Ambush magazine volume 28 issue 14 by Ambush Publishing

2 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 6-19, 2010 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

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celebrazzi (celebrations-paparazzi)

ride Grand Marshals 2010 Steven Forster and Cathy Fox, and Miss Gay Pride Tami Tarmac led New Orleans Official Pride Parade presented by NOLA Pride from the Double Play down St. Louis past the Corner Pocket, down Burgundy past 700 Club, down St. Ann past Rawhide, Good Friends down Bourbon past the Pride stage, Napoleon's Itch, Oz, Bourbon Pub & Parade, ending at Cafe Lafitte in Exile.

z presented its 18th annual Neon Party celebrating the Bourbon Street club's 18th anniversary on Pride weekend in New Orleans. Hosted by Persana Shoulders and the Club Kids, it featured the talents of DJ Tim Pflueger and DJ Bull.

ride Grand Marshal Cathy Fox joins Mr. and Miss Gay Pride Travis Bergeron and Tami Tarmac welcoming guests to Seven Deadly Sins, the Pride weekend kickoff gala Friday at the W.

ity Councilman Arnie Fielkow presents NOLA Pride Co-chair TJ Rogers with New Orleans City Council Proclamation recognizing NOLA Pride as New Orleans Official Pride at the Pride Street Festival, corner of Bourbon and St. Ann on June 27.

OLA Pride Co-chair Darrin Duplissey accepts Mayor Mitch Landrieu's City of New Orleans Proclamation from New Orleans School Board's Thomas Robichaux naming NOLA Pride New Orleans Official Pride on the Pride Street Festival stage June 27.

ride Co-chairs Darrin Duplissey and TJ Rogers joins Robbie Gurtner and Bourbon Pub & Parade emcee Brad Roberts for the hot Men of Pride Underwear fashion show and auction at the Parade.

argarita Bergen joins Pride Grand Marshal Steven Forster and Betty Guillaud for the Pride Grand Marshals Reception hosted at K-Joe's Restaurant in the French Quarter on Pride weekend Saturday.

afe Lafitte in Exile, in association with Get It Right! Productions, presented Summer of Pride, an original production, Pride weekend with four acts: Stonewall Inn 1969, Comic Relief, Memory in Every Stitch and Our Direction is Clear. Stage performance tips benefited Wood Enterprises Have A Heart program.

inger Damian Faul presented by Rikki Gee as winner of the Voice of Pride karaoke contest at Oz. As winner, Damian performed live at the Pride Street Festival.

ollowing the Pride Grand Marshals Reception, legendary Chris Owens snagged Pride Grand Marshal Steven Forster on stage for the Chris Owens Show benefitting Pride Weekend.

ost Barry Bareass presents Sugar Daddy 2010 winner Mike Cookmeyer of 700 Club, holding his trophy with his contest dancer Marcello as bar baron Michael Elias looks on at The Corner Pocket at the Pocket's 28th anniversary.

4 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 6-19, 2010 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain RipandMarsha.COM Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com

NOLA Pride: New Orleans Official Pride Brought Some 3,000 Out to the First Pride Street Festival

he last Sunday in June brought out an estimated 2,500-3,000 to the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann for New Orleans first Pride Street Festival. Presented by NOLA Pride, the exciting weeks leading up to the big day were filled with fund-raisers, shows, receptions and galas. The NOLA Pride Committee should be congratulated for trying this new venue, a mini-Southern Decadence style Bourbon Street Extravaganza. It generated much needed revenues throughout the GLBT and gay-friendly communities for area businesses hit hard by the results of BP's Gulf oil spill. It's great to see the communities come together to celebrate Pride, New Orleans style. In addition to the 2nd Line Pride Parade featuring Pride Grand Marshals Steven Forster and Cathy Fox, and Miss Gay Pride Tami Tarmac, the street stage hosted loads of entertainment and moving speeches from political leaders and GLBT celebrities. New Orleans City Councilman Arnie Fielkow presented a city council proclamation recognizing NOLA Pride as New Orleans Official Pride, while New Orleans School Board's Thomas Robichaux presented a proclamation from New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu echoing the same message. Consider joining in next year's celebration tentatively scheduled for June 24-26, 2011 by joining the NOLA Pride Committee. You can make a difference! Visit NOLAPride.ORG for more information.

Jean Redmann to Receive Lifetime Achievement Award; Top 5 Fly Fashion Glamour & Cheridon Comedy Award Finalists Selected

he Gay Appreciation Awards (GAA) Board of Directors has selected Jean Redmann to receive the prestigious 23rd Lifetime Achievement Award at the 23rd annual GAA Gala Saturday, July 24 hosted at Oz, 800 Bourbon Street. Jean Redmann grew up in Ocean Springs, a small town on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Her father was a New Orleans native, so she spent much of her childhood visiting various relatives in the Crescent City. At eighteen, determined to get out of a small town, she headed north to Vassar. During her freshman year, she was asked by the Daughters of the Confederacy to make her debut. She declined their offer, and came out in a very different way. The day after she graduated from college, she got on a train for New York City. Determined not to become a rich yuppie, Ms. Redmann embarked on a career in theatrical lighting, including a stint as the master electrician for Psycho Beach Party. Richs never darkened her door, even today they remain a far lottery dream away. The New York theatrical world was hit hard by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. In the mid-1980s, Redmann volunteered on the first national hotline. Moving back to New Orleans, her HIV/AIDS volunteering turned into a full-time job. From 1991 to 1999, Redmann was the HIV Counseling and Testing Coordinator at NO/ AIDS Task Force. In 1999 she moved to her current job as Director of Prevention. As Director of Prevention Redmann has overseen the expansion of the department from five employees to the current twenty-two. During her tenure, the CAN office on Frenchmen Street opened, and NO/AIDS expanded its funding sources to include direct funding from CDC, from SAMHSA and the Office of Minority Health. In addition to direct services, the Prevention Department also collaborates on research activities, including being part of the National HIV Behavior Surveillance (NHBS) project, a Louisiana statewide MSM (Men who have Sex with Men) assessment, research on MSM tourist with Dr. Eric Benotsch on his NIH grant as well as others. Both Redmann and her staff have presented at national conferences. In addition to a ‘day job’ in HIV/AIDS, as J.M. Redmann she writes the Micky Knight mystery series. Of the five books published so far, four have been nominated for Lambda Literary Awards and two—The Intersection of Law and Desire and Death of A Dying Man, her most recent—have won the award. In addition to winning the ‘Lammy’ The Intersection of Law and Desire was an Editor’s Choice of the San Francisco Chronicle and was featured on NPR’s Fresh Air. She was recently awarded the Alice B. Medal, an award given annually to living writers who have careers distinguished by consistently well-written stories about lesbians. The award is given once, only, in appreciation of career achievement. Redmann is one of the few lesbian writers who ‘crossed over’ into the mainstream publishers from the smaller presses, with two of her books, The Intersection of Law and Desire and Lost Daughters, published by W.W. Norton. Her books have been translated into German, Spanish, Dutch and Norwegian. The next book, Water Mark, will be released in September from Bold Strokes Books. The GAA Board of Directors also have selected the Top 5 Finalists in two categories. The Fly Fashion Glamour Award finalists include Tiffany Alexander, Nicole DuBois, Mercedes Ellis Loreal, Rhonda Roget and Tami Tarmac. The Cheridon Comedy Award finalists include Barry Bareass, Blanche Debris, Zsa Zsa d'LaHor, Sister Mary Isawhore and Persona Shoulders. The winner in each of these categories will be announced along with the nineteen previously voted on by the public at the GAA Gala July 24th. The show starts promptly at 8pm, with doors opening at 7pm at Oz. All VIP Tables are sold out.

GAA Gala Issue out July 20 DEADLINE: Tuesday, July 13

inside celebrazzi big easy paparazzi/new orleans under the gayday/new orleans snap paparazzi/new orleans 39th southern decadence dining out for life snap paparazzi/new orleans gay appreciation awards gala classifieds acadiana paparazzi/lafayette

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acadiana happens/lafayette hot tails of red stick/baton rouge paparazzi/alexandria red stick paparazzi/baton rouge paparazzi/mobile trodding the boards/new orleans ambush paparazzi/new orleans ambush paparazzi/new orleans halloween new orleans

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

General admission is $10 at the door. All proceeds benefit the William Fanning Foundation (Buzzy's Boys & Girls). Board members Lisa Beaumann and Teryl-Lynn Foxx will emcee the affair. Entertainment will include the return of 2009 Entertainers of the Year Coca and Ama Rosa, and GAA Founder Marcy Marcell. Additionally, Show Club of the Year Finalists Bourbon Pub & Parade, JohnPaul's, Oz, Tubby's Golden Lantern, and Starlight By The Park are scheduled to do a production number. All stage performance tips also benefit Buzzy's Boys & Girls. The Top 5 Finalists voted on by the public include: • Circuit Party/Event of the Year: Gay Easter Parade, Halloween, PFLAG's 20th Anniversary Champagne Reception, Red Party/Lafitte's, Southern Decadence • Hair Salon of the Year: Bobby Blue Contemporary Barber & Beauty Parlor, Headquarters, Mickey Nolan's Salon, Paris Parker, Salon D'Malta • Gay Mardi Gras Ball of the Year: Krewe of Amon-Ra, Krewe of Armeinius, Krewe of Petronius, Lords of Leather, Mystic Krewe of Satyricon • Neighborhood Bar of the Year: 700 Club, Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Good Friends Bar, JohnPaul's, Tubby's Golden Lantern • Buzzy Fanning AIDS Award [organization/individual doing outstanding service in the AIDS arena]: Michael Hickerson, Toby Lefort, Tony Leggio, Chris Leonard, NO/AIDS Task Force • Bitch of the Year: Aletha Bryant, Paul Chiriaco, Ken Grandpre, Princesse Stephaney, Persana Shoulders • Show Club of the Year: Bourbon Pub & Parade, JohnPaul's, Oz, Tubby's Golden Lantern, Starlight By The Park • Donnie Jay Performing Arts Award [play, chorus or theatrical group/no individuals]: GLITZ: The Art of Female Impersonation, I Am My Own Wife, New Orleans Gay Men's Chorus, Outworks 2010/LSU Theatre Department, Running With Scissors • Restaurant/Deli/Coffee House of the Year: Bywater Restaurant, Deli & BBQ; Clover Grill; Mona Lisa Restaurant, Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli; Verti Mart • Dance Club of the Year: Bourbon Pub & Parade, JohnPaul's, Oz, Rubyfruit Jungle, Splash/Baton Rouge • Bartender of the Year: Aletha Bryant/ Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Darrin Duplissey/ JohnPaul's, Lance Pippin/Tubby's Golden Lantern, Jeff Palmquist/Cafe Lafitte in Ex-

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THE OFFICIAL MAG

Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 • Texas-Florida Official Gay Easter Parade Guide Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide Official Gay New Orleans Guide Official Southern Decadence Guide OFFICE/SHIPPING ADDRESS: 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 USA OFFICE HOURS: 10am-3pm Monday-Friday [Except Holidays] Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com PHONE: 1.504.522.8049 ANNUAL READERSHIP: 650,000+ in print/3.5 Million+ On-line NATIONAL CIRCULATION: USA... Alabama-Birmingham, Foley, Mobile Florida - Pensacola Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Houma, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Shreveport, Slidell Mississippi - Biloxi, Hattiesburg Texas - Austin

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 Joey Collins-Lafayette, LA Rev. Clinton Crawshaw, Tony Leggio, Jeff Palmquist-New Orleans Bob Brunson, Cieanne & John, 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: marsha@ripandmarsha.com, except for special holidays. 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. ©1982-2010, 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

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Ed, Gary & Miss Louisiana Leatherette Cathy Fox join Who’s My Daddy Contest

Joe & Marshall join new Bywater Patio Bar bartender Chris

Lynne, David, Lou, Muriel & Yvette celebrate @ Big Daddy’s Grand Re-Opening Lords of Leather’s Who’s My Daddy contestants @ Phoenix Kenny, Mary Ellen & Jerry @ Amon-Ra’s Prom Night

GM Tommy & dancer Joey @ Oz’s 18th Anniversary Neon Party

big easy

papar azzi

Lords of Leather Pres. Michael & Miss Gay Pride Tami Tarmac

Salon D’Malta’s Monica & Pitty Pat join Big Daddy’s Grand Re-Opening One of the Men of Oz @ Oz’s 18th Anniversary 18th Anniversary Neon Party

Steven & Lance celebrate @ Amon-Ra’s Prom Night

Jay & Adeaux in for Big Daddy’s Grand Re-Opening

Armeinius’ Nick, Bruce & Rick @ Amon-Ra’s Prom Night

Who’s My Daddy Contest winner Grapple Fire (center) with runnerups Kong & Dominic

Leo ties for 2nd place in the Sugar Daddy Contest @ Corner Pocket

Michael serves up his famous stuffed grape leaves for The Corner Pocket’s 28th Anniversary

Moms Mini Mart’s Sydney & Melissa celebrate Pride weekend @ Oz’s 18th Anniversary

Kevin & Dudley getting a cold one @ Cutter’s

Bartender Jim @ Cutter’s

10 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 6-19, 2010 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

Catching All The Action ~ New Orleans

Newly crowned Amon-Ra Prom King & Queen Nick Olivares & Deja Deja Vu @ JohnPaul’s

Bartenders Bruce & Ashlee serve cocktails for The Corner Pocket’s 28th Anniversary

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the "official" dish ...from 9 ile, Cody Warembourg/700 Club • DJ of the Year: Chris Allen/Bourbon Pub & Parade, DJ Myke/Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Johnny Love/Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Tim Pflueger/Oz, Richie Rich/JohnPaul's • Leather Bar of the Year: Dallas Eagle/ Dallas, JohnPaul's, Phoenix, Ramrod/Ft. Lauderdale, Rawhide 2010 • GLBT Business of the Year [no bars/ restaurants/delis/hair salons]: Alternatives, La Mina Sterling, Moms Mini Mart, Rab Dab Clothing & Gifts, Scully'z Recordz • Leather Person of the Year: Michael Albracht, Cathy Fox, Jose Gonzales, Toby Lefort, Gary Vandeventer • Transgender of the Year: Regina Adams, Dee Cooley, Stephanie Lee, Rikki Redd, Jasmine SX • Lesbian of the Year: Marty Curtin, Mae Falgout, Red Hanson, Pat McCardle, Sandy Sachs • Gay Man of the Year: Tommy Elias,

Ken Grandpre, Toby Lefort, Tony Leggio, John Vignone • Entertainer of the Year: [female/male impersonator/drag star or entertainer]: Big Mama, Elizabeth Bouvier, Blanche Debris, Passion Armani Cassidine, Coca The Marsha Delain Award of Excellence will be presented by Marsha NaquinDelain at the GAA Gala as well. The Board of Directors includes Lisa Beaumann, Teryl-Lynn Foxx, Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain, and Toni Pizanie. Sponsored by Ambush, visit AmbushMag.COM/GAA for more info. .

Press Party Kicks Off Southern Decadence Grand Marshals Events

outhern Decadence Grand Marshals XXXVI Toby Lefort and Julien Artressia have set

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the "official" dish ...from 12 the Official Southern Decadence Press Party for Tuesday, July 6, 7pm. This year the exciting event will be hosted in the Parade above the Bourbon Pub, 801 Bourbon Street, and is open to the public. The grand marshals will unveil the official poster by renowned photographer Larry Graham, and announce both the official song and sponsors. They have also set the following events as well: Tuesday, July 20th-7-8pm, Official Southern Decadence Pre-Poster Signing Reception @ Society Page; 8-11pm, Official Southern Decadence Poster Signing Reception @ 700 Club; Friday, August 13th-8pm, Bywater/ Marigny Bar Run begins Bywater Patio Bar & Secret Garden, to The Country Club, Cutter’s, Big Daddy’s, Friendly Bar, Phoenix, with closing party @ JohnPaul’s; and Friday, August 20th-Metairie/Slidell Bar Run begins 4 Seasons, to Billy’s in Slidell, back to Club Tribute, Sanctuary,

with closing party @ 4 Seasons. The duo will lead the 39th Southern Decadence celebration over Labor Day Weekend, Wednesday-Monday, September 1-6.

outhernDecadence.COM has partnered with New Orleans Courtyard and French Quarter Suites Hotels to stage an exciting contest giving away a room for two for Southern Decadence weekend. The contest winner would get deluxe accommodations for two for four nights, Friday-Monday, September 3-6 valued at almost $1,000. It includes the use of two beautiful pools, Wi-Fi Internet services, continental breakfast and off street parking. Visit SouthernDecadence.COM to enter. Drawing for the winner will be on Saturday, July 31.

Steps away from the hotels, you'll find celebrated Bourbon Street, New Orleans renown restaurants, bars, clubs, irresistible shopping and the many attractions and destinations that make the Crescent City one of the most popular and loved travel destinations in the world. French Quarter Suites is the official host hotel of Oz New Orleans. The properties are located at 1101/1119 N. Rampart Street. For reservations call 800.457.2253, email reservations@bpmhotels.com. For more info visit NOCourtyard.COM or FrenchQuarterSuites.COM.

Dining Out For Life set for July 15

n Thursday, July 15th,NO/ AIDS Task Force is asking locals to make a date to make a difference and dine out for its 15th annual Dining Out For Life fund-raiser. NO/AIDS has teamed with over 60 area restaurants to raise funds for men, women and families

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14 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 6-19, 2010 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

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July Bartender Spotlight

he bartender spotlight for July is someone I cannot say enough good things about. The turnover rate for bartenders in general is usually high, so when you find someone that genuinely enjoys their job and is terrific at it, you have found a true gem. And that person works at Cafe Lafitte in Exile. Aletha has been a staple at Lafitte’s for as long as I can remember and she truly makes your drinking experience special. She is attentive, friendly and sharp witted, everything you want in a bartender. She actually runs circles around many people there her junior. A bartender wears many hats when they work: confidant, tour

guide, therapist, server and performer. Each person that steps into your bar is there with a different agenda and the mark of a good bartender is deciphering their needs and giving the customer what they want. But most of all, everyone who comes into your bar wants one thing - a good drink from a friendly server. Aletha embodies all those qualities. She never waits for the customer to ask for the drink, she spots them and is ready to serve them when they walk up to the bar. That is what I call excellent customer service. Your patrons should never have to ask you for a drink, you

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the "official" dish ...from 14 affected by HIV and AIDS in Southeast Louisiana. It’s simple. Dine at one of the more than 60 restaurants participating, order your favorite culinary delights, sit back, relax and enjoy! At the end of the day, those participating restaurants will donate 25 percent of the daily proceeds to NO/ AIDS Task Force. Additionally, as the oil spill continues to affect the tourism and restaurant industries, Dining Out For Life is an opportunity to not only help out NO/AIDS Task Force, but also to give area restaurants a boost in the slow summer months The full list of restaurants is available at www.diningoutforlife.com, where you can find a wide variety of eateries that will cater to any taste or budget. Or see page 27 for a complete list of restaurants.

Reach the Market Ambush 5 0 4 .5 2 2 .8 0 4 9 marsha@ripandmarsha.com

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under the gaydar ...from 15 should be on top of it. And on Trash Disco Sundays, Aletha becomes part of the show at Lafitte’s jumping atop the bar to belt out a certain tune that comes across the video monitors. So as we celebrate the summer, go to Cafe Lafitte in Exile and say hi to Aletha who will make you one fabulously refreshing cocktail to beat the heat. Lafitte’s in Exile is located at 901 Bourbon Street.

mer concert series from hip hop to pop, to down home rock and roll. Some upcoming shows are: The Mid-Summer Classic (pop rock) on July 13; ACTIONAFTERDARK (electronica) on July 20; Sissy Bounce featuring Big Freedia and DJ Rusty Lazer on July 27; and the Revealers (reggae) on August 3. These shows are always packed and you can have an opportunity to meet people who wouldn’t normally come out to the gay bars otherwise. And it is a perfect date night for you and your honey. Meet new people, have tasty beverages from sexy bartenders and listen to great music, that is a winning combination in my book. All shows usually start at 11pm. Oz is located at 800 Bourbon Street.

Pride in New Orleans

Lafitte's Bartender Aletha

Naked Boys Singing

have to admit it, I really am not the biggest fan of karaoke. But this last Sunday, I went to Allways Lounge and my attitude changed towards it. Allways Lounge on Sunday nights presents Naked Karaoke and it is friggin’ fabulous. I stumbled upon it quite by accident and now have a new place where I will spend my Sunday evenings. The night is hosted by those loveable Karaoke Kids Rickie Gee and DJ P. There were really some very talented singers present that night who also happened to be quite proud exhibitionists. In other words, there were some hotties around who didn’t mind showing off the goods while they sang. Sometimes they strip down to their undies and sometimes they go the Full Monty. This is the ultimate fantasy, gay or straight, to have an ardent admirer belt out a ballad to you while in the buff. In my illustrious dating career, I have partaken in the company of several musicians (girls are not the only ones who can be groupies). And there is nothing sexier than being serenaded to in bed.

The Music of the Night

z is considered New Orleans premier dance club, but on Tuesday nights, it is turning into a happening live music venue. I recently went last Tuesday and saw none other than Oz’s own Tommy Elias and his band perform Broadway tunes and it was absolutely delightful. I have always known Tommy was talented, but he is quite the showman. His concert was full of lively Broadway favorites. Another famous New Orleans gay icon, Barry Bareass, was part of Tommy’s band on drums. What is so daring for Oz is that they are not afraid to take chances and this live music format over the sometimes slow summer months is wonderful. They have included all musical genres in their sum-

une 25-27 was NOLA Pride and what a wonderful array of events was produced to benefit the LGBT Community Center. And, I was excited to play just a small part of some of these happenings. There have been an entire month of events, but the actual week of Pride kicked off the Sunday prior at Philips Bar Uptown with a cocktail reception. Normally closed on Sundays, Philips opened up specially for the Pride group that night and offered affordable martini drink prices. This is not your Uptown college campus bar. It is designed beautifully and they have one of the greatest jukeboxes in the city. The food was delicious bar fare and they truly have some of the most beautiful female bartenders in the city. On Fridays it is normally gay night, but in honor of Pride they hosted us on Sunday afternoon. On Wednesday, the Pub was the location of the underwear auction. I wonder where they got the idea for this (wink wink). Seven gorgeous men with incredible bodies displayed their talents and then stripped off their underwear to the lucky high bidders. Thank God my mother was busy that night. Drew from The Country Club brought in the most $$$. Kudos to MC Brad Roberts who did an excellent job. On Thursday, after weeks of tryouts came the final night for the Voice of Pride contest. Rickie Gee and DJ P held karaoke contests at different gay establishments around the city producing six finalists who vied for the title of Voice of Pride. I was flattered to be asked to judge this contest along with Tommy Elias from Oz and Chuck from Napoleon’s Itch. After the first round of eliminations three contestants remained. Katrina Johnson, Paris White and Damian Faul were just amazing, but there could only be one Voice of Pride and the winner was Damian. I think his version of Sway knocked the audience and judges (especially me) for a loop. His talent, sex appeal and magnetic stage presence all combined to make him the night’s clear choice. And we will see much more of him in the future, because Chuck has slotted him to open up for Kimberly Locke at the Southern Decadence Bourbon Street Extravaganza he produces on Bourbon at St. Ann. Now that is what I call a winner. And one more thing, Damian I think you should hone your skills at Allways Lounge on Sunday nights during Naked Karaoke. Just let me know when you will be there. On Friday they had the opening gala for Pride weekend at the W Hotel on Poydras and the theme was Seven Deadly

Sins. This was a fun event that had good food, a mojito bar and unique entertainment produced by Grey Cross. Highlights of the event was the fashion show staged by Johnny Love and our own NOLA Pride King being carried in by half naked boys on a carpet while he drank wine and fed on grapes. Now that is what I call an entrance. Afterwards I ventured downstairs to a fabulous gay after party at Whiskey Blue. This was a truly incredible night. On Saturday over two hundred people showed up to City Park for the Queens vs. Kings Softball game. Drag queens went head to head with the lesbians for a two inning game. While the lesbians played a tough game, the drag queens pulled it out at the end with a score of three to two. The picnic was also a major part of this day with many compliments on the food. That night, one of the my favorite events of the weekend was the reception at K Joe’s with a private viewing of the world famous Chris Owen show. This living legend went out of her way to honor Pride Grand Marshals Steven Forster and Cathy Fox by bringing each of them on stage. In fact she pulled the entire Pride board and guests up as she asked us all to participate in her act. This was a magical night seeing her show with some great people. All I have to say is that Ms. Owens is a class act and if you have not seen her show, then make it a point not to miss it. Another special thanks to Michael Weber and Kitsy Adams for having us in the wonderful K Joe’s Restaurant. All the top VIP’s came out for the night like actor Bryan Batt and his partner Tom, and retired Times Picayune society columnist Betty Guillaud. The next day was Pride and what a day it turned out to be. We survived the heat and partied all day with the parade that kicked off at 1pm by the Double Play on St. Louis. The grand marshals and the NOLA Pride court led everything off. Several groups of people walked behind it celebrating our pride. I was emceeing the stage for the beginning of the day and got to announce the parade as well as the VIP guests who were present for the festival. City Council President Arnie Fielkow and School Board Member Thomas Robicheaux presented proclamations to the Pride Board from the Mayor and the City Council naming NOLA Pride as New Orleans Official Pride event. After the introductions and awards were given out, the divas Miss Pride Tami Tarmac and Pride Grand Marshal Cathy Fox took to the stage in a duet. The rest of the day went swimmingly as a continuous lineup of LGBT entertainment graced the stage such as Beth Trepagnier, Morgan McKay and Popgun Paul Cowgill. The crowds were big and the bars were full and all I can say is it was very successful Pride weekend. Congratulations to chairs Darrin Duplissey and TJ Rogers on their wonderful job in creating a successful Pride. And a special note of congratulations to Tami Tarmac, Travis Bergeron, Cathy Fox and Steven Forster who did an incredible job in representing us at all the pride events. Like with many things, there is plenty of room for improvement, so I hope we have more people participating next year to continue to show our pride. And for all those people I have heard saying derogatory things about Pride, I believe it is time for you to get up and make a change in our community for the good, instead of wallowing in the past. I always found it hard to believe why we do

not work together as a united family. This is not a divisive event but a wonderful opportunity to come together. So for all those people who complain at what has Pride done for them, I say to them, what have YOU done to be proud.

Stitch Her Up

he day after Elizabeth and I visited the hospital, we were back once again to check on Elaine, I mean Cathy Fox. She was having her surgery today and we wanted to see how she was doing. “Can you believe Tami Tarmac was waiting outside the elevator yesterday. I wonder what she was doing here?” I said. Elizabeth was busy swallowing the remnants of one of those petite bottles of vodka you find on airplanes. “I haven’t the clue and she cut out pretty fast. But forget about that we have a bigger problem at hand, I am out of vodka. I grabbed the wrong purse and I forgot to restock. This is some serious bullshit.” “Calm down, we will go to the gift shop, they may have something you could use,” I said as we passed Barbara Ella sitting at the information desk filing her nails. She looked up briefly, rolled her eyes and went back to her cuticles. We entered the gift shop and the person behind the counter turned around. “May I help you. Oh, it is you people, what trouble are you going to cause now.” “Wow, it’s you from the other night, what are you doing here?“ I asked Tittie Toulouse who stood before us behind the counter. “I started managing this place yesterday. I decided to close my mobile store, thanks to you and your falling friend. By the way, she still has a Gucci buckle from one of my purses.” “Well, I think the doctors are removing it from her ass right now. I will make sure she gets that right back to you,” Elizabeth said perusing the store. “You got any vodka in here?” “No, but I got some little chocolates filled with kahlua.” “I’ll take it,” Elizabeth said, “this should hold me till we get to the hospital’s pharmacy, they should have some good cold medicine that has a high alcohol content, if you get the cherry flavor one and it is like you are drinking a cosmopolitan.“ “Right,“ I said as she paid for her purchase. We started to leave the store when Tittie called us back. “Listen,” she said in a whisper, “I just got back from a little buying trip South of the border and I get some great deals on watches. They look like the originals.” She opened her coat and there were dozens hanging inside of it. “That‘s a beauty, how much is that one,” Elizabeth squealed pointing to a Rolex knockoff. “Twenty for you.” “Deal,” she slapped the cash on the counter and took her purchase. “Come back next week, I am getting a shipment of some perfume that smells just like the real thing.” We told her we would be back and left. Elizabeth popped a chocolate in her mouth. “You know it is good thing there were purses in the back of the car when Cathy fell because just think of the drama of them removing a bottle of Obsession from her

[continued on 18]

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under the gaydar ...from 16 rectum. I tell you that wouldn’t be nothing pretty.” “No I cannot imagine it would be.” I said as we approached the pharmacy. The entire time I kept on thinking what another strange coincidence it was that Tittie just happened to be in the hospital the same time as Cathy. We approached the window of the pharmacy. An Anne Bancroft lookalike stood behind the counter in practical glasses and a low cut red blouse. “Yes, may I service you.” “Yes, you may, I need some cough medicine with the highest alcohol content, we may be waiting here a while,” Elizabeth said and sucked the kahlua out of a chocolate. I noticed the name tag on the pharmacist said C. Alice That name somehow sounded recognizable. “C. Alice, just like the drug,” I said. “That’s right honey, I am the human form of that little pill. If you have C. Alice around your erectile dysfunction is a thing of the pass.” “Well the next time I have a gentleman caller I will call you over,” Elizabeth said finishing the last chocolate. A look of desperation crossed her face. “Can I get the cough medicine and go,” she turned to me, “you said we would only take a few minutes to check on Cathy Fox.” “Oh, her, she is quite the pain around the hospital. If you ask me she doesn’t deserve anything good to happen to her,” C. Alice said grabbing a bottle of cough medicine from the shelf. Elizabeth quickly doled out the money and we were off see Cathy. “You know she seemed a little overly angry at Cathy. Doesn’t that seem strange to you, Elizabeth.” She shrugged as she struggled to open the childproof cap off the medicine bottle. We went up to Cathy’s floor and ran into Little Debbie pushing her cart of snatch cakes down the hall. “Good morning, Little Debbie, are you having a blessed day?” Elizabeth asked. “Screw you and your blessed day, that friend of yours is a witch, someone should drop a house on her.” “Oh, so I see you have been to visit Cathy already this morning,” Elizabeth deduced. “Yes, before she went into surgery. I gave her a snatch cake to be nice and she said, she said,” she started crying. “Well, spit it out child, I am getting sober here,” Elizabeth chugged some cough medicine. “She said my cakes were stale,” the tears poured out and she curled her lip. “I will have you know no one has ever criticized my snatch and no one ever will. I will make Ms. Fox pay for her rude comments about my snatch.” She turned and left abruptly, bumping into me with her cart. “Well, I see Cathy must have peed on her snatch cakes this morning. Lets get this over with, Commanders is doing their 25¢ martini lunch today and I have a five dollar roll of quarters burning a hole in my purse. That should get me to dessert at least,” Elizabeth said holding out the cough medicine to me. “I think I will pass on that, thanks.” We approached Cathy’s room and a woman in a heavy overcoat with high collar and a hat pulled over her eyes ran out of the room nearly running us down. She scurried down the hall without us getting a good

look at her. “Who was that?” I said. “This might help,” Elizabeth picked up a lace handkerchief the woman dropped. “Look it has her initials on it. P.S., those initials do not sound familiar to me.” “What are you doing here,” a voice came from behind us startling both of us. I turned to face Nurse Haley. “We are here to see Cathy Fox?” “She is not out of surgery yet, you may have a seat in the waiting room,” and she was gone. “There is something about her that is so uncanny, like I have seen her before but I just can’t place it.” I told Elizabeth. “Forget it, what is all that noise, are they torturing a cat somewhere.” We followed the sound down the hallway where we found Tami Tarmac standing in the center of a room belting out a tune badly. She was surrounded by several people in wheelchairs, most of whom looked totally dazed. “Tami, what the hell are you doing?” Elizabeth said. “I am entertaining the children,“ She said as she smoothed her sequined gown and straightened her tiara atop her head, “I am trying to bring just a smile to their pathetic, little, sick faces. Besides I need the service hours after that night I went out with Lindsey Lohan and plowed my car into a bus carrying a bible study school. No one was hurt, but the judge still gave me 160 hours of service work. I mean really, service hours in a hospital, what a waste of my talent. I should be off entertaining the troupes somewhere.” “Tami, didn’t you try that once and they decided that your version of entertaining our men on the frontline was a little different than back in the USO days. I mean really Tami, the first and second platoons, couldn’t you have at least taken a rest. I am not quite sure if you even have any traction down there. It is like deep space, but unfortunately not the final frontier,“ Elizabeth said. “Whatever, between you and Cathy, I do not have time for your petty jealousies of my celebrity.” “But Tami,” I interrupted the girls back and forth, “these people are not kids, you are in the rehab unit. These are adults.” “Please make her stop said a weak voice from a wheelchair, I just kicked heroin, but if she continues I might just go back.“ “Stuff it, you ungrateful junkie, I am a star, you should be lucky to have me brighten your day!” “Come on ladies, lets go see Cathy, she should be out of surgery by now.” As we moved toward Cathy’s room, I thought again abut the unique fluke that Tami was doing her service hours at the same hospital Cathy was at. I rapped gently on the door then held it open for the ladies to enter. “Holy hell,” Tami screamed and ran out of the room bellowing down the hallway. “What is wrong with her,” Elizabeth said walking in next. “Aww hell,” she said and passed out. I ran in the room , “oh my god, Cathy what have they done to you!” To be continued... (If you think this is real, then I have some swamp land to sell you.) Have an event or have something of interest to the LGBT community, feel free to send press releases or information to tonymgp@hotmail.com.

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paparazzi

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NOLA Pride: New Orleans Official Pride Street Festival & 2nd Line Parade ~ Photos by Ambush, Tony Leggio, Lee Mullen

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Chuck Robinson, Tommy Elias & Tony Leggio judge Voice of Pride finals @ Oz

Miss Gay Pride Tami Tarmac, Darwin Reed, Amon-Ra Prom Queen Deja Deja Vu & King Cake Queen Opal Masters @ Seven Deadly Sins Pride Kick-off Gala

King & Queen Amon-Ra David Aranda & Countess C. Alice @ Seven Deadly Sins Pride Kick-off Gala

Pride Grand Marshals Steven Forster & Cathy Fox @ Seven Deadly Sins Pride Kick-off Gala @ the W

Queen Petronius-Elect Bootsie Deville & JohnPaul’s Paul Chiriaco @ Seven Deadly Sins Pride Kick-off Gala

Voice of Pride winner Damian Faul with his family (dad & aunt) @ Oz Ryan & Jeffy in Men of Pride

Miss Trailer Park Tutu Sugar Rich performs @ Men of Pride

Voice of Pride 2nd & 3rd Runnerups Katrina Johnson & Paris White @ Oz

Mr. Gay Pride Travis Bergeron arrives in style @ Seven Deadly Sins Pride Kick-off Gala Designer Johnny Love & model Melyssa @ Seven Deadly Sins Pride Kick-off Gala

Voice of Pride Finalists with MC Rikki Gee @ Oz Lance, Bobby Blue’s Grant & boy Kevin join Seven Deadly Sins Pride Kick-off Gala Eric in Men of Pride @ the Parade

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Pride Platinum Sponsors Ambush Mag’s Marsha & Rip Naquin-Delain @ Seven Deadly Sins Pride Kickoff Gala

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Tim in Men of Pride @ the Parade

Miss Gay Pride Tami Tarmac & Pride Grand Marshal Cathy Fox out of face @ Voice of Pride Finals

King & Queen Petronius Lee Briggs & Natasha Sinclaire @ Seven Deadly Sins Pride Kick-off

Lords of Leather presentation on stage @ Seven Deadly Sins Pride Kick-off Gala

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Country Club’s Drew in Men of Pride Underwear Fashion Show @ the Bourbon Pub/Parade

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CANAL STREET

100 IBERVILLE

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300

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400 ST. LOUIS

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800 DUMAINE

cable shows New Orleans, LA [504] THE GAR WILLIAMS SHOW, Every Wed. &Sat., 8:30am & 8:30pm, Access Television Channel 99

1100 GOVERNOR NICHOLLS

1200 BARRACKS

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FR 2 A 500 N K L L 26 00 IN YA O R E LO IN U PH IS U A A D

EL YS IA N

EN 2 0 0 0 C 2 1 HM E 00 N

FI EL D S RT PA M A R

French Quarter/Faubourg Marigny/Bywater

autos Metairie, LA [504] WALKER ACURA, 8951 Veterans Blvd., 464.4004, WalkerAcura.COM

bars Mobile, AL [251] B-BOB'S DOWNTOWN, 213 Conti St., 433.2262, b-bobs.com GABRIEL'S DOWNTOWN, 55 South Joachim St., 432.4900 THE MIDTOWNE PUB, 153 Florida St., 450.1555 Pensacola, FL [850] EMERALD CITY, 408 E. Wright St., 433.9491, EmeraldCityPensacola.COM THE ROUNDUP, 560 East Heinberg St., 433.8482 Alexandria, LA [318] OLYMPUS BAR, 4003 MacArthur Dr., 442.6735, OlympusBar.COM Baton Rouge, LA [225] CAJUN COVE, 4550 Concord Ave. GEORGE'S, 860 St. Louis, 387.9798, GeorgesPlaceBR.COM HOUND DOGS, 668 Main St., 344.0807 SPLASH, 2183 Highland Road, 242.9491, splashbr.com Lafayette, LA [337] BACK SIDE, 209 Jefferson St., 269.0430 JULES DOWNTOWN, 533 Jefferson, 264.8000

New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700 MR. BINKY'S BOUTIQUE, 107 Chartres St., 302.2095 MR. BINKY'S BOUTIQUE OF HARAHAN, 301 Funston St., 305.2160

1000 URSULINES

bookstores

900 ST. PHILIP

PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264 RAWHIDE 2010, 740 Burgundy St., 525.8106, Rawhide2010.COM RUBYFRUIT JUNGLE, 1135 Decatur St., 373.5431 SOCIETY PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., 299.0156 STARLIGHT BY THE PARK, 834 N. Rampart St., 561.8939, StarlightByThePark.COM TUBBY'S GOLDEN LANTERN, 1239 Royal, 529.2860, TubbysBar.COM Slidell, LA [985] BILLY'S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, 847.1921

THE SOUND FACTORY, 209 Jefferson St., 269.6011 Lake Charles, LA [337] CRYSTAL'S, 112 W. Broad, 433.5457 Metairie, LA [504] 4-SEASONS / PATIO BAR, 3229 N. Causeway, 832.0659, www.4seasonsno.com New Orleans, LA [504] 700 CLUB, 700 Burgundy, 561.1095, 561.1098, 700ClubNewOrleans.COM BIG DADDY'S, 2513 Royal, 948.6288 BOURBON PUB/PARADE, 801 Bourbon St., 529.2107, BourbonPub.COM BYWATER PATIO BAR, 3162 Dauphine St., 944.4445 CAFÉ LAFITTE IN EXILE, 901 Bourbon Street 522.8397, Lafittes.COM CORNER POCKET, 940 St. Louis, 568.9829 COUNTRY CLUB, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 CUTTER'S, 706 Franklin, 948.4200 THE DOUBLE PLAY, 439 Dauphine, 523.4517 THE FRIENDLY BAR, 2301 Chartres, 943.8929 GOOD FRIENDS BAR, 740 Dauphine St, 566.7191, GoodFriendsBar.COM JOHNPAUL'S, 940 Elysian Fields Ave., 948.1888, JohnPaulsBar.COM LE ROUNDUP, 819 St. Louis, 561.8340 NAPOLEON'S ITCH, 734 Bourbon, 371.5450 OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, OzNewOrleans. COM

chiropractic New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MICHAEL LECHLEITER, D.C., St. Charles Chiropractic, 1529 Jackson Ave., 566.1833 [is1210]

circuit/events Sept. 1-6, 2010, 38th Official Southern Decadence-A Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture, end of Summer Blowout including the Southern Decadence Parade & loads of activities, bringing over 125,000 revelers to New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush & SouthernDecadence.COM Oct. 28-31, 2010, Halloween 27, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, halloweenneworleans.com Dec. 30, 2010-Jan. 4, 2011, Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.COM March 4-8, 2011, Official Gay Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush, GayMardiGras.COM Easter Sunday, April 24, 2011, Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade.COM May 26-30, 2011, Memorial Day Weekend, Pensacola, FL, sponsored by Ambush, GayPensacola.COM

computers Baton Rouge, LA [225] JDiT NETWORKING SOLUTIONS, Jerry Durden, 229.6108, JDiT.US

counseling New Orleans, LA [504] DAVID WAGNER, M.Ed., Counseling & Psychotherapy, 3001 Fifth St., Metairie, LA 70002; 836.0000

florists Baton Rouge, LA [225] FOUR SEASONS FLOWERS & GIFTS, 3482 Drusilla Ln., Drusilla Shopping Center, 924.1386, 1.800.237.5381

framing New Orleans, LA [504] ANGLE CUSTOM FRAMES, 4422 Magazine St., 269.3726

guides America Damron Travel Guide, 800.462.6654,

www.damron.com Gulf South/United States AMBUSH Mag, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, ambushmag.com; email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com International GayBars.COM, 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137; 504.522.8049, marsha@ripandmarsha.com

groceries/delis New Orleans, LA [504] MOMS MINI MART, 902 Poydras, 596.2223 QUARTERMASTER DELI, THE NELLIE DELI, 1100 Bourbon, 529.1416 VERTI MART, 1201 Royal St., 525.4767

hair salons New Orleans, LA [504] BOBBY BLUE CONTEMPORARY BARBER & BEAUTY PARLOR, 906 Bourbon St., 527.5100 MICKEY NOLAN'S SALON, 815 Toulouse St., 587.7782

insurance New Orleans, LA [504] ALLSTATE: Buckwalter Insurance Group LLC, 2002 20th St., Kenner, 504.469.4800;101 Schexnayder Ln., Destrehan, 985.764.3833

lodging/accommodations New Orleans [504] BURGUNDY BED AND BREAKFAST, 2513 Burgundy St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE/FAX: 504.942.1463, Toll Free (Continental US only): 1.800.970.2153, theburgundy.com, E-mail us at theburgundy@cox.net. Gay owned and operated in newly renovated 1890's double. Four guest rooms with private baths, guests' parlor and "half-kitchen", courtyard and half-open tubhouse with spa (hot tub/whirlpool). Clothing optional in sunbathing and hot tub area. Walking distance to French Quarter. Immediate vicinity of gay and lesbian bars/venues. [0810] FRENCH QUARTER SUITES HOTEL, 1119 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone 504.524.7725, Toll Free: 800.457.2253, FrenchQuarterSuites.COM. E-mail us at reservations@bpmhotels.com. Official Host Hotel of Oz New Orleans. One of several French Quarter residences that have been painstakingly restored and transformed into spacious multi-bedroom suites, executive townhouses, intimate cottages and comfortable rooms. Adjacent to the French Quarter. Complimentary continental breakfast and off street parking. MARIGNY MANOR HOUSE, 2125 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70116, PHONE: 504.943.7826, Toll Free: 877.247.7599, marignymanorhouse.com, E-mail us at info@MarignyManorHouse.COM. 1840’s Grand Greek Revival guest house, large spacious bedrooms, private baths, antique 4 poster queen beds, wireless internet access, tv/vcr/dvd/cable, telephone, complimentary continental breakfast and off street parking. [0111] NEW ORLEANS COURTYARD HOTEL, 1101 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70116,

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Phone 504.524.7725, Toll Free: 800.457.2253, NOCourtyard.COM. E-mail us at reservations@bpmhotels.com. One of several historic New Orleans homes and cottages that have been lovingly restored and converted into beautifully appointed rooms, spacious multibedroom suites, luxury townhouses and cottages. Adjacent to the French Quarter. Complimentary continental breakfast and off street parking. BON MAISON GUEST HOUSE, 835 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.561.8498 BOURGOYNE GUEST HOUSE, 839 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.524.3621

marketing & printing New Orleans, LA [504] SIR SPEEDY, 343 Carondelet, 586.9812, 586.9817, offering printing and marketing services including web design and hosting. info@sirspeedyneworleans.com, sirspeedyneworleans.com

massage New Orleans, LA [504] RIGHT TOUCH MASSAGE -- Christopher - Full body therapeutic massage; heated table; private studio; tropical garden; Faubourg Marigny Area, French Quarter. Upgrade (Salt Scrubs Bodywork). Call 504.458.5996 / website righttouchnola.com for pictures, location & special. License #LA4553 [is17/10]

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: marsha@ripandmarsha.com AMBUSHonLINE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049, ambushonline.com, email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com

models/escort New Orleans, LA [504] BODY RUBS & ESCORT: Mikey 504.756.9443, Charlie 504.430.7413, 4 hands availalable, 24/7, in/out/hotels, pics at www.men4rentnow.com. Search by ID# 190508 [is1410]

museum/arts Baton Rouge, LA [225] LOUISIANA ARTS AND SCIENCE CENTER / RIVERSIDE MUSEUM, 100 S. River Road, 344.5272 LOUISIANA GOVERNOR'S MANSION, 1001 Capitol Access Rd., 342.5855 LOUISIANA STATE ARCHIVES, 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 Cam-

pus, 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 EDGAR DEGAS HISTORIC HOME, 2306 Esplanade Avenue, tours by appointment: 504.821.5009, the house tour lasts one hour, is led by a great-grand-niece of Degas, and includes the award-winning documentary video, Degas in New Orleans: A Creole Sojourn 1850 HOUSE, 523 St. Ann, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm GALLIER HOUSE, 1132 Royal, 523.6722, Mon-Fri 10am-3:30pm GERMAINE WELLS MARDI GRAS MUSEUM, 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 10am4:45pm LONGUE VUE HOUSE AND GARDENS, 7 Bamboo Rd, Metairie, 488.5488, Mon-Sat 10am-4:30pm, Sun 1-5pm MUSEE CONTI HISTORICAL WAX MUSEUM, 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, TuesSun 10am-5pm OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART, 925 Camp St., 539.9600 OLD U.S. MINT, 400 Esplanade, TuesSun 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., 592.4666

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 AS-

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SOCIATION, b-bobs.com/gcbla.htm THE SOUTHERN RENEGADES, a Levi/ Leather Club, southernrenegades.com 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] AIDSLaw of Louisiana, 4560 North Boulevard, Suite 118, 302.5968, AIDSLAW.org 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 METROPOLITAN COMMUNITY CHURCH OF BATON ROUGE, 7747 Tom Drive, 70806, Worship Sunday, 11am, Bible Study Wednesday, 7pm, 225.248.0404, mccbr.org PFLAG Baton Rouge, President Harold Truax, 225.218.8320 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 OF APOLLO / 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] ACLU and ACLU Foundation of Louisiana, P.O. Box 56157, New Orleans, LA 70156, 504.522.0628 x25, Fax: 888.537.0384, laaclu.org AIDS HOTLINE, 821.6050 in New Orleans, 1.800.99.AIDS[2437]-9 toll free statewide AIDSLaw of Louisiana, 3801 Canal St., Suite 331, 568.1631, AIDSLAW.org ALCOHOLICS ANONYMOUS, 838.3399 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 12:15pm Solumn Mass, 5pm Praise & 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, w w w . b i g e a s y m c c . c o m , pastor@bigeasymcc.com BROTHERHOOD, INC., To decrease the spread of AIDS and HIV among African Americans, 1661 Canal St., Suite 3230, 70112; 566.7955 CHURCH OF CHRIST THE LIBERATOR, Sun. 11am Service, 607 Marigny St. (behind The Friendly Bar), ChristTheLiberator.ORG 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 FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 944.6028 FORUM FOR EQUALITY, 336 Lafayette, Suite 200, 70130; 947.2981,

ForumForEquality.COM FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE MARDI GRAS (FNBMG), PO Box 791376, New Orleans, LA 70179-1376; 733.3311, fridaynightbeforemardigras.com, fnbmg@cox.net 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, Email: 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 701566836; gga.org, E-mail: info@gga.org HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, INC., PO Box 52171, 70152-2171; halloween neworleans.com/ambush 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 and gender identity, age, disability, and/or sexual orientation. IN THIS TOGETHER, HIV/AIDS Case Management, 2511 Bayou Road, Suite B, 70119; Office: 504.962.3245, Fax: 504.962.3246; 962.3245, www.inthistogetherinc.org, michael@ittnola.org 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, KreweOfPetronius.ORG 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 70117-4035, 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 MYSTIC KREWE OF SATYRICON, PO Box 15889, 70115-5889 MysticKreweOfSatyricon.COM NEW ORLEANS GAY MEN’S CHORUS, 322.7007, nogmc.com; nogmc@aol.com NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL, nojazzfest.com 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 OFFICIAL GAY EASTER PARADE, 828A 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, 828-A 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 PRIDE NEW ORLEANS CELEBRATION: NOLA PRIDE, 2114 Decatur St., 945.1103, NOLAPride.ORG PROJECT LAZARUS, A Residence for PWAs, PO Box 3906, 70177-3906; 949.3609 REGIONAL AIDS INTERFAITH NETWORK [RAIN], 523.3755 SOFTBALL LEAGUE FORMING THIS SPRING-All skill levels from beginner to advanced. For more information, visit www.nolasoftball.com THE COMMUNITY COALITION OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS LGBTQ Organizations & Businesses, tccgno.org, 569.9156 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 YWCA AIDS MINORITY COMMUNITY OUTREACH, 700 Pierre Ave., 71103; 226.8717

Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, CloverGrill.COM Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 Krystal, 116 Bourbon @ Canal, 523.4030 La Peniche, 1940 Dauphine St., 943.1460 Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, 95 French Market Pl., 522.9500 Maximo's Italian Grill, 1117 Decatur St., 586.8883, MaximosGrill.COM Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 The Pelican Club, 312 Exchange Alley, 523.1504, PelicanClub.COM Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416

pets

spas

New Orleans, LA [504] CHI-WA-WA GA-GA, 511 Dumaine; 581.4242; chiwawagaga.com DR. MIKE'S ANIMAL HOUSE, 1120 N. Rampart, 523.4455 FRENCH QUARTER PET ASYLUM, 513 Dumaine St., 302.9845 FRENCH QUARTER VET, 922 Royal St., Office 322.7030, Cell 250.1175, DrScott@TheFrenchQuarterVet.COM

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

plumbers New Orleans, LA [504] RAMSEY PLUMBING, repairs, repipe, sewer & drain cleaning, water heaters, disposals, 296.6865

real estate agents New Orleans, LA [504] JUDY FISHER, INC. REALTORS, Agent Mary Lind, 874.4905, marylind2020@gmail.com PRUDENTIAL GARDNER REALTORS, Agent Brett A. Rector, Cell: 453.2277, Office: 891.6400, brettinla@aol.com

restaurants Metairie, LA [504] ROOBA'S CRESCENT SPOON CAFE, 2307 Veterans Mem. Blvd., 830.1035, Roobas.COM New Orleans, LA [504] 700 CLUB RESTAURANT, 700 Burgundy, 561.1095, 561.1098, 700ClubNewOrleans.COM Bywater Restaurant, Deli & BBQ,3162 Dauphine St., 944.4445 Cafe Amelie, 912 Royal St., 412.8965

retail/shopping New Orleans, LA [504] ALTERNATIVES, 907 Bourbon St., 70116; 524.5222 BOURBON-STRIP TEASE, 205 Bourbon St., 70130; 581.6633, bourbontease.com THE HERB IMPORT COMPANY, 711 St. Peter [in French Quarter], 525.4372; 4901 Canal St. [near City Park Ave.], 488.4889, HerbImport.COM LA MINA STERLING, 840 Royal St., 324.3423, laminasterling@gmail.com PANDA BEAR, 415 Bourbon St., 529.8064 RAB DAB CLOTHING AND GIFTS, 918 Royal St., 525.6662 SERENDIPITOUS MASKS, 831 Decatur St., 522.9158 Slidell, LA [985] THE HERB IMPORT COMPANY, 1331 Englewood Dr., 643.8007, HerbImport.COM

New Orleans, LA [504] CLUB NEW ORLEANS, 515 Toulouse, 581.2402, www.the-clubs.com FLEX NEW ORLEANS, 700 Baronne St., 598.FLEX [3539]

tours New Orleans, LA [504] STEAMBOAT NATCHEZ, Toulouse Street Dock, 568.1401, SteamboatNatchez.COM

theatres New Orleans, LA [504] LE PETIT THEATRE DU VIEUX CARRE, 616 St. Peter, 522.2081 MAHALIA JACKSON THEATRE OF PERFORMING ARTS, 801 N. Rampart, Armstrong Park, mahaliajacksontheater.com, 525.1052 SOUTHERN REP THEATRE, Canal Place, 365 Canal St., 3rd Floor, 522.6545, SouthernRep.COM

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, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM

Reach the Market

Ambush 504.522.8049 marsha@ripandmarsha.com

32 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 6-19, 2010 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

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acadiana

papar azzi

Looking hot @ Jules

Mess & Belinda Bee @ Red Ribbon Ball

DJ Keith Doucet spinning tracks @ Red Ribbon Ball

A successful Toga Party @ Jules

BJ, Mitch & Ben having a great time @ Sound Factory Trey & Joey @ Jules

Lovely gentlemen enjoying Red Ribbon Ball @ Sound Factory Alright Miss Thing!

Hunter, John & Robby @ Crystal’s What beautiful smiles!

Wes, Joe, John & Rick @ Red Ribbon Ball

Rebecca & Michael @ Jules

Joe’s new bartending uniform

Bradley & Adam looking very sharp DJ Kyle D helped serve Jello Shots @ Red Ribbon Ball

John & DJ Chad Evans hanging out @ Crystal’s

Robby, Hunter Mannies & Hunter Jones @ Red Ribbon Ball

Darren & Steven @ Jules

Andre, Rick & Kasi @ Jules Toga Party

34 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 6-19, 2010 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

Crystal’s, Jules, Sound Factory ~ Lafayette, Louisiana ~ Photos by Joey Collins

Forum Rep Collin Miller & CARES Rep Jason Crooks

acadiana happens by Joey Collins, Lafayette, Louisiana Email: ejcollins583@gmail.com

lright Acadiana, I feel the need to begin with one line: Out with the old and in with the new. That’s right. Big changes are right around the corner. If you’re not into change then you’re just going to be left out in the cold. You’re listening up with Joey Collins. Here’s the deal.

The End Always Brings a New Beginning

any of us have heard the news. It’s the biggest secret that has everyone whispering behind closed glass doors. In case you haven’t heard, then unearth yourself form that rock. Yes, it is true… The end of an era is near; Sound Factory will soon be closing its doors for good. WHAT!?!?! Yes, it has been confirmed. Before you queen out and protest these actions, take a deep breath and relax. All will be well. Remember that the end of one era only leads to another even brighter era. It’s sort of like Judy Garland passing the torch to Cher who passed it to Madonna which has now been passed to Lady Gaga. Bigger and better things are in store. I’m not yet at liberty to discuss all things to come. Just know that a newer gay bar will soon be introduced to the Lafayette area. I’m not yet at liberty to discuss the location and name

of the venue. Just know that Sound Factory owner, John Gilland, guarantees that his patrons will not be disappointed. What I can tell you is that the final night of Sound Factory will be on Sunday, August 1st. Of course you would expect Sound Factory to go out in a big bang. Another Sunday Funday is in store for supporters to enjoy one last night. Be a part of history when you embrace the end of an era and the beginning of a new one.

Bar Spill

hite will be the official color of the season when Jules Downtown hosts its annual Toga Party. This year’s theme will be Asian inspired: White China. According to bar owner, Darren Parker, “This will be the event of the season. We refuse to cut any corners and will make sure that the bar looks its finest.” DJ Digital, from local hip-hop station 107.9, will be bringing down the house while dancers on the bar will be entertaining participants. Cover will be $7 at the door. Don’t forget that Jules Downtown is always known for its free “shots on the bar.” Jules has even more surprises in store. On Friday, July 30th, Tina Turner will be heating up the night. Well not the exact Tina but pretty darn close. Connie G is a local performer who has been heating up the night life in such areas as Las Vegas, Atlanta, Jamaica, and the list goes on. Her fame grew even more when she had the opportunity to open up for Percy Sledge, The Gap Band, Morris Day, and again the list goes on and on. Tickets can be purchased before the event for $7, or at the door for $10. Performance begins at 10pm. For more information, you can visit www.connieastina.com. The final days of Sound Factory will be the days that we will remember for years to come. On Friday, July 23rd, St. Cecilia will perform. A monthly ritual, Bears on the Backside, will conclude on Saturday, July 24th. If you are yet to experience such a ritual, then this is your final opportunity. On July 9th, Coffee will return to entertain audiences. On July 10th, The Southern Belle pageant will light up the runway. Continue to follow Sound Factory via Facebook. An 80’s Party is in store during the month of July. As of press time a date could not be confirmed. I encourage all bar patrons to come and enjoy the final days of Sound Factory.

Oktoberfest Entertains Downtown Lafayette

n the spirit of Oktoberfest, Acadiana Center for the Arts will be hosting Gulf Brew 2010 from 6pm to 10pm on Saturday, July 24th in Parc International. Festival goers will be able to sample some of the best brews the Gulf South has to offer. Artists from South Texas to Florida will also be displaying their work. Such a great opportunity will support your local artists and the ACA. The ACA helps to employ local artists and musicians, introduce art into local schools, and support a firstclass visual arts exhibition series. Tickets are $25 for tasters and $15 for non-tasters. For more information you can visit www.acadianacenterforthearts.org. Come out and support your local art community! Don’t forget that the second Saturday of every month features Art Walk. Downtown Lafayette’s local art galleries open up to feature a variety of local artists. This month’s date is set for Saturday, July 10th.

On a Personal Note

ecently many of you came out to support Acadiana CARES when Sound Factory hosted the Red Ribbon Ball. Much respect and appreciation goes out to those who coughed up the $50. There were many who were not very excited about the $50 charge. The way I see it: By the time you go out on Friday and Saturday night, pay your cover, and pay for your bar tab, you have already spent $50. This ball incorporated free food, beer, and wine. More importantly, it wasn’t about the money. It was about the support and awareness for a certain group within our community that currently needs our help. For those who may not be aware, our local and state governments have been slashing the budget drastically. CARES is no exception. CARES works tirelessly to support our community. HIV/AIDS may not affect you but the odds are against you when it comes to the fact that by the end of your lifetime, it will affect someone you know or love. The numbers for HIV/AIDS cases are currently rising. In case you may not believe me, check the most recent stats. These alarming stats are sad yet very true. What’s more interesting is that the majority of the cases could have been prevented. I’ve always been told that the night is at its darkest right before the dawn. I hope such a thing is true. We need to continue to support the cause and educate ourselves and others. For more information, visit www.acadianacares.org. As always, keep the parties going Lafayette! Good things are in store and only you can make it happen. Continue to stay tuned in. You’re listening up with Joey Collins, girl!

Gay East erParade.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayNew Orleans.COM • J uly 6-19, 2010 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 35

hot tails of red stick by Brad Benedict Email: bradhottails@hotmail.com

All About Pride

his has to have been the best Pride celebration to date for Baton Rouge. Of course, a lot of this had to do with the location being inside the Atrium adjacent to the Sheraton in the downtown area, but I think something else can be seen here. It is a case of a lot more pride being shown by all in attendance. It was as if a new day had dawned in the capital city, and none of the protesters were going to rain on this parade. The Pride celebration has been held in a number of places, and the first one I recall was way out off Millerville Road or somewhere in that area. It was nice, and lots of exhibitors were on hand as well as bands and a number of participants. From there, it just blossomed. Even last year’s event at Magnolia Mound was an exceptional gathering, but it was definitely a hot occasion. The temps in June and the possibility of those sudden summer storms always loomed over the affair. Now with it being inside at the Atrium, all was absolutely marvelous. It was a gathering of prideful people and done so in an honorable and orderly manner, something that other groups should note and copy. It was a day of sharing, of great entertainment, and a meeting of friends who share a common bond. Everyone who was involved in the planning of this event should be congratulated for their work, and those who attended should be proud of their support for such a wonderful event. Other cities may have had bigger events, but I believe that the Baton Rouge gay community can really be proud of the way this 2010 celebration turned out. It was all good and positive in every way.

After - and Onward

had a great time at Pride events in both Baton Rouge and New Orleans. I would like to have participated more, but I have so many things I’m involved in that time just didn’t permit me to do this. I did, however, enjoy all my little excursions into Pride. The last surprise was when I got stopped on one of the streets in the French Quarter with the Pride 2nd Line Parade. I just got out of the car, left it in the middle of the street (which was blocked off by the way, and enjoyed seeing this neat little group activity. I noticed lots of leather guys, but I’ve been out of the Lords of Leather for so long that I just didn’t recognize anyone. All I can say is that those outfits must have been putting them in a melt-down mode. It was hot. In contrast, on the way back to Baton Rouge, it was torrential rain all the way. It was as if the storm had stalled over the interstate, but it must have been a slow mover because my gardens were standing in water when I got home. The overturned pots and flattened plants told me that there was lots of wind involved, at least in the capital city’s downtown area. I saw so many friends over the past week that it turned out to be almost a reunion of sorts. Still others that I searched for were nowhere to be found. I know they were there, but that just tells you that the crowds were out in force. This happened more in New

Orleans than Baton Rouge, but there were still two or three friends who I missed which was probably due to timing more than anything else. After leaving the downtown Pride area, I made my way over to Cajun Cove to take some pictures and check on their upcoming advertising plans. It is always nice to sit down with Scoti for a chat, and what makes it even better is being able to sit down with someone who freeballs and wears shorts. I love you Scoti. Thank you so much for the added scenery. Now if only Jason would do that. I would be over there every week to interview or just chat with him. I do think you have a great young man here – straight, intelligent, honest, and a very diligent worker. You don’t find that in too many people, and to know a little of his current life makes it even sweeter. I know that he attends LSU, has another job with a major delivery firm, and does part-time work at Cajun Cove. You just have to admire someone like this. He knows his priorities, and I certainly believe he will succeed in whatever he attempts to do. Recently, Scoti noticed that he wasn’t getting many tips and rather than have him disappointed at the end of the night, he told him to remove his shirt and work that way to see if it made a difference. I was informed it did, so now I will at least have to go check out the upper body. I can tell he is a major stud in the body department, and as far as the looks go – well, let’s just say he is amazingly handsome, a perfect AllAmerican type guy. I think I’m in lust again. I wonder if I can get a hug out of him. Hmmm. I also spent a lot of time with Henry. This is another young man who really knows how to charm you. He has this wonderful smile and is always eager to give me a hug when I see him. I believe he lives out in Livingston Parish, or at least he did when I first met him. All I can say is that Livingston should be honored to have this one in residence. He is shy in his initial appearance, but I think there is a smoldering fire within that magnificent frame. His personality just sets him apart from others he may be with at any time, and he seems comfortable around everyone. He is just a wonderful little charmer who always seems happy and rather carefree in his actions. I think he bears checking out a little more. A sit-down chat is in order, so I’ll corner him and head for the Cove patio for a little one-on-one conversation the next time I see him. Did I tell you he was really a sexy stud? The front of Cajun Cove has been painted with a new sign, which I think would make a great logo. I don’t know who did that but it really is nice. I checked out all the different parts of this establishment while I was there, and lots of Pride participants were arriving, especially in the karaoke area where Tatia was performing when I arrived. This is one beautiful lady with a great personality and a wonderful voice. I could listen to her all evening and have done so on many occasions before when I dined at Fernando’s in Denham Springs. She was a participant then, and now she has her own little company and following. That is so nice, and I’ve very happy for her. I have to admit that there was someone else there who has a great voice too. His name is Wesley, and I didn’t get to talk to him that much, but I really like his style. He put life into that song, as if his heart and soul was reaching out to everyone in the room. It was a performance and a sound that made it all so realistic. Putting feelings into songs is so great, and it requires a special talent like you find with Jimmy Buffett or Neil Diamond. I know absolutely nothing about this young man, but I do know he has talent, and that talent is about to become well known if he happens to be performing in the right venue. I wish him well. He is really good. Before leaving and heading out to George’s, Splash, and Hound Dogs, I had to wait for Angie to arrive. She is Scoti’s sister and works the door at Cajun Cove. She is another asset to this establishment and offers a balance that is needed to keep things running smoothly. I also learned she is referred to as “Mama” by Colta and Keenan. I’m not sure how that came about, but I’ll ask these guys the next time I see them. I also learned that Lexi is known as “Tim’s son,” just different equipment, if you get my drift. She too is a remarkable youngster who deserves more time in the conversation department so I can share the news with you. I won’t even get into the way she likes parks. That is difficult to describe and even harder for anyone to comprehend. I even thought for sure I saw her in that little parade in New Orleans. If so, this one gets around. I have to tell you about Colta and Keenan now. It was a hot afternoon when I delivered Ambush to the Cove, but Ronnie helped cool me off with a wonderful margarita. He was surprised when I asked for one because he remembered that I always ordered Coors Light. I had seen him mixing these for Colta and Keenan, and they looked too good to pass up. Now comes the conversation part. Actually, the guys welcomed some chick to the group, and I wasn’t able to pull any info from them, so I just pulled Ronnie to one side and got the scoop I needed. Where there is a will, there is a way. Both of these guys are just remarkable in the looks and personality departments. I learned that Colta is an events promoter and travels a lot, and Keenan is the production coordinator. This is a pairing that was meant to be. I don’t even know if they are companions or not, but they certainly make a cute couple from my viewpoint. It seems they work for a company called Slumber Parties, and that in itself is an intriguing name. I’m sure I’m going to run into them again, and I’ll also talk with “Mama” and see what else I can learn about them. My first impression of them would have been LSU students, and perhaps they were. They are so youthful in appearance that it seems unlikely that they are old enough to be such outstanding entrepreneurs. They just

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alexandria

papar azzi

Sable & Matt

Mitch & Wendy Vanessa Raye

Jasmine & Dann

Renee...HOT!!!

Joey & Dylan How low can you go??!!

The Pineapple Princess

Mama Wendy!!

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Spotlight on Olympus Bar ~ Alexandria, Louisiana

Dominque DeLorean

Keenan, Ronnie & Colta

Scoti & Jason Scoti & Rick at Gay Pride

Miss & Mr. Capital City Pride 2010

Lexi, Tim’s park-lovin’ son

Beautiful Gia & Tim

Angie welcomes you to the Cove

Golden voiced Wesley with Frank

Ty & Yzell

Cajun Cove karaoke with Tatia

rpa ed stick par azzi Donald & Chris

Sexy Henry @ Cajun Cove Luther & Jeremy Richard & Nicky Chance & Jason

Relaxing on Cajun Cove patio

The DIVAS & Pride royalty

Andy, Donald & Henry

King Chansley & companion Mikey

38 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 6-19, 2010 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

Celebratin’ Pride ~ Baton Rouge, Louisiana ~ Photos by Brad Benedict

Henry gets a paint job

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trodding the boards by Brian Sands

Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com

Talent, Parties, Cocktails ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Cieanne & John

Miss Cie says hello to our favorite girl Kelly, enjoying a night out @ B-Bob’s

Mitchell & Peter enjoying a night out

The Order of Osiris Royalty Mitchell, with Tatianna & Show Director Miss Cie @ B-Bob's

Fully Committed at The Newman School

t would be accomplishment enough for someone just recently graduated from high school to produce, direct and star in a one man show. But to do so and have the result equal the quality of the original off-Broadway presentation is an achievement of a much higher order. Ethan Andersen’s production of Fully Committed is such an achievement.

all desperate for a reservation. Through precisely calibrated accents and physical details, Andersen marvelously delineated these 30+ characters as he ricocheted among them, giving them true depth in just an instant. He captured the humor, without ever overdoing it, of self-entitled Upper East Side matrons and self-important celebrity assistants but could fluidly switch to real pathos when called for. Becky Mode’s script from 1999 stills

William & Sean @ B-Bob’s House Party

Ethan Andersen in Fully Committed

mobile

papar azzi

Paige & Papa Cherry Girls out-n-about Greg & Company in from New Orleans for Tatianna’s performance @ B-Bob’s

Hello David, Chris, Jarrid & Taylor @ B-Bob’s Saturday Night House Party Chris, Mack & Jerry enjoying Saturday Night House Party @ B-Bob’s

Miss Alabama USofA Tiffany Racheals performs @ B-Bob’s

Alton & a friend having a cocktail @ B-Bob’s

Though the focus is on Sam, the beleaguered reservationist at a very hot, four star restaurant, Fully Committed challenges an actor to additionally portray the restaurant’s megalomaniacal chef, French maitre d’, British hostess, co-workers of various nationalities, his own mid-Western Dad and brother, and potential diners, male and female, from around the country,

holds up though a few things have become a bit antiquated like telephone date lines. And if the intensity level of New Orleans is a bit less than New York, we in the foodobsessed Big Easy can certainly identify with the restaurant milieu of the Big Apple. Technical director Geoffrey Liu mas-

hot tails of red stick ...from 36

for details on what is going on. I also missed Richard’s birthday. It’s hard to believe that another year has come and gone in the life of this community legend. David is always such a joy at Splash. I always welcome hugs from him. He is just such a sweetie. I hope all his plans begin working out for him. I may even have to visit his sister’s place of business. I think I need to check out her technique and see if that really works. I’ll tell you more about that later. I could use more relaxation. I’ve also missed seeing Jeannie at Hound Dogs. I hear her birthday party was nice, and I don’t know if she is back at work or not. I’ll have to check with Joy on this. Hound Dogs is having another big event coming up, so I’m sure the decorations will change again. I rather like the Roman décor that they have now following their toga party. Joy says only beautiful guys showed up in the proper attire. That figures. And it means they probably had great bodies too. Oh – to be young again. Well, not really, but the body – of course. I wonder what Derek wore. I’ll talk with you again after the July 4th activities. I’m staying in town, will pop in at the local bars, meet with friends, and even enjoy the fireworks. Life is beautiful. Make the most of it.

bear more checking out. They are really nice. I noticed in Ambush that Gia has come up with another beauty title in Alexandria. I had already predicted her to gain more titles, and I think this may be her ticket to Miss Gay Louisiana America and even the national title. Most of the time, a beauty, such as Gia, is too busy to talk with you, but she is different. She reminds me of the personality and kindnesses I recall in Raquel Chevallier – easy to talk to, respectful in every way, and definitely gorgeous. I remember so many good times with Raquel, and I was extremely pleased to see her become so successful. Now, I think it is Gia’s time. Go for it, sweetie. You deserve it. It’s been a while since I talked with Jeremy. Maybe I’ll surprise him and catch him when he first opens again. That way we can share comments before the first customers arrive at George’s. Otherwise, I’ll just take him to dinner sometimes. I just have to get with his schedule first and find out when he’s available. There are several faces around George’s that are interesting, so I’ll have to check back in with Luther

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40 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J uly 6-19, 2010 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.COM

trodding the boards ...from 40 terfully conducted a symphony of sounds, the play’s true other character, as various phones beeped, buzzed and rang. As Andersen, an Ambie Award winner for 2006’s Over the Tavern, prepares to head off to college, one hopes that his

triumphant Fully Committed presages an extraordinary future for him.

The Really Desperate Housewives of Stepford Parish at Le Chat Noir

could tell you that Running With Scissors is back with another of their mash-ups featuring terrible puns and flawless comedic timing.

I could tell you that The Really Desperate Housewives of Stepford Parish has more homoerotic overtones and undertones than Ira Levin ever dreamed of. I could tell you not to worry if Act One drags a bit as exposition is laid out ‘cause things pick up as the momentum builds and the laughs come steadily in Act Two. I could tell you that Dorian Rush as Joanna Morgenstern, who’s just moved from New Orleans to the North Shore Parish of Stepford with her florist husband, perfectly carries out high camp without settling for cheap laughs. (Well, only when called for) I could tell you that Bob Edes, Jr. brilliantly switches characters from a malfunctioning robotic housewife to a sexy Tina Louise in tennis togs to a creepy Stepford husband to a helpful but by-the-clock Dr. Ruth in a performance worthy of Laurence Olivier if Sir Larry had had a singing voice and a proclivity for wigs and high heels. I could tell you that Brian Peterson is his usual sexy self as good time gal Bobby Marcowitz but his post-Stepfordized Bobby is one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. How does he get his eyes to blink out of sync??? I could tell you that Kyle Daigrepont 200and Michael Sullivan, making their Running With Scissors debuts, fit right in with the giddy fun, in and out of dresses. But the most important thing I can tell you is that Desperate Stepford Housewives will be back at Le Chat August 6-8. If you want to avoid last minute desperation, book your tickets now.

Wine Lovers at Le Petit Theatre

one act musical in which the audience samples six wines throughout the show. Sounds gimmicky, yes? Well, it is. But it’s well done and enjoyable, so who cares? And there are those six glasses of wine. Wine Lovers serves up Charles Thompson (Jamie Wax), an oenologist and host of a wine seminar which Brian (P.J. McKinnie) and Katherine (Jennifer Schemke) are attending. Though their immediate pairing is like red

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trodding the boards ...from 41 wine and fish, by the time they get together at the end, you’re left feeling as bubbly as the Poema Cava (Brut) that’s being poured. The book by Travis Kramer, Gary Negbaur & Michael Green gets the job done and if some parts are silly, such as a detour into game show territory, HollyAnne Ruggiero’s smooth direction gives off a pleasing bouquet. Negbaur & Green’s songs feature lyrics that are witty without being especially deep and tunes that are appealing if not particularly memorable. But neither deep nor memorable is called for here. The only significant problem is that, especially at the start, despite the cast’s fine diction, the lyrics often come too fast to sink in and so whole chunks of the songwriters’ efforts do not make the impression they should. On Joshua Palmer’s authentic-looking wine bar set, into which animation is well-integrated, Holly Cruz choreographed simply and effectively eschewing any need for Broadway-esque razzmatazz. Wax wisely makes Thompson a blend of true connoisseur and avid instructor intermingled with hints of superciliousness and flakiness. In the hands of this multitalented performer, what could have been mere caricature, comes off as richly comic and even edifying. It’s been a pleasure to watch McKinnie develop from a dancer to an adept singer/ actor. If his Brian is understandably protective of his feelings and defensive of his opinions, he’s also a modern age man genuinely interested in trying new things. Schemke is burdened with the most cliched character, the harried businesswoman who doesn’t have time for anything, but she makes the most of it and by about the fourth glass she’s won us over, aided by songs that become more charac-

ter revealing as the show progresses. Wine Lovers is Schemke’s local debut and I hope we’ll see more of her. As for the wines, I thought three were very good, one was good, and two I didn’t care for. But, hey, I’m a theater critic not a wine critic, so go and decide for yourself.

The Everlasting Bonfire at the Dixon Hall Lab Theatre, Tulane University

ccording to Jim Fitzmorris’ Author/Director’s Notes, his new play The Everlasting Bonfire is “a collaborative piece about collaboration [that] wonders where ideas come from, who are their rightful owners, and when does each collaborator let go.” Well, yes, but it’s a lot more as well. In it, Edwin (Shad Willingham), a contemporary playwright, is trying to write a play about the great 19 th century Shakespearean tragedian Edwin Forrest who came to work in New Orleans at the start of his career. Edwin is visited by Jane (Amanda Zirkenbach), a kind of spirit guide who spurs him on to realize his artistic ambitions. Edwin and Jane metamorphose into Forrest and the playwright who provided him with one of his early successes. We also get scenes from MacBeth, references to Dickens, allusions to Walter Benjamin, and a winning passage, enthusiastically performed, describing the difference between a dash and an ellipsis. And much more. Fitzmorris’ assured sense of storytelling allows him to take this tale on a series of Escherian twists and turns and loops, occasionally breaking the fourth wall, and gleefully indulging in theatricality for theatricality’s sake–fun! But while one admires the witty wordplay and verbal tap-dancing in Bonfire

that makes for an entertaining 70 minutes, there’s a certain intellectual showing-off at the expense of a more emotionally involving drama, especially towards the end which turns maudlin and substitutes authorial “telling” for writerly “showing.” Still, if some are content to juggle mere balls, Fitzmorris insists on using a bowling ball, a watermelon and a pingpong ball so that even if he drops one, you have to respect the attempt. Willingham’s natural brashness serves him well as Edwin, and emotionally, too, as Forrest but his too contemporary sounding locution seems out of place for those scenes set in the 1800s. Willingham deserves some sort of award, however, for downing not one but two egg and (seemingly) rum concoctions as an exemplar of daring machismo. After too long an absence, it’s great to have Zirkenbach back on stage and she convinces as both a self-effacing, alcoholic playwright and Edwin’s wily familiar. Liz Waldman lovingly lit David Raphel’s eclectically cluttered set, and if the evening’s special effects were simple, they were effective. The Everlasting Bonfire, a New Orleans Shakespeare Festival production, leaves you feeling that its whole is greater than the sum of its considerable parts and hoping that Fitzmorris will not let go molding it until its prodigious attributes become the lustrous creation it has the potential to be.

Our Town at the Anthony Bean Community Theater/ UNO/Barrow Street Theatre

hough I had read Thornton Wilder’s Our Town, until recently, I had never seen it performed. I made up for that by seeing three different productions of it in the past few months, two locally plus the long-running one in New York. Each time I’ve seen it, I’ve marveled at how modern and profound it is and wonder what audiences first made of it, with its time-traveling and fourth wall-breaking Stage Manager, in 1938 when it went on to win the Pulitzer Prize. I’ve also been frustrated each time by its slow-going, exposition-laden nature which seems, however a director approaches it, to prevent the show from truly taking off until midway through Act Two. Of the three, the most daring was Anthony Bean’s production which was reset in the 1950s and featured an interracial cast. Despite an inserted scene dealing with racial realities of the time that was unnecessary, it was a pleasure to see this classic given a potent reinterpretation. I’d be curious to see as well what the result might have been had Bean cast it without regard to racial consistency within the two families. Charles Bosworth made an amiable Stage Manager and how nice to see age appropriate actors as the teenagers, Emily (Greta Zehner) and George (Michael Alexander), so real as they discover their first love. Zehner’s Emily was a bit shrill and high strung, just like many teenage girls are. Alexander well-embodied George’s requisite decency though, in the big scene with his father, he conveyed more the thought of tears than tears themselves. Derrick Deal, Samantha Beaulieu, Linda Aubert and Scott Steckler were all

fine as the parents with Steckler exuding fatherly concern with idiosyncratic warmth. Bean’s direction found humor in what can often be a very s-e-r-i-o-u-s work and it was extremely satisfying to see this worthy company take on work beyond the Black experience. I hope ABCT continues in this direction. In New York, Director David Cromer cinematically overlapped scenes and interspersed his cast among sections of the audience but the truly radical touch came in Act Three’s superb coup de théâtre involving the set, lights and costumes which elevated the entire production to an unforgettable aesthetic experience that inventively fulfilled Wilder’s intentions. In the large cast, James McMenamin stood out; he may have been a bit too old for George, but his yearning face betrayed many inchoate thoughts and feelings just beneath the surface. And his tears were achingly real. David Hoover’s production at UNO, with P.J. McKinnie leading the cast as a low key and engaging Stage Manager, was sturdy enough but it never quite matched the transcendent quality of Metamorphoses seen there two years ago.

The Gin Game at Luke’s Brisket and Broadway Dinner Theatre

hen it seemed that Luke’s Brisket and Broadway would have to close in August, Proprietor Rickie Luke scheduled some atypical dinner theater fare. Given a reprise, Luke stuck with his original plan with, so far, commendable results. DL Coburn’s The Gin Game is a subtle, seeming inconsequential play about two people in a seniors’ home playing a series of card games, but it has much more to say than initially apparent and well-deserved its Pulitzer Prize. With health care and economics and old age challenges constantly making headlines, it is as relevant now as ever. Putting her glasses on & off and drumming her fingers, Kit McLellan’s Fonsia blossomed as she steadily won card game after card game. A bit of a flirt who can also get off wisecracks, McLellan betrayed both an understandable fear of the tempestuous Weller and a primal need to carry on companionship with him. If she was occasionally a little slow in picking up her lines, it simply made this Fonsia seem a little more deliberate. As Weller, Jack Cerny’s increasing frustration and annoyance as he loses again and again was completely natural as were his lyrical attempts to woo Fonsia back. Cerny’s larger stature than Hume Cronyn, the original Weller (to Jessica Tandy’s Fonsia), made Weller’s pushing Fonsia around more believable and more threatening. If Director Allen Little and his cast missed some of the nuances that Tandy & Cronyn enriched the work with, they created a plausible tension over a little game and negotiated the characters’ larger epiphanies with aplomb. Chef Ginger Luke’s brisket, baked parmesan chicken, mashed potatoes, green bean almondine and glazed carrots were so delicious I had to have two helpings of each but still managed to leave room for her scrumptious chocolate cake with hot fudge, and pina colada bread pudding. Yum!

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Pride Grand Marshals Reception honoring Steven Forster & Cathy Fox @ K-Joe’s Restaurant ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Tony Leggio, Lee Mullen

papar azzi

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Chris Owens Show honoring Pride Grand Marshals Steven Forster & Cathy Fox @ Chris Owens Club benefiting NOLA Pride ~ New Orleans

ambush

Kings vs. Queens Pride Softball Tournament won by the Queens @ City Park ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Lee Mullen

papar azzi

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Summer of Pride @ Cafe Lafitte in Exile ~ New Orleans

ambush

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