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celebrazzi Host Barry Bareass joins Quartermaster's Misael Rubio, and Corner Pocket bar baron Michael Elias as the Corner Pocket celebrated their 31st anniversary in New Orleans. The anniversary is celebrated on Father's Day as the popular "boys are dancin' nightly on the bar" club host Sugar Daddy Sunday. That's the day when a dancer is sponsored by a Sugar Daddy, and the winning dancer's sponsor is named Sugar Daddy of the Year, and the dancer takes home half the pot. A portion of the proceeds from the contest is donated to a charity each year. This year $315 was donated to the 40th Anniversary Upstairs Lounge Fire Memorial LGBT Community Ceremonies benefiting The Historic New Orleans Collection in the name of the 32 victims of the horrific fire. Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli catered the fun filled evening. Located at 940 St. Louis Street, visit www.CornerPocket.NET for more information on the bar.
Mina Hernandez celebrates with Host/MC Misti Ates, aka Johnny Passion, for Mina's breast cancer benefit raising $5,047 at Club LAX in Metairie. The community came together with loads of great entertainment and auctions.
Hit Parade proprietor Sandy Sachs gives Ambush's Marsha Naquin-Delain her merchandise as the first customer at the Grand Opening of Hit Parade, 741 Bourbon Street, in New Orleans. For more information on the store, visit www.Facebook.COM/HitParadeNOLA.
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the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
40th Anniversary Upstairs Lounge Fire Memorial & Pride Weekend Appears to be a Success As of press time, it appears the 40th Anniversary Upstairs Lounge Fire Memorial and Pride weekend will be quite a success. To the sold out performances of UPSTAIRS Musical, to packed bars, clubs and businesses, it may very well be one of the best June weekends in over 15 years. For all the details and highlights, see the next issue of Ambush Mag, your Official Pride Guide, due out on July 9.
26th Gay Appreciation Awards Top 5 Finalists Hold Many Surprises The 26th annual Gay Appreciation Awards voting on-line June 11-17 brought an array of Top 5 Finalists with many first time finalists. One of those finalist is already the winner which will be announced at the 26th GAA Gala on Saturday, July 27th, 8-10pm, at Oz, 800 Bourbon Street. VIP Tables with four seats are $200 and are very limited. All proceeds benefit the William Fanning Foundation (Buzzy’s Boys & Girls). Contact Rip Naquin for table reservations at marsha@ripandmarsha.com or 504.522.8049. Door admission is $10. Top 5 Finalists (voted on-line by the Gulf South readership of Ambush Mag) include: Circuit Party/Event of the Year: Gay Easter Parade, GEP Purple Party, Halloween, Oz White Party, Southern Decadence Hair Salon of the Year: Arthur’s, Bobby Blue, Head Quarters, Salon D'Malta, Spa Atlantis Gay Mardi Gras Ball of the Year: Krewe of Amon-Ra, Krewe of Armeinius, Krewe of Petronius, Lords of Leather, Mystic Krewe of Satyricon Neighborhood Bar of the Year: 4 Seasons-Metairie, Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Golden Lantern, Good Friends Bar, Michael’s On The Park Buzzy Fanning AIDS Award: Belle Reve, Toby Lefort, Gay Easter Parade, NO/AIDS Task Force, Project Lazarus Bitch of the Year: Tiffany Alexander, Electra City, Gia GiaVanni, Princesse Stephaney, Persana Shoulders Show Bar of the Year: Bourbon Pub & Parade, Golden Lantern, JohnPaul's, Michael’s On The Park, Oz Donnie Jay Performing Arts Award: Big Easy Sisters, La Familia Variety Show, New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus, Running With Scissors, Standing On Ceremony Restaurant/Deli/Coffee House of the Year: Clover Grill, Eat, Louisiana Pizza Kitchen Uptown, Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, Verti Mart
inside
Dining Out For Life issue out July 9th DEADLINE: Tues., July 2nd
celebrazzi spotlight feature/club new orleans real estate under the gaydar snap paparazzi/metairie, nola moments in gay new orleans history 42nd southern decadence snap paparazzi/new orleans classifieds trodding the boards
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ambush paparazzi/new orleans a community within communities obituary/mark kinsell pensacola paparazzi ambush paparazzi/new orleans halloween xxx mobile paparazzi
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AD INFO: Call 504.522.8049 marsha@ripandmarsha.com
Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 828-A Bourbon St. • New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 • 504.522.8049 marsha@ripandmarsha.com
Dance Club of the Year: Bourbon Pub Parade, Club LAX/Metairie, JohnPaul’s, Michael’s On The Park, Oz Bartender of the Year: Will “Wilhemina” Bennet/Golden Lantern, Matthew Birkhoff/Bourbon Pub & Parade, Chuck Hinkley/4 SeasonsMetairie, Earl Johnson/Oz, Jeff Palmquist/Cafe Lafitte in Exile DJ of the Year: Jason Emrick/ Golden Lantern, Dominick Kolb/Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Eddie Mitchell, Tim Pflueger/Oz, Jonathan “JRB” Reed/Oz Leather Bar of the Year: Phoenix, Rawhide 2010 Cheridon Comedy Award: Klorocks Bleachman, Big Momma Lavouge, Princesse Stephaney, Persana Shoulders, Tittie Toulouse Fly Fashion Glamour Award: Dusty Debris, Dominique DeLorean, Aubrey Synclaire, Monica Synclaire-Kennedy, Opal Wiley GLBT Business of the Year: Bourbon Pride, Mary’s Ace Hardware, Panda Bear, Rab Dab Clothing & Gifts, Second Skin Leather Leather Person of the Year: Ed Azemas, Bill Naquin, Pat Johnson, Toby Lefort, Gary Vandeventer Transgender of the Year: Regina Adams, Jasmine Essex, Stephanie Lee, Rikki Redd, Chi-Chi Rodriquez Lesbian of the Year: Misti Ates, Marty Curtin, Mina Hernandez, Pat McArdle, Hannah Napier Gay Man of the Year: Tommy Elias, Bradley Latham, Toby Lefort, Tony Leggio, Bill Miller Marcy Marcell Entertainer of the Year: Dusty Debris, Big Momma Lavouge, Monique Michaels, Johnny Passion, Aubrey Synclaire In addition, the Board of Directors presents the Lifetime Achievement Award. The Marsha Delain Award of Excellence: The Drag Ambassador Award is presented by Marsha NaquinDelain. The Board of Directors includes Lisa Beaumann, Teryl-Lynn Foxx, and Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain. Sponsored by Ambush Mag, the awards thanks those in the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Community who are often not recognized for the outstanding services and efforts they perform. These individuals and businesses have made the LGBT Community into the viable, successful and powerful community it is today. Visit www.AmbushMag.COM/GAA for additional information.
Ambush Mag Receives 2013 New Orleans Print Media Award Ambush Mag has been selected for the 2013 New Orleans Award in the Print Media category by the New Orleans Award Program. "Each year, the New Orleans Award Program identifies companies that we
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-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 INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS and PHOTOS. AMgrant - AMbush Advertising Grant Donation
believe have achieved exceptional marketing success in their local community and business category. These are local companies that enhance the positive image of small business through service to their customers and our community. These exceptional companies help make the New Orleans area a great place to live, work and play." Various sources of information were gathered and analyzed to choose the winners in each category. The 2013 New Orleans Award Program focuses on quality, not quantity. Winners are determined based on the information gathered both internally by the New Orleans Award Program and data provided by third parties. [continued on 10]
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don't forget the hot Men of Oz dancing on the bar tops throughout the club. Oz has been voted GAA Dance Club of the Year for almost two decades, and GAA Show Bar of the Year, almost as long. The club is also in the Top 5 Finalists again this year for both awards. Visit www.OzNewOrleans.COM for additional information.
Lords of Leather Luau July 14
the "official" dish ...from 8 The New Orleans Award Program is an annual awards program honoring the achievements and accomplishments of local businesses throughout the New Orleans area. Recognition is given to those companies that have shown the ability to use their best practices and implemented programs to generate competitive advantages and long-term value. The New Orleans Award Program was established to recognize the best of local businesses in our community. The organization works exclusively with local business owners, trade groups, professional associations and other business advertising and marketing groups. Its mission is to recognize the small business community's contributions to the U.S. economy.
Southern Decadence Press Party June 29 @ Golden Lantern Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XXXIX Tami Tarmac and Venus Santiago will host the Southern Decadence Press Party on Saturday, June 29th, 8-10pm. Hosted at the Home of Southern Decadence, the Golden Lantern, 1239 Royal Street, the grand marshals will announce the 2013 "official" theme, colors, song, and unveil the
Southern Decadence Poster. Additionally the grand marshals have announced the first two Southern Decadence fundraisers. The first is Friday, July 12th at JohnPaul's, 8-10pm. The second is Friday, July 19th @ Club LAX in Metairie, 10pm-12midnight. It is important that the entire community support these and all upcoming Southern Decadence fundraisers since the City of New Orleans is now reportedly charging the grand marshals some $16,000+ for Southern Decadence sanitation, police details, and more. To keep up with the latest visit www.SouthernDecadence.COM or w w w. F a c e b o o k . C O M / SouthernDecadenceNOLA.
Oz Celebrates 21st Anniversary June 29 Oz New Orleans, 800 Bourbon Street, celebrates its 21st Anniversary Neon Party with the theme Neon Circus on Saturday, June 29th beginning at 10pm. Oz bar baron/decorator extraordinaire Doyle Yaeger is creating an unbelievable set for the extravaganza complete with circus animals, and even cirque acts throughout the night. Hosted by Persana Shoulders, DJs Bull, Tim Pflueger and JRB will electrify the night while Johnny Eubanks illuminations will dazzle the masses! And
Are you ready to get wet? Need some hot beef in your hands? The Lords of Leather can help you beat ...the HEAT! Join the Lords Sunday, July 14th from 2-5pm for the annual Lords' Luau. This year will be a "Backyard Splash." Your $10 donation includes grilled hamburgers, hot dogs, cold adult beverages, and all your favorite picnic fare. All set poolside at the private home of Michael Ducote and Doug Minich, 3026 North Rampart, New Orleans, don't forget to bring your towel and creativity. "You never know, we may throw in a surprise competition!" Come see how much fun we have in OUR backyard!"
Belle Vie Gala: Celebrating 20 Years of Service at Belle Reve
up LGBT Latino in America (http:// l u l a c . o r g / a s s e t s / p d f s / L G B TLatinoYouthReport.pdf) to support family inclusion and anti-bullying. “The deck is stacked against young people growing up lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender,” stated LULAC Executive Director, Brent Wilkes. “LULAC is rooted in civic participation and protecting residents from discrimination or indifference along with social ostracism. While we’ve advanced significantly in the last 84 years of LULAC’s existence, unfortunately, far too many LGBT youth and adults are still disaffected and disconnected in their own homes and neighborhoods.” While 12 states and the District of Columbia have legalized same-sex marriages in the last few years, there is still mounted prejudice against those from the LGBT community. It is particularly disheartening to see LGBT youth experience ostracism and even homelessness as a result of the nonacceptance in their community. “The well-being of Latino LGBT youth is fostered by the support of family and trusted adults in their lives,” said HRC President Chad Griffin. “We must do better in supporting LGBT youth who still fear rejection, being judged and ostracized in school and being rejected from their religious congregations and the broader community.” [continued on 14]
Belle Reve is excited to announce its upcoming Belle Vie Gala to celebrate twenty years of service to the New Orleans HIV/AIDS and homeless communities on Saturday, August 17th, 8-11pm. The event will be hosted in the historic ballroom of the New Orleans Athletic Center for a night of fun, food and dancing as Belle Reve celebrates its past achievements and the future of the organization! The athletic center is located at 222 N. Rampart Street. Ticket prices include: Single Ticket-$60, Couple Ticket-$100, and Table for 6-$350. Visit www.bellerevenola.org for additional information.
84th Annual LULAC National Convention Kicked Off with Open Doors to LGBT Community Las Vegas, NV-The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) opened the doors at Caesars Palace for its 84th annual National Convention. This year’s theme, Lifting Our Voices Through Civic Participation, was expected to attract 20,000 attendees, with focus on civil rights for the LGBT community. At a joint press conference, LULAC and the Human Rights Campaign launched a co-branded report Growing
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spotlight feature by Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net
The New Club New Orleans One of the most enduring gay institutions in New Orleans is Club New Orleans, the gay bathhouse at 515 Toulouse Street in the French Quarter. The Club is almost 45 years old and it’s getting a make-over. Longtime manager Gene Adams retired earlier this year and hand-picked Robbie Martin to be his successor. Martin took over operations at Club New Manager Robbie Martin New Orleans in April. Originally from Baton Rouge, Martin has lived on and off in New Orleans for several years. He has worked as a DJ at clubs in New Orleans (Bourbon Pub, Phoenix, Rawhide), Baton Rouge (Argon), and at Pride festivities and other clubs
real estate Getting Your First Home Loan If this is your first time buying a home, the process to get your first home loan can seem complicated. Applying for your first home loan can be tricky, and the most important thing you can do is look to the experienced gay realtor you’re working with for advice. It’s recommended to get assistance from those who have done it before, and in this case, your agent has probably done it hundreds of times. Even though things are different than they were three or four years ago when it was possible to get your first home if you had a pulse…, it is still possible for responsible, stable individuals to qualify for a loan. Do your homework and find out what programs are available for first time home buyers in your city. Don’t choose your lender based upon the lowest interest rate… there are many unscrupulous lenders out there that will quote you a low rate and
then bombard you with add-on fees, or even increase your rate at closing. Also, don’t give any lender authorization to pull your credit report, until you have chosen them as your lender! If you have multiple lenders with your information, all running credit... it will lower your credit score and make the final lender wonder why so many lenders were “trying to get you a loan”. Again, any top real estate agent will be able to guide you through this process and prevent new home buyers’ mistakes that could cost you dearly. When applying for your fist home loan the lender will require many items like bank statements, W-2s, paycheck stubs, explanations of credit report items and more. Essentially, the lender wants to know that you have the income and ability to repay your home loan. You need to be patient in this process and give the lender what they are asking for and work with them to understand ex-
in San Francisco. In San Francisco, he also worked as a project manager for an information technology firm before joining Steamworks (a bathhouse chain based in San Francisco) in 2010 as an IT specialist. Martin earned a degree in General Studies from LSU in 2002. Drawing on his background in technology, Martin plans on modernizing Club New Orleans. He has already installed LED lighting, updated the sound system and high speed Wi-Fi, and done some basic building maintenance. Club New Orleans has also acquired the equipment and décor of the recently closed Bear Trap. Future plans include a new sound system, updating the video system, installing power outlets in every room, renovating the theatre room to include raised floor levels, and hosting promotional theme parties. In addition to modernizing the facility, Martin hopes to get Club New Orleans more involved in the local gay community. For example, the Club had a presence in the Pride Parade and it was also a sponsor of Upstairs, the new dramatic musical which pays homage to the victims of the Upstairs Lounge fire. It is also increasing the number of hours the NO/AIDS Task Force offers
free HIV testing at the Club. Currently Club New Orleans features a gym, steam room, dry sauna, sundeck, whirlpool, private rooms, video lounge, a dungeon, public play spaces, and hardcore rooms. Martin is eager to point out that bathhouse culture is not a thing of the past. The modern gay bathhouse industry dates back to the late 1950s and early 1960s (though they existed in various forms prior to World War II). Bathhouse culture reached its peak during the glory years of the 1970s only to face potential extinction during the 1980s because of the AIDS epidemic. At that time, no one could have guessed that the real threat to the industry would be the rise of the internet in the 1990s. Martin points out that technology and bathhouses are not mutually exclusive and need not work against each other. In fact, Martin argues, the two can actually work together.
actly what format they need it in. This is another time it is extremely beneficial to ask the advice of those who have gone through the process already. They can let you know what is normal, what may seem a little out of the ordinary, and most importantly give you the reassurance you need. It is better to start out small so that you remain comfortable - plenty of people mortgage hefty loans without any hope of becoming financially free in their lifetime. Eventually getting your loan paid off should be your top priority, no matter what. Although most mortgage brokers have a set fee for their services, it does pay to shop around to get a feel for the different interest rates and terms involved with your mortgage loan. A good mortgage broker will help you to save thousands of dollars over a long period of time. They can also be quite helpful if you do not understand the terminology or language that many mortgage companies use on a regular basis. Make a few inquiries online and speak with your gay real estate profes-
sional as to what programs the mainstream financial institutions are offering. This will be a great investment of your time and energy, toward a brighter future as a new homeowner. Author Jeff Hammerberg is the Founding CEO of http:// www.GayRealEstate.com.
A Welcome Party / Open House at Club New Orleans is planned for July 4 in order to showcase the changes. The party will include a meet and greet with refreshments and special membership offers from 7-11pm.
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the "official" dish ...from 10 Growing up LGBT in America is a groundbreaking survey of more than 10,000 LGBT-identified youth ages 1317. It provides a stark picture of the difficulties they face — the impact on their well-being is profound. For example, LGBT Latino youth are twice as likely as non-LGBT Latino youth to say they do not “fit in,” in the communities where they live, However these youth are quite resilient. They find safe havens among their peers, online and in their schools. They remain optimistic and believe things will get better. Nevertheless, the findings are a call to action for all adults who want ensure that young people can thrive. As part of the LULAC National Convention, hundreds of LULAC youth members from the entire U.S. and Puerto Rico attended the workshops, and forums and concerts in Las Vegas. At last year’s National Convention in Orlando, LULAC passed a resolution in favor of same sex unions. The resolution supported marriage equality for all Americans, including those in the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender community. Furthermore, the resolution opposed the denial of basic civil rights or acts of discrimination against any American, as is consistent with LULAC’s continuing advocacy for civil rights and protections guaranteed by the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) is the nation’s largest and oldest civil rights volunteerbased organization that empowers HispanicAmericans and builds strong Latino communities. Headquartered in Washington, DC, with 900 councils around the United States and Puerto Rico, LULAC’s programs, services and advocacy address the most important issues for Latinos, meeting critical needs of today and the future. For more information, visit www.lulac.org.
Jacob Media Project Launches Production of Free Music Video Contest New Orleans-based, multi-media company Jacob Media Project is offering local musicians a chance to win a
complimentary music video or musicbased short film. “In an effort to support local talent, Jacob Media Project is offering to produce a free music video for an artist or group of artists,” said Chris Jacob, owner of Jacob Media Project. “The nature of the musical short lies in the collaborative process between musician and filmmaker. We want to help showcase some musical talent that could really use more of a visual presence but does not necessarily have the resources to do so. I’d like to find a musical act that truly wants to collaborate creatively and who are into the process, not just the product.” Interested parties should submit a statement of interest to jacobmediaproject@gmail.com or by visiting www.jacobmediaproject.com. Submissions must include a brief biography about the musical act; potential ideas for the production; why you or your group could use a music video or musical short film; any pertinent links to websites, recordings and videos; and contact information. Deadline for submission is September 1st, 2013. The winner will receive creative consultation, art direction, costume design and a polished final visual production for use on websites and social media (a package worth $3,500). The selection process is based on uniqueness, talent, demonstration of interest and the perceived degree of need for a gratuitous production. The goal of the project is to create a fully realized music video that demonstrates musical talent, dynamic performance and collaborative intent. The video itself may range from candid, casual live performance with brief interviews to a highly produced, studiobased conventional music video. Jacob Media Project is an independently owned multi-media production company specializing in portrait and event photography, documentary film, music video production, art direction and design. Owner Chris Jacob blends his educational background in Ethnomusicology and keen aesthetic sense of popular culture into unique productions with depth and a striking visual essence. Jacob Media Project can be found on the web at www.jacobmediaproject.com.
Star-Studded Performance Lineup to Mark Reopening of Saenger Theatre After more than eight years, the historic Saenger Theatre in New Orleans will proudly reopen its doors this fall with a grand opening celebration, featuring a lineup of performances commemorating the city’s love for live entertainment of all kinds. The initial announcement includes a variety of entertainment beginning on September 28 and continuing through January 10 of 2014. Additional performances will be announced as they are confirmed. The Saenger Theatre is currently undergoing a $52 million restoration led by the City of New Orleans, Canal Street Development Corporation, and ACE Theatrical Group. “The Saenger Theatre is the crown jewel of Canal Street,” Mayor Mitch Landrieu said. “Combined with new state-of-the-art features and the authentic restoration to its original 1927 design, the new Saenger Theatre will redefine the live entertainment marketplace in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast region. The announcement of the grand opening celebration lineup reestablishes the Saenger as the premier live entertainment venue in the region, truly providing something for everyone.” Legendary comedian Jerry Seinfeld will kick-off the grand opening weekend in the Saenger Theatre with two comedy performances on September 28. The Saenger Opening Gala, starring Kristin Chenoweth and the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, will be the highlight of the grand opening celebration with a gala and concert on October 5. More details on the Saenger Opening Gala will be announced in the coming weeks. The lineup continues through the holiday season with a variety of performances, including a historic performance of the Abyssinian Mass, composed and performed by Wynton Marsalis and The Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra October 13, and “Band Together,” a free children’s concert by the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra October 2. The performances mark the culmination of the public-private restoration project and the beginning of the next
chapter in the theatre’s storied history. “The investment our community has made in this spectacular, historic venue will reap dividends for our citizens for years to come,” said David Skinner, General Manager of the Saenger Theatre. “These shows at the Saenger will infuse new lifeblood into this sector of downtown, stimulating economic activity in our retail, restaurant, hospitality and transportation industries throughout the area.” “We are committed to stimulating business development through the adaptive reuse and development of Canal Street,” said David Rubenstein, Chair of the Canal Street Development Corporation. “Through our partnerships with the City of New Orleans and ACE Theatrical Group, the Saenger will once again serve as an important anchor that will spur growth and redevelopment along Canal Street.” For more information about specific performances, ticketing information, and to sign up to receive advance notification for tickets as they go on sale, visit www.saengernola.com. Season tickets are still on-sale for the 2013-2014 East Jefferson General Hospital Broadway in New Orleans series and can be purchased by calling 800.218.7469, or online at www.BroadwayInNewOrleans.com. Individual tickets will be available six to eight weeks prior to each scheduled performance. For group pricing, please call 504.287.0372. The season will feature The Book of Mormon, Ghost The Musical, Sister Act, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, Memphis, War Horse and Rain. The Saenger Theatre is also announcing a special parking arrangement with the University Place Parking Garage, located across from the Roosevelt Hotel, half a block from the Saenger across Canal Street. All ticket purchasers will have the opportunity to pre-pay for their parking while buying concert tickets through Ticketmaster.com. This option will provide the patron with a reserved space at the garage the day of the event. Parking at the University Place Parking Garage will cost $20, including all services fees.
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under the gaydar by Tony Leggio Email: ledgemgp@gmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
Book of the Month
Dust Off That Tiara!
I love a good sequel whether it is a film or a novel, and it is very rare that the second in a series surpasses the original; but I have to admit that is the case with my book for the month of June. Suzanne Collins’ Catching Fire is the second in the Hunger Games trilogy and was simply riveting. I practically read the book in one sitting. The story picks up after the original Hunger Games where heroine Katness Everdeen and fellow District 12 tribute Peeta have survived. They are now about to embark on a Victory Tour of the other districts to promote the 75th annual event. But the Capitol is out for revenge, and without their knowing, the actions that led to their winning the previous game have caused uprisings around the districts. After some political maneuvering, Katniss and Peeta find themselves back in the ring with an entirely new group of fighters. All the contestants are victors who have won in the past, so the stakes for survival are higher. Collins further developed the main characters while giving the new combatants descriptive backstories making them more than one dimensional. In action novels, it is easy to have character development take a back seat to the action, but Collins expertly meshes both of these to create a thrilling read. I especially like how she makes President Snow deliciously evil and witty at the same time, and her handling of the love triangle between Peeta, Gale and Katniss does not get mired down in sappiness. I always enjoy reading the novel before seeing the movie and I am very excited to see how they bring to life this chapter on the big screen. And, I am delighted to the prospect of seeing super hottie Sam Claflin in the role of Finnick Odair. Imagine if he was sexy as hell in the book, he should be stunningly handsome in a darkened theatre. If you are looking for a great summer read, Catching Fire should make the top of your list. For more information on Suzanne Collins and her works, go to www.suzannecollinsbooks.com.
Pull out your favorite scepter and dust off your tiara as the Krewe of Petronius presents Cocktails and Crowns on Saturday, July 20 from 7 – 10pm. This is such a magical evening as you mix and mingle with royalty from all the krewes. The ticket price is $30 and includes the reception and silent auction. The event will be the second one held at their fabulous new den located at 1701 Frenchman Street. For more information, go to www.kreweofpetronius.org.
Let Them Eat Cake! The Mystic Krewe of Satyricon is once again hosting their popular Bastille Day Celebration on Sunday, July 14 from 3 – 6pm at 2300 Charters Street in the Marigny right across from the Friendly Bar. There will be dancing, a French themed costume contest, dessert buffet (along with other goodies), and a show with some risque “Moulin Rouge” ladies. This is always a fun event and a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon celebrating our French heritage. We might even guillotine someone. There will be a live and silent auction. The ticket price is $25 and includes food, free champagne and the show. There will be a cash bar for all other cocktails. For more information, call 504.252.5476 or like us on Facebook.
Deck the Halls with Amon Ra! The Krewe of Amon Ra is having a Christmas in July party on Saturday, July 13 from 7 – 10pm at Michael’s On The Park. I love the holidays, so for me it is never too early to start celebrating the yuletide season. The krewe has some exciting things in store for this event. For tickets or more information, go to www. www.kreweofamonra.com.
Cooking With VOM FASS New Orleans is a city that respects its food and reveres its chefs. They are our celebrities. There is a gourmet store on Magazine Street called VOM FASS, which is premium vinegar, oil and liqueur shop and one of my newest decadent pleasures. They have two upcoming events that are sure to tantalize your taste buds. The first is on June 25 at 6pm. “Spirit Sessions” will feature a top local mixologist sharing cocktail history, how to tips and shaking up 4-5 lively libations utilizing VOM FASS products. The kick-off class is slated for Tuesday, June 25 from 6-7:30pm and will be lead by Daniel Victory of Victory Bar. Victory will demonstrate the following classic cocktails: Aviation, Sidecar, Sazerac and Brown Derby. Cost to attend the class, which includes one of each featured cocktail, is $20 per person. Seating is very limited and reservations in advance are required by calling, 504.302.1455. VOM FASS is located at 5725 Magazine Street. The second is on June 26 at 7pm Redemption has teamed up with VOM FASS, to host a unique wine dinner featuring five delicious courses paired with wine. Chef Greg Picolo’s special menu was specifically created to showcase VOM FASS products and their use in his classic New Orleans French-Creole cuisine. The dinner is slated for Wednesday, June 26 at 7pm and cost for all five courses, plus wine pairings is $90 per person inclusive of tax and gratuity. Seating is limited and reservations are required by calling, 504.309.3570. Cindy Johnson of Select Wines will present the featured wines, and the owners of VOM FASS New Orleans, Christine Herman and Denise Dussom, will be on hand to speak about VOM FASS products. Redemption is located in the heart of Mid City at 3835 Iberville and offers plenty of complimentary parking.
Make Some Music with Armeinius The Krewe of Armeinius presents the rehearsal night of the second in the series of shows at Tulane Summer Lyric this season with A Little Night Music on Wednesday, July 10th on the Tulane University Campus. This is theatre at its best in the city, so please come out for a night of incredible performances and support one of our oldest gay carnival krewes. Tickets are $30. For more information, go to www.kreweofarmeinius.org.
Party Down There are always those issues where this section is very long, this unfortunately will not be one of them. In order for me to enjoy my play time, I have to work hard, and until I discover a way to make a career out of going to parties, work is my number one priority. It is a good thing, I love what I do. That being said, my first week was spent working on a huge event at the Louisiana Superdome for several thousand convention guests. I came up for air on Friday when I attended the Satyricon premier of Running With Scissors’ play Hell’s Belles at Mid City Theatre. Once again this talented troupe of performers created a funny and lively farce that had the audience rolling in the aisles. The rest of the weekend was pretty low key as I rested after an extremely hard work week. I was able to attend the Pride Bake sale at Napoleon’s Itch on Saturday which was a huge success. I also got lucky enough to see the Naked Bike Brigade that rode through the Quarter that afternoon down Bourbon Street. Now I am all for the body is a beautiful piece of art that should be cherished, but some of the people riding could stand to wear just slightly more. After those visions of loveliness, I needed a few cocktails at JohnPaul’s which was having their country western night. Sunday, my friend Laura and I walked into the Quarter to check out the Creole Tomato Festival and having a few libations before our Tony Award show watching evening. Sometimes relaxing weekends are the best. The Creole Tomato Festival is one of those small but beloved events that pay homage to one of most popular delicacies. I think it is amazing that we celebrate everything in our city. The following week had a few more events as I got back into the swing on Wednesday as Beaux, Barrett and I spent the evening partying in Lakeview. We went to the Lakeview Art Market on Harrison Avenue where we enjoyed some live music and looked at lots of art (and hot suburbia guys). Then we went for dinner and drinks at Velvet Cactus right down the street. It was an awesome crowd and was the happening place with two for one frozen and regular margaritas. After a fun summer dining experience with great people watching we called it a night. Thursday, Satyricon had another premier of an entertaining local production of Spamalot at Rivertown Theatre. New Orleans is very lucky to have such an extensive local and talented theatrical community. The show was wonderful and Ricky Graham, Mason Wood and Gary Rucker shined. On Friday, my friend Nick invited me to one of the swankiest and socially attended fundraisers of the season. The Victory Ball is the black tie gala for the WW 2 Museum that is held at their facility every year. This
year it began at 5pm with a reception to 6:30pm then turned into a three course seated dinner with the cabaret show Jump, Jive and wail as the entertainment. The dinner was catered by John Besh; then afterwards from 9pm till midnight was a dessert dance reception. The entire night was filled with outstanding cuisine, entertainment and company. This is definitely one of those who’s who events in the city. On my way home I was able to catch the tail end of Misti Ates’ show at JohnPaul’s. She had a big crowd until the last act, which is quite an accomplishment. Saturday was another one of my whirlwind days, beginning with my friend Beaux’s 30th birthday surprise dinner at Buca di Beppo. There is something so fun and campy about celebrating a special occasion in a Italian themed chain restaurant. It was like a page out of a Mafia novel (albeit a very gay one). After dinner, I sped out to the New Orleans School of Cooking for Petronius’ Cooking with the Queens event. The queens keeping the guests entertained were Countess C Alice, Bootsie deVille and Princesse Stephaney. The menu was scrumptious and the “ladies” kept us enthralled at their culinary skills. Afterwards, I meandered to JohnPaul’s for the premier show of Queenlesque in which I was honored to emcee. Queenlesque is a combination drag and burlesque show headed up by Princesse Stephaney who did hysterical renditions as Katy Perry (her firework dress was spectacular) and Amy Winehouse. The lovely and creative Trixie Minx was one of the star burlesque dancers, and her Marie Antoinette number brought the house down. Keep an eye out for this show that will be coming back once a month. To end the night, the boys and I went into the Quarter for a few cocktails at Good Friends with Jake and the Corner Pocket. I spent Father’s Day Sunday cleaning up the house and then hosting a barbecue that night for some friends. What a lovely way to end my busy two weeks.
Tony’s Tidbits of Gay Wisdom Pride has come and gone; now we are in full swing for another huge gay holiday in this city - Southern Decadence. I would first like to congratulate our new Southern Decadence Grand Marshals Tami Tarmac and Venus Santiago. I know both of them and with their penchant for the flamboyant and their showmanship qualities, they will rock the celebration. The streets will overflow with sequins, feathers and rhinestones; and I for one cannot wait. I like to treat each year like it is my first time at the event. It is never fair to compare one year to the other because each grand marshal brings his or her own distinct charm to the event. Or scandal as has been many the case, but in this city, we always love good clean gossip. But it seems that since the event has become so popular, the expenses have increased. So it is very important that we support all the fundraisers we can. Southern Decadence is for all of us, our community and the city. We need to embrace it and help it thrive any way we can. So read Ambush or follow Southern Decadence at www.SouthernDecadence.COM for updates on upcoming events.
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Mina & Larry Graham at her Club LAX benefit
Rip, Darwin, Jim, b-day girl Marsha, Deja, Mike, Mike & Opal start off @ Michael’s
Marsha ends her impromptu b-day bar crawl @ Lafitte’s for half lemon/half chocolate doberge cake from Swiss
Ambush’s Tony & Paul join Marsha's b-day bar crawl @ Lafitte’s
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Tiffany, Rikki, SDGM Venus, Monique & SDGM Tami in Divas R Us @ Golden Lantern
Sandy Sachs welcomes you to the grand opening of Hit Parade
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Missy May & Marsha celebrate here b-day @ Good Friends
Salon D’Malta’s Dorian Terrell @ Golden Lantern’s Divas R Us
Hannah sings live for Mina’s benefit
Lisa, Dusty, Monalot, b-day girl Marsha & Gia @ Oz
Jillian Albright, Dennis Culver & Robert Welles celebrate the grand opening of Hit Parade
SDGMs 39 Venus Santiago & Tami Tarmac on stage @ Golden Lantern
Renegade Bears @ Divas R Us
Bar baron James joins Rikki Redd during Divas R Us @ GAA Top 5 Show Bar of the Year Finalist Golden Lantern
Patrick, SDGM Tami & Arthur @ Home of Southern Decadence
Fire dancing @ Mina’s benefit
Tyriq & Cathy @ Mina’s Club LAX benefit
Rip, Frank, Marsha & Wayne on the last stop of Marsha’s b-day bar crawl, Lafitte’s
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La Scène Sociale (The Social Scene) ~ Metairie, New Orleans ~ Photos by Larry Graham, Paul Melancon, Rip Naquin
Mina Hernandez joined by SDGM 39 Tami Tarmac performing for Mina’s fundraiser
Veteran bartenders Aletha & Jeff join new Lafitte’s manager Scott Horner
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moments in gay new orleans history by Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net
William Ratcliffe Irby: A Gay Man of Consequence William Ratcliffe Irby is now known mostly only to New Orleans historians and a handful of tour guides but he should be a household name in the New Orleans gay community. His lifetime of philanthropy qualifies him as one of the most significant gay men in New Orleans history. Irby was born in Virginia around 1860 and by the time he was twenty he was living in New Orleans. When he died in 1926, he had been a banker, owned a tobacco company, and served on the Board of Administrators at Tulane University. As impressive as these personal accomplishments are, his true legacy is as a French Quarter preservationist. In the 1920s, Irby became a part of what John Shelton Reed calls the “Dixie Bohemia”—a circle of writers and artists and like-minded friends in the French Quarter who would play a vital role in transforming the Quarter from a run-down slum on the verge of being razed into a viable neighborhood that not only fostered creativity but was also worth preserving. Other gay (and bisexual) men who played a role in this transformation included Lyle Saxon (writer), Richard Koch (architect), Weeks Hall (artist), Sam Gilmore (poet and playwright), William Spratling (Tulane Professor and silversmith), Pops Whitesell (photographer), and Cicero Odiorne (photographer). Of this group, Irby, Saxon, and Koch joined other French Quarter preservationists, notably Elizabeth Werlein, to prevent corporate interests and greedy developers from completely destroying the historic buildings of the French Quarter. Werlein was almost single-handedly responsible for the creation of the Vieux Carre Commission. Irby personally saved several important landmark buildings, the most culturally significant of which was the old French Opera House. From 1859 to 1919, the French Opera House at the corner of Bourbon and Toulouse Streets served as the
epicenter of Creole society during a time when the city was becoming more and more Americanized. At the turn of the 20th century, New Orleans was the theatre capital of the South and the French Opera House was its crown jewel. Throughout the 19th Century, New Orleans had a love affair with opera and was considered the “opera capitol of North America.” But by 1913, the Opera House had fallen on hard financial times and went into receivership. Irby bought the building and then generously donated it to Tulane University, along with enough money to keep the place afloat. When the venerable old building burned to the ground in 1919, Lyle Saxon tearfully watched the destruction and lamented in his newspaper column the next day, “The heart of the old French Quarter has stopped beating.” In 1918, Irby purchased and restored the Seignouret-Brulatour Court at 520 Royal Street. The home was built in 1816 for Francois Seignouret, a French wine importer and furniture maker. In 1870, another French wine importer named Brulatour bought the home. By the time Irby acquired it, the property was in disrepair. In 1922, after extensive renovations, Irby donated the slave quarters and the use of the courtyard to the Arts and Craft Club, which used
the facility for exhibition space and classrooms. The courtyard, considered one of the most beautiful in all the French Quarter, became the subject of countless paintings. The Arts and Crafts Club, which had been founded a few years earlier in Alberta Kinsey’s Toulouse Street studio, was chiefly responsible for introducing modern art to New Orleans. Also in 1918, Irby, who was Jewish, donated $125,000 to the Roman Catholic Arch-Diocese of New Orleans for the purpose of repairing and renovating St. Louis Cathedral, which was already showing its age before being ravished by the great hurricane of 1915. For a while, the Cathedral was closed to parishioners for fear it would collapse on them. Irby made the donation anonymously and was not identified as the benefactor until after his death. In 1920, Irby purchased the old Bank of Louisiana building at 417 Royal Street (better known today as Brennan’s Restaurant) and donated it to Tulane University. The building had been built in 1795 by Don Vincente Rillieux, great grandfather of French Impressionist painter Edgar Degas. Julian Poydras turned the home into a bank before it reverted back to being a home. Paul Morphy, world chess champion of
1859, lived in the house until his death in 1884. In 1921, Irby purchased the lower Pontalba Building on Jackson Square for $68,000 from Michel Joseph Gaston Delfau de Pontalba, grandson of the famed Baroness Micaela Pontalba. He then donated the building to the Louisiana State Museum, which retains it today and administers the 1850 House, a replica of a typical 1850s New Orleans Row-House residence. The aforementioned acts of philanthropy are but just a few examples of the numerous gifts William Ratcliffe Irby bestowed upon New Orleans. Irby did not live as an openly gay man nor did he hide his sexuality from other “Friends of Dorothy.” Lyle Saxon, for example, occasionally in his writing makes subtle references to Irby’s sexuality, using code words and phrases that only gay men would “get.” Irby’s life ended as colorfully as it had been lived. One afternoon in 1926, Irby went to the local bathhouse (yes, there were bathhouses then) before spending several hours socializing with friends. Then he went to his favorite restaurant to dine alone before going to a local mortuary to make his funeral arrangements. Then he crawled into the casket he had just purchased and put a bullet through his brain.
reVIEW...books, movies, cds by Blanche Email: ambushreview@aol.com Photo by Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
A Commentary You may have read or heard about this recently ...those wacky Hollywood moguls are at it again. First it was “talkies,” then movies in living color, next came 3D, now they’re predicting a movie experience that will cost as much as a Broadway show. Ironic, but two of the most successful blockbuster movie makers of all time, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas, are predict-
ing that the blockbuster driven Hollywood system is due for a meltdown. They spoke at the opening of the media center at the University of Southern California. Spielberg said a streak of bad blockbusters would destroy the current cinema system. Everyone knows movie studios are in the business to make money ...there is a
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reVIEW ...from 24 fine line between “the creative process” and the bottom line in the business office. In 2004 “Catwoman” lost big on a $100 million budget, “Alexander” barely broke even on $155 million. In 2005, “Sahara” and “Stealth” lost $250 million. But studios are diversified these days
...they own television networks and stations, they are in involved in video games and product placement ...no longer is it just the price of a ticket. Lucas likens going to the movies to going to a Broadway show. There will be fewer theatres, movies will sit in a theatre for a year, and tickets will be $50, $100, or $150. Everything that is not a blockbuster will be “streamed on demand,” not on cable or broadcast television, but on Internet television. Spielberg’s view is slightly less severe. While he also predicts an
“implosion”, his solution is a bit different... movies will have different prices ...$25 for movies such as “Iron Man”, $7 for movies such as “Lincoln.” He did state that his movie “Lincoln” came very close to being on HBO. To me this is just another indication of the business office making movies instead of the directors and producers. As consumers we will have to put our money where our mouths are. As a theatre major, I can tell you there are weeks of rehearsal and it takes many professionals to put on a show night after night. At the Broadway level, these people are members of a union. AND IT’S LIVE, Mr Lucas. A movie also takes many professionals and union members to make, but not so many to show night after night. STEVEN SPIELBERG “Jaws” “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” “Raiders of the Lost Ark” “E.T. the Extra Terrestrial” “Jurassic Park” “The Color Purple” “Schindler’s List” "Saving Private Ryan” GEORGE LUCAS “Star Wars” saga “Indiana Jones” series “American Graffiti” Some of the biggest and most successful movies of our time and Steven Spielberg and George Lucas are beginning to cry fowl. The new Brad Pitt movie, “Word War Z” will have a $50 “mega ticket.” You will get an early viewing, a download or a film stream when the movie is released on DVD, custom 3D glasses, limited edition poster and free popcorn. Guess this a “test run.” I just hope Brad will be feeding me the popcorn. This promo will be available in Irvine, CA, San Diego, CA,, Houston TX, Atlanta, GA, and Philadelphia, PA. I saw a “small” movie this week, “The Purge,” nice movie with an interesting concept. With a budget of $3 million as of June 10 it had grossed $60 million worldwide. Here in south Alabama it was a $6 matinee ...sounds like a good profit ratio to me. I guess stay tuned for future details and open a savings account for the movies...
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Manager Nick entertainin’ @ Good Friends
The gang at Beaux’s 30th birthday dinner @ Buca di Beppo
Dawn, Karen, Stuart & Ron join Satyricon’s opening night of “Spamalot” Corner Pocket’s Michael & dancer Kyle celebrate the Corner Pocket’s 31st Anniversary
Randy works hard for the money @ Petronius’ Cooking with the Queens
Moon Wok’s newest addition Frankie Fierce
Stephen & Gigi @ Satyricon’s opening night of “Spamalot”
Bartender Don with dancer Rob @ Corner Pocket’s 31st Anniversary
Kajun’s Pub’s Lisa & Joann heading into GAA Top 5 Leather Bar of the Year Finalist Phoenix
Jimmy & Stuart @ Petronius’ Cooking with the Queens
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Jeremy & dancer Jason @ Corner Pocket’s 31st Anniversary
Celebs @ Petronius’ Cooking with the Queens
Corner Pocket MCs Barry Bareass & Lisa Beaumann @ Corner Pocket's 31st Anniversary
More celebs @ Petronius’ Cooking with the Queens
Queen Satyricon Todd & Hoyle @ Satyricon’s opening night of “Spamalot”
Joining Satyricon’s opening night premiere of “Hell’s Belles”
Naked Bike Ride through the French Quarter
Nick, Michael, Tony & Contessa Breaux join the Victory Ball @ the National World War II Museum
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Dans Les Rues (In The Streets) ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Jeremy, Tony Leggio, Paul Melancon
Host Barry Bareass shows off the Sugar Daddy trophy @ Corner Pocket’s 31st Anniversary
Chef, Princesse, Bootsie & C. Alice host Petronius’ Cooking with the Queens @ New Orleans School of Cooking
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CANAL STREET
100 IBERVILLE
200 BIENVILLE
300
TOULOUSE
600
RAMPART
500
BURGUNDY
400 ST. LOUIS
DAUPHINE
ROYAL
CHARTES
DECATUR
CONTI
BOURBON
ST. PETER ORLEANS
800
book stores
900
New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700
1000
chiropractic
ST. ANN
DUMAINE
ST. PHILIP
URSULINES
1100 GOVERNOR NICHOLLS
1200 BARRACKS
1300
classifieds
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1800
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French Quarter/Faubourg Marigny/Bywater
attonreys New Orleans, LA [504] Littlefield Law LLC, Attorney R. Kelp Littlefield, 639 Loyola Ave., Suite 1820, 504.525.1328
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
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
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 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, Facebook.COM/GoldenLanternBar GOOD FRIENDS BAR, 740 Dauphine St, 566.7191, GoodFriendsBar.COM JOHNPAUL'S, 940 Elysian Fields Ave., 948.1888 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
Chalmette, LA [504] SIMPLY PRECISE CHIROPRACTIC, Dr. Domingo De Los Reyes D.C., 9135 West Judge Perez, Suite B, 504.302.1718, SimplyPreciseChiropractic.COM New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MICHAEL LECHLEITER, D.C., 1526 Magazine, 566.1833 [is1113]
circuit/events 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 May 23-26, 2014 Memorial Day Weekend, Pensacola, FL, sponsored by Ambush, GayPensacola.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
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; 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] NEW ORLEANS COURTYARD HOTEL, 1101 North Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone 504.522.7333, Toll Free: 800.457.2253,
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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 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 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 NATIONAL HOTLINE, 206.350.HATE (4283), National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800.799.SAFE (7233), Hate Crimes Hotline at the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights 800.552.6843 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, 1701 Frenchmen St., New Orleans, LA. 70116 KreweOfPetronius.ORG, petronius1961@cox.net 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 Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans , Interim Pastor Gail Minnick , Service
time: Sundays 5pm, 1333 South Carrollton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118, 504.270.1MCC, www.MCCNewOrleans.COM, Pastor @MCCNewOrleans.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 RENEGADE BEARS OF LOUISIANA, PO Box 3083, New Orleans, LA 70177; renegadebearsoflouisiana@gmail.com 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. New Orleans, LA [504] MUMFREY'S PHARMACY, 1021 W. Judge Perez Dr., Chalmette, LA 70043, 504.279.6312, www.MumfreysPharmacy.COM. Supporting & serving the LGBT Community for over 20 years. Local pharmacy offering personalized family-like service, automatic refills & free metro wide confidential pickup & delivery. Also offering shipping for out-side our delivery area. When you call us you speak to a person, not a machine. See our ad.
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trodding the boards by Brian Sands
Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com
Monty Python’s Spamalot at Rivertown Theaters through June 30 If you’re looking for silly fun and pure entertainment, read no further and head out to Kenner to catch the last performances of Monty Python’s Spamalot. I mean it. Put this down and go. Pronto! And now for something completely different, a high-minded theatrical critique. Having seen Spamalot on Broadway, I felt like it was a kind of shotgun marriage of two shows, an impression that Rivertown’s production does little to dissuade. One was a “new musical lovingly ripped off from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail” (their words, not mine). It was funny seeing the classic Python skits done live by a group of accomplished actors. It just wasn’t as funny as watching them done by the original Pythonians. Perhaps the shock value had worn off (certainly the song Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is not nearly as transgressive as when it was sung in Life of Brian by a chorus of crucified men on Golgotha). Perhaps its gonzo style with skits fading into other skits didn’t fully translate from TV and cinema to the stage. Or maybe I just missed the authentic British accents. But I couldn’t help but feel I was watching a xerox of something once rowdily alive.
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 Mandeville, LA [985] The Po-Boy Shack, 1703 N. Causeway Blvd., 626.1303 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.,
Spamalot’s other half was a throbbing theatrical in-joke, wickedly sending up Broadway in particular. Such songs as the Lady of the Lake’s Diva’s Lament, in which she wishes she had more stage time, or You Won’t Succeed on Broadway [if you don’t have any Jews] are hysterical. And who can resist a razor-sharp jibe or two at Andrew Lloyd Webber’s expense? On David Raphel and Eric Porter’s imposingly faux medieval set and wearing Linda Fried’s show-stopping costumes, the entire cast seems to be having a blast whether as dancing dead people or luxuriating in fart humor. Mike Harkins gives King Arthur the proper winking gravitas. And who knew, one or two off-notes excepted, that this fine actor could sing? As Sir Dennis Galahad, Marc Fouchi was a hoot, tossing his blond locks around in dim-witted fashion. Ricky Graham was his inimitable self, his years of cabaret experience paying off with a sharp ad-lib. Janie Heck made for a vivacious Lady of the Lake; memories of her 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 Gene's Po-Boys, 1040 Elysian Fields, 943.3861 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
retail/shopping New Orleans, LA [504] BOURBON PRIDE, 909 Bourbon, 566.1570 BUNGALOWS, 719 Royal St., 522.9222 HIT PARADE, 741 Bourbon St., Facebook.COM/HitParadeNOLA 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, 561.8167
self-effacing Violet at NOCCA made this powerhouse performance even more delectable. P.J. McKinnie, in a variety of parts, like most of the others, put his MFA in Acting to excellent use, really developing comic characters in what could’ve been mere throwaway roles. Mason Wood, David W. Hoover and Gary Rucker, who also directed, each added their own brand of merriment to the proceedings. Alan Payne did his usual fine job as Musical Director and if the music was prerecorded, so what? Sounded good to me. Of course, Always Look on the Bright Side of Life would’ve sounded better if sung by men on crucifixes but I bet it would’ve been a pain to replace all those chorus boys each night.
Sanctified at Anthony Bean Community Theater thru June 30 I’m not sure if Javon Johnson’s Sanctified officially qualifies as “chitlin’ circuit” entertainment, though it undoubtedly seems close. But if the Anthony Bean Community Theater, after two first-class serious productions (El Hajj Malik, Spell #7) wants to kick up its heels with a little summertime fun, why not? In this regional premiere (the show debuted in Chicago in 2009), the East Piney Grove Church decides to stage a revival meeting to raise much-needed funds. Along the way to a happy ending, there are debates about tradition versus change. The young pastor brings in his opera singer cousin to improve the dismal church choir. There’s a piano player who can’t read music and drinks on the side. And two angels appear who try to help but are mistaken for criminals on the run. Never mind the hoary jokes and stereotypical characters and heavenly intervention that make Sanctified seem, at times, like a BET after-school special. Anthony Bean directs efficiently, the cast rises above the material, and when four angelic voices lead the rest of the cast in the title tune for a phenomenal finale, it’s goosebump time.
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
Joshua Kagler fully embraces his role as the change-seeking Pastor and the show first comes to life when he bursts into thrilling song. As his cousin the opera diva, Shelita Burke Manuel oozes style and attitude as she brooks no nonsense from her charges. The lovely Donna M. King gets to show off her powerful voice while being cast against type as a cranky parishioner. Yolanda Cephus, as a more stalwart member of the congregation, is a majestic presence; I could envision her playing the lead in the musical Raisin. As a more conservative-minded Deacon, Steven Burke, Sr.’s bland acting presence contrasts with his awe-inspiring vocal abilities. Prinsey Walker, seen a few years ago as Dorothy in ABCT’s The Wiz, is developing into a lovely young lady with a vibrant stage presence. Sent back to earth to redeem himself for the mistakes he made while alive, Mychael Thompson confirms what I wrote about him in my Spell #7 review—he’s someone to watch out for. Heading to Webster University in the Fall, I hope New Orleans has not seen the last of him. Along with an uncredited drummer, Wynton Thomas provided firm accompaniment on keyboards in addition to portraying an aspiring rapper. No one will ever confuse Sanctified with, say, a musical version of an August Wilson play, but if you’re looking for some lite entertainment, you can catch it uptown until the end of this month.
Trodding around Eastern Europe, Part I I recently had a chance to travel to Eastern Europe, visiting some cities I’d been to before and had written about for Ambush in the Fall of 1997 (Prague, Vienna and Budapest) and one for the first time (Bratislava). I had many wonderful experiences but the absolute highlight was the 21st Annual Life Ball in Vienna, the world’s biggest charity event supporting people with HIV/ AIDS. I had heard that it was spectacular. And it was, incredibly so. Picture if you will the fabulous costumes and joie de vivre from all the gay Mardi Gras balls combined with Orpheus/ Bacchus/Endymion with a pinch of Rex and the other more formal balls thrown in. After all, in addition to being a huge AIDS benefit, Life Ball is the biggest society event in Vienna after the Opera Ball with nearly 4,000 attendees. Then imagine the center of a capital city being shut down for a day as Life Ball’s hardworking crew transforms the Rathaus, Vienna’s 130-year-old City Hall, into an enormous party venue/staging area/entertainment locale with dazzling lights, elaborate sets and VIP grandstands. Add to that a range of celebrities the like of which I’ve never seen before. Bill Clinton is a regular presence as Life Ball contributes approximately $1 million each year to his Foundation; I wasn’t there (darn!), but I heard he spoke with eloquence at the formal dinner the night before the main event. Elton John, whose Foundation has often been another recipient of Life Ball’s largesse, made an impassioned speech as part of the Opening Ceremony denouncing homophobes in Ukraine. On a nice but unseasonably chilly
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ambush
Scott & Scott @ GAA Top 5 Show Bar of the Year Finalist Michael’s Bartender Josh @ Cafe Lafitte in Exile
Bartender Carol @ Le Roundup
JJ & Sta’cee @ Le Roundup Brad & Chuck @ Double Play
Chris & Paul
New bartender Chris & bartender Cha Cha @ GAA Top 5 Neighborhood Bar of the Year Finalist Good Friends
GAA Top 5 Neighborhood Bar of the Year Finalist Golden Lantern bartenders Wayne & Josh
Dancer Bucky on the pole @ Rainbow Room
Starr Daniels @ Michael’s On The Park
Vanessa & Thomas @ GAA Top 5 Restaurant/Deli of the Year Finalist Clover Grill
Patrick, Alonzo, John, Rashad & Robert @ Voodoo
Petpet Van Brundt & Cloe @ Voodoo
Rainbow Room bartender Matt
Sam & Paula Poundcake @ Ninth Circle Bartender Paul @ Iggy’s
Shonda & Rusty @ AllWays Lounge
Andre & Bruce @ Phoenix
Felix @ GAA Top 5 Neighborhood Bar of the Year Finalist Golden Lantern
GAA Top 5 Bitch of the Year Finalist Tiffany Alexander in Divas R Us
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Lumières, L’action de la Caméra (Lights, Camera, Action) ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Paul Melancon
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a community within communities
by The Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal Church Email: fr.bill@stannanola.org
Community Dynamics Mother Teresa said, “ We think sometimes that poverty is only being hungry, naked and homeless. The poverty of being unwanted, unloved and uncared for is the greatest poverty. We must start in our own homes to remedy this kind of poverty.” I would suspect that there are a number of persons in the LGBT community that understand what Mother Teresa is saying. I would also like to suggest that this phenomena of poverty is not restricted to the LGBT community but that, with profound sorry, it
trodding the boards ...from 32 night, in addition to the many guests— whose grandiose costumes had to pass muster with the Style Police—entering on the red (or “magenta” as they call it) carpet starting at 7:30pm, came Barbara Eden, who would later appear in her I Dream of Jeannie outfit as the theme this year was 1001 Nights. And Olympic gold medalist and AIDS activist Greg Louganis with his partner Johnny Chaillot who used to be my neighbor here; it was a truly pleasant surprise bumping into them on the street the day before. And NYC drag diva/performance artist Joey Arias. And opera diva Anna Netrebko, whose hand I kissed several hours later as she was leaving. Melanie Griffith passed by before I realized it was her (I also somehow missed her later presentation but I did see the tribute to Rudolf Nureyev who died from AIDS complications). The ceremony itself began at 9:30pm with the Mayor of Vienna welcoming everybody. An orchestra played Carl Nielson’s appropriate Aladdin Suite. Adam Lambert, looking like Aladdin himself, came on to sing the 2013 Life Ball song, Love Wins Over Glamour, which was followed by nearly 300 dancing harem girls and boys which led into dancer Desmond Richardson leading Hilary Swank onstage to present the Crystal of Hope Award. Donated by Swarovski, it recognized the transnational project The Girl Effect that seeks to empower young women to combat AIDS and end poverty. Louganis then came on stage to introduce Eden, now looking like Jeannie, who granted three wishes to Clinton, Sir Elton and singer Fergie representing amfAR. Once they all cleared the stage, Carmen Electra entered atop a divan carried on the shoulders of four cuties. Then opera singer Erwin Schrott, Netrebko’s life partner, sang something. And then there was a half hour Roberto Cavalli fashion show with Karolina Kurkova among various celebrity models. I’m probably leaving a few folks out but you get the idea of the awesome spectacle. And there was also verbal sparring between the two elegant narrators and a holographic evil djinn, something about “When hatred turns into love”. The hologram was cool but I could’ve done without
extends way beyond this community. The object of this article is best summarized as follows: “Separating out the numbers by race shows a profound and growing racial inequality. While the overall adult poverty rate is 27%, black poverty is nearly double the white poverty rate: 34% compared to 14%. The child poverty rate of black children under five years old is an appalling 65% compared to less than 1% for whites. The Census Bureau data indicate that there are 9,649 black children under the age of five living in poverty in New Orleans in contrast to only 203 white the quasi-Wagnerian dialog. By midnight the party had moved indoors and continued till 5:00am. There was an oriental souk in the courtyard where you could have your tea leaves read by a fortuneteller, your name rendered in graceful Arabic script, or eat some tempting Arabian foods. Barbara Eden was also there for a while but somehow I missed her, my one disappointment of the evening as I was in a Jeannie-inspired ensemble. (Clinton, on stage earlier, seemed to relish meeting Barbara almost as much as receiving $1million.) At least I did get to see the belly dancer and the fetching boy with the tray of tasty treats. I also managed to catch transgender performer Amanda Lepore’s tush as she was exiting the stage after a pop-up concert in one of the rooms. And the dick of a cute judge at the costume competition, who happened to pull it out as the results were being tallied. It was a kinda small tally itself but I certainly didn’t expect to see anything like that at the Rathaus! Roaming from room to room with friends I ate, I drank (sticking to $6 cans of Red Bull after discovering that cocktails were $16), and I even won ballet tickets in a raffle drawing. There was occasionally a problem of access to certain areas but I was always content just to go in another direction where something else entertaining was happening. By around 3:15am I was on my own and thinking about heading out when, wandering in new directions in the Rathaus, I discovered whole other rooms of activity (or inactivity in the case of the chill-out room). In the Wappensaal, Ogris Debris, an Austrian electronic music duo was performing; its singer would fit in well with our own New Orleans Bingo! Show. I suspect there still might be some leftover Life Ball activity going on somewhere in the Rathaus. By 4:45am, it really was time to leave. Outside, on the Rathaus grounds, I was asked by a young gal, whose boyfriend was struggling in four inch heels, “Are you going to the Afterpaty in the Volksgarten?” Much as I might’ve like to, I needed to head off to bed. As I pedaled back to my friend’s apartment courtesy of Vienna’s wonderful Citybike program, a full moon was setting opposite a rising sun. And I wondered if the preceding ten hours hadn’t just been a magnificent dream. If you’d like to find out for yourself, plan a trip to next year’s Life Ball.
children.” Poverty Skyrockets in New Orleans: 65% of Black Children Under Age of Five Living in Poverty, By Lance Hill If we are tired of hearing this sort of data it is the fatigue of lost hopes; lost belief; and lost opportunities. Do remember the enthusiasm following Katrina; the hope that we can rebuild a new city filled with dreams of great schools; great green spaces; improved streets; new infra-structures – who knows maybe even city-wide Wi-Fi?! Do you remember those days? I actually can recall a six to ten month period when not one murder happened in our city. Of course the population was what about 50,000100,000 then. So for whatever reasons: greed, corruption, lack of honest engagement, turf wars, whatever the cause this has not come about. True we do have some enhancements: a new street car systems is evolving; a new park along the Riverfront is taking shape; our city’s benefactor Tom Benson has developed a great tourist and sports venue and taken over and reclaimed the dormant complex next to the Super Dome. Scaffolding has filled the sky line in and near the ‘new medical corridor.’ Why even as we speak, 8 years later, the Fifth District Police Station is being rebuilt as is the St. Roch Market. But that dream remains incomplete doesn’t it? Please, reread the second paragraph which should be daunting and startling and enraging. Please re-read the opening quote and now place both of them into relationship with one another. New Orleans is, after all, our home. Education, yes education another object of our despair has some bright spots: Lusher School; some KIP Schools and a few others seem to be elevating the educational standards afforded to some of the population. But alas, we are a community within communities and it seems that below Canal Street we are lacking in an excellent school that is not already over burdened or scheduled for closing. The last time I looked the great great Cathedral School in the French Quarter is – yes closing. St. Paul’s in the Marigny is at capacity. The Arts School in the French Quarter is limited and of course our pride and joy NOCCAA is doing great things. Yet, there are hundreds of children living in poverty, bread by poverty, nurtured by the realities of harsh poverty that are growing up among us. I believe this is connected directly to the murder plague that haunts our city. As a priest I cannot and will not sit by and accept this as “the way it is” and I know for a fact that most don’t want to. The challenge is what can we effectively do to break the back of poverty, disenfranchisement, and consequential malaise? Small steps perhaps but how does this sound? Let’s build a school that is faith based, thus giving life and spirit to children when not much of that exists, and let’s extend that school into a pocket of poverty. Let’s focus on the arts and educational goals that work. For the arts are naturally New Orleans and there is a longing for these expressions in our city streets. Further, let’s introduce a night school for adult education perhaps reaching some of the parents of these children or certainly our newest potential disenfranchised population immigrants. In addition to that let’s introduce a healthy living piece that provides medical care, diagnosis, and medical navigation so that whole families and indeed neighborhoods can become well: physically, mentally, intellectually, and spiritually. What a concept and in this unique
and one of a kind place let’s practice and teach tolerance for all peoples as a foundational piece for learning so that we might “respect the dignity of every human being.” WOW! Can this be true can this imaginary place happen? Will this curb or stop the onslaught of this dark plague of violence. How can it not. If not for a current lost generation (although we still hold out hope) then certainly for those coming up on their heels. Children 5, 6, 9, 12 years old; parents struggling with new families and responsibilities – how can this fail? Let’s take this dreamscape and go one step further shall we? Indulge me and keep reading. Let’s create a funding stream for this place that will serve to make staff and personnel a part of the community; let’s create spaces that offer job training and entrepreneurship so that education can produce benefit. Let’s create a neighborhood footprint that becomes a game changer in one of these pockets of poverty. Let’s make it sustainable, let’s make it creative, and let’s make it work! No it will not address the hundreds but maybe 60 or even 100 children will grown in the knowledge and love of peace and truth and dignity. The same might be said for 100+ adult students. The might be said for 20 or 30 parents of these students who truly seek a better way and at least this – HOPE. St. Anna’s Episcopal Church with the great mentoring of an expert is starting
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obituary Mark James Kinsell Mark James Kinsell, at the age of 47, passed away on June 7, 2013. Mark was a well-known member of our community, having lived in New Orleans for many years. He was born October 24, 1965 in Baltimore, MD but made his mark here in New Orleans as a hairdresser and friend. On June 17th, a memorial service was held at JohnPaul’s on Elysian Fields where friends spoke of the great times spent with him and the impact he had on others. Unfortunately, Mark’s family was unable to attend the ceremony, but they sent a heart-felt letter of love, not just for Mark, but for everyone that contributed happiness and joy to his life in New Orleans. Mark worked as a hairdresser in the French Quarter for many years, gracing the doorsteps of such places as Salon D’Malta, As You Like It, Head Quarters and eventually from his own home in the Marigny. One of the strongest traits that Mark exhibited that endeared him to the community was his need to help people. He may not have been a rich philanthropist, but when a friend needed a place to stay, a shoulder to cry on, or even help with a perm, Mark was there. At his memorial, several people referred to his ability to make people smile with his sharp and clever charm with streaks and highlights of a deep, caring soul. Mark will be greatly missed by those of us fortunate enough to have known him, and through the impact he has had on us, his spirit will live on.
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a community ...from 36 schools and consultation of some strong business personalities would like to introduce you to The Academy at St. Anna’s Church aka St. Anna’s Episcopal School. I know that our community has the resources to get this done if we are of a single mind; I know that St. Anna’s has the Medical Mission; Oportunidades (Adult learning center); and Anna’s Arts for Kids; I know that
there is property in and around Dodwell House (the anchor property) this is for sale. This is a present reality that is more than a fictional and idealized dream. Preliminary plans and budgets have been projected. The “school” has already been licensed by the state. I ask you this, who in this readership is
now willing to step forward in a BIG and FABULOUS way to get this dream done? I am willing to meet with any group anywhere who is serious about changing the life of our community. I will have plans, budgets, and dreams to share. Will you invite us to share them with you? We can be a force to be reckoned with mobilized and strong. Don’t let PRIDE slip away until next year. Let’s
show our PRIDE now; let’s be the ESSENCE of a mobilized community that thinks outside of our box; Declare our Independence! A Community within Communities WITH compassion and Energy: E-mail Fr. Bill at fr.bill@stannanola.org. or call 504.947.2121 to set up your appoint to change the world we live in.
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pensacola
All Smiles @ Emerald City ~ Pensacola, Florida ~ Photos by Lauren Mitchell
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GAA Top 5 Hair Salon of the Year Finalist Head Quarters
Frankie Fierce & new Bourbon Pub Operations Manager Joe
Tattoo Tuesday Contest 1st place & 2nd place @ Oz
GAA Top 5 DJ of the Year Finalist DJ Dominick @ Lafitte’s
Drag Brunch with Coca Mesa, Sheeya Man & Moanalot Fontaine @ Country Club
Nick & Gerard
DJ Kyle David & GAA Top 5 DJ of the Year Finalist DJ JRB @ Oz
Roger grabbing a cocktail @ Voodoo
Welcome to GAA Top 5 Neighborhood Bar of the Year Finalist Cafe Lafitte in Exile
Partying @ Oz
Antonio & bartender David @ Voodoo
ambush
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Oz manager Adrien with GAA Top 5 Bartender of the Year Finalist “Easy” Earl Johnson Athena Jewelle hanging out @ Cafe Lafitte’s
Wayne & Robert bartending @ GAA Top 5 Show Bar of the Year Finalist Oz
Charles & Carla bartending @ GAA Top 5 Dance Club of the Year Finalist Bourbon Pub & Parade
Chuck cocktailin’ @ Cafe Lafitte in Exile Bartender TJ @ Ninth Circle
Andy @ GAA Top 5 Restaurant/ Deli of the Year Finalist Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli
DJ Karbin, Ambush’s Paul & DJ Plez @ Ninth Circle
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Vie Nocturne Dans La Ville (Nightlife in the City) ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Frankie Fierce, Charles Jenkins, Paul Melancon
Shot Boy Caleb @ GAA Top 5 Dance Club of the Year Finalist Oz
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B-Bob’s Action ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Leon Weekley
Steven, Miss Venus & Jerry enjoying karaoke
Fun times
Brandon & Jessica singing their hearts out @ karaoke
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