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the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
SDGMs 37 Misael Rubio & Tiffany Alexander will lead 40th Anniversary of Southern Decadence
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estivities move into full swing with the announcement of Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XXXVII Misael Rubio and Tiffany Alexander at Club LAX in Metairie. Outgoing SDGMs Toby Lefort and Julien Artressia made their choices known at Coronation 2011 bringing many segments in the GLBT community together for the occasion. Rubio, the proprietor of Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, and Alexander, Bourbon Pub Parade Show Director, announced this year's theme, Viva New Orleans: What Happens in New Orleans Stays in New Orleans. The official colors are fuchsia pink, black and silver. The 40th anniversary of Southern Decadence is set for Wednesday, August 31st through Labor Day, Monday, September 5th. There will SDGMs XXXVII Misael Rubio & be a flurry of activities and events Tiffany Alexander leading up to the 37th annual Southern Decadence Parade on Sunday, September 4th. As the parade winds through the streets of the French Quarter, you will get to see all the outrageous fun led by SDGMs XXXVII Misael Rubio and Tiffany Alexander followed by the annual Southern Decadence Bead Toss at Ambush Headquarters, 828 Bourbon Street. For additional information, visit SouthernDecadence.COM.
Chuck Turner & Bill Miller to Receive 24th Lifetime Achievement Award, GAA Top 5 Finalists Announced
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• Buzzy Fanning AIDS Award Darrin Ferris, Toby Lefort, Tony Leggio, Chris Leonard, NO/AIDS Task Force • Bitch of the Year - Lady Hope, Tony Leggio, Opal Masters, Princesse Stephaney, Persana Shoulders • Show Bar of the Year - Bourbon Pub & Parade, Club LAX/Metairie, JohnPaul's, Oz, Tubby's Golden Lantern • Donnie Jay Performing Arts Award - Big Bell Productions/After Dark, La Familia Variety Drag Show, New Orleans Gay Men's Chorus, Running With Scissors, Silk Dress Productions’ Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf • Restaurant/Deli/Coffee House of the Year - Clover Grill, Eat, Mona Lisa Restaurant, Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli; Who Dat Coffee Cafe • Dance Club of the Year - Bourbon Pub & Parade, Club LAX, Corner Pocket, JohnPaul's, Oz, • Bartender of the Year - Bobby Fisher/JohnPaul’s, Chuck Hinkley/4 Seasons, Lance Pippin/Tubby's Golden Lantern, Jeff Palmquist/Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Frankie Wingerter/Oz • DJ of the Year - E (Eddie Mitchell)/ Club LAX, Myke Kolb/Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Tim Pflueger/Oz, Richie Rich/ JohnPaul's, Jeff Waguespack/Cafe Lafitte in Exile • Leather Bar of the Year - Club LAX/Metairie, JohnPaul's, Phoenix, Rawhide 2010, Tonic/Lafayete • Cheridon Comedy Award - Zsa Zsa d’LaHor, Tony Leggio, Sister Mary Isahor, Princesse Stephaney, Persana Shoulders • Fly Fashion Glamour Award Starr Alexander, Elizabeth Bouvier, Do-
he Board of Directors of the Gay Appreciation Awards has chosen businessmen Chuck Turner and Bill Miller as recipients of the 24th Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed at the annual awards presentation. Turner and Miller are proprietors of 4 Seasons in Metairie, Billy's in Slidell, and Double Play in New Orleans. The couple, who recently celebrated their 40th anniversary, have been long time supporters of the GLBT community and through their clubs and efforts have helped raise over $150,000 for area charities including NO/AIDS Task Force, Gay Easter Parade and Food For Friends. Public online voting in the various categories of the Gay Appreciation Awards took place June 7-13. The Top 5 Finalist in each category appear below, and the winner in each category will be announced at the 24th GAA Gala on Saturday, July 23, 8-10pm, at Oz, 800 Bourbon Street. VIP Tables with four seats are $150. All proceeds benefit the William Fanning Foundation (Buzzy’s Boys & Girls). Contact Rip Naquin for table sales at marsha@ripandmarsha.com or Chuck Turner & Bill Miller 504.522.8049. 24th Lifetime Achivement Award Top 5 Finalists include: • Circuit Party/Event of the Year Summer/Restaurant Guide out July 5th Gay Easter Parade, Gay Easter PaDEADLINE: Tues., June 28th rade Purple Party, Halloween, Southern Decadence, White Party/Oz • Hair Salon of the Year - Beauty glbt real estate 35 celebrazzi 12 Lounge, Bobby Blue, Headquarters, pensacola paparazzi 36 under the gaydar 18 spotlight/dodwell house 38 sdgm coronation paparazzi 22 Mickey Nolan's Salon, Salon D'Malta mobile paparazzi 38 40th southern decadence 27 • Gay Mardi Gras Ball of the Year snap paparazzi/new orleans 40 classifieds 28 Krewe of Amon-Ra, Krewe of halloween new orleans (HNO28) 41 chop chop/nola restaurant guide 32 Armeinius, Krewe of Petronius, Lords trodding the boards 42 acadiana happens/lafayette 33 of Leather, Mystic Krewe of Satyricon ambush paparazzi/nola 44-46 acadiana paparazzi/lafayette 34 • Neighborhood Bar of the Year - 4 Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 Seasons/Metairie, Kajun’s Pub, Cafe 828-A Bourbon St. • New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 • 504.522.8049 Lafitte in Exile, JohnPaul's, Tubby's marsha@ripandmarsha.com Golden Lantern
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minique DeLorean, Raven Kennedy, Princesse Stephaney • GLBT Business of the Year Formal Connection/LaPlace, Krazy Katz, La Mina Sterling, Spa Atlantis, Rab Dab Clothing & Gifts • Leather Person of the Year Michael Albracht, Jose Gonzales, Toby Lefort, Troy Powell, Gary Vandeventer • Transgender of the Year - Regina Adams, Dee Cooley, Jasmine Essex, JoAnn Guidos, Rikki Redd • Lesbian of the Year - Misti Ates, Koo Gaffney, Gino New Orleans, Sandy Sachs, Sherran Thomas • Gay Man of the Year - Tommy Elias, Darrin Ferris, Toby Lefort, Tony Leggio, Chuck Turner [continued on 10]
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-Mobile Florida - Pensacola Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, 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 THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Joey Collins-Lafayette, LA Devin Black, Rev. Clinton Crawshaw, Tony Leggio, Lee Mullen, Jeff Palmquist, Steve Patrick, Dino Remo, Patrick Shannon, Frankie Wingerter-New Orleans Bob Brunson, Cieanne & John, Leon WeekleyMobile, AL Lauren Mitchell-Pensacola, FL 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. ©1982-2011, 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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GLBT Community into the viable, successful and powerful community it is today across the Gulf South. The Marsha Delain Award of Excellence, the Drag Ambassador Award, is presented by Marsha NaquinDelain. For additional information, visit AmbushMag.COM.
New Orleans Official Pride Celebration June 24th-26th
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the "official" dish ...from 8 • Marcy Marcell Entertainer of the Year - Big Mama, Elizabeth Bouvier, Monique Michaels, Princesse Stephaney, Tittie Toulouse Entertainment for the GAA Gala will include production numbers from
the Top 5 Finalists in the Show Bar of the Year category, as well as last year's Entertainer of the Year Elizabeth Bouvier. The exciting duo of Lisa Beaumann and Teryl-Lynn Fox will emcee the affair. Sponsored by Ambush, the awards thanks those in the Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender Community who are often not recognized for the outstanding services and efforts they perform. These individuals and businesses have made the
OLA Pride presents New Orleans official Pride celebration Friday-Sunday, June 24th26th. Led by Pride Grand Marshals Chris Leonard and Misti Ates, and Honorary Pride Grand Marshal Jason Dottley, the weekend is chockful of activities and events. The schedule includes: Friday: June 24, begin Pride Weekend with a Pub Crawl. Registration 6:30-7:30pm. $25 covers the progressive cocktail party with a shot or drink at each participating bar and a NOLA PRIDE 2011 T-shirt. Start of crawl is Tubby’s Golden Lantern, 1239 Royal St. – finish upstairs at Lafitte’s, 901 Bourbon St. Saturday: 11am June 25, Family Day in City Park in the picnic area open to the public. Noon: Kids Softball Skills will be taught by members of the NOLA Softball League. 1pm: Drag Softball Game (City Park – Field 18 – corner of Marconi & Harrison) If you prefer to stay in the Quarter, there will be a Harrah’s Casino Block Party 2-7pm 7-10pm: Pride Grand Marshal Reception at KJoe’s, 720 St. Louis Street, French Quarter. Meet Pride Grand Marshals Misti Ates and Chris Leonard, and Honorary Grand Marshal Jason Dottley. Featured at the reception will be royalty from LGBT krewes. Tickets: $25 [continued on 14]
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celebrazzi (celebrations-paparazzi)
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he annual Gay Easter Parade Sponsors Thank You Party culminated with the presentation of $30,362.42 to Food For Friends at the home of Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain. Easter Grand Marshals XII Gary Vandeventer and Elizabeth Bouvier led the largest sponsorship drive in the history of the parade. This brings total charitable donations to over $111,187. (Photo: front-NO/AIDS Task Force Exe. Dir. Noel Twilbeck, Easter Grand Marshals XII Gary Vandeventer & Elizabeth Bouvier, Food For Friends Dir. Glen Kahrman; back-GEP Board's Gary Delaune, Tip Varnadore, Tony Leggio, Marsha Naquin-Delain, Opal Masters & Rona Conners)
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he 40th anniversary of Southern Decadence moves into full swing as new Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XXXVII Misael Rubio and Tiffany Alexander blow their official whistles kicking off festivities at Club LAX in Metairie. Chosen by outgoing SDGMs XXXVI Toby Lefort and Julien Artressia, the new grand marshals announced the 2011 theme of Viva New Orleans: What Happens in New Orleans Stays in New Orleans and the official colors of fuchsia pink, black and silver. Rubio and Alexander will lead festivities through Labor Day Weekend with the highlight on Sunday, September 4th as the 37th annual Southern Decadence Parade winds its way through the French Quarter ending with the Southern Decadence Bead Toss at Ambush Headquarters. For more on the festivities, visit SouthernDecadence.COM.
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ami Tarmac, St. Anna's Episcopal Church Father Bill Terry and Elizabeth Bouvier host the first Dodwell House Summer Extravaganza raising funds for the future home of Anna’s Arts for Kids, a program bound to break cycles of poverty both spiritual and physical for the children of New Orleans, as well as the home for a new Hispanic Cultural Center teaching Latinos English as a Second Language and community and social skills called Oportunidades NOLA. Visit DodwellHouse.ORG for additional information.
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ew Orleans own Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain, the city's first registered Domestic Partners, were thrown a surprise party in recognition of their commitment, dedication and service to the members of the GLBT community and the redevelopment of New Orleans at Oz with proclamations from the City Council presented by District C Councilwoman Kristin Palmer, and from the Mayor by Human Relations Chair Larry Bagneris. Friends gathered for the tribute which included entertainment, a roast and buffet.
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outheast Louisiana AIDS Awareness present newly crowned Miss and Mr. AIDS Awareness 2011 Starr Alexander and Jonas Dominique at JohnPaul's in New Orleans. The pageant is designed to be a fun and innovative approach to raising awareness of HIV/AIDS in the New Orleans area. Mr. and Miss AIDS Awareness are advocates for HIV/AIDS Awareness, traveling to various events in Southeast Louisiana. All Profits from this event benefit Project Lazarus in New Orleans.
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ary Vandeventer, Marsha NaquinDelain, Guadalupe, Rusty Downing and Jeff Mallon celebrated their June birthdays at the annual Gemini Birthday Party hosted at the home of Jeff Mallon in the Bywater in New Orleans.
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Leonard; Honorary Pride Grand Marshal Jason Dottley “Nation of Jason”; Amada Shaw; 80's Pop Superstar Tiffany; Voice of Pride Winner; and more 7pm: After Party at Napoleon’s Itch For additional information, visit NOLAPride.BIZ.
the "official" dish ...from 10 - advance purchase only – tickets are limited 11pm: Smirnoff invites you to visit the bars of the Quarter for Smirnoff Specialty Drinks Sunday: Noon: Pride Parade: line up at Harrah’s Casino on Canal, Canal to Bourbon, Bourbon to St. Peter, St. Peter to Burgundy, Burgundy to St. Ann, St. Ann to Royal, Royal to St. Peter. 1pm: The Street Festival starts at the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann: vendors and organization offering items and information. 1-6pm: Bourbon at St. Ann Stage. Acts and individuals appearing include 2011 Mr. & Mrs. NOLA Pride Adonis and Monica Synclaire-Kennedy; Pride Grand Marshals Misti Ates and Chris
LSU School of Art presents 10th Annual Summer Invitational Art Exhibition: Decadence
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he Louisiana State University School of Art is hosting its 10th Annual Summer Invitational Art Exhibition: Decadence, which will run from July 9 to August 7 at beautiful Glassell Gallery in the Shaw Center for the Arts. A public opening reception will be held on July 9 from 7-9pm. This is the decade mark of the annual summer shows celebrating the fine artists in the city. The exciting group show will feature works in all medias and
genres united by a common starting point: interpret the idea of Decadence in your own unique way. Community art outreach and local talent appreciation is part of the LSU School of Art’s mission. "We plan to create a fun environment for this event by linking community art to a festive atmosphere." Participating artists include: Carol Arabie, Charles Barbier, Ann Bigger, Dawn Black, Susie Blyskal, Billie Bourgeois, Matthew Bourgeois, Rancy Boyd-Snee, Christopher Scott Brumfield, James Burke, John Michael Byrd , Mary Anne Caffrey, Leanne McClurg Cambric, Craig Clifford, Samual J. Corso, Linda Dautreuil, Sandy Davoren, Paul Dean, Mary Clair Delony, Robyn Denny, Barbara Donovan, Kevin Duffy, Marcia Arnold
Counseling and Psychotherapy Couples, individuals, communication skills, coming out, relationship issues, grief and substance abuse. Gay therapist for Lesbian and Gay Issues.
We care. We understand.
A Co u n s e l i n g Co o p e r a t i v e
5 0 4 .8 3 6 .0 0 0 0 3001 Fifth St. Metairie, LA 70002 David Wagner, PhD, LPC, NCC, CHT Eisworth, Scott Finch, Rene Fletcher, Elizabeth Fontenot, Shawn Quincy Foreman, Evan Gomez, Rosemary Goodell, Frankie Gould, Denise Greenwood-Loveless, Diane Hanson, Randell Henry, Adam Hess, Meg Holford, Robert Holford, Sara Hopp, Patricia Jervey Hough, Michele Hudelot, Kathryn Hunter, Aaron P. Hussey, Yvonne James, Libby Johnson, Nyssa Juneau, Cara Kearns, Stuart Kimbrell, Therese Knowles, Elayne Kuehler, Kathleen Lemoine, Regina Loch-Elvert, Tom Lorio, Jonathan Mayers, Jill Moore, Betsy Neely, Paul Neff, Liz Noble, Jacqueline Dee Parker, Dennis Parker, Jonathan Pellitteri, Nancy Jo Poirrier, Hunter Roth, Wilma Roy, Katherine Scherer, [continued on 16]
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the "official" dish ...from 14 Steve Schmidt, Danni Balisaris Shobe, Mark Shumake, Annie Smith, David Smith, Dixon Smith, Renee Smith, Durant Thompson, Elise Toups, Denise Tullier-Holly, Van Wade-Day, Clifton Webb, Laure Williamson, Jim Zietz, Reni Zietz and more!
11th Annual MAAFA Commemoration
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shé Cultural Arts Center, in partnership with Tulane University and Kid’s Play NOLA, presents the 11th Annual Maafa Commemoration on Saturday, July 2nd
at 6:30am, at Congo Square in Armstrong Park. Maafa is a Kiswahili word that means “great tragedy” or “horrific tragedy,” referring to the period called the Middle Passage or Transatlantic Slave Trade. During that time, millions of captives from Africa were brought to the Americas where they were used as a labor force, persecuted, beaten, and many, separated from their families forever. For the first time, this sacred event brings together in New Orleans, the cross-cultural efforts of Africa, Brazil, Cuba, Haiti, the United States of America and others, reaching across racial lines and borders to include all ethnicities. "We are collectively coming together for a healing through art and culture." At sunrise, on July 2nd, hundreds of people attired in white clothing will gather to pay tribute to African ancestors who died during the Middle Passage. "The Maafa Commemoration offers an opportunity for the whole community to pause and reflect on this great transgres-
sion against humanity and to personally, as a community, agree to distance ourselves institutionally in word and deed from that transgression, its legacy and the evolved practice of racism in our civic, social, spiritual and personal lives." In the year 2000, Ashé Cultural Arts Center’s founders Carol Bebelle and Douglas Redd, engaged by Leia Lewis who coordinated the first Maafa celebration, joined with other similar celebrations around the country. The vision for the Maafa Commemoration continues to grow. It was influenced by the work of St. Paul Baptist Church in Brooklyn, which was then led by New Orleans-born Rev. Johnnie Ray Youngblood, where annually a month-long series of activities form the Maafa remembrance. This year, the Spirit of FiYiYi, along with drummers and musicians from the Congo, Haiti, Cuba, Senegal, New Orleans and other cities around the United States, will lead a procession from Congo Square through historic Tremé, with a brief stop at St. Augustine Catholic Church, the site of the Tomb of the Unknown Slave. From there, the procession continues through the French Quarter, with pauses at Café Maspero and the Royal Orleans Hotel, where slave auctions regularly took place and slave masters transacted business. Then, aboard the Canal Street Ferry, amid high spirits, drumming, dancing, singing and praying, ancestors will be honored by name—not just those affected by the Transatlantic Slave Trade, but also individuals who were victims of such events as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the levee breaches and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. Upon exiting the Canal Street Ferry in Algiers, the Mohawk Hunters Mardi Gras Indian Gang will greet the procession and lead members into The Village at King’s Plantation in Algiers Point. This historic African village on the west bank of the Mississippi River, once owned by the Company of the Indies in 1700s, was a site where enslaved Africans, fresh off slave ships, were held until they were sold at auction. The Maafa Commemoration continues with breakfast and entertainment at 12noon at Ashé Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. in Central City New Orleans. The day’s activities include a show entitled “Parade Traditions,” showcasing the work of Kid’s Play NOLA and instructor Seguenon Kone, West African singer, drummer and balafon player from the Ivory Coast; and performances by Haitian master drummer Damas “FanFan” Louis, and from Cuba’s Danys “La Mora” Perez and Roman Diaz. Other events related to the commemoration include an exhibit at the New Orleans Museum of Art entitled “Ancestors of Congo Square” which runs through July 17 (www.noma.org/exhibitions.html); Xavier University’s Institute of Black Catholic Studies’ Ancestor Commemoration and Reception on July 8, at 6:30pm at the Xavier University Center Building (Bldg. #17, Room 308A); and “Race: Are we so different?” at the Old U.S. Mint, 400 Esplanade Avenue, which runs through September (http:// lsm.crt.state.la.us/mintex.htm). Community support for the Maafa includes sponsorship from Ashé Cultural Arts Center, Tulane University, Kid’s Play NOLA, The City of New Orleans, The Consulate of Venezuela in New Orleans, The Institute for Black Catholic Studies at Xavier University, New Orleans Museum of Art, and The Village in Algiers (the Ovah Da River Folklife Village). The Maafa is partially funded by The Kellogg Foundation (America Healing), The Ford Foundation, and the Nathan Cummings Foundation. For more information and a complete listing of associated activities, call 504.569.9070 or visit www.ashecac.org.
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under the gaydar by Tony Leggio Email: tonymgp@hotmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
Bartender of the Month
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he bartender for the month of June is such a wonderful person that it is easy to see why everyone falls in love with him almost instantaneously. He has such an affable nature with a stellar personality and most importantly, knows how to make a great cocktail. JohnPaul’s has a treasured find in Bobby Fisher. When you are at the bar with Bobby, it is like you are with a cherished friend. He is funny, smart, professional and very easy on the eyes. He is a boy next door type sprinkled with a charming sex appeal that makes him such a hit.
Bartender of the Month Bobby And anyone who goes to JohnPaul’s knows how busy that bar gets. He easily handles large crowds, never losing his stride. An easy going mannerism is an excellent quality in a bartender. Bobby’s ease with customers is exemplary, treating regulars and newcomers with the same courteous and expert service. He remembers faces, names, drinks of regulars, and is an incredible listener. What makes him stand out above the crowd, is when people talk to him, tell him their stories or problems, he actually cares. It is very rare these days to find that kind of warmth from someone in his profession. He takes pride in his work and it shows. So go to JohnPaul’s and let Bobby wet your whistle. JohnPaul’s is located at 940 Elysian Fields.
Don’t Be A Sissy
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he New Orleans Film Society and the Contemporary Arts Center are presenting
a special screening of the documentary film Sissyboy on Tuesday, June 28, in conjunction with the 2011 NOLA Pride Festival. The film recently screened at the South By Southwest Film Festival, and one of the subjects (Lee Kyle) now lives in New Orleans. Kyle will also be present for a Q+A after the screening. You know I am always game to see a film about drag queens and from the reviews, this one shows great promise. Sissyboy is a big, loud mess of glitter, booze, and cynical drag queens. (Are there really any other kind?) But these performers have been dubbed “gender terrorists,” “performance art revolutionaries,” and the “kind of drag queens your mother warned you about,” (actually she warned me about all of them, she never specified any particular ones); but underneath all the spectacle is a group of amazingly insightful and sensitive individuals who have found an outlet for their self-expression that often leaves audiences simultaneously delighted and terrified. This is the story of 12 talented artists with razor-sharp wits and a fetish for holding a mirror up to the world around them and exposing society’s most ridiculous flaws. The film chronicles the group’s last year in existence through first-time filmmaker Katie Turinski’s eyes. The film will be shown at 7pm at the CAC located at 900 Camp Street. Tickets for the screening are $5 for NOFS / CAC members, $7 general admission. For more information, go to www.neworleansfilmsociety.org.
Pride Across the State
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peaking of Pride, that time of the year is almost upon us. And both Baton Rouge and New Orleans have many festivities in store for us. Let’s begin with the 2011 Baton Rouge Pride Fest taking place on Saturday, June 25 from noon to 6pm at the Belle of Baton Rouge Atrium which is downtown at the river (102 France Street). The stage will be the main focus this year with some great entertainment in store. Morning show personalities Murphy, Sam and Jodi will be special guest emcees. They are heard locally on 96.1 The River. Also performing is recording star and actor Josh Duffy, the New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus, Krewe of Divas, DJ Tatia Coco and back for her third year, Baton Rouge’s most talented diva, Daphne MuShatt. There will also be food,
games, relationship blessings, a resource fair, kids’ area and a major raffle with some incredible door prizes. For more information, go to www.BRPrideFest.com. New Orleans is known for their parties and this year’s gay pride is shaping up to be quite a weekend of exciting events. On Friday, June 24, NOLA Pride is having their first pub crawl. Beginning at Tubby’s Golden Lantern at 7:30pm, this crawl will wind itself through the Quarter stopping at 11 locations. Everyone must be registered and paid in advance. Tickets are $25 and that gets you a free shot or drink at each stop and a 2011 Pride TShirt. Lafitte’s is the official “After Party”. On Saturday, June 25, there is a complete line up of events from morning till night. Family Day in City Park starts at 11am. There will be a bubble machine from HRC-New Orleans, Stonewall Democrats providing rainbow popsicles, game booths, face painting, and much more. Then get ready for some sports. At noon, there will be a Kids Softball Skills Clinic followed by the NOLA Softball All Stars Exhibition at 1pm. Afterwards the ever so entertaining Drag Softball game of the Queens vs Kings at 2pm. A bunch of very tough looking lesbians play some even tougher looking drag queens for your entertainment. If you have never seen this game before it is quite a sight to behold. These events will be held at Field 18 at the corner of Marconi and Harrison. For those wanting to stay in the French Quarter, Harrah’s is hosting a block party with music and food from 4 to 8pm. It is open to the public and free to attend. Later that night, the Grand Marshals Reception will be held from 7 to 10pm at K-Joe’s Restaurant. Tickets are $25 and that gets you complimentary soft drinks and food. There will be a cash bar for those drinkers. Join Pride Grand Marshals Johnny Passion and Chris Leonard and special guest Honorary Grand Marshal Jason Dottley. The weekend culminates on Sunday, June 26 with the Pride Parade and Street Fair. The parade begins at noon and is free to anyone interested in showing their pride. The festival set for 1pm at the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets includes local vendors, resource fair and top entertainers. Headlining this year is one of my local favorites Amanda Shaw, recording artist Jason Dottley and 80’s Pop Icon Tiffany. For more information on pride events or to purchase tickets, go to www.nolapride.biz.
PINGO Anyone?
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oin the Krewe of Petronius the second Saturday of every month for their version of Bingo entitled PINGO. For a small $10 donation, you receive three cards per
game. None other than the King and Queen of Petronius are your officiates. There are five games and prizes range from bar tabs to gift baskets. PINGO is held at Kajun’s Pub located at 2256 St. Claude Avenue from 6 – 8pm. The next exciting game of PINGO will be on July 9.
Join Satyricon For A Historical Evening
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y now everyone has heard the sad news that Le Chat Noir is shuttering their windows in July. But they are not going out with a whimper, but a huge bang. On Thursday, July 7, they are having a final cabaret evening of some of the best entertainers who have performed there. But as luck would have it and a kind gift from Barbara Motley, recording artist Todd Murray is gracing the stage with
Todd Murray one last concert to benefit the Mystic Krewe of Satyricon on Sunday, July 10 at 6pm. Todd performed for Satyricon last year to rave reviews and with a little help and some great friends, we are proud to bring him back again with new material for one last final night in this historical cabaret theatre that has brought major performers to the Crescent City from coast to coast. Todd has just released his second CD Stardust and Swing and has garnered rave reviews from California to New York with his most current cabaret show Croon. I truly cannot say enough great things about this amazing talent. His voice is pure enjoyment. He sings to the audience like a person would sing to their lover. Simply said the show is sexy, from the beautiful performer to his music. So come out and join the Krewe of Satyricon for one last hoorah at Le Chat Noir with an incredible singer. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased by calling 504.525.4498. [continued on 20]
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under the gaydar ...from 18
St. Anna’s Opens New Community Center
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t. Anna’s Episcopal Church, a friend and supporter of the LGBT community in New Orleans has just purchased a rundown mansion at the corner of Esplanade and Claiborne to create the Dodwell House. This community center will supply space for programs that will help reduce poverty and inequality, provide outreach to at-risk children, maintain a cultural crossroads for the diverse population served by St. Anna’s and furnish a permanent home for after-school and Hispanic ministries. Recently on Saturday, June 11, they hosted a fundraiser at the location to a great crowd who faced the heat and the rain to support this worthy cause. Elizabeth Bouvier was the emcee of the evening that included Tami Tarmac, the Iguanas and Susan Cowsill. The house is architecturally remarkable but there is a lot of work and money needed to get it into shape. For more information on how to be a part of helping them build this dream for our community, go to www.stannanola.org or call 504.947.2121.
Interview: Fab 3 from Expedition Impossible
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BC has an exciting new summer series from executive producer Mark Burnett, Expedition Impossible. Burnett is best known for his hits “Survivor” and “The Apprentice.” In this show, thirteen teams of three will find themselves racing in a fun expedition across vast deserts, over snow-capped mountains and through raging rivers in the beautifully exotic, fabled Kingdom of Morocco. Each week a new stage of the expedition will be revealed to the teams. Like any good show like this one or The Amazing Race, viewers will find out if the teams crumble under the pressure of having to think clearly in the wilds of the great outdoors, or will they find a way to work together to complete the expedition. After 10 legs of competition fraught with drama, comedy and great characters, one team will cross the finish line first to claim victory. Each winning team member will receive $50,000 ($150,000 total for the team) as well a new Ford Explorer. Recently, I got the wonderful opportunity to interview two of the three members of the Fab 3, one of the teams in this wildly exhilarating adventure show. The Fab 3 consists of Ryan Allen Carrillo, AJ Gibson and Kari Gibson. Ryan is a former professional inline and roller skater and has worked with Madonna, Kelis and Beyonce. AJ and Kari, a former Hawaiian Tropic Model, are a brother sister duo who are originally from Ohio. To make things
even more interesting Ryan and AJ dated for three years and recently broke up before the show taped in Morocco. Talk about your bad timing, but hey that is what makes good television. The three currently reside in Los Angeles, CA. I found both Ryan and AJ to be fun guys and cannot wait to see them on the show. TL: What prompted you to do the show? AJ: The three of us have always been incredibly competitive and are all huge fans of reality competition shows. We used to joke about how perfect it would be if there were a show that combined the best aspects of our favorite shows, with teams of 3 competing for the prize. When we saw that Mark Burnett Productions was casting for Expedition Impossible and were looking for teams of three, we knew we were destined to be on this show! Apparently, we were on to something. TL: What was the most difficult part of the expedition for each of you? AJ: Kari and I have been best friends since she was born and Ryan and I were a couple until just before casting, so I knew going into the expedition that my experience would be unique to myself and Ryan. I am the common denominator in the group and while that makes me very lucky to have 2 people so close to me on such a grand adventure, it also meant that if either of my teammates were stressed or angry, they always took it out on me. I’m a pretty tough guy and I can handle a lot, but being ganged up on by my sister and my ex in the middle of a foreign country while hanging off the side of a cliff...sometimes that was just a lot to take on. Ryan: The competition itself is extremely challenging physically and mentally. I don’t really remember ever camping before so the idea of “roughing it” to me was... a hotel room with no mini bar... We are in the middle of nowhere, no hotels, no showers, no restrooms, and no cell phones!. Lot’s of time to think. TL: Ultimately, how hard was it working together as a team after the break up in the relationship? AJ: The unique thing about Ryan and I’s relationship is that we’ve never had an issue working together. We are both very professional and incredibly hard working men, so that was not the issue. I think that just seeing him 24 hours a day for the duration of the expedition was the more difficult task. It’s very difficult to move on from a relationship when you’re depending on your ex partner to literally save your life on a daily basis. The whole experience was challenging, to say the least, but taught Ryan and I how to be friends again and that means a lot to us both. Ryan: It was definitely hard to move on while training for the show and doing the show. As AJ said we [continued on 26]
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SDGMs XXXVI Toby Lefort & Julien Artressia introduce their successors SDGMs XXXVII Misael Rubio & Tiffany Alexander (center)
Club LAX bartenders Matthew Muller & Blaze Migliore
SDGM XXXVI Julien Artressia & Mark Scovern
Corey Torres, Todd Waller, Joseph Amuso & Mark Scovern
Oz’s Tommy Elias, SDGM XXXVII Misael & Corner Pocket’s Tommy Elias
Brad Robbert, SDGM XXXVI Julien Artressia & Todd Waller Dusty Debris, SDGM XXXVII Tiffany & Persana Shoulders
snap paparazzi
Frankie Fierce & Josh Finn SDGM XXXIII Regina, SDGM XXXIV Electra, Persana, SDGM XXXV Tittie & SDGM XXXVII Tiffany
Todd Waller & Ambush’s Devin Black SDGMs XXXVI Julien Artressia & Toby Lefort
Marc Anthoni, SDGM XXXVI Toby Lefort & Cowboy Dave
Kerry Hutchinson, Joshua Carcabasis & Chris Picou
SD Susan Luccis Marsha & Rip flank SDGMs XXXVII Misael Rubio & Tiffany Alexander Sean, Jessica & SDGM XXXVII Tiffany
Princesse Stephaney, Stephanie Lee, Dee Cooley & Pam Perret
Past Southern Decadence Grand Marshals
Chris, Dominique & friend
SDGMs XXXVII Misael Rubio & Tiffany Alexander
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~ Metairie, LA ~ Photos by Ambush, Devin Black
Coronation 2011 Announcing Southern Decadence Grand Marshals (SDGMs) XXXVII Misael Rubio & Tiffany Alexander @ Club LAX
In for Coronation 2011
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under the gaydar ...from 20 were together 24/7. We absolutely got on each others nerves. We have some pretty epic fights on the expedition, but that is sort of how we are. We fight huge and make up quickly like most
the very first episode of Expedition Impossible they will very quickly realize that they’re in for the ride of a lifetime! This show is absolutely unlike anything that has ever been filmed for television and viewers will feel like they are watching a blockbuster film week
myself like I did when I was skating. I also learned to stop for a moment and enjoy the view. We were running like crazy people for hundreds of miles and every so often I would take a mental picture of my surroundings and it was so beautiful. I try to do that back in Los
AJ Gibson, Kari Gibson & Ryan Allen Carrillo in Expedition Impossible premiering June 23rd on ABC normal families. We are sort of like the Kardashian’s.... I’m Kim, Kari is Courtney and AJ is Bruce Jenner! TL: What do viewers have in store for them from this show? AJ: I think when people tune in to
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after week. Every minute of our expedition was insanely difficult and incredibly unexpected, so I’m just as excited to tune in each week and see what makes the air! Ryan: Looking at the full trailer the show literally looks like a $100M feature film. It was shot incredibly. Mark Burnett knows reality television. He absolutely has created a unique new franchise that will air for many seasons. I also think most people would love an opportunity to be on a show like this, but will quickly change their minds when they see how hard it is. TL: How did this show change each of you? What did learn about yourself after doing this show? AJ: The show had a profound impact on me in a way that I never expected. I’m not a terribly religious guy, but the expedition definitely had an enormous effect on me spiritually. I felt attached to the earth, the skies, the water in a way I had never experienced before and it definitely opened my eyes. I now know that I’m much more capable than I knew and able to take on situations than before this experience, I would’ve thought to be impossible. The ironic thing about Expedition Impossible is that it taught me that the word impossible should not be a part of my vocabulary. Ryan: I used to be a professional skater and used to really push my body to its limits. Since that is behind me now I was glad I was still able to push
Angeles. We are always consumed by our busy lives, but I take a little time for me now. TL: Tell me about Morocco? AJ: The Kingdom of Morocco is the most spectacular place I’ve ever been! The people are warm and generous, the culture is rich and diverse and the terrain is both stunning and treacherous at the same time. I had no idea such an extraordinary place existed and I am beyond grateful that I was given the opportunity to explore it in such a unique way. Ryan: Beyond the most beautiful place I have ever been. Breathtaking views, etc. The terrain literally changed every mile. In the same day you could be in the dessert and end it on top of a snow capped mountain. Not a fan of camels, arabian horses or mules though.... Expedition Impossible premieres on Thursday, June 23 at 8pm Central on ABC. From the sounds of it, this show is going to be a very wild ride. So tune in and let’s cheer on the Fab 3.
Tony’s Tidbits of Gay Wisdom
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n May 31, President Obama issued a proclamation recognizing June 2011 as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride Month. June has been recognized as Gay Pride Month for many years in the United States; a
time when gays celebrate their identity with events that include parades, street festivals and educational efforts. But it is not just a commemoration for members of the LGBT community, but also family members and friends who often join in to offer support. Although parades in New York and Los Angeles get the most media attention, communities around the nation hold events including the Crescent City. That is why it pained me over the years to see our community divided about our gay pride, becoming even downright nasty at times. Being gay has enough problems that arise with it from outside forces; we do not need infighting within our own community. So I thought a small lesson on our roots would be in order for this issue. The first gay pride parade was held in 1970, one year after the Stonewall Rebellion. The Stonewall Rebellion, on June 28, 1969, in New York, is considered the beginning of the modern gay rights movement, not only in the United States but around the world. The National Park Service’s “Statement of Significance” for the Stonewall Inn describes what happened. “In a pattern of raids and harassment of gay establishments, the New York City police raided the Stonewall Inn on the early morning of June 28, 1969. The reaction of the bar’s patrons and of the neighborhood crowd that assembled in the street was not typical of such raids, however. Instead of quietly dispersing, as police had come to expect, the crowd rioted. ...” By the 25th anniversary, an estimated 500,000 people participated in the New York parade for gay pride. It has been said by many professors and historians that the Stonewall Rebellion opened the door for millions of gay and lesbian Americans to begin pressing for full and equal civil rights. Contrary to some people’s belief, being gay is still being human. You are not going to agree with what everyone does and those in charge do not always make the right decisions. But we need to focus on the fact that pride is more than street fairs, parades, or even pub crawls (which by the way is a brilliant idea). It is about us celebrating our individuality and our rights. This saying still stands stalwart through the tests of time: United We Stand, Divided We Fall. So if there are different things you would like to see happen for Pride, remember the only way you can bring about change is action, and next year join the Pride board, or be a part of one of their committees. It is not like the Pride board is an exclusive group; they welcome with open arms anyone willing to work. So lets’ enjoy a lovely weekend and come together as friends to celebrate the fact that our community has come so far. Happy Pride ya’ll. If you have an event or news item you would like me to cover in this column, please contact Tony at tonymgp@hotmail.com.
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Slidell, LA [985] OLDE SLIDELL ANTIQUE DISTRICT, First & Erlanger Streets, antique malls, gift shops, doll shop & restaurants, 643.4790, SlidellAntiques.COM
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 MIDTOWN 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 Baton Rouge, LA [225] CAJUN COVE, 4550 Concord Ave., 246.8317 GEORGE'S, 860 St. Louis, 387.9798, HOUND DOGS, 668 Main St., 344.0807
body rubs New Orleans, LA Experience The BODY ELECTRIC, nude rub, erotic, hot oils, full service table, deep tissue, light tissue, body scrubs. In & out calls. CALL AL 214.709.5199 [is1311]
book stores 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
cable shows New Orleans, LA [504] THE GAR WILLIAMS SHOW, Every Wed. &Sat., 8:30am & 8:30pm, Access Television Channel 99
casinos T R PA M A R
French Quarter/Faubourg Marigny/Bywater
antiques
KAJUN'S PUB, 2256 St. Claude Ave., 947.3735 LE ROUNDUP, 819 St. Louis, 561.8340 MICHAEL'S ON THE PARK, 834 N. Rampart St., 267.3615 NAPOLEON'S ITCH, 734 Bourbon, 371.5450 OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, OzNewOrleans. COM PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264 RAWHIDE 2010, 740 Burgundy St., 525.8106, Rawhide2010.COM SOCIETY PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., 299.0156. TUBBY'S GOLDEN LANTERN, 1239 Royal, 529.2860, TubbysBar.COM Slidell, LA [985] BILLY'S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, 847.1921
Lafayette, LA [337] JULES DOWNTOWN, 533 Jefferson, 264.8000 TONIC, 2013 Pinhook Rd., 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, 4seasonsno.com CLUB LAX, 2301 N. Causeway, 834.7979 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, CuttersBar.BIZ 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
Lake Charles, LA [337] L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort, 777 Avenue L’Auberge, 337.395.7777 or 866.580.7444, ldlcasino.com New Orleans, LA [504] Harrah's New Orleans Casino, Canal @ the River, 800.,HARRAHS, GayHarrahsNOLA.COM
chiropractic New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MICHAEL LECHLEITER, D.C., St. Charles Chiropractic, 1529 Jackson Ave., 566.1833 [is1111]
circuit/events Aug. 31-Sept. 5, 40th Official Southern Decadence 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. 27-30, Halloween 28, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, halloweenneworleans.com Dec. 29, 2011-Jan. 3, 2012, Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.COM Feb. 17-21, 2012, Official Gay Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush, GayMardiGras.COM Easter Sunday, April 8, 2012, 13th Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade.COM May 25-28, 2012, Memorial Day Weekend, Pensacola, FL, sponsored by Ambush, GayPensacola.COM
counseling New Orleans, LA [504] DAVID WAGNER, PhD, LPC, 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] FRADY'S ONE STOP GROCERY & DELICATESSEN, 3231 Dauphine St., 949.9688, fax: 943.7492, fradyfied@aol.com QUARTERMASTER DELI, THE NELLIE DELI, 1100 Bourbon, 529.1416
hair salons New Orleans, LA [504] BOBBY BLUE CONTEMPORARY BARBER & BEAUTY PARLOR, 906 Bourbon St., 527.5100 HEAD QUARTERS HAIR SALON, 900 Rue Dauphine, 522.2666 MICKEY NOLAN'S SALON, 815 Toulouse St., 587.7782 SALON D'MALTA, 1233 Decatur, 565.5555
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] AARON INGRAM HAUS, 1012 Elysian Fields, New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: 504.949.3110, E-mail us at ingramhaus@yahoo.com. Condos with queensize beds, private entrances; located only six blocks from Bourbon Street and walking distance to most New Orleans attractions. Several favorite bars are within one block. [0711] 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. [0811] 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.
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HOTEL LE MARAIS, 717 Conti St., New Orleans, LA, 800.535.9111 or visit NewOrleansHotelCollection.COM, is the newest boutique hotel property in the French Quarter. This sleek, contemporary hotel offers high level service, a “happening” bar, delightful amenities and an inclusive concept that avoids a “nickel and dime” mentality. It features heated saltwater courtyard pool, complimentary daily newspaper, complimentary Wi Fi in all areas and all rooms, complimentary extended continental breakfast, complimentary fitness center, complimentary business center, and complimentary welcome drink. 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. [0112] NEW ORLEANS COURTYARD HOTEL, 1101 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA 70116, 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 & thai massage/bodywork). Call 504.458.5996 / website righttouchnola.com for pictures, location & special. License #LA4553 [is2611]
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
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 ASSOCIATION, 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]
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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, info@kreweofarmeinius.org, 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: NOLA SOFTBALL LEAGUE, nolasoftball.com THE COMMUNITY COALITION OF GREATER NEW ORLEANS LGBTQ Organizations & Businesses, tccgno.org, 569.9156 Until It Is OVER, Inc., Executive Director Don S. Evans, Sr., 5837 De Bore Drive, New Orleans, Louisiana 70126, Phone 504 722 1694, Fax 504 286 5784 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
pets 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] PIPES "R" US PLUMBING, “Let us PEEP in your pipes”, 140 N. Carrollton Ave., Office 504.866.2730, Fax 504.484.0907, PipesRUsNewOrleans.COM RAMSEY PLUMBING, repairs, repipe, sewer & drain cleaning, water heaters, disposals, 296.6865
psychic New Orleans, LA [504] PALM & TAROT CARD READER, 109 Hickory Ave., Harahan; 3116 Williams Blvd., Kenner; 644.5986
real estate agents New Orleans, LA [504] FRENCH QUARTER REALTY, Agents: Gary R. Williams 251.2047, Sandy Preston 319.7500; Office 949.5400 PRUDENTIAL GARDNER REALTORS, Agent Brett A. Rector, Cell: 453.2277, Office: 891.6400, brettinla@aol.com
restaurants 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 Candy Bar, 908 Bourbon, 504.52.CANDY Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, CloverGrill.COM Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 The Decadence Shoppe (coffehouse, bakery, cafe), 806 N. Rampart, 529.8874, DecadenceShoppeCafe.COM
The Green Goddess, 307 Exchange Place Alley, 301.3347, GreenGoddessNOLA.COM Krystal, 116 Bourbon @ Canal, 523.4030 Little Vic's Gelateria, 719 Toulouse St. Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, 95 French Market Pl., 522.9500 Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 Orleans Grapevine Wine & Bar Bistro, 720 Orleans, 523.1930 Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416, QuartermasterDeli.NET Who Dat Coffee Cafe, 2401 Burgundy St., 872.0360
retail/shopping Metairie, LA [504] SUZETTE'S, 4636 W. Esplanade, 888.7722, Suzettes.COM New Orleans, LA [504] THE HERB IMPORT COMPANY, 711 St. Peter [French Quarter], 525.4372; 5055 Canal St. [Mid City], 488.4889, 712 Adams St. [Uptown], 861.4644, HerbImport.COM KRAZY KATZ ON BOURBON, 909 Bourbon, 566.1570 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 RAZZLE DAZZLE, the newest sensation in a very old place, 524 Royal St. 568.0001, RazzleDazzle.COM Slidell, LA [985] THE HERB IMPORT COMPANY, 1331 Englewood Dr., 643.8007, HerbImport.COM
spas New Orleans, LA [504] CLUB NEW ORLEANS, 515 Toulouse, 581.2402, www.the-clubs.com
theatres New Orleans, LA [504] 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 BARS, GayBars.COM GAY PENSACOLA, GayPensacola.COM OFFICIAL GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayEasterParade.COM OFFICIAL GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM OFFICIAL GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM OFFICIAL SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM
AMBUSH
MAG.COM 828
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chop chop by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
New Orleans Restaurant Guide
Garlic Shrimp Pasta (jumbo shrimp with garlic butter sauce over angel hair pasta) @ Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, 95 French Market Place
Gourmet Sliders with Onion Rings @ 700 Club Restaurant, 700 Burgundy
Custom Breakfast @ Krystal, Bourbon St. @ Canal St.
Glazed 10 oz. Pork Chop with Steen's Cane Syrup & Creole Mustard served with duck fat potatoes & green beans @ The Country Club, 634 Louisa St.
New Orleans Muffuletta (generous helping of ham, salami, provolone and olive salad) @ Restaurant/Deli of the Year Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St.
700 Club Restaurant, 700 Burgundy St., 561.1095, 700ClubNewOrleans.COM, is serving sliders, paninis, quesadillas, and more at the popular club in the French Quarter. Restaurant hours are 7pm til Wed.-Sun. with extended Decadence hours. Bywater Restaurant, Deli & BBQ, 3162 Dauphine St., 944.4445, is noted for its gumbo, barbeque, pizza, sandwiches and specials serving lunch and dinner. Now under the direction of Executive Chef David Duvall, the restaurant is open 11am-10pm Mon.Tues., Thurs.-Fri.; 9am-10pm Sat.-Sun. with brunch 9am-3pm, closed Wed. MasterCard/ Visa accepted. Cafe Amelie, 912 Royal St., 412.8965, CafeAmelie.COM, offers romantic courtyard or indoor dining along with both eclectic culinary creations and cocktails. Open Wed.Sat. with lunch 11am-3pm, dinner 6-9pm, Sun. brunch 11-3. Candy Bar, 908 Bourbon, 504.52.CANDY, is a new upscale dessert & specialty food store, open 7 days & weekends 24 hours. Best in desserts, snacks, cheeses, crackers, candies, NY bagels & knishes, po-boys, wraps & sandwiches. PLUS PLUS PLUS many organic, all natural & gluten free items, also DOG TREATS. Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, CloverGrill.COM, is open 7 days and features breakfast including build your own omelettes. But let’s not forget their fab burgers grilled right under a hub cap and then there’s all those sandwiches, sides, desserts and shakes. Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., 945.0742, TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM. The chef has paid attention to detail and ingredient, and focused on a more contemporary menu at an even more affordable price point. Still the best food, but at even more unbelievable value! Serving 7 days 11am-10pm and Sunday Brunch 11am-3pm. The Decadence Shoppe, 806 N. Rampart, 529.8874, DecadenceShoppeCafe.COM is part coffee shop, part cafe, and part bakery. "We take pride doing all our own baking, and you can order your next special treat from us," says owners Matt and Kevin. This little neighborhood place will fulfill your sweet tooth or both your breakfast or lunch cravings in a quiet setting while serving "desserts like Mom use to make". Located across the street by the Armstrong Park arch, the cafe is open Wed.-Sun. 7am - 3pm. The Green Goddess, 307 Exchange Place Alley, 301.3347, GreenGoddessNOLA.COM, opened in May 2009 with a progressive menu that blends New Orleans sensibilities with a globe trotting sampling of ingredients, all emanating from the small open kitchen where chefs Chris DeBarr and Paul Artigues make it happen. Krystal, 116 Bourbon at Canal, 523.4030. Open 24 hours, it's one of the best stops for fast food with tasty burgers, hot dogs and breakfast. Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, 95 French Market Place, 522.9500 or visit LouisianaPizzaKitchen.COM, is famous for its wood fired gourmet pizzas, pastas, salads and appetizers. Open 7 days from 11am-10pm. Little Vic's Gelateria, 719 Toulouse St., will serve over 40 inventive flavors of gelato, including stracciatella, amaretto, bacio de gama, and limoncello, as well as fresh-made panino, pastries, and Lavazza espresso. Re-opening soon. Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746, features Italian specialties including salads, pizzas, sandwiches and entrees. Open Mon.-Thurs. 5-10pm, Fri.-Sun. 11am-10pm. Free delivery in the French Quarter and Marigny up to Franklin. Orleans Grapevine Wine & Bar Bistro, 720 Orleans, 523.1930, is located in a beautiful renovated 1809 building offering a pleasant atmosphere, extensive wine list with 200 selections, and delicious food including soups, salads, appetizers, entrees and house made desserts that will delight any palate. Open daily at 4pm serving dinner Sun.-Thurs. 5-10:30pm, Fri.-Sat. 5-11pm. Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St., 529.1416, QuartermasterDeli.NET, voted Restaurant/Deli of the Year, is open 24 hours 7 days. Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night menu, the deli offers free delivery. Who Dat Coffee Cafe, 2401 Burgundy St., 872.0360, offers Fair Trade gourmet coffees, teas, cupcakes, scones, coffee by the pound, gift baskets, art & merchandise by local artists, stamps & mail box rentals, along with outdoor seating & Wi-Fi. Open 7am10pm daily.
Red Velvet Cupcakes @ Who Dat Coffee Cafe, 2401 Burgundy St.
Special Combo Pizza (pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, onions, mushrooms, green peppers & black olives with jalapenos & anchovies optional) @ Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St.
Club Sandwich with Zapp's Potato Chips @ The Decadence Shoppe, 806 N. Rampart St.
12 oz. Blackened Ribeye @ Bywater Restaurant, Deli & BBQ, 3162 Dauphine St.
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acadiana happens by Joey Collins, Lafayette, Louisiana Email: ejcollins583@gmail.com Twitter: JoeyC_583
S
ummer has arrived and odds are that I’m just as lazy as you are. We shall make this meeting very short and sweet. Don’t expect this again for quite some time because as many of you already know, I can be quite long winded. Buckle down because here is what’s going on.
Summer Activities
I
f you’re lucky enough to actually still enjoy a summer because you’re either still in school or you’re just fortunate enough not to have to work then odds are that you’re already kind of bored. In that case, I have much jealousy for you. You go ahead and enjoy your ‘pool days’ as you sip margaritas and martinis all day and soak in some cancer rays from above. Okay, so I may be a bit bitter. With that said, I still am here to help find fun activities for you to engage in. Many functions have already come and gone and many are traditional regardless of the summer season. Rick Rowan’s Annual Gay Canoe Trip has already kicked off the summer season. It’s quite easy to pick out the ones who attended the trip. Simply look for the bruises, cuts, and listen for the complaints of flipped canoes and measures of bonding experiences filled with great memories to be shared till next year’s trip. Other events are the Second Saturday Art Walk in downtown Lafayette. Starting at 5pm on the second Saturday of every month, downtown Lafayette awakens with a display of local art and culture. Each independent gallery, studios, and art house welcomes visitors to this free event. Whether you’re an art collector, guru, or a simple amateur looking to be amazed, it is encouraged to come and explore the downtown area and become inspired. Take in the art and culture facilities that Lafayette has to offer. Watch as downtown expands and begins to show its true colors. If you’re willing to spend the money then lafayettetravel.com encourages one
to become a tourist in your own backyard. Here are some suggestions. The following events can be done during the course of an entire weekend or be spread out through the summer.
Brunch at Cafe des Amis
S
tart your day off on Saturday at 8am with a Zydeco Breakfast at Café des Amis in Breaux Bridge. This smorgasbord of appreciation for food, music, art, and history has become a traditional way to prepare for a long weekend ahead. Their breakfast menu features a creative array of dishes such as the ‘Orielle de Cochon’ which is actually boudin stuffed, then thinly fried, shaped like pig’s ears, and then dusted with powdered sugar. If you want a unique experience then this is definitely the place. For event listings visit www.cafedesamis.com. Next on the agenda is a swamp tour. I have lived my entire life in South Louisiana and have yet to attempt a swamp tour. I do believe that it’s time to venture out to our wetlands and see what the entire buzz is about. Many suggest McGee’s Landing as the setting for an Atchafalaya exploration. This scene is equipped with campgrounds, swamp tours, guest cabins, and of course a café and bar. Lack of a bar would simply be a deal breaker. Daily
tours depart at 10am, 1pm, and 3pm and are $20 for adults, $15 for children 12 and under, and $18 for you seniors. Sunset cruises are also available with reservations. McGee’s Café and Bar are also a local hot spot that has been features on Good Morning America, The Today Show, and The CBS Morning Show. For more information for all that this landing has to offer, visit www.mcgeeslanding.com. To many people who grew up in Acadiana, Vermilionville was a place that was visited on big hot stuffy yellow school buses. Most prepared for the journey by having permission slips signed by parents/guardians and packing a sandwich for the trip. If you attended a grade school similar to mine, your teacher put you in the spirit of things by having the entire class purchase a school shirt. Whether this was simply a security measure to keep up with all the kids more than a spirit measure, I’ll never really be quite sure. Nonetheless, Vermilionville is another great way to experience the refinement and story of Acadiana. Hosted every Saturday from 1pm to 3:30pm is the Cajun Music Jam Session. This is a joint effort between Vermilionville and the Cajun French Music Association (CFMA). The event is open to the public. You don’t have to be a musician to enjoy this acoustic[continued on 35]
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acadiana
papar azzi
Ryan, Matt & Michael @ Jules Brodie & Tayler @ Tonic
Hear no evil, speak no evil, see no evil
Jeremy & Jason @ Jules
Living it up @ Tonic
The Newlyweds, Wendy & Maria
Enjoying the 6th Annual Canoe Trip
Wendy & Maria cutting their wedding cake
Connie G performs @ the wedding ceremony
Chad, Kim, Jason, Kasi & Tayler enjoying Tonic Sand Angel!
Blaine & Tayler
The group @ 6th Annual Gay Canoe Trip
Destiny Michelle performing @ Jules
Steven says “Werq” to Cameron Blake @ Tonic
Token straight couple @ canoe trip
Gabe & Ryan
Wendy & Maria’s wedding cake
Steven Reed serving up drinks @ Tonic
34 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J une 21-J uly 4, 2011 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide• Sout her nDec adenc e.COM
Bars, Canoes, Weddings ~ Lafayette, Louisiana ~ Photos by Joey Collins
Drag Show getting hot @ Jules
acadiana happens ...from 33 styled music. Just keep in mind that no amps are involved, just the simple joy of music is needed. Visit www.bayouvermilion.org for more information.
Bar Spill
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any of you may or may not remember Keith Doucet. Odds are that if you do remember him, you remember him from the days of Bear Night at Sound Factory. In case you were unaware he’s back and ready to show you a great Sunday Tea at Tonic. From 12pm to 6pm Keith Doucet will bring back the 70s, 80s, and 90s with a twist of Zydeco and Cajun music along with great food for your delight. A simple $5 cover enables a time at Tonic. Monday nights at Tonic are always Customer Appreciation Night and features $1 wells, $2 domestics, and $3 premiums. Brodie Meche challenges you to a beer pong tournament and if you’re lucky enough to beat his high score then you’re destined to win cash. Just make sure you’re there by 10pm because that’s when all the fun starts. We cannot forget Tuesday Night Talent Show. This is truly when the bar comes alive as Brodie Mess makes his way to the stage and engages the audience in a creative endeavor. Each Tuesday performers give it their all with hopes to make it to the finals. Audience members collectively decide who they feel is good enough to make it to the next round. Come see what all the fuss is about. Speaking of fuss, have you checked out the new drag show at Jules? Many of you may remember the older version of drag that Jules was portraying on a Friday night. This one is new and filled with attitude. Welcome a new host and different participants who yearn to stay in the game till July 8th when finals are held. Each week will display a different theme. With a large variety of emcees and genres, you’re always in for a surprise. You never know what to expect until you arrive. Make sure that you still remember that Thursday nights are designated for a country-free karaoke with host Blake Duhon. Saturday nights will always be reserved for you to dance your heart out. Drink specials will be called nightly and never forget the infamous free shots on the bar at any random part of the evening. As always, do not forget to engage in the following on Facebook; Lafayette Gay Men, Lafayette Lesbians, Jules, and Tonic, Lafayette. Remember that Ambush can always be found at www.AmbushMag.COM.
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uch kudos goes out to the newlywed couple, Wendy Wallace and Maria Hebert. You two set
an example and I wish you the best. You two are a true trailblazer in our local community. For the rest of you out there, make sure that you keep the summer enjoyable and don’t spend too much time in the tanning bed or you’ll end up orange. I have a few orange friends and they know who they are. Remember to keep it safe and as always, keep the party going. You’re listing up with Joey Collins!
lgbt real estate 3 Hot East Coast Real Estate Markets for LGBT Investors
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he summer travel season often inspires LGBT vacationers to consider investing in a second home – or picking up stakes and moving to a new place they may have enjoyed during weekend jaunts. But in 2011 the opportunities to make a smart, lucrative real estate investment are more attractive than they have been in many years. That’s because of a combination of cheap mortgage rates, highly affordable housing prices, and the strong potential for upward momentum. Along the east coast there are three places in particular that presently offer some of the most compelling and attractive allure. They are also among the best
LGBT destinations, and for that reason they deserve “Top 3” status. One is way up north, another extends into south Florida, and there is a third centrally located along the Atlantic seaboard. #1 Washington, D.C. While Congress may have difficulty providing unified leadership, the
nation’s capital is leading the way in terms of its job market and real estate economy. The unemployment rate is about half the national average and continues to shrink, and Washington is the only city within the Case-Shiller 20City Index to chalk up significant house price gains over the past year. Meanwhile the Anacostia Riverwalk project is nearing completion with more than 20 miles of greenways, parks, hiking trails, and other amenities along both banks of Washington’s beautiful Anacostia River. The Riverwalk will connect RFK stadium, Kingman Island, the National Arboretum, and other destinations – including the newly expanded and refurbished Arena Stage. Historic Arena Stage is one of America’s two largest performing arts facilities, second only [continued on 42]
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Zack & Sebastain @ Emerald City Penny Holliday & Dustyn @ Emerald City
Brandon & Jonathan @ Emerald City
pensacola Lauren Mitchell & Jacob @ Emerald City
Emerald City’s Drink & Drown
Jack & Sassy @ Emerald City
Miss Alexa & friends
Ben serving it up @ Emerald City
Tim & Terry out on the patio @ Emerald City
Emerald City’s bartenders Bunnie & Brian ready to serve
Jon & David @ The Other Side
Too bad I only have credit cards Jesus & Jason @ The Other Side
Emerald City’s very own Lauren Mitchell
Ebony Sinclair making the men smile @ Emerald City
Regine Phillips & friends @ Emerald City’s Drink & Drown
The handsome guys of Emerald City
36 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J une 21-J uly 4, 2011 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide• Sout her nDec adenc e.COM
Drink, Drown & Smile ~ Pensacola, Florida ~ Photos by Lauren Mitchell
papar azzi
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spotlight feature
mobile
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A Community within Communities: Dodwell House by The Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, fr.bill@stannanola.org n June 11th in the heat of a summer’s evening in the Tremé people representing the most diverse communities gathered for the first Annual Dodwell House Summer Extravaganza! The MarsoudetDodwell House was built in 1846 the same year St. Anna’s Episcopal Church was established. The purpose of the gala was to raise funds to restore the fine old house and to bring attention to the missions that are transforming our community. The Dodwell House will be the future home of Anna’s Arts for Kids, a program bound to break cycles of poverty both spiritual and physical for the children of New Orleans. The property will become the home for a new Hispanic Cultural Center teaching Latinos English as a Second Language and community and social skills – it is called Oportunidades NOLA. These same peoples helped us to rebuild our city and now make a home for themselves here. Dodwell House will house volunteers that pour into the city each year helping us all to rebuild; particularly the underserved. It will house the medical mission providing free health screenings. Finally, this fine old building in grave danger of continued decay will be preserved as a legacy of our architectural heritage. The evening was filled with promise as Miss Elizabeth Bouvier and Miss Tami Tarmac introduced City Council President Jackie Clarkson and District C Councilwoman Kristin Palmer. Rev. Norwood Thompson of the SCLC reminded us that this gathering represented the dream of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The Rt. Rev. James Brown, Bishop, recalled the broad way in which Fr. Robert Dodwell welcomed all into his church, St. Anna’s, regardless of race, economic location, or sexual orientation. The Lords of Leather were represented, members of the African American community cheered, and neighborhood businesses supported the evenings excellent offerings. Diversity in action is a powerful thing. Yet some wondered: “What is the plan?” “Can this place be saved?” “How will they do it?” First and foremost the “they” is us! The community: gay, straight, rich, poor, black, white, and brown will rebuild this house or it will not be rebuilt. A seed grant was given and since then several donations along with the gala have raised over $150,000! It is a start. The planned budget for the project is $400,000, including final purchase price, to be raised over four years. This figure anticipates volunteer labor, donated materials, and some grant monies in addition to the stated capital goal. In order to understand the logistics of renovation the complex should be thought of as three projects. The Dependency – Project #1 will provide a rental unit to a staff member for on-site policing and housing for visiting volunteer groups eager to pay for the housing. We anticipate housing groups of 20 volunteers at a time. The dependency has been gutted and re-roofed. It needs to be wired to code and plumed to code. A local firm has agreed to do the flooring. This phase should cost about $40,000 to complete and we hope to have this finished before October, 2011. The main house, Project #2, first floor is next. Some brick work and ‘ledgers’ must be reworked. Partial demolition of unstable lath and mortar ceilings must be undertaken. Then new floor joists; sheet rock ceilings, and repair walls as needed. Because this is a solid brick home including the interior walls the task is not as daunting as one may think. After that is complete and during that phase wiring and plumbing must be installed. The expected cost for this phase is approximately $70-80,000. This will open the first floor to use by Anna’s Arts and
O
Oportunidades. We hope to have this phase accomplished before the summer of 2012. The second floor is next, with sheet rock installation, new floors and builds out as a “bunk room” for volunteers accommodating groups of about 50. The final phase #3 is the grand dining room which will be furnished with a commercial kitchen and open seating for use of volunteers, students, and visiting groups. The cost of the final project is still being developed. In the mean time the principal buy out of the property is $225,000 which we hope to fund via our capital campaign and fundraisers. At the end of the re-build period our goal is to have a useable building. It will be preserved for future historic restoration and preservation, which may come later. It will have stopped the decay of the property, entrusted to caring communities, and put its use saving lives in wonderful ways. So, what can our community do? Bring attention to the project and support the efforts of Dodwell House. If you are skilled labor and are able to provide wiring, plumbing, or carpentry call us and let’s talk about how you can help. Cash is always needed so remember this work when you need a tax benefit it is a 501(c) under St. Anna’s Episcopal Church. Eventually massive landscaping and repaving will be needed; keep that in mind. This building can and will become a symbol of a community that loves, gives, and receives all people as God’s good creation. Invest in the future of our city and our people. Crime, poverty, ignorance, and hatred will not take care of themselves – but we can…we have the power to change the world. “I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” For further information go to www.dodwellhouse.org or www.stannanola.org or e-mail frbill@stannanola.org or simply call 504.847.2121. Dodwell House is located at 1519 Esplanade Ave. just two blocks from St. Anna’s Episcopal Church.
B-Bob’s bar baron Jerry with Corey & Jayme
Miss Cie with Jasyn, Melanie & James @ B-Bob’s
Bobby & the Girls...
Mobile’s Cruise Director Judson, giving Face
38 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J une 21-J uly 4, 2011 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide• Sout her nDec adenc e.COM
The Celebs ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Cieanne & John
Order of Osiris Royalty XXX, Stephen with Mitchell Brown
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Marsha, Tommy Elias & Rip Marsha, Nicole Dubois & Rip
The Stage Banner by Al & Dwain
Mike Cookmeyer, Kristen Palmer & Larry Bagneris A surprised Marsha & Rip
Tony Leggio, Marsha, Rip & Opal Masters
Bill Miller & Chuck Turner prepared the buffet feast
Councilperson Kristen Palmer, Marsha, Rip & Larry Bagneris
Chuck Hinkley, Elizabeth Bouvier & Brad Held
Tami Tarmac, Marsha & Rip
Kevin, Opal, Barry & Elizabeth
Marsha, Elizabeth Bouvier & Rip
More party boys
The Cast: Princesse, Elizabeth, Opal, Nicole, Tami & (front) Tony
Cameron & Opal Princesse Stephaney, Marsha & Rip
Dwain Hertz & Al Dugas
Raven Kennedy & Tyriq
Daryl Dunaway & David Aranda
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~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Al & Dwain, Tony Leggio, Darwin Reed
Surprise Party honoring New Orleans’ Rip & Marsha for their Contributions to the GLBT Community @ Oz
David & Ronnie with John & Robert
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trodding the boards by Brian Sands
Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com
New in New York
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t the risk of damning Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo with faint praise, if you want to see a Broadway show and can’t get tickets for The Book of Mormon or War Horse, or even Jerusalem or The Mother****er With the Hat, and Bengal Tiger (at the Richard Rodgers Theatre through July 3) is available at TKTS, it’s worth checking out. In Rajiv Joseph’s Pulitzer Prizenominated play, two American soldiers, Tom and Kev, in the aftermath of the invasion of Iraq, are on guard duty in Baghdad’s zoo. There’s some jive talk and then Tom (Glenn Davis) altruistically tries to feed some beef jerky to a caged, hungry tiger. Said tiger bites off Tom’s hand causing Kev (Brad Fleischer) to shoot the tiger with a gold pistol that Tom had plundered from Uday Hussein’s palace. Tom survives surgery in the U.S. and returns to Iraq to reclaim the gun and an also-plundered gold toilet seat. He seeks out Musa (Arian Moayed), his platoon’s translator who had been
Uday’s gardener, a creator of a zoo’s worth of topiaries. Musa indicates that Kev had last had the golden gun but by the time Tom tracks him down he’s in a mental ward, haunted by the ghost of the tiger, and soon commits suicide. Tom is haunted by Kev’s ghost while Uday’s ghost haunts Musa. These dialogs between life and death are leavened by a running, philosophically-inclined commentary by the Tiger, marvelously portrayed by Robin Williams with just the right amount of knowing braggadocio. In Joseph’s topsy-turvy view of war-torn Iraq, the Tiger, an avowed atheist, eventually comes to think he’s found God, decent men do terrible things, and we are once again reminded that war is hell. Having read and admired the script a few years ago, I was looking forward to seeing it on stage. Yet it reads better than it plays—as fine and valid as Moisés Kaufman’s fluid production is, it makes too literal the hallucinogenic environment of this phantasmagorical story and thus lessens its impact. Joseph, however, can be faulted for not
lgbt real estate ...from 35
ing to raise their asking prices. The inventory along Florida’s west coast is also dwindling, but with values currently hovering about 65 percent lower than they were five years ago there is plenty of upside potential. Florida always falls fast when real estate recessions hit the nation, but it also comes roaring back because it still has America’s most famous beach property. Plus the west coast is more popular with the over-40 age group thanks to its quieter scene. Currently that happens to be the fastest growing and wealthiest demographic in the country.
to the Kennedy Center, and was the first regional theater to win a coveted Tony Award back in the 1970s. Upon completion this gigantic project will add more equity to D.C., which is already poised to register healthy home price gains over the foreseeable future. Plus LGBT home buyers can enjoy the fact that gay marriage is legal in D.C – yet another example of how Washington is experiencing plenty of positive quality of life improvements. #2 Florida’s West Coast In the wake of the BP oil catastrophe real estate values along Florida’s Gulf coast took a huge hit. But they had already suffered a severe decline thanks to the subprime mortgage crisis of 2008, which took a powerful toll on the entire Sunshine State. Florida was one of the states that led the nation in terms of its extraordinarily high volume of foreclosures, and even the priciest markets like South Beach got hammered back down to earth. But now that the overall real estate market in the USA has found its legs and gained some traction, property along the Gulf – where beaches are returning to normal – is a rare bargain. The deals won’t last long, though, because sellers are wising up and start-
#3 Boston, Massachusetts For those who want to enjoy beaches without sacrificing proximity to major northern cities, Boston is hard to beat. Hop on an Amtrak to take a summertime bite of the Big Apple. Or drive eastward out of the city and cross Boston’s threshold to have full access to Cape Cod. For a total getaway take a ferry across to Nantucket Island. The tiny village 40 miles off Cape Cod is one of the most charming and naturally pristine vacation destinations in the world. But those who live in Boston have an abundance of compelling reasons to stay right at home. After all, it is one of most culturally, artistically, and intellectually stimulating cities on the planet.
pulling all the strands of his tale together which in turn diminishes the emotional wallop Bengal Tiger should have. Still, this is a highly imaginative and theatrical work, and Joseph’s voice merits attention. Davis gives a solid performance as a soldier who just wants to get back his spoils of war. Fleischer is good but lays on the “dumb American” a little too thickly. Moayed well-deserved his Tony nomination; he makes Musa innocently charming and heartbreakingly decent despite having had terrible things done to him and his family. When he turns violent at the end, you may not condone it but you understand where he’s coming from. Derek McLane’s Moorish-influenced set and fantastical topiaries create a phenomenally evocative atmosphere well-enhanced by David Lander’s lighting and Acme Sound Partners & Cricket S. Myers’ sound design. Thirty-five blocks uptown, it’s questionable as to how well everything really does end up in the Public Theater’s free Shakespeare in the Park production of All’s Well That Ends Well (Delacorte Theater through July 27) but that’s how it should be when it comes to this “problem play.” Classified as a comedy, the heroine Helena may head off into the proverbial sunset with her man Bertram, but only after an elaborate ruse has snagged this once unwilling bridegroom. One can’t help The night life is amazing, the restaurants are legendary, and gay marriage is legal. Boston real estate is rather pricey, for sure, but the recent housing recession has made it unusually affordable – at least for the moment. Although home prices are creeping back up and the job market around Boston is also showing signs of renewal, there are still opportunities to buy low with a dirt cheap mortgage rate. But if interest rates begin to rise there will be a flurry of loan activity and that could cause unwanted delays. So those LGBT buyers who want to capture the best bargains at the most affordable rates should start shopping now – not later. Once the mortgage
but wonder what the future holds in store for them. Seen on a cold and misty/rainy night, the first 40 minutes dragged a bit and, shivering in shorts and a t-shirt, I thought I might possibly escape at intermission. But then the various parts of Shakespeare’s knotty plot started to click together and I found myself enchanted by Daniel Sullivan’s luminous production. There are many ways to interpret All’s Well. Sullivan gives it a fairly straightforward rendering, resetting it to the era of World War I. On Scott Pask’s simple but well-used set, Peter Kaczorowski’s lighting conjures up elegant sitting rooms and tumultuous scenes of battle while Jane Greenwood’s lovely period costumes knowingly convey the social status of their wearers. Led by Tony winners John Cullum and Tonya Pinkins, the entire cast is marvelous with Annie Parisse making a determined yet touching Helena, André Holland a vain but ultimately chastened Bertram (tho I could’ve done without his few instances of delivery a la “the ’hood”), and Reg Rogers hilarious as the pompous Parolles. Until this recent evening, All’s Well That Ends Well was the only major Shakespeare play I was unfamiliar with having never read or seen it before. As the fate of its all too human characters spun out, weather issues faded away and I was enthralled by this complex, morally ambiguous tale. After nearly three hours, as Shakespeare’s enduring power was brought forth by this wonderful production, though it was still wet and cold in Central Park, I didn’t want this All’s Well to end. Sometimes, the best things in life really are free. [continued on 43]
market gets a little hectic it is easy for those rock-bottom interest rates to get away before loans are locked. To find real estate and mortgage professionals who are fully dedicated to active support of the LGBT community, visit GayMortgageLoans.com and GayRealEstate.com, or call toll free 1.888.420.MOVE (6683).
GE T THE WHOL E PIC TURE!?! GET LE PICT The D iffer ence… Differ ifference… Ev e r y Edit ion On-line Eve EVERY AD! EVERY COLUMN! EVERY PHOTO! EVERY NEWS STORY!
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Busine ss! Suc c e ss! Long e vit y! Longe Over 650 ,000 R eader s in P rint & 650,000 Re aders Print Over 3 .5 Million R eader s Online 3.5 Re aders Online statistics independently verified. 828-A Bourbon St. • New Orleans •504.522.8049 • marsha@ripandmarsha.com
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trodding the boards ...from 42
D’PROJECT celebrates SOUTHERN VOICES: dance out LOUD 4
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ew Orleans dance company D’Project is proudly embarking on its fourth season of SOUTHERN VOICES: dance out LOUD. This important performance series highlights the Best of Dance from greater New Orleans and beyond. From June 24 through June 26 at The Contemporary Arts Center, the three-day event offers an extensive lineup of groups with over 125 performers on stage. Artistic Director Eddy Villalta explains, “This year we expanded our show to benefit even more area artists. We’re really excited about discovering and presenting new talents that New Orleans audiences have not experienced before.” Another significant element of Southern Voices is the projection of video interviews of each Choreographer prior to their dance piece. This multidisciplinary approach gives unique insight into the artists themselves, and develops a better understanding of the creative processes and work. The 2011 format takes on a festival approach, with two separate showcases featuring the dance works of Hip-ocrisy, Cheryl O’Sullivan, Donley Dance Project, Young Audiences, Maritza Mercado-Narcisse, N’Fungola Sibo, Chard Gonzalez Dance Theatre, Betty Karam & the Desert Dancers, Leigh Brockman, Tsunami Dance, Micaela y Fiesta Flamenca, Twos and Ones, Anne Burr Dance Company and D’Project. Executive Producer John Stockwell elaborates, “We have so many more unique groups and artists this season… the diversity of styles is incredible. People will find many things to love about this year’s shows.” Those interested in this exciting dance experi-
ence should go to the D’Project web site www.DPROJECT.us or visit the CAC web site www.CACNO.org for details and performance schedules. This program is supported by a grant from the Louisiana Division of the Arts, Office of Cultural Development, Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism, in cooperation with the Louisiana State Arts Council. Further support comes from a Community Arts Grant made possible by the City of New Orleans. These grants are administered through the Arts Council of New Orleans. The Contemporary Arts Center’s Performance Support Program further makes this event possible.
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Ronnie & Richie @ Elizabeth Bouvier’s Gemini Party
Bartender JR ready to serve you @ Cutter’s Ron, Charlotte, Kelly & Aletha in front @ Lafitte’s
Chuck & Kevin cocktailin’ @ Cutter’s
Jeff & Chris @ Elizabeth Bouvier’s Gemini Party
Lisa Beaumann & Anthony @ Corner Pocket on Saturday night
Lauren in FourPlay show @ JohnPaul’s
Lafitte’s bartender Michael
Princesse Stephaney & Tom Conners @ Elizabeth Bouvier’s Gemini Party
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Elizabeth gets sassy on the bar @ The Corner Pocket
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Barbara Ella in FourPlay show
Paul & John during Opal’s Follies @ JohnPaul’s
Cocktailin’ ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Ambush, Larry Graham, Tony Leggio
Gizelle Bouvier in Opal’s Follies
Bartenders Robert & Allen @ Oz Travis shows off his sexy dangerous side @ Elizabeth Bouvier’s Gemini Party Dusty Debris in for the Wednesday Drag Race @ Oz
Bartender Will & Hoyle Byrd @ Double Play
Robbie, Darrin & Ryan @ Elizabeth Bouvier’s Gemini Party
Serenity DeLa Terre in Opal’s Follies
Cocktailin’ @ Kajun’s Pub
44 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J une 21-J uly 4, 2011 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide• Sout her nDec adenc e.COM
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The men of Oz’s first Motor Oil Mondays
Eva & Regina in Marcy Marcell’s Golden Age Revue @ JohnPaul’s
Action, Fundraisers ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Larry Graham, Tony Leggio
Gene Cizek & Councilwoman Kristin Palmer @ Dodwell House fundraiser
Brian Peterson as Joan Crawford in “Mildred Dearest” benefiting Satyricon
Queen Petronius Bootsie & Pride Grand Marshal Chris during Mr. & Miss AIDS Awareness Pageant @ JohnPaul’s Motor Oil Wrestling Mondays @ Oz
Paloma with her fans @ Lucky Cheng’s Reunion Party @ JohnPaul’s benefiting BreakOUT!
Marsha & Rip join Dodwell House fundraiser
Miss AIDS Awareness 1st runnerup Miss Dee @ JohnPaul’s benefiting Project Lazarus
Bar baron Mac in Discomania benefiting SELAA @ Cutter’s
Bliss & Opal @ Lucky Cheng’s Reunion Party
Enjoying the adult petting zoo @ the Phoenix
Cast members Brad, Dorian & Jack @ opening night of “Mildred Dearest”
Ms. Dodwell & Elizabeth Bouvier during St. Anna’s fundraiser benefiting the Dodwell House community center
Shawn, Luigi & auctioneer Sam @ St. Anna’s fundraiser for Dodwell House community center
Ricky Graham & Jeff @ opening night of “Mildred Dearest”
Sable & friend @ Cutter’s for Discomania
George & Lui @ opening night of “Mildred Dearest”
Taking in Discomania @ Cutter’s
David, Randy, Jimmy & Ronnie @ opening night of “Mildred Dearest”
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Platinum Sponsor JohnPaul’s Paul Chiriaco with NO/AIDS Task Force’s Noel Twilbeck & Cheryl Grace
Sponsors: Gold & EGM IV Electra, Platinum JohnPaul’s Paul, Gold & EGM X Tittie, & (front) Bronze Jay & Gizelle
Presenting Sponsors Ambush’s Rip & Marsha flank 4 Seasons, Billy’s, Double Play’s Bill Miller & EGM XI Chuck Turner
Silver Sponsor Al Dugas, Gold Sponsor Rhonda Roget & Silver Sponsor Dwain Hertz Bronze Sponsor Barbara Ella & Silver Sponsor Wood Enterprises Max Peinado
Silver Sponsors & EGMs VIII Rona Conners & Michael Elias
Gold Sponsors Mona Lisa’s Michael Ducote & Doug Minich
GEP Board’s Rona Conners & Gold Sponsor Todd Blauvelt
Silver Sponsors Dwain Hertz & Al Dugas with Platinum Sponsor JohnPaul’s John Vignone
Silver Sponsors Oz’s Tommy Elias & Darwin Reed
Bronze Sponsor Glenn O’Berry & Paul Melancon
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papar azzi Gold Sponsor Deja Deja-Vue’ & Parade Line-up Chair Steve Patrick
Sponsors: Bronze Daryl Dunaway, Gold Stuart Nettles, Bronze David Aranda & Gold Safonda Peters
Presenting Sponsor Harrah’s New Orleans’ Nick Breaux & Richard Brower
Silver Sponsors EGM VII Opal Masters & Kajun’s Pub’s JoAnn Guidos
Presenting Sponsor Friday Night Before Mardi Gras’ Guy Poche, Ed Chapman & Christian Rountree
Silver Sponsor Queen Petronius L Bootsie DeVille, EGM V Princesse Stephaney, EGM XI Chuck Turner
EGMs V Princesse, VIII Rona, XII Elizabeth, VII Opal & I Marsha with Queen Amon-Ra Tami
Bronze Sponsor FourPlay’s Tami Tarmac, Bronze Sponsor & EGM X Tony Leggio & EGM XII Elizabeth Bouvier
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~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Tony Leggio, Darwin Reed
Gay Easter Parade Sponsors Thank You Party presents $30,362.42 to Food For Friends @ Home of Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain
Easter Grand Marshals XII Gary Vandeventer (Gold Sponsor) & Elizabeth Bouvier (Platinum Sponsor)
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48 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • J une 21-J uly 4, 2011 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide• Sout her nDec adenc e.COM