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the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: ripna@ambushmag.com
Fab 5 Will Make it Official April 28 @ Four Seasons Your Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XLI Steven Mora, Rip Naquin, Marsha Delain, Misti Ates and Frankie Fierce will make it official Thursday, April 28th when they announce their successors at Four Seasons in Metairie. Yes, it's expected to be a jam packed night in the Burbs for the 42nd Southern Decadence Grand Marshals Announcement Party. Just who will accept the honor is anyone's guess. The new grand marshals will set the tone for the 45th Official Southern Decadence, a celebration of LGBT+ life, music and culture in New Orleans since 1972. They will choose the theme, colors, song, poster, sponsors and more all leading up to the largest LGBT parade in Louisiana on Sunday, SeptemThe Fab 5: Southern Decadence Grand ber 4th beginning at the Marshals XLI Misti Ates, Steven Mora, Marsha Official Home of SouthDelain, Rip Naquin & Frankie Fierce ern Decadence, The (Photo by Larry Graham) Golden Lantern. Four Seasons is home bar to two and PFLAG New Orleans Scholarship of the grand marshals, Misti Ates and Fund. The end of summer circuit weekFrankie Fierce. Starting at 7pm, the end is the 5th largest in the city followgrand marshals will host a meet and ing Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, Essence greet, a show starring some of your Fest, and French Quarter Fest. favorite SDGMs, and then the moment Since 1996, the celebration has everyone has been waiting for, the had a 1 billion, 705 million dollar ecointroduction of the 2016 Southern Deca- nomic impact on the New Orleans dence Grand Marshals!!! economy, with estimated crowds now The $10 door donation, VIP table totaling over 1 million, 757 thousand. sales, and all stage performance tips Southern Decadence 2015 Finanwill kick off the fundraising efforts for cial Report: Southern Decadence 2016. VIP tables 2,000.00 Account Reserve for 2 run $20 and tables for 4 run $40. 18,711.06 Sponsorships Please call 504.832.0659 for VIP table Events: reservations. 1,001.00 SDGM Announcement The 44th Annual Southern Deca- Party @ Oz dence celebration broke all records 1,778.00 SD Gospel Brunch @ bringing in over 180,000 participants Pelican Bay Labor Day weekend in 2015. With an 1,548.00 SD Shrimp Boil/Cookout economic impact of a whopping $216 @ Four Seasons million, this was one for the history 5,948.66 Decadence Says "I Do" books. It also boasted the largest char- @ Chicory ity donation to date at $39,347.49 ben500.00 Petronius BBQ/Bingo @ efiting LGBT+ Archives Project of Loui- Tulane Ave Bar siana, Louisiana Equality Foundation, 220.00 Girl Party/Sexxe @ Peli-
inside
Pre-Memorial Day issue due out May 10 DEADLINE: Tues., May 3
celebrazzi/new orleans craft cocktails the real cheese book review lez talk moments in gay new orleans history snap paparazzi/nola, metairie snap paparazzi/new orleans under the gaydar trodding the boards
6 6 10 10 12 12 14 16 20 22
chop chop/nola restaurant guide 24 a community within communities 26 classifieds 28-29 matters of health, mobile paparazzi 30 ambush paparazzi/new orleans 32 ambush paparazzi/new orleans 34 ambush market place, real estate 35
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Gulf South LGBT+ Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 828-A Bourbon St. • New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 • 504.522.8049 ripna@ambushmag.com
can Bay 275.00 2nd Potato Salad Contest @ GrandPre's 771.00 SD Brunch @ GrandPre's 1,281.00 Steve's 60th Birthday Bash @ The Friendly Bar 411.00 Southern Decadence Big Easy Sisters Bingo @ Phoenix 568.00 Swimmin' with the Goddesses @ 4 Seasons 2,354.00 Ambush's 28th GAA Gala @ Oz 405.00 Sippin' with the Sisters: Deviled Egg Contest @ Cutter's 2,650.00 SD Courtyard Soiree @ Jeff Palmquist & Coca Mesa's home 1,368.00 Johnny Passion's 2nd Smatch Game @ Pelican Bay 1,586.00 SD Hot Boy Auction @ Corner Pocket 1,573.00 SD Spectacular @ Bourbon Pub & Parade 524.00 Italian Feast of the Gods @ Golden Lantern 129.02 Singing on the Bayou @ Marshal Harris Mansion 5,620.00 Oz Turnabout & Buy A Boy Auction @ Oz 1,611.00 SD Benefit @ 3rd Base/ Bay St. Louis 630.00 Sally-FLY Cookout @ Lafitte's 247.00 Gong Karaoke @ Kajun's Pub 1,150.00 Magnolia Cotillion @ Ambush Mansion 1,437.00 SD Costume Gala: “Y’all Come as Your Favorite Southern Decadent” @ Hotel Storyville 1,036.00 Sunday Decadence Social @ Double Play 36,621.68 Events sub-total 57,332.74 Total Funds Expenses: 50.25 Parade Permit 1,640.00 Parade Police Detail 3,344.25 Parade Insurance 500.00 Parade DJ 470.25 Parade cleanup detail 25.00 Annual Report/Secretary of State 231.00 5 Sashes 10.86 50/50 Raffle Tickets 350.00 Poster creation 88.29 Poster enlargement 12.26 cash deposit fees 1,500.00 5 Pins 195.00 NSF checks returned from auction 30.00 NSF fees from returned auction checks 500.00 SD Costume Gala band 214.80 SD Costume Gala expenses 72.70 SDGM Luncheon expenses .49 Square charge 1,350.00 SDGM costume allowance 1,350.00 SDGM costume allowance 1,350.00 SDGM costume allowance 1,350.00 SDGM costume allowance 1,350.00 SDGM costume allow-
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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 Misti Ates, 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. ©1982-2016 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
ance 15,985.25 Total Expenses 41,347.49 Total -2,000.00 Account Reserve 39,347.49 Charity Donation with 13,115.83 to LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, Louisiana Equality Foundation, and PFLAG New Orleans Scholarship Fund For additional information, visit www.SouthernDecadence.com. [continued on 8]
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celebrazzi
MC's Elizabeth Bouvier and Tony Leggio join the Rev. Bill Terry for the 6th Dodwell House Extravaganza at St. Paul's Episcopal School raising funds for St. Anna's Place in New Orleans. (www.DodwellHouse.org) (Photo by Rip Naquin) Left: Bar Baron Ken GrandPre, and bartenders Philip Anthony, and Jimmy Mondoro welcome guests to GrandPre's 2nd Anniversary Party celebrating with food, drink and a fab show. (www.GrandPres.com) (Photo by Rip Naquin) Below: Ellen Miller joins Southern Decadence Grand Marshal XLI Misti Ates for the Celebration of Life of Allen Miller, Ellen's husband, raising $1,401 for Food For Friends at Four Seasons in Metairie. The door brought in $325.00, auction $405.00, tips $321.00, Chef Ron donation $250.00, Cat n Misti donation $100.00 (Photo by Rip Naquin) (www.FourSeasonsBar.com)
Trey Ming wrote and sang his original song to Nick Andrews asking for his hand in marriage during GrandPre's 2nd Anniversary celebration in New Orleans, and Nick said yes! (Photo by Rip Naquin) Above: New Orleans legend Becky Allen pops into Kajun's Pub where everyone's a star for Karaoke 7 nights a week, now from 5pm til late at 2256 St. Claude Avenue in New Orleans. (www.KajunPub.com) (Photo by Ashlyrose Queen) Left: Chuck Turner host the Celebration of Life Fish Fry for all who lost loved ones at The Double Play raising $202.50 and groceries for Food For Friends in New Orleans. (Photo by Rip Naquin)
craft cocktails
The "Fabulous Night of Drag" hosted by Bar Baron James Garner and The Golden Lantern raised $900 for Easter Grand Marshal XVII Monica Synclaire-Kennedy following an auto accident to help her with expenses. Emcee Mr. Golden Lantern Bradley Latham was joined by Monica, Vanessa Carr Kennedy, Blazen Haven and Laveau Contraire. (Photo by Paul Melancon) (www.facebook.com/ GoldenLanternBar)
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the "official" dish ...from 4
PFLAG Scholarship Reception to Present 13 Southern Decadence Scholarships The New Orleans Chapter of PFLAG will host the 26th annual Sandra Pailet Memorial Scholarship Champagne Reception on Saturday, May 7th 6pm at the Homer Hitt Alumni Center on the campus of the University of New Orleans, 2000 Lakeshore Drive. Thirtyfive outstanding students from around the State will receive scholarships ranging in amounts from $1,000 to $10,000. Thirteen of the scholarships have been donated by Southern Decadence, with the remainder coming from individual contributors, organizations, foundations and businesses. Guests will be treated to champagne, wine, and great food. There will be a silent auction to help raise funds for next year’s scholarship program. Entertainment will be provided by the New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus. Tickets can be purchased on line and/or with a mail-in form which can be downloaded at the following website: http://pflagno.org/donate/scholarshipreception. Individual tickets can also be purchased for $30 at the door. This is a great opportunity to meet our incredible students and give them both your moral and financial support. Come join us for an uplifting and enjoyable experience.
of not only New Orleans, but also Louisiana and the Gulf South. The nonprofit institution has two facilities in the French Quarter: the Williams Research Center and Laura Simon Nelson Galleries for Louisiana Art at 400–410 Chartres St., and a complex of buildings—including a former residence of the Williamses— at its flagship location, 533 Royal St. A third property, at 520 Royal St., is currently under renovation and is scheduled to open to the public in time for New Orleans’s tricentennial in 2018. Tickets for the gala are now available for purchase. Prices start at $175 for the gala and $275–$3,000 for the patron party. For more information or to order tickets, visit www.hnoc.org or call 504.523.4662. Soirée d’Or is made possible by THNOC and its anniversary gala committee, with additional support from BBC Destination Management, Preservation Hall Foundation and Ralph Brennan Catering and Events.
“All the World’s a Stage: Shakespeare on the Stages and Streets of New Orleans” Lecture May 18 @ THNOC On Wednesday, May 18, at The Historic New Orleans Collection' s Williams Research Center, 410 Chartres
50th Soirée d’Or benefits Historic New Orleans Collection May 4 @ the Orpheum Join The Historic New Orleans Collection as it toasts its 50th anniversary at Soirée d’Or, a black-tie gala on Wednesday, May 4. The museum, research center and publisher is hosting anniversary events throughout 2016, and the gala presents a unique opportunity to celebrate in style with live, local music and with food from an iconic New Orleans restaurateur, all at the beautifully renovated Orpheum Theater. Guests will enjoy performances by the Preservation Hall All-Stars, JMO – The Jimmy Maxwell Orchestra and Joe Lastie Jr. and the Lastie Family Gospel as well as menu selections from Ralph Brennan Catering. Lewis Kemper Williams and Leila Hardie Moore Williams, two longtime private collectors, founded THNOC in 1966 to make their extensive collection of materials available to the public for continued research and scholarship. As the institution’s staff and holdings grew, these materials became the foundation for its changing exhibitions and original publications. Today, THNOC is a renowned repository of art and artifacts related to the history and culture
St., Xavier University Assistant Professor of English Oliver Hennessey will discuss Shakespeare’s influence on New Orleans art and culture. The program is free. Reservations are encouraged and can be made by calling 504.523.4662 or emailing wrc@hnoc.org. Shakespeare emerged as a cultural rallying point within the developing Anglo-American community in early 19th-century New Orleans. In his lecture, Hennessey will highlight early performances at English-speaking theaters, including “Othello,” which was the first of Shakespeare’s works to grace a New Orleans stage, and “Antony and Cleopatra” and “Two Gentlemen of Verona,” both of which had their first known North American productions in the Crescent City. While actors strutted upon the stage at the Anglocentric St. Charles Theatre, Carnival krewes brought the Bard’s work to life in elaborate floats, costumes, and theatrical processions down St. Charles Avenue. Hennessey will use THNOC’s extensive Mardi Gras
holdings to explore the influence of Shakespeare’s works on Carnival celebrations. These ephemera, along with playbills and images from Shakespeare productions and organizations in New Orleans arts, will be on display in “Merry as the Day Is Long,” THNOC’s smallscale companion exhibition on Shakespearean elements in 19th- and 20th-century New Orleans, on view Tuesday–Saturday, 9:30am –4:30pm, May 3–June 4, at THNOC’s Williams Research Center. Admission is free. Both the lecture and the exhibition at THNOC are part of a series of events surrounding the nationally traveling exhibition “The First Folio! The Book That Gave Us Shakespeare,” on view at the Newcomb Art Museum of Tulane May 9–31. Published in 1623, the famed First Folio features 36 works by Shakespeare. Considered one of the most valuable books in the world, the volume will be traveling to all 50 states and Washington, DC, in 2016, to mark the 400th anniversary of the playwright’s death. The exhibition at Tulane will be the tour’s only stop in Louisiana. THNOC is honored to join Tulane University and the New Orleans Public Library in welcoming the folio to the city. Visit firstfolio.tulane.edu for more information about the exhibition and events hosted by Tulane and www.hnoc.org for details on related programming at THNOC. Founded in 1966, The Historic New Orleans Collection is a museum, research center and publisher dedicated to the study and preservation of the history and culture of New Orleans and the Gulf South.
2016 French Quarter Festival Boast RecordBreaking Crowds French Quarter Festivals, Inc. proudly releases numbers for the 33rd annual French Quarter Festival presented by Chevron. This year’s attendance figures indicate that over 760,000 festival-goers enjoyed the music, food, special events, and of course, the historic French Quarter. The record-breaking numbers mark a significant increase over 2015, when several days of rain reduced attendance to 386,000. Executive Director Marci Schramm reflected, “2016 French Quarter Festival presented by Chevron was one for the record books: amazing crowds, including so many locals and families; perfect weather; the best music and food in the world - everyone came out and just had a really good time! Our French Quarter neighborhood and our beautiful City have never looked better.” Festival vendors also reported increases. Rouses had record sales at
French Quarter Festival 2016, selling over 50,000 pounds of boiled crawfish. Beverage sales were also up: Abita served 675 kegs and 1,400 cases of beer, New Orleans Original Daiquiris sold over 42,000 daiquiris, and 690 gallons of Lynchburg Lemonade and Herradura Margaritas were enjoyed by French Quarter Festival fans. Over 128 tons of ice were used in festival beverages including Pat O’Brien’s, Tropical Isle, Abita, Jack Daniel’s, Plum Street SnoBalls. Haydel’s Bakery used over 200 pounds of white chocolate in their White Chocolate King Cake Bread Pudding. The 2016 French Quarter Festival featured iPhone and Android phone apps, created by festival sponsor GE Digital, which were available free of charge. This year saw an increase in the number of users, bringing the total to over 70,000 App fans since its 2010 inception. In partnership with New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation and Solomon Group, the Festival launched a Social Media Lounge to provide new ways for fans to engage with the event. The award-winning festival, which began in 1984, was created by then Mayor Ernest “Dutch” Morial, who appointed a group of visionaries who designed the festival as a way to bring people back to the historic French Quarter following lengthy construction prior to the World’s Fair. It has grown to become the largest showcase of Louisiana food and music in the world. Twenty-three music stages throughout the French Quarter presented the best in New Orleans music, representing every genre from traditional and contemporary jazz to R & B and New Orleans funk, brass bands, folk, gospel, classical, cabaret, opera, Cajun, Zydeco, world music, international, as well as a musical stage for children. Nearly 100 food and beverage booths located in Jackson Square, Woldenberg Riverfront Park, Decatur Street, Spanish Plaza, and the Louisiana State Museum’s Old U.S. Mint made up the “World’s Largest Jazz Brunch,” a signature event featuring authentic local cuisine from renowned area restaurants, many of whom have been with the Festival throughout its entire 33-year history. French Quarter Festival relies on strong community support to present the ‘kickoff to festival season in New Orleans’ - with nearly 1,500 volunteers, 300 musical acts, numerous generous sponsors - including the New Orleans Musicians Union AFM Local 174-496, businesses from all over the country who sponsor musical acts at festival, New Orleans Police and Fire Departments, EMS, permitting assistance from the City of New Orleans and partnerships with Parks and Parkways, Audubon Institute, and the Louisiana [continued on 10]
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the real cheese by Felicia Phillips Email: fphillips1011@gmail.com Photo by Hubert S Monkeys
The Secret Society of Southern Decadence As always in New Orleans, especially in what is Gay New Orleans, we go from one season, and or event, to the next in what seems to be nonstop fundraising. I admit it can be a bit tiresome, but it’s what we do, why we do it, and especially how we do it. Not that other cities don’t have great events for great causes, but none do it with the pomp and circumstance, drama, comedy and more so with the sense of party better than here, or as the saying goes, we know how to pass a good time! Well the next season has now started with the speculation as to who the current Southern Decadence Grand Marshals will be choosing for this year, and more than who, many are speculating as to how many. Will it go back to one or two, are will it expand to ten? No one truly knows until each one is announced on April 28th. As that was proven last year, which I verified this morning over coffee and conversation with bossy bottom and former GM Reba Douglas who swears she is glad to be a has been (I’m not buying) she confirmed to me that she did not make her decision until that day, and GM 2015 Frankie Fierce was actually asked only a couple of hours before, while in the shower, imagine if Facebook live was around then! GM 2015 Misti Ates finding out she would be one of Reba’s two picks shortly before that.
book review Hear Dat New Orleans: A Guide to the Rich Musical Heritage & Lively Current Scene Michael Murphy. Countryman Press, 2016. ISBN: 978-8-1581-57316-9. 201 pages. by Frank Perez Some years ago, a friend made a startling confession to me: he told me that despite growing up in New Orleans, he really didn’t care for jazz or live music in general. He went on to admit he had never been to Frenchmen Street and had no desire to do so. The guilt he felt was palpable.
the "official" dish ...from 8 State Museum, among others. New sponsors included Chevrolet, Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts, Crimestoppers, Moxy New Orleans, Smokefree NOLA, Solomon Group, Snickers Crispers, State Farm, and Whitney Bank. Festivalgoers attended a variety of free special events throughout the weekend, including 24 musical debuts, Whitney Bank Film Fest at French Quarter Festival, produced in partnership with Timecode: NOLA and Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré, a symposium at the Old U.S. Mint, ‘Let them Talk: Conversations on Louisiana Music’; free dance lessons; two children’s areas - including the Chevron STEAM Zone- with music and activities; a Pirate’s Alley Juried Art Show; Battle of the Bands; Sunday’s ‘Dancing at Dusk,’ which filled the 400 block of Royal Street and beyond with dancers. In addition, organizers cite the incredible four days of perfect weather as a contributing factor to the success. Over 500 guests, including Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Councilmembers Jason Williams and Jared Brossett, and Chevron top executive Mike Illanne attended the festival’s sold-out Opening Night Gala at Antoine’s Restaurant on April 7. Musical performances included Carl LeBlanc, John Rankin, the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, and special guests Jean Knight, the Dixie Cups, Fred
LeBlanc, Big Sam, and Robin Barnes. A portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit the Roots of Music and Jackson Square improvements and beautification. French Quarter Festival presented by Chevron is produced by French Quarter Festivals, Inc., (FQFI) the 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization, which also produces Satchmo SummerFest presented by Chevron in August and Christmas New Orleans Style in December. For more information about any of these events, call 504.522.5730 or visit www.fqfi.org.
NOBA Presents Che Malambo May 7 For the finale of the 2015-16 Main Stage season, the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) presents the percussive dance and music spectacle from Argentina, Che Malambo, on Saturday, May 7, at 8pm at the Mahalia Jackson Theater of the Performing Arts. With rapid-fire rhythms, precision footwork, drumming of the bombos, singing and whirling boleadoras (lassos with stones on the end), Che Malambo celebrates the unique South American cowboy traditions of the gaucho. Danced solely by men, the Malambo began in the 17th Century as competitive duels that would challenge skills of agility, strength, dexterity and zapateo (the fast paced footwork inspired by rhythm of galloping horses).
Rumors had abounded for months before as to the final outcome of last year’s choices, but none, including myself I believe saw that one coming and it certainly kept with the 2014 theme of Chad Boutte, Aubrey Synclaire and Reba Douglas, Under The Big Top, because it was quite the circus. I addressed in one of my first columns about the controversies of many of the years of Southern Decadence, so none of that will be readdressed now as I believe each GM of each year has passed some part of history down, and though its evolved into what it is now, it wouldn’t be here if not for those who came before. I will address the shroud of secrecy and mystery surrounding how they go about deciding each year’s successors. Although more so than not the secret is never kept long, because who are we kidding we may have gone from telegraph and telephone, to facebook, tweeter, snapchat and Instagram, but one thing is a constant, tell a queen and everyone will know. But for the most part they do a good job of keeping people thrown off until the last minute. How they decide every year is different, someMy friend is not alone. Many tourists seem to think that all locals, in addition to eating Beignets and Oysters Rockefeller and Bananas Foster every day, also love jazz and frequent Preservation Hall. They seem disappointed when I tell them the overwhelming majority of Preservation Hall’s patrons are tourists (the same could be said for Jazz Fest, most of which, by the way, is not jazz). I told my friend it’s okay to not be a jazz aficionado. Ditto for bounce, funk, hip-hop, gospel or any other number of genres popular in New Orleans. But, I qualified, all locals should have a working knowledge of the breadth of New Orleans music. That’s why all locals should read Hear Dat. Hear Dat New Orleans: A Guide to the Rich Musical Heritage & Lively Current Scene offers information on over 100 live music venues, music festivals, profiles of iconic performers, and historical surveys of the major music genres invented and perfected in New Orleans. This book is an excellent introduction / overview of the New Orleans music scene. This book is not written in a narrative style but rather in easily digestible sections. The wealth of information in this volume makes it an excellent reference book. Michael Murphy is the author of Eat Dat New Orleans and Fear Dat New Orleans. After a 30 year career in New York book publishing, he moved to New Orleans in 2009.
Directed by French choreographer Gilles Brinas, this powerhouse, all-male company of 14 gauchos brings the fiery Malambo traditions to the contemporary stage for an exciting show that is perfect for the entire family. Sud-Ouest France hails, “Explosive Latin ‘stomp’…spectacular and pure magic.” Tickets are on sale now. Tickets start at $25.50 and are available online at NOBAdance.com, by calling 504.522.0996, in-person at NOBA’s Box Office, 935 Gravier Street, Suite 800 and through Ticketmaster at 800.745.3000 or www.ticketmaster.com. Discounted tickets for groups of 10 or more, stu-
times it’s as it was in the earlier years just as simple as one friend naming another, other years it’s been to make a statement, maybe to right a wrong, or to wrong a right. The more lascivious years may have involved back alley financial transactions; some may have even consulted Miss Cleo or Dionne Warwick when her friends were all psychics, but regardless it can never be said that the lead up is boring! Seriously, having worked as a Lieutenant the last two years I know that it is actually something they put thought and a lot of heart into. No grand marshal is ever going to be perfect, or be deemed as the right choice by everyone, but each will leave their own mark. I have often joked that the only thing all SDGM’s have in common are that in their own way they can at times be somewhat of a hot mess, which means that we are all qualified to be one! And I can honestly say that every single one of them I have met, even if in passing, has shared a laugh with me, some many laughs over many cocktails. It’s not like they have become part of a secret order that decides its members by offering up a human sacrifice, even though at times I have feared opposing views may have ended up in blood being drawn, or at minimum a fist being pounded into a wall in some dressing room during a show, but as they say, "That’s Show Biz," and drama is a part as much as comedy is in any good show! Knowing that Rip and Marsha would be naming successors along with Steven Mora, Misti Ates and Frankie Fierce, I do have hopes that in keeping with the Pope of Bourbon theme, we can all gather outside Ambush and wait for white smoke to come out the chimney to know when they have come to a final decision, but alas if not, I guess we will all have to wait till Thursday at The Four Seasons . I have no doubts that going into deliberations they had as many candidates in mind as the Republicans started out with this year, but have faith that they have narrowed it down, question is will any be Trump like? I doubt it, but to be completely fair and balanced in my attempt at journalism, which reminds me around here I only listen to FoXX, as in Teryl-Lynn or Nicole Lynn, I have been asked a few times if my name was in the hat, and I truly don’t know, but it if was, I would likely be declared Hillary like, as I have often been call the C-word that Bianca Del Rio loves to use, but I would strive to have better hair styles! Regardless of who ends up with the sashes and pins, like all years before, any drama, comedy or controversy there is will end up raising lots of money for good causes, paying the fees that the city requires and more so seeing to it that we all pass a good time and keep the party rolling till the next season, because that’s just what we do here in the Big Easy! And that’s the Real Cheese ! Til next time dahlins, I’m Felicia Phillips, the Cheese Queen of New Orleans...
dents and seniors are available. Malambo is an indigenous dance form from Argentina performed only by men and based entirely on rhythm similar to Spanish flamenco and American tap. In the early 17th Century, Malambo began as a form of competitive challenges to show off strength, speed and agility, and was a way for solitary gauchos to pass time while isolated for long periods working in the grasslands of the
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lez talk by Misti Ates Email: Mistimichelleates@gmail.com
Keeley Williams “Neither rain, nor shine, nor sleet or snow shall keep us away from our appointed rounds” may be the motto for the U.S. Postal Service, but it could also apply to the hard working people in the fast paced and unpredictable world of Emergency Medical Services. Just ask Keeley Williams a Paramedic and Captain for New Orleans EMS. For the past twenty years, Keeley has been saving lives and making a difference. Now she is part of the hit reality TV series, Night Watch on the A & E network on Thursday nights. The show follows police, EMS and fire personnel up close and personal during their shifts as they delve in the gritty and sometimes dangerous realm of New Orleans night life. She may be new to television viewers, but Keeley has been a fixture and familiar face in the New Orleans LGBT community for several years, frequenting lesbian bars from back in the day, such as Charlene’s, The Other Side and The Sanctuary. Even though all of those places are just memories now, you can still catch a glimpse of her
Misti Ates & Keeley Williams at The Four Seasons Bar in Metairie or at The Country Club. Keeley is a self described Bad A** female who loves tattoos, vacationing in paradise, watching football and enjoying some gin and tonic when she is off duty. Keeley invited me and the missus, Catherine Gaither for a tour of the New Orleans EMS headquarters and their new state of the art facility. After spending the
moments in gay new orleans history by Professor Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
“Metropolitan Community Church” In the 1960s, a young man in California struggled to reconcile his homosexuality with his Pentecostal faith. To make matters even more complicated, he was an ordained minister who had recently been defrocked. Nothing so unusual about that; nor was his suicide attempt uncommon. What makes Troy Perry’s story unique is that despite the psychological horrors of the closet and the profound self-loathing engendered by Christianity, Perry never doubted that God loved him. On October 6, 1968, in Huntington Park, California, a dozen people gathered in Perry’s living room for a worship service and thus was born the Metropolitan Community Church. Today, the Metropolitan Community Church (MCC) boasts over 45,000 members and adherents in over 300 congregations spanning 22 countries. The New Orleans chapter of the MCC was founded on Sunday, April 18, 1971, at the First Unitarian Church. On that day, Reverend David E. Solomon presided over an organizational meeting of interested people. The group’s first worship service occurred on May 9, 1971. Originally organized as the Elysian Fields MCC, it was officially chartered as the MCC of Greater New Orleans in March of 1972. After a year and a half, Reverend Solomon moved on and his assistant, Deacon Bill Larson became the pastor. Needing a place to meet, Larson approached Phil Esteve, who had just opened the Up Stairs Lounge, about meeting in a spare room attached to the bar. Esteve agreed and for a few months, the MCC met in the bar. The congregation then met for about six months in St. George’s Episcopal Church in Uptown New Orleans. The congregation
then began to meet in the home of Reverend Bill Larson. After services, most of the congregants would go to the Up Stairs Lounge for fellowship at the Sunday Beer Bust. Many were there on Sunday, June 24, 1973, when an arsonist set fire to the bar and killed 32 people. Among the dead were Pastor Larson and the assistant Pastor George Mitchell, along with several members of the church. In the aftermath of the fire, the Reverend Troy Perry and other church officials came to New Orleans to rally the community and help the devastated church. Father Bill Richardson of St. George’s Episcopal Church held a small memorial service, an act of Christian kindness for which he caught not so holy hell. His congregation reacted with such hatred that he threatened to resign if they didn’t forsake their homophobia. Roman Catholic Archbishop Hannan issued an order that the fire victims could not be buried in the Catholic Church. Other mainline denominations also refused their facilities for memorial services. The notable exception was Dr. Kennedy of St. Mark’s United Methodist Church. The church began rebuilding in the fall
last ten years since Katrina being crammed in two FEMA trailers under the Earhart overpass, Keeley was proud to show off their offices, gym and kitchen. It is evident that she has a special dedication to her career, which transcends not only on camera, but off. Our discussion soon shifted from ambulances and television, to the topic of how things have changed since she came out in the early 80s. Reflecting back on that time, Keeley explained it was more common then for the younger generation to look up to the older lesbians with respect. She expressed her concern that they do not have the knowledge or appreciation of the history of those who were there before them. Today it seems that most of the younger crowds are unable to experience a full appreciation of the older generation since there is not really a mutual establishment to hang out. It is my own personal opinion that part of the problem could be that there are no actual lesbian bars in the New Orleans area. Everyone is somewhat scattered doing their own thing. It is rare here for the young and old lesbians to come together and create that bond of unity that is necessary to be able to sustain the link between generations. I asked how can we change things? How can we bridge that gap? Keeley wisely stated that the younger lesbians need to brush up on their history and show respect, while the older generation needs to embrace them and lead more by example. Keeley’s passion and dedication to her community is not reserved just for the lesbians. She has a special place in her heart for the transgendered. Her job has allowed her to see first hand the homeless transgendered in New Orleans and their struggles. What is sad, she said, is that sometimes the transgendered are being
discriminated against even in our own community. It’s hard enough for someone’s family to not accept them, but to not always be accepted by your own community, can make things on the individual more difficult. Now, the suicide rate is higher for those who struggle to come out and admit that they are gay to family and friends. From knowing these statistics and unfortunately seeing suicides and the brutality against those in the LGBT New Orleans area, it has caused Keeley to become more aware and diligent on helping get the suicide rate numbers down. She has become somewhat of a role model since her appearances on Night Watch. She has received several messages from first responders and others through out the nation, saying that she has inspired them to come out to their co workers and families. And judging from the amount of fan mail in the box on her desk marked, “Nightwatch Fan Mail”, she’s just getting started. As we left the interview and tour, I couldn’t help but think it takes a special person who can devote themselves to a profession where it literally involves life or death situations and split second decisions. You have the responsibility of arriving among the first on scene and rendering care so your patient will continue to hopefully live while they are being transported to the hospital. Unfortunately, it can be a thankless job where you don’t always get a simple thank you, awards or other recognition. But then again, that is what makes Keeley, well, Keeley. She just steps up and does what needs to be done. So, thank you my friend for all that you do everyday and for representing both the City of New Orleans and its LGBT community in a positive light. Keep shining bright and we will keep watching!
of 1973 and rented a storefront at 3127 Magazine Street. MCC New Orleans was re-chartered on Easter Sunday 1974. The altar used at the church contained a gold plaque with the names of the congregants lost in the Up Stairs Lounge fire and for a while held the cremated remains of Reverend Bill Larson. Larson, along with a few others, was eventually interred at St. Roch Cemetery in space donated by Roland Mace and Vic Scaliese. From the time of the fire (1973) to the early 1990s, the MCC was in a state of constant change, in terms of its official name, meeting places, and pastors. Nevertheless, the church did produce some fruit. In 1977, it helped organize the protest against Anita Bryant. Reverend Ron Pannell, who served from 1976 to 1980 raised the church’s awareness by doing a number of radio and television interviews and conducting a successful “bath-house ministry.” And in 1978, the church took a public stand against California’s Proposition 6, also known as the Briggs Initiative, which would have banned gays and lesbians from working in public schools. From 1994 to 2006, the local MCC was led by the Reverend Dexter Brecht. The church finally found what was supposed to be a permanent home when it purchased a facility at 1228 St. Roch (at Marais). This building was sold in 2001 with the hopes of purchasing a facility on Canal Street but that deal never materialized. After Hurricane Katrina in 2005, membership dropped from 33 to 20. After the departure of Reverend Brecht in 2006, 18 members of the church resigned their membership, leaving the church
with only 13 members. In 2007, Reverend Clinton Crawshaw became pastor and began a concentrated outreach to the transgender and other marginalized communities. Under Pastor Crawshaw’s leadership, weekly attendance grew to around 100. In 2013, the MCC adopted a new mission statement: “The mission of MCC New Orleans is to offer a safe and holy place where everyone — with particular outreach to the gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer / questioning and marginalized communities — can worship, receive affirmation, and celebrate God’s love.” Today the MCC is led by Pastor Alisan Rowland and meets at 6200 St. Charles Ave. at the St. Charles Avenue Christian Church a Disciples of Christ congregation. Sunday services are at 10am.
the "official" dish ...from 10 Pampas region of Argentina. Men would confront each other in duels of zapateo, which translates as “shoe tapping”. With rhythmic stomping and virtuosic foot work, Malambo incorporates striking the heels, toes and all sides of the foot in either hard shoes or barefoot, creating thundering rhythms like the sound of galloping horses. In addition to footwork, Malambo incorporates other elements to create syncopated rhythms, including singing, drumming of the bombos (a drum made of wood and hide), and whipping boleadoras or leather lassos with stones on the end originally used as a throwing weapon to capture cattle or game by entangling their legs or wings.
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GrandPre's 2nd Anniversary Bash featuring Troy Ming/Nick Andrews Marriage Proposal ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Rip Naquin
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Celebrating the Life of Allen Miller raises $1,401 for Food For Friends hosted by SDGM XLI Misti Ates @ Four Seasons ~ Metairie, LA ~ Photos by Paul Melancon, Rip Naquin
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6th Dodwell House Extravaganza benefits St. Anna's Place @ St. Paul's Episcopal School ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Tony Leggio, Rip Naquin
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Karaoke Every Night 5pmtil late @ Kajun's Pub Where Everyone is a Star ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Ashlyrose Queen
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under the gaydar by Tony Leggio Email: ledgemgp@gmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham
Hot Happenings Happy Jazz Fest everyone. Can you believe it is already upon us; time does fly in this city. In addition to Jazz Fest, here are some other fun (and gay) things to do. Thursday, April 28, 2016 Who Will be Southern Decadence Grand Marshals 42? All roads lead to Four Seasons (3229 N. Causeway Blvd) in Metairie for the 42nd Southern Decadence Grand Marshals Announcement Party starting at 7pm. This is the first time the announcement party will be held in Metairie, Louisiana. The Fab 5 as they were dubbed by some, or Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XLI Steven Mora, Rip Naquin, Marsha Delain, Misti Ates and Frankie Fierce continue to set new trends. Four Seasons is home bar to two of the grand marshals, Misti Ates and Frankie Fierce. What better way to kick off the 45th Southern Decadence celebration of gay life, music and culture! The grand marshals will host a meet and greet, a show starring some of your favorite SDGMs, and then the moment everyone has been waiting for, the introduction of the 2016 Southern Decadence Grand Marshals!!! The $10 door donation and all stage performance tips will kick off the fundraising efforts for Southern Decadence 2016. Friday, April 29, 2016 Join the Lords of Leather for their Annual Crawfish Boil starting at 6pm. The Lords will serve up your favorite springtime seafood along with the “fixins” for just $10 at the Phoenix Bar (941 Elysian Fields Avenue). Also that night, starting at 9pm the Lords will hold their “5th Friday” Beer Bust on the patio (until midnight). $10 dollars gets you keg beer (till it’s gone), soda, cheesy poofs, and snacks (in case you’re still hungry). $1 vodka Jello shots will be available too. So come out and enjoy a great Louisiana springtime tradition and get yourself some “mudbugs”, beer, Jell-O shots, and of course ....leather, love, and laughter. Saturday, April 30, 2016 Catch the Fever, Spring Fever that is at the Four Seasons Bar (3229 N. Causeway Blvd) in Metairie. Join the group there for a special drag show entitled Spring Fever: Love is in the Air. The cast includes Miss LA Diva USofA Ravyn Noir Downe, Mister AR USofA MI Hunta Downe, Triple Threat Corynne Deville and spotlights Nikki Monroe and Amber Eve. The show starts at 10:30pm. Tuesday, May 3, 2016 Get your derby on and celebrate GiveNOLA Day in style with The Louisiana Museum Foundation! Wear your most extravagant derby hat and sip on mint juleps in the historic courtyard at Madame John’s Legacy (632 Dumaine Street) —not typically open to the public! Doors open at 6pm with live music from 7:30pm-10pm provided by legendary bluesman Ron Hacker. For a $10 GiveNOLA Donation, receive a free
mint julep or drink of your choice! Cash bar and refreshments will be provided (21+). Prizes will be awarded for best derby hats— Music at the Mint concert tickets, rare posters, and books! If you have any questions or are interested in volunteering with us, please email info@thelmf.org Wednesday, May 4, 2016 The Bow Tie Bash is a CrescentCare event that benefits those affected by cancer and HIV in the New Orleans community. The event will take place at Il Mercato (1911 Magazine Street). Proceeds from the Bow Tie Bash will help the Food for Friends program deliver meals to cancer and HIV clients who are unable to prepare meals for themselves. There will be an open bar, live auction, creative bow tie contest, catering by Joel’s Catering and music by A Boy Named Ruth, Jay-Ray & Gee, Robin Barnes and more! Free valet parking is offered in the ticket price. Tickets are $75. The event was inspired by Chet Pourciau, a long-time volunteer for NO/ AIDS Task Force known for his vibrant personality and a love for flashy bow ties. Last year, Chet passed away after diagnosed with lymphoma. With the blessing of his partner, Jack Sullivan, we created this event to honor Chet and immortalize his contributions to our mission through raising funds for cancer patients in the Food For Friends program. For more information, go to www.noaidstaskforce.org. Wednesday, May 4, 2016 Join CommUNITY® Speak Out as they present their May presentation series with Adikus Sulpizi speaking about Stigma. The talk starts at 7pm. Adikus Sulpizi will talk about the stigma that still surrounds HIV and education. He will also discuss the organization he works with here locally, Team Friendly NOLA and how you can get involved. Please come and join us for this FREE education. Please R.S.V.P - https:/ /www.eventbrite.com/e/community-speakout-adikus-sulpizi-hiv-and-stigma-tickets24634291830. The talk will be held at 741 Bourbon St. Friday, May 6, 2016 It’s time once again for the 2016 Whitney Zoo-To-Do at the Audubon Zoo (6500 Magazine St). Ready those black ties and cocktail dresses! Whitney ZooTo–Do will feature live entertainment, local and international cuisine from over 70 New Orleans restaurants, a luxury car raffle, premium cocktails, and a silent auction! Enjoy music from this year’s headlining band, Emerald City, along with many other live musicians. All proceeds support Audubon Zoo. Tickets available for purchase at http://audubonnatureinstitute.org/ ztd or call 504.861.6160. Enter the raffle to drive away in a brand new 2016 Lexus ES350 from Lexus of New Orleans at http:// audubonnatureinstitute.org/ztd. Only 1000 raffle tickets are being sold! The event timeline is as follows: Silent Auction: 7pm-
10pm; Sponsor/Patron Party: 7pm-12am; Gala Admittance: 8pm-12am. Saturday, May 7, 2016 The Krewe of Narcissus is having a Kentucky Derby Party at GrandPre’s (834 N. Rampart) from 2 – 6pm. Wear your Derby Attire and enjoy a Hat Contest, and Wet Jockey Short Contest plus a Southern Style Buffet. There is a $15 donation at the door. Saturday, May 7, 2016 Oz New Orleans and Persana Shoulders proudly presents MISS GAY NEW ORLEANS AMERICA 2016 at Oz (800 Bourbon St) starting at 5pm. Celebrating 20 years of excellence as the oldest preliminary pageant in the Miss Gay Louisiana America pageantry system! For more information on MGNOA or to sign up please contact: Persana Shoulders: persana@ozneworleans.com The Miss Gay New Orleans America 2015 Entrance Fee is $100. Prize Packages: $2,000 cash, prizes and bookings, to the Winner and $1,000 cash, prizes and bookings to the 1st Alternate. Categories include Male Interview, Solo Talent, Evening Gown, On Stage Question and Talent. Registration is at 1pm, contestants must come in their “Male Interview” attire and interview will happen immediately after registration at 1:30pm. Once the interview portion is over, you will be free to leave, but MUST be back at the venue for 4:30pm. The pageant starts promptly at 5pm. Sunday, May 8, 2016 Well Strung is coming back to premiere their ALL NEW show in New Orleans and the Krewe of Armeinius will be hosting one of the opening nights. The show will be at Café Istanbul (2372 St. Claude Ave) starting at 7pm. Ticket prices range from $40 $60. For more information or tickets, go to https://armeinius.ticketleap.com/wellstrung16/dates/May-08-2016_at_0700PM. Friday, May 13 – Sunday, May 15. 2016 Broadway In New Orleans presents the awesome Blue Man Group at the Saenger Theatre (1111 Canal Street) for five shows only! Blue Man Group is comedy, theater, rock concert and dance party all rolled into one. This wildly popular phenomenon delivers an unforgettable multi-sensory experience. It’s an outrageous evening of entertainment you’ll never forget. Don’t miss the show that has captivated 35 million people worldwide. Blue Man Group - enemy of monotony, remedy for boredom, promoter of overjoy and elation. Showtimes are Friday and Saturday at 8pm and Sunday at 7:30pm. They also have a Saturday and Sunday matinee at 2:30pm. For tickets or more information, go to www.saengernola.com. Sunday, May 15, 2016 In recognition of May’s National Foster Care Month, Boys Town Louisiana is hosting Bowl-A-Palooza, a charitable fundraiser dedicated to recognizing the role we each can play in enhancing the lives of children in foster care. The event takes place at Rock N Bowl (3016 Carrolton Ave) from 1 – 4pm. The afternoon event will feature delicious food; amazing musical entertainment by Tank and the Bangas, plus DJ Raj Smoove and MC Wild Wayne; a silent auction, door prizes and the chance to interact with the Boys Town children and
their families. The public is invited to share in this fun-filled, charitable fundraising event by securing a lane time or by becoming a Bowl-A-Palooza event sponsor. Individual tickets are $25. For tickets or more information, go to www.boystown.org.
Party Down This Spring has been wonderful in New Orleans, great weather, exciting festivals and more parties and events to fill every day of your calendar. My two weeks of festivities included fundraisers, anniversaries and tequila. On Tuesday, I attended Cabaret which is part of the Saenger’s Broadway in New Orleans series. Frankie Fierce and I enjoyed every exuberant moment of this fabulous show that boasted an outstandingly talented cast. Everyone was on point in this production. Willkommen was the theme of the evening as you felt extremely welcome in this historic theatre. The cast belted out each number with conviction giving the audience an electric performance. If you do not have season tickets to the Saenger, I highly recommend splurging. The next day, I attended a Peanut Butter and Jelly Party at the historic Le Pavillon Hotel. This four-star property just went through a major renovation and the new rooms are amazing. They also have an incredible rooftop area and their suites are bar none, some of the most elegant places to stay in the city. But why did they choose a PB&J theme for their party. In case you are not aware, the hotel serves these feel good sandwiches nightly to their guests. The story is years ago, a hotel guest came into the lounge one evening after just checking in and ordered a glass of milk. Of course, the bar keeper asked why he chose such an unusual drink. The man told him that this was something that he did with his daughter every evening at home. They would have a glass of milk and a PB&J sandwich. Since the bar keeper on duty that evening was the General Manger of the hotel, he made a request of the kitchen staff to prepare a PB&J sandwich for this guest to make his stay at the hotel memorable. Pretty soon everyone in the lounge heard about the PB&J sandwich and wanted one too. The nightly PB&J tradition started on September 10th, 1988 with that evening in the lounge and continues today. This hotel has made me a fan of PB and J all over again, they served PB and J martinis and King Cake (which was delicious). Another reason why I love NOLA, every place has a story. Now the story shifts to my little jaunt South of the Border to Mexico City (Trump would be so disappointed in me). I mixed a little fun with some business by attending the Tales of the Cocktail on Tour when I left on Friday morning. It was an easy flight over from NOLA and had some hot and very friendly gay flight attendants. I landed pretty early on Friday and took a cab to my Hilton Mexico City Reforma Hotel. I checked into my room and was ready to hit the streets. I started by having lunch at this idyllic little sidewalk café called Testal which was an upscale white tablecloth eatery with delicious food and wine. After, I walked around the large park across the street from the hotel called Central Alameda which was the first public park established in Mexico City. The Alameda Central park is a green garden with paved paths and decorative fountains and statues, and is frequently the
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trodding the boards by Brian Sands
Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com
New in New York During a recent visit up north, I caught three of Broadway’s newer musical offerings, each of which had its origins on the silver screen. And in that Hollywood spirit, look for my starry assessments ranging from * to ****. I’m not much of a fan of rock’n’roll. I haven’t enthused about an Andrew Lloyd Webber show for over 30 years. And I never saw the movie School of Rock. So I wasn’t sure what to expect from Lord LloydWebber’s new School of Rock – The Musical at the Winter Garden Theater. But you know what? I loved it! If you saw the film, the musical, according to my companion, follows it pretty faithfully. Bookwriter Julian (Downton Abbey) Fellowes wisely didn’t mess much with Mike White’s successful screenplay and if parts of the script are a bit ridiculous, or improbable to say the least, its strong narrative thread, not to mention good humor and overall joyousness, keeps you involved. (If you haven’t seen SoR, it follows Dewey Finn, an out-of-work zhlubby rock singer/guitarist who pretends to be a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. After identifying musical talent in his uptight students, Dewey surreptitiously forms a
band of fifth-graders in an attempt to win the upcoming Battle of the Bands.) After a cute start, things slow down as the plot gets set up, but midway through the first act, as Dewey discovers the latent rockers among his charges (You’re in the Band), SoR takes off and stays in musicalcomedyville’s buoyant stratosphere through the finale as the kids blossom and hardedged parents learn important life lessons. Glenn Slater provides witty, inventive lyrics for Lloyd Webber’s tunes and if none of the melodies quite match his celebrated ones from Cats or Evita, they’re good enough and seem apt for this tale. Alex Brightman channels the film’s Dewey, Jack Black (again, as per my companion), but that doesn’t take away from a fantastic performance that resists sugarcoating Dewey’s shortcomings while allowing his decency and iconoclasm, as well as his growing affection for the kids, to shine through. And unlike Mr. Black, Brightman does it LIVE, singing in nearly every number, eight times a week. As the school’s rigid principal and Dewey’s putative love interest, Sierra
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After my morning sustenance I was off into the city. I walked to the Mercado de les Flores, a true Mexican arts, crafts and food market. I got lost shopping among the tiny stores that created a maze like atmosphere in this colorful bazaar. I found some great hand blown glass, fun souvenirs and tasty margaritas which made shopping (and negotiating) much easier. With the dollar being so string against the Peso, things were so inexpensive I hated to barter, but it is in my being. Next on my afternoon journey was a trip to the Plaza Garibaldi where there was the Tequila and Mezcal Museum. Now this is my type of learning where they showed the origins of these potent elixirs. And after the tour, you are treated on the rooftop bar to a complimentary shot of tequila and mescal. So I enjoyed my cocktail (and a few others) while overlooking the plaza’s daily excitement. Plaza Garibaldi is located in historic downtown Mexico City and known as Mexico City’s home of mariachi music. At all hours of the day and night, mariachi bands can be found playing or soliciting gigs from visitors to the Plaza. There were what seemed like hundreds of mariachi players just hanging around performing and socializing, very interesting. I ended my afternoon with a relaxing few hours getting pampered in the hotel spa by an extremely hot and swarthy man named Mohammed. That man knows how to give a massage, talk about relaxed. Nothing like a man with a foreign tongue to get you revitalized. That night I went to dinner at the hotel in their upscale restaurant Los Dones. The food was a Mexican/American fusion pared with lovely wines. After I walked around the park across the street and looked at the makeshift market vendors selling their wares. I tried a Churro
center of civic events. The area used to be an Aztec marketplace. The park was created in 1592, when Viceroy Luis de Velasco decided to create green space here as a public park. The park is also home to some of the most beautiful fountains and statues in the city. With the poplar trees blooming purple flowers and the artwork, you feel like you are strolling through an outdoor museum. Next I met up with some friends from Tales and we went for cocktail across the street from the hotel at a busy bar/restaurant called La Cerveceria which had some impressive margaritas in every flavor. After drinks, we were off to dinner at an authentic and popular restaurant called Café de Tacuba. Established in 1912, the restaurant is located inside a 17th century built mansion in historic downtown. Gorgeous works of art and painted tiles adorn the spacious location and the cuisine was plentiful and delectable. The flavors of the dishes just exploded as you savored each bite from the appetizer to the dessert. They even have a cool ghost that haunts the place of an elderly nun. After dinner and exhausted from a day of traveling I called it an early night. Saturday I was up early and at the gym to get invigorated for the day. The hotel workout facility was large and impressive. I went down to breakfast in the hotel which had a dazzling array of both American and Mexican breakfast foods. My favorite part was the fresh fruit bar which had a chef standing behind a beautiful mahogany table covered with all kinds of whole fresh fruit from figs and kiwis to papaya, melons and mangos. You made your choice and he cut the fruit up for you quickly, very cool.
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which is a Mexican dessert which is like a long skinny fried donut with leche cream sauce injected in the center, absolutely delicious. And very fun to eat, it's sort of like giving a blowjob to a pastry. I’ve done worse. On Sunday the Tales of the Cocktail convention started. So after a little time in the gym followed by breakfast, I went to the ballroom and registered and received my welcome cocktail, which was the first of many I would be consuming over the trip. The opening session was a Ted Style panel discussion about some of the best bars in the city and what it takes to open an establishment, make it popular and keep it on top. What I love about this convention is I met people from all over the world. The bar owners were from New York, Greece, London and Chicago. Another interesting seminar was the Anthropology of the Modern Bar. The discussion traced man’s early beginnings of social drinking, why we go to bars and what draws us to certain establishments. For those worried, the bar life is nowhere near dead and gone. In between seminars there were happy hour breaks with cocktails, a lunch by Sailor Jerry Rum complete with serving girls on roller skates, and to add each seminar served three to six cocktails depending on the ones you attended. The evening’s event started with a rooftop reception hosted by Patron Tequila with sample shots and lots of unique cocktails, then we moved onto our next destination which was the William Grant party at Foro Normandie, an underground music club literally. The place is in the cellar of this building. The party had hidden doorways leading to other bars, all kinds of unique bars and even a monkey man (like Planet of the Apes Monkey man). There were so many themes going on it was very surreal, you had Mexican dance music pumping throughout the place while you sipped libations some of them smoking. It was an over the top event that had something new to see and try around each corner. And because Tales is all about the after parties, my next stop was another popular local dance club called Bang Bang. This was another weird club where the smoking area was in a bubble room like a fish tank in the center of the club so everyone can watch the smokers. After a few more drinks, I was ready to call it a night. Tales is just as exhausting out of town as locally. Monday was more seminars. After the daytime activities the first evening event was the World of Spirits at Taberna Luciferina. The venue is a three story bar and social club that has a membership. The attendees of Tales enjoyed all kinds of different cocktails from moonshine to mojitos and were able to mingle with the local club membership. Once the party ended we joined a Bacardi bar crawl already in progress. We started at Puebla 109 a trendy bar/restaurant that was airy and inviting. We consumed numerous amounts of gin drinks before we moved on, but before we stopped at a park across from the bar that had a large replica of the Statue of David in the center of the park. That is what I love about Mexico City, there are so many surprises around every corner. Tuesday morning I slept in before venturing out for lunch at Gino’s a Mexican and Italian restaurant that had an extensive menu of delicacies from both countries. Finding it hard to decide I had a Mexican appetizer and an Italian entrée, both equally scrumptious. Then I walked over to the
Museum of Popular Art. Handicrafts and folk art, also known as popular art, play an important role in the history and culture of Mexico and are often representative of the country’s various regions and indigenous groups. The Museo de Arte Popular (Museum of Popular Art) is dedicated to the promotion and preservation of Mexican popular art. Housed in a splendid Art Deco building, the museum explores the origins and significance of popular art throughout Mexico. The items on display are representative of important Mexican traditions that originated in towns and villages all over the country. These customs have been passed down from generation to generation and in many cases that date back to before the arrival of the Spanish. The exhibits, arranged by theme, showcase a stunning array of Mexican traditions including pottery, ceramics, glasswork, metalwork, woodcarving, mache paper, basketry, weaving, textiles and traditional dress collections. Many of the crafts that are mass produced and available for sale in the markets are modeled after the traditional and delicately handcrafted works of art that are on display in this museum. This was an informative afternoon filled with vibrantly colored art that ranged from religious in nature to whimsical oversized statues. That night, I attended the last of the parties at the Edificio Continental. It was a cross between a Speakeasy theme and a chicken fight. It was absolutely crazy. The party was once again in a basement club and had sawdust spread on the floor, live chickens in cages around the room and bleachers set up to watch the bar competition which was the main event. After the party, I had a nightcap with some friends in the lobby bar before bed. I left the wonderful Mexico City on Wednesday morning with a layover in Houston before returning home. One more thing checked off my bucket list. The remainder of the week I played catch up, but on Friday I attended the one year anniversary party of Uber in NOLA. It was fun how you were invited at 5pm, you texted a code saying you wanted to attend the party and waited to hear back, we got an answer at 6pm. Within minutes an Uber picked us up for free and brought my friend Barrett and me to an unknown location. The venue ended up being Urban South Brewery, which is located in a huge warehouse off of Tchoupitoulas Street. There was music, boiled crawfish, a birthday cake and beer of course. What a fun and unique way to host a party and Uber we love having you in our city. On Saturday, it was all about raising funds for a good cause. Elizabeth Bouvier and I hosted the St. Anna Fundraiser for the Dodwell House. It was at a school on Canal Boulevard. Liz and I have been in some unusual green rooms before but a kindergarten classroom ranks right up there. The event had great food, good music, a powerful auction and two especially wonderful emcees if I say so myself. Lots of money was raised for this great cause. Once again Father Terry, thank you for allowing me to be a part of the festivities. On my way home, I caught the tail end of Glitter and Be Gay, the Armeinius fundraiser at their den. It looks like they had a great crowd and raised some big bucks, kudos to another well done event by this talented krewe. I had to work on Sunday so no playing, but it was quite the two weeks. Until next time, keep your party going.
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Offic ial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.org • April 26-May 9, 2016 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 23
chop chop by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com
Bayou Scampi (shrimp sauteed in wine, garlic & fresh tomatoes with jazzmen rice) @ Chef Ron's Gumbo Stop, 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie
Take Mom Out for Mother's Day What better way to celebrate Mother's Day than to give Mom an experience of a lifetime? Our community can be proud of the incredible culinary array available to us, not only in the French Quarter, but the Marigny and Bywater, and out in Metairie, as well. Ambush recommends these great eateries to curb any hunger desires you and Mom may have, and of course, many serve up cocktails!
Metairie Restaurant Guide Chef Ron's Gumbo Stop & Pub, 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., 835.2022, GumboStop.com, is a quaint eatery serving five different gumbos, New Orleans favorites, house specials, specialty sandwiches, daily specials, appetizers and desserts all prepared by award winning Chef Ron Iafrate. Open Mon-Sat. 11am-9pm, closed Sunday.
New Orleans Restaurant Guide Boudin Scotch Eggs - soft cooked egg wrapped with Cajun boudin, served on a nest of braised collard greens @ The Bombay Club, 830 Conti St.
The Bombay Club, 830 Rue Conti, www.bombayclubneworleans.com, 577.2237. The Bombay Club is host to an eclectic menu of British-Cajun fare, quality craft cocktails & unique martinis. Enjoy live music showcasing the most talented jazz musicians in New Orleans. Dining hours 4-10pm Sun.-Thur., 4-11pm Fri.-Sat. Broussard’s Restaurant & Courtyard, 819 Rue Conti, 581.3866, http://broussards.com. A favorite fixture in New Orleans for nearly 100 years, Broussard’s is located in the heart of the French Quarter, featuring classic French and Creole food, old architecture, and tradition. Dining hours 5:30-9pm Tues.-Thurs. & Sun., 5:30-10pm Fri.-Sat., 10:30am-2:30pm Sunday Brunch. Cheezy Cajun, 3325 St. Claude Ave., www.TheCheezyCajun.com, 265.0045, is NOLA's newest full restaurant and deli serving a variety of Cajun foods including Boudin and Cracklins’ mixed with a variety of Wisconsin Cheeses, plus fab party trays. Open Lunch & Dinner 11am - 8pm Mon., Tues., Thurs. and Fri., closed on Wed., Brunch & Lunch 10am - 4pm Sat. & Sun. Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St., 598.1010,
House made Cracklin's, Boudin Balls & Pickles Party Tray @ Cheezy Cajun, 3325 St. Claude
World Famous Hamburger @ Clover Grill, 900 Bourbon St.
Shrimp, Andouille & Stoneground Grits @ The Country Club, 634 Louisa St.
Chargrilled Oysters: Plump Louisiana oysters topped with Parmesan butter cheese filling & grilled to perfection @ Royal House Oyster Bar, 441 Royal St.
Breaux Bridge Benedict ~ house made boudin, ham, American cheese, poached eggs & hollandaise on French bread with fried oysters @ Stanley, 547 St. Ann St.
CloverGrill.COM, is open 7 days, 24 hours. and features breakfast including build your own omelettes. But let’s not forget their fab burgers grilled right under a hub cap and then there’s all those sandwiches, sides, desserts and shakes. Country Club Restaurant, 634 Louisa St., 945.0742, TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM. The chef has paid attention to detail and ingredient, and focused on a more contemporary menu at an even more affordable price point. Still the best food, but at even more unbelievable value! Serving 7 days 11am-10pm and Sunday Brunch 11am-3pm. Gene's Po-Boys & Daquiris,1040 Elysian Fields Ave., 943.3861, www.genespoboys.com, is famous for its New Orleans style po-boy sandwiches chockful of ingredients. Open 24 hours. Ilys Bistro, 1040 Elysian Fields Ave., 947.8341, www.Facebook.com/ILYSBistro, offers home cooking and friendly service, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner featuring plates, poboys, and daily specials. Breakfast Mon.-Sat. 6am11am & Sun. 11am-1pm; lunch and dinner 11amclose. Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails, 337 Chartres St. 598.5005, www.KinfishNewOrleans.com,"brings customers back to the Huey P. Long era with vintage-inspired cocktails & unique Creole and Southern dishes. Join us for dinner, or meet up with friends to relax at our cocktail bar.” Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St., 522.6746, features Italian specialties including salads, pizzas, sandwiches and both lunch and dinner entrees. Open Mon.-Thurs. 5-10pm, Fri.Sun. 11am-10pm. Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St., 529.1416, www.QuartermasterDeli.net, voted Restaurant/ Deli of the Year, is open 24 hours 7 days. Serving breakfast, lunch, dinner and late night menu, the deli offers free delivery. Royal House Oyster Bar, 441 Royal St., 528.2601, www.RoyalHouseRestaurant.com, is a casual classic, offering fresh-shucked oysters and fresh local seafood in a setting that follows the best traditions of dining in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter. Stanley, 547 St. Ann St., 587.0093, www.StanleyRestaurant.com, conveniently located on historic Jackson Square, the view from Stanley’s provincial yet elegant dining room provides a beautiful backdrop of St. Louis Cathedral and downtown New Orleans. With all day breakfast and brunch, delicious sandwiches, a soda fountain, house-made ice cream desserts, and The Stanley Burger there’s something guaranteed to please anyone’s tastes in this charming French Quarter locale. Open 7am-7pm daily.
New Orleans Muffuletta @ Restaurant/Deli of the Year Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, 1100 Bourbon St.
Filet Mignon Broussard - jumbo lump crab meat stuffed Portobello mushroom cap, grilled asparagus, Yukon Gold mashed potatoes with mustard cream glaze @ Broussard's, 819 Rue Conti
Stuffed Bell Pepper Special with Mac & Cheese, Potato Salad, Peas & Texas Toast @ Ilys Bistro, 1040 Elysian Fields Ave.
BBQ Shrimp & Waffles: Toasted garlic, poblano pepper jelly, and hopitoulas cream @ Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails, 337 Chartres
Special Combo Pizza (pepperoni, Italian sausage, ham, onions, mushrooms, green peppers & black olives with jalapenos & anchovies optional) @ Mona Lisa Restaurant, 1212 Royal St.
24 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • April 26-May 9, 2016 • Of fic ial Sout her n Dec adenc e Guide • Sout her nDec adenc e.c om hernDec
trodding the boards ...from 22 Boggess is delightful especially as her hard exterior starts to melt. But it’s the 13 kids who are the heart of the show and they’re all great. Stand-outs include Isabella Russo as an overachiever who becomes the band’s manager, bossy but understandably so; Bobbi MacKenzie whose terrible shyness evaporates when she sings; Luca Padovan, adorable as a budding stylist and likely homosexual; and the four who actually make up the band (Evie Dolan, Diego Lucano, Dante Melucci & Brandon Niederauer) and play live— terrifically—throughout the show. It’s also nice to see such a multi-ethnic cast in roles where race doesn’t necessar-
ily matter. If JoAnn M. Hunter’s choreography seems appropriated from Matilda (do kids only stomp when they dance?), Laurence Connor’s direction is finely calibrated to allow the show’s momentum to build for maximum emotional impact and School of Rock to be one of the most unexpectedly enjoyable shows I’ve seen in ages. (****) With its classic story and gorgeous Gershwin songs, it’s hard not to like the stage version of An American in Paris at the Palace Theatre. But with memories of Gene Kelly and the Oscar-winning movie hard to forget, it’s difficult to love, too. Craig Lucas’ book, “Inspired by the Motion Picture” (curiously, Alan Jay Lerner,
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Offic ial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.org • April 26-May 9, 2016 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 25
a community within communities by The Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, New Orleans Email: fr.bill@stannanola.org
Diversity at its Best It’s a school gym. One can only do so much with a school gym for a fundraiser. No matter how hard you try there will be retracted basketball goals, there will be the time clock, there will be lines on the floor and maybe folded bleachers. It’s a gym! A few nights ago several gentlemen walked into the gym wearing leather, black leather with motor cycle type caps, standing tall the Lord’s of Leather walked into the gym. The people at the desk welcomed them and the bar was open for business, in the gym. They were followed by two or three nuns who would come into the gym, well these Sisters were of Perpetual Indulgence and they were welcomed and came into the gym. They sat in their usual contemplative manner and watch the old queen. The self described “old queen” is a brilliant artist who designs Victorian era furnishings, finishing’s, and church appointments. He is also responsible in years gone by for a great bacchanal and excuse to dress up and misbehave. That excuse was called The Queen’s Birthday (no not THOSE Queens THE Queen – of England). And so, with bagpipes (men ins skirts) drums, British Flags, a Portrait of THE
Queen, they marched down Harrison Avenue. They were dressed in white with blue sashes (The Society of St. George) and came into the gym. The sisters and leather boys looked on. Gathering with the miscreant crew with pipes and all were a dozen or more children. These children had not seen a bagpipe, had not seen a Sister of Perpetual Indulgence, nor a Lord of Leather. These kids are our kids from the Treme, generally they have seen a lot more than most kids but not the Sisters nor the Lords nor “The Old Queen” toasting “THE real Queen” in true British fashion. Kids, adults, Society and members of the Treme Community Choir sang on. Sitting here and there was a wealthy
trodding the boards ...from 25
Paice, in the Nina Foch role, a wealthy American who has designs on Jerry, may be starchy and soigne but avoids coming off as mean or evil, a smart move. Old-fashioned, pure entertainment, An American in Paris is the kind of show you can bring your mother to. But be aware— my Mom felt the same way about it as I did. (***) I wish you could still second-act shows the way I once did before security tightened up. For that would be the perfect way to enjoy Disaster! (Nederlander Theatre), a spoof of 1970s disaster movies, which finally perks up after a s-l-o-w Act One. I had expected more from Disaster! as Seth Rudetsky, the marvelous, sharp host of the Broadway@NOCCA series, came up with the concept (with Drew Geraci) and wrote it with Jack Plotnick. Yes, it’s got the overall form and style of those celebrity-packed films, especially The Poseidon Adventure, and it features an assortment of Tony winners and nominees, but it’s not quite the same as when the lives of Gene Hackman, Faye Dunaway, Ernest Borgnine, Paul Newman, Jennifer Jones or Fred Astaire were in danger. Yes, the period songs that are repurposed for the score (Come to Me, Theme from Mahogany, Muskrat Love, etc.) are fun, but often they seem obvious choices as though the plot was built around them (Knock Three Times for a signal, a character named Ben). And yes, it namechecks familiar products of the era (Sanka, Fresca, shag carpets, etc.) but it needs much more humor and wit to sustain it for well over two hours. It’s after the disaster strikes and Tobin Ost’s set comes tumbling down that Disaster!, like the doofus who becomes a hero,
who won an Oscar for his screenplay, is not acknowledged in the Playbill), is workable; if its attempts to add some depth to the narrative by recognizing sacrifices made during World War II are admirable, it lacks the film’s fizzy spirit. Natasha Katz’s lighting, at times Impressionistic, at others abstract, and Bob Crowley’s set which morphs from one scene to the next, aided by 59 Productions’ sleek projections, are beautiful to look at; both deservedly won Tony Awards. Acclaimed dancer/choreographer Christopher Wheeldon’s direction brings out the show’s charm but offers no surprises and delivers too few moments that touch the heart. His dances, though, are lovely and advance the narrative; the American in Paris number, especially the lead characters’ duet, particularly stands out as a fabulous creative work unto itself. Those lead characters, Jerry Mulligan and Lise Dassin, were played by Robert Fairchild and Sara Esty at the performance I saw. That both are wonderful dancers is not surprising; he’s since returned to NYC Ballet as a principal dancer, she is a former soloist with the Miami City Ballet. He radiated decency and an elegant playfulness; she a poised sweetness and wary gracefulness. But, as I heard an audience member saying, “He’s good but no Gene Kelly.” And she’s not quite Leslie Caron. (Tony nominee Leanne Cope continues in most performances as Lise while Garen Scribner now stars as Jerry.) Brandon Uranowitz is marvelously astringent in the Oscar Levant role while Jill
good ol boy and their extended family from Lake Charles and there about with the ever appreciated Miss Mary for which the Gala is named. They smiled and laughed and applauded. Retired clergy, straight folk, black folk, bi-racial folk, LGBT folk, old and young folk and all manner of folk ate, talked, laughed, bid on bric- a-brac. All man-
ner of folk enjoyed the wit and wisdom of Tony Leggio and the divine Miss Elizabeth Bouvier whilst Rip and Marsha shot pictures and visited for a time. This is church my friends. This is church. I hosted a group of church types that came to Louisiana in a con-
shows a different side and turns truly entertaining. Faith Prince channels her inner Shelley Winters for a Morse code tap dance (don’t ask!) that is hilarious. Young Baylee Littrell quickly switches between a pair of twins, a boy and a girl, for a hysterical When Will I Be Loved. Best of all is Jennifer Simard whose Sister Mary (shades of Helen Reddy in Airport 1975), a former gambling addict, is the most fully realized comic creation. Given the show’s best lines, Disaster! is a triumph every time Simard takes control of the stage. (**)
With a mere three performers, Reed creates lovely stage images, and her simple but expansive staging takes advantage of the entire auditorium. Heidi Malnar’s astute choreography precisely evokes the period’s style as do the fabulous costumes by Reed and Judy Claverie that encompass casual and evening wear as well as WWII work outfits. Songs That Won the War concludes with Irving Berlin’s White Christmas which, as an anthem of WWII, we’re told was considered a song of peace and is, of course, still hugely popular. Sadly, it made me realize how few war songs have been written in the last 12 years; I found one website that listed 27, none popular hits. Though no war is good, at least World War II gave us some lasting cultural gems. [The Stage Door Canteen will be coproducing, with New Orleans Opera, Brundibár on May 14 and 15. Brundibár, a children’s opera by Jewish Czech composer Hans Krasa, was performed 55 times during World War II at Theresienstadt, the Czech concentration camp. Ela Weissberger, an original cast member and Holocaust survivor, will be a guest of honor at the performances.]
Songs That Won the War at the WWII Museum’s BB’s Stage Door Canteen through Aug. 24 [Songs That Won the War has returned to the WWII Museum; the following is an edited version of my review which ran in our Oct. 27, 2015 issue.] We’re told at the start of Songs That Won the War, the terrific new entertainment at the WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen, that “popular songs had an important part in building morale.” If that initially provokes an “Oh, really?”, by the end, the show convinces any doubters just how integral music was to winning the war. Sure, you’re probably familiar with Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy and Lili Marlene, but Writer/Director Victoria Reed has unearthed a bunch of great songs, most not heard at the Canteen before, with such titles as We’re Going to Hang out the Washing on the Siegfried Line and Milkman, Keep Those Bottles Quiet. Starting with What Do You Do in the Infantry?, Songs That Won the War is intelligently crafted and, appropriately for its museum setting, offers historical tidbits that enhance our appreciation of the numbers. For example, the Germans thought The Lambeth Walk was Jewish propaganda because it had “Oy” in its refrain (oy!). And if The Victory Belles perform Comin’ In On a Wing and a Prayer a capella it’s because it was originally done that way due to a 1943 musicians’ strike. Wisely, Reed doesn’t overdo such factoids but lets the songs speak for themselves. And speak (sing?) for themselves they do, some with beauty and elegance, others with bouncy wit, all of which still holds up 70+ years later. Andrea Pizza, Sara Benjamin and Mandi Ridgdell, each with 1940’s movie star looks, are the Belles for Songs. Their voices harmonize superbly, casting a hypnotic spell over the audience during I’ll Be Seeing You. All three come together to make Rosie the Riveter a rousing stand-out in a show that rolls smoothly along for its entire 65 minutes, each number highly polished without ever becoming cruise ship plasticky thanks to the Belles’ warmth and charm.
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Coming Soon The legendary Loretta Lynn returns to the IP Casino Resort in Biloxi on May 13; I expect she’ll be featuring songs from her new CD, Full Circle. When I saw her there last year, I wrote “At nearly 83, Loretta Lynn still sounds stellar, looks wonderful, and displays a feisty wit.” Now, at 84, she’s still going strong. Closer to home, Slidell Little Theatre will stage Spamalot April 29-May 15. Lovingly ripped off from Monty Python and the Holy Grail, Spamalot retells the legend of King Arthur & his Knights of the Round Table, deliciously sends up musical comedies, and features a bevy of beautiful show girls, not to mention cows, French people, & killer rabbits. And right here in the Marigny, ArtSpot Productions presents Jeff Becker’s Sea of Common Catastrophe, a site-specific prelude to a new touring show about displacement, detritus, and designer food (May 4-8 at Catapult, 609 St. Ferdinand). Well-Strung, the hunky singing string quartet, will debut its newest show, Party in the USA, at Café Istanbul (2372 St. Claude) May 6 - 8. Directed by NOLA’s own Jeffery Roberson (aka Varla Jean Merman), the New Orleans run will be followed by a week residence in NYC at 54 Below and then an extended engagement in Provincetown. See it here to get bragging rights all summer long for seeing its world premiere. And Conversations with Body Language offers Mike Spara in a wordless solo sketch comedy, a homage to Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton, which combines silent film sensibility, modern music and absurdity (May 14 at The New Movement, 2706 St. Claude).
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Offic ial Pride Guide • NOLAPride.org • April 26-May 9, 2016 • Facebook.com/ AmbushMag • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • 27
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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 [is1915]
circuit/events 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 Dec. 26, 2015-Jan. 1, 2017 Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.com Feb. 24-28, 2017, 68th Official Gay Mardi Gras, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by Ambush, GayMardiGras.com Easter Sunday, April 16, 2017, 18th Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade.com
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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 THE PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., 875.4976 PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields,
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 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] 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] 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!
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
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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
pets New Orleans, LA [504] DR. MIKE'S ANIMAL HOUSE, 1120 N. Rampart, 523.4455
pharmacy 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
restaurants 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, 819 Rue Conti, 581.3866, http://broussards.com Cheezy Cajun, 3325 St. Claude Ave., 265.0045, www.TheCheezyCajun.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 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
Royal House Oyster Bar, 441 Royal St., 528.2601, www.RoyalHouseRestaurant.com Stanley, 547 St. Ann St., 587.0093, www.StanleyRestaurant.com
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 Formal Connection, 299 Belle Terre Blvd. LaPlace, LA, 985.652.1195 Milavo, www.milavospray.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
communities ...from 26 ference to learn how to do “Asset based mission.” I’m not sure what that means in the grand logistical church planning world. But what it means to me and to St. Anna’s and a very few other churches is this: Asset based mission is inviting all manner of folk to participate and rejoice in who or what they are. To meet the people generally where they are not where you (the church) think they should be. If I do nothing again I can only say that the event that you just spent a few moments of your valuable time reading about is what church is and should be. If it is not and if you go to church ask your contemporaries why not?! The church should never be confined to a building. It’s nature and form of worship should and must be found outside its walls. We at St. Anna’s are humbled and so grateful for the full participation of these Communities within a Community. THANK YOU ONE AND ALL. You help us define who we are by who you are. In so doing we are empowered to reach out and make a difference in the world and to make it a little kinder and certainly more interesting.
real estate New Orleans, LA [504] Latter & Blum, Steven Vaughn Realtor, Cell 504.810.4646, Office 504.948.3011, St e v e n Va u g h a n P r o p e r t i e s . c o m , Svaughan@latterblum.com New Orleans Relocation, Realtors — gayowned boutique real estate agency for locals and newcomers. 504.273.0088 www.NOLArelo.com
retail/shopping New Orleans, LA [504] BOURBON PRIDE, 909 Bourbon, 566.1570 COK (Clothing or Kinkl), 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264 LEATHER VOODOO, 708 Toulouse St., 249.5603 MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER KITCHEN & BATH, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465 MR. BINKY'S BOUTIQUE, 107 Chartres
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matters of health Although the word has gotten out that young women need to be vaccinated about the Human Papillomavirus (HPV), young men have not gotten the message to seek out the vaccine. This is especially important for young gay men. Research has shown that HIV negative men who have sex with men (MSM) are 20 times more likely to be diagnosed with anal cancer than the general population, with a rate of about 40 cases per 100,000 people. HIV-positive MSM are up to 40 times more likely to be diagnosed with the disease.
Binge Drinking High Among Bisexual Students According to a study conducted by the University of Pittsburg Graduate School of Public Health, LGBTQ-affirming environments are ineffective in protecting bisexual students from already higher rates of alcohol abuse. Researchers found that while binge drinking by their heterosexual and homosexual peers decreased as school support for LGBTQ students increased, bisexual students were left unaffected, suggesting that their needs aren’t being adequately addressed by policies and programs.
PrEP Adherence High In a recent study presented at the Society of Behavioral Medicine’s Annual Meeting, researchers at Hunter College found that gay and bisexual men taking PrEP had ver high levels of adherence. The survey include 1,000 men from around the country. 60 percent reported not having missed any doses in the last 30 days; of those that had missed a dose, 88 percent reported missing three doses or fewer. The most common reasons reported for missing a dose were forgetting, being somewhere other than home, and having run out of medication.
A Solution to High Rates of Depression & Suicide Among Transgender Youth Past research has shown that transgender and gender non-conforming youth have higher rates of depression and suicide compared to other youth. In a study, conducted by researchers at the University of Washington and published in a recent issue of the journal Pediatrics, a very simple solution was suggested…support and accept transgender people. The project studied 73 youth between 3 and 12 years old. The researchers asked their parents if their children had experienced symptoms of depression or anxiety. The result was that the kids in the study had rates about the same as the general population. What they found is the key was that the kids were accepted.
national survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a growing number of men and women say they are bisexual. Many of the findings about sexual behavior, attraction and orientation were similar between the current survey and the previous (2006-2010) family growth survey. Similar to previous surveys the group conducted, 1.3% of women and 1.9% of men said they were homosexual. A few trends stood out. More women reported having had sexual contact with other women: 17.4% in the current survey compared with 14.2% in the 2006-2010 survey. And higher numbers of both women and men identified as bisexual, 5.5% of women and 2% of men, compared with 3.9% and 1.2% respectively in the last survey.
Happy Birthday Cory
Gay & Straight Parents Have Equally Healthy Kids
Timothy & Joel
Contrary to what many conservative politicians would have us believe, a study in a recent edition of the Journal of Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics shows that the children of both same-sex parents and different-sex parents are equally healthy, emotionally, behaviorally, and otherwise.
Gavin & Miss Cie @ B-Bob’s
First Case of Sexually Transmitted Zika in Gay Men Reported In a recent issue of the CDC Morbidity and Mortality Weekly report, CDC officials reported that the Zika virus can be sexuallytransmitted between men. The transmission occurred when one man returned to Dallas, Texas, after a weeklong trip in Venezuela. Two days after arriving back in the U.S., the man developed classic symptoms of Zika virus including rash, fever and conjunctivitis. The man’s partner of 10 years developed symptoms five days later, including fever, fatigue and headache. Medical officials confirmed both men had the Zika virus through blood tests. They determined that sexual contact was the most likely cause for the second man’s infection since he had not been in a country where the virus was being transmitted from mosquitoes to people. Symptoms for both men cleared up in approximately a week, according to the report. Jack Carrel, MPH has worked in HIV, STD, and LGBTQ health for over 30 years. Currently he is a doctoral student at Walden University, a consultant in grant writing. He can be reached at jackcarrel@gmail.com.
Nick & Miss Cie
Jayme & Delta
Happy Birthday Brent
Leon & The Boys @ B-Bob’s
m obile paparazzi
Mark, Judson & Chris
Bisexuality On the Rise According to the results of a recent
Jody, Gina & friends
Miss Cie, Matt & Chase @ B-Bob’s
Happy Birthday Skylar
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Birthdays & Celebrations ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Miss Cie
Young Gay Men Need HPV Vaccine
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Amon-Ra's Drunk As A Skunk Scavenger Hunt
Night of Drag Raises $900 for Monica Synclaire-Kennedy @ The Golden Lantern ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Paul Melancon, Rip Naquin
ambush
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Celebration of Life raises $202.50 & Groceries for Food For Friends @ Double Play
paparazzi
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The Triple Mediums aka The 3Ms @ The Phoenix
Michael with bartenders Paul, John & Brandon @ Rawhide
Golden Lantern bartender Drew, Cullen & Bourbon Pub bartender Chris @ Good Friends
GM Greg Jones center of attention @ Dance Club of the Year Oz
Bar manager Darren, bartender Charles & bar baron Willie welcome you to The Page
New manager Justin, Jody & Josh @ Bourbon Pub & Parade
Krewe of Mwindo’s Darren, VP Willie, Capt. Bobby & King Mwindo XVIII Glenn @ The Page SDGMs XLI Marsha & Misti with Catherine @ Lafitte’s Dancin’ @ Oz New Orleans
Adrien, Rawhide bartender Frankie & Troy @ Rawhide
Chris, Frank & Savana socializing @ Cafe Lafitte in Exile
ambush
paparazzi Chuc & Kevin reclaim their Jade plant @ Cutter’s from R&M Celebrities @ Oz David with Good Friends bartender & husband Renee
Pick up your Ambush @ Elys Bistro
Host Persana Shoulders & choreographer Kirk Gagnon hold auditions @ Oz
Ivy Drip from Cut Off @ Oz
Men, Men, Men @ Oz
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The Social Scene ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Adrian Claveria, Paul Melancon, Rip Naquin, Jeremy Weinberg
Barry Masters, Frenchy & guest ball boy Ken GrandPre do Zingo @ Corner Pocket
Bartenders Jeff, Luke & Bob welcome you to Cafe Lafitte in Exile
ambush marketplace REAL ESTATE
AMBUSH
MAG.COM 82 8
1016 Pauline, New Orleans Spectacular high-end renovation of a historic Creole double turned large single family. From the custom iron works & gingerbread on front porch, to the 38’x35’ fenced backyard, this home has all. Interior features include a huge living room & open floorplan, 12’ ceilings, gorgeous wood floors, weighted windows, lavish lighting fixtures, truly luxurious master suite, guest suite w/ private entrance, Quartz marble kitchen counters, marble baths, extravagant finishes, security/video surveillance & so much more! New Orleans Relocation, Realtors, Mark Boline, 504.273.0088, www.NOLArelo.com
2314-2316 North Miro St. Priced $135,000 (multi-family). Latter & Blum, Steven Vaughan Realtor®, 504.810.4646, svaughan@latterblum.com, www.Latter-Blum.com
NEXT DEADLINE: Tues., May 3
504.522.8049
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