming a Man in 127 EASY Steps, Tobias K. Davis’ Standards of Care and PoMo Freakshow’s (FTM-tofemme Sassafrass Lowrey and hir trans partner Kestryl Cael) Traitors without (T)reason, exploring the betrayal, invisibility, and loss “inextricably” linked to passing.

In its second year, trans comedian Ian Harvie’s selftitled comedy cabaret featured a hefty LGBT line-up, including luminaries Leslie Jordan, Alec Mapa, Ant, Margaret Cho and Calpernia Addams.

POLITICS/LAW A record number of transgender delegates, alternates and standing committee members attended the 2008 Democratic National Convention. Although most trans politicians—including Presidential hopeful Ben “Bennie Lee” Ferguson lost their bids; transgender Stu Rasmussen won his mayor’s seat in the small town of Silverton, Oregon.

In a potentially far-reaching decision, U.S. District Judge James Robinson ruled that the Library of Congress violated Diane Schroer’s rights after they rescinded a job offer upon learning she was trans. Meanwhile the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund settled a lawsuit with Caliente Cab Restaurant,

e-mail, letters Subject: MGLA Dear Former MGLA’s and Friends: We wanted to send out a formal announcement to officially let people know the news. After much consideration, and literally years of thought about this, we have decided not to renew the franchise agreement as Promoters of Miss Gay Louisiana America.

Each year, both of our careers are becoming more and more time consuming. We feel that we have helped to bring the which tossed a masculine appearing woman out of their establishment when she attempted to use the women’s restroom.

Detroit and Kansas City, Missouri banned discrimination against trans people while New York State adopted the Gender Expression Non-Discrimination Act (GENDA).

In sadder news, this year’s Transgender Day of Remembrance marked the tenth anniversary of Rita Hester’s still unsolved murder. The stabbing death of this Boston activist sparked the creation of the now international annual memorial.

This year the event also honored Lawrence King, a 14- year-old Oxnard, Calif student who wore make-up and feminine clothing and was shot to death by middle school classmate.

TELEVISION The 2008-09 primetime TV season offered two reoccurring trans characters: Ugly Betty’s Rebecca Romijn and Candis Cayne on the now canceled Dirty Sexy Money. Trans actress Cayne was joined by real life trans women on America’s Next Top Model (22-year-old contestant, Isis) and LOGO’s reality dating show TransAmerican Love Story, (openly trans actress Calpernia Addams and her best friend and business partner Andrea James).

After nine years of producing and hosting GenderTalk radio, trans women Nancy Nangeroni and Gordene MacKenzie switched to creating GenderVision video programs, like “Trans Partner: Gender & Relationship” featuring Helen Boyd and her husband Betty Crow.

In 2008 trans author Jacob Anderson-Minshall coauthored the Blind Faith mystery, began co-hosting the Gender Blender radio show on KBOO.fm and helped launch Portland, Oregon’s monthly LGBTQ literary series, QLiterati!.

standard of this state pageant system to a new, heightened level. However, it would be unfair to the system, as well as the legacy left behind from each of the formers, to continue as promoters when we cannot devote our time to it.

We are sure that someone will take the reigns and continue the tradition. We are, most certainly, here for the next promoter to help in any way that we can.

Thank you does not express enough gratitude to those of you who have helped us in making the Miss Gay Louisiana America pageant system such a success over these past four years. We wish Anastacia Davenport the best of luck as the reigning MGLA, and know that she will continue with excellence. And remember, that we are both forever connected to the Miss Gay America Pageant System.

Best wishes to you all. Remember that we, the people, are the ones that bring Excellence to this system.

--Raquel Chevallier & Chris Wilderman

Ambush 27th Anni ver sar y Anniv ersar Edition due out Tues ., J an. 6th ues., Jan. Deadline: Tues ., Dec ues., Dec..

30th 504.522.8049

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sappho psalm

by Toni J.P. Pizanie E-mail: Psalmwrite@aol.com

Last Gift

T

oday is Boxing Day. In the UK, children will be delighted to receive their final gifts of the season. Since my private Santa has been bringing me gifts for the twelve days of Christmas, I am giving him a Boxing Day gift when he arrives at noon for a visit. Freddie and I even have a gift for his beloved Barney and Bailey – two very special Golden Retrievers.

Like so many of you, I gave donations in the names of my friends as Christmas gifts. Everyone seemed to love the idea and appreciate my thinking of them by helping less fortunate people. My favorite gift for giving was Heifer International. This charitable organization gives farm animals and seedling to families in Africa villages and other impoverished areas of the world.

Randy, David and Michael got pigs, Pamela and Paul got a sheep as did Bud and Amy, Arvilla and Jeff received seedling. Other friends got a goat or chicks. Well, they didn’t actually get the animal. A fraction of the beastie was given to honor them. What good is a quarter of a pig if it’s still alive?

My favorite gifts were the donations to PFLAG in my honor. This is a great way to tell my friends care about me and the work I am trying to do through PFLAG. Still other friends brought items for Food for Friends which I will deliver in 2009.

All in all the holidays were very happy for me as I hope they were for you. New Year’s Eve will again spent with friends at home. Going out to clubs on big holidays is just too much to endure for me but if I wasn’t so agitated about parking and walking for miles before I arrive at my desired destination, I’d be down in the middle of the craziness.

I was shocked when Rip called me to say we had one more issue this year. I had nothing planned and no research completed for another article so soon. So this will be shorter than usual and filled with good wishes for 2009. I hope you will accept this as my last gift of thanks for ’08.

Ray Bates and I are planning our decorations for the coming Mardi Gras tree. I haven’t had a Christmas tree up in several years so once it is up, it stays and transforms into a Mardi Gras tree, a Lent tree, an Easter tree and then when I’m good and sick of having a tree up in my living room, it becomes a 4th of July tree.

Ray and I will soon be roommates so I can see lots of changes happening around the house and garden. I guess that means that my headless St. Francis will be glued back together. There are some things that no matter how damaged they are I just cannot throw away.

St. Francis is one.

There are events that I am looking forward to attending. Several people have announced 12th Night Parties.

One notice that read all are welcome was from Forum For Equality. Their 12th Night Party starts Tuesday, January 6th at 6pm in the home of Jimmy Fahrenholtz, 2824 Ursuline Avenue. Masks and costumes are encouraged.

While I am on the subject of Forum For Equality, I want to congratulate Kenny Tucker as Chair of the new Forum For Equality Louisiana. Kenny is a long time Forum board member and worker for equality in New Orleans. He is a handsome freckled face man with a huge smile that matches his personality. With a positive attitude and sense of purpose, Kenny will serve us well in the fight for social and civil rights.

I do want to remember a strong Lesbian leader that died the week before Christmas, Judith Harris, M.D. She and long time partner, Regina Matthews, generously

the pink pastor

by Rev. Clinton Crawshaw, 504.214.4340 E-mail: pastor@bigeasymcc.com www.bigeasymcc.com www.thebigeasymccblog.blogspot.com

Onwards and Upwards

M

y father used to tell me that the world was full of opportunities, but most of them arrived disguised as hard work! The last year has taught me he was

right!!

Whilst the ‘Grand Project’ of restoring New Orleans’ Metropolitan Community Church back to health has gone wonderfully, its success has exposed a host of great opportunities, all of which are artfully disguised as very hard work indeed. Theodore Roosevelt used to say (lots of quotes today I am afraid) that we should never pity anyone who works hard at something worthwhile, it was only the idle who should be pitied, whether they considered themselves paupers or aristocrats. Well, church has become a hive of busy bees – with forty people signing on to volunteer for a host of projects ranging from our audio-visual ministry, to our HIV/AIDS outreach to what I hope will become our MCC prison ministry; and of course, creating and facilitating these ministries means a lot supported the New Orleans GLBT community. Judy’s long and openly honest obit in the Times-Picayune speaks volumes about her service to children, friends and community. She will be missed by the many that knew and respected her.

The love and support of Regina’s friends will be with her now and beyond this time of grief and loss. I have admired these two women from the time I served on the Celebration board and HRC dinner committee during the 1990s. I offer Regina my sincere sympathy.

These are difficult times for many. And to those, I send best wishes for the New Year and God’s blessings. I truly believe that when the administration changes in January, we will start to feel relief. I have been excited by the appointments President-elect Obama has made to date. I am not concerned that he will not keep the promises made to the GLBT community. He has to walk a frightening line between Liberals and Conservatives. I believe that he can bring us together.

Happy New Year everyone.

of hard satisfying work for our leadership team. The reason I am using this column to shamelessly plug our churches progress is because I am very disturbed by some stories I have read in the Picayune of late – stories telling us in New Orleans to be ‘realistic’ and to plan for a small, underperforming city in the future! Poppycock!!

If I had listened to the voices of wisdom I would never have come to New Orleans, never have taken on a church that had been failing, and would not now be planning for the development of a large church with a major outreach and ministry program! Aspiration leads reality, not the other way around. There is no reason whatsoever why New Orleans cannot compete and [continued on Expose-4]

Regina Matthews and Dr. Judy Harris honored at the 10th Forum For Equality Acclaim Awards for Political Activism on September 13, 2008.

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one last song

by Donnie "Jager" Jay, SDGM XXXII E-mail: donniejay@hotmail.com

Going Home

H

e was tall, handsome, born of a Vietnamese mother and an African-American father. He was more than just plain handsome, he was quite literally a masculine beauty, unequalled and envied by all who knew him. The Gods had smiled putting together such a perfect physical specimen; with broad muscular shoulders, layered with muscle from his daily workouts, arms that seemed to be at least doubled the average man, strong enough to tear another apart, but as gentle and loving as his mother’s had been. A waist of twenty-eight inches that gave way to a bodybuilders thighs and calves. And not to be forgotten; those two perfectly rounded globes that jutted wantonly from the rear of his waistline. They had to be the most sought after two cheeks in the whole of the city, if not the state. His stature and

body belied the gentlest of persons that he indeed was. His kindness and caring were unlimited, and were bestowed on strangers and friends alike. He was probably the most perfect, in not the perfect person walking the earth.

He sat in the darkened barroom, sipping on a Grey Goose martini, dirty, shaken well so that ice-crystals lightly floated on the top. Three olives garnished the drink while the edge of the long stemmed glass had been rimmed with lemon peel, just so the essence of the skin’s oil gave a pleasant scent to him. It was comical in a way watching this big man lift the stemmed glass gently to his full lips and sip sensually on his drink, you probably would have expected him to down a straight shot of whiskey and chase it with a beer instead. But this is how he was, and this is what he liked and this is all he drank, and not too many either, maybe one or

the pink pastor ...from Expose-2 win with competition around the country and around the world – competition for jobs, residents, talent and resources!

As an Englishman I can assure you that New Orleans has an international reputation that only two or three American cities can compete with – it has a very high profile, and needs remarketing to the world as somewhere open for business, and providing a quality of life centred on it’s cultural and historic inheritance, and a beautiful and unequalled housing stock. There are opportunities all over New Orleans, almost all of them dressed up as hard work.

In the 1970's the British government had become very good at managing decline and it was accepted wisdom that the country would ‘fizzle’ until it became a quaint backwater. Then Margaret Thatcher appeared on the horizon and shook everything up. Britain went from a terminally sick economic patient to be richer than France, Germany or Japan, and the City of London reclaimed its position as the capitol of Europe and the one of only two financial pivots on which all commerce turns (the other being New York). Now, I couldn’t stand Margaret Thatcher because of her social conservatism, but my point is that she dared to aspire to something everyone told her was impossible – genuine revival! I firmly believe that New Orleans needs someone with the same energy, the same enthusiasm and richness of vision to bring New Orleans leapfrogging its competition to take its place in the sun.

Phoenix rising from the ashes - from the Aberdeen bestiary

We are approaching a new year, and a new set of opportunities disguised as hard work. With optimism, enthusiasm and talent those opportunities can lead New Orleans into a very bright future indeed – it is the doom mongers and the cynics that share just as much responsibility for this city’s condition as any hurricane. It is poverty of aspiration that leeches the life out of a community, it is people saying again and again that things cannot get any better so that they will not be judged when they fail to make anything any better – it is the attempt to dress up failure as inevitable that leads to broken dreams and broken lives. God calls us to an almost childlike optimism, and the seeing the next opportunity even after a major slip-up! It is the spirit that is summed up in the scripture ‘all things work together for good for them that love God’.

Let’s face 2009 with unrealistic optimism and a taste for hard work!

two before dinner and possibly, but not necessarily, one afterwards His eyes were a deep brown, like rich chocolate, and slightly slanted, from his mother’s gene pool no doubt.

His hair was jet black and wavy, a combination of the blend that was his heritage. His skin was a delicate brown tone almost cafe au lait in color, with nary a blemish to be found any where on his magnificent body. He was dressed casually this day with a light yellow muscle shirt stretched tightly on his upper form, accentuating the six-pack that strained beneath it as if they wanted to rip the fabric apart and burst free. His jeans were faded, bought that way of course and hugged his waist, clung on his hips and caressed his thighs as if they had been tailored to do just that.

His basket was not visible from where he sat, that rounded dome of masculinity gently gathered up in the swimmer’s thong he wore as underwear, but when he had walked into the moderately crowded bar, there was no mistaken what was there, and there was not anyone who had not quickly looked to check it out. Some folk were nonchalant about it others just bluntly stared at it, one or two with the tongues out I might add. The bartender I swear blew a kiss at his crotch as he approached the bar.

He paid very little attention to any of them, he was use to it, and it wasn’t that he was egotistical either, he had mirrors at home, at the gym, everywhere he went he saw his reflection and he considered it more a hindrance, a curse rather than an asset. All his friends and family kept telling him he was different naturally, saying that he was blessed with more charisma than a dozen men and would probably turn down more offers than they would get in their entire lives… …and that was exactly where the problem was. It didn’t matter where he went; gay bars or dance clubs, straight bars or mixed, the gym or a football game, it happened just about anywhere.

Men, women, teens, middle-aged or old, at one time or another he saw them ogling him with that come hither look, that I want to get in your pants, if just for a one time look. That is just what everyone he met just seemed to care about, and yes he was flattered, but he wanted more out of life than just constant sex and one night stands. What he had always wanted was someone to care about the person that was inside this beautiful structured body. Yes, there was a soul inside, someone longing to hear those soft spoken lovely words “I really care about you.”

Growing up, as a teenager when he was sowing his wild oats, that was not so important what with the raging hormones began to rage and all else started going on. He remembers with much fondness playing around with his best pals in the showers after a good work out. Sure he dated girls all through high school and a few in college, but he knew

at a young age that they did not hold the excitement or sexual appeal for him that other guys did. He came to accept the fact that he was different than most of his guy friends, and though yes, they played around with him, there never was an emotional bond, and when they had gotten off it was over, until the next time.

He remembered at one of his friends weddings, when the maid of honor came onto him and he told her flat out that he really wanted the best man, she laughed and laughed telling everyone about it as if it was the biggest joke. No one believed it. They were sure it was just said in jest, after all the maid of honor was no Cinderella. But when the best man caught wind of it and the evening was drawing to an end, he asked if any one needed a ride home looking directly at him, who replied in the affirmative and off they went together.

That affair actually lasted a little more than a month before the other guy had to go back to finish his classes. He was sure that this man, the best man, was the man for him. This man was not like the boys, his friends from high school, he knew what he was doing, and this was no experiment for this man he actually knew what he wanted. He made his body sing like it never had before, nothing like the hand jobs in the shower or the occasionally lick or two when someone got really carried away.

This was real sex, the real thing and to tell the truth Sam liked it, no that’s not the word for it, he loved it. He wanted Kirk everyday in every way, there was nothing this man did to or for him that he did not enjoy, top or bottom he didn’t have a preference. He, Sam, that was his name, I should have mentioned it earlier I suppose but quite frankly I didn’t feel it was necessary to tell his story.

The day before Kirk left to return to his school in upper state New York, they spent the day almost in its entirety in bed. Kirk kept telling Sam that this was going to have to last him quite awhile, till he got out of classes for summer break, and that he didn’t want him screwing around on him. That is just the way he put, no trying to make it more civil, he did not want him going with other men. Then he said the words that made Sam believe everything he had said before. “I really love you, the real you, the one inside. You know you are more than likely the handsomest man on earth and everyone wants a piece of you, but in all honestly they don’t know the real you, and I don’t want them to. You can call me selfish, because I am, but I don’t want to share anyone like you."

When it came time to go, they exchanged phone numbers, addresses and extra long kisses. “Time will pass quickly, you’ll see and I’ll come back for you. I promise.” With tears in his eyes, Sam watched Kirk drive away that day. [continued on Expose-6]

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trodding the boards

by Brian Sands E-mail: bsnola2@hotmail.com

Miss Margarida’s Way at UNO Lab Theatre

S

he entered the theater ringing a bell, calling her class to order with a “don’t-messwith-me” look on her face. She proceeded to inform us that she has sent students to the principal’s office and “they have never come back.” Like one of those new or substitute teachers who seem just a little bit off, she was a little too intense, too opinionated with opinions that were just the teensiest strange. ”She” is Miss Margarida, splendidly brought to life by Joyce Deal in Brazilian playwright Roberto Athayde’s exploration of power, Miss Margarida’s Way. Supposedly a teacher of introductory biology (but also English, math & ecology), Miss Margarida spouts pedagogic mumbo-jumbo with idiosyn-

one last song ...from Expose-4 He stood there like a love struck teenager till Kirk’s car could no longer be seen, only then did he turn away and go inside, lay down and quietly sobbed.

Kirk had not been gone two minutes and already he was lonely.

He waited all the next day for the phone call he knew would be coming, but his phone never rang. The second day was the same, Kirk had sworn he would call as soon as he got back, the third day Sam dialed his number. An elderly lady answered the phone, her voice with a quiver, no Kirk was not there, and there had been an accident and… Sam never heard any more of the conversation; just like that it was all over.

That was almost five years ago, and since then he more or less had been in mourning for the love that never had a chance to mature. That was not to say he had been chaste, but he had been very choosy in whom he did go home with. He found young men of his age to shallow and only looking to get off and get on with their lives. Even in this day and age of AIDS, not many wanted to play safe, but would rather take a chance and bareback it. This was not something that Sam was prone to do and there was no sense in asking anyone if they were positive or not, because they would lie through their teeth just to have a good time.

And so tonight when he walked into this bar, all he was looking for was a drink or two before dinner. He sat on a corner stool, the one on his left was empty, but the right side one was occupied by a blonde he would guess to be

cratic “uh-huh”’s punctuating her phrases rather than offering any real knowledge to her 8th grade class. Speaking of herself in the 3rd person, she comes off as a paternalistic dictator who, judging by the photos she keeps in her locker, worships Jesus, Che Guevara, Ronald Reagan and Juan Peron.

Continually inquiring if “Jesus, the Messiah or the Holy Ghost is in the classroom,” Miss Margarida is subject to mercurial changes in temperament and never tolerates disobedience.

Whether a “classroom” ruled by a “teacher” or a nation governed by some despot, Athayde limns how easy it is to succumb to the authority of another no matter how ridiculous the demands are.

On Kevin Griffith’s evocative set piled high with books and other academic detritus, Deal started off very in his early forties. He ordered his martini and silently sipped it. The blonde man spoke first, “That was quite a reaction you got when you came in.”

“No biggie, I’ve gotten use to it.”

The blonde stared straight ahead “What’s your name?”

“Sam and yours?”

“Kirk.” A look of disbelief crossed Sam’s face.

“No reaction?”

“I’m sorry, but the only lover I’ve ever had was named Kirk, you didn’t see my reaction?”

“No, I didn’t. In fact I can see hardly anything at all. Just shadows and light and I can detect a little movement.”

“You're blind?’

“Almost totally. Does that bother or offend you in some way?”

“Good Lord no.” Kirk could hear the sincerity in Sam’s voice, and at that moment he knew this would become a special friendship.

“I was just about to head out for dinner, would you care to join me?”

“I think I would really like it, I won’t embarrass you with my cane?”

“No way.” For Once in My Life began playing on the music channel.

“Let’s just wait till his ONE LAST SONG is over.

They sat and listened, Sam looking at the new Kirk. Sam took his hands and placed them on his face. Kirk gently began to move his fingers following Sam’s profile. He could not believe what his hands saw.

“The inside is a lot nicer.” Sam murmured and kissed his cheek.

To be continued.

You may contact me at donniejay@hotmail.com.

Joyce Deal & friend in Miss Margarida’s

stylized but eased into a more naturalistic, and hence even scarier, mode soon enough. Combative throughout, the more involving second act allowed her a greater chance to show off her wide-ranging talent both in self-contained passages in which a transformed Miss Margarida reviews events of her youth and in an extraordinary section where she stood on a desk and took us to church.

The script allows the audience to interact with Miss Margarida and expects the actress to respond in character. The audience at UNO was relatively tame in this regard but Deal had quickwitted responses to those who would try to leave her classroom to go to the bathroom or even dare to correct her.

Were this production to have had a longer run, I suspect word would’ve gotten out that it’s okay to bait Miss M. and I’m sure Deal would’ve been up to the task of putting hecklers back in their place.

While I wish Director Rodney S. Hudson had guided Deal to give her delivery a tad more variety, his work here was far better than his disastrous double bill of The Dark End of Day and The Chairs earlier this year. With Deal, he created memorable stage images as when MM goes from dry-humping a skeleton to cradling it a la the Pietà.

And if Hudson/Deal could not fully overcome the wordy sections of the script or its repetition that sometimes substitutes for substance, well, neither could the estimable Estelle Parsons who created the role on Broadway 30 years ago.

At one point, Miss Margarida decrees that “the worst is always in the future.” That may be true for tyrants who eventually get their comeuppance like Idi Amin or Saddam Hussein. But for Joyce Deal, I think the best is yet to come.

Swimming Upstream at Howlin’ Wolf

S

wimming Upstream triumphantly returned to New Orleans for one performance last month after a recent run in Atlanta.

A series of Katrina-themed songs and monologs written by local women and inspired by their experiences during and after the Storm, Swimming made its debut last April as part of V to the Tenth, Eve Ensler’s celebrity-studded

10th Anniversary celebration of her Vagina Monologues.

Since then Ensler and Carol Bebelle of the Ashé Cultural Arts Center, along with Director Kenny Leon, have nurtured and developed Swimming into a powerful evening of individualized laments, cris de coeur, wry observations, incantations, moral outrages, and deeply felt recollections that make indelible this tragic/fantastic history Way we have lived through the past three years.

I was too swept up in the performance to take the kind of notes that would allow me to give a more detailed appraisal of this work but two representative examples stand out in my memory: Asali Njeri Devan’s righteous fury at the City for imposing a $4,000 fee for the police details for jazz funerals.

And Jasmine Guy’s powerful transformation into a grandmother interviewing the teenaged killer of her teenaged granddaughter. Both were heart-wrenching and provocative.

In addition to Devan and Guy, actresses Troi Bechet, Anne-Liese Juge Fox, Shirley Knight, Karen-Kaia Livers & Liz Mikel and singers Gabrilla Ballard, Leslie Blackshear Smith & Michaela A. Harrison made up this prodigiously talented, first class ensemble.

Christmas on Mars/Brewed at Voodoo Mystére Lounge

H

ooray for Michael Martin for turning the Voodoo Mystére Lounge into a seemingly 24-hour theater venue. Nowadays, if something doesn’t appeal to you, just wait a couple of hours and there’s usually some other offering on the boards.

Recently, absurdism seemed to reign with productions of Harry Kondoleon’s Christmas on Mars and Scott T. Barsotti’s Brewed.

Christmas, first done off-Broadway in 1983, is a vicious comedy about angst & love & friendship involving a daughter, her estranged mother, her fiancé, and his ex-lover who fight the “unbearable silence of existence” with bruising arias, verbal jabs and lots & lots of talk.

With its non-traditional dysfunctional family, Christmas prefigured so many plays that were to come in the next quarter century and made Kondoleon, until he was cut down by AIDS in 1994, the heir apparent to Christopher Durang. Seen now, Christmas hasn’t aged badly but is hardly an essential dramedy; 25 years later, it still wears out its welcome by the middle of Act Two when the dialog ceases to reveal character, or even advance the plot, and becomes just a concatenation of words.

Martin, wearing his director’s hat, wisely imbued his production with a [continued on Expose-8]

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trodding the boards ...from Expose-6 propulsive energy and creatively negotiated the Voodoo’s confined space; his staging of some sections on the floor, however, prevented those sitting in the small theater’s back rows to see what was then going on. Opening after a compressed rehearsal period, one can imagine a more nuanced interpretation, though that might have evolved in the course of the production’s run.

As daughter, mother and fiancé, respectively, Jessica Daigle, Kathryn Talbot and Chris Weaver were all good.

Completing the quartet, Warren J. Usey gave us a tour de force as an emotionally unstable queen, deftly delivering large chunks of language with underlying emotional truth.

As for Brewed, I’m not sure if Barsotti was aiming for existential absurdism or absurdist existentialism but, either way, it was too strange for me to interpret. Certainly, this tale of six sisters continuously stirring a pot with murder, lesbianism and robotics thrown in made for a very strange brew.

Regardless, the acting (Giselle Chatelain, Lisa Davis, Margeaux Fanning, Thelma Medina, Jenine Peirce, Jennifer Waldron, Amy Woodruff) was uniformly good. Martin’s direction kept things going at a quick pace and made them as real, or at least as logical, as possible.

Jamal’s Special Christmas Gift at Anthony Bean Community Theater

W

ith his new “hip hop drama” Jamal’s Special Christmas Gift,Anthony Bean took on the difficult topic of kids who lose a parent or sibling, and how they can properly grieve & then continue living.

It is a topic all too close to the ABCT community. One of its mainstays, young Ambie Award winner Tony Felix, had to contend with the death of his father, Police Officer Tommie Felix, who was killed in a tragic accident earlier this year.

Bean has developed an interesting style of music theater in which drama, song and dance sections exist side by side, commenting on each other without becoming one organic whole. It may not be to everyone’s taste but it works well for ABCT, allowing a wide range of youthful performers to be showcased.

Bean knows how to construct a solid story but his dialog tends towards the wooden; a little more emotional shading would be welcome. And when he brings in a local shaman, Mama D, to help his protagonist Jamal heal with a laying on of hands, we’re not prepared for this shift to the supernatural and so audience members can only nod in

lion showed how Santa foiled a potential strike by his elves; union leaders might object but I thought the whole thing was delightful.

The Penguin That Saved Christmas was also fun but too talky in the writing and a bit flat in the production.

Act Two’s North Pole Star, Kathryn Talbot & Warren Usey in Christmas on Mars The Search for assent when Jamal’s mother eventually the Most Talented Reindeer of Them kicks her out of the house. But it seemed All, inspired by American Idol, was a to work and since it’s the Holidays, I’ll complete charmer as each reindeer grant Bean the possibility of a miracle. presented a song suited to his or her As Jamal keeps his feelings bottled unique personality.

Cleon Bridges made a sweet but up and deals with a flighty mother & tough football playing Blitzen. Tristin friends who don’t take the situation as Harrell was way cool as a breakdancing/ seriously as he thinks they should, the rapping Prancer. Effervescent Miles death of his actual father appears to Ballard continues to shine, here as a have given Felix a gravitas he did not Zorro-esque Dancer who loves to dance. possess a year ago. Or is it just that he Hillary Klein was suitably sassy as a is developing into a fine, fine actor?

Mae West-ish Vixen.

Either way, might he become the Sidney Jessica Mixon brought a nice voice Poitier or Denzel Washington of his and real presence to Donner as well as generation?

Mrs. Claus in The Elf Rebellion. And Coti Gayles did well with the someSean Michael Bruno was adorable as what too simplistically written role of the Clauses’ foreman and singing I Saw Jamal’s mother. Seen in flashback, Mommy Kissing Santa Claus in Act Bobby Toomer made Jamal’s father the One and as a bewigged and bow’n’arrowkind of Dad we all wished we had. And bearing Cupid in North Pole Star. as the 8-year-old Jamal, Levi Johnson Kevin Charpentier directed handled his part expertly and was cute smoothly.

Susan Heflin’s dances were as can be. creative without being overtaxing.

The Once again, Arieuna McGee used live band lead by Chip Cothran supan inventive dance vocabulary to create choreography as good or better than ported without overpowering the young any seen in current music videos. With singers. And Charlotte Lang’s coshis dynamic presence and flawless tech- tumes, from dancing Christmas trees nique, Andre Armstead should have a to cute elves and even cuter individuallong and successful career ahead of ized reindeer, demonstrated as much him in modern dance, ballet or whatever imagination and wit as her outfits for Le he puts his mind to. Lithesome Tyson Petit and Tulane Summer Lyric. And Randolph was superb in a dance solo; why not? These kids are sure to be I hope we’ll see more of him in the trodding those boards in the future! future.

The singing trio of Kalie Falls, Asia Nelson and Leah Rouge provided nice Holiday-themed musical interludes, and Steven Burke was strong in his solo.

If Gift solely existed to help Felix, his family and others like them cope with their grief, it would be worthy enough; with a little work, though, it could become an uplifting, annual holiday gift from ABCT to the world.

Holiday Extravaganza at the NORD Ty Tracy Theatre

O

ne can hardly use the same criteria when judging children’s theater as that used for productions done by and for adults but, by any measure, the NORD Crescent City Lights Holiday Extravaganza was a success.

Two shorts plays by Vin Morreale, Jr. made up the first act. The Elf Rebel-

Splatter House at La Nuit Comedy Theater

W

ords cannot fully describe Splatter House in which three nerds are visited by three alien cheerleaders from Rubicon X. If the thought of a partscripted/part-improvised romp involving hypnosis, cartwheels, the Macarena, simulated sex, wedgies, slow-mo fighting, nerd ejaculate, slow & painful (& funny) deaths, and a wider array of bodily fluids than have ever been seen on a New Orleans stage, sounds like your cup of tea, then head over to La Nuit on a Saturday at midnight.

Just remember, “splatter” is the operative word here so don’t sit too close to the stage. Unless, of course, the idea of being splashed with breast milk—or blood—or semen—appeals to you. Go ahead, embarrassment is not

an issue at Splatter House. (Names of those involved withheld to protect the guilty.)

Christmas With the Crawfords at the Marigny Theatre

I

n Mark Sargent & Richard Winchester’s Christmas With the Crawfords, a bunch of iconic Hollywood stars show up at Joan Crawford’s Brentwood mansion and proceed to get smashed around the Christmas tree whilst Joan herself tries to put her best face forward on a live remote broadcast of Hedda Hopper’s radio program. With men playing women, women playing men and even women playing women (gasp!), it’s all slightly surreal but campy fun.

For the recent Marigny Theatre/To Do Productions’ holiday engagement, Dan Kuras was the spitting image of Joan even if he didn’t quite sound like her. Ricky Gee was amusing as a plump & mischievous Christopher Crawford. Cammie West (Judy Garland), Heze Falkins (Hattie McDaniel), El Tahra Ibrahim (Carmen Miranda), and Steve Patrick (Gloria Swanson) offered up fun cameos of their respective stars.

Karen Shields gave us a less typical, more expressionistic Bette Davis impersonation which was still fun while Timm Holt was scary as Dinah Shore singing The Hanukkah Song but not as scary as his Shirley Temple which seemed more suited for Halloween than Xmas.

And revealing Christina Crawford to be a singing, tap-dancing wonder, Jason George turned in the most accomplished performance of all.

As always, Musical Director Jim Walpole added a wonderful live touch on the onstage piano.

Metropolitan Opera HD Encore/Doctor Atomic at AMC Elmwood Palace 20

B

efore a small but appreciative audience and with only the teeniest of glitches, the Met’s encore performance of John Adams’ Doctor Atomic avoided the satellite transmission problems that beset Salome to deliver a compelling if not always easily accessible account of the first testing of the atomic bomb.

Unlike the previous two broadcasts this season, there was more of a tradeoff this time between the phenomenal opportunity to see the singers up close and the inability to get a full sense of the complicated production’s scale. Brian MacDevitt’s beautiful lunar lighting came through, however, and if the screen was visually static occasionally, the chance to hear Adams’ driving, propulsive score sung wondrously by a cast led by Gerald Finley as J. Robert Oppenheimer more than made up for it. And all it took was a quick ride to Harahan.

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Santa Claus Came to Town ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by DJ Chromatic, Craig Powell & Leon Weekleyl

Daniel, Santa Jerry & Scott enjoy BBob’s Holiday Celebration

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Natchez, MS [601] DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Austin, TX [512] DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAustin.NET Beaumont, TX DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayAmerica.COM Dallas, TX DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayDallas.COM Galveston Island, TX [409] DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayTexas.NET Houston, TX DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayHouston.COM San Antonio, TX DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayTexas.NET South Padre Island, TX [956] DISCOUNT FLIGHTS, HOTELS, CARS, GayTexas.NET UPPER DECK HOTEL & BAR, PO Box 2309, 120 E. Atol St., 78597; 761.5953, E-mail: gaypadre@upperdeckhotel.com, upperdeckhotel.com

massage New Orleans, LA [504] 4 HAND MASSAGE, Butch/Kevin, Nat’l Board Certified, 908.2069, License #LA 3355, #LA 4230 [is2708] PROFESSIONAL MASSAGE THERAPY

By Patrick LMT - Outcall or Uptown Studio.

Safe neighborhood comfortable studio. Towels available for draping, Non-Sexual, 717.2577, www. n e w o r l e a n s . a m a z i n g h a n d s . u s Discounts for: Friends of Dorothy, Students, Artists, Service Industry, License #LA4005 [is2708]

media New Orleans, LA [504] AMBUSH Mag, Official Gay Easter Guide, Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide, Official Gay New Orleans Guide, Official Gulf South Guide, Official Southern Decadence Guide, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; email: info@ ambushmag.com AMBUSHonLINE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8047, ambushonline.com, email: info@ambushonline.com

models/escorts New Orleans, LA [504] MIKEY-HOT, HANDSOME, HARD-BODIED MUSCLE STUD very friendly. 35, 5'10", 175#, USDA Prime! In/out/hotels, 6am-11pm. Playgirl, Inches & Freshmen Magazine model. Pics at m4rn.com, ID #190508, 504.756.9443 [is2708]

museum/arts Baton Rouge, LA [225] LOUISIANAARTS AND SCIENCE CENTER / RIVERSIDE MUSEUM, 100 S. River Road, 344.5272 LOUISIANA GOVERNOR'S MANSION, 1001 Capitol Access Rd., 342.5855 LOUISIANA STATEARCHIVES, 3851 Essen Ln. LOUISIANA STATE CAPITOL, State Capitol Dr. LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY HILLTOP ARBORETUM, 11855 Highland Rd., 767.6916 LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY RURAL LIFE MUSEUM, I-10 at Essen Lane, 765.2437 LSU MUSEUM OF NATURAL SCIENCE and MUSEUM OF GEOSCIENCE, LSU Campus, 388.2855 MAGNOLIA MOUND PLANTATION, 2161 Nicholson Dr., 343.4955 OLD ARSENAL MUSEUM, State Capitol Complex, 342.0401 OLD BOGAN FIRE STATION, 427 Laurel St., 344.8558 OLD GOVERNOR'S MANSION, 502 North

Blvd., 344.5272 OLD PENTAGON BARRACKS, State Capitol Dr. at River Road, 342.1866 OLD STATE CAPITOL, 100 North Blvd. at River Road, 342.0500 or 342.4479 USS KIDD/NAUTICAL HISTORICAL CENTER, Government St. at River Rd., 342.1942 New Orleans, LA [504] BEAUREGARD-KEYES HOUSE, 1113 Chartres, 523.7257, Mon-Sat 10am-3pm CABILDO, 701 Chartres, Jackson Square, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm CAC [Contemporary Arts Center], 900 Camp St., 528.3805, cacno.org 1850 HOUSE, 523 St. Ann, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm GALLIER HOUSE, 1132 Royal, 523.6722, Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm GERMAINEWELLSMARDIGRASMUSEUM, 2nd Floor Arnaud's, 819 Bienville HERMANN-GRIMA HISTORIC HOUSE, 820 St. Louis, 525.5661, Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm HISTORICAL PHARMACY MUSEUM, 514 Chartres, 524.9077, Daily 10am-5:30pm HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION, 533 Royal, 523.4662, Tues-Sat 10am-4:45pm LONGUE VUE HOUSE AND GARDENS, 7 Bamboo Rd, Metairie, 488.5488, Mon-Sat 10am4:30pm, Sun 1-5pm MUSEECONTIHISTORICALWAXMUSEUM, 917 Conti, 525.2605, Daily 10am-5:30pm NATIONAL D-DAY MUSEUM, 945 Magazine, 527.6012 NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART, City Park, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, 488.2631, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERNART, 925 Camp St., 539.9600 OLD U.S. MINT, 400 Esplanade, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm PRESBYTERE, 751 Chartres, Jackson Square, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL, Jackson Square, Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1:30-5pm

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

organizations Mobile, AL ALABAMA PRIDE FEST, MobileAlabamaPride.COM AQUA, THE PARTY, PO Box 145, Mobile, AL 36601, TheAquaParty.COM BAY AREA INCLUSION, BayAreaInclusion.ORG FUSION, MobileFusion.ORG GULF COAST BEARS & LEATHER ASSOCIATION, b-bobs.com/gcbla.htm Pensacola, FL [850] APPETITE FOR LIFE, INC., provides 2 nutritionally balanced meals a day-lunch & dinner, for some 60 men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, 1842 West Cervantes St.; Mail: P.O. Box 308, 32592-0308; 470.9111, Fax: 470.0201, gaypensacola.com/appforlife GULF COAST TIDE, INC. w w w . G u l f C o a s t T I D E . o r g ; info@GulfCoastTIDE.org Alexandria, LA [318] CLASS [Central Louisiana AIDS Support Services], 103 Bolton Ave., 71301; 1.800.444.7993, 442. 1 0 1 0, FAX: 443.5216 Baton Rouge, LA [225] HAART (HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two), 4550 North Blvd., #250, 927.1269, Fax: 927.7367, haartinc.org, haartinc@aol.com GBLSU [Gays, Bisexuals, Lesbians & Supporters United], glsapres@unixl.sncc.

Isu.edu, Kristy Price, President, 388.5160 KREWE OF APOLLO / BATON ROUGE, PO Box 3591, 70821; kreweapollobr.org KREWE OF DIVAS, kreweofdivas.com, 343.0380 LAMBDA GROUP, 2937 Greenwood Dr., PO Box 82775, 70884-2775, 907.3665, www.lambdabr.org, info@lambdabr.org LEWIS HUMPHREY’S FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 387.9798

METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF BATON ROUGE, 7747 Tom

GayBatonRouge.BIZ • GayNewOrleans.COM • GayPensacola.COM • GayAmerica.COM • Dec. 30, 2008-Jan. 5, 2009 • EXPOSE' EXPOSE'-13 of 40

Drive, 70806, Worship Sunday, 11am, Bible Study Wednesday, 7pm, 225.248.0404, mccbr.org MYSTIC KREWE OF ROYALTY, PO Box 66571, 70896; 926.1698 PFLAG Baton Rouge, Harold L. Truax, 33370 Percy Young Rd., Walker, LA 70785; 225.218.8320, 225.288.2522 Lafayette, LA [337] ACADIANA CARES [Concern for AIDS Relief, Education, and Support], PO Box 386, Lafayette, LA 70502; 203 W. 3rd St., 70501; 233.2437, FAX: 235.4178; 800.354.2437 KREWE OFAPOLLO / LAFAYETTE, PO Box 53251, 70505 LEAGUE FOR EQUALITY, PO Box 53425, 70505 PFLAG/LAFAYETTE, PO Box 31078, 70503 ROYAL ORDER OF UNICORN, PO Box 3985, 70502 Monroe, LA [318] GO CARE 2121 Justice, 71201, 325.1092 New Orleans, LA [504] AIDS HOTLINE, 821.6050 in New Orleans, 1.800.99.AIDS[2437]-9 toll free statewide ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, 828.3399 BELLE REVE NEW ORLEANS, AIDS Residence for Families, PO Box 3305, 70177; 945.9455 BIG EASY M.C.C. (Metropolitan Community Church of Greater New Orleans), Sunday Worship at St Matthew’s UCC, 1333 S. Carrollton Ave. at Willow. Fellowship after service. Mailing address: 1333 S. Carrolllton Ave. New Orleans, LA, 70118; 213.4340, p a s t o r @ b i g e a s y m c c . c o m , www.bigeasymcc.com BROTHERHOOD, INC., To decrease the spread of AIDS and HIV among African Americans, 1661 Canal St., Suite 3230, 70112; 566.7955 CAVALIERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB: Gay motocycle group sponsors monthly day rides and other riding events in New Orleans area.

Visit www.cavaliersmc.comc or call 782.5625 or e-mail info@cavaliersmc.com.

CHURCH OF CHRIST THE LIBERATOR, Sun. 11am Service, 607 Marigny St. (behind The Friendly Bar), ChristTheLiberator.ORG COMING OUT SUPPORT GROUP, meets 1st Wed. of each month, 7:30-9pm, Info: Liz 482.4012; Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 2114 Decatur St., 70116; 945.1103 COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK, a project of the NO/AIDS Task Force which works with the gay community to implement HIV prevention activities, 507 Frenchmen St., 945.4000, noaidstaskforce.com COPS 8 (Citizens' Organization for Police Support in the 8th District), 840 N. Rampart St., #51, 70116; 588.COPS (2677), cops8.org DRAMA! [A Gay & Lesbian Arts Organization], PO Box 52565, 70152; 948.9924, DramaNO.org, DRAMA@DramaNO.org FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 944.6028 FORUM FOR EQUALITY, 336 Lafayette, Suite 200, 70130; 947.2981, ForumForEquality@aol.com FOUNDATION FOR MACRO BIOTIC WAY, enjoy-life.com GAY APPRECIATION AWARDS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049; AmbushMag.COM/GAA GAY COUNSELING LINE, 833.1500 GLSEN [Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network], 482.4081, Fax 595.8587, E-mail: glsenno@hotmail.com, glsenno.org GULF GENDER ALLIANCE [GGA], NonProfit Support Group for Transgender persons.

Monthly meetings, socials and political activism.

Privacy respected and expected. Interview required. Nondiscriminatory. Call 504. 324.4035 or write PO Box 56836, New Orleans, LA 70156-6836; gga.org, E-mail: info@gga.org HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, INC., PO Box 52171, 70152-2171; halloween neworleans.com HATE CRIMES HOTLINE, c/o Family Service of Greater New Orleans, 504.202.2131.

The Hate Crimes Project offers to assist those who feel that they may have been a victim of a hate crime. The project provides advocacy for persons victimized due to race, religion, gender

printers New Orleans, LA [504] SIR SPEEDY, 343 Carondelet, 586.9812

real estate New Orleans, LA [504] LATTER & BLUM, Agent Mary Lind, 948.3011, 539.9742, 581.2020 PRUDENTIAL GARDNER REALTORS, Agent Brett A. Rector, Cell: 453.2277, Office: 861.6400, brettinla@aol.com PRUDENTIAL GARDNER REALTORS, Agent Cathy Espenan, Cell: 344.2116, Office: 861.7575 and gender identity, age, disability, and/or sexual orientation.

IN THIS TOGETHER, HIV/AIDS Case Management, 1661 Canal Street, Suite 3107, 70112; 962.3245, is www.inthistogetherinc.org, itt@accesscom.net KOCKTAIL BUNCH BOWLING LEAGUE, Contact Glenn Culp, 504.861.0233 KREWE OF ARMEINIUS, PO Box 56638, New Orleans, LA 70156-6638, cetubby@cox.net, KreweOfArmeinius.ORG KREWE OF AMON RA, PO Box 7033, Metairie, LA 70010, KreweOfAmonRa.COM KREWE OF MWINDO, PO Box 51031, 70156; 913.5791, KreweOfMwindo.ORG, krewe@kreweofmwindo.org KREWE OF PETRONIUS, PO Box 71665, 70172, Pres. Arthur Alarcon 451.9507, Capt. Bill McCarthy 430.6695, Sec. Mae Falgout 484.6045, http://kreweofpetronius.tripod.com KREWE OF QUEENATEENAS / KING CAKE QUEEN ROYALTY CLUB, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM/ KCQ LaCARP [Louisiana Community AIDS Research Program], 584.1971 LA-LIFT, Social Club for Lesbians, age 50+, who have fun together on weekends. Email: armyvet20@webtv.net LAMBDA CENTER, 831 Elysian Fields Ave., 70117 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NEW ORLEANS, 234 Loyola, Suite 421, 70112; 581.9106 LESBIAN & GAY COMMUNITY CENTER OF NEW ORLEANS, 2114 Decatur St., 701162013; 945.1103, Fax 945.1102, Email: info@lgccno.net LORDS OF LEATHER, P.O. Box 770435, New Orleans, LA 70071-4035, LordsOfLeather.COM LOUISIANA STATE GAY RODEO ASSOCIATION (LSGRA), 915.3339, lance@lsgra.com, LSGRA.COM MCLNO HOP Clinic, 136 S. Roman Street, 4th Floor, New Orleans, LA 70112; Appts.: 504.903.6959, www.hopclinic.org METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS, Sunday Friendship Hour 4:15pm, Worship/Celebration, 5pm at St Matthew’s UCC, 1333 Carrollton Ave. at Willow; Mailing Address: PO Box 71024, 70172; 945.5390, www.mccgno.com MYSTIC KNIGHTS OF ADONIS, 236.4530, Adonis-TLC.COM, MYSTIC KREWE OF SATYRICON, 1021 Gov. Nicholls St., 70116, 525.4498, MysticKreweOfSatyricon.COM NEW ORLEANS BEAR & BEAR TRAPPER SOCIAL CLUB, PO Box 740894, 70174-0894; 529.6975, www.neworleansbears.com NEW ORLEANS GAY MEN’S CHORUS, 948.6884, nogmc.com; nogmc@aol.com NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL, nojazzfest.com NEW ORLEANS WOMEN’S MUSIC COLLECTIVE, 2903 Jefferson Ave., 70115; Ann 838.7918, Sydney 833.2834 NO/AIDS TASK FORCE, 2601 Tulane Ave., Suite 500, 70119; 821.2601; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM N'R Peace, 3201 Gen. DeGaulle Dr., Suite 201, 70114, 364.1950 MOC/NO [Men of Color/New Orleans], 482.5341 OFFICIAL GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A

Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, info@gayeasterparade.com, GayEasterParade.COM OFFICIAL GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM OFFICIAL GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM OFFICIAL SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM PEOPLE OF SUBSTANCE, INC. (POS), 7210 Arbor Dr., 70126, 244.1920, posnola.com PFLAG/NO [Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays/ New Orleans], PO Box 15515, 70175; 895.3936, 392.0001, pflagno.org, info@pflagno.org PRIDEFEST NEW ORLEANS, presented

by New Orleans Alliance of Pride, 1000 Bourbon St., Box 365, New Orleans, LA 70116; pridefestneworleans@yahoo.com, www.nolapridefest.org PROJECT LAZARUS, A Residence for PWAs, PO Box 3906, 70177-3906; 949.3609 REGIONALAIDS INTERFAITH NETWORK [RAIN], 523.3755 TAU HOUSE MINISTRIES, 1029 Governor Nicholls, 70116, roddyssnd@aol.com, 529.3569. Mass on Sunday 4:15pm; Vespers on Monday, Wednesday, Friday 6pm. Everyone is welcome!

TO DO PRODUCTIONS, 948.9608, www.todoproductions.org VOLLEYBALL NEW ORLEANS, PO Box 13306, 70185-3306; volleyballneworleans.com, postmaster@volleyballneworleans.com WILLIAM J. FANNING FOUNDATION [Buzzy’s Boys & Girls], 2301 Chartres, 70117; 943.8929 Shreveport, LA [318] KREWE OF APOLLO/SHREVEPORT, PO Box 4918, 71134 PHILADELPHIA CENTER, PO Box 44454, 71134-4454; 222.6633 YWCAAIDS MINORITY COMMUNITY OUTREACH, 700 Pierre Ave., 71103; 226.8717 Dallas, TX [214] KREWE OF APOLLO-DALLAS, KreweofApollo-Dallas.com Houston, TX [713] PRIDE COMMITTEE OF HOUSTON, PO Box 66071, 77266-6071; 529.6979, Fax 529.6929, info@pridehouston.org, pride houston.org

pets CHI-WA-WA GA-GA, 37 French Market Place, 70116; 581.4242; chiwawagaga.com FRENCH QUARTER PET ASYLUM, 510 Dumaine St., 274.0810

pharmacy New Orleans, LA [504] MUMFREY'S PHARMACY, 1021 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043, 504.279.6312

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

restaurants New Orleans, LA [504] Bywater Restaurant, Deli & BBQ,3162 Dauphine St., 944.4445 Cafe Amelie, 912 Royal St., 412.8965 Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, CloverGrill.COM Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 Krystal, 116 Bourbon at Canal, 523.4030 La Peniche, 1940 Dauphine St., 943.1460 Magazine Perks, 4332 Magazine, 899.2911, MagazinePerks.COM Marigny Perks, 2401 Burgundy, 948.7401, MarignyPerks.COM Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746

NOLA Smoothies, 315 Decatur St., 302.1185 Orleans Grapevine, 720 Orleans, 523.1930 Petunias, A Restaurant, Cajun, Creole, Crepes, Cocktails, 817 St. Louis, 70112; 522.6440 Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416 Tomatillo's Restaurant, 437 Esplanade Ave., 945.9997

retail/shopping New Orleans, LA [504] ALTERNATIVES, 907 Bourbon St., 70116; 524.5222 BEAR NECESSITIES, 940 Decatur, 598.2134, BearsAndHares.COM BOURBON-STRIP TEASE, 205 Bourbon St., 70130; 581.6633, bourbontease.com ESTATE TREASURES CONSIGNMENT SHOP, 2014 Magazine, 679.6600 THE HERB IMPORT COMPANY, 711 St. Peter [in French Quarter], 525.4372; 5055 Canal St. [near City Park Ave.], 488.4889 PANDA BEAR, 415 Bourbon St., 529.8064 QUEEN FASHIONS.COM, queenfashions.com, exoticfashionmall.com RAB DAB CLOTHING AND GIFTS, 918 Royal St., 525.6662 SERENDIPITOUS MASKS, 831 Decatur St., 522.9158 SECOND SKIN LEATHER, 521 St. Philip St., 561.8167 TOP DRAWER ANTIQUES, 4310/18 Magazine St., TopDrawerAntiques.NET WICKED ORLEANS, 1201 Decatur, 529.4384, WickedOrleans.COM

Austin, TX [512] TAPELENDERS VIDEO/OUTLINES MENSWEAR AUSTIN, 1114 West 5th St., 472.0844, www.tapelenders.com

spas Ft. Lauderdale, FL [954] CLUB FT. LAUDERDALE, 400 W. Broward Blvd., 525.3344, www.the-clubs.com Atlanta, GA [404] FLEX ATLANTA, 76 Fourth St., 815.0456 New Orleans, LA [504] CLUB NEW ORLEANS, 515 Toulouse, 581.2402, www.the-clubs.com FLEX NEW ORLEANS, 700 Baronne St., 598.FLEX [3539]

EXPOSE'-14 of 40 • Dec. 30, 2008-Jan. 5, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • GayBars.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

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504.522.8049 SPA ATLANTIS PROFESSIONAL SPA & SALON, 740 Gravier St., 566.8088, SpaAtlantis.NET Dallas, TX [214] CLUB DALLAS, 2616 Swiss Ave., 821.1990, www.the-clubs.com Houston, TX [713] CLUB HOUSTON, 2205 Fannin St., 659.4998, www.the-clubs.com

tattoos/piercings New Orleans, LA [504] AART ACCENT TATTOO & PIERCING, 1041 N. Rampart in French Quarter, 581.9812

theatres New Orleans, LA [504] LE PETIT THEATRE DU VIEUX CARE, 616 St. Peter, 522.2081 MARIGNY THEATRE, 1030 Marigny St., 947.0505

VOODOO MYSTERE LOUNGE THEATRE, 817 N. Rampart St., 304.1568

websites CRESCENT CITY, CrescentCity.COM GAY AMERICA, GayAmerica.COM GAY AUSTIN, GayAustin.NET GAY BARS, GayBars.COM GAY PENSACOLA, GayPensacola.COM OFFICIAL GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayEasterParade.COM OFFICIAL GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM OFFICIAL GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM OFFICIAL SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM

Classifieds & Personals Advertising Order Form Name:___________________________________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________ Phone:_______________________________Date:_______________________ Classified Ad Categories: __Attorneys __Bars __Bookstores __Casinos__Employment __For Rent __For Sale __Galleries __Groceries/Delis __Hair Salons __Lodging/Accommodations __Laundries __Massage/Escorts __Messages __Organizations __Personals __Photography __Restaurants __Retail Sales __Roommates __Services __Spas __Travel __Other [Please Specify______________] [All information on this form remains STRICTLY CONFIDENTIAL] AD PRICES: NAME:___________________________________ ___.__$30.00 for 30 words ___.__25¢ for each additional word CARD #:_________________________________ ___.__$5.00 for large bold headline ___.__$5.00 for boxed border EXPIRATION DATE:_________________________ ___.__Sub-Total x ____ [Times Run] = ___.__TOTAL ENCLOSED SIGNATURE:______________________________ Include ad copy below, fax to 504.522.0907 or e-mail to info@ambushmag.com with credit card info, or mail with total payment [Please Print] to AMbush Classifieds, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137.

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GayBatonRouge.BIZ • GayNewOrleans.COM • GayPensacola.COM • GayAmerica.COM • Dec. 30, 2008-Jan. 5, 2009 • EXPOSE' EXPOSE'-15 of 40

hot tails of red stick

by Brad Benedict Email: bradhottails@hotmail.com

L Worlds

T

his W column features a lot of reminiscences that you have probably read about before, but the thought occurred to me that new readers needed to catch up with the program. In this continuing saga of gay hot tails, let’s take a look at some of the wickedly beautiful people who make up the backbone of Red Stick’s wonderful world of beautiful and delightful people.

The letter L belongs to two fabulously gorgeous human beings. I really

Lance - Mr. Body Beautiful

don’t know who to put first so I’ll consider it a tie. Lance has got to be one of the most loving and wonderful guys I’ve ever met. He is sincere, intelligent, and extremely good looking – as in modeling descriptive terms. His entire body is just one perfect example of sensational manhood – and that’s with his clothes on. Taking them off brings one to another level of unique and visually beautiful images.

I suppose I first met Lance when he worked at George’s. He was there one day, and he was friendly, but there was a crowded happy hour period so I didn’t get to talk to him that much. In fact, I guess it was after he moved over to Splash that I really saw the dynamic characteristics of this young man. A native of the western part of the state, he is now about to complete his college degree at LSU, and I suppose that means he will be moving on to bigger and better things. That is exactly as it should be, but I don’t know anyone at the moment who could take his place.

I know beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but this is one guy who can attract attention and not even realize it.

Men lust after him. Women wish they

could compete with the men. As for me, I’ll take him as a nice and genuine friend.

No one could ever meet his standards of excellence, but there are others who are very close. However, Lance is the one that stands out above all the others with one exception, and I’m about to tell you again about him. From what I know of Lance, he is a level-headed guy with an eye on his future, and he doesn’t put up with frivolous actions that might damage his image or interfere with his plans and goals for life after graduation. This twenty-something young man is a joy to be around, and he is the pride and joy for those who get to know him and understand his sincerity. Be careful of that smile.

It is very enticing just to reach out and latch on for dear life.

He is just that kind of exceptional human being.

Now moving on, I’ll take another look at Luther. I probably know him even better than Lance, and I can assure you that if you put the two in a sack and shook them up, they would probably fall out together. My first meeting with Luther was by way of a telephone conversation when he was handling an account for me. I suppose I have to credit Gerry for my getting to know him, and now we sort of share a common three-way of dinner engagements. I know you expected me to tell you more, but that just isn’t going to happen.

Luther is well liked by all who know him, and my first actual meeting with him was when I found him sitting on the couch at a special dinner function. When he stood up to acknowledge the introduction, I almost grabbed him to give him a big squeeze. I managed to control myself. I knew there was bound to be other times – thank goodness.

When you see Luther’s smile, you know that you are gazing upon one of the most beautiful faces in all of gaydom.

I’ll put him up against anyone, Lance included. This is his most outstanding trait, and you must realize I’ve only just begun. I haven’t even left the facial area yet, but I dare not go past the hard nipples and firm chest and points beyond. I never did like to embarrass anyone, so just take my word for the points beyond the last mentioned part.

Luther is a hard worker, and this has always been noted by his employers. He is one of those guys who always gave his best and has left quite a few standing in his dust. He is an intelligent

and caring person, and he values friendships and can spot the phonies from any angle. His handsome face is one of those that could easily grace any movie screen. Right now, I can’t feature too many that could give him a run for my money unless you throw Jake Gyllenhaal in there. Then I might have to flip a coin.

Seriously, Luther is just one of those guys who can make you feel comfortable to be in his presence. He has that technique or that personality that shines in a crowd. When you meet him, you will be entranced by his manners and that beautiful smile. He just stands tall among so many others, but it is the inner goodness that comes forth and makes him really a standout.

He has a kind of magic you don’t see in many males. I am very fortunate to be able to call him a friend.

J Winners

L

et’s move on to the J section of outstanding individuals. I immediately think of two – John Wayne and BC Boy. They are totally different, but yet they come across as two of the most affectionate and loving of all human kind. To know them is to love them.

I think John Wayne was put on this earth to bring me great joy. From the moment I met him, it was instant attraction. That doesn’t mean we are sex mates, but it does show that we are soul mates from different periods of time. We both have separate lives, but these lives continue to intertwine in one way or another.

John Wayne is finally in a loving relationship, and I couldn’t be happier.

He searched for a long time before coming up with such a nice companion as Phil. Together, you see them as one, inseparable and totally committed to each other. That is such a joy to witness because I’ve known Phil longer than John Wayne and never had them featured together. That just goes to show you what a “connection” can mean for two individuals.

BC Boy has been one of my best friends for years, and I never tire of him.

He is witty and sexy and loves to chat with me. Sometimes I look up and there he is walking down the driveway with his dog Roux, and we catch up on old times. Lately, I’ve missed this. During old Gustav, a tree fell on John’s apartment, and he lost just about everything in his apartment. He is now in an apartment way out on the east side of town, so he has to drive over to see me now.

He is a charmer and can wrap you around his fine personality with that ever-present goodness that comes shining through. I recall what a dashingly handsome man he was when he came forward to toast me when I was king of the Lords of Leather. There was no one else in that auditorium to match him in elegance, and I was so pleased that I had chosen him to join me on stage. His

leather attire was outstanding, and he made me so proud to be able to share that intimate moment with him among and in front of all those people.

John is a paramedic, and I can’t think of anyone I’d rather have to depend on in a time of need. I hope that kind of need doesn’t happen, but mouth to mouth with him is always an exceptional treat. I can vouch for that, and I was fully conscious and very excited at the time. I love my BC Boy.

T Wonders

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he T category contains two exceptional human beings too. One is sometimes known asAnthony Benton, and he knows how to send you into holy endeavors.

Seriously, he knows his stuff, and he does practice what he preaches even if it is only through a part-time volunteer endeavor.

This TTT man is a good writer and puts out a fine newsletter for governmental personnel, and he certainly knows how to do real estate on the side too. He can entertain with the best and in doing so can open his home to the joy of togetherness. He is a man of many talents, and he is someone who can make you smile and treat you to the sudden squeals of joy when surprised.

You hear this, and you know it’s TTT. The other T is a young man I discussed with you recently, and you can see him when you go to Splash. He’s another paramedic who can certainly treat me to mouth-to-mouth too, but I’d think Stephen might frown on this – unless it was in his presence and with his presence. Hmmm.

Ty, as I’ve stated before, seems really quiet, but I did learn when I started talking with him that he can open up with a personality that is quite unexpected. He shines with a type of style that few possess, and he can keep you entertained with his witty comments and his open and sincere demeanor – after you get to know him.

Miscellaneous Wisdom

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he S as in Sam comes to mind here. He is a friend I can turn to and depend on in times of need. He often drives to different functions so that I can enjoy a drink or two and not have to worry about driving home. He is also constantly coming up with gifts that he knows I like – from cobalt blue glass fixtures to books and unusual antiques. He is a connoisseur of good foods too, but he is especially good at picking out great seafood dishes. Stuffed crabs from Deanie’s Seafood in Bucktown are a favorite, but he also loves the crab cakes at Dupuy’s in Abbeville. We gladly drive to get the best seafood, but now with Acme Oyster Bar here in the capital city, we do have a local outlet with New Orleans flair so as not have to drive [continued on Expose-19]

EXPOSE'-16 of 40 • Dec. 30, 2008-Jan. 5, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • GayBars.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

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red stick paparazzi

Licking up a naval shot Apollo’s king & his cute stud

Luther finds a nice one

Richard & Effie Marie Chris & Splash’s sexy Little Corey

Richard & Phil

Splash’s Cory gets frisky

2008’s outstanding Christmas gift

The beauty & the adorable stud Danny before the cold front hit

Some cozy bears out on the town Guy claims a cutie The talented Divas

Scottie & Dwayne

Having fun at George’s

Joy & Johnny at Hound Dogs

Todd, Richard & Cody

A beautiful threesome having fun

EXPOSE'-18 of 40 • Dec. 30, 2008-Jan. 5, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • GayBars.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM

Adorable, Cute, Frisky ~ Baton Rouge, Louisiana ~ Photos by Brad Benedict

Dean & Johnny at Capital Corner Market

Ty & Stephen at Splash

hot tails of red stick ...from Expose-16 so for to obtain excellent seafood dishes.

Parrain’s is also good for local dishes.

Sam continues to come up with nice bargains at his antique shop at the corner of Weller and Pawtucket. It is located in the old family-owned building that does rod and reel work. His books and movies are worth checking out, and he does have an adult section with a good selection of gay items available. It is a collectible shop with a little something for everyone. Sometimes old can be new again, and Sam is just the one to put you in touch with the past and future when it comes to giftable items.

When it comes to karaoke outings, you can’t get any better than the King himself, Cody. This guy just keeps getting better with age, and you can find him at George’s where he always brings in the crowds. Here again, I’ve known Cody for as long as I can remember, but he seems to just be getting younger – at heart, at least. He really seems to enjoy what he is doing, and perhaps this is the catalyst that makes his masterful karaoke sessions so unique.

Let’s face it. He is just a lovable and adorable guy with a youthful flair that engulfs you each time you are in his presence.

The same youthful flair can be seen in Joy at Hound Dogs. It is always a pleasure to see her, but she does have some good competition in Johnny. Put the two of them together, and you have a great combination of bartending expertise. They really seem to enjoy what they are doing, and this is what makes them so enjoyable to be around. Of course, there is always Miss Jeanne to keep things interesting too. Now that is a three-way connection that can bring out the positive vibes in everyone.

There are lots of gay-owned businesses in Baton Rouge, but I usually don’t cover them because of their failure to promote their businesses openly. I do get around to taking pictures of the owners sometimes, but it is usually only if I happen to be shopping in the vicinity of their locations. It’s a shame that more openness is not apparent, but the capital city just isn’t ready to embrace the gay masses like you see in more open-minded cities. Give it time. At least those in high places are coming together to make this city look presentable instead of keeping decaying buildings around to turn off tourists and locals alike. Advertising also allows the owners to obtain more gay business too. I know I go out of my way to buy at a gay-owned businesses, but so many of these places are just not known in gay circles.

I suppose Hibiscus Bookstore was the only major business in the city that openly sought out gay people other than the local bars. The success of that business can be attributed to advertising, and it was exposure in Ambush Magazine that got it off to a good start when it was located at 116 Main Street.

Growing from such a small location to its final home in the six hundred block, it thrived and adjusted to customer desires by phasing in acceptable items and phasing out those that were not for the “in crowd.” As the internet grew and interests changed, these adjustments became necessary, and then straight businesses saw where they could draw customers away by putting a few gay items under more socially acceptable classifications, gradually coming up with gay instead of social studies on bookshelves. Ordering online also became popular, and the need for an in-house display became less attractive.

On another note, I parked in front of the old store location on Main Street when going to the Farmers Market last week, and I noticed that the inside of the building had been completely gutted. I know the new owner had completely remodeled the building, adding more space and including very innovative fixtures inside. I checked into the matter and learned that Gustav had done a number on the building. Whatever they

did when they added the two sky-loft structures, the heavy rains built up too quickly and the roof came down. It was a shock to learn this because a new roof had just been added as a part of the sale to the new owner. Those additional structures must have weakened the base in some way, but then when you consider the strong winds we received from the storm, it is possible that those two structures just got blown off causing the extensive flooding. At any rate, I wouldn’t have known this if I hadn’t seen a sign on the door indicating the building was subject to lease options. It is just another result from a strong storm that brought so much damage to the capital city.

The new year offers a lot of promise for Red Stick and to the gay community.

It is an opportunity to renew the old and look to the new with added enthusiasm.

It’s a chance to take advantage of things that can bring more successful business opportunities. The economy seems to be on the skids, but Baton Rouge seems to be coping with an energy that defies the national trend. It would appear that life is good in historic old Red Stick. I trust it will continue and everyone will prosper from new ideas, new goals, and new attitudes. I wish you all a great 2009 filled with good friends and good times.

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in the spotlight January Events at NOMA

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Second Line to commemorate the closing of Prospect.1 New Orleans, led by the Original Big 7 Social Aid and Pleasure Club and Brass Band, highlights a number of special events planned for January at the New Orleans Museum of Art at City Park. The calendar also includes four Mid-Week in Mid-City programs on Wednesday evenings, when the Museum stays open until 8pm.

Admission to the Museum, including all public programs, is free to all through January 18. After that date, admission will remain free to Louisiana residents, courtesy of The Helis Foundation.

The complete list of upcoming January public programs is as follows: Wednesday, January 7, 5-8pmMid-Week in Mid-City: · Community Art Studio for Adults led by Art Therapist Holly Wherry (art materials provided, 6-8pm, Café) · Film Screening: From Russia with Love (6:30pm, Stern Auditorium) · Cash Bar (5-8pm, Great Hall) · Free admission Saturday, January 10-Exhibition Opening · Author and Subject: Murasaki

Shikibu and The Tale of Genji (on view through May 31, third floor, Japanese gallery) Wednesday, January 14, noon1pm-NOMA Library Book Club · Discussion about The Rape of Europa: The Fate of Europe’s Art Treasures in the Third Reich and the Second World War by Lynn H. Nicholas (Felix J. Dreyfous Library) · Free admission · More info: Sheila Cork, Librarian, 504.658.4117 Wednesday, January 14, 5-8pmMid-Week in Mid-City · Lecture: “Roots of the Fi Yi Yi” by Victor Harris (6pm, Great Hall) · Demonstration: “The Lost Art of Water Gilding” by Alan Shuptrine of Shuptrine Fine Art Group, Chattanooga, Tenn. (6-7:30pm, Stern Auditorium) · Cash bar (5-8pm, Great Hall) · Free admission Friday, January 16-Exhibition Opening · Evening in Paris: Posters and Photographs of the City of Light from the Permanent Collection (on view through June 28, second floor, Stafford Gallery) Saturday, January 17-Prospect.1

commentary Hate Crime Justice for All Jose Sucuzhañay was living the American dream. A poor immigrant from Ecuador, Jose settled in Brooklyn, New York and became a successful real estate entrepreneur. That dream was shattered on December 8. Jose, 31, and his brother Romel were attacked by three men shouting anti-gay and anti-Latino slurs and wielding baseball bats. Jose died from his injuries on December 12.

The heterosexual brothers were targeted as they were walking home arm-inarm. In Hispanic cultures, it’s common for straight men to touch and show affection for each other. Jose was the father of two children and regularly sent money to family members in Ecuador.

So was it a gay or a Latino hate crime? The victims were Hispanic immigrants.

This was the second fatal attack on an Ecuadorian immigrant in the New York area in a month.

New York’s hate crime statute includes race, national origin and sexual orientation. It doesn’t matter that the victims weren’t gay. The law states that it’s the assailant’s “belief or perception” about the victim that determines whether or not the hate crime statute applies. Perpetrators convicted of hate crimes receive harsher punishments.

It’s a different story if you’re the victim of a gay-motivated hate crime in states like Pennsylvania or Colorado. Neither the federal hate crimes statute nor 21 states include sexual orientation in their hate crime laws.

Anyone can become the victim of a hate crime – as long as the intention of the person committing the crime is bias-motivated violence.

The Matthew Shepard Amendment, which is expected to be reintroduced in Congress in 2009, would include sexual orientation and gender identity in federal hate crimes legislation. Ten years after Matthew Shepard was tortured and murdered, neither Wyoming nor federal statutes protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender hate crime victims.

How many more victims like Jose Sucuzhañay or Matthew Shepard need to die before elected officials in Washington take action? The passage of the Matthew Shepard Amendment would protect gay as well as straight citizens from actual and perceived hate crimes.

The incoming Congress and new administration have a historic opportunity to protect all Americans from hate crimes.

--Chip Alfred, President, Philadelphia chapter, National Gay and Lesbian Journalists Association

Closing Event · Second Line with the Original Big 7 Social Aid and Pleasure Club and Brass Band · Co-organized with The Porch, Seventh Ward Cultural Organization · Free admission Sunday, January 18, 2pm-Lecture: “Fabergé and the Silver Age” · By noted scholar of Russian culture Suzanne Massie (2pm, Stern Auditorium) · Free admission Wednesday, January 21, 5-8pmMid-Week in Mid-City · Lecture: “Think Backwards: Rodin and His Legacy” by Judith Sobol, Executive Director, Iris and B. Gerald Cantor Foundation (6pm, Stern Auditorium) · Cash bar (5-8pm, Great Hall) · Free admission to Louisiana residents with photo identification Wednesday, January 28, 5-8pmMid-Week in Mid-City · Poets & Writers poetry workshop with Jean E. Grau (6pm, Café) · Cash bar (5-8pm, Great Hall) · Free admission to Louisiana residents with photo identification

Kelly McGillis Classic Flag Football Championship Set For Feb. 1-9 In Key West

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omen and girls from around the United States and the world are to gather in Key West for hard-fought

sporting action during the Kelly McGillis Classic International Women’s & Girls’ Flag Football Championship, scheduled Sunday, Feb. 1, through Monday, Feb. 9.

According to Diane Beruldsen, president and founder of the International Women’s Flag Football Association, more than 60 teams from the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Europe have been invited to join McGillis in the island city for the 18th annual championship.

The sporting challenge is named for and endorsed by the critically acclaimed actress, a former Key West resident who starred in “Top Gun” and “Witness” among other films.

During the Key West championship, flag football teams are to compete in divisions based on age and skill level.

Women 18 and over can compete in beginners, middle and higher divisions, while separate girls’ divisions accommodate players ranging from 8 years old to the late teens.

After three days of Key West activities that incorporate team building and getting to know the island, the tournament’s opening ceremonies are set for 3pm Wednesday, Feb. 4, at the Rum Barrel, 528 Front St. Presentations by Key West city officials and guests are planned.

For more information and a full schedule of events for the Kelly McGillis Classic, call 888.464.9332 toll-free, email iwffa@iwffa.com or visit www.iwffa.com.

e-mail Subject: Hooray for Donnie Jay IT’S ABOUT TIME SOMEONE SPEAKS UP AND LETS THE COMMUNITY KNOW THE TRUTH BEHIND WHAT IS GOING ON. BUT, LET’S TAKE IT A LITTLE FURTHER, AND JUST INFORM EVERYONE THAT THOSE OF US THAT HAVE BEEN AROUND FOR AWHILE AND HAVE PAID OUR DUES DON’T MIND HELPING OUT WHEN IT’S FOR A LEGITMATE REASON. BUT, MIND YOU THAT BEING RETIRED AND NOT HAVING THE MONEY TO AFFORD A LOT, DOES MAKE A DIFFERENCE. MAYBE, THE GAY COMMUNITY NEEDS TO PUT ON A BENEFIT FOR THE “OLD GIRLS” THAT HAVE DONE THIS FOR SO LONG, WAY BACK IN THE LAST CENTURY. HAHA!!!!!

THEY KNOW WHERE TO FIND US WHEN THEY WANT SOMETHING DONE, OR TO FIND OUT HOW TO DO IT. BUT, FORGET ABOUT US THE REST OF THE TIME. AND THEN WHEN WE DO HELP AND DON’T ASK FOR ANYTHING IN RETURN , THEY JUST IGNORE US AND WALK AWAY WITH NO “THANKS” OR ANYTHING TO SHOW RECOGNITION FOR WHAT WE DID.

JUST HOPE THAT ALL THE “OLD QUEENS” DON’T GO ON STRIKE OR YOU WON’T BE HAVING A LOT OF THE “SHOWS OR KREWE BALLS” THAT NEW ORLEANS HAS BECOME SO POPULAR AND FAMOUS FOR OVER THE YEARS. DON’T USE OR ABUSE THESE PEOPLE AS THEY HAVE LEARNED AND CRAFTED THEIR PERFORMANCES OVER THE YEARS, AND MOST DEFINITELY COULD TEACH A LOT TO SOME OF THE NEW PEOPLE THAT HAVE APPEARED ON THE SCENE. I’M SURE THAT A LOT OF THEM COULD PERFORM AND DANCE CIRCLES AROUND SOME OF THE NEW PEOPLE. THIS IS AN ART FORM THAT TAKES YEARS TO PERFECT. IT’S NOT JUST PUTTING ON A DRESS AND WALKING OUT AND MOUTHING A SONG. THERE IS A “LOT” MORE TO IT THAN THAT. (MORE ON THIS LATER) GOD BLESS ALL THE “OLD GIRLS”. MAYBE WE SHOULD GET TOGETHER AND SHOW EVERYONE HOW IT’S SUPPOSED TO BE DONE PROFESSIONALLY. I’M IN !

--GARY GLITTER

EXPOSE'-20 of 40 • Dec. 30, 2008-Jan. 5, 2009 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • GayBars.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • SouthernDecadence.COM