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the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
Dodwell House Community Center/School Extravaganza April 20 The Dodwell House is located on the avenue of the Creole’s at 1519 Esplanade Avenue in New Orleans. The historic house is now called the Dodwell-Marsoudet House and is being restored for use as a community center and school by the very active congregation of St. Anna’s Episcopal Church. On Saturday, April 20 the doors will open for the Third Annual Dodwell Extravaganza to celebrate diversity, work with at risk children, and adult education for immigrants. Last year’s successful event hosted over 150 attendees from all walks of life and the St. Anna’s team is hoping to increase that number this year. The purpose of the event is to raise funds to preserve the historic site, provide a safe place for at-risk children to be mentored by Anna’s Arts for Kids, and a School and Cultural center for Latino and immigrant peoples. This community center/ school is critical to the lives of dozens of children and hundreds of new immigrants making a home for themselves. “This center is dedicated to creating a common ground for groups that do not join together to be safe; and, to join to create a better city not based on color, sexual orientation, economic location, education, or national original but simply on their humanity,” said Darryl Durham director of Anna’s Arts for Kids. This year’s event is gathering excitement as locally and nationally recognized Larry Graham presents the Annunciation of Gabriel to Anna. Silent and live auction items include unique and fantastic experiences. “The idea is to offer things that are different or are packaged that bring pleasure, happiness, and joy into one’s life,” said organizer Fr. Bill Terry. This year the event will take on a more local look featuring The Children of the Tremé in a choreographed traditional Second Line; The Tremé community and other artists of local note. If that is not enough, food and beverages are included by sponsors: Lil’ Dizzy’s, Dookey Chase, NOSH, Three Muses and Anna’s Chefs. This year will also find a special emphasis on our pets as well with sponsorships and auction experiences supported by veterinarians and other local pet care providers. All funds will be used to continue rebuilding Dodwell House, supporting the work of Dodwell House and the Parish Ministries. For more information about Dodwell House or to purchase event tickets go to www.dodwellhouse.org. or call St. Anna’s Church 504.947.2121.
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival April 26-28 & May 2-5 With the announcement of the lineup, it is sure to be another stellar year for JazzFest, set for Friday-Sunday, April 26-28 and Thursday-Sunday, May 2-5. at at the historic Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans. Top names representing nearly every genre of popular music will be coming to the Crescent City for the two-weekend, seven-day fest You can look for country to gospel to blues to zydeco to R&B to good old rock and roll, and, of course jazz. The lineup includes: Fleetwood Mac, Billy Joel, Dave Matthews Band, Maroon 5, The Black Keys, John Mayer, Widespread Panic, Daryl Hall and John Oates, B.B. King, Frank Ocean, Earth Wind & Fire, Willie Nelson, George Benson, Jill Scott, Jimmy Cliff, The Gipsy Kings, Jeffrey Osborne, Patti Smith, Ben Harper and Charlie Musselwhite, Band of Horses, Gary Clark Jr., Andrew Bird, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Roy Ayers ...and hundreds of other performers will be onstage as JazzFest 2013 swings into action. As for the brass bands for which New Orleans is famous, there will be plenty of them too. Among them are Rebirth, Dirty Dozen, Hot 8, Original Liberty Street, the Storyville Stompers and the Palm Court Jazz Band with legendary trumpeter Lionel Ferbos who still has his chops down tight at 101 years of age! And what would a New Orleans Jazz Festival be without the city’s international ambassadors of the genre: the incomparable Preservation Hall Jazz Band. The PHJB will be making its traditional appearance, as it has done every year since the festival’s founding in the early 1970s, and they will be featured with Del McCoury Band doing a mixture of jazz and bluegrass. Also, be on the lookout for the Mardi Gras Indians! In their colorful suits and headdresses of feathers, rhinestones and sequins and singing their native chants, you can’t miss them. Some of the city’s top church and school choirs will be singing at this year’s JazzFest as well, so, if you’re in the mood for some good old gospel, they’ve got it going
on. In addition to the music, here are some other choice offerings at this year’s JazzFest. Painters, sculptors, jewelry designers, basket weavers and many more skilled craftspeople have their handiworks on display and for sale during each day of JazzFest. The number of regionally and nationally acclaimed artists has now grown to more than 300, concentrated in four distinct event venues. At Congo Square you can experience music and art from Africa and the African Diaspora. The Congo Square stage features performances by African, AfricanAmerican, African-Caribbean and Latino musicians. Shop at Congo Square African Marketplace for original paintings, sculpture, clothing, jewelry, musical instruments, and an array of handcrafted artworks. Contemporary Crafts is a nationally recognized showcase of alluring handcrafted clothing, beautiful leather goods and hand-blown glass, along with a brilliant array of paintings, photographs, sculptures and irresistible jewelry. In the Louisiana Marketplace, the state’s finest traditional and contemporary artists display and sell hand-colored photographs, pine needle baskets, whimsical jewelry, and other creations that evoke the state’s unique cultural history. The official JazzFest poster for 2013 features Aaron Neville, one of the most recognizable singers in the world today and a product of New Orleans’ storied musical tradition. As a solo singer and together with his brothers in The Neville Brothers, Aaron Neville has sold millions of records and toured the world, entertaining audiences with a soulful falsetto voice that only he can produce. The poster’s title, appropriately, is “Heart Song.” The artist for the 2013 JazzFest poster is James Michalopoulos, a New Orleansbased painter whose style is as recognizable as Aaron Neville’s voice. With five previous JazzFest posters to his credit, Michalopoulos is well-known for his exuberant, colorful and richly textured paintings that celebrate the spirit of New Orleans and other favorite locales through architecture, people, and landscapes, among other inspirations, Nowhere else will you find such matchless
THE OFFICIAL MAG
Facebook.COM/AmbushMag Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 • Louisiana-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 OVER 1 MILLION: 260,000+ in print/780,000+ On-line CIRCULATION: Alabama-Mobile Florida - Pensacola Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Slidell Mississippi - Bay St. Louis, Biloxi
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 504.357.8440 paulmelancon_ambushmag@yahoo.com THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Blanche-Alabama Frankie Fierce, Charles Jenkins, Tony Leggio, Frank Perez, Arthur Severio, Rev. Bill Terry, Rory Wright-New Orleans Bob Brunson, MIss Cie & John, Leon WeekleyMobile, AL Lauren Mitchell-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 NaquinDelain, 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. ©1982-2013, AMBUSH, INC.,ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDINGAD LAYOUTS, MAPS and PHOTOS. AMgrant - AMbush Advertising Grant Donation
cuisine as is found at JazzFest. The Food Fair offers classic New Orleans staples and
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Cinco de Mayo/Mother's Day/Pre-Memorial Wknd. issue out April 30 DEADLINE: Tues., April 23
inside
celebrazzi tribute, spotlight feature moments in gay new orleans history letters under the gaydar 14th gay easter parade paparazzi gay easter parade thank you 14th gay easter parade paparazzi reVIEW/olympus has fallen bunnies, bunny hop paparazzi
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baton rouge a community within communities pensacola paparazzi mobile paparazzi, mobile classifieds trodding the boards 40th upstairs fire memorial wknd. ambush paparazzi/nola, metairie chop chop/lil vic's rosticceria 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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celebrazzi Partners Carl Geleno joins Easter Grand Marshal XIV Tommy Elias, and partner Justin Moffatt joins Easter Grand Marshal XIV Starr Daniels as they led the 14th Gay Easter Parade Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013 in New Orleans with over 25,000 spectators lining the French Quarter streets.
The 14th and largest Gay Easter Parade rolled through the streets of the French Quarter, led by Easter Grand Marshals XIV Tommy Elias and Starr Daniels, with some 50 registered units including 30 carriages, trolleys and wagons; 2 bands; 4 walking groups; and 14 vehicles. The parade minus expenses raised $23,662.06 for NO/AIDS Task Force Food For Friends program. (www.GayEasterParade.COM) (Photo by Michael Printy)
4th Bunnies In The Big Easy: Put the Good Back in Friday raised $5,155 for Gay Easter Parade's reason for the Easter Season, benefiting Food For Friends at the Bourbon Vieux in New Orleans. With wonderful award winning cuisine, entertainment, and auctions, it was an evening of fun-filled excitement with Easter Grand Marshals XIV Starr Daniels and Tommy Elias. (Photo: EGM VI Lisa Beaumann, party host & EGM X Tony Leggio, Bunny Boys, EGMs XIV Starr Daniels & Tommy Elias, hostess & EGM VII Opal Masters, Bunny Boy Trevor Santos, Barbara Ella, EGM XII Elizabeth Bouvier & EGM IV Electra City)
Oz bar baron Doyle Yaeger and partner Heath Trammell join manager Glenn Fonte in welcoming guests to the 21st White Party hosted by both Dance Club and Show Bar of the Year Oz New Orleans. The spectacular decorations for this party and all of the parties at Oz are the creations of Yaeger with the help of Trammell. DJ JBR and DJ of the Year Tim Pflueger with illuminations by Johnny Eubanks kept the club packed to the wee hours of the morning! (Photo by Frankie Fierce)
Jose Gonzalez and Richard Savoy (above) as "Here Comes Honey Boo Boo" won Best of the Best Bonnets presented by Ambush Mag in the 11th Marigny Bunny Hop ending at The Friendly Bar in New Orleans. Bunny Hop organizers Marty Curtin and Jeff Mallon present Tony Leggio (right) with the Myer-Routh-Murrell Spirit Award.
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the "official" dish ...from 4 over time has expanded to include Creole and Cajun offerings as well as international cuisine. You’ll find everything from appetizers to yummy desserts: whatever your tastes happen to be. In addition to the dozens of fine foods offered, there are two cooking stages at the Fair Grounds Grandstand demonstrating the rich culinary history of New Orleans and offering samples of signature dishes featuring local ingredients from celebrated chefs, farmers, fishermen, and home cooks. The Fair Grounds Race Course is located at 1731 Gentilly Boulevard, just minutes from downtown and the French Quarter. However, the immediate area around the site will be barricaded and offlimits to most vehicular traffic. Convenient bus service on the Esplanade route will take festival-goers to within walking distance of the festival gates, as will shuttle bus service from various park-and-ride lots and other convenient pick-up points around the city. For a scenic route to the festival you can take the Canal Street Streetcar line, transfer to the North Carrollton Avenue branch and take it to the end at City Park. From there the festival is about a half-mile walk down Esplanade Avenue. Follow the crowd and you can’t miss it. Tickets are $50 Adult (Advance), $65 Adult (Gate), $5 Child (Age 2-10 at Gate), To order tickets or receive more information on JazzFest 2013 visit their website at www.nojazzfest.com.
14th Gay Easter Parade Raises $23,662.06 for Food For Friends, Total Charity Donations Now Over $171,101 The 14th annual Gay Easter Parade rolled through the streets of the French Quarter on Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013 led by Easter Grand Marshals XIV Tommy Elias and Starr Daniels. Over 25,000 spectators enjoyed the largest parade in its history with 50 registered units including 30 carriages, trolleys and wagons, 2 bands, 4 walking groups and 14 vehicles. The parade showcases the fashion and creativity of the entire LGBT community. The parade minus expenses benefits the parade's reason for the Easter Season, NO/AIDS Task Force Food For Friends program raising $23,662.06 this year. The parade sponsored by Ambush Mag has raised over $171,101 for charity the past 12 years. The GEP Board of Directors would like to offer many thanks to the generosity of the sponsors, all who came out and supported the events, to auction donors, and those entertainers and celebrities who donated their talents. The board includes Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain, Electra City, Tittie Toulouse, Rona Conners, Opal Masters and Tony Leggio. The complete financial report follows: Revenue: 10,650.00 Sponsorships 325.00 3rd Sponsorship Party 2,217.00 5th Eggstravaganza 5,000.00 12th Drag Extravaganza 4,097.00 11th Spring Fever 4,087.00 14th Purple Party 5,155.00 4th Bunnies in the Big Easy 450.00 Parade Entry Fees 165.00 Elizabeth Bouvier JohnPaul's
Show Performance Tips Donation 32,146.00 Revenue Sub-Total Expenses: 65.25 Easter Auction Baskets 25.01 Easter Hay 48.93 Wrist Bands 347.25 Sponsorship Party Bar Bill 375.00 Spring Fever Catering 131.00 Spring Fever 50/50 Raffle Payout 1,836.25 Parade Insurance 1,625.00 2 Parade Bands 730.00 Easter Grand Marshal Carriages 50.25 Parade Permit 2,400.00 Parade Police Detail 400.00 Bunnies in the Big Easy DJ 450.00 Bunnies in the Big Easy Servers & Bartenders 8,483.94 Expenses Sub-Total 23,662.06 Total Donation to Food For Friends Presented by Ambush Mag, sponsors include: Platinum: Friday Night Before Mardi Gras, Oz New Orleans; Gold: Stuart Nettles & EGM IX Safonda Peters, EGM XII Gary Vandeventer, Todd J. Blauvelt, Krewe of Amon-Ra, Queen AmonRa XLVIII Deja Deja-Vue’ & Jim May; Silver: EGM XII Elizabeth Bouvier, EGM XIII Darwin Reed & EGM VII Opal Masters, EGM VIII Rona Conners, Dwain Hertz/Al Dugas & Gene Theriot, EGM XIII Rhonda & David Roget, EGM VIII Michael Elias & Jay Sewell/The Corner Pocket, Frankie Fierce & King Cake Queen XX Dusty Debris, Glen Kahrman & Noel Twilbeck, Thomas C. Schoonenberg, Bobby Vallecillo & Rene Leaumont, Michael Cookmeyer/Michael’s On The Park, Wood Enterprises, Jeffrey Palmquist & Coca Mesa, Misael Rubio/ Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, EGM IV Electra City & EGM XI Tittie Toulouse, Mona Lisa Restaurant, John & Therese Vignone; Bronze: EGM XIV Starr Daniels & Justin Moffatt, EGM X Tony Leggio, Charlotte Sullivan, EGM VII Orlando Aloe/Society Page, Charles Jenkins/Krewe of Ursus, EGM V Princesse Stephaney, Krewe of Satyricon, EGM II Larry Bagneris, Frank & Pete Abbruscato, National Association of Caterers & Events (NACE), Bootsie DeVille, Roy Smith & Nick Olivares, Ranzy Montet & Creig Istre, Michael Sullivan, Michael Sullivan, Michael Durocher, Ken Marino/ Fabulous Flowers LLC, Bebe & Chris Scarpinato-Linwood, Frank Perez/Crescent City Tour Booking Agency, Glenn O'Berry & Roger Copenhaver, Marty Curtin & Koo Gaffney; Venue/In-Kind: 700 Club, 4 Seasons, Bourbon Vieux, Cutter’s, The Double Play, Larry Graham, Michael’s On The Park, Oz. For more information, visit www.GayEasterParade.COM.
4th Bunnies in The Big Easy Raises $5,155 Gay Easter Parade's 4th annual Bunnies in The Big Easy: Put the Good Back in Friday raised $5,155 benefiting Food For Friends at The Bourbon Vieux in New Orleans. It was a fun-filled event hosted by GEP Board's Tony Leggio and Opal Masters with special performances by Easter Grand Marshal XIV Starr Daniels, EGM XII Elizabeth Bouvier, EGM VI Lisa Beaumann, Bunny Girl Barbara Ella, and the Bunny Boys. There were incredible live auctions, along with complimentary award winning
cuisine, vodka cocktails, wine & beer bar, and non-alcoholic beverages. The event brought in $5,155 minus expenses of $850, bringing the total for Food For Friends to $4,305. The financial report follows: 2,905.00 83 Tickets 400.00 Performance Tips Auctions: 100.00 Wine Cady won by Justin Moffatt 35.00 Out of Space Artwork won by Dawn Leggio 100.00 Cinco de Mayo Basket won by Will Antil 85.00 Bourbon Pride Basket won by Dion S. Travis 170.00 Venetian Masks won by Dr. Michael Lechleiter 55.00 2-NO/AIDS Artwork donations won by Channing & Albert Carey 140.00 Grab Bag Basket won by Albert Carey 140.00 Satyricon Egg won by Tony Leggio 500.00 Blue Bunny Basket won by Douglas LaMaire 525.00 Signed Judy Garland Photograph won by Douglas LaMaire 5,155.00 Sub-Total Expenses: 450.00 Bourbon Vieux Help 400.00 DJ 4,305.00 Total
New Infographic Shows How Facebook Turned Red to Support Marriage Equality A new infographic by Rad Campaign (www.radcampaign.com/hrc) shows how the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) turned their red logo to support marriage equality into a viral success over night. On March 25th, the Human Rights Campaign posted a red version of its logo
on their Facebook page in anticipation of the Supreme Court hearings on Proposition 8 and the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). The status update read: “Who’s wearing red tomorrow? Show your support for marriage equality – make your image red tomorrow.” And that is exactly what many of their 1.4M followers on Facebook did. Over the next 24 hours, 2.7 million more Facebook users updated their profile picture compared to the previous Tuesday, according to data released by Facebook. Many of the profile images were either HRC’s red logo or a creative take on the logo. People adapted HRC’s logo with pop culture images from Game of Thrones, the comic Peanuts, Star Wars, and more. As of April 1st, HRC’s Facebook post had been shared over 71,000 times. Celebrities ranging from George Takei to Madonna to Kim Kardashian and Beyonce helped the red logo to go viral, and shared messages of support. Takei had over 138,000 Facebook Shares as of March 30th. “The infographic about marriage equality shows that people from all over the U.S. were inspired to change their profile photo in support of same-sex marriage,” said Allyson Kapin, co-founder of the web agency, Rad Campaign that works with nonprofits to develop websites and social media campaigns. The average age Facebook user who shared the post was 30 years old. According to Facebook data, people living in college towns from Michigan State, Duke University, Ohio University, University of Iowa, University of Colorado, and University of Texas at Austin were most likely to change their profile picture. For additional information visit www.radcampaign.com/hrc.
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tribute My friend Chris: A Tribute to Christopher J. Daigle My friend Chris would have turned 58 right around now. But he didn’t live to see this birthday. Some of you know my friend Chris. He was Chair of LAGPAC (later called Equality Louisiana), he worked with LGBT students at Tulane, he ran for office and he showed us that you can live full and productive lives for decades being HIV+. I met Chris in 1998 when I moved to Baton Rouge. I was a young and energetic activist from Canada. Moving to Louisiana and living as an openly feminist lesbian was quite eye opening and always interesting. It was only a matter of time before my path would cross with Chris’ a legend among the LGBT communities of Louisiana. We liked each other instantly, I appreciated his wicked sense of humor and deep commitment to social justice. During the legislative session, we were a fierce duo advocating for basic rights for LGBT people in Louisiana. It was grueling and spirit-draining work, but we always had each other to get us through. For many young activists in the LGBT movement, it is hard to find a mentor who will take the time and effort to impart their skills, experience and wisdom. However, I count myself as one of the fortunate. Chris took me under his wing and taught me everything he knew. He accepted me as his co-chair of LAGPAC and treated me with respect. I often tested Chris’ patience when I pushed back on issues of disagreement between us. He was a polite and calm Southern gentleman while I was a brash and assertive Yankee. However, like many great relationships, this combination worked. Our styles rubbed off on one another and through the years we taught each other many things. When the chance came for me to work on LGBT issues on a national level, Chris was the first one to encourage me to do so. He had more confidence in me than I had in myself. Through the years as I worked at National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the Human Rights Campaign, and now, Equality Maryland, Chris was my biggest fan. As many of you know Maryland passed and defended a marriage equality law in 2012. This was, by far, the most taxing professional time of my life. Yet, almost every day, I would get an email or Facebook message from Chris, complimenting me on a quote he had read or the most recent campaign ad he watched. He kept me believing that the fight was worth it. Many times when I felt too tired or defeated to continue, I thought of Chris and the passion, dedication and tenacity he had when doing this work in Louisiana, and I found the strength and energy to keep going. Unfortunately, Chris did not get to celebrate the victories the LGBT movement had on the night of November 6, 2012 because he died on Octo-
spotlight feature The Gay Dad Project When, after over a decade of marriage to her mother, her father came out as a gay man, Erin Margolin says that the sense of isolation she felt was profound. Margolin was 15, living in New Orleans, and in her confusion searched—in vain—for a support system. “There was no one I knew facing a similar situation, no books in the library,” said Margolin. “There were books on having two gay parents, but nothing about having a parent who had just come out.” It was this profound lack of visibility surrounding her family situation—and the subsequent lack of resources—that first compelled Margolin to start blogging about her experience. Just last year, Margolin discovered another blogger, Amie Shea, who remarkably shared the same experience of having her father come out as gay. In August 2012, the two formed the Gay Dad Project website (www.gaydadproject.org) , an online forum that features personal testimonies and stories from people who have a parent who has come out as gay. The site features stories from people of all ages, but the content and resources are directed specifically to children. In its embryonic stages, the Gay Dad Project acted primarily as this online support system for kids with gay parents, based in and around Margolin and Shea’s own personal stories. Now, Shea and Margolin are working collaboratively to expand and diversify the project. The Gay Dad Project will continue to serve as a forum for story exchange, but the site will begin to facilitate in-person support and meet-ups as well as provide other external resources to help confused youth and families in around the world. The pair hopes that the project will provide a multi-platform safe-haven for people of all ages, but especially children, struggling with the implications of having a gay parent. “Kids a lot of times don’t have anyone to talk to about this issue,” said Margolin, who now lives in the Midwest. ber 23rd. On election night when we were celebrating our win in Maryland, I felt a deep sadness, as I knew he would have been calling, emailing and texting all day and night with words of encouragement and then words of congratulations. Despite his physical absence on this night, I knew his spirit was with me and I know he was proud of me. I think of Chris on many occasions— when I’m sitting on Bayou Lafourche watching the white swamp birds take over the trees for the night, as Mardi Gras season is in full swing, as I walk by Lafitte’s in the Quarter, as I sit in each room of my house and admire a piece of art he has given me, and especially when we make tremendous strides in LGBT equality in our country. There are many nameless or forgotten people who have helped make the lives of LGBT people better in Louisiana. Chris Daigle should not become one of those people. Let us remember Chris’ name, his deeds, and his spirit today and always. --Carrie Evans served with Chris as co-chair of LAGPAC from 1999-2001. They remained close friends until his untimely death.
“There is still such a stigma attached to it [having a gay parent].” “It’s a space that’s needed for families like ours and really for kids like us,” said Shea. Also on the agenda for the project is the production and distribution of a featurelength documentary film. The film is an effort in personalizing the project, putting faces to names and introducing the public to the people and stories behind the issue. “It’s not a film just for people with gay dads,” said Margolin. “There is a lot of interest in general, in hearing these stories and exploring the family dynamic.” Shooting for the film will begin this summer, with postproduction slated to occur in early 2014. The duo’s efforts to expand the project have seemingly already struck a chord with the public. Shea and her father were recently featured on The Ricki Lake Show, and Kansas City’s ABC-affiliate taped a segment featuring Margolin and her father. Additionally, news sources like USA Today, MSNBC, Huffington Post and Yahoo! have circulated information about the project. Ultimately Margolin and Shea describe the Gay Dad Project as fulfilling a fundamental need that exists across communities worldwide. With a tagline that reads, “I’m not gay, but my dad is!” the end aim of the Gay Dad Project is to provide children and families with resources not typically offered within the larger LGBT community. “It’s for kids who say, ‘The gay community isn’t for me, but I need someone to talk to about it,’” said Shea. “The Gay Dad Project is for people (and kids) who need a community—and a place to talk—when a parent comes out.”
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NOW Recognizes Equal Pay Day Equal Pay Day is being recognized by the National Organization for Women (NOW) to dramatize the vast pay gap between the earnings of women and men in this country. According to Charlotte Klasson, President of the Louisiana Chapter of the National Organization for Women, April 9 was chosen as National Equal Pay Day because it symbolizes how far into the next year women must work to earn what men earned in the previous year. “Nationally, women earn 77 cents for every dollar a man earns.” Klasson said, “But in Louisiana, it’s even worse for women. They only earn 68.8 cents for every dollar a man earns.” Citing findings in the Louisiana Women’s Policy and Research Commission Report to the Governor 2012, Klasson said that in 2011 “White women in Louisiana earned on average$35,454 compared to $51,592 for white men for an earnings ratio of 68.7. African American women earned on average $26,338 compared to $31,901 for African American men for an earnings ratio of 82.6. And the earnings ratio between black women and white men was 51.0.” Continuing to reference the Report, Klasson said, “The poverty rate for Louisiana women and girls in 2011 was 20.6 percent, ranking Louisiana second only to Mississippi in having the highest rate of female poverty,” said Klasson. “Louisiana women rank 43rd lowest in earnings in the country while Louisiana men ranked 21st
with average earnings greater than the earnings of men in 30 other states. Those numbers represent a dramatic gap in earnings between men and women and present an economic situation for women that begs for legislative action.” Bills have been filed with the Legislature this session by Senators Karen Carter Peterson (D) and Edwin Murray (D) from New Orleans and Representative Barbara Norton (D)from Shreveport to address the disparity in pay equity between women and men in Louisiana. NOW encourages everyone to contact their legislative representatives asking them to support this legislation.
Hidden Treasures: Commemorative Arts Edition May 7 & 8 Join the Friends of the Cabildo as the Louisiana State Museum’s impressive collection of awards, medals and tokens of appreciation from important events in Louisiana history are examined for an exclusive behind-the-scenes viewing May 7th and 8th. Katie Burlison, Curator of the Decorative Arts for the Louisiana State Museum, will guide guests through collections of Napoleonic awards given to war heroes and politicians, souvenirs from the 1984 World’s Fair, 20th century sports trophies and more behind the hidden wings of the Old U.S. Mint. Hidden Treasures of the Louisiana State Museum: Decorative Arts Edition takes place Tuesday and Wednesday, May 7th and 8th. Tours are at 6pm and 7pm at the Old U.S. Mint, located at 400 Esplanade Avenue, in the French Quarter. Cost is $20 per person, or $15 for Friends of the Cabildo/ Louisiana Museum Foundation members. Reservations are required, and space is extremely limited. To reserve your space, please contact Kaydee Nenninger at 504.523.3939.
Irma Thomas To Headline Old U.S. Mint The Friends of the Cabildo present Irma Thomas, the “Soul Queen of New Orleans," playing her first concert at the Old U.S. Mint’s 3rd Floor Performance Space at 7pm Friday, May 24th. Tickets are $35 for general admission and $25 for FOC/LMF member. Seats are limited to 175 people and can be purchased by calling the FOC office at 504.523.3939 or online at www.friendsofthecabildo.org. Tickets are not expected be available the night of the event. Playing the event as a fundraiser for the Friends of the Cabildo, Thomas has been active in the New Orleans music scene over 50 years and had hits such as Ruler of My Heart and It’s Raining. Thomas won her first Grammy in 2007 for the album After the Rain. She also recorded Time is on My Side in 1964, which was recorded by the Rolling Stones the same year. Since her first album in 1964, Thomas has recorded 19 albums and collaborated with legends such as Allen Toussaint, B.B. King and Dr. John. Finished in 2012, the 3rd Floor Performance Space at the Old U.S. Mint is a $4million joint collaboration between the Louisiana State Museum and the National Park Service. The space includes a soundproof performance hall with video and audio recording capabilities as well as a full recording studio.
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moments in gay new orleans history by Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net
The Persecution of Tony Bacino’s Bar The U.S. Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in two cases that could be landmark decisions for gay rights. As the high court deliberates California’s Proposition Eight and the federal Defense of Marriage Act, same-sex marriage rights hang in the balance. Decisions in both cases are expected this summer. In the meantime, a look back
letters Thanks to 14th Gay Easter Parade On behalf of the board and staff of NO/ AIDS Task Force and the men, women and families affected by HIV/AIDS that we serve, I’d like to thank everyone who helped make the 14th annual Gay Easter Parade a success. This year, you helped raise $23,662.06 for our Food For Friends program, which provides pantry services and home delivered meals to men and women living and coping with HIV. Such contributions to the Food For Friends program have assisted nearly 700 individuals with receiving either food pantry allotments or home delivered meals in 2012. I’d like to especially thank Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain, without whom, the Gay Easter Parade would not be possible. I would also like to extend my gratitude to Easter Grand Marshals XIV Tommy Elias and Starr Daniels who worked tirelessly to make this year’s Gay Easter Parade one of the most successful yet. Additionally, thank you to the Board of Directors of the Gay Easter Parade: Rip and Marsha NaquinDelain, Electra City, Tittie Toulouse, Opal Masters, Rona Conners and Tony Leggio for all of their hard work and fundraising efforts. Finally, to all of the fundraisers, auction donors, all of the entertainers who furnished their talents and everyone who donated their time or money to the Gay Easter Parade or any of the fundraising events, I would like to offer my sincere gratitude. To see the outpouring of support from our community every year bolsters us in the ongoing battle against HIV and AIDS
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Over the past twelve years, The Gay Easter Parade, due to the efforts of thousands in our community, has helped raise over $171,101! Thank you all so much for your hard work and for continuing to support NO/AIDS Task Force and Food For Friends. Sincerely, --Noel Twilbeck, CEO, NO/ AIDS Task Force
Stop & Frisk An LGBTQ Issue! Discriminatory policing practices affect young Black men riding their bikes through the 4th District, undocumented Latino workers driving home down Elysian Fields, Black transgender women walking to the convenience store, and so many more New Orleanians. Though it manifests itself in many forms, Stop & Frisk affects all but does nothing to make us safer. BreakOUT!, an organization that seeks to end the criminalization of LGBTQ youth in New Orleans, has been organizing against discriminatory policing of LGBTQ youth of color for over a year and presented a proposed policy to the NOPD in front of City Council last October. This month, BreakOUT! members were finally invited to meet with representatives from the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) and City Attorney’s Office to review the NOPD’s draft LGBTQ policy. BreakOUT! was given one week to take the draft back to members and provide comments and recommendations to the policy. The NOPD should present their draft policy to the larger New Orleans community in a public meeting so the larger New Orleans community can provide recommendations before the policy is implemented within the Department. If the NOPD truly wants to implement effective policies that will have a direct impact on our lives and well-being, they will afford the community the chance to provide insight and recommendations for policy reforms before they are implemented. With the Mayor stalling the Consent Decree between the DOJ and NOPD, the NOPD’s poor data collection practices, and the racial profiling being encouraged in some districts, this issue is more important than ever. For more information about BreakOUT! and to support our work to build the power of LGBTQ youth in New Orleans, visit us at www.youthbreakout.org --Derwin Wilright, Jr., Milan Alexander, and Wesley Ware, on behalf of BreakOUT! -1001 S. Broad St. #217, New Orleans, LA 70125, www.youthbreakout.org, info@youthbreakout.org, 504.473.2651
at how much public attitudes toward gay rights have shifted over the years offers a good reason to be optimistic. After all, it wasn’t that long ago that the legal system was routinely used to persecute gay people. Consider the following case from Orleans Parish Civil District Court. In 1958, New Orleans Mayor Chep Morrison appointed his half-brother, Jacob Morrison, to lead a “Committee on the Problem of Sex Deviates.” The committee was the city’s way of addressing what many people viewed as a growing problem in the French Quarter—gay visibility. Morrison’s self-righteous and homophobic credentials were impeccable. He was a prominent attorney and had a history of leading historical preservation efforts in the French Quarter, and in the early 1950s, he led a citizen’s crusade against the Starlet Lounge, a gay bar at the corner of Chartres and St. Philip Streets. Morrison was eventually successful in having the Starlet Lounge’s liquor license revoked in 1953. The Committee on the Problem of Sex Deviates’ first order of business was to turn its disapproving eye on Tony Bacino’s Bar, a known “queershop” at 738 Toulouse Street. During the first week of its existence, the committee had the manager and two bartenders at Tony Bacino’s arrested five times. They were charged with violating this extraordinary city ordinance: “No person of known lewd, immoral or dissolute character, sexual pervert, inmate of a brothel or house of prostitution or assignation, B-drinker, person who gambles illegally, as defined by law, lottery operator, lottery collector, lottery vendor or seller or user of narcotics, either paid or unpaid, shall be employed in such a place of business as a singer, dancer, beer carrier, waiter, bartender, waitress, girl bartender, or barmaid. Nor shall such persons be allowed to congregate or frequent such place of business.” (Ordinance Number 18537, section 6). Amazingly, this ordinance was not repealed until 1993. In the 1950s, it was common for gay bars to routinely pay off the police to leave them alone. But Roy Maggio, the manager of Tony Bacino’s was apparently not so inclined. Instead of making the customary “protection” payments or folding under the pressure of police harassment, Maggio and the two bartenders, Louis Robichaux and Amos McFarlane, both of whom had previously worked at the Starlet Lounge, applied for, and were awarded, a temporary restraining order against the police. The city attorney responded by argu-
ing the plaintiffs had obtained the temporary restraining order under false pretenses. In a brief arguing the temporary restraining order should be dissolved, the city argued the bartenders had committed the following “lewd acts”: they “kissed,” “embraced,” and “fondled” patrons of the bar, they addressed male patrons as “Darling,” Sweetheart,” and “Doll,” they proposed “unnatural sexual intercourse” to Navy sailors, and they encouraged patrons to “conduct themselves in a lewd and preverted [sic] manner.” Transcripts from the subsequent legal proceedings reveal a McCarthy-like investigation into the lives and characters of the bartenders. Here is a sampling of some of the questions Assistant City Attorney Raoul Sere peppered the plaintiffs with: “Have you at any time kissed or embraced other males in the place known as Tony Bacino’s?” “Have you ever kissed them on the mouth?” “Now when attending bar at Tony Bacino’s how are you attired?” “Do you use false eyelashes?” “Do you wear earrings?” Do you wear bracelets?” And on it goes just like that for over 100 pages of court proceedings transcripts. Such an inquisition seems incomprehensible to us now. Can you imagine being interrogated in court about what you wore and what you said and what you did at a bar last weekend? Thankfully, such witchhunts are a thing of the past but in 1958 prosecutions like this were de rigueur, not just in New Orleans but all over the country. Police raids of gay bars in New Orleans continued well into the 1970s and it would be another 15 years before the American Psychiatric Association removed homosexuality from its list of mental disorders. Roy Maggio, Louis Robichaux and Amos McFarlane eventually lost their case and abandoned their fight on appeal. The case of Tony Bacino’s is significant not only in that was an early attempt to have discriminatory laws based on homophobia ruled unconstitutional but also in that it was a perfect example of the “Climate of Hostility” toward the GLBT community the city of New Orleans actively encouraged. In such an atmosphere, the staff and patrons of Tony Bacino’s could not have possibly fathomed the fact that the U.S. Supreme Court would one day seriously consider the constitutionality of same-sex marriage. And yet that day is here, thanks in no small part to the courage of gay people who were and are willing to fight unjust laws in the courts; people like Roy Maggio, Louis Robichaux, and Amos McFarlane.
under the gaydar by Tony Leggio Email: ledgemgp@gmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
Book of the Month I have always found that words can be more powerful than any other form of expression. The pen is definitely mightier than the sword in many cases. Words can lift people from the point of despair or cut them deeper than any knife. Mastering English is the best way to help you attain any goal in life. And that is the subject of my book for April, Language Intelligence: Lessons on Persuasion from Jesus, Shakespeare, Lincoln and Lady Gaga.
This is one of the most amazing reads and I highly recommend it to everyone. Not only will it prove useful for business professionals, but it also helps you become a better orator in all aspects of your life. Author Joseph J. Romm has revealed some of the secrets of the world’s best communicators from Jesus to modern politicians. Romm has an impressive background as not only an author, but a blogger, physi-
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under the gaydar ...from 12 cist and climate expert who concentrates on methods of reducing greenhouse gas emissions and global warming and increasing energy security through energy efficiency, green energy technologies and green transportation technologies. In 2009, Rolling Stone Magazine named Romm to its list of “100 People Who Are Changing America”. He examines some of their most famous speeches and breaks them down for you. He discusses what works and does not. He lays ground rules on proper ways to get your point across to others and how we can fail going about it the wrong way. There are many useful lessons on persuasion; how to get people to see your point of view, how to make your message memorable and most of all how to change people’s minds. From Lady Gaga’s songs to political addresses of Winston Churchill and John F. Kennedy, Romm has given the reader an incredibly powerful tool. This book will help all your forms of communication changing the way you write, speak, blog and tweet. Language Intelligence is one of those books that will help guide you on the road to becoming a better speaker. Many people lack the fundamental skills of communicating properly. You master that and you can reshape your destiny in many ways. This book can do just that.
Borracho! Has Arrived There is some exciting news from one of the more popular bars in the Faubourg Marigny. Kajun’s Pub is pleased to an-
nounce the opening of Borracho, a scratch sausage kitchen. Under the direction of Chef Chris Smedley, Borracho at Kajun’s Pub boasts a menu drawn from global themes but grounded in the tradition of Southern charcuterie. Smedley’s impressive culinary career began in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania then moving to Portland, Oregon to work in Alberta Street Kitchen, Por Que No? and Laughing Planet; eventually going on to head the Twenty Suppers Supper Club. Chris made his way down to New Orleans helping build the kitchens at Domenica, Satsuma, Sylvain and Emeril’s NOLA before going on to head the kitchens at Restaurant Rambla and Santa Fe Tapas. The menu at Borracho has a wonderful mix of gourmet bar food with housemade a la carte sausages such as the Southern garlic, spicy Italian, Lamb Marguez and the Borracho Bratwurst just to name a few. They also offer delivery from 5pm – 1am to the Marigny, Bywater and French Quarter. Borracho is located at 2256 St. Claude Avenue. The phone number for delivery is 504.267.6108.
Prop 8 Comes to the New Orleans Stage Southern Rep Theatre and Forum For Equality (Louisiana’s statewide LGBT advocacy organization) is proud to present a staged reading of the hot play 8 for a one night only performance on Sunday, April 21. This play was just recently done on Broadway in 2011 and in Los Angeles in 2012 with an impressive list of actors. Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Ellen Barkin, Matt Bomer, John C. Reilly, Kevin Bacon, Jane Lynch and Jamie Lee Curtis are just a few of the
major celebrities that graced the stage in both cities. The New Orleans reading will have a notable assortment of great local talent performing. 8 (or 8 the Play) portrays the closing arguments of Perry v. Schwarzenegger, a federal trail that led to the overturn of Proposition 8 - an amendment eliminating rights of same sex couples to marry in California. It was created by Dustin Lance Black in light of the court’s denial of a motion to release a video recording of the trial and to give the public a true account of what transpired in the courtroom. The play is written in the style of verbatim theatre reenactment using transcripts from the trial, journalist records, and media interviews from the plaintiffs, defendants and proponents involved. Black is the Academy Award winning writer of the film Milk and will be at a preperformance cocktail party benefitting NO/ AIDS Task Force, Project Lazarus, PFLAG, HRC and Forum For Equality. He will also lead a question and answer session at the conclusion of the performance. Tickets to the pre-cocktail reception with Dustin Lance Black from 5 – 6:30pm are $100 and include reserved orchestra seating. The event will be held at the beautifully restored Civic Theatre. Doors open at 6pm with curtain at 7pm. Guests must be 18 or older to attend. Ticket prices for general seating range in price from $15 to $50. There are several sponsorship levels available. The Civic Theatre is located at 510 O’Keefe Street. For tickets or more information, call 504.569.9156 or go to www.forumforequality.com.
Celebrate Cinco de Mayo May 4 The Krewe of Petronius is throwing a Cinco de Mayo Fiesta at Michael’s On The Park on Saturday, May 4 from 6 – 9pm. There will be plenty of Mexican themed delicacies and a sombrero contest. The krewe is going all out in creating a festive and authentic Mexican fete for guests. All the girls (Bootsie, Natasha, C Alice and Princesse) will be on hand to keep things spicy. Tickets are $10. For more information, go to www.kreweofpetronius.org or email petronius1961@cox.net.
Get Proud! Do you have what it takes to be Miss or Mr. New Orleans Pride 2013? Well, here is your chance to celebrate our community and become a part of the festivities. The Mr. and Miss New Orleans Pride Pageant is happening on Saturday, April 20 at the Allways Lounge. Those who enter will be judged in the categories of presentation, talent, on-stage Q and A, and formal wear. As the winner, in addition to representing New Orleans Pride, you also get $200 in cash, a crown and other prizes. The first alternate receives $75 in cash. There is an application fee for entering the pageant. Tickets to the event are $5. Seating is limited so buy your tickets early. The Allways Lounge & Theatre is located at 2240 St. Claude Avenue, but you enter on Marigny Street. For tickets or more information, go to www.prideneworleans.org.
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under the gaydar ...from 13 A Good Pair Is Hard To Find Not if you are the reigning Miss Louisiana Leatherette who will be hosting a lovely soiree entitled “Taste A Good Pair.” The Countess C. Alice is presenting this haughty wine and cheese pairing on Saturday, April 20 from 7 – 10pm at 604 Julia Street. Savor the flavor of great wines partnered nicely with exotic cheeses as you mingle with Lords of Leather and other royalty. All the proceeds for this fundraising event will benefit Forum For Equality which is working very hard to make gay marriage a reality in all of the United States. You can actually make it a Forum weekend, do this reception and then the Prop 8 play the following evening. Tickets are $10. For more information, call 504.701.0631.
Travel Highlight For all you leather enthusiasts, CLAW 12 is coming up April 25-28 in Cleveland, Ohio. Enjoy two hotels full of leather men, with the host hotel being the Hilton Garden Inn. There are all kinds of happenings at this year’s event such as Recon warehouse parties, skills and education seminars, fetish themed parties and a cigar tent. The CLAW Corporation is a certified 501(c)(3) non-profit dedicated to fundraising, education, volunteerism and all other charitable needs of the adult leather community. Their mission is based on the principle that people into leather are normal, happy and healthy, and they teach each other the truth of that principle. This is their large annual convention (the Cleveland Leather Annual Weekend) and they also have several smaller CLAW Nation events around the country throughout the year. Last year, CLAW 11 raised $55,000 for their charities and this year promises to be bigger and better. Packages are still available, for more information go to www.clawinfo.org.
A Night of Elegance Prepare yourself for a “Night of Elegance” as the Krewe of LIPS (Living In Progress) presents its annual Spring Ball. This year it will be held on Saturday, April 27 at the Crystal Palace in New Orleans East. It is refreshing to go to a Spring Formal. But even though this is not a Mardi Gras Ball, they do elect a king and queen. The dress is strictly formal, tuxedos and long gowns. Doors open at 7:30pm and the tableau begins at 8:30pm. The Crystal Palace is located at 10200 Chef Menteur Highway. For more information or tickets, call 504.615.9571.
Re-Design With Satyricon May 22 The Mystic Krewe of Satyricon is proud to present the opening performance of ReDesigning Women on May 22 at Mid-City Theatres. A fabulous cast of New Orleans brightest stars will play the roles of the lovely Atlanta ladies of Designing Women as they repurpose three of the show’s most popular episodes. Varla Jean Merman, Sadie Shepard, Ricky Graham and Jack Long will be portraying everyone’s favorite Southern Belles - Julia, Charlene, Mary Jo and Suzanne. There will only be 100 tickets sold to this special performance so get your tickets now. Doors open at 7pm with the
show at 8pm. Tickets are $30. The Mid-City Theatre is located at 3540 Toulouse Street. For tickets and more information, call 504.252.5476.
Michalopoulas Jazz Fest Receptions Set Famous local artist James Michalopoulas is having his annual Jazz Fest Artist Receptions on Saturday, April 27 and Saturday, May 4 from 6 – 9pm. The receptions are a great opportunity to mix and mingle with art-loving locals and visitors alike. Michalopoulas has designed several of the posters for Jazz Fest including this year’s one with Aaron Neville. Michalopoulas Gallery is located at 617 Bienville Street in the French Quarter. For more information, call 504.558.0505 or go to www.michalopoulos.com.
Party Down Once again Easter weekend was a huge success and all the parties surrounding it were phenomenal. The two week period encompassing Easter was a flurry of activities. On Monday, Beaux, Barrett, Laura and I attended Gambit’s Big Easy Theatre Award Ceremony in the Theatre at Harrah’s. I am on the nominating committee for the awards and look forward to this event every year. Picture the New Orleans version of the Tony Awards except with lots of cocktails. I always love rubbing elbows with the acting community since they tend to be very vivacious and flamboyant. After the ceremony, we went to the after party at Masquerade where we got to congratulate all this year’s winners. On Thursday, I tried a new restaurant recently opened in the Quarter; Bayou Burger is the newest gourmet burger place located on Bourbon Street. The atmosphere is loud and touristy but the burgers were great. I had the Turducken Burger and my friend had the Peanut Butter Burger with bacon. It is truly a shame that things this good can be so bad for you. But it was worth every artery clogging moment. Friday was the start of the Easter weekend and I started in style by hosting Bunnies in the Big Easy, which is the final fundraiser for the Gay Easter Parade. This year the event was held at Bourbon Vieux located on Bourbon Street. It was an incredible evening of festive holiday fun as we danced, drank and partied on one of the largest balconies on the strip. Bourbon Vieux kindly donated the food, space and wine for the event so I would like to thank them so much. Glazer’s provided the vodka and Miller supplied the beer. I appreciate all these sponsors for helping make the event a huge success bringing in $5,155. Barbara Ella and Opal Masters shined as they greeted the guests at the door with an array for hunky Bunny Boys supplied this year by Michael Elias of Corner Pocket fame. The food was top notch and entertaining the crowd that night was current Easter Grand Marshal Starr Daniels and past royalty Opal Masters, Lisa Beaumann and Elizabeth Bouvier. The DJ kept folks on the dance floor also. If you did not have a chance to join us this year, make sure you put it on your calendar for next. Afterwards I hopped around bouncing to the Corner Pocket, Oz’s White Party, the Pub and ending at JohnPaul’s for the drag show. On Saturday, the 11th Annual Marigny Bunny Hop kicked off at Kajun’s Pub stopping at several different locations on this
one-of-a-kind bar crawl. There was a bonnet judging contest in several different categories at each stop which included Cutter’s, Mimi’s JohnPaul’s, The Phoenix, Café Nero, Big Daddy’s, and ending at the Friendly Bar. This year was special because I was honored to be awarded the Meyer-Routh-Murrell Spirit Award. It is remarkable how much this event has grown in the past decade. What started out as a little stroll on a Saturday afternoon before Easter has now turned into this large happening that had almost 100 people in attendance this year. Easter Sunday was the big day and we yet again dodged a bullet weather wise. The skies held off until after the parade. The day began with my annual Easter Brunch at Casa Leggio for friends and family. We had lots to eat to lay the foundation of a day of merriment and heavy drinking. I even had my own Bunny Boy Jake act as bartender at both my house and on my carriage. There is nothing better than having your own bartender on your carriage. I had quite the crowd in my humble abode before the group went to the parade site for the pre-party at Michael’s On The Park. The ride was incredible and the crowds were out in full force. There were so many people cheering us on, it seems the Gay Easter Parade has quite a following to rival Ms. Owen’s one earlier in the day. After the parade, we celebrated at the 700 Club before I had to lay it down. Even Peter Cottontail needs to rest sometimes. The next week was not as restful as I hoped, on Monday I went to a party at the Hotel Storyville on Esplanade Avenue. This unique bed and breakfast has a very Caribbean theme in all of their rooms. But it was their spacious back courtyard area that they were showing off. This lush tropical oasis is a perfect setting for an outdoor party venue complete with bonds, abundant foliage and bar area. It is worth checking out if you are looking for an offbeat place to have your next function. On Tuesday, the Hotel Mazarin showed off its property and their new renovations to the courtyard to the hospitality industry. This has got to be one of the most elegant places to hold an early evening reception. The food and atmosphere was splendid as guests mingled and got to see their new venue space La Louisiane. The hotel is located strategically in the Quarter on Bienville Street. And with Patrick’s Bar Vin inside it is the ideal getaway for locals who want to spend a night or weekend in the Quarter. On Thursday, my friends and I went to the Mad Men premier party at the Hotel Monteleone. It was a very glamorous evening with little nibbles and cocktails from the era. People were decked out in vintage attire and I was lucky enough to be named Mad Man of the Year with my Mad Woman of the Year Margarita Bergen. The Yat Pack was the entertainment as people danced and enjoyed a fancy night on the town Mad Men style. My weekend started Friday with the Petronius Patron Party that was held at their new den on Frenchman Street. It is a renovated old church that has lots of appeal making it a great venue space for those who want to take a walk on the wild side. The krewe pulled out all the stops to show guests a good time in their den which has so many possibilities. I see many theatrical productions at the space in the future. Congratulations to the krewe on the new
den, and I am happy to be one of their patrons. On Saturday we all got gay at the Armeinius’ “Glitter and Be Gay” extravaganza at a new gallery space on Royal Street. There were flowing libations, a great silent auction, an abundant buffet and of course flamboyant queens. No one glitters quite like the gays do and this is one of my favorite parties the krewe hosts. I even got some good deals in the auction. Finally on Sunday, the Mystic Krewe of Satyricon held their rush party at Michael’s On The Park. It was an intimate crowd but we had a cheery time eating crawfish and enjoying the beautiful weather. So that ends my last two weeks. I am looking forward to all the outdoor festivals occurring. See you out on the streets.
Tony’s Tidbits of Gay Wisdom It is festival time in New Orleans and things are always crazy this time of the year. I have heard many locals say they have never been to Jazz Fest or another certain festival because it is too crowded, too hot, too many long lines, or whatever the reason may be. Yes all those things may be true, but that should never dampen your interest in going to anything. I go to Jazz Fest every year during some of their record number attendance days and have had a blast. You just need to know a few pointers that will make you festival going experience more pleasant. First and foremost, buy your tickets in advance which save you from waiting in one less line. Also do your research. Check out who is playing as well as familiarize yourself with the map of the area. You will not seem so lost and organizations like French Quarter Fest and Jazz Fest will have the food booths, stages and even the artists showing their wares listed on the map. Bring a great backpack that will carry all your stuff such as sun screen, water, small battery operated fans, sunglasses, vodka (I mean water) etc. And ladies, it is a good idea to pack some toilet paper. Those port o potties can get nasty and never rely on the supplies to always be there. I know you love them, but you should never wear sandals at crowded concerts for numerous reasons. The first and obvious one is getting your foot stomped on accidentally. The second is tripping, if someone steps on the back of your flip flop down you go, and they may even break, so then you are shoeless. Trust me that is never a good look for anyone. Bring earplugs, you never know where you will be standing and you should be comfortable and not leave with hearing damage. If crowds are not your thing, then go to the stages that do not have as many people but still have some of the best musicians in the city. Or keep to the outer fringes of the bigger stages. Do not miss out on the other things at these festivals. Jazz Festival has some incredible art for sale in several areas like the front and by Congo Square. Also definitely eat, our local restaurants are doing what they do best feeding the hungry masses, so enjoy all the crawfish bread you can stomach. Last but not least, keep a positive attitude. Let go of impatience and you will enjoy yourself a lot more. Relax, stay cool and hydrated, enjoy the music and have a great time.
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by Paul Melancon, Jack Saucier, Arthur Severio, John Zeringue
14th Gay Easter Parade led by Easter Grand Marshals XIV Tommy Elias & Starr Daniels raises $23,662.06 for Food For Friends ~ New Orleans Photos
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Photos by Paul Melancon, Jack Saucier, Arthur Severio, John Zeringue
14th Gay Easter Parade Rolls through the French Quarter Easter Sunday, March 31, 2013 ~ New Orleans
reVIEW...books, movies, cds by Blanche Email: ambushreview@aol.com Photo by Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
Olympus Has Fallen I’m a big fan of Chelsea Handler and her show Chelsea Lately on the E Channel. A few weeks ago she had Gerard Butler as a guest and then Aaron Eckhart a few nights later...both promoting Olympus Has Fallen...both very handsome actors. I decided to check it out when I read that Angela Bassett and Morgan Freeman were also in the film...both are very fine actors. I’m not a big fan of action/adventure films but I really enjoyed Olympus Has Fallen. Mike Banning (Gerard Butler) is head of President Benjamin Asher’s (Aaron Eckhart) Secret Service detail. President Asher, the First Lady (Ashley Judd), and their son Conner (Finley Jacobson) are at Camp David. It’s Christmas and they are headed back into DC for a big party. It’s snowing heavily, ice on the roads and a deer runs out in front of the motorcade on a bridge. There is a big wreck, Mike saves the President but the First Lady is trapped in the car when it tips off the bridge. Although the President doesn’t blame Mike for the death of the First Lady, Banning is transferred to Treasury, so he is not a daily reminder of the accident. Eighteen months later, the South Korean Prime Minister, Lee Tae-Woo, comes to the White House for a visit along with his private security detail and his entourage. The White House comes under air assault and the President and his advisors are rushed to the bunker under the White House. Breaking protocol, the President brings the South Korean delegation with him. The air assault turns into a ground and air assault and the South Korean Prime Minister’s staff, now in the bunker, turn out to be part of the terrorist plot. The attack is masterminded by Kang Yeonsak (Rick Yune), a former North Korean terrorist disguised as a South Korean ministerial aide, who is now in the bunker. His motivation seems to be a desire for reunification of Korea. He demands the withdrawal of US troops from the DMZ, the withdrawal of the 7th fleet and the codes to Cerberus...codes that control the US nuclear weapons system. Three codes are required with three different people having a code...President Asher, Secretary of Defense Ruth McMillan (Melissa Leo) and Admiral Nathan Hoenig (James Ingersoll), Chairman of the Joints Chief of Staff. The terrorist have taken over the White House, security has been wiped out...it is up to Mike Banning to rescue Conner, the President’s son, save the President and the country...Kang wants to detonate all of America’s nuclear weapons in their silo’s and destroy the country. This is where the action/adventure kicks in and the suspense begins. Mike Banning is super-human, he endures everything that is thrown at him and still walks out of the White House with the President. I understand no spoiler alert is needed here...the action hero always wins; it’s how he wins that counts. I wouldn’t like a steady diet of action movies, but Olympus Has Fallen was suspenseful, exciting to watch and fun.
Morgan Freeman was great as Allan Trumbell, Speaker of the House, and acting President during the crisis. Likewise Angela Bassett is excellent as Lynn Jacobs, head of the Secret Service. Dylan McDermott as Dave Forbes is great in a villain role...ex-Secret Service agent, working for the South Korean Prime Minister’s private security detail but actually working for Kang. Ashley Judd as First Lady Margaret Asher has the sweetest role in the movie...she’s dead in the first five minutes. Olympus Has Fallen was written by Creighton Rothenberger and Katrin Benedikt, directed by Antoine Fuqua. It’s from Millennium Films, produced by Gerard Butler, Alan Seigel and Mark Gill. It was released March 22, 2013 and distributed by Film District. According to Box Office Mojo it had a $70 million budget and as of April 4th had grossed over $79 million. It was filmed in Shreveport, Louisiana beginning in mid-July 2012. A 1st floor facade and entrance to the White House were built. The opening sequence where the 1st Lady is killed, the 2nd floor and the roof of the White House and the downtown DC landscape were computer generated. Behind California and New York, Louisiana is 3rd in the country in film production. In some circles it is known as “Hollywood South” thanks to the Louisiana Motion Picture Tax Incentive Act of 2002. I read somewhere that the Governor is looking to make some changes to that law, I hope not. In a state that depends on tourism, being in the movies is free advertising. Olympus Has Fallen was a fun “escape” movie. It is the first of two movies this year about a take over of the White House. White House Down with Channing Tatum, Jamie Foxx and Maggie Gyllenhaal will be out June 28, 2013.
Roger Ebert 1942-2013 Roger Ebert, film critic for the Chicago SunTimes since 1967 passed April 4, 2013. He was syndicated in more than 200 newspapers worldwide. Along with Gene Siskel of the Chicago Tribune he hosted Sneak Previews on PBS until Siskel’s death. In 1975 he was the first film critic to win the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. In 2005 he was the first film critic to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. I have always enjoyed other people’s opinions. Ebert kept it simple, unlike some critics. I hate having to get a dictionary out to read a review. Ebert’s funeral was April 8 in Chicago. Members of the Westboro Baptist Church had threatened to picket. They were a no show and for that I say, “Two Thumbs Up.”
Roger Ebert’s 10 Greatest Films of All Time Aguirre, Wrath of God - 1972 - Werner Herzog Apocalypse Now - 1979 - Francis Ford Coppola Citizen Kane - 1941 - Orson Welles LA Dolce Vita - 1969 - Federico Fellini The General - 1920 - Buster Keaton Raging Bull - 1980 - Martin Scorsese
2001 : A Space Odyssey - 1968 Stanley Kubrick Tokyo Story -1953 - Jasujiro Ozu Vertigo - 1958 - Alfred Hitchcock The True Life - 2011 - Terrence Malick
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20 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Facebook.COM/ AmbushMag • April 16-29, 2013 • Of fic ial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.ORG
11th Marigny Bunny Hop led by Bunny Marshal XI Princesse Stephaney ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Tony Leggio, Darwin Reed
GEPs 4th Bunnies In The Big Easy raises $5,155 for Food For Friends @ The Bourbon Vieux ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Darwin Reed
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baton rouge, the capital city Avita Drugs Pharmacy Sponsors Baton Rouge's 1st Dining Out For Life® April 25 HAART is proud to present Baton Rouge’s first annual Dining Out For Life®. On Thursday, April 25 five restaurants in the Capital City will join in this one-day celebration of food, friendship and fundraising! Five local restaurants are generously donating 25% of their lunch or dinner sales to HIV/AIDS Alliance for Region Two (HAART). All you have to do is gather your friends, family and co-workers and head over to Bistro Byronz, California Pizza Kitchen, Mestizos, Monjunis, or Stroube’s and dine out! For restaurant information, please go to www.diningoutforlife.com/batonrouge. Baton Rouge is now #1 for AIDS cases and #2 for HIV cases in the U.S. HAART, a Baton Rouge non-profit organization, provides health insurance assistance, housing, case management, and prevention and outreach services to individuals and families living with or are at risk for HIV/AIDS. Dining Out For Life® is a great way to help in the fight for HIV/AIDS and to assist in helping families impacted by this disease. In 1991, Dining Out For Life® was created by an ActionAIDS volunteer in Philadelphia. Dining Out® is now produced in 60 cities throughout the United States and Canada. More than 3,000 restaurants donate a portion of their proceeds from this one special day of dining to the licensed AIDS service agency in their city. More than $3 million dollars a
a community within communities
by The Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal Church Email: fr.bill@stannanola.org
The Dodwell House Extravaganza This is the story about a man who over the years has known greatness and brokenness; healing and revealing his passions. Some of you may have seen him around our community some maybe not. After hurricane Katrina this man came to rebuild the City with ACORN. Over time he moved into the Lower 9th Ward and started a children’s program in an abandoned Walgreen’s store. It would later become known as All Souls Church. Like some things do in this life his work was incomplete there and personalities being what they are he found himself worshipping at St. Anna’s looking for healing and direction. As a priest I can only say it was the Holy Spirit that brought him to St. Anna’s at a perfect time and place to begin his life anew. Like Easter it was and continues to be about restoration and new beginnings. On the edge of homelessness this man undertook a vision for a program that would take our most lost children; our most forgotten children; our most at-risk children and take them off the streets and bring care and
attention to them. In 2012, after working with these children for two years, he began to get some of the recognition that he deserved; he won the Angel of the Year Award. Mr. Darryl Durham is the epitome of all that we preach in these articles. Darryl is a wounded healer; he is a man on a journey whose horizons expand as the Gospel finds root in his heart. On Easter Sunday you would have found him, after church, at the Golden Lantern who so wonderfully sponsored a fund raiser for Anna’s Arts for Kids, Darryl’s dream. He found himself dancing with old crones, young lipstick visitors, and cheering on the grand Gay Easter Parade. Oh that parade, it was with such joy that we watched the “St. Anna’s Dodwell House” carriage roll by, sponsored by Rip and Marsha. What a grand day and Darryl’s dream grows. Perhaps a month or so ago you saw him at the Phoenix or perhaps The Friendly Bar or any number of other partnership locations that support Darryl’s dream. Darryl, a straight man from the Deep South with deep roots in his very traditional family, is walking a road that epitomizes a Community within Communities. Why, because he has a dream. His dream is that children who will be lost are found. His dream is that all people LGBT, Straight, Black, White, Brown, Asian, all manner of people will galvanize themselves against injustices served out upon the children. Darryl will meet you where you are without judgment or bias. As he has walked down this road he increasingly is intolerant of injustice and hatred and fears that play out as homophobia, racism, sexism, and rancorous neglect of the poor. It is unlikely that you will find him at a rally though. More likely you will find him walking children home through clusters of drug dealers; picking them up to go to Anna’s Arts for Kids; meeting and greeting people who might support the dream of a better life. In short you will find Darryl in the trenches, on the streets, and at work for our Community
year is raised to support the missions of these organizations. With the exception of the annual licensing fee of $1,150, all money raised in these cities stays locally. With the help of our sponsor Avita Drugs Pharmacy, the participating restaurants and diners like you, Baton Rouge can “Dine Out and Save Lives”. More information about HAART can be found at www.haartinc.org. Don’t forget to “Like” us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/haartbr.
Plans are in place for a great celebration when the seventh annual Baton Rouge Pride Fest takes place Saturday, June 15. The 2013 Baton Rouge Pride Fest is set for noon until 6pm inside the Belle of Baton Rouge Atrium in downtown Baton Rouge, and there’s a great lineup for the community resource fair and an entire afternoon of entertainment. “This event truly has grown bigger and better every year, and the 2013 Baton Rouge Pride Fest won’t disappoint anyone,” says Tom Merrill, chair of the Pride Fest team. “We’re expanding to have even more space than ever before, and we’re planning for even more people in attendance. “It promises to be a wonderful celebration – with a fantastic lineup of entertainment and special guests, as well as the community resource fair that serves as our
centerpiece each year.” Organizers have invited back all 50plus nonprofit organizations, groups and businesses that participated in last year’s community resource fair, and they’re seeking any others interested in participating. Entertainment for the event includes Baton Rouge’s own legendary diva Daphne MuShatt, as well as local favorite Michigan Avenue. In addition, the Austin Babtist Women will be special guest entertainers along with performances by the Krewe of Divas, Pocket Aces Brass Band and the New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus. “If you were there last year, you know you’re going to enjoy a special performance by Daphne MuShatt and listening to Michigan Avenue and Pocket Aces, and, of course, our friends from the Divas and the Chorus are always a treat,” Merrill says. “But you’re really going to want to see the Austin Babtist Women. They’re definitely going to make you laugh!” The events also will include the traditional blessing of relationships conducted by Metropolitan Community Church of Baton Rouge pastor, Rev. Keith Mozingo, and other supportive clergy members, as well as the recognition of a long-serving community leader as this year’s grand marshal of pride. For more details on the event, visit www.BRPrideFest.com. To volunteer to help with planning or to find out ways your group or organization can become involved, visit that site or phone 225.907.5251 or email BRPride@bellsouth.net.
within Communities. Alongside of Darryl stand two other dream bearers each unique each showing the face of a community within communities. Diana Meyers lost her job, had her home flooded, and her parents home wiped out during Katrina. Her family is as traditional as a New Orleans family can be. Her faith and her dream of health giving and healing have taken root. Yes, you have seen her, or maybe not, at The Friendly Bar, JohnPaul’s, Cutter's perhaps doling out free flu shots to the LGBT community and on the next day perhaps you saw the big blue Medical Unit parked at N. Claiborne and Esplanade doing the same for the Treme residents. Like Darryl her road has been long and winding and filled with curve balls. Family members have “come out” and in a traditional New Orleans family that can be either elevating and enriching or destructive. Being the glue that holds St. Anna’s Church together and her family it was enriching and heartening. Diana brings health to all of our communities. We often call her Lady Di and she knows how to honor and truly show her love like Darryl, in the trenches, on the streets, in the bars and by-ways where ever compassion and health and justice meet. Christina took an existing vision and cast a new and grander vision. Christian joined our Community within Communities about two years ago. Her vision is to equip under-educated people with language and technical skills to enable them to succeed either in the work place or in school as adults. Her focus is on immigrants for now but her vision is bigger than that. For these immigrants she enriches their intellect and gives them the educational stamina to seek citizenship and the tools to do so; to seek higher education and the tools to do so. She is a dynamic Cajun well educated and ready to teach and to improve the lives of the forgotten and often invisible people: the
gardeners, hotel staff, race track workers, and simply people seeking a better life away from poverty, corruption, and bias. She too shares the dream of a community within communities. These three people are the faces of Dodwell House. None make much; in fact, they too live just above the poverty level. Yes, a Master in Music, a Registered Nurse, and a Doctor of Languages live just above the poverty level. Why? Because they have a dream and are driven to see that dream change our larger community by working within specific communities living out the true social Gospel of our faith. There will be a home for these people and their programs. There will be a beacon of hope that knows no boundaries or exclusions. It is called the Marsaudet-Dodwell House located at 1519 Esplanade. It will be the future home that becomes a sort of spiritual and practical center for peace, justice, healing, restoration, and resurrection. THE ANNUAL DODWELL HOUSE EXTRAVAGANZA helps bring us all together to raise monies to be the dream bearers alongside of Darryl, Diana, and Christina. This year the event will feature the Treme Community Choir, The Children of Treme in second line fashion. This year we have collaborated with the wonderful Christ Church Cathedral located at 2519 St. Charles Ave. who will host the event. THE DATE: Saturday, April 20th the time 6:30pm. The cost: $50.00/person; the benefits … priceless. Tickets may be purchased on line at www.dodwellhouse.org. or at the door. As the great hymn says, “Taste and see, taste and see the goodness of the Lord.” JOIN US and if you can’t make it...support us by making a donation. Help us to be that light shining in the darkness that says, “There is hope – we have a vision – we are all a community of vision bearers.”
2013 Baton Rouge Pride Fest set for June 15
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Spotlight Shots @ Emerald City ~ Pensacola, Florida ~ Photos by Lauren Mitchell 24 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Facebook.COM/ AmbushMag • April 16-29, 2013 • Of fic ial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.ORG
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26 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Facebook.COM/ AmbushMag • April 16-29, 2013 • Of fic ial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.ORG
Venus Shante Daviss & Loretta Wynette
Hot Dancers, Entertainment ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Leon Weekley
Hot boys dancing on the bar @ B-Bob’s
mobile
paparazzi
Hot boy Aljendro dancing @ B-Bob’s
Miss Loretta celebrates her 17th Anniversary Show @ B-Bob’s
mobile Mobile Alabama Pride Sets Events, Fest Renita & Jack @ B-Bob’s
B-Bob’s staff Wendy & Brenda with Detox Icunt from this season of RuPaul’s Drag Race
The Miss Mobile Pride pageant is set for Sunday, April 28 at B-Bob's, 213 Conti Street in downtown Mobile. Honoring Malaysia K. Black, the theme is Egyptian Escapades. The winner will receive $400 and 1st runner-up $125. Entry fee is $125 with contestant registration at 7pm, and pageant at 9:30pm. Contact Jawakatema Davenport at 251.391.9874 for additional information. The Mobile Alabama Pride Festival celebrates Pride 365 Every Day, All Day on Saturday, May 4 from 12noon - 5pm at Bienville Square in downtown Mobile. In addition to the Pride Parade, the festival will include vendors, kids area, and entertainment. (www.mobilealabamapride.com) In celebration of Pride weekend, BBob's brings RuPaul Season Drag Race Five's Alaska to the stage Saturday, May 4 with a 12midnight show.
Mobile Bleather Weekend July 26-28
Hot Boy Chance dancing on the bar @ B-Bob’s
Get ready for the annual Mobile Bleather Weekend set for Friday-Sunday, July 26-28, a weekend designed to bring together men along the Gulf Coast and beyond, who are interested in the Bear/ Levi/Leather community. As is there custom, there is no run fee. Simply show up and enjoy the parties, contest and food. Once again, B-Bob’s, Gabriel's Downtown and The Midtown Pub will be the bar sponsors. (http:// mobilebleatherweekend.sharepoint.com)
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CANAL STREET
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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 SPLASH, 2183 Highland Rd., 242.9491, SplashBR.COM Houma LA [985] THE DRAMA CLUB, 126 N. Hollywood, 580.2582 Lafayette, LA [337] BOLT NIGHTCLUB, 116 E. Vermillion, 524.1380 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 CAFÉ LAFITTE IN EXILE, 901 Bourbon Street 522.8397, Lafittes.COM CLUB TANGO, 1000 Bienville, 523.4111 CORNER POCKET, 940 St. Louis, 568.9829 COUNTRY CLUB, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 CUTTER'S, 706 Franklin, 948.4200 THE DOUBLE PLAY, 439 Dauphine, 523.4517 THE FRIENDLY BAR, 2301 Chartres, 943.8929 GOLDEN LANTERN, 1239 Royal, 529.2860 GOOD FRIENDS BAR, 740 Dauphine St, 566.7191, GoodFriendsBar.COM JOHNPAUL'S, 940 Elysian Fields Ave., 948.1888, JohnPaulsBar.COM KAJUN'S PUB, 2256 St. Claude Ave., 947.3735, KajunPub.COM LE ROUNDUP, 819 St. Louis, 561.8340 MICHAEL'S ON THE PARK, 834 N. Rampart St., 267.3615, MichaelsOnThePark.COM NAPOLEON'S ITCH, 734 Bourbon, 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 RAINBOW ROOM, 632 Bourbon St., enter thru Fishbowl, 994.1036 ROUX BAR, 3162 Dauphine St. on the patio @ Prime Grille, 301.1740 SOCIETY PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., 299.0156. VOODOO BAR, 718 N. Rampart, 265.0953 Slidell, LA [985] BILLY'S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, 847.1921 Biloxi, MS [228] CLUB VEAUX, 834 Howard Ave., 207.3271
book stores New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700
chiropractic Chalmette, LA [504] SIMPLY PRECISE CHIROPRACTIC, Dr. Domingo De Los Reyes D.C., 9135 West Judge Perez, Suite B, 504.302.1718, SimplyPreciseChiropractic.COM [is213] New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MICHAEL LECHLEITER, D.C., 1526 Magazine, 566.1833 [is213
circuit/events May 24-27, Memorial Day Weekend, Pensacola, FL, sponsored by Ambush, GayPensacola.COM Aug. 28-Sept. 2, 42nd Official Southern Decadence Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture, end of Summer Blowout including the Southern Decadence Parade & loads of activities, bringing over 125,000 revelers to New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush & SouthernDecadence.COM Oct. 24-27, Halloween 30: I3OO, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, HalloweenNewOrleans.COM Dec. 27, 2013-Jan. 1, 2014, Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.COM Feb. 28-Mar. 4, 2014, Official Gay Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush, GayMardiGras.COM Easter Sunday, April 20, 2014, 15th Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade.COM
costumes New Orleans, LA [504] QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633 SOUTHERN COSTUME COMPANY - 951 Lafayette St., 523.4333, SCCNOLA.COM
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
galleries New Orleans, LA [504] BLISS McCALL STUDIO, by appointment, 631 Elysian Fields Ave., 391.9131, BlissMcCall.COM
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] QUARTERMASTER DELI, THE NELLIE DELI, 1100 Bourbon, 529.1416
hair salons New Orleans, LA [504] BOBBY BLUE CONTEMPORARY BARBER & BEAUTY PARLOR, 906 Bourbon St., 527.5100 HEAD QUARTERS HAIR SALON, 900 Rue Dauphine, 522.2666 MICKEY NOLAN'S SALON, 815 Toulouse St., 587.7782
hardware New Orleans, LA [504] MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER HARDWARE, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465
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. [0713] 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, Email 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. [0813] THE FRENCH QUARTER GUEST HOUSES, 1005 St. Peter, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone: 877-681-5087 frenchquarterguesthouses.com. Email: info@stpeterhouse.com. Four meticulously restored boutique Inns located in the heart of the French Quarter’s most popular LGBT neighborhood. Each building’s individual character and charm provides an unforgettably authentic French Quarter experience! 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. Official Host Hotel of OZ New Orleans. A locally owned and operated French Quarter hotel that has been beautifully transformed into spacious multi-bedroom suites. Several historical townhouses are also available to accommodate larger groups of up to 26. Just 3 blocks from Bourbon St., free WiFi, swimming pool, and continental breakfast included. Off street parking is available. MAISON DE MACARTY BED & BREAKFAST, 3820 Burgundy St., New Orleans, LA 70117, PHONE: 504.267.1564, MaisonMacarty.COM, Email us at kurt@maisonmacarty.com. Luxury gay owned and operated bed and breakfast. 8 bedrooms with ensuite baths, pool, sun deck and beautiful courtyard. Sleep, eat and play at Maison de Macarty. Book it now! 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. [0114]
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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, Official Host Hotel of OZ New Orleans. A 19th century home that has been historically restored and transformed into a locally owned and operated hotel. Experience the rich history and hospitality of New Orleans at an affordable price. Just 3 blocks from Bourbon St, free Wi-Fi, swimming pool, and continental breakfast included. Off street parking is 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 (Swedish/Deep Tissue); heated table; private studio; tropical garden; Faubourg Marigny Area, French Quarter. Upgrade (Salt Scrubs Bodywork & Thai/Sport Stretching massage). Call/text 504.458.5996 / website righttouchnola.com for pictures, location & special. License #LA4553 [is2613]
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 10am5pm 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 10am-4:45pm LONGUE VUE HOUSE AND GARDENS, 7 Bamboo Rd, Metairie, 488.5488, Mon-Sat 10am4:30pm, 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, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART, 925 Camp St., 539.9600 OLD U.S. MINT, 400 Esplanade, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm PRESBYTERE, 751 Chartres, Jackson Square, Tues-Sun 10am-5pm ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL, Jackson Square, Mon-Sat 9am-5pm, Sun 1:30-5pm
music New Orleans [504] SKULLY'Z RECORDZ, 907 Bourbon St., 592.4666
organizations Mobile, AL ALABAMA PRIDE FEST, MobileAlabamaPride.COM 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 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, www.bigeasymcc.com, pastor@bigeasymcc.com BIG EASY STOMPERS, 1317 Pasadena Ave., Metairie, LA 70001 www.NewOrleansHoedown.com BROTHERHOOD, INC., To decrease the spread of AIDS and HIV among African Americans, 1661 Canal St., Suite 3230, 70112; 566.7955 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 GAY EASTER PARADE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, info@gayeasterparade.com, GayEasterParade.COM GAY MARDI GRAS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM GAY NEW ORLEANS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, GayNewOrleans.COM GLSEN [Gay Lesbian & Straight Education Network], 482.4081, Fax 595.8587, E-mail: glsenno@hotmail.com, glsenno.org GULF GENDER ALLIANCE [GGA], NonProfit Support Group for Transgender persons. Monthly meetings, socials and political activism. Privacy respected and expected. Interview required. Nondiscriminatory. Call 504. 324.4035 or write PO Box 56836, New Orleans, LA 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. KREWE OF AMON-RA, PO Box 7033, Metairie, LA 70010, KreweOfAmonRa.COM KREWE OF ARMEINIUS, PO Box 56638, New Orleans, LA 70156-6638, kreweofarmeinius.org KREWE OF MWINDO, PO Box 51031, 70156; 913.5791, KreweOfMwindo.ORG, krewe@kreweofmwindo.org KREWE OF PETRONIUS, 1001 South Broad St., Suite 115, New Orleans, LA 70125, KreweOfPetronius.ORG KREWE OF QUEENATEENAS / KING
CAKE QUEEN ROYALTY CLUB, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 522.8049, GayMardiGras.COM/KCQ KREWE OF URSUS, kreweofursus@aol.com LaCARP [Louisiana Community AIDS Research Program], 584.1971 LA-LIFT, Social Club for Lesbians, age 50+, who have fun together on weekends. E-mail: armyvet20@webtv.net LAMBDA CENTER, 831 Elysian Fields Ave., 70117 LEAGUE OF WOMEN VOTERS OF NEW ORLEANS, 234 Loyola, Suite 421, 70112; 581.9106 LORDS OF LEATHER, P.O. Box 770435, New Orleans, LA 70117-4035, LordsOfLeather.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, 2443 Halsey Ave., New Orleans, LA 70114, 504.906.7990 Todd J. Blauvelt / Secretary, krewe.of.satyricon@gmail.com, MysticKreweOfSatyricon.COM NEW ORLEANS BEAR AND BEAR TRAPPER SOCIAL CLUB, P.O. Box 57756, New Orleans, LA 70157-7756, 504.452.3564, theneworleansbears.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 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 NOLAPride.ORG PROJECT LAZARUS, A Residence for PWAs, PO Box 3906, 70177-3906; 949.3609 REGIONALAIDS INTERFAITH NETWORK [RAIN], 523.3755 SOFTBALL LEAGUE – Great fun for all skill levels, beginner to advanced. Visit nolasoftball.com for full details and find us on Facebook. SOUTHERN DECADENCE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137, 504.522.8049, SouthernDecadence.COM ST. ANNA'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH, 1313 Esplanade Avenue New Orleans, LA 70116 947.2121, stannanola.org 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] PHILADELPHIA CENTER, PO Box 44454, 71134-4454; 222.6633 YWCAAIDS MINORITY COMMUNITY OUTREACH, 700 Pierre Ave., 71103; 226.8717
pets New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MIKE'S ANIMAL HOUSE, 1120 N. Rampart, 523.4455 LAKEVIEW VETERINARY HOSPITAL, 482.2173, LakeviewVet.COM
pharmacy Baton Rouge, LA [225] AVITA DRUGS SPECIALIZED PHARMACY, free discrete delivery serving Louisiana, Mississippi & Texas. Certified pharmacists caring for HIV/AIDS, new-to-market & hard-to-find medications including Serostim. Local pharmacy that supports the LGBT community. www.AvitaPharmacy.COM.
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trodding the boards by Brian Sands
Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com
My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra at the WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen thru May 12 The World War II Museum’s Stage Door Canteen has another hit on its hands with My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra. Though I have nothing against Ol’ Blue Eyes, I never considered myself a huge fan of his. My Way just might make me change my mind. More purely musical and less biographical than previous Canteen shows about Glenn Miller and Louis Prima, My Way is grouped into seven sections of 5-6 songs, each having a general theme—Cities (I Love Paris, My Kind of Town (Chicago Is), and, of course, New York, New York), Moons (Moonlight Serenade, Fly Me to the Moon), Survivor Songs (The Best is Yet To Come, That’s Life), etc. Co-creators David Grapes II and Todd Olson have sprinkled in just enough factoids (Frank recorded over 1,300 songs), background tidbits, and memorable quotes to give the show a varied feel and a broader dimension to Sinatra’s personality. The Chairman of the Board summed up the secret to being a success in three words: “Sing good songs.” And that he did. Somehow, forty songs are stuffed into 65 minutes yet while Director Victoria Reed has paced the show with nimble speed, each song is given its due; the result is that there’s a pleasing fullness to My Way even though it seems to fly by. Grapes & Olson give us a wide range of numbers—not just the usual suspects— and all are phenomenally arranged. And a
trio led by Musical Director Tom Hook played them flawlessly with a swinging panache. Reed makes the most of the Canteen’s stage and audience area, and varies the “stand at the mic and sing” approach with nice touches like tap-dancing hands and other comic bits. Meliah Henry’s periodappropriate choreography is classy and stylish. The cast harmonizes beautifully together. Clint Johnson, a performer I’ve admired in the too few shows I’ve seen him in, has an outstanding voice with a sprightly ping to it and is a lightsome dancer as well; I look forward to his performance in Southern Rep’s Next to Normal. Courtney Boe, another gifted dancer, emanates a homespun warmth but can be sultry too, as in You
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New Orleans, LA [504] Borracho @ Kajun's Pub, 2256 St. Claude, 267.6108. Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, CloverGrill.COM Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 Deanie's Seafood, French Quarter: 841 Iberville, 581.4141; Bucktown: 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie, 831.1316; Deanies.COM Fatoush Mediterranean Grill, Coffee House & Juice Bar, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #130, FatoushRestaurantNOLA.COM, 504.371.5074 Krystal, 116 Bourbon at Canal, 523.4030 Lil Vic's Rosticceria, 719 Toulouse, 304.1238 Louisiana Pizza Kitchen, 95 French Market Pl., 522.9500 Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 MUNCH @ 700 Club, 700 Burgundy, 561.1095, 561.1098, 700NOLA.COM Organic Banana, 1100 N. Peters, Bay 27, 587.7903 Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro, 720 Orleans Prime Grille, 3162 Dauphine, 301.1740 Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416, QuartermasterDeli.NET
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
real estate New Orleans, LA [504] Gay-Owned Agency — New Orleans Relocation LLC, Mark Boline, Realtor/Broker, mark@nolarelo.com, 504.273.0088, 1027 Touro Street, New Orleans, LA 70116. Visit NOLArelo.com to search all NOLA properties for sale. Latter & Blum INC/French Quarter, Steve Richards, LGBT Realtor, 712 Orleans @ Royal, Cell: 504.258.1800, Office: 504.529.8140, Website: www.SteveRichardsProperties.com, Email: SRichards@LatterBlum.com LATTER & BLUM, Agent Brian M. Pawlowski, brianrealtor@aol.com, Agent Stace McDonald, stacerealtor@aol.com, 840 Elysian Fields, 451.2495
restaurants
retail/shopping New Orleans, LA [504] BOURBON PRIDE, 909 Bourbon, 566.1570 BUNGALOWS, 719 Royal St., 522.9222 LA MINA STERLING, 840 Royal St., 324.3423 MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER KITCHEN & BATH, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465 PANDA BEAR, 415 Bourbon St., 529.8064 QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633 RAB DAB CLOTHING AND GIFTS, 918 Royal St., 525.6662 SECOND SKIN LEATHER, 521 St. Philip,
Go To My Head, but doesn’t seem to take herself too seriously. How refreshing. Her My Funny Valentine was a touching highlight. Cristina Perez handles the cooler, more torchy songs with flair; freed of the Keely Smith deadpan shtik that sometimes made her seem as though she was zoning out in Jump Jive and Wail! she reveals a more soulful personality here. Ryan Fischer holds his own, but simply doesn’t have the stylishness of his three co-stars. A former Tulane Business School matriculant, he’s more community theater star than true pro. Alex Quinby’s mood-enhancing lighting and Jordan Ross’ fantastic silver/platinum gowns add to My Way’s success. If you’re looking for sheer, wonderful entertainment, make sure to go All the Way to the Stage Door Canteen. And if you’re looking for some delectable food, don’t miss the pre-show meal from John Besh’s American Sector restaurant. For brunch, there are four different menus in rotation. The one I had started with House Smoked Salmon that was so good it hardly needed the accompanying shaved bagel chips. And Stone Cut Oatmeal with braised Gala apples & cane syrup made me think “Who knew oatmeal could be this scrumptious?” For the main course, McEwen Stone Ground Grits did not overwhelm a generous amount of white shrimp—excellent! Pain Perdu was very good but the ricotta it was stuffed with was almost overkill. I’d have to say the way to go, though, is with the white shrimp/blue crab omelet with spinach and Mornay sauce, an awesome (and filling) interplay of flavors and textures. A pudding-y chocolate tart with hazelnut cream was deliciousness personified. And the harpist who accompanied the brunch was a lovely touch.
Broadway@NOCCA through June 1 The Broadway@NOCCA series delivered another kicky evening with Megan Mullally, the two-time Emmy Award winner 561.8167
spas New Orleans, LA [504] CLUB NEW ORLEANS, 515 Toulouse, 581.2402, www.the-clubs.com PLANET BEACH, A Contempo Spa, 301 Burgundy St., 525.8266, PlanetBeach.COM
theatres New Orleans, LA [504] ALLWAYS LOUNGE & THEATRE, 2240 St Claude Ave., TheAllwaysLounge.NET CAFE ISTANBUL, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #140, 504.974.0786, CafeIstanbulNOLA.COM MAHALIA JACKSON THEATRE OF PERFORMING ARTS, 801 N. Rampart, Armstrong Park, mahaliajacksontheater.com, 525.1052 NEW ORLEANS FRINGE FESTIVAL, NOFringe.ORG Slidell, LA [985 CUTTING EDGE THEATER, 742 Robert Blvd., 649.3727, CuttingEdgeTheater,COM
tours New Orleans, LA [504] GAY NEW ORLEANS WALKING TOUR, Crescent City Tour Booking Agency, 638 St. Ann St. , 568.0717
of Will & Grace. With only three Broadway credits (Grease, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Young Frankenstein), hers was a more wide-ranging cabaret/interview with funnyman host Seth Rudetsky, going from how seeing an actor’s penis going in circles at a performance of Equus cracked her and her mother up to how she sold her shaved-off bush on eBay for $10 million. Well, maybe it wasn’t that wide-ranging. Still, in a sleek floor-length black dress and diamond earrings, Mullally displayed a sassy charm and actorly smarts. A ballet dancer for five years, the first Broadway show she saw was Chicago with Gwen Verdon & Chita Rivera. Razzle Dazzle is a favorite song of hers along with People and Don’t Rain on My Parade prompting her to observe “I’m such a gay man.” Mullally talked about her experiences with David Geffen (she was up for the lead in Risky Business but “he didn’t like me”), Elaine Stritch (“the be-all and end-all”), Mel Brooks (“so sweet”), and Debbie Reynolds who tried to sell jewelry to the Will & Grace audience and also flashed them her “crazy puss”. As for her fame-making show, Mullally had originally auditioned for Grace. When Seth asked if there was much improvisation, she replied “We didn’t have to because the scripts were so freaking good.” And she dished on Joan Collins’ agent whose request for more money for his client led to Leslie Jordan appearing as Beverley Leslie. Though best known for comedy she’s a exceptional singer with a wide range and an effervescent personality. She gave us a ballsy You Took Advantage of Me, a winning Look What Happened to Mabel (from the musical Mack & Mabel), an intense Losing My Mind (from Follies), and Long John Blues, a song she dubbed for Kristen Bell in 2010’s Burlesque, which revealed her to be a sexy, gutsy blues singer reminiscent of Ruth Brown. She ended with I Gotta Lot to Say a cute number from a projected show, Karen: The Musical. Let’s hope it makes it to Broadway some day and takes Megan back there with it! Next up at Broadway @ NOCCA on May 18 is five-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald making her New Orleans debut. Due to a scheduling conflict, Betty Buckley had to bow out of the series’ finale on June 1; instead Megan (Smash) Hilty will be coming to town. Here’s hoping that Buckley will be part of Broadway @ NOCCA’s 2014 line-up!
Battle of Angels at The AllWays Lounge and Theater The drinking starts early in Tennessee Williams’ Battle of Angels which was eventually transformed into Orpheus Descending and cinema’s The Fugitive Kind. But a case could be made for Williams’ first produced work itself, as one beautiful scene follows another and this old-fashioned play slowly builds to a conclusion that may be over-the-top by anyone else’s standards except Williams’. A tale about a drifter with a secret who comes to a small Mississippi town and unintentionally causes trouble, Angels deals with many of the themes that Williams would explore in future plays: small
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ception. As Val, who Marlon Brando played on screen, Eli Grove was rightly monochromatic but could’ve brought just a little more shading to this tortured soul. And I wished he had just a pinch more innate charisma to live up to the description of Val as “wild.” The rest of the cast were all fine, notably Rebecca Rae and Doug Mundy; Monica Mazzaro and Sara Young’s costumes well-defined each character; and Zalia Beville’s lighting aptly reflected the shifting emotions. As Angels’ three hours passed incredibly swiftly, I couldn’t help wishing that all shows in New Orleans matched this level of artistic achievement.
The Tennessee Williams Festival
trodding the boards ...from 30 mindedness vs. artistic types, the power of the mighty over the weak, and the constant search for love. On Adam Tourek’s imaginative set, which realigned the dimensions of the AllWays, Glenn Meche’s direction was finely attuned to Williams’ rhythms and brought out the script’s natural comedy without overdoing it. A consummate “actors” director, Meche enabled his cast to bring their characters to detailed, moving life. As Myra, the proprietress of the dry goods store where Angels is set, Veronica Russell gave an ineffably knowing performance, level-headed yet caring, a passionate person disconnected from her feelings.
Veronica Russell & Eli Grove in Battle of Angels
As little smiles danced across her face, Russell manifested those emotions we bury deep down because we’re so afraid of them. Diana Shortez masterfully portrayed a calculating woman, selfdramatizing as only the very rich can be. Yet by imbuing her with a wry awareness, Shortez made Cassandra a victim of her own doing, unable to stop her worst impulses. In what could be a ridiculous role of a painter of religious art who’s slowly going blind, Rebecca Meyers was simply amazing, so truthful that she made you believe with complete certainty in Vee’s honest belief and lack of self-de-
During the Tennessee Williams Festival people seem to spontaneously break into cries of “Stella!” even when they’re not competing in the annual contest. I wasn’t able to make it to that fun event this year, but I did partake of some of the Festival’s other worthy offerings. Oscar winner John Patrick (Moonstruck) Shanley gave a Master Class in which he told of being thrown out of high school and how he was inspired by going to church—like theater, it’s another setting with a “proscenium situation.” For a while it seemed as though Moderator Thomas Keith was only going to have Shanley comment on some aphorisms of his, but he finally got around to eliciting some pointers about screenwriting from Shanley, a witty, down-to-earth man with a gravelly voice. “Start with a longing to get somewhere when formulating a script,” he advised. “The quest to find ‘home’ is a profound one. One travels two roads, one where you change, one where you remain the same.” Two related tips: Don’t show how smart you are. And leave something for the audience to figure out. “When you’re arguing and you talk too much,” he observed, “you know that you’re wrong.” Best of all, “Have faith to pursue the thing in yourself that is most unattractive and valueless and where you judge yourself harshly. It’s through the guidance of evil that you find [dramatic] gold.”
John Patrick Shanley & Marsha Norman at the Tennessee Williams Festival Comparing writing a script to “chopping your way through a forest with a machete,” Shanley assured the packed room that it takes “a LOT of hard work.” Even if he makes it look easy. Shanley was followed by Pulitzer Prize-winner Marsha (‘night, Mother) Norman who, in an informal lecture, delineated some of the things she teaches her playwriting students at Juilliard.
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trodding the boards ...from 32 —Subject is crucial. If wrong, it’s the mistake you never recover from. —Figure out a way to write a play that everybody will love. You must reach people in your audience. —Write about: Urgent matters. Huge stakes. What bothers you.
—An audience must care what happens, realize what’s at stake, and know when they can go home. Wise words for all serious playwrights. I closed out the Festival on a high note with Only a Paper Moon: A Tennessee Williams Songbook, a 75-minute cabaret of 14 songs featured in Williams’ works. A few cogently-selected spoken passages were interspersed to anchor the musical
numbers in the master storyteller’s universe. With her Kewpie doll face, Tony-nominee Alison Fraser was in great voice in everything from St. Louis Blues to I’m Forever Blowing Bubbles, even accompanying herself on a ukelele for Sweet Leilani. Thoughtfully acting out the songs, her peroxided hair with its black roots showing seemed entirely appropriate for Williams.
Allison Leyton Brown led the topnotch seven-piece band and Director David Kaplan piloted the show through Williams’ many moods with chameleon-like ease. Capturing the period style, Only a Paper Moon was highly entertaining and intelligently done, one of the best and most creative things I’ve seen at the Festival. On to next year!
34 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Facebook.COM/ AmbushMag • April 16-29, 2013 • Of fic ial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.ORG
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Darrin slingin’ cocktails @ Golden Lantern
Bartender Kevin hosts Bean Night @ Cutter’s Mondays
Cutter’s Big 3: Jimmy, Mac & Dudley New bartender Carey joins bar baron James as Golden Lantern goes 24 hours
Welcome to The Corner Pocket Wood Enterprises GM Ken Hicks & Lafitte’s-Clover Grill manager Richard Wren @ Lafitte’s
Society Page’s Orlando Aloe with MC Lisa Beaumann @ The Corner Pocket New Meat Night Bartender Henry welcomes you to Club Tango
Rawhide manager Richard welcomes you to Wed. Meat Night Cha Cha welcomes you to Good Friends New bartender Kara @ Michael’s On The Park
Eric behind the bar @ The Phoenix
Marsha & Voodoo’s Tadgh @ The Phoenix
New Orleans Bears’ Victor in for Rawhide Meat Night
Bartender Chuck welcomes you to 4 Seasons in Metairie
Jessica & Leslie @ The Paris Room
John & Ray @ Good Friends Bar
Wendy & GM Pinkeee @ Rainbow Room
Billy welcomes you to Clover Grill
Dancer Rafael @ Rainbow Room
36 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Facebook.COM/ AmbushMag • April 16-29, 2013 • Of fic ial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.ORG
The Club Scene ~ New Orleans, Metairie ~ Photos by Charles Jenkins, Tony Leggio, Paul Melancon, Darwin Reed
paparazzi
chop chop by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
A Taste of Rome Right Here in The French Quarter at Lil Vic's Rosticceria You can imagine what a delight it was on a walk through the French Quarter when we came upon Lil Vic's Rosticceria, 719 Toulouse Street. It's very reminiscent of a walk in Rome, Italy, where you come across delightful eateries that entice you to enter. Of course, the gelato bar beacons you to hop through the doors at Lil Vic's, and then you discover all of the wonderful other authentic real Italian offerings.
Arancini: Stuffed & Fried Risotto On this venture, two of our friends joined us in this culinary experience. Our friend and proprietor Vic Caracci helped us in our selections, since we were not familiar with some of the dishes. We started our with an assortment of Arancini (4.00) which we learned were stuffed and fried risotto balls, one ragu stuffed, one spinach and mozzarella stuffed, and one stuffed with ham and cheese, all served with marinara dipping sauce. All were distinctive in flavor and texture, giving you a mouthful of WOW! But the spinach and mozzarella was over the top. Don't think you even needed the dipping sauce. Our next offering was an assortment of Pitoni (4.00-5.00) which are fried or baked pizza turnovers including baked ham and mozzarella, baked spinach and mozzarella, and fried pulled pork ragu. Unbelievable! Again each brought you a taste of Italy, but it was the flaky buttery turnover pastry which stole show enhancing the stuffings beyond belief. We also tried the specialty of the house, The Papa Vic (7.00), which was a delicious ciabatta sandwich stuffed with pulled pork ragu and provolone...simply to die for! And you don't think we stopped there. Next up Vic served us his homemade tiramisu and cannolis. OMG, this tiramisu was like a walk back in Rome for the real deal. And the cannolis...just too too much! We could barely walk, but had to each try a gelato, which were fabulous. They even offer a sugar free chocolate gelato for those diabetics out there. While picking out our gelatos, we noticed all the homemade Italian pastries, so we got a box of those to take home for breakfast the next day including cinnamon rolls, cream cheese danishes and a croissant roll stuffed with chocolate cream. If you want a walk on the real Italian side, visit Lil Vic's Rosticceria, 719 Toulouse Street. Call 504.304.1238 for more information.
The Papa Vic
Homemade Pastries
Pitoni: Fried or Baked Pizza Turnover
Tiramisu & Cannoli
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The 21st White Party @ Oz
Robert, Bill, Randy, Nick, Queen & King Petronius Larry & Lee, Jimmy & Charles @ Petronius’ Patron Party
Hot men in for The White Party @ Dance Club of the Year Oz Bebe Scarpinato & Jim May @ Petronius Patron Party
Welcome to Armeinius’ Glitter & Be Gay Party
Armeinius Capt. Charles, Pres. Albert, King Fred & Queen Freddie @ Armeinius' Glitter & Be Gay
Having fun @ Satyricon Rush Party
Karen, Gene, Frankie & Dusty @ Armeinius' Glitter & Be Gay
Frankie & Dusty flank Oz’s Glenn & Tommy @ The White Party Queen Amon-Ra Leonard, Karen & Queen Petronius Larry & Petronius Patron Party
Darwin, Opal, John, Deja & Michael @ Satyricon Rush Party
Joining Armeinius’ Glitter & Be Gay Party
DJ JRB joined by one of his biggest fans, Ambush's Rip @ Oz's 21st White Party Randy, William & Nick @ Petronius Patron Party
Hot dancers @ The White Party
Capt. Tony, King Todd, Pres. Wedon & Queen Todd welcome you to Satyricon Rush Party @ Michael’s On The Park
Belle Reve’s Vicki & Michelle with Queen Petronius Larry @ Petronius Patron Party
Easter Grand Marshals XII Gary & Elizabeth join Post-Gay Easter Parade Party @ 700 Club
Absolutely Armeinius @ Armeinius' Glitter & Be Gay
Miss Jenkins & Debbie SnatchCake @ Post-Gay Easter Parade Party @ 700 Club
38 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Facebook.COM/ AmbushMag • April 16-29, 2013 • Of fic ial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.ORG
The Social Scene ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Frankie Fierce, Tony Leggio, Paul Melancon, Darwin Reed, Arthur Severio
paparazzi
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40 • The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM • Facebook.COM/ AmbushMag • April 16-29, 2013 • Of fic ial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.ORG