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the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
It's Not Too Late! Grab Your Friends & Come on Down to Halloween New Orleans
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urchase a weekend pass or any combination of tickets for Halloween 28 (October 27-30). Ticket prices will go up soon, so get yours now at HalloweenNewOrleans.COM. There is an amazing line up for you this year including world class DJs Manny Lehman, Eddie Baez and Corey Craig! The kick-off to the weekend is at Harrah’s Theater for Thursday night's Lazarus Ball! This year’s black tie optional event will feature live entertainment, food from some of New Orleans finest restaurants, and the always popular silent auction! Returning to House of Blues for the second year and featuring the amazing music of DJ Corey Craig is Friday's Club HNO. This is sure to be an amazing event. VIP Host Lounge will feature it’s own music and enhanced dance floor lighting will transform House of Blues into Club HNO! One of the biggest and best costume parties of the year is Saturday's Wickedly Ever After in a new location at the New Orleans Convention Center! What’s your version of a twisted fairy tale? Show the audience and win the group or individual costume contest. Arrive early to check out all the costumes and dance to DJ Eddie Baez before the 12midnight show - and the entertainment won’t stop there.... stick around to see what other surprises are in store for you while DJ Manny Lehman keeps it jamming til 4am! You will be blown away by the amazing Host Lounge, decor and entertainment. Don’t miss out! Don’t miss the boat! Back by popular demand Sunday's Brunch on the Steamboat Natchez is a great way to end the weekend. Great southern food (yes, you can eat now!), great friends (new and old), and a great view of the city - brunch on the Natchez is a great way to end a great weekend! A true New Orleans experience! Join Halloween New Orleans for its 28th year of parties and fundraising for a great cause, Project Lazarus! The official sponsors of Halloween 28 include Absolut, Avita Drugs, Harrah's New Orleans, Oz, Bud Light, House of Blues, Riverboat Natchez, Advocate, Ambush, Instinct, and Noize.
LGBT History Month 2011 Website Launch
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he 2011 LGBT History Month Website is now online at LGBTHistoryMonth.COM. Each day in October, an Icon is featured with a video, biography, bibliography, downloadable images and other educational resources. These resources are available without charge. Organizations, educational institutions, workplace groups and individuals can obtain for free the featured Icon’s video for each day in October. A free and easily embedded video player provides the Icon’s video, which is automatically updated daily. LGBT History Month 2011 includes an internal search engine for all 186 Icons from inception in 2006 to present. By clicking on “Icon Search” and choosing one of hundreds of categories such as African-American, Athlete, California, Germany, HIV/AIDS, Military, Religion, Transgender, Youth; visitors to the site will be provided with links to all Icons in that category. “Equality Forum is grateful to the MAC AIDS Fund for providing the funding for the search engine. Students, educators, journalists, organizations and activists can find Icons that resonate with their interests,” said Malcolm Lazin,
inside snap, celebrazzi 6 october: gay history month 8 under the gaydar 10 a community within communities 14 c'est bon/new orleans 14 halloween (hno28) 15 snap paparazzi/nola, metairie 16 low & slow/cooking recipes 18 mobile paparazzi 19 pensacola paparazzi 22
Pre-Halloween Issue Oct. 11 DEADLINE: Tues., Oct. 4 spotlight/house of shock on the prowl/new orleans snap paparazzi/new orleans chop chop/restaurant review classifieds acadiana paparazzi/lafayette acadiana happens/lafayette trodding the boards ambush paparazzi/nola, br ambush paparazzi/new orleans
Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 828-A Bourbon St. • New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 • 504.522.8049 marsha@ripandmarsha.com
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Executive Director, Equality Forum, and founder of LGBT History Month. LGBT History Month provides role models, teaches history, builds community, and makes the important civil rights statement of the LGBT community’s important contributions. As the only community worldwide that is not taught its history at home, in public schools or religious institutions, this free online project is educational, engaging and empowering. GSAs, colleges, and community centers, among others can download free Icon images and resources to create an LGBT History Month 2011 Exhibit. In 2010, the federal government recognized the project with Secretary Arne Duncan launching LGBT History Month ceremonies at the U.S. Department of Education. LGBT History Month was launched in 2006 with 20 organizations having a link on their websites. In 2010, over 700 organizations and educational institutions had a link, making LGBT History Month the largest LGBT collaboration. In 2006, there were fewer than 100,000 web hits. In 2010, the site had 6 million hits (6,000% increase) and 260,000 unique visitors. Some of the October 2011 LGBT History Month Icons include Rita Mae Brown – Author, Dan Choi – Activist. Aaron Copland – Composer, Alan Cumming – Actor, Lady Gaga – Singer, Neil Patrick Harris – Actor, Michael Kirby – Supreme Court Justice, Victoria Kolakowski – Judge, Dave Kopay – Athlete, Ricky Martin – Singer, Dan Savage – Journalist/Author, Wanda Sykes, Virginia Woolf – Author, and Pedro Zamora – AIDS Activist, MTV Personality. Equality Forum, a national and international LGBT civil rights organization with an educational focus, coordinates LGBT History Month worldwide, produces documentary films, undertakes high-impact initiatives and presents annually the largest national and international LGBT civil rights summit. Visit EqualityForum.COM for more info.
National Coming Out Day October 11th
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n Oct. 11, 1987, half a million people participated in the March on Washington for Lesbian and Gay Rights. This was the second such demonstration in our nation’s capital and the first display of the NAMES Project Quilt, remembering those who have died from AIDS. One measure of the march’s success was the number of organizations that were founded as a result — including the National Latino/a Gay & Lesbian Organization (LLEGÓ) and AT&T’s GLBT employee group, LEAGUE. The momentum continued four months after this extraordinary march as more than 100 gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender activists from
around the country gathered in Manassas, Virginia, about 25 miles outside Washington, D.C. Recognizing that the GLBT community often reacted defensively to anti-gay actions, they came up with the idea of a national day to celebrate coming out and chose the anniversary of that second march on Washington to mark it. The originators of the idea were Rob Eichberg, a founder of the personal growth workshop, The Experience, and Jean O’Leary, then head of National Gay Rights Advocates. National Coming Out Day was born. O’Leary expanded the West Hollywood, California, office of NGRA to give National Coming Out Day its first [continued on 8]
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 NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Paul Melancon 504.535.3615 THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Joey Collins-Lafayette, LA Tony Leggio, Jeff Palmquist, Rev. Bill Terry, Frankie Wingerter, Rory Wright-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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celebrazzi (celebrations-paparazzi)
La Mina Sterling’s Poncho & Aaron at his going away party @ 700 Club
Napoleon’s Itch bar baron Julien with Ronnie & David @ the Itch
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Birthdays, Country Western, Shows ~ New Orleans ~ Photos Tony Leggio
paparazzi
Princesse Stephaney host Friday’s Les Femmes Fatale @ Michael’s On The Park Robert & Leonard @ the Phoenix for the Amon-Ra September Birthday Bar Crawl
Kenny & Joann @ Kajun’s Pub for the Amon-Ra B-day Bar Crawl
The birthday boys Ronnie & Pete @ Cutter’s for the Amon-Ra B-day Bar Crawl
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ew Orleans own Maybelline Maskara, a representative of Miss Gay Lafayette 1st Alternate, went on to win Miss Gay Louisiana America in competition with fourteen other contestants in Baton Rouge. It was Maskara's first state competition, and now will represent Louisiana along with 1st Alternate Athena Campbell in the upcoming Miss Gay America Pageant. As Miss Gay Louisiana America, Maskara reportedly received a $1,200 cash prize package, along with crown, plaque, jewelry and makeup. For additional information on the pageant, visit MissGayLouisianaAmerica.INFO. A benefit to help defray the cost of sending Miss Gay Louisiana America Maybelline Maskara to Miss Gay America is set for Saturday, October 1st, 9pm, at Show Bar of the Year JohnPaul's in New Orleans. (Photo courtesy of Clarence Denenea: 4th Alternate Gia Giavanni (Miss Gay Olympus America), 3rd Alternate Mercedes Ellis Loreal (Miss Gay New Orleans), 2010 Miss Gay Louisiana America Zhane Kennedy, 1st Alternate Athena Campbell (Miss Gay Capital City America), 2011 Miss Gay Louisiana America Maybelline Maskara (Representative of 1st Alternate Miss Gay Lafayette Pageant), 2nd Alternate Dextaci (Miss Gay LakeShore America), & 2011 Miss Gay America Coti Collins)
Regina Adams in Les Femmes Fatale @ Michael’s On The Park
Lafitte’s bartender Shawn & Ambush’s Paul @ Les Femmes Fatale @ Michael's On The Park
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osie Mae Cotton is honored with the first BELT (Bouvier, Elizabeth/ Leggio/Tony) Life of the Party Award at the first Gay Depreciation Awards hosted by Elizabeth Bouvier and Tony Leggio at JohnPaul’s in New Orleans. (Photo: Elizabeth Bouvier, Josie Mae Cotton, Tony Leggio & dancer Ralph)
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Michael & Dale join Country Western Night @ JohnPaul’s
Amon-Ra’s Paul, SDGM Tiffany & Double Play’s Otis catch FourPlay @ JohnPaul’s
etronius Princesse for Life Princesse Stephaney is presented a birthday surprise at Petronius' Queen of Desserts by Queen Petronius L Bootsie Deville. Hosted at Kajun's Pub, the krewe held a marvelous event with a show interlaced with dessert auctions, all benefiting the krewe's 51st bal masque on January 28, 2012. For additional information on the krewe, visit KreweofPetronius.ORG.
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october: gay history month James Buchanan: America’s first gay president? by Timothy Cwiek, Exclusively for Ambush Mag, National Gay History Project ore than 150 years before America elected its first black president, Barack Obama, it most likely had its first gay president, James Buchanan (1791-1868). Buchanan, a Democrat from Lancaster County, PA, was the 15th president of the United States, and a lifelong bachelor. He served as president from 1857-61, tumultuous years leading up to the Civil War.
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Historian James W. Loewen has done extensive research into Buchanan’s personal life, and he’s convinced Buchanan was gay. Loewen is the author of the acclaimed book Lies Across America, which examines how historical sites inaccurately portray figures and events in America’s past. “I’m sure that Buchanan was gay,” Loewen said. “There is clear evidence that he was gay. And since I haven’t seen any evidence that he was heterosexual, I don’t believe he was bisexual.” According to Loewen, Buchanan shared a residence with William Rufus King, a Democratic senator from Alabama, for several years in Washington, D.C. Loewen said contemporary records indicate the two men were inseparable, and wags would refer to them as “the Siamese twins.” Loewen also said Buchanan was “fairly open” about his relationship with King, causing some colleagues to view the men as a couple. For example, Aaron Brown, a prominent Democrat, writing to Mrs. James K. Polk, referred to King as Buchanan’s “better half,” “his wife” and “Aunt Fancy … rigged out in her best clothes.” In 1844, when King was appointed minister to France, he wrote Buchanan, “I am selfish enough to hope you will not be able to procure an associate who will cause you to feel no regret at our separation.” Loewen also said a letter Buchanan wrote to a friend after King went to France shows the depth of his feeling for King. “I am now solitary and alone, having no companion in the house with me,” Buchanan wrote. “I have gone a wooing to several gentlemen, but have not succeeded with any one of them. I feel that it is not good for man to be alone; and should not be astonished to find myself married to some old maid who can nurse me when I am sick provide good dinners for me when I am well, and not expect from me any very ardent or romantic affection.” Loewen said their relationship — though interrupted due to foreign-service obligations — ended only with King’s death in 1853. In the late 1990s, Loewen visited Wheatland, the mansion in Lancaster, PA, where Buchanan spent his later
years. Loewen said he asked a staffer at Wheatland if Buchanan was gay, and the reply was: “He most definitely was not.” Loewen said the staffer pointed to a portrait of Ann Coleman, the daughter of a wealthy iron maker, whom Buchanan was engaged to briefly in 1819 — shortly before she committed suicide. However, Loewen scoffed at the staffer’s suggestion that the brief engagement to Coleman proved Buchanan was heterosexual. Loewen said Buchanan showed little interest in Coleman, appeared more interested in her fortune, and possibly contributed to her suicide due to his emotional detachment. Patrick Clarke, the director of Wheatland, said the staff now takes a neutral stance on Buchanan’s sexual or affectional preference. “There’s no solid proof that Buchanan was heterosexual, nor is there solid proof that he was homosexual,” Clarke said. “If we ever come up with a smoking gun that proves it one way or the other, I would definitely encourage our staff to share it with the public.” But, he said Ann Coleman’s portrait no longer is displayed at Wheatland. The tours focus mainly on the mansion’s décor and activities that took place there during the later years of Buchanan’s life, he added. Wheatland also has about 45 volunteer tour guides, and to Clarke’s knowledge, none of the guides is openly gay. “The volunteer guides who we train to share the history of James Buchanan’s life and times are directed to take a neutral stance regarding [his] sexual preference,” Clarke said. But Clarke said he wouldn’t object if a volunteer offered a personal opinion that Buchanan was gay, if asked by a visitor. “When you have 50 minutes to take people through a nine-room house, there’s only so much you can discuss,” Clarke said. “But if the question is raised, the guide may express a personal opinion.” Loewen said many historians rate Buchanan as one of the worst U.S. presidents. Buchanan was part of the pro-slavery wing of the Democratic
Party, and corruption plagued his administration. But Loewen said those flaws shouldn’t discourage members of the LGBT community from acknowledging Buchanan’s status as a gay man. “Lots of gay people have been exemplary,” he said. “Let’s look at Walt Whitman. For my money, he’s the best poet in the history of the country. But we also have to acknowledge the failures. If we only admit that really great people are gay, what kind of history is that? And how is that believable? It’s ridiculous. We have to tell it like it was.” As a heterosexual male, Loewen added, he has no hidden agenda in outing Buchanan. “I’m not gay,” Loewen said. “I don’t run around trying to find gay folks or black folks underneath every rock. But I’m not going to ignore clear evidence.” Timothy Cwiek holds a bachelor of art degree in U.S. history from West Chester University. He has written for Philadelphia Gay News since the late 1970s and written freelance articles for numerous publications on topics such as the Lincoln assassination, the Kennedy family, the shootings at Kent State University, first ladies and the macrobiotic movement in America.
the "official" dish ...from 4 headquarters. She hired staff and began preparations for the big day. And, activist Sean Strub got Keith Haring to donate his now-famous image of a person fairly dancing out of a closet. The first National Coming Out Day was celebrated with events in 18 states, and national media attention including The Oprah Winfrey Show, CNN, USA Today and National Public Radio. Lynn Shepodd, who later became a member of HRC’s board of governors, was part of that first year’s organizing and remembers that the concept wasn’t universally popular in the gay community. “There were some who opined that NCOD was an invasion of privacy because the movement had been based on respecting gay peoples’ private lives,” she says. “It was clear, though, that the community was ready
to take its next step and be out. You cannot have an invisible movement.” The next year, National Coming Out Day headquarters moved to Santa Fe, N.M., where Eichberg could oversee it. Pilo Bueno was hired as national coordinator and expanded events marking the day to 21 states — no mean feat without a computer and relying on a mailing list that was handwritten on a lavender pad. Now under the direction of HRC, the organization urges you to lend your support for LGBT equality this Coming Out Day! Use HRC’s Coming Out for Equality Facebook app to show your support [continued on 10]
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under the gaydar by Tony Leggio Email: tonymgp@hotmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
Book of the Month: September
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have always been a fan of horror writers, from Stephen King to Clive Barker and especially my pick for September, author Dean Koontz. I find that horror novelists seem to have it much harder trying to convey that eerie and disturbing atmosphere like in the movies. But Koontz has done an amazing job with his newest novel What The Night Knows. The story revolves around Detective John Calvino who survived the massacre of his family by psychopath Alton Turner Blackwood. Fourteen year old John killed this maniac who had slain four families previously. Now two decades later, the murders have begun again and John fears his own family is once again threatened by a seemingly unstoppable killer. With lots of thrills, Koontz spins his tale with precision as he ratchets up the suspense to a frenzied and brutal climax. Mixing paranoia with sheer unadulterated terror, Koontz truly knows what scares you. The ruthlessness of this killer along with the paranormal aspects makes this a suspenseful journey for the reader. So if you want a great read guaranteed to have you afraid of the things that go bump in the night, pick up a copy of What The Night Knows. For more information on the author and his novels, go to www.deankoontz.com.
the "official" dish ...from 8 and spread a message of equality to your friends and family. It’s the courage to come out as an active voice for LGBT equality that will result in real political and social change. New ways to come out for equality will be added each week leading up to October 11.
America Celebrates Repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell"
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ervicemembers Legal Defense Network (SLDN) welcomes the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) and the beginning of a new era for all patriots, who can now serve free from the threat of being fired on the basis of sexual orientation. “Today marks the official end of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and is an historic milestone along the journey to achieving LGBT equality in America’s military. Thanks to veterans, active duty, lead-
West We Go!
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he Mystic Krewe of Satyricon is going west literally; Westwego that is. It is not too late to get your tickets for the opening night of The Drowsy Chaperone on Thursday, September 29 at the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre. The show is directed by Gary Rucker with choreography by Kelly Fouchi and stars Brian Peterson, Ricky Graham and Janet Shea. Tickets are $30 for this wonderfully zany musical comedy. To buy tickets or for more information, call 504.525.4498. The Westwego Performing Arts Theatre is located at 177 Sala Avenue.
Bosworth. They play David and Amy Sumner, a Hollywood screenwriter and his actress wife, who return to the Deep South to prepare her family home for sale after her father’s death. Once there, tensions build in their marriage and conflicts arise with the locals that include Amy’s ex-boyfriend Charlie played by Skarsgard. Rob Lurie wrote and directed this remake which was controversial when it was first released in the seventies. Unfortunately audiences are so desensitized to violence these days, that the movie was actually milder than I expected. But Lurie does a great job at building the tension to the unflinching climax that had me on the edge of my seat. The leads were all very strong, as well as several of the secondary characters. James Woods’ turn as a drunken and brutal ex-football coach which bullies the entire town is sheer brilliance and Dominic Purcell is noteworthy as Jeremy Niles, a mentally handicapped man who is very reminiscent of Lennie Small from Of Mice And Men.
Movie Review: Straw Dogs
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efore beginning this review, be forewarned I am slightly jaded. Anything that features the hotness Alexander Skarsgard in it, I will love. That being said, I went to see the remake of Straw Dogs, the classic 1971 Sam Peckinpah psychological thriller that starred Dustin Hoffman and Susan George, with some trepidation. I find most remakes (or retooling) quite unnecessary when the original was such a huge hit. But since I had not seen the original, I had no preconceived notions. Replacing Hoffman and George this time is James Marsden and Kate ers, allies and supporters everywhere, this is a monumental day for our service members and our nation. Indeed, we have taken a tremendous leap forward for LGBT equality in the military,” said Army Veteran and SLDN Executive Director Aubrey Sarvis. “Our work is far from done, but today we pay tribute to the service and sacrifice of our patriots as we look forward to a new era of military service – one that honors the contributions of all qualified Americans who have served or who wish to serve,” Sarvis continued. One hundred events are taking place in all 50 states as repeal supporters celebrate the end of this terrible law. For more info visit www.sldn.org.
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The movie is owned by Marsden who competently fills Hoffman’s shoes as a man pushed to the brink by forces he cannot control. For those who love True Blood, Skarsgard will not disappoint as he plays a similarly menacing character as in the show (and he takes his shirt off a lot). So if you are in the mood for an exhilarating thrill ride, Straw Dogs delivers.
Concert Review: Katy Perry
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here are two things that make a concert experience outstanding in my opinion. The first is the performer’s ability to connect with the audience and the second is the entertainment value of their actual show. This month Katy Perry delivered both in spades. Now I know she is very pop culture and her songs appeal to the tween girl set, but I can’t help it, I love her music. She is fun, flirty, upbeat and just downright charming. I went to her concert at the New Orleans Arena with my friends Aynsley and Erin who also brought along her husband and two teen children. I have to say, like many of today’s pop stars, her concert was filled with young teens, their parents and of course, the gays. We love great dance music. Perry’s California Girls tour was more than I expected. Her backup dancers have the incredible stamina; those guys and girls never stopped moving, they liter-
ally danced their asses off. They are also one of the main appeals to the show. Their vitality and fluid movements enhanced Katy’s songs bringing them to life vividly on the stage. From her first hit I Kissed A Girl to her concert namesake song, she brought the house down singing all her top ten
tunes and a cover or two. The stage set was a candy themed explosion, as a storyline mashup of the Wizard of Oz and Alice in Wonderland played overhead in between the songs. And with all great divas, her costume changes were fabulous. She connected with the audience even shouting out the Saints score during her performance. Katy embraced our city and made every person who attended the concert feel special and her knockout guitar solo levitating above the crowd was very cute. So if you have a chance to check her California Girls concert out in another city, by all means by your ticket now. For more information on Katy Perry, tour dates and anything else, go to www.katyperry.com.
You’re A Depreciated Winner!
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he Gay Depreciation Awards happened this month to a packed house at JohnPaul’s and it was a rollicking success filled with great entertainers, wonderful acceptance speeches and hysterical presenters. Elizabeth Bouvier and I hosted the show and we could not have asked for a more exciting crowd. Everyone (well most everyone) accepted their award graciously. Entertainers that evening were Jay Cooper, Philip Gordon and Derek Stevens singing live. Guest presenters included Tiffany Alexander, Rip and Marsha NaquinDelain, Cathy Fox, Barry Rutherford, Richie Rich, Princesse Stephaney, Persana Shoulders, Rikki Gee and Opal Masters. And who were our winners for the evening. The awards went to: Most Boring Gay Event: New Orleans Gay Pride Worst Bar Bathroom: Big Daddy’s Hustler of the Year: Ashlee the Traffic Trannie Player of the Year: Richie Rich [continued on 12]
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under the gaydar ...from 10 Fag Hag of the Year: Ginger Miller Worst Drag Performance of the Year: Corynne DeVille Social Climbing Award of Excellence: Deja Déjà-Vu' Most Monogamous Couple: Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain Gayest Straight Man: Tami Tarmac Scandal of the Year: JohnPaul’s Most Passed Around Party Bottom: Bobby Fisher Bartender in Need of a Career Change: Bobby Fisher Nelliest Gay Man: Persana Shoulders Sissiest Leather Man: Cathy Fox Butchest Bull Dyke: Jo Divelbess And the most coveted awards Hottest Mess and Douchebag of the Year went to yours truly Tony Leggio. Bitches! Elizabeth and I also presented the B.E.L.T. Life of the Party award to the lovely Josie Mae Cotton (the fabric of your life) who deserves it greatly. This special award will be given out to an individual in the audience who we feel embodies the true meaning of this honor, just a person that people want to be around, the so called life of the party. I would like to thank everyone who attended this year and stay tuned for next year when we will have different categories and oh so many more ways to be depreciated.
Lake Charles Pride
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ake Charles Pride festival is almost here. After the overwhelming success of the first ever LCPF in September 2009, with well over 1,000 visitors and participants, and then the continued success of the 2nd Annual Lake Charles Pride Festival: United in Spirit in September 2010 where they doubled their attendance, the board of LCPF is hoping to continue developing community relationships with the 2011 festival. The theme for the 3rd annual festival is: Free to Be: ______. You fill in your own identity. The main event will take place from 1-6:30pm on October 1st at the Lake Charles Civic Center. LCPF is a celebration for the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered (GLBT) community as well as their friends, family, and supporters in Southwest Louisiana. The event is centered on an all-inclusive, family-oriented day in the park. The daytime event will be full of activities, entertainment, food, and much more. LCPF also includes creative and informative mini-fairs to showcase a variety of services available for the community such as healthcare and legal services. Several local businesses will host Pride-affiliated, adult evening events throughout the weekend; in addition, LCPF will host a VIP event at Central School a couple days before the festival and an evening after party
the night of the festival. After visiting the area recently, I can assure you that this festival will be a huge hit. So make your reservations and spend the weekend in Lake Charles being proud. For more information on the event, go to www.lakecharlespride.com. For information on sponsorship or donations, contact lcpride@gmail.com or Adam Manuel at 337.884.0816.
Interview: Chris March
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f you are a fan of the reality television show Project Runway, Bravo has a treat for you this upcoming fall season. Season four finalist and standout personality Chris March will be starring in the new Bravo show Mad Fashion which premieres on Tuesday, October 4 at 9pm Central. You will follow Chris and his eccentric crew as they create designer one-of-a-kind outfits for their high profile clientele. Tensions rise as March pushes the boundaries of fashion and challenges his clients’ comfort zones. Chris March is a couture fashion and theatrical costume designer and owner of Chris March Design. He worked for ten years at Beach Blanket Babylon, America’s longest running show creating their signature outrageous hats and wigs. After moving to New York in 2001, Chris’ career gained momentum after his stint on Project Runway. Aside from his work appearing in Broadway shows and Cirque Du Soleil, he has designed for some of the world’s biggest celebrities such as Madonna, Prince, Beyonce, and Meryl Streep. Recently I had the chance to visit with Chris by phone about his new show. TL: How did the show Mad Fashion come about? CM: Actually the producer called me out of the blue and asked me if I would be interested in doing the show. Of course, I jumped at the chance; it was definitely a great fit. TL: How did you come to be on Project Runway? CM: I had no intention of being on the show. I was doing a fashion show that had some of my work in it. Tim
Gunn was the emcee and he liked my stuff so he told me I had to audition on Monday which was just a few days away. I went on the audition and they picked me. TL: Tell me about the show, were there people you connected with more? CM: The show was fun and very intense. But I guess I interacted more with Rami, Christian and Ricky because we were roommates. But I related more with Sweet P because we were the oldest people in the group. TL: You designed a dress for part time local Jennifer Coolidge for a New Orleans event; tell me about your experience. CM: It is in one of the crazier episodes. I got this call from Jennifer Coolidge on Thursday to design a dress she was wearing for the Orpheus Parade she was riding in on Monday afternoon. I had to get it to her right away, so we were off to New Orleans and scrambled to get it done. I absolutely love her mansion in the Garden District. But I would have walked over broken glass to do that job. It was tremendous and we loved every moment of it, although we were exhausted when it was all done, and even though she invited us to the ball that night, we were unfortunately unable to go, because we had to be back in New York to continue shooting. TL: Who are some of the people we will see on your show? CM: In addition to Jennifer, you will see us design model Chrissy Teigen’s gown for the MET Costume Gala, which is one of the city’s premier fashion events. Right now I am so excited because I have the chance to design an outfit for Lady Gaga. When you get a call like that, you just have to drop everything for it. But that happens all the time with celebrities, you get a frantic phone call and you produce the outfit. Very rarely do I meet up with them in person. TL: What do viewers have to look forward to when they tune in for Mad Fashion? CM: There is nothing quite like it on television. It is very exciting and fun and terribly outrageous. There is not a lot of crazy drama, just a fun group of people in a hectic atmosphere. I mean how many people can say they have to make a dress out of 200 bras. It will be lots of fun, so I hope everyone tunes in to see us.
Who says An Old Dog Can’t Learn A New Trick!
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adies and gentlemen, I am honored to announce that Maybelline Maskara has won the title of Miss Gay Louisiana America at the pageant held on September 17 at the now defunct Cajun Cove in Baton Rouge. Maybelline is the oldest person to ever win the pageant and bested fourteen other contestants for the title. I tip my hat to this wonderful
lady who shows that life can hold marvelous surprises for you at any age. So Ambush went on the road to Baton Rouge for the contest. I rode up with Jeff Mallon, Barry Rutherford and Ben Warshaw. Both Barry and Jeff were part of Maybelline’s group talent number. The ride up was uneventful except for an interesting stop at a gas station filled to the brim of rednecks ready to party on a Saturday night. We loaded up on vodka, mixers and cigarettes and were on our way quickly. Cajun Cove is located right off of College Drive in a suburbia area and I was sorry to hear that the pageant was their swan song; they have since shuttered their doors. I hope the wonderful bartender Vanessa gets picked up somewhere soon, she was amazing. The show began with fifteen contestants and then was quickly whittled down to ten. New Orleans own Tami Tarmac and Mercedes Ellis Loreal were in the top ten also. The group numbers were just spectacular and I would love to give a shout out to Dextaci who gave quite a performance with her gospel choir to the Wynona Judd version of I Want To Know What Love Is. Tami Tarmac’s Burlesque tribute was outstanding as was Maybelline’s Le Jazz Hot rendition. The atmosphere was lively and it was so much fun meeting up with my new friends I recently met in Lake Charles and Baton Rouge. Also congratulations should go out to Athena Campbell as the first alternate in the pageant. So now we have our two finalists on their way to the Miss Gay America Pageant October 12 – 16 in Columbus, Ohio. Good luck ladies, we are all rooting for you.
Tony’s Tidbits of Gay Wisdom
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ecently my cousin Angie and her husband Carlos had a lovely barbecue at their new house with the family and I got to finally meet our newest member, their son Daniel who is nine months old. He was just the most beautiful child with a mop top of curly brown hair, big eyes full of amazement and a precious little smile. Having a chance to play with him, feed him and rock him in my arms was the coolest thing I had done all year; and trust me I have done some pretty fun things this year. But there is something about children, and babies in particular, that fills you with hope that our future and theirs will be brighter. It also makes you want to make the world a better place for them. Being with my family made me recall how important they were in my life many years ago when I made the decision to come out. Especially now, as my birthday nears so does a major day of importance in the gay community. October 11 is not only my birthday but National Coming Out Day. Why [continued on 14]
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a community within communities
by The Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal Church Email: fr.bill@stannanola.org
So what’s the payoff?!
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iving is the art of loving. Loving is the art of caring. Caring is the art of sharing. Sharing is the art of living. If
you want to lift yourself up, lift up someone else. --Booker T. Washing[continued on 19]
c'est bon by The Susan Lucci's: Rip & Marsha Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
Behind the Wheel
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fter almost two months, Rip’s orthopedic surgeon cleared the way for him to drive once again. Falling in the rain back on July 17th, Rip had injured the right side of his body including his face and leg, as well as breaking his arm. It took a month after the fall to be able to bend his knee in order to get in and out of cabs. Over Decadence weekend it was impossible to get a cab to get anywhere, which had confined us to the Quarter. Able to drive now will give us the opportunity to get back into the swing of things around the city.
Yard Sales Raise $1,062
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aturday, September 17th brought us out for a stroll in the beautiful weather. After having lunch at The Decadence Shoppe (see our review in Chop Chop on page 26), we headed back to Bourbon via St. Ann. First stop was to catch the Yard Sale at Rawhide benefiting the Wood Enterprises Have A Heart
under the gaydar ...from 12 fight fate, being gay must have been in my destiny. Eleanor Roosevelt and Luke Perry are also born on this day, so I rest my case. But coming out was one of the hardest decisions I ever made. Everyone may have known or suspected, but it is that defining moment when you admit it and decide to openly live your life that terrifies you the most. I was 31 when I came out to my family and friends; and from that day on, my life changed for the better. This day is significant for not just the individual but their family also. Personally, I was extremely fortunate to have an incredible mother who may have not agreed with my life-style choice, but embraced me after my decision. And for the most part, so did my entire family, but I know that is not
Fund. Up next was the Yard Sale at Good Friends Bar where we caught up with manager Neel. And finally the Yard Sales at both Cafe Lafitte in Exile and Clover Grill where DJ Myke and Max were manning the tables. The Yard Sales raised $1,062 for the fund. According to its bylaws, “The W.E. Have a Heart Fund is an employee funded program to provide assistance for fellow employees in their time of need. Employees agree to have a set dollar amount deducted from their paycheck which will go into this fund. The employee will set the amount to be deducted with $2 being the minimum. The fund will be managed by an employee of each participating business, as picked by the manager, along with Ken Grandpre and Gary Agee. Each person will have a vote with the exception of Gary Agee who will vote only to break a tie. Three voting members must be present to make a quorum. Any one can contribute to the fund, but to be eligible for benefits the employee must work at least eight hours per week. You do not have to contribthe case for many. I do believe that even though homosexuality is more accepted then it was in years past, coming out is still not an easy decision. Seeing a gay character on television is one thing, having one as part of your family is a totally different story. Then there are always those wonderful politicians and right wingers who are on hand to tell the world about the evils of homosexuality, and its immorality. But it is not just those vocal crackpots that are the most dangerous; some people give their opinions more subtly. California, supposedly the most liberal state in the country, voted to revoke the law for gays to marry after it was passed. You cannot tell me that all of those people were right wing republicans. That is why we need to be acutely aware of what the youth of today are grappling with when they make their
ute to the fund to be eligible for benefits. Qualifications for benefits include, but is not limited to the following: 1. Need must be caused by an extraordinary event. 2. Need must be a one time event. 3. Loss of work due to illness qualifies. 4. Death of an immediate family member (father, mother, sibling) qualifies. 5. Other major issues such as an act of God. Benefits will be paid to a third party. No cash will be given directly to the applicant. Documentation of need, such as an electric bill must be submitted with application. All decisions will be made by the board as to amounts to be paid. A simple majority of the board is required for each decision. Anyone deciding to withdraw from the program must do so in writing. The deductions will cease beginning with the following pay period.”
Amie Davis at Cutter’s
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ater that evening it was off to Cutter’s for a visit. Here the gang was in the midst of Wii Bowling which is quite the hit. Jim was serving up cocktails. While we were admiring the current art exhibition, bar baron Mac came up for a chat telling us about September Artist of the Month Amie Davis who even does all of her own framing from recyclable materials. The framing gives these works even more appeal since they are so unusual. Jimmy and Dudley filled us in on the upcoming annual Art in the Hood exhibition benefiting Buzzy’s Boys & Girls during the month of October. The opening reception is Friday, October 7th. Should you have any artwork lying around, here is a great opportunity to donate it to make a huge difference. Since 2003 the art exhibition has raised over $27,600 for this popular HIV/AIDS charity. decision to come out. I had an understanding family but others are not so lucky. As I have gotten older, I have redefined my terms of what a family should be. My family consists of my blood relatives like my mother and my brand new cousin Daniel, as well as an array of colorful characters who I am lucky to have as dear friends. So reach out to someone who is in need of help whether in their decision to come out or if they need just a friend to talk to because they do not have an understanding family. Changing people’s attitudes about homosexuality starts with us. Show young people that it does get better. So come on out, there is an entire new world (and family) waiting to welcome you. Happy National Coming Out Day! If you have an event or news item please email tonymgp@hotmail.com.
Petronius’ Queen of Desserts at Kajun’s Pub
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he Krewe of Petronius, the oldest gay carnival club in existence, celebrating its Golden Jubilee hosted Queen of Desserts at Kajun’s Pub. Donned in high fashion, the Petronius Queens, Kings, men and women were here to make sure all had a marvelous time. From King Petronius L Jimmy welcoming you at the door to Queen Petronius L Bootsie Deville and Queen Petronius XLIX Natasha Sinclair flitting around like bees ready to pollinate anything they might land on, it was quite a funfilled event. After having technical difficulties with the sound system in the party room, the whole affair was moved next door into the bar where the sound system was working. We were treated to drag performances interlaced with dessert auctions. Actually, the auctions were what we had come for. Rip needed a cake the next day for his sister and mother’s birthday. But after seeing all that was available one dessert would simply not do. The first cake, we got for a steal at $15. It was the Chocolate Velvet Cake with cream cheese butter pecan frosting donated by Charles Maddox and Tommy Dietsch at a value of $25. The next one up for auction that got our attention was the Sugar Free Cake. Since Marsha is borderline diabetic, this one was for her. The yellow cake with peanut butter crumbles topped with fudge frosting and peanut butter bars was made with Splenda. Made by Charles Maddox and Tommy Dietsch, they valued the cake at $15, and our top bid of $35 brought it home with us. Rip was dying to get the Fruit Tart made by John Duchkar and Ronnie Bridges with a value of $30. It was his for a top bid of $35. The piece de resistance had to have been the Traditional Red Velvet Cake with real rose petals made by Domenica Restaurant pastry chef Lisa White (inside the Roosevelt Hotel) valued at $135. We took it home for $65. Can y’all believe it, four fabulous desserts for only $150? We brought the Traditional Red Velvet Cake to Rip’s sister and mother. Now what do we do with the other three? Y’all may just see us around town dolling out slices, reminding us of the Pie Lady we used to have here in the Quarter before Katrina. Please remember how important it is to support our GLBT carnival clubs. They started our gay culture in a time when we were banished from main stream society. We must all do our part to keep this important tradition alive. That is why it was so great to see members representing Amon-Ra, Armeinius, LIPS, Lords of Leather, Queenateenas, and Satyricon supporting this event. For more on gay carnival, visit GayMardiGras.COM.
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Panda Bear’s Ed, Mr. Louisiana Leather Troy & Wayne @ Petronius’ “Queen of Desserts”
Bar Baron Mac shows off the Amie Davis art exhibition @ Cutter’s thru the end of September
Ryan & Ronald with local celeb Cody @ Club LAX
Tulane Med School Toga Party @ 700 Club
More togas @ Tulane Med School party @ 700 Club Cocktailin’ @ Kajun’s Pub Brett joins Frederick for Wii Bowling @ Cutter’s
snap paparazzi
Countess C Alice joins Queen Petronius XLIX Natasha for Petronius’ “Queen of Desserts”
Coca, Georgeanna Belle & Big Mama @ 4 Seasons Bartender Jim welcomes you to Cutter’s
The Cupcake Princess Facile (translates to Easy) slings cocktails for Petronius’ “Queen of Desserts”
More fun @ Kajun’s Pub
Kevin, Chris, Devin & Chris @ 4 Seasons in Metairie
Bar Baron Toby with bartenders Mattie & Emily @ Club LAX in Metairie
Bartender Teddy welcomes you to the Phoenix
Star of River Ridge Veronica takes to the stage for Petronius’ “Queen of Desserts”
Brad & Billy getting ready to wrestle @ Club LAX
Bar Baron Joann & Lisa @ Kajun’s Pub
Georgeanna Belle & bartender Sebastian @ 4 Seasons
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Krewes,Orleans Nightlife, Parties ~ New Orleans, Photos by DevinFrankie Black, Tony Leggio 2Hot Action ~ New ~ Photos by Metairie Ricci~Corkern, Fierce, Tony Leggio,
Former King & Queen Petronius Robert joins Queen Petronius L for the krewe’s “Queen of Desserts” @ Kajun’s Pub
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low & slow with r&m by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
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ne of the biggest request we receive here at Ambush is to once again have a recipe column. Cooking with Auntie Dee by the late Donnie Jay James was a staple for years. For us, cooking is something we enjoy preparing ourselves whether it is an exotic menu for one of our big parties, or for lunch daily in the office. Marsha was assistant chef to Chef Jay Loomis, formerly of Petunias fame, while Rip was a manager there. Although the title of this column is Low & Slow, we will cover not only that genre of cooking, but all others as well. The difference with us is that the majority of our dishes are prepared as low sodium, low sugar and low fat. However, sometimes that is not possible, which we will be sure to let you know. Many of our recipes come from family, friends, professional chefs, and cooking shows, but we adapt the recipes to our taste and dietary restrictions. Some dishes we make are a keeper which we will share with you. Those that are not will remain in the 86 file.
grill. Remove to unheated side and grill 5 minutes more for medium rare. After removing steak to unheated side, place artichokes and zucchini on heated side
Grilled Cowboy Ribeye Steak, Baby Artichokes & Zucchini
Heirloom Tomato Salad tossed in Red Wine Vinaigrette
s we were looking over the sale inserts in the TP last week, the Dorignac’s ad caught our attention. They had Cowboy ribeyes on sale for only $7.99 a pound (normally around $18 or $19.99 a pound). We had the butcher cut us two two-inch thick bone-in steaks which ran right at $32 which made each steak a 2-pounder. Of course, one would be enough for us to split, so we froze the second one for another day.
e usually shop every couple of weeks at Whole Foods on Veterans. If you ever see heirloom tomatoes, do not let the price scare you off. At the beginning of the season, they can run $7.99 lb. to $4.99 towards the end of the season. We have been known to buy 3 of these juicy delicacies for $15 or $5 a tomato. They are worth every penny if you're looking for the tomatoes you grew up with as a child on the plantations and farms of Louisiana. They are "an open-pollinated tomato plant, meaning that it is naturally pollinated by exposure to birds, insects and animals. Heirlooms have the 'wow' factor. The reason that the particular plants have been grown for decades - in some cases, preserved by passing them from family member to family member - is that they taste great. And each variety tastes different, " courtesy SlashFood.COM. Our two favorite varieties are the Cherokee Purples and Green Zebras. The reddish purple Cherokee Purple tomatoes are a bit earthier, sweeter and juicier than other varieties and tend to be larger than most. Green Zebra tomatoes are striped with darker and lighter green stripes, and are bright tasting with a tart zing.
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Cowboy Ribeye Ingredients: Cowboy Ribeye 6 baby artichokes 3 zucchini 1 lemon low sodium meat tenderizer garlic powder 3 tbsp. light Italian dressing fresh ground black pepper no salt Take the steak and pat dry with paper towels. Sprinkle generously with meat tenderizer and fresh ground black pepper on each side. Place in refrigerator for two hours, turning once after first hour to dry the meat so it will caramelize when grilled. Remove from refrigerator one hour before grilling. Put 3 cups of water with one half lemon squeezed into a bowl. Cut the tops of baby artichokes off about a half inch. Peel off the hard leaves til you get to the heart. Using a paring knife, carefully peel the bottom of the hearts down
the stem all the way around. Cut in half long ways and place in lemon water (since they are baby artichokes there should be no chokes to remove near the bottom). Let soak for half an hour. Remove from water and drain well. Place in bowl with 2 tbsp. Italian dressing, juice from other half of lemon, generous sprinkling of garlic powder, fresh ground black pepper, no salt and toss well. In the meantime, cut the zucchini into three planks longwise. Place in a pan with sides. Sprinkle with garlic powder, fresh ground black pepper and no salt. Take 1 tbsp of Italian dressing and toss coating all sides. One hour before grilling, place artichokes and zucchini together and toss well to coat. Clean grill with wire brush and preheat both sides of grill on high for 15 minutes. Coat grill with grilling spray. Turn off one side. Grill steak for 10 minutes on each side on heated side of
Grilled Zucchini & Baby Artichokes for 7 minutes on each side. Let steak stand 10 minutes before carving. Add no salt if needed to steak, artichoke hearts and zucchini. Enjoy!
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Ingredients: 3 heirloom tomatoes sliced in large chunks 1 cucumber cut in half seeded & sliced 1/4 half sliced purple onion 2 tbsp. chiffonade of fresh basil 1 heaping tbsp. of capers with tbsp of brine 2 ounces red wine vinegar 2 ounces garlic infused olive oil 1 tbsp. Creole mustard 1 heaping tbsp. Splenda
fresh ground black pepper no salt Place tomatoes, cucumber, onion, basil and capers in large enough bowl to toss. Make the dressing in a measuring cup by adding vinegar, olive oil and mustard whisking together. Then add caper brine, Splenda, 6 grinds of the pepper mill and no salt whisking together. Taste for pepper and salt content. Toss the salad gently with the vinaigrette and refrigerate for at least one hour.
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a community ...from 14 ton
Our favorite girls visit B-Bob’s with Miss Heart of Florida Amy Demilo Happy Birthday Crayton ... We love YOU!!
Patrick & Jerry enjoy Disco Saturday nights @ B-Bob’s
mobile
Visit, Enjoy, Dance, Perform~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Cieanne & John
papar azzi
President Jeremy & Vice-President Kyle, enjoying themselves @ B-Bob’s
Beautiful & talented Danielle Savage from Biloxi performing Amy Whinehouse @ B-Bob’s
Beautiful & talented Amy Demilo performing @ B-Bob’s
The Pensacola Roaring 20’s @ B-Bob’s Kenny, James & Jasyn enjoy a night out @ B-Bob’s
Christian & Aaron enjoying the Burlesque show at B-Bob’s
The B-Bob’s Gang is here!!!
Alejandro, Vincent & Kyle visit from Biloxi & New Orleans to dance the night away @ B-Bob’s
Brandon, O’Brian, Chad & Cory in for Thursday College Night @ B-Bob’s
Beautiful & talented Sweetheart of the Gulf Coast performing @ B-Bob’s
Boy Scouts Honor, I Swear!!!
The Lady GAGA of the Gulf Coast Taylor Heart from Pensacola performing @ B-Bob’s
The cool air filled the room as friends chatted over cocktails. It is one of the local ‘gay bars’ outside of the strip, it is the neighborhood watering hole. A gay man had been perusing Ambush and had followed these series of articles. Without malice and simply as a matter of interest he said, “I get it. I really understand what Fr. Bill is saying about serving the community and helping Dodwell House. I really do. But what does the gay community get out of this?” This is a very good question indeed and one that is to the point. What is the payoff for LGBT community? First, let’s be clear, “payoff” is not a bad word or characterization. Virtually everything a human being does is motivated by “payoff.” We love another person why? To feel worthy, nurtured, secure, to have companionship and to have a focus for our devotion – that is the payoff for loving. It is equally true that when we are mean to someone perhaps insulting or dismissive there is a payoff; usually making one feel self important or superior – the payoff. Even some children will seek negative attention by misbehaving just to get attention – the payoff. Each of these examples is examples of emotional payoff. Economic payoff seeks to improve one’s lifestyle by improving one’s ability to buy or sell goods and services. In doing so a person may enjoy a higher degree of comfort, a sense of safety, security, and perhaps even feed a hedonistic spirit of pleasure seeking. Money means mobility. So, financial worth has multiple payoffs that result in emotional payoffs. I suppose one may say it is not bad to be rich just much more complicated. If the LBGT community seeks an expanded horizon and a higher degree of socialization then what are the options? There are many options including social protest and legislation – yet, if you cannot legislate morality and social conscience then you cannot legislate acceptance; ask any black man or woman if America is color blind. Alternatively, expanded social horizons are accessible through ‘enculturation’ that is social engagement in a larger community. The Dodwell House is a fixed place in time and space that offers a potential forum for such engagement. As an institution it will be blind to color, sexual identity and orientation, economic location, and national origin. It will be a safe house. Can LBGT organizations meet at Dodwell House? YES, so long as the mission is consistent with the values of St. Anna’s Church which is to improve the human condition and to build a socially safe and loving community. In the words of Bishop Desmond Tutu: “We are made for goodness. We [continued on 22]
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are made for love. We are made for friendliness. We are made for togetherness. We are made for all of the beautiful things that you and I know. We are made to tell the world that there are no outsiders. All are welcome: black, white, red, yellow, rich, poor, educated, not educated, male, female, gay, straight, all, all, all. We all belong to this family, this human family, God’s family.” More importantly than a meeting place is the potential to eradicate fear. Suppose a Gay man or woman teaches and mentors a child. It is less likely that such a child will grow up filled with hatred for that which they neither know nor understand in a world filled with condemnation. Rather, that child may well understand the integrity and dignity of every human being and be able to love without blindness. Where is the payoff? Long term, a community that tends toward acceptance rather than rejection and hatred; but one must be satisfied with delayed gratification. A whole generation and generations past have been taught to hate: hate niggers, hate fags, hate crackers, hate Jews, hate wet-backs, hatred is such an easy commodity to sell because it is cheap and at someone else’s expense. The payoff: your dignity. On an economic level New Orleans struggles with crime and violence. Hatred, distrust, bigotry, and the like breed poverty and its outcome is violence. Jesus died a violent death because of precisely the failure of humanity to love in the way He has taught us. Economically, violence and bigotry cost us a lot. The average cost of incarceration for a death row inmate in California is $90,000/year/man, for life imprisonment at a maximum security prison the cost is about 60% of that. State budgets allocate about 7% of their budget for incarceration. The average capital trial costs the state over $100,000 per trial. Keep in mind we are killing ourselves at about 100+ persons per year in Orleans Parish alone. This does not consider the cost of police and investigators. Payoff: millions of dollars for gardens, parks, arts, medical attention instead of incarceration. The payoff starts at home with us and our investment. The payoffs are these: economic resources reallocated to creative uses who knows maybe even lower taxes; a building sense of community safety a place far from fear; a location and place for meetings and cultural expressions not confined to a single cultural agenda but rather expansive and inviting; a profound sense of inclusion instead of exclusion not because you are invited but because you showed up. Finally, the pay-off is a cultural shift from a culture of violence and exclusion to a culture of delight, bounty, inclusion, and respect. Wouldn’t that be a great place to live.
pensacola papar azzi
Mark & Micheryl @ Drag BINGO
Monica Heart, Regine Phillips & Beni @ Emerald City
DJ Dewight @ Emerald City’s CD release party for Alejandra Cuzman
Andy, Hillary & Shawn @ Emerald City
Terry & Josh @ Drag BINGO
Rick & Eric @ Emerald City Jeffrey making us all smile @ Emerald City
Emerald City’s very own doorman Lamont Ben serving up the ladies @ Emerald City
Tim @ Drag BINGO
Never know what might surprise you @ Emerald City
Jamal & Daniel @ The Other Side
Mr. Bill double fisting it as allways
Jordan, one of the new faces @ Emerald City
Emerald City’s very own Lauren Mitchell & Valerie Heart
Rick & Roy @ Drag BINGO
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Serve, Smile, Fist ~ Pensacola, Florida ~ Photos by Lauren Mitchell
a community ...from 19
spotlight feature by Tony Leggio E-mail: tonymgp@hotmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
ence. Noone does what we do.” The entire outside area has been retooled, now giving a creepy good time for those faint of heart guests who do not want to go into the House. The Halloween Festival outside includes a full bar, seating, a new gourmet concession stand and live music on their
stage. One of the major headliners this year is Down, New Orleans metal supergroup, who will play on October 1. Admission to the concert is free with your paid admission to House of Shock. This show will serve as a warm up to [continued on 27]
House of Shock
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he city of New Orleans has always been shrouded in mystery, with the legends of voodoo, ghosts, vampires and even our own swamp creature, the Loup Garou. So it should not come as any surprise that the number one haunted house in the country is found here in the Crescent City. The House of Shock begins its 19th season this year and there are more thrills and chills in store for all those who dare to enter. Ross Karpelman, one of the founders of the House of Shock, gave me a sneak peak at the horror that awaits all who enter. And I dare say, this Halloween, the House of Shock knows what scares you. The House of Shock has gone through an overhaul. Before your experience was just on the interior of the haunted house, now they have brought this complete immersion outside creating a Halloween festival before you even enter. The House of Shock is the most extreme haunted house in America amping up the volume as they combine scares to a heavy metal soundtrack. One of the founding members Phillip Anselmo was the front man for the band Pantera and Ross is the organist for the Mystic Krewe of Clearlight, a New Orleans heavy metal band. “We know haunted houses,” Ross explains. “We eat, sleep and breathe them. There is nothing else like House of Shock in the country, it is an intense experi-
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on the prowl by Rory Wright Email: rorywrightinnola@hotmail.com
Photos by Charles Jenkins, NOBBTSC
Bears Invade New Orleans
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lls Well That Ends Well, a well known phrase used to title a play by William Shakespeare, can also describe the 2011 Southern Decadence event, as we braved the torrential rains and dramatic lightening storms sent by hurricanes Katia and Lee that missed a direct hit but kept us all wet for days as a tropical storm. The 2011 official theme chosen by the Grand Marshals was Viva New Orleans: What Happens in New Orleans, Stays in New Orleans, and while that was certainly the case this year, I dubbed the event additionally A Wet and Wild Decadence from my temporary job of security man at the top of the stairs at Cafe Lafitte in Exile on Bourbon Street during the events. During the five days of the events I was able to say hello to and welcome thousands of wet handsome men, arriving at Lafitte's from all over the world for drinks and more. There were bears, and leathermen, costumes and gay men of all shapes, sizes and ages; many of them carrying umbrellas; but all of them contributing to the party and having a wet and wild time. Cafe Lafitte in Exile counts itself as the oldest continuously running gay bar in the history of America, and speaking of playwrights, Tennessee Williams was a frequent patron of the bar during the years he lived here, starting in 1939. My name is Rory Wright and I have just moved to New Orleans in April with my partner, our dog and two cats. We are active bears by choice, and when we arrived we both joined the local New Orleans Bear & Bear Trapper Social Club which meets regularly and is involved in many social and charitable events throughout the year. Not everyone agrees on what is a bear, but from the Bears of New Orleans own website, these words resonate the inclusiveness of the New Orleans Bears: “Most simply a ‘Bear’ in the gay community is a MAN who likes MEN — he looks like a man, he acts like a man and he wants to be with men — socially and otherwise. It isn’t a term you can define quickly though, based on physical characteristics alone. “A Bear is any big, hairy, gay, guy.” But this is an oversimplification that doesn’t stand up on closer examination. Even in the wild, not all bears are big, and not all big, hairy animals are bears. We all know men who are slender and relatively smooth of face and body who nevertheless embody the soul of a Bear, and whom we are proud to con-
sider Brother Bears. Being a Bear, then, is more dependent upon internal characteristics than those of an external nature. The essence of “bearness” resides in the heart, the mind, and the soul, NOT in the body. This is precisely why our club will never limit membership to those whose bodies fit some stereotype. A big heart is essential. A big, hairy body is not. Once you recognize this concept, and concentrate on the mental and spiritual attributes, the attempt to define what makes a Bear becomes much easier.” The Bear Social Club was founded 16 years ago in 1995 with an original group of seven members of which there is one member still involved in all the events, Victor “Bear” Vest who continues to be a good source for NOLA bear history as he has lived it for the past two decades. The club has grown to fifty four members in 2011 with hundreds of other bear and bear admirers who attend the events throughout the year. If you are on Facebook you can search for the page NOBBTSC and become one of the hundreds of friends on Facebook. The bear club is a service organization that supports many local charities and provides support for the NO/AIDS Task Force, Buzzy’s Kids, Lazarus House and St. Anna’s Kitchen, just to name a few. Aside from the support the club lends the entire New Orleans community, they are a group of bears and bear lovers that like to just have fun too! The 2011 Board of Directors for the Club include President Danny Lecompte who has been active for many years. The Vice-President and Chairman of Bear Decadence 2011 is Jimmy Mondoro, who has lived in New Orleans for ten years with his partner Keith Howard. The Secretary is Gary Nolan and the Treasurer is Jeff Brawner. Election of new officers will occur in November of this year with the new board taking charge December 2011. You can reach the website for pics, history, or to join or talk to members at BearsofNewOrleans.COM (please note: the website is under major reconstruction, so stay tuned for a new fresh look to the New Orleans Bear and Bear Trapper Social Club website). The club has been active in yearly planning of bear events for Southern
Decadence that have become part of the yearly celebration of gay life and living including beer busts, the Sire Ursus Contest each year as well as participating in the Decadence parade. This years theme was Bears Invade New Orleans. The club holds a monthly gathering at the Rawhide 2010 for beer and soda busts which are designed to be fundraisers for local charities throughout New Orleans. Rawhide is the well known leather/levi bar in the French Quarter. Located just two blocks off Bourbon Street, Rawhide 2010 is known as a destination bar for bears, levi and leather men during Decadence and throughout the year. Monthly membership meetings are held the first Friday of every month at the Phoenix Bar on Elysian Fields Avenue which is a popular Levi and Leather bar that has been newly renovated by new ownership, with all new exterior paint and upgraded interior. The bears are proud to call the Phoenix it’s home bar and also holds a beer and soda bust at Phoenix every first and third Friday of every month from 9pmmidnight; $5 gets you all the beer you want to drink and snacks to soak it all up with. New members or those considering membership are always welcome at the beer and soda busts at either bar. This column will follow the events and activities of both the bear and leather communities in New Orleans. Also this column will be addressing the history of the bear and leather communities over the decades and the role New Orleans has played in relation to gay history nationwide and around the world. If you would like to read about a particular subject feel free to email this author at the email address above. This author is looking forward to meeting members of the Lords of Leather: the local and only - Leather Mardi Gras Krewe in New Orleans - to interview for future articles. You can see the wet streets in this picture taken early in Decadence at Rawhide 2010, with bears from all over the world arriving to enjoy Southern Decadence 2011.
Sire Ursus is a yearly event occurring at JohnPaul's Bar which is across the street from the Phoenix on Elysian Fields Avenue, and comments from Charles Jenkins, Vice-Chair of this years Bear Decadence event were as follows: “What a great Sire Ursus contest this year. All the hard work paid off. Our new Sire Ursus is Nathan Martin, 1st Runner-up Mr. David Perkins, and 2nd Runner-up Mr. Andre Duvenhage.
Sire Ursus 2011 Nathan Martin It was a pleasure working with each of all the best. I would like to thank some outstanding help for this event: Bear (Victor) for welcoming our guests and rocking it with the armbands. Kenneth
Charlie McDonald, Sire Ursus 2011 Nathan Martin, Sire Ursus 2009 Kevin Reichenstein, Dwayne Bryd & Jim Forrester Gue who designed and created the most beautiful sash for Sire Ursus and his help with merchandise sales. Jeff with all his help doing a variety of things. Andy Ehlers for handling our dinner set-up. And to the member who helped baby-sit the merchandise. An official thank you will go out next week. Bear Decadence was rocking 2011!” Keith Howard was elected King of Decadence on Thursday night at the Rawhide Bar as part of their Decadence festivities, which was fitting as he had just spent the year as Sire Ursus 2010 for the New Orleans Bear and Bear Trapper Social Club, and retired his title to Nathan Martin, during the judging at the Sire Ursus competition at JohnPaul's.
5th King of Decadence Keith Howard
24 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Sept em ber 27-Oc t ober 10, 2011 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide• Sout her nDec adenc e.COM
MCs & Hosts Elizabeth Bouvier & Tony Leggio opening production complete with dancers Corynne Deville accepts Worst Drag Performance from Opal Masters
Darrin Ferris accepts Most Boring Gay Event for Pride
Voice of Pride Derrick Stevens sings live
snap
Deja Deja-Vue’ accepts Social Climbing Award of Excellence from Elizabeth Bouvier & Ralph
paparazzi
Miss Louisiana Leatherette Rolinda Hay & Princesse Stephaney present Sissiest Leather Man to Cathy Fox
Rikki Gee & Persana Shoulders present Gay Scandal/Drama to JohnPaul’s SDGM Tiffany Alexander & Voice of Pride Derrick Stevens present awards
Ambush’s Marsha presents Tony Leggio with Biggest Douche Bag & Hottest Mess joined by dancer Robert
Presenters Cathy Fox & Barry Rutherford
Tami Tarmac accepts Gayest Straight Man from Darrin Duplessey & Countess C. Alice Richie Rich accepts Player of the Year
Cathy Fox presents Fag Hag of the Year to Ginger
Philip Gordon sings live
Persana Shoulders accepts Most Nellie Gay Man
Jay Cooper sings live
Presenters Princesse Stephaney & Miss Louisiana Leatherette Rolinda Hay
GayMardiGras.COM • GayNew Orleans.COM • Sept em ber 27-Oc t ober 10, 2011 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 25
1st Gay Depreciation Awards @ JohnPaul’s ~ New Orleans
Joe accepts Butchest Bull Dyke
chop chop by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
Rip chose the entree special, fresh homemade Beef Lasagna (11.50). The large plate arrived with a huge slab of lasagna, fresh garlic bread, a side salad tossed in the house balsamic vinaigrette, tomatoes, cucumbers and a side of parmesan. The well seasoned lasagna had some six layers of pasta, meat sauce and cheese, but what made this lasagna interesting to us, it was the first we’d had topped with cheddar. It complemented the meat sauce adding to the decadent delight of this dish. The crisp garlic bread had just the right amount of garlic and butter to make one yell in surrender.
Decadent Delights at The Decadence Shoppe
A
stroll from our home on Bourbon Street brought us over three blocks to N. Rampart. It was one of those refreshing days due to a recent cold front bringing us weather in the 70s. The Decadence Shoppe is a small pop and pop operation as opposed to a mom and pop one. Proprietor Matt Cummings works the register and front of the house, while partner Kevin Fruits works the small kitchen. It works perfectly for these two. Upon arrival we headed to the counter to retrieve two menus and seated ourselves at one of the window tables overlooking Armstrong Park. Renovations should be completed by the end of the year to the park entrance, so the view will be even more beautiful and relaxing. The breakfast menu served 8am-11:30am offers yogurt, biscuit sandwich, biscuit and gravy, French toast, pancakes, wraps or scrambles, quesadillas, plus regular breakfast and sides. The lunch menu served until 3pm offers appetizers, salads, sandwiches, entrees and wraps. Since we arrived at noon, it was the lunch menu for us, but we had already received several recommendations from friends who have frequented the eatery. For an appetizer we chose the Baked Macaroni & Cheese (5.50). The large steaming hot ramekin came out oozing over the top with melted cheese and toasted bread crumbs. The first bite was chock full of elbow macaroni in creamy cheddar, blue, mozzarella and pepper jack cheeses with a hint of nutmeg and a bite of pepper. To say it was delicious is an understatement. After a few bites we pushed it to the side so we’d have room for our lunch choices.
Beef Lasagna The portions here are quite large. For us, we took home most of the mac and cheese, chicken salad croissant and beef lasagna, which works out great for supper later that evening or lunch the next day. Unfortunately it left no room for desserts which this place is known for. They bake and make all of their pastries here. This is evident from the moment you walk through the door and smell the fragrances from these delights. From their signature cookies, brownies and scones to their pies and cakes, a gaze in the glass display case makes you want to buy one of everything. They also offer regular and a huge assortment of specialty coffees, teas, frappes and more. Open Wednesday-Sunday 7am-3pm, the cafe is located at 806 N. Rampart Street, phone 504.529.8874. Visit DecadenceShoppeCafe.COM to see their entire menu.
New Orleans Restaurant Guide
Baked Mac & Cheese Marsha chose the Chicken Salad Sandwich (8.50). This one proved to be an excellent one. The tasty Creole mustard chicken salad was overstuffed into a buttery flaky croissant. It was light and refreshing, but made you think back to the days of old fashioned chicken salad your mama or grandmother might have made. It came with a side salad tossed in the shoppe’s homemade balsamic vinaigrette along with fresh juicy green grapes.
Chicken Salad Croissant
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. 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. 11am-9pm, Sat.-Sun. brunch 11am-3pm. Cajun Cafe Market, 1100 N. Peters in the French Market, 905.3212, offers local Cajun specialties where you can dine in or take out. Great selection of Louisiana products available here. Open 10am-6pm. Candy Bar, 908 Bourbon, 504.52.CANDY, is an upscale dessert & specialty food store, open Tues.-Sun. with weekends 24 hours. Best in desserts, snacks, cheeses, crackers, candies, NY bagels & knishes, smoked meats, 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. Frady's One Stop Grocery & Deli, 3231 Dauphine St., 949.9688, has both groceries and a fantastic deli whipping up local favorites each day on special. Open Mon.-Fri. 7:30am-6pm, Sat. 9am-3pm, closed Sun. 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.
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spotlight feature ...from 23 their soon to be sold out shows at Southport Hall on October 29 and 30. Guests are also treated to a five minute multimedia stage show before going inside setting the stage for the good vs. evil theme. There is way more pyro involved here, sort of like a Kiss and Ozzy show put together. Karpelman goes on to clarify that it is their volunteers that make your experience. There are over 350 cast members who do not get paid; they are there to make this a success, and my guess is also for the sheer pleasure of scaring the hell out of people. Talk about a great way to get your suppressed anger out, it is almost therapeutic. Some of the volunteers have been with them since the beginning. They help make House of Shock the top haunted house in the industry. The good vs. evil is a light theme that runs through each room, but what mesmerizes the guests is the life-size or larger than life props. People become immersed into the scene; there are no barricades or velvet ropes here separating you from the actors. House of Shock is completely interactive, where participants become part of the landscape. The actors can come out touch you and quite possibly you may get sprayed by a little blood; but isn’t that all part of the fun. "Our scenic design is top notch; in fact we have started our own prop building division called Dead House Design, where we supply décor for other haunted houses around the country. We also have a pyro company which also started in the womb of House of Shock. There are all sorts of bloodcurdling fun, but the one room that has continued since the inception is the Church of Sadness, which is about a satanic cult that has taken over a church, complete with sacrificial virgins (those must be some great actresses)." Karpelman continues,” what guests to the House of Shock receive is Disney quality effects that will scare and entertain you at the same time. The House of Shock unlocks its doors on Friday, September 30 and is open every Friday and Saturday through November 5. Halloween week it is open Wednesday and Thursday. Tickets go on sale at 7pm with the haunted house opening at 8pm. The box
office closes at 11pm on weekend nights and 10pm on the other nights. Tickets are $25 and now there is a special VIP pass for $50 which grants you access to the front of the line and a special gift bag of HOS goodies. Tickets can be purchased on line at www.houseofshock.com.
chop chop ...from 26 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. Matassa's Market, 1001 Dauphine St., 512.8700, a full service grocery and deli serving great food, fine wine and spirits with free delivery. Open Sun.-Wed. 6am-9pm, Thurs.-Sat. 6am-10pm. Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746, features Italian specialties including salads, pizzas, sandwiches and both lunch and dinner entrees. Open Mon.Thurs. 5-10pm, Fri. Sun. 11am-10pm. 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. Royal House Restaurant, 441 Royal St., RoyalHouseRestaurant.COM, 528.2601. This casual dining New Orleans Restaurant has delectable delights created by its renowned Louisiana executive chef. Step into this dining paradise and be swept away by the romantic lighting, the smell of fresh steamed seafood in the famous crawfish boil, raw oysters at one of the city’s largest oyster bars. Sip on a glass of wine or a true New Orleans cocktail with any of their specialty drinks. Let great southern hospitality and casual yet romantic atmosphere help you escape right into the true heart of New Orleans! Open 11am-11pm Sun.-Sat., 11am-12midnight Fri.-Sat.
GayMardiGras.COM • GayNew Orleans.COM • Sept em ber 27-Oc t ober 10, 2011 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 27
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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] GEORGE'S, 860 St. Louis, 387.9798, HOUND DOGS, 668 Main St., 344.0807
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
RT 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 NINTH CIRCLE, 700 N. Rampart, 252.4558 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 VOODOO BAR, 718 N. Rampart, 265.0950 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
casinos 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 [is1511]
circuit/events 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 Aug. 29-Sept. 3, 2012 41st 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
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 MATASSA'S MARKET, 1001 Dauphine St., 512.8700 QUARTERMASTER DELI, THE NELLIE DELI, 1100 Bourbon, 529.1416
hair salons Mandeville, LA [985] RESTORATION HAIR DESIGN, 1800 W. Causeway Approach, Suite 119, 626.4353 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 North Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone 504.524.7725, Toll Free: 800.457.2253,FrenchQuarterSuites.COM. Email us at Reservations@bpmhotels.com.
28 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Sept em ber 27-Oc t ober 10, 2011 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide• Sout her nDec adenc e.COM
GayMardiGras.COM • GayNew Orleans.COM • Sept em ber 27-Oc t ober 10, 2011 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 29
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. Beautiful and spacious townhomes available to accommodate groups of any size adjacent to the hotel. Just 3 short blocks from Bourbon St, with free Wi-Fi and complimentary continental breakfast and access to two beautiful pools. Covered off street parking available. 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 North Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone 504.522.7333, Toll Free: 800.457.2253, NOCourtyard.COM. Email us at Reservations@bpmhotels.com, “Spectacular, very unusual piece of property” with balconies of varying design ringing the courtyard. Circa 1880 Historic New Orleans Home lovingly restored and converted into beautifully appointed rooms. Just steps away from Armstrong park, Bourbon St, and most of the popular gay clubs, bars, and restaurants. With two pools, free WiFi and complimentary continental breakfast. Secured off street parking available. 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 Campus, 388.2855 MAGNOLIA MOUND PLANTATION, 2161
Nicholson Dr., 343.4955 OLD ARSENAL MUSEUM, State Capitol Complex, 342.0401 OLD BOGAN FIRE STATION, 427 Laurel St., 344.8558 OLD GOVERNOR'S MANSION, 502 North Blvd., 344.5272 OLD PENTAGON BARRACKS, State Capitol Dr. at River Road, 342.1866 OLD STATE CAPITOL, 100 North Blvd. at River Road, 342.0500 or 342.4479 USS KIDD/NAUTICAL HISTORICAL CENTER, Government St. at River Rd., 342.1942 New Orleans, LA [504] BEAUREGARD-KEYES HOUSE, 1113 Chartres, 523.7257, Mon-Sat 10am-3pm CABILDO, 701 Chartres, Jackson Square, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm CAC [Contemporary Arts Center], 900 Camp St., 528.3805, cacno.org 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] 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, w w w.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 NET-
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WORK [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] AVITA DRUGS SPECIALIZED PHARMACY, serving Louisiana, Mississippi & Texas, with free discrete delivery; authorized to dispense Serostim; specializing in HIV/AIDS, newto-market and other hard-to-find medications; local pharmacy supporting the LGBT community, partners and programs, AvitaDrugs.COM 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
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 Cajun Cafe Market, 1100 N. Peters in the French Market, 905.3212 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 & cafe), 806 N. Rampart, 529.8874,
DecadenceShoppeCafe.COM Frady's One Stop Grocery & Delicatessen, 3231 Dauphine St., 949.9688 Krystal, 116 Bourbon @ Canal, 523.4030 Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, 95 French Market Pl., 522.9500 Matassa's Market, 1001 Dauphine St., 512.8700 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 Royal House Restaurant, 441 Royal St., RoyalHouseRestaurant.COM, 528.2601 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] BUNGALOWS, 719 Royal St., 522.9222 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 RAB DAB CLOTHING AND GIFTS, 918 Royal St., 525.6662 Slidell, LA [985] TANNER ORIGINAL ART, 830 Royal St., 524.8266
spas New Orleans, LA [504] CLUB NEW ORLEANS, 515 Toulouse, 581.2402, www.the-clubs.com SPA ATLANTIS, 740 Gravier, 566.8088, SpaAtlantis.NET
tattoos New Orleans, LA [504] AART ACCENT NEW ORLEANS, 1041 N. Rampart St., 581.9812
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
N e x t De a d l i n e : T u e s d a y, Oc t . 4 t h Ca l l 5 0 4 .5 2 2 .8 0 4 9
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lafayette
papar azzi
Biscuit & Joey
Fearless!
Chase is feeling good @ Agave
Carl enjoying his margarita @ Agave Laikyn, John & Joey
Besties celebrate Joey’s Birthday
Nick is stumbling again!
Crowd watching St. Cecilia @ Tonic
What a great group of friends! Drunker than Morris Ray Mess Miss Strunk & Miss Stoddard
Raven & Rick @ Roadkill Cast Party Your Tonic Talent Tuesday Host Roxy Colbert Corey & Kevin @ Jules
Joey, Mitch & Jenn
All smiles @ Tonic
Watch out!
Carl & Margot @ Trynd
Enjoying another night @ Tonic
32 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Sept em ber 27-Oc t ober 10, 2011 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide• Sout her nDec adenc e.COM
Besties, Roadkill , Fearless ~ Lafayette, Louisiana ~ Photos by Joey Collins
John & Kindrick are loved
acadiana happens by Joey Collins, Lafayette, Louisiana Email: ejcollins583@gmail.com Twitter: JoeyC_583
T
he gays are beginning to flock to the mall in search of that perfect cardigan. That can only mean one thing: Fall has officially arrived. Whether you dust off that older cardigan that was thrown in the back of your closet this past spring or you steal your roommate’s cute sweater, I’ve got all the details for the perfect beginning to the perfect fall. You’re listening up with Joey Collins.
Fall into Downtown
S
tart working those Latin hips because on Saturday, October 1st, the Association Cultural Latino Acadiana will be holding yet another Latin Music Festival. This festival will be held throughout participating merchants and restaurants in the downtown area. The festival begins at noon and will wrap up at 10pm. There will be arts and crafts and live music provided by three different bands including Grammy winner Chubby Carrier and internationally known Joaquin Diaz. For more information please visit www.aclalaf.org.
Downtown Alive lineup for the next two weeks is as follows: Robbie Taylor Three at Parc San Souci on September 30th followed by The Original Blue Runners in Parc International on October 7th. Remember this free concert series remains free by the support of its sponsors and through the purchase of beverages at the concert. Please support these vendors. For more information please visit www.downtownlafayette.org. Do not forget, as always, the second Saturday of each month is Art Walk in the downtown area. This month’s date is October 8th and will begin at 6pm.
Recapping a Night Cap
T
here are so many events to recap and I’m not so sure where to begin. Being the modest person I am (not) let me begin with thanking all those who came out to
Jules on September 17th and celebrated my twenty-something birthday with me. A special thanks to Corey Faul and Kevin Ancelet who blew my mind with their t-shirt creation. You’ve all seen me walk around on Saturday night with my red-swirled glass containing nothing but straight vodka on the rocks. Please do not make fun of my drunkenness, it’s a disease and I wouldn’t make fun of your hepatitis. With that said, Corey and Kevin created t-shirts with a huge Stoli Vodka bottle on it and red ribbons sewn in to create the swirls of a glass. Also thanks go out to my two besties, Ryan Rogers and Trey Schmaltz, who were fearless with their creative Disney Princess outfits. Thanks are due to Jules’ owners Darren Parker and Wendy Wallace and their staff for helping to create an amazing night. On Wednesday, September 14th Agave celebrated its four-year anniversary. This annual event is always a milestone for the very popular downtown restaurant and cantina. Each year Agave rolls out the red carpet, well more so margaritas than carpet, for its loyal customers and celebrates with shots of tequila and a live band. With so much tequila pouring it wasn’t long before Ryan Rogers, John Fournier, and Clyde Jones were doing the Cupid Shuffle in the middle of Agave’s grand outdoor patio area. This was all followed by Nick Rodriguez stumbling and almost falling. No surprise there. The best of the best is thanks to all who attended The Roadkill Diner at Cite des Arts. The show, which ran for three consecutive weekends, was dedicated to making you forget about life for two hours and lose yourself in laughter. Based on audience reaction I’d say the cast was very successful. Many of you even drove in from out of town just to be a part of this creative endeavor. Thank you all for your support and do not forget to follow The Roadkill Diner on Facebook as it is planned to be a part of the New York City Theatre Festival. WARNING: Please beware of Teena and Teeta as I hear they’re still on the run. If you see them do not approach them, please call local authorities.
Bar Spill
T
onic recently celebrated its one-year anniversary. Due to casting obligations with The Roadkill Diner I was unfortunately unable to attend. Nonetheless, according to Miss Hunter Mannies it was an amazing hard-on show. Pun intended. Miss Brodie Mess, as always, was able to orchestrate yet another memorable event. If you’re like me and were not able to attend the party there’s no need to cry over spilled vodka. Each and every single week Tonic has one of the most amazing entertainment lineups around. [continued on 34]
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trodding the boards by Brian Sands
Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com
Chicago at Rivertown Repertory Theatre through Oct. 2
W
ith so many wonderful musicals in the canon of classics, I sometimes wonder why some seem to get done over and over again here. And with memories of Tulane Summer Lyric’s 2007 production and Le Petit’s 2002 staging, not to mention the Oscar-winning movie version, still fairly fresh in one’s mind, Chicago does not seem to be crying out for another go-round. Yet with its jazzy, hummable score and timelessly satirical plot, this is one show I don’t mind seeing again ever few years, especially when done as well as the presentation it’s getting at Rivertown Rep in Kenner. When the curtain first goes up on Patrick M. Mendelson’s production with the band on stage and the big neon “CHICAGO” sign, it’s a “WOW” moment. And the lithe and sexy 16 member ensemble that emerges to people the stage for All That Jazz would probably make the cost-conscious producers of the current Broadway incarnation a bit jealous. Though overshadowed in 1975 by A Chorus Line, which had opened a few weeks earlier (and coincidentally
was produced by Rivertown Rep last Spring), John Kander & Fred Ebb’s scathing vaudeville about greed, lust and grabbing headlines has taken on a timeless air as the same ol’ scandals, albeit featuring ever new characters, keep popping up, allowing Chicago to comment effortlessly on whomever happens to be in the news this week. Peppered with lines about flashes in the pan, phony celebrities, and its “not that the truth really matters” philosophy, the crackling book by Ebb and Bob Fosse, keeps the entertainment bubbling along without getting in the way of the song’n’dance numbers. And what great numbers they are! In addition to All That Jazz, there’s Cell Block Tango (“He had it coming!”),
acadiana happens ...from 33
they will actually have to get into costume. The event begins at 8pm with DJ Jared Delcambre. Don’t forget about Thursday night country-free karaoke with host Blake Duhon followed by Best Damn Drag Show every Friday with host Steven Rogers. As always, don’t forget to follow the following on Facebook: Lafayette Lesbians, Lafayette Gay Men, Jules, Ambush Magazine, and Tonic Lafayette. Ambush Magazine is always available online at AmbushMag.COM but you can pick up your free copy in the Lafayette area at Jules or Tonic.
On Monday Big Girl gears up for Beer Pong where participants can win cash money. Just watch out for Big Girl because I hear she’s been practicing. It’s also Customer Appreciation Night with $1 wells, $2 domestics, and $3 premiums. Tuesday night is the infamous Talent Night with your host Roxy Black. On Wednesday, all the way from Lake Charles, comes DJ Chad Evans with karaoke with a theme. Check Tonic’s Facebook Group for the nightly theme. Thursday night is the perfect night for drunks, I would know. It’s Power Hour and for only $5 you will receive 60 shots for one hour. DJ Macky Ray will change a song every minute and with each new song comes a new shot. Power Hour begins at 11pm. Friday ushers in the weekend at Tonic with Ladies Night. It’s also Happy Hour with two-for-one wells and domestics. Don’t forget to finish off the weekend with a free brunch on Sunday and $2 mimosas. The perfect cute/bad masc/vers event is right around the corner at Jules. On Saturday, October 1st, Jules will be hosting its first Turnabout Party. The concept is men come as women and women come as men. I know, I know what you’re thinking…don’t many already dress that way? Though that may be true to some, I guess for others
Remembering
F
or many of you who knew Michael Broussard you remember him for his extrovert personality. He typically was found lost in a crowd right near the bar at either Jules or Tonic. He was always so eager to greet people with a smile and was never too shy to introduce himself to those he did not know. I first remembered him as the guy with the beard and big smile. He always seemed to be so comfortable in his own skin. I can remember doing many shots with him. We lost Michael on the week of September 19th. Little did we know that Michael was combating his own eternal demons. Whatever it may be that he was
When You’re Good to Mama, All I Care About (Is Love), We Both Reached for the Gun, the stardom-worshiping Roxie, the desperate I Can’t Do It Alone, the tough-as-nails My Own Best Friend, Razzle Dazzle with its brilliant lyrics— and that ain’t all! Can anybody remember, let alone sing, even one of the numbers from such Tony winners as Memphis or In The Heights or Spamalot or Titanic?! Jaune Buisson lets Roxie Hart’s hungry need for stardom, and the exultation that comes when she achieves it, ooze through her pixie-ish pores. Leslie Limberg’s Velma Kelly exudes brassiness and superiority...until the spotlight shifts away and she has to grovel. Buisson is the better dancer, Limberg the stronger singer but both are sweet and lethal and fine actresses; notice how at the end, when someone else has stolen the headlines, Buisson twins the true pathos of losing something long-coveted with a comic irony. As the shyster lawyer Billy Flynn, Greg DiLeo is not likely to be the next American Idol champ, but he playfully gets across Flynn’s refined sleaziness and, more than some other Flynns I’ve seen, his tenacious focus on the bottom line. A personal injury trial lawyer in real life, one wonders if DiLeo’s court appearances have such flair. In a transformative role, Marc E. Belloni, often seen as brash characters, inhabits Amos Hart, Roxie’s soft, sad sack of a husband; Belloni’s selfeffacing, naive confidence in Roxie wholly convinces in touching fashion. Sporting an Italian Mama’s wig that makes her look like a relative of the Jersey Shore krewe, Tracey E. Collins cast her Matron “Mama” Morton less in the Sophie Tucker mold, opting instead for more of a lethal dumpling approach. This intriguingly made her no less the wheeler-dealing opportunist but, perhaps, as evidenced by her knock-out duet with Velma, the faux weltschmerz Class, a once refined young thing brought low by her eye for the girls. fighting in life we can always remember the guy who brightened the lives of the people he came across whether it be for a brief moment or a long-term friendship or romance. We may not know what exactly was going on with Michael but lesson learned is that depression can be a serious illness that can take you to depths further than one can imagine.
Closing Out
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all always reminds me of pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks. Even better are pumpkin martinis! Oh fall you make me so excited. Guess it’s time to stock up on cinnamon, vanilla vodka, and pumpkin syrup. Be safe out there, Lafayette! Don’t be the next OWI victim. Keep the party going!
And even if some, though not all, of the audience members sitting behind me could figure out the secret of D. Arnold’s sob sister reporter Mary Sunshine, that didn’t lessen the enjoyment to be had from Arnold’s multi-octave voice and pitch-perfect portrayal of her. Despite Mendelson’s propulsive staging that never allows the momentum to flag and Alan Payne’s superb musical direction that makes the ten piece band sound like a million, there does seem to be something missing from this Chicago, however. Buisson and Limberg give undoubtedly highly accomplished performances, and both have shone in more character-driven roles, e.g., Buisson as Cassie in Chorus Line and Limberg as Amneris in Aida and her Ambie Award-winning Joanne in Rent, among others. But to make the show really combust, Roxie and Velma demand that star quality of a Chita or Liza or Renee or Catherine Z-J. And while both Buisson and Limberg probably have more talent in their little pinkies than Melanie Griffith has in her entire body, she’s the one who gets to headline on Broadway. It’s not fair, but one wishes there had been more of a spark out in Kenner. One last thing. I was willing to give Rivertown Rep a pass on its traditional (and marvelous) staging of Chorus Line in May; after all, there’s only so much you can do with the rehearsal room setting. But Chicago is different and offers more interpretive possibilities. Though Mendelson, along with choreographer Buisson, set designer Eric Porter and costume designer Kate Jensen all do exemplary work (as do lighting designers Scott Sauber & Nancy Macko but that’s somewhat different), must they present us with the same look and conceptual approach of the long-running Broadway revival which itself was inspired by Bob Fosse’s original production? And if they do want to go that route, shouldn’t there be some sort of credit in the program to acknowledge their inspiration? After all, there’s more than one way to razzle dazzle an audience.
The Future is a Fancyland Place at the AllWays Lounge & Theatre through Oct. 2
A
ndrew Vaught and Chris Kaminstein’s new play The Future is a Fancyland Place wants to be a cautionary tale about environmental despoliation. And a satire of those sects that are continually offering end-of-the-world prophecies. And a story about how insular communities can sow seeds of their own destruction. And probably one or two other things as well. [continued on 37]
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Little Ricky celebrating his b-day with friends during Sunday’s Drag Dingo @ Oz
In for Drag Dingo @ Oz
Engender dazzles @ JohnPaul’s
Billy & Pete catch Engender show @ JohnPaul’s
In for the Engender show @ JohnPaul’s
ambush
papar azzi
Grabbing a cold one @ Michael’s On The Park
Amon-Ra’s David & Ronnie with Armeinius’ Joel @ Armeinius Glitz Party
New Miss Gay Louisiana America Maybelline Maskara during pageant @ Cajun’s Cove in Baton Rouge
Popping into Michael’s On The Park
More fun @ Armeinius Glitz Party
Tiffany Alexander & Persana Shoulders @ Miss Gay Louisiana America Pageant
Armeinius Royalty with new Prince & Princess drawn from Armeinius Glitz Party @ Freddie Guess Studio
Satyricon opening night of “Carnage” @ Southern Rep
Nick & Bruce during the Armeinius Glitz Party @ Freddie Guess Studio
Jeff, Brick & David during Satyricon opening night of “Carnage” @ Southern Rep
Ladies from Lake Charles @ Miss Gay Louisiana America Pageant
The Baton Rouge ladies @ Miss Gay Louisiana America Pageant
36 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Sept em ber 27-Oc t ober 10, 2011 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide• Sout her nDec adenc e.COM
Around the State ~ New Orleans, Baton Rouge ~ Photos by Tony Leggio
Ready for the Saints game on the Bourbon Pub Parade balcony
Bessie Ann & Freddie enjoy Armeinius Glitz Party @ Freddie Guess Studio
Satyricon opening night of “Carnage” @ Southern Rep
trodding the boards ...from 34 And did I mention the marauding cows? I admire a wide-ranging imagination and Vaught/Kaminstein certainly bring fertile ones to this enterprise. But without reading Rachel Lee’s Dramaturgical Note in the program, one might think that Fancyland is an extended Saturday Night Live sketch rather than a theatrical reinterpretation of When Prophecy Fails, a 1956 book about a truly weird, apocalyptic cult. Briefly put, Jarville (Ian Hoch) is a janitor in a lab, the run-off from which may be putting toxic materials in the local town’s water supply. Sheila (Emilie Whelan), Jarville’s sister to whom he’s none too close, has joined a small cult led by an elderly lady, Beulah (Cecile Monteyne), who preaches kindness to strangers as well as the approaching end of days. Juniper (Francesca McKenzie), a free-spirited woman, and Hudie (Ross Britz), a technological whiz kid, are also members of the cult. Apparently a herd of stampeding cows has knocked over all the buildings in the town of Tanapeka except for Jarville’s; Jarville’s radio and Hudie’s phone are picking up staticky messages about the end of the world. Drinking beers and denying all this throughout Act One, by the start of Act Two Jarville has become a believer in the apocalypse to come, in part, because a red heifer (Monteyne again), with all its biblical associations, has begun to speak to him. When Jarville loses his ability to communicate with the heifer, Britt (Shannon Flaherty) the newest member of Beulah’s cult, assumes the leadership role with a strict authoritarianism. At nearly two and a half hours, I
Ian Hoch and Shannon Flaherty in The Future is a Fancyland Place didn’t mind Fancyland’s length per se; it’s potentially a big narrative that Vaught/Kaminstein wish to impart. But right now it’s a short story masquerading as a novel with too much of it merely repetitious; after a while, the songs sung by the cult and the little invocation they recite before passing around food begin to feel like padding. Even the shtik provided by the comic relief farmhands (Dave Davis and Matt Standley, reminiscent of some of Shakespeare’s rustics) requires more variation and depth than we’re given. More troubling is the matter of tone. Fancyland can’t seem to make up its mind whether to be a serious drama or a comic satire; the situations are comically absurd but neither the script nor Kaminstein’s direction brings out the humor leaving an audience unsure what to make of it all. For example, I question if the big dance of the cows, abstractly rendered by clothbound 2x4 puppets manipu-
lated by the cast, was meant to evoke Michael Jackson’s Thriller video, but the mere possibility made me giggle. Was that their intention? Hard to say. There’s noth-
ing wrong with ambiguity but murkiness is just frustrating. The script offers some intriguing nuggets of where it might have gone. For example, at one point, Sheila goes off to see what’s happening in the presumably soon-tobe post-apocalyptic world. She finds all is normal in a nearby town, people driving their cars, going to malls, etc. When she returns to Tanapeka, the others quickly dismiss the folly of the outsiders’ ways. I would have been more interested to see what happens to such a group when their beliefs are challenged by such hard evidence.. According to Lee’s Note, Kaminstein, too, is interested in this, but his script delivers more heat than light and insight. Some nice moments are well-realized by the cast, including a lovely romantic interlude between Jarville and Britt involving a firefly trapped in a jar. Would that there had been more such emotionally-involving scenes; instead, by the middle of the second act, with no real dramatic tension to hold the plot together, I had grown weary of watching this bunch of crazies rattle on. And I wasn’t the only one as I observed more than one person nodding off in the audience. It’s a shame because, clearly, Goat in the Road Productions & Cripple Creek Theatre Company along with Set Designer Phil Kramer, Lighting Designer Selena Poznak, Music Composer/Director Will Bowling, and Sound Designers Eric Gremillion & Bowling, have lavished a tremendous amount of imaginative, vibrant work on this project, all of which contributes to its invigorating theatricality. But the play’s the thing and Vaught, who also appears in the show, and Kaminstein perhaps should have concentrated on refining their script before giving it such a labor-intensive mounting or, at the very least, brought in another director who might have provided a more objective, clarifying perspective. The future deserves nothing less.
GayMardiGras.COM • GayNew Orleans.COM • Sept em ber 27-Oc t ober 10, 2011 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • 37
ambush
papar azzi
Bartenders Brad & Otis welcome you to Double Play
Ted & Bruce cocktailin’ @ the Phoenix
Max & DJ Myke working the Yard Sale @ Lafitte’s benefiting Have A Heart Fund
Now as Miss Nicole Dubois hosting “Lipstixx” Sundays @ the Parade
Serve yourself Yard Sale benefiting Have A Heart Fund @ Rawhide
Jasmine SX in “Lipstixx” @ the Parade
Todd, Mickey & Yvonne ready to “get your MITCH on” @ Mickey Nolan’s Salon
Miss Alise gets dramatic @ Tubby’s Golden Lantern
Original “no wire hangers” @ Good Friends Yard Sale with manager Neel benefiting Have A Heart Fund
”Lipstixx” brings Sophia Cuesta Luchianni to the Parade stage
Cory & Brad slingin’ cocktails @ Bourbon Pub
Deanna cocktailin’ @ Double Play
Michael joins brother Tommy Elias @ The Corner Pocket
Dingo hostess Blanche Debris celebrates Little Ricky’s b-day @ Oz
Frankie Fierce & Mr. Nicole Dubois @ Bourbon Pub Parade
Chris, Joe & Blake behind the bar @ Oz
Catch sexy bartender Earl @ Cafe Lafitte in Exile
MC Lisa Beaumann on stage with The Corner Pocket Boys
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The Big Easy in Action! ~ New Orleans
Maggie behind the bar @ Le Roundup
Keke Carmichael Luchianna appears @ Tubby’s Golden Lantern
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40 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Sept em ber 27-Oc t ober 10, 2011 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide• Sout her nDec adenc e.COM