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the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
Holidays Across the Gulf South The holidays are in full swing and tis' the season to celebrate. Happy Holidays from the staff of Ambush Magazine! Whether it's at your favorite club, or the home of friends or family, you have to dress for the occasion, or find that perfect gift. Why not shop your local LGBT+ boutiques, shops or stores? There are many choices. Some of Ambush recommendations include Bourbon Pride, 909 Bourbon; COK (Clothing or Kink), 941 Elysian Fields; CUIR, 708 Toulouse St.; Hit Parade, 741 Bourbon St.; Mary's French Quarter Kitchen & Bath, 732 N. Rampart; Panda Bear, 415 Bourbon St.; QT Pie Boutique, 241 Dauphine St.; and Rab Dab Clothing and Gifts, 918 Royal St. in New Orleans; and Four Seasons Flowers & Gifts, 3482 Drusilla Lane, Drusilla Shopping Center, in Baton Rouge. Gift certificates are also a great alternative, perhaps at one of Ambush recommended hair salons including Head Quarters Hair Salon, 906 Bourbon St.; Mickey Nolan's Salon, 717 Toulouse St.; and Two Guys Cutting Hair, 2372 St. Claude Ave., Suite 125, in New Orleans. Or how about a gift certificate to your fav restaurant? Ambush recommends Chef Ron's Gumbo Stop & Pub, 2309 N. Causeway Blvd. in Metairie; and in New Orleans, The Bombay Club, 830 Rue Conti; Broussard’s Restaurant & Courtyard, 819 Rue Conti; Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St.; Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St.; Deanie's Seafood, French Quarter: 841 Iberville, or Bucktown: 1713 Lake Ave. in Metairie; Fatoush Mediterranean Grill, Coffee House & Juice Bar, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #130; Feelings Cafe, 2600 Chartres; Gene's Po-Boys & Daquiris, 1040 Elysian Fields Ave.; Ilys Bistro, 1040 Elysian Fields Ave.; Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails, 337 Chartres St.; Little Vic’s Rosticceria, 719 Toulouse; Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St.; Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro, 720 Orleans; Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St.; and Royal House Oyster Bar, 441 Royal St. Then of course there are the numerous bars, pubs and clubs where some offer VIP cards, merchandise and more. Flip through these pages to find your favorite one! It is also the season for all of there holiday parties, toy drives and shows. Some of the holiday parties include Tuesday, Dec. 15th, 5-7pm at GrandPre's; Wednesday, Dec. 16th, 8-10pm at Oz; Thursday, Dec. 17th, 7-9pm at Four Seasons in Metairie; Friday, Dec. 18th, 7:30pm, at The Double Play; Saturday, Dec. 19th at Bourbon Pub & Parade, and The Golden Lantern; and Sunday, Dec. 20th, 7-10pm, at The Corner Pocket in New Orleans. In Mobile, BBob's hosts its holiday party Sunday, Dec. 20th, 6-8pm, at 213 Conti. For more details, see their ads; some require unwrapped toys for underpriviledged children as an entry donation. Everything is right at your finger tips in Ambush Magazine, your holiday guide.
"Queen of the Opera: Act II," Aubrey Synclaire to lead 29th Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss In an interesting twist to the short 2016 Carnival Season, Aubrey Synclaire will continue her reign as King Cake Queen XXII of Gay Mardi Gras. The CoCaptains of the Krewe of Queenateenas, Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain, are proud to announce that 2016 will see "Queen of the Opera: Act II." This will be the first time a King Cake Queen has reigned for two years. The Queen of the Opera will lead the 29th Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss on Fat Tuesday, February 9, 2016 from World famous Ambush Mansion's Bourbon Street balcony at 2pm. Located at 828 Bourbon Street, the Bead Toss follows the 52nd Annual Bourbon Street Awards, beginning at 12noon, hosted by Oz New Orleans and Ambush Magazine. The co-captains made their decision based on private family obligations. Visit www.GayMardiGras.com/KCQ for the latest information.
Historic New Orleans Collection to host multiple events for PhotoNOLA 2015 The Historic New Orleans Collection (THNOC) will return as a participating venue for PhotoNOLA 2015, which will take place citywide Dec. 10–13. Presented by the New Orleans Photo Alliance, the 10th annual photography festival features broad-ranging photography exhibitions, portfolio reviews, workshops, lectures, book signings and the PhotoGALA. Many events are free and
open to the public, and the full festival schedule is available at https:// photonola.org. THNOC’s contributions to the festival include the exhibition “The Katrina Decade: Images of an Altered City,” a film screening and two lectures and book signings with photographers. Details about these eventsavailable online at www.hnoc.org.
French Quarter Festivals, Inc. presents Christmas New Orleans Style Concert Series French Quarter Festivals, Inc. rings in the holiday season with its Christmas New Orleans Style concert series. All concerts at St. Louis Cathedral begin at 6pm (excluding 12/20), and last approximately one hour. Remaining concerts include: >Wednesday, December 9: John Rankin (Classical) >Sunday, December 13: Don Vappie (Jazz-Variety) >Monday, December 14: St. Peter Claver Gospel Choir (Gospel) >Tuesday, December 15: Debbie Davis and Friends (Jazz-Variety) >Wednesday, December 16: Opera Creole (Classical) >Thursday December 17: Lena Prima (Jazz-Swing) >Sunday December 20 (5:30pm): St. Louis Basilica Christmas Concert (Jazz) St. Augustine is the oldest AfricanAmerican Catholic church in the United States and is located at 1210 Gov. Nicholls Street in the historic Treme neighborhood. Free secure parking is available in the church’s parking lot enter from Henriette Delille Street (formerly St. Claude Avenue). The St. Augustine Church holiday concerts begin at 4pm and last approximately one hour. The concerts are free and open to the public, and donations are welcome. Remaining concerts include: >Saturday, December 12: Evan Christopher (Traditional Jazz) >Saturday, December 19: Zion Harmonizers (Gospel) For more information about Christmas New Orleans Style or French Quarter Festivals, Inc. visit followyourjoy.com or fqfi.org.
inside
THE OFFICIAL MAG
Facebook.COM/AmbushMag Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 • Texas-Florida Official Gay Easter Parade Guide© Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide© Official Gay New Orleans Guide© Official Pride Guide© Official Southern Decadence Guide© AWARD WINNING:
Saints & Sinners Literary Festival Hall of Fame/2015, Louisiana Excellence Award: Media & Internet/2014, New Orleans Print Media Award/ 2014, 25th NO/AIDS Task Force Humanitas Award/2013, New Orleans Print Media Award/ 2013, Krewe of Mwindo Media Honoree/2009, Krewe of Petronius Carnival Spirit of Gay Mardi Gras XLVIII Award/2009, Forum For Equality Acclaim Awards X Media Recipient/2008, NO/AIDS Task Force Prometheus “Torch of Truth” [media] Award/2001 OFFICE/SHIPPING ADDRESS: 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 USA OFFICE HOURS: 10am-3pm Monday-Friday [Except Holidays] Email: ripna@ambushmag.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 Texas - Houston
STAFF: PUBLISHER/EDITOR R. Rip Naquin, New Orleans PRODUCTION DIRECTOR M. Marsha Delain, New Orleans GULF SOUTH/NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Rip Naquin • 504.522.8049 Paul Melancon THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Tony Leggio, Hubert S Monkeys, Felicia Phillips, Frank Perez, Rev. Bill Terry-New Orleans MIss Cie, Leon Weekley-Mobile, AL 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. ©1982-2015 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
Christmas/New Year's issue out Dec. 22 DEADLINE: Tues., Dec. 15
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celebrazzi Clover Grill manager Errol Rizzuto and Wood Enterprises GM Tim Wilson present long-time chair and MC of the Red Party "Cardinal" Jeffrey Palmquist with an "Errol Rizzuto" creation in honor of his dedication to the event. Celebrating the 23rd Annual Red Party, the staff of Cafe Lafitte in Exile went all out for their turnabout show with emphasis on this year's theme, "Cardinal Knowledge: Practice What You Preach." After each performance, that staff member auctioned off a cross which they actually created or acquired. Money was also raised from a raffle with over 100 prizes, stage performance tips, and donations. There was also a special appearance by Kim Davis portrayed accurately by Coca J Mesa, auctioning off two rosaries presented to her by the Pope. It was a smashing success raising $3,518.30 for Food For Friends. It also brought the total raised for the past 23 years to a whopping $102,182. There were some 23 performances, and Southern Decadence Grand Marshal XLI "Cardinal" Rip Naquin joined Jeff as MC again this year. Special thanks to all who made this a huge success, and for the $100 donation from DB Carnes. For more information on Cafe Lafitte in Exile, visit www.Lafittes.com.
New Cafe Lafitte in Exile manager Ace Lott had the highest bid for bartender Mike Carpini's cross creation during the 23rd Annual Red Party only to donate it back to be auctioned again. The annual turnabout show raised $3,518.30 for Food For Friends.
The Lords of Leather proved once again what a hysterical group these guys can be for their annual turnabout show celebrating "Welcome to the 60s." The event raised funds to put on the krewe's 2016 bal masque on Sunday, Feb. 7th. (www.LordsOfLeather.org)
Doug Minich and Michael Ducote celebrate the opening of their newest venture, The Cheezy Cajun, bringing South Louisiana cracklins, boudin and more to the Bywater in New Orleans. The restaurant/deli is located at 3325 St. Claude. Open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 10am-7pm; Saturday 8am-7pm; Sunday 8am-3pm. Closed on Wednesdays. (www.TheCheezyCajun.com)
Dwain Hertz and cousin Gene Theriot welcome Ambush readers to Ilys Bistro, behind Gene's Po-Boys & Daquiris located at 1040 Elysian Fields Ave. in New Orleans. (www.Facebook.com/ILYSBistro)
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moments in gay new orleans history by Professor Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
The Country Club: 38 Years of Cocktailing and Cruising In 1883, George and Anne Canby purchased a lot of land a block from the Mississippi River on Louisa Street in what is now called the Bywater. A year later they built their dream home on the land—an Italianate Raised Center Hall Cottage. Little did they know that 100 years later, their home would host multitudes of naked gay men cocktailing and cruising. The cottage served as family home for a string of owners until 1977, when it became home to another sort of family. In that year, Douglas Williams, Daniel Wilson, and Gary Clay purchased the home, installed a swimming pool in the backyard, and opened the Country Club. The club, which featured a bar and a clothing optional pool area, catered almost exclusively to gay men. Originally, the club was only open from April to October. In February of 1978, Williams bought out Wilson and Clay, and later that year sold the business and prop-
erty to Jacqueline McPherson. McPherson then purchased the adjacent property, a double shotgun, and, merging the two back-yards, expanded the pool area. McPherson also used the kitchen in the adjacent shotgun to prepare food for guests. A formal restaurant would come later. McPherson owned the Country Club for twenty-two years and sold it to Blake Miller in 2000, who, in turn, sold it to its current owner in 2003. The Country Club underwent a major renovation in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina destroyed several of the
a community within communities by The Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, New Orleans Email: fr.bill@stannanola.org
VIGNETTES Part III FINAL CHAPTER Definition of VIGNETTE 1: a running ornament (as of vine leaves, tendrils, and grapes) put on or just before a title page or at the beginning or end of a chapter; also : a small decorative design or picture so placed The longest night is December 22nd. It is a metaphor for some. The Holidays aren’t always holidays filled with joy but are days earmarked by loss. We are surrounded by imagines of joy and family and gathering and great gifting. Our vignette may look like an Escher drawing confounding the mind with steps that go nowhere and balconies that are turned upside down. “Tis the Season” right? For sure I love Christmas. It so often can bring out the best in us. For the Scrooges out there it even seems to touch some of them. We, as a community, tend to give abundantly during this season. So, while this chapter that describes Christmas or Chanukah or Cuanza may look like an Escher drawing with strange twists
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and turns and non-seneschal diversions there is still a whisper. A still quite voice that says, “Give unto others.” So, who are the others? The “others” are people that we judge not to have as much as we. In some cases we are correct. I know that several children in the Treme will do OK for Christmas. The rent may not get paid, or the cell phone bill may cause a disconnect notice, or perhaps even the food will be stretched but most parents will try to make enough ends to meet to insure that kids get something. This year like last year The Phoenix in collaboration with other bars and organizations will do a toy drive. That drive will result in a lot of “others” getting toys in abundance. For a child or children that don’t know abundance that will surely mean something. We start a new chapter beyond Escher…this one is filled with light and hope and joy and meets the spiritual needs of many. Perhaps that utility bill can be paid, or rent met on time, and cell phones stay lit up. This toy drive effects more than the kids. Bears, Leather, Lords, Queens, Otters, and whatever else there is out
property’s ten chimneys and the wooden deck around the pool. Although the building did not flood, heavy rains did inflict water damage in the main house and the cabana bar. The owner spared no expense in painstakingly restoring the home. The restoration and renovation began to attract a clientele the club had not previously enjoyed—straight women. Prior to Katrina, the Country Club was primarily frequented by gay men. Another major facelift came in 2007 when a commercial kitchen was installed in what had previously been the master bedroom. The restaurant consistently receives great reviews; personally, I’ve never had a bad meal there.The Finnish Sauna and locker room was added in 2010 and in 2012, the main bar was completely remodeled with Black Walnut and granite as well as the addition of big screen televisions. The Country Club underwent another big change in 2014, albeit not a physical one. In October of 2014, the Country Club discontinued its long-standing clothing optional policy for the pool area. This decision was not popular. Many people blamed a woman who had been drugged and raped at the Country Club for the change in policy but the criminal incident was not responsible for the decision. According to General Manager Bert McComas,
several residents and business in the neighborhood had circulated a petition to have the Club’s liquor license revoked. Because the pool and Cabana Bar are open until 1am, McComas speculates that the complaints stemmed from noise issues. After Treme’s allegations of being raped, the city forced the Country Club’s hand when the Alcohol and Beverage Control Board threatened to revoke the Club’s liquor license unless it abandoned its clothing optional policy. Despite the unpopularity of the decision to make people put their clothes back on, the Country Club remains popular with locals and tourists alike. One of the most popular events the Country Club hosts is its twicemonthly Drag Brunch. Reservations for the Drag Brunch are required weeks, if not months, in advance. The change in the nudity policy as well as the prevalence of straight women (and men) at the Country Club has caused some to lament the loss of exclusively gay spaces. But from another perspective, these changes are inevitable as they reflect shifts in societal attitudes toward the LGBT+ community. The Country Club is a prime example of how traditionally gay institutions can adapt to the changing times while still maintaining their gay heritage and identity. For additional info: (www.TheCountryClubNewOrleans.com).
there have needs beyond their social life and fellowship. At least that is what I’ve seen. There is a deep need to give in the face of rejection. It sounds backwards doesn’t it? But this vignette takes a higher ground. In “The Community” men and women have learned over the years to become inter-dependant. There is a culture of giving and mutual support. That culture developed over many years of living in a ghetto real or imagined. The ghetto walls are coming down but not the spirit that has thrived in those walls. Giving. Perhaps the Longest Night need not be quite so long nor dark. Toys upon toys no doubt will find their way onto a table top with hard body poster boys looking on. The gathered leather community or bear community or whatever community will drink rejoice and joke a bit about those toys. But within each gift I am sure there resides an essence of caring love that comes from the giver. You see those toys are destined for the children of the Treme and the fact is that in the giving comes the gift of grace. Grace is that feeling of warmth of knowing that one is doing something that is just and right and necessary in a world that tends to be a bit dreary or perhaps even violent. It is a still quiet moment in the back of a mind that says, “I did a good thing today.” That is Grace. Perhaps this chapter might be a quiet pool of water with a shaft of sunlight illuminating a dove. The oversized first letter of the paragraph is “G” for Gift giving gives
grace. The Longest Night is not quite so long anymore. This final chapter of vignettes is rife with possibilities. In the Christian tradition this is a season of Advent. It is a season to re-visit our lives with light and hope and expectations of a brighter future in the midst of a darker past. It is a season of hope. What do we hope for? Perhaps it is simply that today is a bitter better than yesterday. Perhaps today is a kinder day wherein we begin to appreciate diversity in more significant ways. Perhaps today we might find ourselves a little less hopeless and more hopeful even in the face of darkness. In the first chapter we spoke about how difficult it is for some to live in this city but there was hope. In the next chapter we spoke about what hope looks like and basically it was valuing even the people, children, which are problematic. In this chapter it is finding ourselves in darkness and that finding manifests in generosity. All in all these vignettes, adornments of a text, are our stories and our lives. They may never be written in a great history of New Orleans but they will be remembered in the cosmos in the heavens for eternity. This book is our book. It is adorned with hope, justice, care, servant hood, and a desire for us to create a better life for each other and for the word and we do so one person at a time.
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ADVENT the Season of Hope and Expectations...
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the real cheese by Felicia Phillips Email: fphillips1011@gmail.com Photo by Hubert S Monkeys
Good Out of Bad Recently I shared the fact that one can experience just as much craziness in this city on a Tuesday night as on any given weekend, well my columns tale will reinforce that statement. This one did not begin with dinner and bottomless wine, but more so with one of NOLA’s blessings/curses depending on how you look at it, "Day Drinking." GrandPre’s was short handed and rather than ask the staff to work extra Ken himself chose to jump behind the bar and sling cocktails on this Tuesday, of course I felt it was my duty to show up and harass him from the customer side of the bar. I tell myself to do this day drinking thing in a sensible manner, so I decide on a simple mimosa or two, okay maybe it was three, but none the less I’m thinking I have this under control. I realize that I wasn’t going to be able to get under Ken’s thick skin, so I temporarily retreat for a bite to eat and to regroup for another attack on his sanity. Upon returning I think since I’ve now eaten it will be perfectly acceptable to kick up my alcohol intake to a more aggressive level, so I proceed to get our bartender for
a day to start concocting tasty yet much like the devil himself, deceivingly evil cocktails. This is where the trouble began, after much cutting up with the regulars, I decide to head over to Lafitte’s to give my congrats to Jeff Palmquist on the success of the Red Party, only to discover he was already off. Roman ‘Stevie Nicks’ Harrington was on duty so of course I had to have a cocktail before moving on. Next stop has to be The Corner Pocket, as I had just discovered not only was two time winner of bartender of the year, Ashlee Logan working, but rumor was she might have one of her famous sweet potato pies there. I had already heard they rivaled Patti LaBelle’s and had to find out for myself! Well Ashlee was there but to my dismay no pie! This of course depressed me to the point that I needed another cocktail, and of course there were some other sweet things in the building that I didn’t mind looking at. So by now I’m lubricated, and decide to stop by and see another favorite bartender of mine and many, Will Antill at the Double Play. Well it's there that I stumble (literally) upon friends, who shall remain nameless in order to protect the innocent. But I will say
they both have a way with the written word, and one might even be a member or the alleged Ambush Mafia. Great conversation led to another drink and then the dreaded Fireball shots! The more sensible of the trio left before said shots I might interject. Hind site being 20/20 that’s what I should’ve done as well, but alas that was not how this tale was to end. Finally realizing that my day had now nearly turned into my next morning, I and my unnamed cohort mutually decide it would be in our best interest to call it a night. Wisely I decide to escort him to his home which would put me on a safe route back to GrandPre’s before closing. We shortly came upon a regular transgender ‘working’ girl and her handsome young friend, they both smile and seemed so excited to see us, so much so the young man asked for a picture with me, mind you I’m at the point of liquor delusions of grandeur that I think we must be celebrities to them, so I say sure!! Trans pulls out her cute pink Iphone and young man hugs me, I say Cheese of course, and we are back on our way. Upon arriving back at my home bar, I decide its cab time and reach for my wallet to see if enough funds are left, and yes you guessed it, wallet is gone! All the drinking done this day matters not, as I instantly catch my snap and head back to retrieve it from these two players, well of course they were long gone, but I find out the working girls name, Tamyra. Now my lesson learned is obvious, but hers is that you might want to chose your targets a little better as you never know when one might be the Cheese Queen of NOLA, who is going to write about your rachet ass in her next column!
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Now I always try to find good out of any bad, but was not sure how I could in this situation. It wasn’t until a week later when I make the trek to replace my driver’s license do I start to see the good. First the DMV couldn’t have been better, or faster. It was nothing like the nightmare I imagined, then the picture on my new one was actually better than the last one. My ride was Lee ‘Bunny’ Brasseaux, he needed to shop after and proceeded to Kmart of all places, thinking this will be a buzz kill, as I have never been a blue light shopper. To my surprise the first thing I see is a huge sale on the entire Adam Levine collection! I go blue light crazy. It's in the parking lot when I can’t wait to change into my new threads, that I realize the drunken pick pocketing experience started a chain of events that would lead me to find myself getting into Adam Levine’s pants! Praise Jesus, God is good! So in fairness rather than seek vengeance on the evil doers that took my wallet, I have decided to help Ashlee Logan start her Sweet Potato Pie Rehabilitation Program, where we will gather up all the street hookers and hustlers, teach them how to make better pies than Miss Patti LaBelle herself (now you know any drag queen over the age of 30 loves some Patti, but I’m telling you Ashlee’s pies are even better), drop them back off on the same corners they have been thieving on, where they will sell those sweet potato pies to pay their restitution to society! And that is The Real Cheese! Till next time dahlins, I’m Felicia Phillips, The Cheese Queen of New Orleans!
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paparazzi
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23rd Annual Red Party Raises over $3,500 for Food For Friends Emceed by Jeff & Rip @ Cafe Lafitte in Exile ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Darwin Reed
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The communities newest members experience Thanksgiving French Quarter style @ GrandPre’s
Bartender Urban joins Deanna for Thanksgiving @ Double Play Bar Baron’s Michael, Tommy & Carl celebrate Thanksgiving @ The Corner Pocket
New Orleans theater trio Michael, Bob & Tom join Double Play’s Thanksgiving Larry & Orlando join Corner Pocket Thanksgiving Feast
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Kenny Petite & Richie having a Thanksgiving night cap @ Phoenix King Amon-Ra L Darwin & Cary @ Corner Pocket Thanksgiving bash
Missy Mae, Leonard, Opal, Cary & Darwin join Thanksgiving @ GrandPre’s
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Wood Enterprises’ Chris & Corner Pocket’s Tommy enjoy Thanksgiving @ The Pocket
Thanksgiving Celebrations ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Paul Melancon, Rip Naquin
Lords of Leather “Welcome to the 60s” Hysterical Turnabout Show ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Hubert S Monkeys
Doorman, bartender Tommy, manager Will & bar baron Chuck prepare the Thanksgiving Feast @ Double Play
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under the gaydar by Tony Leggio Email: ledgemgp@gmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham
Bartender of the Month
Hot Happenings
It is the holidays and you are spending more time with your families, so there is no one more important in your life at this time of the year than your bartender. He can get you through the family craziness. So my choice for December’s bartender of the month is the ideal candidate. He is the entire package, sweet, good looking, professional, great personality and does a fabulous body shot. I am talking about the fabulous Joseph Visconti from Good Friends.
It’s the holidays in NOLA and what a wonderful time of the year. With all the parties and festivities, your calendar will be full. Here are just a few of them to get your holidays started right.
Bartender of the Month Joseph Visconti, Good Friends Bar Joseph hails from Detroit and fits in perfectly in the Crescent City; it is hard to believe he is not a local. So much Southern charm emanating from a Yankee, say it isn’t so. He is a speed bartender which makes him great for a busy French Quarter bar. Speed bartenders can make cocktails fast and accurately which allows him to handle large crowds of people quickly and efficiently. Making good drinks is only half the job of a bartender; personality, service and hospitality make a good bartender popular. And let’s talk about his libations. He knows how to make a delicious drink. He created a specialty shot called the Fruit Loop which is an affectionate term given to the area of gay bars by St. Ann and Bourbon. I always like to ask bartenders what their favorite cocktails to drink are. Joseph splits his into two types Fall/Winter and Spring/Summer. He drinks straight Bourbon in the colder months and a Greyhound in the hotter ones. So make it a point to go to Good Friends and get a Greyhound or other tasty beverage from the charming (and very hot) Joseph. He will kick your holiday season into gear. Good Friends is located at 740 Dauphine Street (the corner of St. Ann and Dauphine).
Wednesday, December 9 Get into the fashion of the holidays at GLAM, a 70’s Fashion Show Extravaganza benefitting La Ceiba Honduras. This event takes place at Blue Nile (532 Frenchman Street) from 6:30 – 10:30pm. This lively fashion show features Fashion Designers: Carolina Gallop, De’Andre Beverly, Keno Watson-Keno Kouture, John DelgadilloCutting Edge Diva, Jonathan WoodsCalamaty and *BEAU*APOC*. There will also be entertainment by Ben Hunter, DJ Black Pearl and special performances by Princesse Stephaney and Raven. For more info contact carolinagallop@gmail.com. Tickets are $15 and available at EventBrite or at the door. Thursday, December 10 Welcome to the T.M.I. Talk Show! A LIVE monthly theater show where guests and audience are invited to “overshare” personal stories and real talk about taboo subjects while "we entertain you with drag, comedy and variety acts!" This premier event takes place at La Nuit Theatre (5039 Freret St.) and is hosted by LibeRaunchy the BeauxQueen and Eureeka Starfish, featuring special guests, to be announced, plus prizes and surprises! The cover is $7. Too shy to share? Drop your anonymous TMI stories in the “TMI Anonymous” box and their drag queens will read your stories aloud on stage!!! Or email your stories to theTMItalkshow@gmail.com! Doors open at 8:30pm with the show starting promptly at 9pm. Thursday, December 10 – Sunday, December 20 The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans presents an immersive Bar Experience with Small Craft Warnings by Tennessee Williams and directed by Augustin J Correro. The show will be held at Mag’s 940 (940 Elysian Fields Ave.). Enter a dive bar named Monk’s Place where you’ll spend this night when the fog is too thick to travel by land or sea. Loneliness and longing envelope the night spot and cozy right up to its patrons— a band of the strange, the crazed, the queer—as they confess their most sad, sordid and comical confidences. You’ll be right in the thick of it at Monk’s Place.
This production is an immersive environmental experience in which you’ll be just inches away from the characters. You can enjoy drinks along with them as the skeletons come a tumbling out of their closets and at your feet. The show features Bob Edes, Jr., LaKesha Glover, Natalie Jones, Jordan Kaplan, Matt Madden, Robert Alan Mitchell, Gavin Robinson, and James Wright. For more information visit their website or call at: www.twtheatrenola.com or call 504.264.2580.
they are bringing even more holiday cheer with their 10 year anniversary with the Hot Toddy Package. This special ticket package gives you early access to the event so you can sample your favorite cocktails before the party even begins. And since it’s the season of giving, they’ll also give you complimentary parking and a special limitededition gift to remember the 10th Anniversary Tales of the Toddy®. For more information or tickets, go to www.talesofthecocktail.com.
Friday, December 11 Come celebrate the holidays with THE MARVELOUS SHOW! A Gaudy Christmas Tale at GrandPre's (834 N. Rampart St.) starting at 10pm – doors open at 9pm. The cast includes Eureeka Starfish, Stanley Fantasy, Liberaunchy, Elijah Valentine and their Marvelous Special Guest Hannibelle Spector. There will also have an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest with some amazing prizes. There is a $10 cover.
Friday and Saturday, December 18 & 19 New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus (NOGMC) takes to the stage once again for their annual Christmas concert Sounds of the Season. Come and hear the Chorus sing out traditional Christmas carols, all-time favorite tunes and maybe a twist or two. NOGMC’s music will fill your heart with peace and joy! They will also be collecting food for Food for Friends in New Orleans and for the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank in Baton Rouge. Please bring non-perishable items to donate. Sounds of the Season will be performed in New Orleans on Friday, December 18 at the UNO Performing Arts Center Recital Hall and in Baton Rouge on Saturday, December 19 at the Unitarian Church of Baton Rouge, 8470 Goodwood Boulevard. Both shows begin at 7:30pm. Tickets are available online in advance for $18 or at the door for $20. For more information or tickets, go to www.nogmc.com.
Saturday, December 12 Come rejoice the holidays at Rockin’ Around the Christmas Trees: Holiday Community Party with MCC New Orleans at Mags 940 (940 Elysian Fields Ave.). There will be a decorated Christmas trees and wreaths auction, a 50/ 50 Raffle, food and entertainment. Money raised will support the ministries of MCC New Orleans. The event is from 1 – 4pm. For more information, go to our website: www.mccneworleans.org. Saturday, December 12 Toby Lefort is hosting his annual Christmas Party and Auction benefitting families with kids with HIV and Aids at the Four Seasons Bar (3229 N. Causeway). The party starts at 9pm and the auction begins at 11pm. There is a $5 minimum donation at the door. Saturday, December 12 Celebrate Saturday night with the Broads on Tulane at the Tulane Avenue Bar (3813 Tulane Ave.) starting at 9pm. Come see hostess Natasha Sinclair with Lauren Brown, Syria Synclaire and Falicia Faraday. The cover is $5.00. Sunday, December 13 Join the oldest Gay Carnival Krewe Petronius for a Gospel Drag Revue! Their Big Tent Revival: A Holiday Dragtacular will have some of the top performers in the city and takes place from 3 – 5pm at the Four Seasons Bar (3229 N. Causeway Blvd.). The opening act will be Miss Louisiana Leatherette 2016 Vanessa Carr. Come out and enjoy the food and entertainment. There is a $15 Donation. Thursday, December 17 Tales of the Toddy® is already the most spirited party of the season takes place from 6:30 – 9pm at the Hyatt Regency (601 Loyola Ave.). This year,
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Party Down December is finally hear and as 2015 winds down, there still is lots of great and exciting things to do. My two weeks this time consisted of a road trip, some “well-strung” young men, art shows, theatrical events, Michael Jackson and Mink Stole. My antics began on Wednesday with a cocktail reception at Le Pavillon Hotel on Poydras Street. This Downtown elegant hotel has just recently been purchased and has a new team bringing back the old glamour of the place while adding all the modern tastes. This blending of the old and new work nicely together in this storied hotel that is known for serving peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to guests (or drunk and hungry college kids who act like guests) every night at 10pm. It really is a cool treat. But keep your eyes open for all the new changes. There bar is a great happy hour spot for locals and their first floor restaurant is one of the best lunch spots in the city. The following day was the first of my theatrical outings. I went to see Southern Rep’s “Song of a Man Coming Through” at the First Grace United Methodist Church on Canal Street. This intriguing drama focused on the life of an Angola African American prisoner and his plight in the justice system. It [continued on 20]
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under the gaydar ...from 18 was quite a heavy drama. What I enjoyed is seeing new spaces transitioned into theatrical venues. I believe it adds to the audience member’s theatre going experience to be brought to a new space. Afterwards, I met up with a friend and we went to the New Orleans Jazz Market to see a Michael Jackson concert by the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra. This high energy concert was a nostalgic trip through the King of Pop’s most beloved hits. The following night I was back at the theatre, this time the Contemporary Arts Center, to see Tennessee Williams’ play “The Mutilated.” This was a twisted holiday tale that takes place in the French Quarter that deals with loneliness, despair and hustlers. It starred Mink Stole from many of the John Water’s film. The show also starred my good friend Donna Duplantier who was just excellent in her role opposite Mink. The show was wonderful and once again an alternate space was transposed into the show area. In this production, the audience started in the warehouse with cocktails and music and was led into the theatre. On Saturday, my friends and I hopped all over the city. We started at the preview opening of CJ Nero. Craig Nero who owns the popular café/coffee shop Who Dat Café in the Marigny has opened a new gift shop/ venue space called CJ Nero’s literally a block away from his other establishment. There are great gifts and local art for everyone on your Christmas list, and the space is warm and inviting with a great courtyard for entertaining. Next we went to local gay historian and Mardi Gras aficionado Albert Carey for his tree trimming party at his condo in the Warehouse District. There was plenty of food and martinis to get our yuletide spirit going and his tree was gorgeously gay when we were done. Next up was Peep Show-Queer Art of New Orleans. This LGBT art showing took place at Hyph3n Art in the Marigny and was welled attended by art lovers. There were some great works by Skylar Fein and Jeremy Novy among others. It was a very fun show and met so many new people in the community. The last stop on our agenda was the Red Party at Café Lafitte in Exile. There was a raucous crowd there already in full on party mode when we arrived so we had to play catch-up quickly, which the bartenders gladly obliged. Lafitte’s Jeff Palmquist and Ambush’s Rip Naquin kept the festivities with live cross auctions after each performance. After saying our goodbyes and some final cocktails at the 700 Club and a body shot or two at Good Friends, I dragged myself home to crash. Sunday was a day of rest before venturing out to the cast party of "The Mutilated" after their final performance
at the home of John Hill. It was great mingling with the cast especially the delightful Mink Stole who is just lovely. It was a beautiful evening in John’s courtyard sipping wine and hearing all the funny stories the cast had to tell about the production. After, we went to catch the tail end of the Krewe of Petronius’ Afternoon Drag Delight. As always the krewe produced a great show for their supporters. Thanksgiving week is always fun, I have a tradition with my mom of taking a road trip to somewhere to celebrate the holiday. In the past we have been to Nashville, Memphis, Pensacola, San Antonio, Mobile, Shreveport and Natchitoches. This year we settled on a closer locale, Biloxi, Mississippi. We spent the next four days having a blast on the coast. We started our adventure on Thursday morning as we drove along the scenic route of the coast admiring all the exquisite homes along the beach road. We stopped at Island View Casino for a little gambling and Thanksgiving lunch at C & G’s Café. The food and service was wonderful as we enjoyed a traditional meal of turkey cranberries and stuffing. After donating a few bucks to their slots, we drove to Biloxi and checked into the Beau Rivage. If you have not been to this casino over the holidays, make it a point to take a look. The lobby is decorated fabulously for the holidays with little drummer boys, oversized ornaments and a crystal icicle chandelier. It was a very festive display that brings families from all around to see. That night we had dinner at their amazing Italian eatery called Stalla. Culinary delights await you on the Biloxi Gulf Coast at Beau Rivage’s new Italian restaurant. Stalla’s traditional menu, inspired by the northern Italian countryside, is reminiscent of Old World-style restaurants in New York’s Little Italy. There were so many great options to choose from that included traditional Italian dishes, brick oven pizzas, and a variety of soups and salads. They had a noteworthy premium Italian wine list allowing you to pare your dish. From the service to the food, this was a great choice for dinner this holiday evening. So the following day was Black Friday and yes I am one of those crazy people who love to shop on that day. I do not think it is foolish or unusual, and I never have dealt with horrible crowds or issues. First lesson, do not go to Walmart! If you are experiencing irrational antics it is because you are shopping at a bargain basement store. There is stupidity in people there on a normal Tuesday, what do you expect on Black Friday when you run a sale on
flat screen televisions for $25 and only have three of them in stock. Anyway we went shopping at the outlet mall in Gulfport which even though small had great bargains and was absolutely lovely. We then did some shopping around at some of the box store like Best Buy and Target in the area before driving to the bedroom community of Ocean Springs on the coast. They have a little main street with lots of boutiques with cool gift items. I found the ultimate doggie store in which I purchased all my gifts for my new puppy Magnolia and her sister Dahlia before going to lunch. We had lunch at this great Mediterranean restaurant in their quaint downtown area called Phonecia. The food was fresh and light and the service was impeccable. On the way back to the hotel we stopped at the Golden Nugget for a slight bit of gambling. If you have not seen the renovations on the casino check it out. It is one of the sexiest spots on the strip. After some gaming fun we went back to the hotel, refreshed and was out again, this time we went to see the Harbor Lights in Gulfport. This amazing new attraction is a great new holiday tradition to start. In addition to the lights, the Harbor Winter Festival features live entertainment, concessions and a 65 foot observation wheel. Once our excursion with the holiday lights, we drove to the picturesque Bay St. Louis downtown area where they have these adorable lighted snowflakes in their majestic oaks. We found
The Lobby at Beau Rivage a wonderful place for dinner by the bay called North Beach. It was an amazing seafood restaurant that was reasonably priced, great food and service and most of all had some of the best fresh crab claws around. We kept on our holiday shopping
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spree with Small Business Saturday Shopping by returning to Bay St. Louis to all the little shops along Main Street. I got some more gifts and it was just delightful browsing the stores in this little slice of Amerciana city that has bounced beautifully after Katrina. I know this sounds funny, but my mom and I have a tradition every year on our road trip to stop at one Cracker Barrel to eat. This year we ate lunch at the one in Gulfport. It is weird how they never change no matter which one you go to in the U.S. it seems the people working and eating there are all the same. On the way back, we stopped at the Hard Rock casino for a little gambling respite. I love the Hard Rock because it is lively, energetic and open. It emits a younger vibe even if the people in the place are older. And it was the only one of the casinos I actually won money at, which after that win; put me ahead for the long weekend. That night we ate dinner at Jai in the Beau Rivage and it was incredible. Jia artfully combines the best culinary traditions of Japan, Thailand, China, Korea and Vietnam in one modern, sophisticated restaurant. This PanAsian restaurant concept encourages you to mix and match regional favorites – each dish the dining equivalent of a passport stamp for the seasoned traveler. For those not already intimately acquainted with the breadth of Asian cooking, Jia is an immersion course in flavor. The stylishly Zen-inspired décor sets the stage for a menu that blends the exotic with sublime simplicity. We tried many of the dishes and my entrée steak, a bone in ribeye was simply divine. I have to admit, the Mississippi Coast has an array of top restaurants that will suit anyone’s taste. We left on Sunday morning, but not before having the champagne brunch at the Beau Rivage. Now I am not a buffet person, but this one is pretty awesome. The choices include breakfast foods, Asian and Italian cuisine with Southern favorites. They even had fried corn on the cob, had never seen that before and it was heavenly. After the short drive back to NOLA, I had just enough time to get dressed and refresh before going to the Krewe of Armeinius’ holiday fundraiser which was a performance by the pop/classical band Well-Strung featuring Varla Jean Merman. The show was filled with your favorite holiday tunes sung by these gorgeous hunks. Their renditions of "Hallelujah" and "Let It Go" was inspired. It was a playful performance that ended with a meet and greet with the guys afterwards. They are even better looking in person. A few of us after went for cocktails in the Marigny at Mags and Phoenix for a little naughty and nice fun. That ends my two weeks of zaniness; I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving and look forward to seeing everyone during the holiday season.
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Hello Shey, Tyler & the Boys
Hello Matt, Gavin & Skylar
Pensacola’s Miss Alotta Wood @ B-Bob’s
Hello Queen Michelle Hello Jerry & Mark
Hello Skylar & the Boys
We love Patrick @ B-Bob’s
m obile paparazzi Welcome home Cari
Miss Cie with Eric @ B-Bob’s
Pensacola’s Monica Heart @ B-Bob’s
Welcome home John
Leroey & Melvin rockin’ out the sound & lights @ B-Bob’s Hello Jack & the Boys
Miss Venus Shante DaVis @ B-Bob’s
Miss Iona Trailer @ B-Bob’s
Hello Timothy & Boys
Eye Candy @ B-Bob’s
Happy Birthday Weston
22 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • Dec . 8-21, 2015 • Of fic ial Mar di Gras Guide© • GayMar diGras.c om
Hello Matthew
Welcome, Hello ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Miss Cie
More Eye Candy @ B-Bob’s
Welcome home Chris & Jeremy
trodding the boards by Brian Sands
Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com
A Well-Strung Christmas at Café Istanbul Christmas came early to New Orleans as Well-Strung, the sexy singing string quartet, debuted their first-ever holiday show A Well-Strung Christmas at Café Istanbul over Thanksgiving weekend. For those of us who have watched this group since its beginnings three years ago, the evening offered not only a grandly fun time, but the deep satisfaction of seeing artists who have fulfilled their early promise. In their stylish Abercrombie & Fitch- Hard Candy Christmas with Madama ish holiday attire, the Well-Strung-ers Butterfly’s Humming Chorus (or as (Edmund Bagnell (first violin), Christo- sincerely touching as a Best Little pher Marchant (second violin), Trevor Whorehouse/Puccini mash-up can be Wadleigh (viola), and Daniel Shevlin expected to be). (cello)) made beautiful music and Whether playing Dance of the Sugar sounded tighter than ever in their rendi- Plum Fairy or Charlie Brown’s Christtions of Xmas tunes, pop songs, and mas Time is Here, you can’t help but classical numbers. Mash-ups, such as think how adorable these guys are, Ave Maria and Radiohead’s Creep, their basic sweetness leavened with are now a playfully sophisticated Well- just a pinch (or two) of bitchiness. After Strung staple as the group has evolved all, how can you not love this naughtily from the days when the foursome made wholesome quartet who’ve carved out their name playing string quartet ar- a splendid niche for themselves in the rangements of Top Ten hits. entertainment universe and whom you While each has had previous theat- could take to a circuit party...or back rical experience, all four gents display home to Mom? (And it’s not just an act; greater confidence as singing actors when I once bumped into one of them now, mischievously putting over cute on a NYC subway platform and asked new lyrics to Santa Baby, and getting “Aren’t you a member of Well-Hung?” touchingly sincere as they intertwined he replied with good-natured gracious-
ness.) But while A Well-Strung Christmas will continue to tour (it’ll be at 54 Below in Manhattan on Dec. 9, 10 & 14 among other venues), the New Orleans gig featured our own Varla Jean Merman who, even if she could barely get the word “featured” out of her mouth as she discovered she was not the evening’s star, added her own inspired lunacy to the festivities. Arriving in a snazzy floor-length red-sequined number decked out in white marabou feathers, she looked like Santa’s sexy mistress as she launched into Jingle Bells a la Barbra which even if you’ve seen her do it before was as hysterically funny as ever. Varla outdid herself later when this self-described “holiday ham” appeared as Suzie Snowflake and showered the stage with glittery snow that emerged from her ladyparts; just because WellStrung played Pachelbel’s Canon didn’t mean that had to be the only classy part of the show. If Well-Strung and Miss Merman bring slightly different sensibilities to the stage, they played off of each other with wonderful pizzazz giving the audience a full holiday entertainment package. Directed fluidly and with a casual but precise knowingness by Richard Jay-Alexander, A Well-Strung Christmas featured outstanding arrangements by the group of all its numbers;
the only thing the quartet still needs to learn is to wait for the laughs to die down before continuing so we don’t miss any of their smartly written and witty show. If there was any justice in the world, A Well-Strung Christmas featuring Varla Jean Merman would be repurposed as a TV special for next year. Short of that, one of the WellStrung-ers said they hoped to make this an annual tradition. Here’s to spending many more Christmases, Thanksgivings and Hanukkahs with Varla and Well-Strung.
New in New York Sometimes not getting what you want is better than getting your desire. I had originally hoped to see Misery with Bruce Willis and China Doll with Al Pacino during a recent trip to New York. Things didn’t work out which, given the reviews and word-of-mouth for these shows, is just as well. I did, however, see King Charles III which is a magnificent, Shakespearean-like drama about how things may evolve for Britain’s royal family after QE2’s passing. And at $37 for fifth row seats, such a deal; even if they were “partially obstructed view”, I only missed about 1% of the staging. I was front and center, however, [continued on 26]
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New Orleans, LA [504] Troy A. Tureau, J.D., L.LM., Attorney at Law, Tureau Legal, 4631 S. Carrolton Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119, 504.308.1608 thelawprofessor@comcast.net
bars Mobile, AL [251] B-Bob's Downtown, 213 Conti St., 433.2262, B-Bobs.COM Flip Side Bar & Patio, 54 S. Conception St., 431.8819, FlipSideBarPatio.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, SPLASH, 2183 Highland Rd., 242.9491, SplashBR.COM Lake Charles, LA [337] CRYSTAL'S, 112 W. Broad, 433.5457
New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MICHAEL LECHLEITER, D.C., 1526 Magazine, 566.1833 [is1515]
circuit/events Dec. 26, 2015-Jan. 1, 2016, Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.com Feb. 5-9, 2016, 67th Official Gay Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush, GayMardiGras.com Easter Sunday, March 27, 2016, 17th Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade.com Aug. 31-Sept. 5, 2016, 45th Official Southern Decadence Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture, end of Summer Blowout including the Southern Decadence Parade & loads of activities, bringing over 180,000 revelers to New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush & SouthernDecadence.com Oct. 27-Oct. 30, 2016 Halloween 33, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, HalloweenNewOrleans.com
costumes
French Quarter/Faubourg Marigny/Bywater
attorneys
bookstores New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700
ST. PHILIP
M
Houston, TX [713] NEON BOOTS DANCEHALL & SALOON, 11410 Hempstead Hwy., 677.0828, www.neonbootsclub.com
800 DUMAINE
FR
Biloxi, MS [228] CLUB VEAUX, 834 Howard Ave., 207.3271
Metairie, LA [504] FOUR SEASONS & PATIO STAGE BAR, 3229 N. Causeway, 832.0659, FourSeasonsBar.com New Orleans, LA [504] 700 CLUB, 700 Burgundy, 561.1095, BIG DADDY'S, 2513 Royal, 948.6288 THE BLACK PENNY, 700 N. Rampart 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, CornerPocket.NET 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 GRANDPRE'S, 834 N. Rampart St., 267.3615, Facebook.com/grandpres KAJUN'S PUB, 2256 St. Claude Ave., 947.3735, KajunPub.COM OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, OzNewOrleans. COM PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264, NewOrleansPhoenix.COM
New Orleans, LA [504] QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633
florists Baton Rouge, LA [225] FOUR SEASONS FLOWERS & GIFTS, 3482 Drusilla Ln., Drusilla Shopping Center, 924.1386, 1.800.237.5381
galleries New Orleans, LA [504] CASSELL-BERGEN GALLERY, 1305 Decatur St., cassellbergengallery.com, 504.524.0671
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
groceries/delis New Orleans, LA [504] QUARTERMASTER DELI, THE NELLIE DELI, 1100 Bourbon, 529.1416
hair salons New Orleans, LA [504] Head Quarters Hair Salon, 906 Bourbon
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St., 522.2666 Mickey Nolan's Salon, 717 Toulouse St., 587.7782 Two Guys Cutting Hair, 2372 St. Claude Ave., Suite 125, appointments: Adikus 215.519.5030, Trent 504.239.2397
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, www.ingramhaus.com/xqey, e-mail us at ingramhaus@yahoo.com. Condos with queen-size 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. [0715] BLUES60 GUEST HOUSE, 1008 Elysian Fields Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117, Phone: 1.504.324.4311, www.blues60guesthouse.com, info@blues60guesthouse.com. The Blue60 Guest House with 5 suites provides a peaceful retreat in the center of the Faubourg Marigny, just blocks from the French Quarter and Frenchman St. [1115] 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, www.theburgundy.com, E-mail us at theburgundy@cox.net. Gay owned and operated in newly renovated 1890's double. Four guest rooms with private baths, guests' parlor and "halfkitchen", 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. [0815] CHATEAU LEMOYNE FRENCH QUARTER, 301 Dauphine St., New Orleans, LA 70112, Phone: 504.581.1303, http:// www.hiclneworleanshotelsite.com/gayhotelsnew-orleans. Enjoy a stay enriched with the culture and history of New Orleans at Chateau LeMoyne. Our historic building features all the best of old-time architecture and our prime location allows guests to stay just steps from the French Quarter, while still at enough distance to enjoy a peaceful night’s rest. Versatile guest accommodations include charmingly appointed suites and cottages, while on-site amenities include drinks and dining, a scenic courtyard area and pool, and meeting and event space. When you’re ready to explore, top New Orleans attractions are only moments away. We look forward to welcoming you to the “Big Easy.” [0915] THE FRENCH QUARTER GUEST HOUSES, 1005 St. Peter, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone: 1.800.367.5858, FrenchQuarterGuestHouses.com, email: Info@frenchquarterguesthouses.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 unforgettable 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. NEW ORLEANS COURTYARD HOTEL, 1101 North Rampart St, New Orleans, LA 70116, Phone 504.522.7333, Toll Free: 800.457.2253, NOCourtyard.COM. Email us at Reservations@bpmhotels.com, Official Host Hotel of OZ New Orleans. A 19th century home that has been historically restored and transformed into a locally owned and operated hotel. Experience the rich history and hospitality of New Or-
leans at an affordable price. Just 3 blocks from Bourbon St, free Wi-Fi, swimming pool, and continental breakfast included. Off street parking is available.
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 / For pictures http://www.christophernola.com. License #LA4553 [is2515]
media New Orleans, LA [504] AMBUSH Mag, Official Gay Easter Parade Guide, Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide, Official Gay New Orleans Guide, Official Gulf South Guide, Official Pride 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 New Orleans, LA [504] BEAUREGARD-KEYES HOUSE, 1113 Chartres, 523.7257 CABILDO, 701 Chartres, Jackson Square, 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 GALLIER HOUSE, 1132 Royal, 523.6722 GERMAINE WELLS MARDI GRAS MUSEUM, 2nd Floor Arnaud's, 819 Bienville HERMANN-GRIMA HISTORIC HOUSE, 820 St. Louis, 525.5661 HISTORICAL PHARMACY MUSEUM, 514 Chartres, 524.9077 HISTORIC NEW ORLEANS COLLECTION, 533 Royal, 523.4662 LONGUE VUE HOUSE AND GARDENS, 7 Bamboo Rd, Metairie, 488.5488, MUSEE CONTI HISTORICAL WAX MUSEUM, 917 Conti, 525.2605 NEW ORLEANS MUSEUM OF ART, City Park, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, 488.2631 OGDEN MUSEUM OF SOUTHERN ART, 925 Camp St., 539.9600 OLD U.S. MINT, 400 Esplanade PRESBYTERE, 751 Chartres, Jackson Square ST. LOUIS CATHEDRAL, Jackson Square WORLD WAR 2 MUSEUM, 945 Magazine, 527.6012, http://nationalww2museum.org
music New Orleans [504] SKULLY'Z RECORDZ, 907 Bourbon St., 592.4666
organizations 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 BIG EASY STOMPERS, Country & Western line dancing. Weekly lessons and monthly Country & Western dance party, www.bigeasystompersneworleans.com, info@bigeasystompersneworleans.com BELLE REVE NEW ORLEANS, AIDS Residence for Families, PO Box 3305, 70177; 945.9455 BreakOUT! builds the power of youth ages 13-25 in New Orleans to end the criminalization of LGBTQ youth of color, 504.252.9025, 1001 S. Broad St. #119, NOLA 70125, @youthbreakout, www.youthbreakout.org, COMMUNITY ACTION NETWORK, a project of the NO/AIDS Task Force which works with the gay community to implement HIV prevention activities, 507 Frenchmen St., 945.4000, noaidstaskforce.com COPS 8 (Citizens' Organization for Police Support in the 8th District), 840 N. Rampart St., #51, 70116; 588.COPS (2677), cops8.org FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 944.6028 FORUM FOR EQUALITY, 336 Lafayette, Suite 200, 70130; 947.2981, ForumForEquality.COM FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE MARDI GRAS (FNBMG), PO Box 791376, New Orleans, LA 70179-1376; 733.3311, fridaynightbeforemardigras.com, fnbmg@cox.net GAY APPRECIATION AWARDS, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049; AmbushMag.COM/GAA GAY 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 HAART (HIV/AIDS Alliance Region Two, Inc.), 4550 North Blvd. Ste. 250, Baton Rouge, LA 70806, 225.927.1269, www.haartinc.org, offers a complete continuum of care to people living with HIV/AIDS including housing, primary care, medications, case management, and an array of supportive services. In addition HAART provides HIV prevention education and FREE testing to the Baton Rouge area. HALLOWEEN IN NEW ORLEANS, INC., PO Box 52171, 70152-2171; halloween neworleans.com/ambush 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 NARCISSUS, PO Box 3832, New Orleans, LA 70177. Contact: 504.228.9441 KREWE OF PETRONIUS, PO Box 1102, Kenner, LA. 70063-1102, www.kreweofpetroius.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 LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, 1308 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.475.7911, www.lgbtarchivesla.org LORDS OF LEATHER, 1631 Elysian Fields, #161, 70117, www.lordsofleather.org Louisiana Equality Foundation, serving the Louisiana LGBT Community through education, activism, and awareness. www. l o u i s i a n a e q u a l i t y f o u n d a t i o n . o r g , info@louisianaequalityfoundation.org Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans, services at 10am, 6200 St Charles Ave., New Orleans, LA 70118; 504.270.1MCC www.mccneworleans.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, 504.298.0061, 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 PFLAG/NO [Parents & Friends of Lesbians & Gays/ New Orleans], PO Box 15515, 70175; 895.3936, 392.0001, pflagno.org, info@pflagno.org PRIDE, 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 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 VOLLEYBALL NEW ORLEANS, PO Box 13306, 70185-3306; volleyballneworleans.com, postmaster@volleyballneworleans.com
819 Rue Conti, 581.3866, http://broussards.com Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010, www.CloverGrill.com Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., www.TheCountryClubNewOrleans.com, 945.0742 Deanie's Seafood, French Quarter: 841 Iberville, 581.4141; Bucktown: 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie, 831.1316; www.Deanies.com Fatoush Mediterranean Grill, Coffee House & Juice Bar, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #130, FatoushRestaurantNOLA.com, 371.5074 Feelings Cafe, 2600 Chartres, 945.2222, www.FeelingsCafe.com Gene's Po-Boys & Daquiris, 1040 Elysian Fields Ave., 943.3861,
www.genespoboys.com Ilys Bistro, 1040 Elysian Fields Ave., 947.8341, www.Facebook.com/ILYSBistro Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails, 337 Chartres St. 598.5005, www.KinfishNewOrleans.com Little Vic’s Rosticceria, 719 Toulouse, 304.1238, www.littlevics.com Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746 Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro, 720 Orleans, 523.1930, www.OrleansGrapevine.com Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St. , 529.1416, www.QuartermasterDeli.net
pets
Royal House Oyster Bar, 441 Royal St., 528.2601, www.RoyalHouseRestaurant.com
New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MIKE'S ANIMAL HOUSE, 1120 N. Rampart, 523.4455
real estate
pharmacy
New Orleans, LA [504] New Orleans Relocation, Realtors — gayowned boutique real estate agency for locals and newcomers. 504.273.0088 www.NOLArelo.com
Baton Rouge, LA [225] AVITA PHARMACY, offers personalized, convenient care to those affected by chronic illnesses. Avita offers free delivery, co-pay assistance, benefit coordination, and refill reminder calls as well as access to a pharmacist 24/7. Every prescription filled today helps Avita give back to the community tomorrow. www.avitapharmacy.com New Orleans, LA [504] AVITA PHARMACY, offers personalized, convenient care to those affected by chronic illnesses. Avita offers free delivery, co-pay assistance, benefit coordination, and refill reminder calls as well as access to a pharmacist 24/7. Every prescription filled today helps Avita give back to the community tomorrow. www.avitapharmacy.com 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.
photography New Orleans, LA [504] GRAHAM/STUDIO ONE NEW ORLEANS, by appointment, grahamstudioone.com
plastic surgery New Orleans, LA [504] New Orleans Center for Aesthetics and Plastic Surgery, Parker A. Velargo, M.D., Dr. Russell Hendrick, Jr., M.D., 2633 Napoleon Ave., Ste. 920, www.plasticsurgerynola.com, 504.533.8848
restaurants
retail/shopping New Orleans, LA [504] BOURBON PRIDE, 909 Bourbon, 566.1570 COK (Clothing or Kinkl), 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264 CUIR, 708 Toulouse St., 249.5603 HIT PARADE, 741 Bourbon St., Facebook.COM/HitParadeNOLA MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER KITCHEN & BATH, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465 MR. BINKY'S BOUTIQUE, 107 Chartres St., 302.2095, MrBinkys.com 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
services New Orleans, LA [504] ABC Title Services, www.abctitle.com
theatres New Orleans, LA [504] CAFE ISTANBUL, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #140, 504.974.0786, CafeIstanbulNOLA.COM
tours New Orleans, LA [504] Gay New Orleans Walking Tour, Crescent City Tour Booking Agency, (LGBT Business of the Year) 638 St. Ann St., 568.0717. follow Gay New Orleans Walking Tour @ Facebook.COM Royal Tours New Orleans, 507.8333, 888.537.4750, www.RoyalToursNewOrleans.com
Metairie, LA [504] Chef Ron's Gumbo Stop & Pub, 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., 835.2022, GumboStop.com New Orleans, LA [504] The Bombay Club, 830 Rue Conti, 577.2237, www.bombayclubneworleans.com Broussard’s Restaurant & Courtyard,
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guest feature December 1, 2015, World AIDS Day It is very hard for me to write serious Facebook updates, but today of all days would be the day to do it. --Tom O'Brien, New Orleans I’m privileged. As a 25 year old gay man, I live a life that seemed impossible for those like me a mere 20 (or less) years ago. I don’t fear a plague that would kill half of my friends. I don’t fear a police force that would beat someone to death just for being who they are (not the same kind of fear I would feel today). I don’t fear the possibility of not being able to say my final goodbyes to my lover, just because we’re of the same gender. I’m not scared - because the people that came before me fought to their last dying breath, just so my generation could breathe a little easier. These are things that I’ve been taking for granted my entire life. Things that seem obvious to my peers, that wouldn’t seem obvious in the 90s or before. The main fear I have in my life right now is that this 30+ year struggle will be forgotten. That the lives, the friendships, the art, the beauty, the culture, the army of gay men-women-and everything in betweens— will be brushed to the side in our history books. Please don’t let this happen.
trodding the boards ...from 23 for Deaf West Theatre’s stirring revival of Spring Awakening (Brooks Atkinson Theatre through Jan. 24). Though the original run of this modern classic ended less than seven years ago, the current revival is well-justified for its use of deaf actors and the seamless incorporation of sign language into the production. Or rather, the seamless incorporation of speaking and singing into this production which has been translated intoAmerican Sign Language. Its visually stunning sets (Dane Laffrey) and lighting (Ben Stanton) are just the background for the cast, made up of both deaf and hearing actors, who add another layer of poetry to this already poetic show as they “speak” with their hands and expressive countenances. Even if you don’t sign and have seen the musical before, there are now visual puns to appreciate, and phrases like “Touch me” gain an added resonance making this production, in some ways, even more effective than the original. After a while, you may realize that there are eight deaf actors in the cast; they’re the ones without any microphones. Interestingly, some of the most moving moments in the show occur when they, for lack of a better word, vocalize out of a raw sense of anger or frustration. Led by Sandra Mae Frank (Wendla) and Daniel N. Durant (Moritz), both fabulous, you can sense the pride and excitement of these talented thespians at having their own language featured on Broadway. If I wished that Oscar-winner Marlee Matlin, terrifically playing a variety of the adult parts, had a bit more to do, in the featured role of the abused Marta, Treshelle Edmond’s extraordinarily eloquent face is transfixing. Speaking, singing and signing, Austin P. McKenzie makes an impassioned
Melchior. And Katie Boeck and Alex Boniello, speaking the roles of Wendla and Moritz, respectively, beautifully embody their characters mostly through their voices, never overshadowing their deaf counterparts. If Michael Arden’s direction occasionally goes a teensy overboard (did we really need the rhythmic gymnastic ribbon?), it’s mostly assured and thoughtful; the transcendent image he leaves us with would be memorable in any production of Spring Awakening. Also memorable is Taylor Mac’s new play Hir at Playwrights Horizons (through Jan. 3) about a family coming to terms with a new world order. Memorable for its transmasculine teenager well-played by transgender actor Tom Phelan. Memorable for its stroke-victim husband/father Arnold, first seen in clown make-up and wearing a nightgown. Memorable for its son, just returned from war with a dishonorable discharge, who keeps throwing up in the sink as he’s confronted with the new way of things. And memorable for the mother, Paige, who after years of physical abuse from her husband, is creating a new culture in their home, one of no order in which plates and clothes just pile up (“We don’t do cupboards anymore,” she says) and, more importantly, where she’s paying back her spouse with constant humiliation and such maltreatment as keeping the air conditioner on a constant high while he shivers. Sure I get that Mac is confronting and trying to disassemble the traditional heteronormative white male patriachy. But unlike such progenitors as Edward Albee, David Rabe and Christopher Durang, who each took on the nuclear family in their own way, Mac gives us lots of talky exposition and philosophizing that feels more like an editorial. Worse, though he may be mocking
her—it’s hard to tell—the abused Paige has now become nearly as bad as her abuser. While I certainly don’t condone the physical or sexual abuse that she suffered (and would happily see Arnold in jail), seen a few days after the horrific Paris attacks, Hir seemed like some sort of endorsement of endless violence. It’s sad and almost hard to watch. Which may be what Mac intended. Still, no thanks. What I am thankful for is Tim McDarrah’s Save the Village Walking Tours that bring people to the downtown locales documented by the late Village Voice photographer and picture editor Fred W. McDarrah, Tim’s father. You may think you know the Village, but unless you’re already a Village historian, you’re certain to discover new places and find out fascinating facts about locales you’re familiar with. These well-paced tours start in Christopher Park where Tim gives you the background on the Stonewall Inn; among other juicy details he tells you that in the 1960s it was owned by mobsters who didn’t care who you loved as long as you paid your bar tab. Fred missed the first night of riots because he didn’t think it would be “a big deal” but he was there on June 27, 1969, and many of his photos now hang in the bar. From there, Tim tells you where Robert Kennedy dined when he decided to run for President and who his waitress was (hint—a future Oscar-
Tim McDarrah in Christopher Park with George Segal's Gay Liberation statue winner), and shows you “the most expensive piece of empty property in the world.” If I kinda knew about the Jefferson Market Library (a former Women’s House of Detention through which Mae West, Ethel Rosenberg and Angela Davis were processed), the small public street Patchin Place (once home to John Reed, Theodore Dreiser, ee cummings, and Jocelyn Brando— Marlon used to crash at his sis’s pad), and the tiny Second Cemetery of the Spanish & Portuguese Synagogue on West 11th Street were new to me and entirely captivating. Along with gorgeous architecture, also seen on West 11th—where such people as Oscar Wilde, Mel Brooks & Anne Bancroft, Angela Lansbury (and her tenant Dustin Hoffman) lived; Mel’s place is for sale. Make him an offer. McDarrah fils also offers tours fo-
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cusing on the East Village and “The Beats and Bob (Dylan)”; McDarrah pere took many photos of Dylan including the iconic one of him saluting and it was not unusual for him to call McDarrah at home. Tim also has marvelous tales about Allen Ginsberg, Jack Kerouac, Andy Warhol, and a doozy about a unique photo of Jimi Hendrix and how not to negotiate. As lagniappe, each walker gets a keepsake multi-postcard set of classic McDarrah images and the two hour tours go to the same locations to see how they have changed, how they’ve remained the same, and to hear the stories behind the photos taken by someone who happened to be in the right place at the right time again and again and again. More info can be found at www.savethevillagetours.com It’s a great way to learn about an area that probably has more history per square block than any other neighborhood in America (the Quarter excepted of course). And if throughout the Thanksgiving weekend, you missed the festive atmosphere that the Quarter provides during Southern Decadence and Mardi Gras, plan to be in New York next year on Thanksgiving eve for Daniel Nardicio’s Underwear Party. It promised 3 floors, sexy underwear model dancers, and a 1000 guys in almost nothing...and it delivered (though I didn’t count each and every guy). DJs Johnny Dynell and Randy Bettis in the main room provided steady and absolutely fantastic dance music, and the crowd was surprisingly friendly for the Big Apple. Of course, if you’re going up to NYC for the holidays, check out Nardicio’s PIAF {a Centennial Celebration} which will feature Elaine Paige, Christine Ebersole, Vivian Reed, and Marilyn Maye among other renowned singers. It’s at Town Hall on Dec. 19; more info at www.piaf100.com It’ll likely be a bit different than the Underwear Party, but just as much fun.
Last Minute Gifts Looking for some stocking stuffers? Or perhaps a present for yourself? How about tickets for any of these– The NOLA Project’s The Winter’s Tale at NOMA; Toni Morrison’s The Bluest Eye at Le Petit; Tennessee Williams’ Small Craft Warnings at Mag’s 940 on Elysian Fields; Southern Rep’s A Christmas Carol at UNO, all running through Dec. 20. There’s also the original A Crescent City Christmas at NOCCA (Dec. 10-12); the musical Sister Act at JPAS in Metairie through Dec. 13; Bertolt Brecht/Kurt Weill’s bewitching Happy End at the AllWays Lounge (Dec. 1019); and Broadway@NOCCA presents two-time Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris on December 14. On to 2016!
book review Voodoo and Power: The Politics of Religion in New Orleans 1881—1940 Kodi A. Roberts. LSU Press, 2015. ISBN: 978-0-8071-6050-3. 231 pages. by Frank Perez If you’ve spent any time at all in New Orleans, you know that Voodoo figures prominently in the city’s history, and even more so in its folklore. And if you’re like most people, everything you think you know about Voodoo is wrong. Nineteenth-century media coverage, Hollywood, and much of the literature on the topic has done Voodoo an injustice by falsely depicting it as dark and evil. Shows like AHS: Coven (as entertaining as they are) propagate these myths and misunderstandings. That’s why I was so delighted to recently read Voodoo and Power, a book that does not sensationalize Voodoo but instead offers a scholarly analysis of its practice in New Orleans between the years 1881 and 1940. This book is not a Voodoo primer. Its focus is not the origins of Voodoo in New Orleans or its evolution in the city. Rather, Roberts examines the position and role of Voodoo in the complex race and class system in turn of the century New Orleans. He writes, “Many Western religions have attempted to separate spiritual concerns from the material world. By contrast, practitioners of Voodoo in early twentieth-century New Orleans employed these rituals
with the understanding that they would yield tangible benefits in their lives. Those rituals were, generally speaking, attempts to counter what practitioners viewed as disadvantages in power.” For example, Roberts does explore the mythology surrounding Marie Laveau, much of which involved Laveau’s use of Voodoo in entrepreneurial pursuits as well as her alleged assistance to wealthy white women. Another strength of the book is Roberts’ discussion of Leafy Anderson and the Spiritual Church movement, an important aspect of the Voodoo experience in New Orleans that is often neglected. The chapters on Laveau and Anderson set up the remainder of the book, which focuses on how Jim Crow, the Great Depression, and gender inequality affected the practice of Voodoo in the early twentieth-century New Orleans. The Introduction states, “Thus it was the quest for power—social, economic and personal— that made Voodoo in New Orleans a dynamic religious subculture, constantly changing to meet the needs of a community as diverse as the city itself.” On the whole, Roberts makes a larger argument that in order to properly understand New Orleans Voodoo, the discussion needs to shift from the religion’s African origins and even the impact of the massive influx of Haitian refugees at the turn of the nineteenth century, to the often tangled web of class, race and gender relations unique to New Orleans. In so doing, Roberts illuminates a fundamental characteristic of Voodoo in general; namely, that Voodoo is highly localized, which is to say the practice of Voodoo is greatly shaped by the region and time in which it finds itself.
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David, Coca & Shawn join Cheezy Cajun's Doug & Michael @ the Cheezy Cajun pre-opening
Rawhide’s John Breaux on the bar for his b-day @ Corner Pocket
Charlie Bear celebrates his last day at 66 with partner Ray @ Cafe Lafitte in Exile
Justin behind the bar @ Bourbon Pub & Parade The staff of the Cheezy Cajun: Joey, Jenna, Roslyn, Mary Jane & PJ welcomes you to the Bywater
Bartender Brandon & manager Derek put on a show for Rawhide’s pool night Oz continues to prove why it wins Show Bar of the Year
Frank Perez gets a birthday lick & congrats @ Lafitte’s
The cast of Oz: Coca, Chi-Chi, Lisa, Persana, Gia & Connie
Corner Pocket dancers Eric & Tibbs welcomes you to the Pocket
Latter & Blum’s Stace & Rose awaiting the next talent @ Good Friends Karaoke
ambush
paparazzi
Stephanie welcomes you to Ilys Bistro & Gene’s Po-Boys
Frank gets b-day cake in the face courtesy of Double Play’s Will @ Cafe Lafitte in Exile
Bartenders Stevie, Jeremy & Joseph entertaining @ Good Friends Bar
Bartender Bryan does a Gay Christmas @ Leather Bar of the Year Phoenix
Oz’s newest bartender Jaron
Always a smile from Phoenix bartender Tom
Trey & Eric on the bar @ The Corner Pocket
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Rawhide bartender Paul monkeying around
The Social Scene ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Tony Leggio, Paul Melancon, Rip Naquin, Persana Shoulders, Jeremy Weinberg
Bourbon Pub & Parade Show Director Aubrey Synclaire & manager Chuck Kee cocktailin’
GayNew Orleans.c om • Sout hernDec adenc e.c om • Dec . 8-21, 2015 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 29
Billy & Albert join Armeinius’ WellStrung concert @ Cafe Istanbul
Peep. Show-Queer Art of New Orleans art opening @ Hyph3n Art
Welcome to World Famous Clover Grill
Cocktailin’ @ The Four Seasons in Metairie Varla Jean Merman stars with Well-Strung @ Armeinuis concert
Preview opening of CJ Nero’s in the Marigny
Bon Maison Guest House’s Chuck & Butch @ GrandPre’s
Armeinius’ Ned Pitre & president Brent Durnin join Armeinius’ WellStrung concert
Bar Baron James Garner & Paul Davis @ The Golden Lantern
Michael & Laura join Tennessee Williams play “The Mutilated” @ CAC
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paparazzi Cocktailin’ @ The Double Play
Billy showing the extensive array of underwear @ Bourbon Pride
Captain Armeinius’ Freddie Guess (r) welcomes all to Well-Strung
Albert Carey’s tree trimming holiday soiree
Paul, bartender John & Mark explore an evening @ Rawhide
Ambush’s Paul Melancon shares holiday cheer with Regina Adams @ Double Play
Well-Strung brings Krewe of Armeinius to Cafe Istanbul
Donna Duplantier & Mink Stole, stars of “The Mutilated” @ CAC
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Petronius’ Afternoon Delight Drag Show
Big Easy Roundup ~ New Orleans, Metairie ~ Photos by Tony Leggio, Paul Melancon, Hubert S Monkeys, Rip Naquin
Reba Douglas welcomes Marty Curtin & friends to Jubilee @ The Golden Lantern
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32 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • Dec . 8-21, 2015 • Of fic ial Mar di Gras Guide© • GayMar diGras.c om