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celebrazzi
The 49th Krewe of Armeinius Ball: Festival of Festivals came to a climax with the presentation of King and Queen Armeinius XLIX Paul Matoyer and Beaux DeLong-Church at the Frederick J. Sigur Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center, Chalmette, LA. The ball was under the direction of Captain Chad Brickley. (Photo by Barrett DeLong/Element B2 Productions LLC) (www.Armeinius.org)
Lord King XXXIV Bruce Orgeron and Lord Consort XXXIV Brock Andersen brought a spectacular finale to the 34th Lords of Leather Bal Masque: Magic To Do at John A. Alario, Sr. Event Center, Westwego, LA. The ball was under the direction of Captain Gary Vandeventer. (Photo by Michael J. Trupiano) (www.LordsOfLeather.org)
Out of a field of 45 contestants, the Viva Las Vegas Ball costume Treasure Island from Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge by Chad Blanchard and Chase Niedranghaus won Best Overall ($1,000) and Best Leather ($500) in the 53rd Annual Bourbon Street Awards hosted by Wood Enterprises and sponsored by Ambush Magazine in New Orleans. (Photo by Hubert S Monkeys) (www.GayMardiGras.com)
Krewe of Armeinius' The Boat Bitch, Fatsy Cline won Best Drag ($500) and Best Overall Runner-up in the 53rd Bourbon Street Awards. (Photo by Hubert S Monkeys) (www.GayMardiGras.com)
The 30th Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss was led by King Cake King and Grand Reveler III Napoleon "Rip" Naquin, King Cake Queen XXIII of Gay Mardi Gras Monica Synclaire-Kennedy, Krewe of Queenateenas' Captain Marsha Delain and invited guests on Mardi Gras from the world famous balcony at Ambush Mansion, 828 Bourbon Street. Celebrating "Pridelicious: Rainbows, Stars & Stilettos," Synclaire-Kennedy reigned as the Pride Queen of 2017. (Photo by Hubert S Monkeys) (www.GayMardiGras.com/kcq)
April the Giraffe’s Baby Daddy, Danny Linsa from New Orleans won Best Group ($500) in the 53rd Bourbon Street Awards. (Photo by Hubert S Monkeys) (www.GayMardiGras.com)
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the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: ripna@ambushmag.com
Mardi Gras 2017 One for the History Books! Carnival 2017 brought in over 1 million visitors over the last two week season leading up to Mardi Gras on Feb. 28. The beautiful sunny weather void of rain saw every parade roll, hundreds of thousands in the streets and French Quarter. It was the best weather in some five years. The 68th Gay Mardi Gras culminated with a record 45 contestants in the 53rd Annual Bourbon Street Awards hosted by Wood Enterprises and sponsored by Ambush Magazine on Mardi Gras outside of Good Friends Bar on St. Ann at Dauphine. World famous Bianca Del Rio and Varla Jean Merman emceed the flamboyant costume contest. Winners included: Best Overall and Best Leather - Viva Las Vegas Ball costume Treasure Island from Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge by Chad Blanchard and Chase Niedranghaus winning $1,000 and $500 respectively; Best Drag and Best Overall Runner-up - Krewe of Armeinius' The Boat Bitch, Fatsy Cline winning $500; and Best Group - April the Giraffe’s Baby Daddy, Danny Linsa from New Orleans winning $500. The 30th Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss drew huge crowds to the Ambush Mansion on Bourbon Street where King Cake Queen XXIII Monica Synclaire-Kennedy and some 50 invited guests celebrated "Pridelicious: Rainbows, Stars & Stilettos" with Synclaire-Kennedy reigning as the Pride Queen of 2017 over the Krewe of Queenateenas festivities. Both the Krewe of Armeinius 49th ball: "Festival of Festivals", and Lords of Leather's 34th Bal Masque "Magic To Do" were spectacular this year bringing record guests to both events on the weekend leading up to Mardi Gras. Make plans now to attend Mardi Gras next year on Tuesday, Feb. 13, 2018. Visit www.GayMardiGras.com for more information.
Gay Easter Parade Sells Out of All but One Carriage in Record Time The 18th Gay Easter Parade sold out of carriages in a record three day period. Only one as of press time remains. It is the the 5-person Cinderella carriage which is $750. The parade will be led by Easter Grand Marshals XVIII Glen Kahrman and Bootsie DeVille. The parade is still accepting car convertibles for $200 each and marching/ walking groups of 25 for $150 each. Due to city and insurance restrictions, NO trucks, motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, motorized vehicles, floats, trailers, rickshaws or pedicabs are allowed in paEGMs XVIII Glen Kahrman & Bootsie DeVille rade. Parade Entry Deadline is Monday, April 3, 2017 (entry form available at www.gayeasterparade.com/images/gepentryform.pdf). Parade attire is Gentlemen: Summer Suits/Tux with Hats, Ladies: Easter Suits/Dresses with Easter Hats. No nudity, partial nudity or sexually explicit throws, gum or upwrapped candy are allowed in the parade. The Gay Easter Parade is made possible by the following sponsors... Presenting: Ambush Magazine; Platinum: Friday Night Before Mardi Gras, EGM XVIII Glen Kahrman & Noel
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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
Twilbeck, James Garner/The Golden Lantern; Gold: EGM XII Gary Vandeventer, Joann Guidos/Kajun's Pub, Krewe of Amon-Ra; Silver: EGM XV Stuart Nettles & EGM IX Safonda Peters; Bronze: EGM XIV Starr Daniels & Justin Moffatt, EGM IX Orlando Aloe, Jr., EGM X Tony Leggio, Krewe of Armeinius, SDGM XLII Felicia Phillips; and Venue/In Kind: Food For Friends Kitchen, Four Seasons, GrandPre's, Oz New Orleans, The Double Play, House of Blues Music Hall. Sponsorship levels include: Presenting $2,500, Platinum $1,000, Gold $500, Silver $250 and Bronze $100. Sponsorship forms are available at www.gayeasterparade.com/images/ gepsponsorform.pdf.
GEP's Spring Fever, Eggstravaganza Up Next on March 18 & 25 The 18th Gay Easter Parade has has five remaining fundraisers scheduled. The parade minus expenses benefits Food For Friends, and has now raised an incredible $264,784.41 for charity the past 15 years. The 15th Annual Spring Fever Extravaganza is Saturday, March 18th at Four Seasons Bar, 3229 N. Causeway, Metairie. Emeed by GEP Board's Electra City and Tittie Toulouse, they will host the VIP Reception from 6:308pm with show from 8-10pm. Tickets are $15. Order your tickets (www.eventbrite.com/e/15th-annualspring-fever-easter-party-2017-tickets-32543742209) now though as they are likely to sell out!! Join this annual tradition and a SPECTACULAR evening to raise money for NO/AIDS Task Force’s Food For Friends!!! This fabulous annual event will include a delicious shrimp boil, a mega VIP silent auction, and a showstopping powerhouse production! Many surprises are in store!! A not to be missed event!! The next big party is the 9th Annual Eggstravaganza on Saturday, March 25th at GrandPre's, 834 N. Rampart St., New Orleans. GEP Board's Monica Synclaire-Kennedy and Tony Leggio will emcee the affair slated for 7:30 to 9pm. Door donation is $10. It will feature fabulous auctions including a Giant Bunny & Baby Bunny donated by GEP Board's Darwin Reed and Opal Masters, baskets and more. The show stars EGM V Princesse Stephaney, Vanessa Carr-Kennedy, Athena Jewelle, Ava Synclaire, and Natasha Sinclair. Other events include: The 16th Super Star Studded Drag Extravaganza is at Oz New Orleans on Saturday, April 1st, 8-10pm, with MCs Tony Leggio and Persana Shoulders, incredible auctions, VIP Tables $100,
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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
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 THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Misti Gaiter, Tony Leggio, Hubert S Monkeys, Felicia Phillips, Frank Perez, Rev. Bill Terry-New Orleans MIss Cie-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. ©1982-2017 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
$10 door donation; The 18th Purple Party Easter Grand Marshals Reception is at The Double Play, 439 Dauphine, on Saturday, April 8th, 8-11pm, with a fabulous buffet, auctions and show, $10 door donation; and The 8th Bunnies in the Big Easy is at House of Blues Music Hall on Friday, April 14th, 7-9:30pm. hosted by GEP's Tony Leggio and Guest, with fab food, show and auctions, $35 Tickets. For additional information, visit www.GayEasterParade.com. [continued on 8]
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a community within communities by The Rev. Bill Terry, Rector St. Anna’s Episcopal Church, New Orleans Email: fr.bill@stannanola.org
Dodwell House “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” Mahatma Gandhi Several years ago I was invited to write this column by Rip and Marsha for which I am and will remain grateful. The occasion was the first “Dodwell Extravaganza.” I am not sure that we’ve ever repeated the joy and fun that was had that night. As in my last column I want to encourage faith in things unseen. The unseen is a facility that embodies a Gospel of Hope and true Love that is worked out in real time and in a real place. As a priest I become so tired and even resentful of the platitudes that religions foist upon the people. Yet, within those platitudes are truths and can compel humanity to great and wonderful lives. But so long as they remain platitudes they will not have the energy of humanity to make true the words, “love thy neighbor as thyself.” Gandhi talks about faith but links it
to mission and therefore to action. We live in a wonderful city that has deep issues. We live in a wonderful country that is, in some ways, at war with itself. In both instances, so often, we and “they” are operating out of fear. In the LBGTQ community the way fear or anger is dealt with is often by gathering together and withdrawing into the historic gay ghettos. Additionally, we do venture out with our ‘sword’ and ‘shield’ with ‘loins girded’ using wit, sarcasm, and humor to foil the enemy. Within all of this is a withdrawal and that is very sad but very reasonable. The times are changing and there is a shift some say a pendulum swing in who should be included fully in our national and local enterprise and who should not. “Love they neighbor as thyself.” Such is hard to do for several reasons. When you are despised unjustly by any segment of society; when you are marginalized in the work place; when [continued on 10]
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Mystic Krewe of Satyricon Rush Party March 19 The Mystic Krewe of Satyricon will be hosting its Rush Party for new members to join the festivities of the 2018 Gay Mardi Gras Carnival Ball season. If you or someone you know have been thinking about joining a Gay Mardi Gras Krewe, give Satyricon a go. "We’d love to see you there." Set for Sunday, March 19th, the party will be hosted at GrandPre's, 834 N. Rampart St. in New Orleans from 3 to 5pm.
The Mystic Krewe of Satyricon is one of New Orleans’ most spirited and dynamic krewes. Born of the loin of the “Grand Dame of Gay Mardi Gras”, Petronius, Satyricon was incorporated in 2002. This year the krewe celebrates its 15th Bal Masque and would love for you to join and celebrate this milestone and continue this tradition for many years to come. The Mystic Krewe of Satyricon is a 100% Majority Rule Creative Collaboration with a Board of Directors to include a President, Vice President / Recording Secretary, Vice President / Social Secretary, and Treasurer,
Frank Perez to Teach French Quarter History Ambush columnist and local author Frank Perez will teach French Quarter History at Delgado Community College. The course focuses on the history of the French Quarter as both the original city of New Orleans and its shifting role as the city’s flagship neighborhood. While the French, Spanish, and early American periods are covered, the emphasis of the course is on 20th century history. Topics include, but are not limited to: architecture, historical preservation, colorful characters, the rise of tourism, literature and arts, drinking culture, crime and vice, and LGBT+ history. The last class meeting is a tour of the French Quarter. The class meets Tuesday evenings from May 2—June 13. Tuition is $249. The course is non-credit. Registration is now open at the Delgado Community
College website.
Second Mississippi City Passes Major LGBTQ-Inclusive Non-Discrimination Ordinance MAGNOLIA, MS — The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) civil rights organization, hailed the Magnolia, MS, Board of Aldermen for unanimously enacting a city-wide non-discrimination protections that include sexual orientation and gender identity in housing, public accommodations and employment. The ordinance also includes a new LGBTQ-inclusive hate crimes provision. Magnolia is now the second city in Mississippi to pass a fully-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance, joining Jackson, which passed a similar measure in June of last year. “Magnolia has sent a clear message that all people are welcome, and all people are protected from bias-driven crimes in this inclusive city,” said Rob Hill, HRC Mississippi state director. “As cities like Magnolia and Jackson pass these important protections, they are showing our state legislators and our other elected officials that inclusivity and acceptance are Mississippi values, and that we don’t want hate in our state.” “Magnolia, MS, is a welcoming, warm place, and I am pleased we have proven that yet again by passing a fully inclusive non-discrimination ordinance,” said Mercedes Ricks, alderman-at-large. “As a Magnolia resident, a lesbian and an elected official, today’s vote by the Board of Aldermen has made me very proud of this city, my home.” The fully-inclusive non-discrimination ordinance (NDO) protects people from discrimination in employment, housing, and public accommodations, based on real or perceived race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, marital status, familial status, and veteran status. The new, inclusive hate crimes provision equips Magnolia to better address hate crimes within the city by requiring policies for identifying, investigating, and documenting hate crimes. The provision, which includes the same classifications protected under the NDO, also mandates that the city report hate crime statistics to the FBI. Mississippi is one of 34 states that do not have statewide hate crime laws explicitly covering sexual orientation and gender identity, and one of 31 without fully-inclusive, comprehensive LGBTQ non-discrimination protections. According to the most recent FBI statistics available, nearly 20 percent of hate crimes reported nationally in 2015 targeted people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. As a recent investigation by the Associated Press uncovered, this reporting dramatically undercounts LGBTQ data, as it is based on local, non-mandatory reporting. Strong, fullyinclusive hate crimes legislation at the local level plays an important role in improving data collection and ultimately saving lives.
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commentary by Frank Perez E-mail: f.perez@sbcglobal.net Photo by: Larry Graham, GrahamStudioOne.COM
“Transgender Murders” The brutal murders of two transgender women of color in New Orleans within a 48 hour period continues an epidemic that has plagued the LGBT+ community for years. On Saturday, February 25, 2017, Chyna Gibson was shot in the 4300 block of Downman road in New Orleans East. Ciara McElveen was found stabbed multiple times on Monday, February 27, 2017, near Columbus Street and North Claiborne Avenue in the 7th Ward of New Orleans. A week earlier, on February 19, another transgender woman of color, Jaquarrius Holland, 18, was murdered in Monroe, Louisiana. Police authorities have ruled out robbery as a motive in both New Orleans murders and have no reason to believe the two murders are related. They have also stated they have no reason to believe the murders were the result of transphobic violence. But even if the murders are established as hate crimes, Louisiana’s hate crimes laws do not offer protection for gender identity. 2016 set a record with 27 transgender murder victims, the vast majority of whom were transgender women of color. A recent report issued by the Human Rights Campaign found that among the 53 known transgender victims from 2013-2015: • At least 46, or 87 percent, were transgender people of color. Among those, at least 39 were African American and 6 were Latino/a. • At least 46 were transgender women, one was a transgender man, and the identities of other victims were gender nonconforming or unclear. • 39, or 74 percent, were under the age of 35 at the time of their deaths, and the average age of all the victims was less than 31 years old. • At least 8, or 15 percent, were killed by intimate partners. • At least 18, or 34 percent, were or likely may have been engaged in survival sex work at the time of their deaths. • 18, or 34 percent, were killed in the Southeast, more than twice that of any other region in the country. • Only 16, or 30 percent, were killed in states that have hate crime laws that account for crimes motivated by the victim’s gender identity; but despite these provisions and a federal hate crime law, not a single one of these murders was prosecuted or reported to the FBI as a hate crime. Gibson, who was also known as
Chyna Doll Dupree, performed in drag shows across the country and had returned home to New Orleans to celebrate Mardi Gras. According to friends and family, Gibson had a passion for entertaining. Gibson grew up in New Orleans in the St. Bernard public housing development and fell in love with the entertainment business in high school when she joined a local dance group called the Body Rockers. After Hurricane Katrina, Gibson relocated to Atlanta, where she was booked for her first major show at the Jungle Club. She later achieved greater fame in Houston after giving an unforgettable performance at a house pageant. That performance springboarded her to a national audience. According to Ebony Branch, a friend of McElveen, McElveen grew up in a devoutly religious family and came to New Orleans after her parents rejected her when she came out as transgender. So far, seven transgender women have been murdered in the U.S. in 2017. Sadly three of them were in Louisiana.
communities ...from 8 you are marginalized or even closeted in your church or place of worship for fear of retribution it becomes eminently difficult to “love thyself.” If we cannot love ourselves, not in some sort of narcissistic way but in a grounded holistic way then we end up hating or rejecting the other, or, seeking others to somehow love us until we feel safe. “Love thyself” really depends on a sense of self worth and dignity and comfort in your own being without the necessity to have others define you. So, marginalization becomes an agent of segregation and discomfort in one’s own skin. The current political climate, our current cultural violence, (note the hate crimes against two transgender women) become agents of social violence perpetrated upon our self identified community, the LGBTQ community, A community within communities. Dodwell House will or can become a symbol that permanently pushes back upon the tides of this current darkness. It can but only if the community wishes it to be so. Not just the LGBTQ community but all of the communities that this house extends hospitality to. Children in our 7th Ward and beyond are now disposable. The current state of care for these children is not unlike the status of children in the time of Jesus. Luke 17:2 – “It were better for
him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.” We don’t invest well or properly in the children of the Treme or 7th Ward. Many live in poverty and lack real education. So the cycle of violence and dependency repeats itself. For at least a few, the Dodwell House represents a compassionate and loving possibility a mission to change all of that. The mission is to build strong character, to love the children unconditionally, and to build people of integrity and self worth. Such will break cycles of violence and poverty. Recall the column “I’m Pissed” to understand the nature of what we are dealing with. Dodwell House a beacon of hope. “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.” Can you imagine or have unquenchable faith that welcomes immigrants and provides sanctuary for them? “You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.” Exodus 22:21. I know the costumes in Egypt were to die for yet, the nation of Israel were captives, aliens in a foreign land, and so it came to pass that the nation of Israel would offer hope and refuge to the wayfarer and stranger. So, too does the Church have the capacity to offer “Sanctuary” to aliens in our land. At one time St. Anna hosted about 120 Latino students all wanting citizenship, all wanting to learn English, all wanting what everyone wants a safe and comfortable life. They worked hard and learned our language and become, many of them great neighbors and still they labor. So a facility that is a Sanctuary can mean so much in this day and age – an age of anxiety and isolation. Imagine a Dodwell House Community Center that is also an extension of the church and as such a “Sanctuary.” Have faith in the dream. Can you imagine a very safe place to host meetings, shows, gatherings, organizing and hospitality to the LGBTQ community? I know there is an LGBTQ Community Center but this part of our neighborhood needs one as well but it is and is intended to be more than a
“Gay Community Center” but a “Whole Community Center.” What a triumph it would be for “THE Community” to lay claim to the restoration, renovation, and use of the Dodwell House. What pride can we then have in a community that is already committed to giving? Amon-Ra The Pub Big Easy Sisters Winter Wonderland Mag’s Princess Stephaney Lords of Leather Phoenix The Friendly Bar And of course Ambush Magazine So many others, individually and collectively, give to the work of Anna’s Place NOLA hoping in the goodness of our humanity. Can we do this giving and continue to have enjoyment in doing so AND raise funds sufficient to make our mission at Dodwell House happen? Please let’s make this event, The Extravaganza, an “in” thing. Let’s raise the roof. Look, almost all fund raisers are the same: Food, liquor, door prizes, auctions, and entertainment. The REAL reason is to raise money and for fellowship, to see and be seen. PLEASE WE REQUEST THE HONOR OF YOUR PRESENCE. We really NEED your support. Please help make this YOUR event. “A small body of determined spirits fired by an unquenchable faith in their mission can alter the course of history.”
7th Annual Dodwell Extravaganza “ Se e o u r p r o g r e s s . H e l p u s g r o w .”
Saturday, March 25th Doors open at 7pm 1 5 1 3 Es p l a n a d e A v e . Advance Tickets $50 at: www.dodwellhouse.org or $60 at the door
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53rd Bourbon Street Awards hosted by Wood Enterprises, sponsored by Ambush Magazine ~ New Orleans ~ Photos by Hubert S Monkeys
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30th Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss @ Ambush Mansion hosted by Krewe of Queenateenas/Ambush ~ Photos by Hubert S Monkeys, Darwin Reed
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49th Krewe of Armeinius Ball: Festival of Festivals ~ Photos by Photo by Barrett DeLong/Element B2 Productions LLC
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34th Lords of Leather Bal Masque: Magic To Do @ Alario Center ~ Westwego, LA ~ Photos by Hubert S Monkeys, Michael J. Trupiano
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under the gaydar by Tony Leggio Email: ledgemgp@gmail.com Photo by: Larry Graham
Book of the Month I have finally completed the third novel that is the final installment of a best-selling trilogy. The Last Star is a young adult science fiction novel written by American author Rick Yancey. It is the sequel to The Infinite Sea and the third and final book of the 5th Wave series. The Last Star concludes the story of 16 year old Cassiopeia “Cassie” Sullivan battling against the aliens that have invaded Earth. It continues the story from where it was left off in its prequel, The Infinite Sea. This series does science fiction right. It has non-stop action, vivid characters and an apocalyptic storyline that keeps you on the edge of your seat. Yancey knows how to captivate his readers. The last Star is an excellent final chapter to the trilogy. Intertwining the horror of the end of the world with a coming of age novel, these books succeed on so many levels. Even though they are considered young adult, these novels are far superior to some of the adult books in the genre. From the moment you start reading, Yancey grabs and draws you into the storyline. You sympathize with the characters and even relate to them on certain levels. I do not want to give too much away, but suffice to say, there are plenty of twists and turns to keep you guessing the outcome until the last page. If you are a fan of science fiction, I highly recommend you read this series. For more information on Rick Yancey and his novels, go to http:// www.rickyancey.com.
Hot Happenings Mardi Gras is over and as luck (of the Irish) would have it we have St. Patrick and St. Joseph Day celebrations around town, and before you know it, Easter will be here. Time flies when you live in the city of parties and merriment! Here are just a few ideas hot happenings to check out as spring approaches. Wednesday, March 15 One of the most anticipated springtime events in New Orleans, Art in Bloom showcases spectacular floral designs created by over 100 exhibitors that remain on display at New Orleans Museum of Art for five days from March 15-19. This year’s theme, Rhythm & Blooms, will bring together exhibitors from New Orleans and beyond to celebrate music and its role in New Orleans’ vibrant culture. Proceeds from Art in Bloom benefit education projects and exhibitions at NOMA and commu-
nity projects of The Garden Study Club of New Orleans. On Wednesday, there will be the patron and preview party from 6 – 10pm. The Patron and Preview Party features cuisine and libations from 30 top New Orleans restaurants, a silent auction featuring one-ofa-kind art, and live music. Guests enjoy an exclusive preview of the floral displays. For tickets, go to www.noma.org. Saturday, March 18 Join us for this annual tradition and a SPECTACULAR evening to raise money for NO/AIDS TASK Force’s Food For Friends at The 15th Annual Spring Fever Easter Party at The Four Seasons (3229 N. Causeway Blvd). This fabulous annual Gay Easter Parade event will include a shrimp boil, a silent auction and a show for a donation of just $15.00. Saturday, March 18 The annual New Orleans Film Society Patron Party + Gala will be held at the Magnolia Mansion and Altamura (2127 Prytainia Street). Named one of New Orleans’ top parties of 2015 by NOLA.com, the event celebrates cinema like never before – craft cocktails, gourmet fare, live music, keynote honorees and a live auction add to the unforgettable night. Each year, the New Orleans Film Society honors a noted figure in the film industry, inparticularly the Louisiana film industry. The Patron Party will take place from 7 - 8pm, followed by the Gala from 8 – 11pm. Ticket prices start at $125. Every ticket purchased to the Gala will go directly towards the New Orleans Film Society’s mission: to engage, educate, and inspire through the art of film. To this end, NOFS hosts regular monthly screenings and events, in addition to three film festivals and one film showcase annually. NOFS supports filmmakers and audiences, serving close to 40,000 attendees in 2014 alone. The 27th New Orleans Film Festival featured 237 films and brought 450+ filmmakers to New Orleans to share their work with local audiences. In recent years, the Film Society has developed new programming to serve the New Orleans community, including a mentorship program for promising filmmakers and an education program to promote media literacy for public school students. For tickets or more information, go to http:// neworleansfilmsociety.org.
Saturday, March 18 It’s a Filthy World and no one knows better than the ultra-fabulous John Waters. Daniel Nardicio Presents John Waters: This Filthy World at the Joy Theatre (1500 Canal Street). Doors open at 7pm with the show at 8pm. For tickets, go to http://www.ticketfly.com or http://www.thejoytheater.com.
Provide critical home repairs for low income, elderly, disabled, and veteran families in neighborhoods across the city; Transform blighted properties into family homes; Train new homebuyers in purchasing and renovating a home of their own. For more information or tickets, go to https:// prcno.org.
Sunday, March 19 Join The Four Seasons Bar (3229 N. Causeway Blvd) for their Spring Music Jam for PFLAG. The event is from 3 – 7pm on their patio. Entertainment will be by The Beaumont Hughes Band and Vanessa Carr Kennedy. Bloody Marys and mimosas will be at special prices for your enjoyment as you listen to great music for a great cause. This is a fundraiser for PFLAG’S Scholarship program! There will be a $10.00 donation taken at the door. There will also be a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle.
Saturday, March 25 The 7th Annual Dodwell House Extravaganza takes place at the Dodwell House (1519 Esplanade Avenue) from 7 – 10pm. This event will feature live Jazz music, live and silent auctions, delicious food and a bar. All proceeds from the event will be to service the debt and to restore and preserve the historic Dodwell-Marsaudet House. In addition designated giving and memorial gifts may also be offered. For more information or tickets, go to www.dodwellhouse.org.
Wednesday, March 22 – Sunday, March 26 Stella! Prepare yourself for the wonderful Tennessee Williams Festival taking place at venues throughout the French Quarter and surrounds. The festival includes, special events, master classes, theatrical performances, and readings. There will be stars both locally and internationally. For tickets or more information, go to http:// tennesseewilliams.net. Friday, March 24 – Sunday, March 26 The Saints and Sinners Literary Festival was founded in 2003 and has grown into an internationally-recognized event that brings together a who’s who of LGBT publishers, writers and readers from throughout the United States and beyond. The Festival, held over 3 days each Spring, features panel discussions and master classes around literary topics that provide a forum for authors, editors, and publishers to talk about their work for the benefit of emerging writers and the enjoyment of fans of LGBT literature. This year most of the events will take place in or around the host hotel – Hotel Monteleone (214 Royal Street). For a complete listing of events and tickets, go to http://sasfest.org. Friday, March 24 Join the fun at the not-to-be-missed 40th birthday celebration of the Preservation Resource Center’s Julia Jump, taking place at The Cannery (3803 Toulouse Street). The Patron Party starts at 7pm with the Julia Jump beginning at 8pm. There will be 25 of New Orleans best restaurants providing food, Libations provided by Republic National Distributing Company, a silent auction and entertainment by The Essentials. Proceeds from the Jump will enable the PRC to:
Saturday, March 25 Come out to the 9 th Annual Eggstravaganza at GrandPre’s (834 North rampart Street) from 7:30 9:30pm. There is a $10 donation at the door. There will be a live auction and a fabulous show. Saturday, March 25 The 2nd Annual Brunch Fest NOLA, benefiting the animals of the Louisiana SPCA will be at Crescent Park overlooking the Mississippi River! (Entrance at Elysian Fields and N. Peters Street) from 10am – 3pm. This is a Dog friendly fest with live music and entertainment! Dress in your most festive brunch attire or costume and enjoy brunch-inspired restaurants, cocktails, beer and wine. See Louisiana SPCA adoptables, rescue groups, shop unique fest vendors, win raffle items and much more! Pre-Sale General Admission and VIP Tickets available online now until March 22nd. You can also purchase tickets the day of the event. More info www.la-spca.org/ brunchfest. Friday, March 31 Record-breaking six-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald returns to New Orleans for Broadway at NOCCA (2800 Charters Street) in a benefit performance for The NOCCA Institute. The Broadway legend will be joined on stage by series host and pianist Seth Rudetsky, who this past November starred in the five-star London premiere of his Broadway musical Disaster! The performance will also include a special guest appearance by McDonald’s husband, Will Swenson, the Tony-nominated star of Hair and Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, and is produced by Mark Cortale. The evening will include a mix of intimate, behindthe-scenes stories from one of Broadway’s biggest stars — prompted [continued on 23]
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under the gaydar ...from 22 by Rudetsky’s probing, funny, revealing questions — and Audra singing some of the biggest hits from her musical theatre repertoire. This is a spontaneous evening of hilarity and showstopping songs not to be missed. The event starts at 8pm. Tuesday, April 4 – Sunday, April 9 The New Orleans Theatre Association is delighted to announce the first U.S. National tour of the hit musical THE BODYGUARD at the Saenger Theatre (1111 Canal Street) as part of the East Jefferson General Hospital Broadway in New Orleans 2016 – 2017 season. Grammy® Award-nominated and multi-platinum R&B/pop recording artist and film/TV actress Deborah Cox will star as Rachel Marron. In the role of bodyguard Frank Farmer is television star Judson Mills. Tickets for THE BODYGUARD start at $31.29 and will go on sale Friday, Nov. 18, at 10am. Tickets will be available at the Saenger Theatre Box Office, www.BroadwayInNewOrleans.com, all Ticketmaster outlets and by phone at 800.982.2787. Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Oscar nominated Warner Bros. film, and adapted by Academy Award-winner (Birdman) Alexander Dinelaris, THE BODYGUARD had its world premiere on December 5, 2012 at London’s Adelphi Theatre. THE BODYGUARD was nominated for four Laurence Olivier Awards including Best New Musical and Best Set Design and won Best New Musical at the Whatsonstage Awards. Former Secret Service agent turned bodyguard, Frank Farmer, is hired to protect superstar Rachel Marron from an unknown stalker. Each expects to be in charge; what they don’t expect is to fall in love. A romantic thriller, THE BODYGUARD features a host of irresistible classics including So Emotional, One Moment in Time, Saving All My Love, Run to You, I Have Nothing, I Wanna Dance with Somebody and one of the biggest selling songs of all time – I Will Always Love You.
Party Down Mardi Gras is always a fabulously crazy time in the Crescent City and this year was no exception. Because of the way the issues fall, I have three fun weeks to sum up in just a few short paragraphs, which include parades, balls, second lines, theatre and balconies. So let’s begin with the two weeks prior to Carnival Day. On Monday, I attended the theatrical show Niagara Falls at the St. Claude Theatre. It was a very telling commentary on a dying city that incorporates greed, corruption and even a ghost. Niagara Falls is one of those plays that you are not sure if you liked it or not, but it gets you thinking so it definitely does its job.
On Wednesday, I attended the New Orleans Magazine’s Hobknobber event at the Creole Queen. This is always a fun monthly networking event that allows you to mingle with other people in different industries. You never know who you might me to help you in your own career. If you are interested in signing up for these events, go to New Orleans Magazine online and join. It is a very easy and a great way to meet new people. The weekend was all about neighborhood parades as my friend Laura had a little gathering for the Krewe of Chewbacchus and Tit Rex Parades that rolled in the Marigny. I have noticed that these parades that were once often considered frivolous have now become the catalyst for house parties all around the Quarter, Marigny and Bywater. The crowds have swelled to larger sizes and now people costume every day for parades, not just Mardi Gras Day. I would say these are only tourists or transplants, but I love a good reason to put on a costume, so I was out every time in something fun and shiny. The parades were both festive, but Chewbacchus has to be the largest I have ever seen it. This walking parade stretched for blocks and lasted over an hour. Now that is a growth spurt. On Sunday, it was more parades this time Uptown. My friends and I caught King Arthur, Carrollton and Alla on Magazine Street at Fleur di Lis Catering, which is one of the best catering companies in the city. The most important thing for a parade Uptown is having bathroom. The parades were awesome especially King Arthur which is one of my favorites and seems to be a little on the gayer side. And they started throwing Grails (think Muse Shoe or Nyx Purse). There were a limited number of these thrown and I got one, thanks Pat Johnson. But I am definitely getting older because a full day of parades literally wiped me out. Back to parade hopping the following week at Nyx, this time I was on my own since all my friends had to work and I knew so many people in the Krewe. I caught it at the beginning and saw only 23 of the 40 plus floats; talk about female power, within ten years and they are already a super Krewe. I was able to catch three purses Thank you Michelle, Cheryl and Terri for the beautiful designs. Nyx has moved into one of my top five favorite parades – which by the way or in no certain order: King Arthur, Endymion, Nyx, Muses and Orpheus. Although I do have a special place in my heart for Krewe du Vieux. On Thursday, I was back again on Magazine Street for the Muses Parade which has now become quite the unique scene. First, I adore their new rubber ducky floats that follow the bathtub, simply brilliant. But I have never seen this before, people haggling over those prized decorated shoes with the women on the floats. I saw people handing up wine, food and champagne. It was crazy, who does that anymore. So note to self, bring bartering chips if you want a Muse Shoe, it seems to work. Working during the Mardi Gras holiday is a crazy as you may understand, so
on Friday, I was able to get out of work slightly early to catch the Hermes Second Line parade through the French Quarter, which if you have not seen it is quite a spectacle. They are led by St. Augustine High School straight from their brunch through the streets of the Quarter tossing beads to people. It is a great way to get fancy throws before the parade. Then I was off to the French 75 Bar at Arnaud’s Restaurant for a little kick-off holiday cheer. The place was packed with people, in fact the entire Quarter was a madhouse with people starting their weekend off. Afterwards, hit the Fruit Loop stopping and saying hi to my fellow grand marshals from Decadence Jeff Palmquist at Lafitte’s and then Felicia Phillips at GrandPre’s. After copious cocktails, I ended up at dinner at my favorite seafood haunt, Jack Dempsey’s with some friends. Saturday was All About The Ball, the Armienius Ball. My friend Braddsten Beaux Church was Queen Armienius 49 and I was honored to be asked to be part of her pages and escort her out. We choreographed an entire number for her complete with stiltwalkers and a coffin. It was loads of excitement the entire day, from practice to decorating your guest tables to finally coming out on stage. Being part of a Gay Carnival Krewe is fulfilling, so if you are interested, I recommend finding the right Krewe fit and joining, you will not regret it. In addition to the Queen’s costume, all the costumes were well thought out and executed. The elaborate design and décor that goes into each one is quite amazing. Congrats Beaux and the entire Krewe of Armienius on a successful ball. After resting the first part of the next day, I attended the Lords of Leather Ball on Sunday Night. Once again, Captain Gary Vandeventer produced an outstanding spectacle complete with inspired costumes, show-stopping dance numbers and a cool magic act. You can tell Gary has had lots of theatrical training because everything was thought out to the last detail. And the Charity Number with Elizabeth Bouvier, Barbara Ella and Kitty D’Litter was a sensation. I started Monday with work the first part of the day then I was off to Arnaud’s restaurant for the Fat Monday Luncheon. This celebration of mostly gay men, is a carnival tradition that provides guest with an afternoon filled with meeting new people (and old friends), delicious cuisine, flowing cocktails and ends with a second line to Good Friends. Each year they announce an in-town and out-oftown queen to lead the procession down Bourbon Street around 3pm. The streets are crowded with plenty of people to cheer us on as we toss beads to the masses. But if you want to attend, you have to get your tickets early because it sells out every year. That night, I was back on the parade route this time downtown to see Orpheus roll. I went to a mini pre-party at Albert Carey’s home in the Warehouse District before catching this intriguing parade that boasts vibrantly decorated floats and lots of stars. It was good to see Harry Connick, Jr. back in the parade he helped found.
Mardi Gras morning was a day where I get up early and get ready to tackle the world, in a costume. I rebooted up my Southern Decadence Pirate with a few upgrades and hits the street as a Voodoo Jean Lafitte. My first stop was my fried Laura and Gary’s house for their Mardi Gras morning party complete with food spread that is mouth-watering. Gary is an excellent chef and prepares Salmon, fried chicken, baked macaroni, chicken and waffles and quite a lovely Bloody Mary bar. It may not be the healthiest of breakfast, but it is probably the best one of the day. Then after a few hours of gathering with friends, we make our way into the Quarter usually following the Krewe of St. Ann. This is where I broke off and attended the Bourbon Street Awards which was pretty cool in their new location. I was able to get a birds-eye view of all the costumes and see Varla Jean Merman and Bianca Del Rio strut their stuff. There were some pretty amazing costumes especially Fatsy Cline from Armienius (who won best drag) in her Viking Ship and Chad and Chase from Apollo Baton Rouge (who won Best In Show and Best Leather) in the pirate ensembles. Once the contest was over, I raced to the Ambush Mansion to cheer on Monica Sinclaire-Kennedy as she reigned as King Cake Queen over the Mardi Gras Bead Toss. Monica looked stunning as the Pride Queen as the guests threw to the people below. After throwing from the balcony a little while, I made my way down to the streets to play at the bars. Lafitte’s in Exile was quite the place to be followed by the dance explosion at Oz. I always love dancing in costume; makes twirling so much more over the top. My final stop was a small house party in the Marigny before closing it down for Mardi Gras 2017. I put a fork in it, I was done! I kept a pretty easy profile for the remainder of the week, but still managed to go to the Art Openings and walk on Julia Street on the first Saturday. There was some pretty great shows, if you get a chance to go check them out. Ariodante gallery is worth checking out. My friends and I followed the walk with dinner at Magasin Kitchen in the warehouse District in the South of Market Area. This area has come alive with all the new eateries. Magasin had a wonderful menu, delicious Vietnamese cuisine with their own special twist and a light, airy atmosphere. On Sunday, not letting any grass grown under their feet after their Mardi Gras Ball, the Lords of Leather held their rush party at The Phoenix. They had a nice amount of guys come out to check out the Krewe. I even joined as a Baron (which is a supporter). Joining a carnival Krewe may not be for everyone because of time, money or other demands, but I urge you to support them at their events throughout the year to help them throw these entertaining balls. These shows do not come cheap. Well there you have my Mardi Gras 2017. I hope yours was just as over the top as mine. Now what next St. Patrick and St. Joseph’s days, followed quickly by Easter. So go green and stay lucky!
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TROPICAL ISLE: Home of the Hand Grenade, 721 Bourbon St., 529.4109, TropicalIsle.COM VALIANT THEATRE AND LOUNGE, 6621 St. Claude Ave., Arabi, LA, 504.900.1743 Slidell, LA [985] BILLY'S, 2600 Hwy. 190 West, 847.1921 Biloxi, MS [228] CLUB VEAUX, 834 Howard Ave., 207.3271
bookstores New Orleans, LA [504] FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen St., 947.3700
circuit/events
classifieds
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 Aug. 30-Sept. 4, 2017, 46th 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. 26-29, 2017 Halloween 34, benefiting Project Lazarus, New Orleans, LA, sponsored by AmbushMag.COM, HalloweenNewOrleans.com Dec. 29, 2017-Jan. 1, 2018 Gay New Year's in New Orleans, New Orleans, LA, GayNewOrleans.com
costumes New Orleans, LA [504] QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633
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
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] 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 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 BIG EASY DAIQUIRIS, 216 Bourbon, 501 Bourbon, 409 Decatur, 617 Decatur
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 MAG'S 940, 940 Elysian Fields Ave., 948.1888 OZ NEW ORLEANS, 800 Bourbon, 593.9491, OzNewOrleans. COM THE PAGE, 542 N. Rampart St., 875.4976 PHOENIX/EAGLE, 941 Elysian Fields, 945.9264, www.phoenixbarnola.com RAWHIDE 2010, 740 Burgundy St., 525.8106, Rawhide2010.COM
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. [0118] 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!
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: ripna@ambushmag.com AMBUSHonLINE, 828-A Bourbon St., 70116-3137; 522.8049, ambushonline.com, email: ripna@ambushmag.com
organizations FOOD FOR FRIENDS, 504.821.2601 ext. 254 FRIDAY NIGHT BEFORE MARDI GRAS (FNBMG), 504.319.8261, www.fridaynightbeforemardigras.com 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 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
24 • The Official Mag© © : AmbushMag.com • Mar c h 14-27, 2017 • Of fic ial Gay East er Parade Guide • GayEast erParade.c om
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 NO/AIDS TASK FORCE, 2601 Tulane Ave., Suite 500, 70119; 504.821.2601; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM PRIDE, NOLAPride.ORG 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
pharmacy 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 Cafe Sbisa, 1011 Decatur St., 522.5565, www.cafesbisanola.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 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 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
REAL ESTATE
Royal House Oyster Bar, 441 Royal St., 528.2601, www.RoyalHouseRestaurant.com
real estate New Orleans, LA [504] Latter & Blum, Steven Richards Realtor, 504.258.1800, SteveRichardsProperties.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 MARY'S FRENCH QUARTER KITCHEN & BATH, 732 N. Rampart, 529.4465 QT PIE BOUTIQUE - 241 Dauphine St., 581. 6633 XXXSHOP, 1835 N. Rampart St., 504.232.3063
services New Orleans, LA [504] Formal Connection, 299 Belle Terre Blvd. LaPlace, LA, 985.652.1195
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P r e -E a s t e r DE A DL I N E : Tues., March 21 504.522.8049
New Orleans, LA [504] CAFE ISTANBUL, 2372 St. Claude Ave., #140, 504.974.0786, CafeIstanbulNOLA.COM VALIANT THEATRE AND LOUNGE, 6621 St. Claude Ave., Arabi, LA, 504.900.1743
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
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Mega Entertainment, Mardi Gras, Joe Cain Sunday @ B-Bob's/Flip Side ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Miss Cie
Derrick Barry, B-Bob's Jerry & Nebraska
trodding the boards by Brian Sands
Email: bsnola2@hotmail.com
The New Orleans Opera/Sweeney Todd at The Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts through April 2, 2017 I went to a Krewe du Vieux party and bumped into two friends who had gone to the New Orleans Opera’s presentation of Sweeney Todd the night before. They had not seen the show previously and loved it. A few moments later I chatted with two other friends who had also attended Sweeney that Friday night. They were familiar with the musical-cum-opera and had not been impressed.
Which of these friends were correct in their opinion? After seeing the matinee the following day, it turned out both couples were. If this was your first time being exposed to Stephen Sondheim’s Tony-winner, director Brenna Corner’s production, with its 19th century London setting (David Gano) and costumes (Julie Winn), certainly fulfilled the demands of Hugh Wheeler’s libretto. Conductor Robert Lyall delivered a nuanced rendering of the score, which benefitted from a full orchestra, and brought out the music’s astringency. If some of the tempi, especially at the beginning, seemed a little slow, causing the momentum to momentarily drag, this allowed the lyrics to come through more clearly, almost obviating the need for supertitles. Acclaimed opera singer and native New Orleanian Greer Grimsley used his dark, velvety voice to marvelous effect as Fleet Street’s demon barber giving the score a depth and power that elude most musical theater actors who have essayed this role. He has superb diction and keenly articulated key individual words and phrases to highlight their importance. The rest of the cast, mostly made up of performers with significant opera credits, also sang beautifully, as did the chorus; Ian McEuen (Tobias) and Luretta Bybee (Mrs. Lovett) combined for a particularly pleasing Not While I’m Around. Leslie Castay, who portrayed Mrs. Lovett at Tulane last year and is better known for her work in theater locally and on Broadway, proved a vocal equal of her operatically-trained castmates as the deranged Beggar Woman. And yet... If this was not your first Sweeney (I’ve seen it at least 6 times), this production was likely to be a bore or a disappointment or both. Corner’s staging was dutiful rather than imaginative. Even if we can’t expect a revelatory production like John Doyle’s 2005 Broadway revival, Corner could have done more. She brought out little of the work’s emotional complexity. Her crowd scenes seemed more suited to a provincial La Boheme. Emphasizing Sweeney’s melodramatic, penny dreadful origins (rather than its Grand Guignol qualities as Doyle did), Corner tilted this Sweeney towards the comic which had the audience laughing hysterically not only at the Beggar
Woman’s lewdness, but even after blood spurted out of Sweeney’s victims’ throats. Missing was the crushing weight that authority and power have over common folks; if I appreciated Marcus Shelton’s more effete than usual Beadle, it came at the expense of the role’s almost thuggish overtones. And despite Grimsley and Bybee being actual husband-and-wife, they gave off no sexual or romantic sparks; true, Sweeney and Mrs. Lovett are not your typical lovey-dovey couple, but something needs to exist between them to draw them together. On a purely technical level, the staging of Mrs. Lovett’s ultimate death was muffed with little dramatic oomph to it; that stagehands were visible was understandable up to a point, but not in a place (a deserted cellar) where no one was supposed to be; and amplification went on and off—why there should be any miking at an opera is beyond me. Let’s hope there’ll be no such problems with New Orleans Opera’s next production, Charles Gounod’s Faust (March 31 and April 2) starring Paul Groves (Faust), Raymond Aceto (Mephistopheles) and New Orleans’ own Sarah Jane McMahon (Marguerite).
On Golden Pond at Slidell Little Theater through March 19 A similar divergence of opinion occurred after a recent matinee of Slidell Little Theater’s On Golden Pond. One audience member commented, “That was great.” Another opined, “They really did a good job.” I beg to disagree. I have fond memories of seeing On Golden Pond on Broadway and at the movies. With such fine actors as Henry Fonda, Katherine Hepburn and Frances Sternhagen as the older couple, Ethel & Norman Thayer, facing mortality during a summer in Maine, the script by Ernest (spelled “Earnest” in SLT’s program) Thompson drew one in despite its patchy storytelling. In Slidell, some questionable casting choices by Director David Jacobs shift the focus of the drama. As Norman, the paterfamilias on the cusp of his 80th birthday (the role for which Fonda won his Oscar), Kenneth Faherty lacks the requisite New England crustiness and stern professorial manner. More importantly, he has a tendency to address his
speeches into the air, too rarely connecting with his castmates and coming off more doddery than irascible. He lacks the anger that Norman has internalized as he faces the aging process. Suzanne Stymiest, though seeming a bit too young for 69 (ironically, Sternhagen was a mere 49 yet more believably older in her Tony-nominated performance), comes off better. If she’s more ebullient than starchy—she and Faherty would seem likelier to be summering on Dauphin Island than a New England one—she captures Ethel’s humor and compassion. As Chelsea, Norman and Ethel’s overweight daughter (in one shocking moment, Norman calls her “fat”), Nicky Wilson looks the role more then Jane Fonda did in the movie, but she’s too drab. Or, rather, she perfectly embodies all the reasons Norman has never been satisfied with his child. I wasn’t quite sure. If the latter, it may not be the best approach for a director and his actress to take; someone who tried hard, mostly succeeded, and still never received parental approval might be more dramatically satisfying. John Kirkpatrick and Ken Starling play Chelsea’s suitors, former and current, respectively; both are adequate, Starling more so. Beth Harris is spot on in her two brief scenes as a telephone operator; she might have been more appropriate as Ethel. The production only comes fully to life when Trenton Gilmore, as Chelsea’s future stepson, is on stage. With his natural charisma, Gilmore plays down Billy Ray, Jr.’s obnoxiousness and brings out his savviness and sweetness. Unlike Faherty’s scenes with Wilson, which are somewhat flat, those with Gilmore bubble with life. The result, for better or worse, is that this Pond reads more as about a father who wanted a son instead of a daughter, than a meditation on death and the acceptance of growing old. To be sure, on Corky St. Clair’s (presumably a nom de guerre) well-crafted set with its bucolic backdrop, the cast rises to the script’s dramatic moments, but doesn’t always invest the otherwise quotidian dialog with a depth to allow it to resonate more deeply. As director, Jacobs should have had a firmer hand. During its opening weekend, transitions between scenes were sloppy and there were technical glitches; those can be corrected. I can also overlook the New England accents which were all over the place. But Jacobs’ poky pacing only accentuated the poky passages of Thompson’s tale. One could say “Slidell Little Theater is just a community theater, don’t be so hard on them.” That would be doing the committed team there a disservice, however. After last summer’s terrific production of Shrek the Musical, I expect nothing less. Hopefully their next production Young Frankenstein (April 28-May14) will see SLT back in top form.
Curtains Up The Tennessee Williams Festival celebrates its 31st anniversary March 2226 with its usual wide range of theatrical, literary, and cultural offerings. Theatrically speaking, Southern Rep is presenting Sweet Bird of Youth at Loyola’s Marquette Theatre from March 22-April 16. Leslie Castay shifts from opera to drama as she takes on the role of Williams’ queen of melodrama, Princess
Kosmonopolis, also known as Alexandra del Lago, an aging screen star swept up in a race against time. Fueled by booze, pills, and entitlement she places herself in the care of Chance Wayne. Martin Bradford plays this ambitious gigolo with less than a heart of gold who’s dealing with an unfolding drama of his own. Mel. Cook, whose Julius Caesar at Tulane was one of last year’s most impressive productions, directs. The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans offers The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore at the Sanctuary Cultural Arts Center (2525 Burgundy) March 23-April 2. Milk Train stars Janet Shea as Flora Goforth another former star of the silver screen who, having been stricken with a deadly illness, struggles with the Angel of Death. A dictator of her own kingdom in Southern Italy, Flora is unprepared when a handsome stranger (Levi Hood) appears at her gate, dripping with mystique. TWTC’s Artistic Director Augustin J Correro helms Milk Train which also features Kyle Daigrepont, Julie Dietz and Linnea Gregg. Le Petit Theatre presents the regional premiere of Horton Foote’s Dividing the Estate, a 2009 Tony nominee for Best Play. In it, Stella Gordon is against parceling out her family’s land, despite financial woes brought on by the 1980’s oil bust. Old resentments and sibling rivalries surface as this hilariously dysfunctional family fights to claim the biggest piece of the pie. Maxwell Williams, Artistic Director of Le Petit, directs a cast that includes Mary Pauley, Carol Sutton, Harold X. Evans, Wendy Miklovic, Silas B. Cooper and Brenda Currin as Stella Gordon. The production runs from March 24 through April 15, with no performances during French Quarter Fest. Other programs worth attending include a Master Class in playwrighting with Lisa (Detroit, Airline Highway) D’Amour; Jeremy Lawrence’s The Man in the Overstuffed Chair, an arrangement of Williams’ writings about his father, Cornelius Coffin Williams who famously referred to his son as “Miss Nancy”; and Brick, a oneact play by Jon Broder that imagines what might have happened if Cat on a Hot Tin Roof’s Brick had “the talk” with his best friend Skipper. Presented by Second Star Performance Collective at Le Petit, Brick features Big Easy Award winner Bob Edes. And for the annual Tennessee Williams tribute reading at The Jaxson on the River (620 Decatur St.), the 2017 program will feature the creative connection between Williams and his time spent in Italy. Readers include Dick Cavett, Robert Wagner, Jill St. John, two-time Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris (Assassins and Fun Home), author Patricia Bosworth (Montgomery Clift: A Biography), actor Bryan Batt, and nationally syndicated advice columnist Amy Dickinson. For more information, go to www.tennesseewilliams.net or pick up the Festival’s brochure. While not part of the Festival, Creep Cuts at The Mudlark Public Theater (1200 Port St.) through March 25 complements Williams’ sensibility. Coming from the twisted minds of local theatermakers Dylan Hunter and Evan Spigelman, Creep Cuts is an electro-cabaret-dada-freak-drag-extra-hyphenated-caffeinated cartoon cloud. I think Tennessee would have enjoyed it.
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The Page Employee Dinner
The Corner Pocket
Jubilee @ The Golden Lantern
Roxxxy Andrews @ Four Seasons
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Lords of Leather Rush Party @ The Phoenix
GrandPre's
The Double Play
Cafe Lafitte in Exile
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Autour de la Ville ~ New Orleans, Metairie, LA ~ Photos by Marty Curtin, Misti Gaither, Dwain Hertz, Tony Leggio, Oz, Darwin Reed, Jeremy Weinberg
Oz New Orleans
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