Ambush Magazine Volume 37 Issue 01

THE OFFICIAL GAY MAGAZINE OF THE GULF SOUTHâ„¢

A Biweekly Publication Celebrating LGBTQ Life, Music & Culture Since 1982 VOLUME 37 ISSUE 01

TUESDAY, January 1, 2019

www.AMBUSHMAG.com

Happy New Year

PROUD TO BE YOU

Krewe of Queenateenas 25th King Cake Queen Coronation ON February 26

$7000

Help us raise money for Southern Decadence!

r a e y w e n be a o t s t u o b a t It wa n’ s a w a DONATIONS ACCEPTED AT THE BAR

$100

! n w o d d tie

i and G

Play Girlz The Music of

Senator Ken Fridays 7:30–9:30pm

hosted by Gia GiaVanni

Fridays 10–11:30pm

fing f u c , u yo I told nly lasts o season iphany! ‘til ep

The Music of the

Vanessa Carr Band

Saturdays 7:30–9:30pm

Divas R Us starring Monica

Synclaire-Kennedy

Saturdays 10–11:30pm

Play Girlz hoste

The Half-Assed Straight Boys

d by Gia G

Fridays @ 1

Sundays 3–9pm

iaVanni

0pm

Golden

The Official Home of Southern Decadence.

Best L GBTQ

Bar

Jubilee: Dragging for Jesus with Reba Douglas Sundays 5–7pm

Best Happy Hour

in the Quar ter!

THE

Lantern

1239 Royal St. New Orleans • facebook.com/GoldenLanternBar

HAPPY HOUR 8AM – 8PM DAILY

N E V E R A C O V E R AT THE GOLDEN LANTERN

THE “OFFICIAL” DISH

by TJ ACOSTA, PUBLISHER

Dear Ambush Nation, 2019 has arrived and we at Ambush hope everyone had a great Holiday Season and safe New Years! As we move into Carnival season we want you to know we plan on having comprehensive coverage of all the Gay Mardi Gras Krewes. We will also once again this year have a complete list of events in our Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide so be on the lookout for more information as Mardi Gras draws near.

From all of us on the Ambush team, Happy New Year!

AMBUSH NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS Tis the season to make your New Year Resolutions. While most people may want to lose a few of the pounds they gained by eating too much chocolate over the holidays, we at Ambush have a few resolutions of our own and less chocolate isn’t one of them.

As we move into 2019, Ambush plans to expand its coverage in several ways. One of the things we want to do is spotlight drag along the Gulf South. There are so many wonderful performers who spend both time and money entertaining at various bars

and venues. We want to both highlight individual performers and also keep a comprehensive calendar of upcoming drag shows along the Gulf South.

Several people have also talked to me about what they call “alternative” drag and that is something we at Ambush want to cover as well. At Ambush, we want to cover every part of the LGBTQ community.

With the loss of several members of the gay community, we at Ambush began to realize that we need to do all we can to document our history before it’s too late. How many great stories were lost in the past year with the passing of individuals like Lisa Beaumann and Tommy Elias?

In 2019, we want to being the process of reaching out to members of our community and document their lives and stories while they are still here to share it with us.

I often think of Rip and Marsha Naquin-Dealin, the founders of Ambush, and how I would’ve loved the opportunity to sit down with them for an hour or two as I have so many questions I’d like to ask. With that being said, as we move into 2019 we will do our best to begin to document our his-

Inside this Issue of Ambush Saints and Sinners Literary Festival: Michael Cunningham, Garth Greenwell, and Justin Phillip Reed.

6

Moments in Gay New Orleans History: Carnival Season is Upon Us

8

Community Voice : Seven Ways to Meet New Friends in 2019

9

Musings by Catherine: Do You Know What it Means to Miss (Love) New Orleans?

10

THE ROCKFORD FILES: America’s Next Fag Superstar

11

Snap Paparazzi Out & About at Crossing

12

Snap Paparazzi The Corner Pocket

13

Under the GayDar: New Orleans Hot Happenings

14

Under the GayDar: Mobile Hot Happenings

17

Announcement: Loyola University to Offer Tour-Guiding, French Quarter History Courses

18

A Community within Communities: Blessings, Resolutions, Revolution

19

Party Down

20

Snap Paparazzi Out & About with CrescentCare

21

Book Review: We Met in Paris

22

Snap Paparazzi Out & About with the Golden Lantern

22

Snap Paparazzi Out & About with Glenn Paul Melancon & Tony Leggio

23

Trodding the Boards

24-27

Community Voice: Self-Reflection

28

Financial & Business: Can the Markets and Economy Maintain Momentum?

28

Snap Paparazzi Oz New Orleans

29

LGBT Owned & Friendly Business Directory

Snap Paparazzi Out & About with Ambush

30-31

32 33-34

Sports Gulf South LGBTQ Entertainment & Travel Guide Since 1982 New Orleans, Louisiana info@ambushpublishing.com

tory before our stories are lost forever.

One of the things we having been working on but have yet to roll out is our new website for both AmbushMag. com and GayNewOrleans.com. We plan to have that done in the next few months. We want to make our content easier for readers to access in a format that is user friendly. We thank you for your continued patience as we work on increasing our reach online. As always, you can sign up as a subscriber at ambushpublishing.com and receive a copy of Ambush Magazine in your inbox every other Tuesday. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter @AmbushMag. PARTY PARTY PARTY I’d like to give a big “Thank You” to everyone who had parties over the Holidays and special events on Christmas Day for members of our community to enjoy. It truly was a pleasure to spend part of my Holiday with so many of you. My calendar was booked for a solid two weeks leading up to Christmas and I truly enjoyed every minute of it.

Several of the bars had parties along with many other groups all of whom are too many to name. Also, I’d like to thank everyone who came to the Ambush Holiday party at my house uptown. It was truly an honor to open my home to you during this holiday season. As we move into 2019 let us remember to make it a point to reach out to friends both old and new alike and to be kind to everyone we meet. In a world that for many can be cold and lonely, let us each try to bring a little more kindness and love into the world.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY On a personal note, I’d like to wish my twin brother Toby a very happy birthday. On December 22nd he and I turned 40 years old and I couldn’t imagine anyone I’d want to share my birthday with each and every year. Tobes, I love you so much and I’m so glad you’re my brother and friend. We’ve spent every single birthday together for 40 years minus one (in 2005 because

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Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 • Texas-Florida ANNUAL READERSHIP OVER 1M+ 260,000+ Print/780,000+ Online Official Gay Easter Parade Guide© Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide© Official Gay New Orleans Guide© Official Pride Guide© Official Southern Decadence Guide©

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR info@ambushpublishing.com CIRCULATION

Alabama - Mobile; Florida - Pensacola; Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Monroe, Alexandria; Mississippi - Bay St. Louis, Biloxi, Jackson; Texas - Houston

PUBLISHER TJ Acosta EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Reed Wendorf SENIOR EDITOR Brian Sands CONTRIBUTORS Brian Sands, Catherine Roland, Crescent City Sports, Frank Perez, Jim Meadows, Pastor Alisan Rowland, Persana Shoulders, Rev. Bill Terry, Rodney Thoulion, Ryan Rockford, Scot Billeaudeau & Tony Leggio LOCAL ADVERTISING sales@ambushpublishing.com Reed Wendorf Jim Tomeny NATIONAL ADVERTISING Rivendell Media (212) 242-6863 Ambush Magazine is published on alternate Tuesdays of each month by Ambush Publishing. Advertising, Copy & Photo DEADLINE is alternate Tuesdays, 5pm, prior to publication week, accepted via e-mail only: info@ambushpublishing.com. 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 Magazine. ©1982-2019 AMBUSH PUBLISHING LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS & PHOTOS.

sales@ambushpublishing.com

4 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

R E es v ch en ed t ul ed

Honor Showcase Fundraiser & Second Line

Lisa Beaumann Forever A Lady of Oz SATURDAY, JANUARY 12, 2019 | 6PM – 10PM Oz New Orleans | 800 Bourbon St

Please join Lisa’s friends, family, coworkers, and surviving partner Marcus Martinez for The Lisa Beaumann Honor Showcase Fundraiser and Second Line at Oz New Orleans. ALL ARE WELCOME!

BY AMBUSH MAGAZINE

Please contact Persana Shoulders, Aubrey Synclaire, or Reba Douglas for more details. ANYONE interested in p a r t i c i p a t i n g i n e i t h e r f u n c t i o n p l e a se e m a i l u s a t lisa@persanashoulders.com.

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 5

of Hurricane Katrina). I’d also like to thank our friends, some of whom traveled from out of state, who shared our birthday with us this year. I love each and every one of you! Special thanks to our friends Todd French, Bob Manness and Rhonda Pavlick who helped coordinate the event as we couldn’t have done it without your help.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS Gay Mardi Gras is right around

the corner. Mardi Gras weekend 2019 is from Friday, March 1 thru Tuesday, March 5. As always, the weeks leading up to Gay Mardi Gras will be filled with the many balls put on by the Gay Mardi Gras Krewes. As we get closer to Mardi Gras, Ambush will have all the latest information on the balls. The season kicks off on January 6th with the Krewe du Rue Royale Revelers 6th Annual 12th Night Party and continues thru Mardi Gras day.

The Gay Easter Parade is always at 4:30 pm on Easter Sunday. This year Easter Sunday is April 21. As we move into the 2019 we will have more information about the many fundraisers coordinated by the Gay Easter Parade Board. Every year the Gay Easter Parade is a fundraiser for a charity and this year will be the 20th Annual Gay Easter Parade. We have plans to make it the biggest and best yet!

New Orleans Pride will be June

7-9. This has become one of the biggest gay events of the year. The Pride Parade is the largest LGBT parade in Louisiana with participants numbering in the thousands. Be sure to plan ahead and make Nola Pride part of your summer plans. For more information you can visit NewOrleansPrideFestival.com

LITERARY SPOTLIGHT

Saints and Sinners Literary Festival: Michael Cunningham, Garth Greenwell, and Justin Phillip Reed.

Michael Cunningham The Saints and Sinners Literary Festival was founded in 2003 as a new initiative designed as an innovative way to reach the community with information about HIV/AIDS, particularly disseminating prevention messages via the writers, thinkers and spokespeople of the LGBT community. It was also formed to bring the LGBT literary community together to celebrate the literary arts.

The Festival 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 at the Hotel Monteleone in the New Orleans French Quarter, features panel discussions and master classes around literary topics that provide a forum for authors, editors and

Garth Greewell publishers to talk about their work for the benefit of emerging writers and the enjoyment of fans of LGBT literature.

The 16th annual Saints and Sinners Literary Festival takes place March 29—31. For more information, please visit http://sasfest.org/#home Three authors who will be at the 2019 Festival are Michael Cunningham, Garth Greenwell, and Justin Phillip Reed.

Michael Cunningham is the author of A Home at the End of the World, Flesh and Blood, The Hours (winner of the PEN/Faulkner Award and the Pulitzer Prize), Specimen Days, By Nightfall, The Snow Queen, and A Wild Swan, as well as Land’s End: A Walk in Provincetown. Cunningham has taught at the Fine Arts Work Center in Provincetown, and at Brooklyn College. He is currently senior lecturer

Justin Phillip Reed of creative writing at Yale University.

He lives in New York.

Garth Greenwell is the author of What Belongs to You, which won the British Book Award for Debut of the Year, was longlisted for the National Book Award, and was a finalist for six other awards, including the PEN/ Faulkner Award, the James Tait Black Memorial Prize, and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. A New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice, it was named a Best Book of 2016 by over fifty publications in nine countries, and is being translated into a dozen languages. His short fiction has appeared in The New Yorker, The Paris Review, A Public Space, and VICE, and he has written criticism for the London Review of Books, and the New York Times Book Review, among others.

He lives in Iowa City.

Justin Phillip Reed is an American poet living in St. Louis. He is the author of Indecency (Coffee House Press), winner of the 2018 National Book Award in Poetry, and of the chapbook A History of Flamboyance (YesYes Books, 2016). His work appears in African American Review, Best American Essays, Callaloo, The Kenyon Review, Obsidian, and elsewhere. A three-time high school expellee and an ex-college dropout, he received his BA in creative writing at Tusculum College and his MFA in poetry at Washington University in St. Louis, where he served as Junior Writer-in-Residence. He has received fellowships from the Cave Canem Foundation, the Conversation Literary Festival, and the Regional Arts Commission of St. Louis. Reed was born and raised in South Carolina.

6 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 7

MOMENTS IN GAY NEW ORLEANS HISTORY Carnival Season is Upon Us Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com In the rest of the country, people are settling down after the busy holiday season and getting back to work.

But in New Orleans, the party is just getting started. For those of us fortunate enough to live in New Orleans, the holiday season merely heralds the impending arrival of Carnival—that magical time of year that culminates on Mardi Gras.

Mardi Gras, or Fat Tuesday, is an ancient celebration that some have argued traces its roots to the winter bacchanalia of ancient Rome. By the Middle Ages, Carnival and Mardi Gras were popular all over Europe, from Twelfth Night Celebrations in England to the procession of the Boeuf Gras through the streets of Paris on Shrove Tuesday.

Carnival was successfully transplanted to the New World when the French founded New France (Canada) in 1534 and Louisiana in 1682. Mardi Gras has been celebrated in New Orleans from its founding in 1718. Float parades were introduced in 1857 when

The Mistick Krewe of Comus debuted.

Comus set the pattern for other krewes to follow and follow they did. Today there are over 75 Carnival Krewes in the metropolitan New Orleans area.

2019 marks the 61st year of Gay Carnival in New Orleans (the 70th year if we count the Fat Monday Luncheon, which began in 1949). The Steamboat Club, although not an official krewe, was founded in 1953 and celebrated the season with private parties. When a group of friends formed the Krewe of Yuga in 1958, they probably had no idea they were inaugurating a phenomenon that would be one of the defining institutions of Gay New Orleans. In the 1950s, Douglas Jones would have a parade viewing party at his home at 1120 South Carrollton for the Krewe of Carrollton parade. Yuga grew out of this annual gathering.

According to historian Howard P. Smith, Jones looked to a 19th Century parade for the name Yuga: “his family had ties with the Krewe of Proteus that stretched back to the nineteenth cen-

tury and the Golden Age of Carnival.

One parade in particular, the amazing Hindoo Heavens, presented by Proteus as the Narayana in 1889, caught his interest. Jones and his friends chose to name themselves the Krewe of Yuga, after the Kali Yuga of Hindu mythology.

They also jokingly referred to the new gay krewe as KY, and thus the gods of Carnival were appeased with a touch of humor and the requisite homage to a beloved pagan past. Some have even hinted that the word Yuga is a play on the phrase (Are) you gay?”

Although Yuga folded after its ill-fated 1962 Ball, other gay krewes emerged and by their heydays in the late 1970s and early 1980s, nearly twenty gay krewes (including Ishtar, the only lesbian krewe) populated the Carnival calendar. Invitations to these balls, which were often held at secret locations, were highly sought after.

Straight politicians and wealthy society matrons clamored for invitations to the gay balls—fantastic spectacles replete with feathers and sequins that showcased the incredible creativity and artistic talent of the gay community. Sadly, the AIDS epidemic decimated many of the gay krewes, most of which have since faded into history. Today, only a handful of gay krewes remain.

Traditionally, Carnival Season begins on January 6, the 12th day after Christmas. The season kicks off with the coronation of the Grand Reveler at the Mistick Krewe du Rue Royale Revelers annual 12th Night Party. In a ceremony that mocks the meeting of the courts of Comus and Rex, the revelation and coronation of the Grand Reveler is followed by a different meeting of the courts—the outgoing Krewe of Queenateenas’ King Cake Queen (Solitaire), accompanied by the new King Cake Queen (Tiffany Alexander),

calls upon the Lord of Misrule and the new Grand Reveler for a Royal toast.

The identity of the Grand Reveler is a closely guarded secret and not revealed until the night of the party.

This year, Carnival Season is long; Mardi Gras falls on March 5. The calendar is filled with fantastic events between Twelfth Night and Shrove Tuesday: January 6—Krewe du Rue Royale Revelers 6th Annual 12th Night Party January 26—Krewe of Stars 3rd Annual Ball January 26—Krewe of Apollo, Baton Rouge, 38th Annual Ball February 1—Krewe of Mwindo 21st Annual Ball February 2—Krewe of Narcissus 4th Annual Ball February 9—Krewe of Amon-Ra 54th Annual Ball February 16—Krewe of Apollo, Lafayette, 43rd Annual Ball February 23—Krewe of Petronius 58th Annual Ball February 23—Krewe of Apollo, Birmingham, 43rd Annual Ball March 2—Krewe of Armeinius 51st Annual Ball March 3—Lords of Leather 36th Annual Ball March 5—Mardi Gras; 55th Annual Bourbon Street Awards February 26—Krewe of Queenateenas 25th King Cake Queen Coronation

For more information about the Gay Mardi Gras, please visit GayMardiGras. com.

LGBT+ Archives Project OF LOUISIANA

Getting Our History Out of the Closet www.lgbtarchiveslouisiana.org

8 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · January 1 – 14, 2019FINAL · Offi-cial Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com Ambush ad - 5 x 2.9375.indd 1

11/16/18 7:25 PM

COMMUNITY VOICE

Seven Ways to Meet New Friends in 2019 Jim Meadows Executive Director, NOAGE info@noagenola.org Happy New Year! It’s hard to believe, but 2019 is already upon us.

Maybe you’re starting to think about New Year’s Resolutions. Too often, that phrase gets us thinking about ways we haven’t quite measured up somehow.

Have no fear; there are no diet tips here! I believe we’re better served by adding new, fun things to our lives than by beating ourselves up. And broadening your social circle is one of the best things you can do for your mental, physical, and spiritual health this year.

Research has suggested that the health risks of social isolation and loneliness are comparable to or even greater than those brought on by obesity, physical inactivity, violence, and substance abuse. According to a 2015 meta-analysis, social isolation, loneliness, and living alone increase the likelihood of death by about 30%. And Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) reports that LGBT older adults are more likely to live alone, to be single and childless, and to be estranged from their biological families than their straight and cisgender peers.

So what can we do about it? For many of us, bars have long been the first thing we think of when looking for a place to socialize, and we’ve got some great ones here in New Orleans.

But there are more options out there, if bars aren’t your thing. Here are seven: 1) Get the Party Started. The simplest solution may be the one nearest at hand: Dig out your old black book. If you’ve fallen out of touch with friends and are feeling lonelier for having done so, chances are that some of them feel the same way. Why not start planning a Mardi Gras party to get everybody (re) acquainted?

2) Volunteer. You’ve been talking about doing this for years. 2019 is the year to follow through! Volunteer work

is number one on my list of the best ways to bring some great new people into your life; I really can’t recommend this enough. There are countless worthy causes that could use your help.

Two great resources to help find the best fit for you are Volunteer Match (www.volunteermatch.org) and HandsOn New Orleans (www.handsonneworleans.org). You can search by location and by the type of organizations you’d like to help.

3) Meet-Up Groups. Common interests make for the best of friends.

Whether you’re looking for a discussion group, a dance troupe, a film club, or a cooking class, there’s almost certainly a meet-up group for that near you. Check out www.meetup.com to find the one you’re looking for.

4) Take a Class. The New Orleans Lifelong Learning Cooperative (NOLLC) is a life-long learning community offering cultural and educational enrichment through classes and discussion groups. To find out more about their offerings, email lifelonglearningcoop@gmail.com, or visit https://bit. ly/2BFuj83 to subscribe to their newsletter.

5) Join a Book Club. NOLA Gay Book Club is “a homo-centric book club in New Orleans.” They meet monthly to discuss works of fiction. Some past titles they have discussed include Less

by Andrew Sean Green, Into? by North Morgan, Guapa by Saleem Haddad, The Elementals by Michael McDowell, Before Night Falls by Reinaldo Arenas, and Maurice by E.M. Forster. To learn more, visit www.facebook.com, and search for the “NOLA Gay Book Club” group. There is a wide variety of book clubs in New Orleans, and many of them can be found on meetup.com, including a local Queer/Feminist Book Club. The New Orleans Public Library

also hosts book clubs, so be sure to check out the calendar on their website at http://www.nolalibrary.org/events.

6) Join a Team. Getting involved with a team is a great way to meet new friends and to have fun while getting in shape. (Be sure to check with your physician before starting any type of fitness program.) Stonewall Sports New Orleans is a community-based LGBTQIA non-profit sports organization. They host several sports leagues in New Orleans, including kickball, volleyball, bowling, running, and dodgeball. They are also about to start a Trivia League this month; registration ends on January 7. To learn more, visit https://stonewallneworleans.leagueapps.com.

7) NOAGE Events. NOAGE has regular social events for LGBT older adults and their allies, including Coffee Talks, Movie Nights, a Potluck Club, and a weekly Walk/Run club (in collaboration with Stonewall Sports New Orleans). The best way to stay informed about NOAGE events is to subscribe to

our newsletter. To subscribe, visit www. noagenola.org, and scroll down until you see the subscribe box or email us at info@noagenola.org. You can also find out about NOAGE events by following us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/noageneworleans).

If you’d like to try out some of the above ideas, but just aren’t able to get out of the house for one reason or another, we’ve got volunteers who would love to come visit you. Our number is (504) 517-2345. It might seem like you’re alone, but it doesn’t have to be that way. Please don’t hesitate to reach out to us.

I hope some of these ideas have got you excited for some of the good things – and good friends – that this year can bring to you. May 2019 be your best year ever!

This article originally appeared, in a slightly different form, on www.squirrelnews.net.

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 9

MUSINGS BY CATHERINE

Do You Know What it Means to Miss (Love) New Orleans?

Catherine Roland catherineroland12@gmail.com There’s an old song that you may know, Do You Know What It Means, to Miss New Orleans?, that I first heard many years ago while watching a vintage movie about the birth of Jazz. I carried the melody and words with me over many miles, into a number of states where I moved, for a long time. I had a bumper sticker with those words that I placed on the wall in every office I had throughout my academic career.

Why? The answer is that I missed New Orleans because I love it, and what it has to offer. Are there negatives? Well sure, and having lived in a number of places, I’d found negatives everywhere. But the pluses are often unique to NOLA. And that’s what I was thinking about when I began this column. I sat back and thought about New Orleans, how it makes me feel, how it can shape my mood. And how it can feel good, energizing, and freeing. For me. ​After a walk in City Park with a good friend early on Christmas Day, I made a list of the things that I consider unique here, perhaps forging a partial answer to why I love it. This is not a column on ‘things to do’, but more suggestions

of things to consider about enhancing your spirit and attitude.

More importantly, you could engage in a reframe of what we have here, what is available to all of us just about every day, and how some things can add to your peace of mind, self-esteem, life satisfaction or joy, and indeed your health in general to some extent.

Just by enjoying and letting in the light.

Always by opening up your heart to the great beauty and solace that can be experienced.

Just why and how does this city works for me: Peaceful versus frenetic Solitude versus crowd immersion ​ Rich, diverse history of the city ​ Always things to do in a group ver​ sus doing things solo and feeling comfortable – both are fine The ​ culture(s), traditions, languages, dialects, our ‘dark side’ ​Whether a sports fan or not, electricity permeates the city, positivity prevails whenever a team does well (like now) Art, ​ all types, to appreciate NOLA is a photographic wonderland ​ ​Water – walk near it, look at it, sail on it, ride across it in several directions Food. No other words. Just food. ​

​olor, always color. Blue, purple, C green, yellow, pink, black and gold, orange, red. It’s alive with color.

Walking-friendly. It’s a city that begs ​ you to walk it, the Quarter, Riverfront, Marigny, Esplanade Ave, City Park, Lakefront, Uptown, Audubon, MidCity. ​Seeking solace at the Botanical Gardens, City and Audubon Parks, the Sculpture Garden, Mississippi River, the cultural enclaves within a neighborhood. ​Watching. The solace that can come from observing in quiet or during commotion, during Jazz Fest or Mardi Gras, or on an early Saturday morning on Royal Street, just walking. In the fog, in the sunshine. There is air here.

So how does using the city and reframing what it means to you, making it work for you, help with your general health or state of mind? One recent simple example is something I hadn’t really planned.

When I’m in the mood, I love glitz, shiny stuff, glitter, you get the picture.

On a cloudy, dreary day a couple of weeks ago I was meeting a friend for lunch in Mid-City. All that morning, I’d been feeling antsy, that’s the best word I can think of. Ready to go, not wanting to wait for the sun to come out before

I left, I made a quick decision to drive downtown an hour early, park and walk over to see the holiday decorations at the Ritz-Carlton and Roosevelt Hotels.

The silver and white mixed with the brilliant blues and green, the shiny tones and sparkling lighting at the Ritz began to changed my mood. As I crossed the street to the Roosevelt, which I’d seen many times in years past, the air inside the foyer seemed to exude a beauty, an old, revered tradition of celebration that was what I guessed I was searching for, on that day, in that moment.

I sat in one of the lovely intimate seating areas, and just felt, and observed. My mood had improved. I respond positively to beauty, art and fine music, so lights and brightness allowed me to reframe a bit on the day.

I was feeling grateful because I was on the way to be with a trusted friend, and eat marvelous New Orleans food.

What I sought out that day, did make a difference for me. And that is just one tiny reason I love New Orleans.

Do you know what it means to love New Orleans?

10 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

THE ROCKFORD FILES

America’s Next Fag Superstar Ryan Rockford RyanRockfordNYC@gmail.com Carpe Diem!

Today is the day, the perfect day, the first day of January, 2019. Once again, this is our chance to wipe the slate clean and get another chance to get life right. Keep ourselves accountable to the New Year’s resolutions we’ve made and re-invent ourselves into the person we’ve always wanted to be. Of course if you’re anything like me, those New Year’s resolutions we so carefully crafted, worded, re-worded, amended and qualified have already been blown to bits.

Sidebar: Don’t beat yourself up over breaking those New Year’s resolutions. Everyone does. They’re impossible to keep, and here’s why: It’s because we’ve subconsciously set ourselves up for failure. How? By falling prey to that ridiculous custom of watching a ball drop over Times Square. My balls dropped when I was thirteen. That was enough for me.

Consider this: New Year’s Eve is just a ruse. Sure, the confetti, balloons and funny hats are a fine way to distract the children, but there comes a time as an adult that you realize that New Year’s Eve is really an evening

spent enduring a shitty party that culminates in an anti-climactic countdown; a prophetic ten second glimpse of what the incoming year will probably look like. That giant crystal ball floating way up high is your future, filled with hopes and dreams and the promise of endless possibilities. Then life happens, bringing with it the cable bill, the cell phone bill, computer repairs, infidelity, a cracked windshield, parking tickets, unforeseen dental work and your future begins to sink. Your eyes are glued to the television watching your crystal ball of hopes and dreams slide down the ungreased shaft of reality, until it sits motionless at rock bottom. Just like last year. Twelve months later and you’re right back where you started. Happy fucking New Year!

So I say, resolutions be damned!

But I do like the idea of reinvention.

Because, the truth is, when I look back on my life, I’ve fucked up quite a bit and sometimes I lose myself in thought wondering ‘what might have been’ had I made different choices. Each of us is only one decision away from a completely different life. Think about that.

That’s some deep shit, right there. As

far as we know, we only go around this world once but as Mae West would tell you, “If you do it right, once is enough.”

One of the easiest pathways to reinvention is through fashion, and generally speaking, gay men are wise enough not to underestimate its importance. Fashion includes everything from blue jeans to haute couture. With it we create our personal style which tells people what we want them to know. Fashion gives us an identity.

What we choose to wear on a daily basis, consciously or subconsciously, reveals to the world exactly who we are.

So it’s important to make those choices wisely.

As gay men, we like to look good.

Most of us like to look contemporary, stylish and are typically eager to see what new trends work their way down the runway into our closets. Of course, some poor souls get so carried away with the re-invention idea that they need to be reminded that just because a look becomes so popular as to become trendy, doesn’t mean that it looks on them.

That’s where I come in. Per my personal re-invention of 2019, I have

once again been crowned America’s Next Fag Superstar (four years running, thank you very much). This self-appointed role is a helpful one. My duties are to serve as an Ambassador of good tastes for the up and coming members of our community. It’s often helpful to have a paternal presence around during those formative years between Tweenies and Twinks; when we have no idea who we are or who we want to be.

In the beginning, there’s s lots of trial and error when it comes to figuring out what looks good on us. We try on anything and everything and sure enough, if we throw enough shit against the wall something will stick.

Presto! Our personalities begin to take shape. I liken my Superstar role to that of a Big Brother/”Sister” sort of thing.

Consider me that person who will tell you what you need to hear when your friends won’t. So, if you’re always a bit extra when it comes to being trendy – listen up, I’m talking to you.

Today we are staring a brand new year in the face, let’s not drag last year’s unfortunate, trendy baggage over the threshold.

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 11

By definition, a “trend” refers to a certain style in fashion, something that becomes accepted, or ‘fashionable’ and that a lot of people copy. But being a copycat doesn’t make you trendy. It makes you a poser who probably has a hard time getting laid. As your Ambassador, I’m here to help.

So with that in mind, I feel it is my responsibility to point out several trends seen in 2018 that, from a taste perspective, should be considered criminal. Today is the day to leave cargo pants and deep V-neck T-shirts behind. Drop those puka shells and crocs as fast as you drop your high standards and self-respect when striking out on Grindr at 5 a.m.

It’s also time to say goodbye to the Lumbersexual. I’m talking to the not-so-manly men who insist on sporting an overgrown beard and wearing any combination of garments and accessories as to cash in on the outdoor, rugged stereotype. The Paul Bunyan-looking fellow who looks like he’d excel at log-rolling but when he speaks, a purse falls out. Aesthetically he is the archetype of masculinity until he wiggles over to the bar and orders a champagne koolie and you notice the lacquered nails on his well lotioned and manicured hands. Offenders, you know who you are. Stop it. You’ll probably get laid more often now that the lurkin’ merkin isn’t cock blocking you.

While we’re on the subject of hair, we should discuss the “man-bun.” I happen to like men with long hair, but I don’t like my boyfriend looking like Ms. Beasley, my high school librarian, always with her hair pulled tighter than a cat’s ass, piled on top of her head and speared with a both a No. 2 pencil and ink pen. And if the hair is too long, you run the risk of waking up in the morning entangled in curls, and thinking that you brought home a hooker.

Variations of the man-bun are even more troubling to look at. Specifically, the ‘pineapple’, which involves a small shoot of hair sprouting from the top of the head, like a pineapple. Those who wear it believe this style gives them the look and reverence of a Warrior or Samurai. Personally, I don’t see ‘Samurai’. I see Soccer Mom. Every “Warrior” I’ve seen sporting the pineapple-do appears to be more comfortable behind a shopping cart or steering wheel than behind a Samurai’s katana, or pair of nunchucks.

Fashion isn’t limited to the clothes we wear, it also applies to how we look when we aren’t wearing any clothes at all. Yes, it’s fashionable to care about what we look like naked. When It comes to the subject of body hair grooming, I have only three words to say: Just do it.

Some have a little, some have a lot but when it comes to body hair, we

all have it, like it or not. It may not be where we want it or it may show up in places we wish it wouldn’t, but at the end of the day, there it is. Preferences in the location and amount of body hair run the gamut from completely smooth to Sasquatch.

Whatever the preferred aesthetic, in the interest of hygiene and civility, a certain amount of grooming or manscaping is required, remembering that with more hair comes more responsibility. I’m not suggesting that all men submit to shaving their chests or waxing their sack and crack but a certain amount of trimming and maintenance is essential. Particularly below the waistline where there is no excuse for anything to be overgrown. Spare me the “masculine”, “natural” or “man-scent” bullshit. Managing our own personal odor and hygiene by keeping ourselves clean and tidy lets others know that we care about ourselves, which, in turn means we can care about someone else.

Whoever you are re-inventing yourself to be this year, do it according to who it is that you want to be. As America’s Next Fag Superstar, what I encourage most in this New Year is that you approach the next twelve months as authentically you as possible. Wear what you want to wear and be who you want to be as long as the person who you’re presenting to the world is the

real you, whoever that it. Most of us would appreciate it if you didn’t choose to wear socks with your sliders or flipflops as casual wear, Bermuda shorts, fedoras or fanny packs, but don’t’ be afraid to just do you this year.

These days we are bombarded with social media outlets that paradoxically promote the increase of our personal and ‘friendly’ network but in reality only populate our inner circles with others who share our same taste, have the same friends and like the same sorts of things.

This year, unplug yourself from the internet on occasion. Wear something you found on your own and not on Amazon. Hit a party or event that you overheard or learned about through the grapevine. We need to stop relying on our computers and cell phones to tell us what to wear, who we are, where to go and what to do. Part of your re-invention needs to include some ‘you’ time. Society has gotten so used to the hive dynamic system that many young people today don’t know what to do with time alone to make their own decisions. That’s what 2019 should be about: discovering who YOU are.

America’s Next Fag Superstar wouldn’t steer you wrong so believe me when I tell you to embrace yourself and remember: You are a unique, one of a kind and special individual. Just like everybody else.

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About at Crossing PHOTOS PROVIDED BY TREVOR COOK

12 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI The Corner Pocket PHOTOS BY JEREMY

THE CORNER POCKET Where the Boys are dancing nightly on the bar starting at 9PM!

OPENING HOURS Everyday Noon - TILL ADDRESS 940 St Louis Street, New Orleans, LA 70112 Phone: (504) 568-9829 www.cornerpocket.net

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 13

UNDER THE GAYDAR

New Orleans Hot Happenings

Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com

Happy 2019! The year is off and running and there is so much to do in NOLA. Here are just some festive suggestions to kick off your New Year right! (If you have a fundraiser, party, show or event coming up and would like to be listed in the calendar, please email me at ledgemgp@gmail.com).

WEEKLY EVENTS EVERYDAY

Happy Hour: The Crossing; 439 Dauphine St. 7 days a week from open until 9pm (7AM to 9PM). It’s $3 domestic beer and well drinks. $1 off everything else.

MONDAY

Karaoke Monday: The Bourbon Pub; 801 Bourbon St.; 7 - 9 p.m. Enjoy happy hour prices all night long. Hosted by Denny with VJ Dollabill.

S.I.N. Night: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; Starting at 9 p.m.

Come drink with Ashlee. Get your SIN card and receive $2.50 canned beer.

Pool Tournament: Rawhide 2010;

740 Burgundy St.; 9:45 p.m. $2 PBR and $50 gift certificate for Rawhide Lazy Susan Karaoke: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Join bartender Mark and a revolving cast of drag queen hostesses for LAZY SUSAN KARAOKE with Music

by DJ Lucius Riley. Mondays are a drag, so make them fabulous and sing the night away.

NOAGE & Stonewall Sports Walk/ Run Club; Lafitte’s Greenway; 6:15 p.m. Join an exciting new partnership between Stonewall Sports New Orleans and NOAGE! Starting at 6:30 p.m., meet for the walk/run at Lafitte Greenway. This will be a weekly event for walkers and the Stonewall Run Club will join every 3 weeks. This group is for ALL fitness levels, and you can go at your own pace. Whether that’s running, jogging, leisurely walking, or using a wheelchair or walker, this group is for you. If you are worried that you’ll be left behind, don’t worry; someone will walk with you. If you are the fastest person there, we’ll see you at the finish line. Please Note: We will meet in front of Bayou Beer garden at 326 N.

Jefferson Davis Parkway. If you need assistance or have questions, call Jim at (504)228-6778.

Service Industry Night: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; Open to close. $2.50 domestic beers; $3 well cocktails; $3.50 imported beer; $5.50 Tito’s; $6 Jameson.

TUESDAY

Kocktail Karaoke: Good Friends Bar; 740 Dauphine St.; 9 p.m. - 1 a.m., Join us at Good Friends Bar for Kocktail Karaoke. The winner gets a $25.00 bar tab. $5 Fireball.

Country Dance Lessons: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart St.; 8 p.m.

Tuesdays are Country Dance lessons with the Big easy Stompers from 8 - 11 p.m.

Bourbon Boylesque: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 8:00 p.m. See the Men of Oz like you have never seen them before. The show stars Atomyc Adonis, Bobby B, Franky, Phathoms Deep and other special guests. Hosted

by Trixie Minx.

Tacos, Tequila and Tiaras: Buffa’s Bar and Restaurant; 1001 Esplanade Ave.; 8 p.m. Tacos, Tequila, and Tiaras is one of New Orleans’ only family friendly drag shows! Join hostess Vanessa Carr Kennedy every Tuesday, have a taco or two, and learn a little bit about the art of drag.

Tunes Tuesday: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; Open to close. Free Jukebox credits with a $4 drink purchase.

Trivia Night: MRB; 515 St. Philip St.; Starts at 8 p.m. Every Tuesday at 8 you can join us for Who Wants A Dollar? Trivia! Free to Play. Plenty of Prizes. Tons of Fun. Teams of 1-6 welcome. Enjoy some killer drinks, amazing food from Woodies @ MRB, and out of this world trivia.

WEDNESDAY

WednesGays at LPK Uptown: Louisiana Pizza Kitchen; 615 South Carrollton Ave.; 5 p.m. Join us every Wednesday to celebrate diversity. See old friends or make some new ones and find out what’s happening in the Nola community. All this while enjoying 1/2 price drinks from the bar. Invite your friends.

Kafe Karaoke: Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 9 p.m. – midnight. $25.00 Bar tab and Free Shots & Givea-ways with Happy Hour All Day. Oz Show Night: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 10:30 p.m. This popular drag show is hosted by Persana Shoulders and features Connie Hung,

Anastascia Davenport; Chichi Rodriguez and Dominique DeLorean.

Honey Bee Trivia: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart St.; 7 p.m. Wednesdays are Trivia with Honey Bee at 7 p.m. with free jello shots and Bar Tabs.

Hump Day: Rawhide 2010; 740 Burgundy St.; 4 - 9 p.m. 2 for $4 wells, draft, and domestic beers.

Wine Night: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; 5 p.m. close. $15 bottles of wine.

Video Game Night: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart Street; 8:30 p.m. midnight; The bar is doing Video Game Night starting at 9 p.m. Come and compete for prizes and Grab some Drinks.

THURSDAY

Honey Bee Trivia: GrandPre’s; 834 N. Rampart St.; 7 p.m. Thursday is Honey Bee Trivia at 7 p.m. Four rounds with jello shots to the winner of each round and a Bar Tab to top person/team of the night.

Girl | Crush: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 9 p.m. Girl | Crush is brings you a weekly event for girls who like girls, and their friends! This flavor of CRUSH entitled DTF is exclusive to New Orleans’ #1 Dance Club, Oz and happens every Thursday night.

The Jeff D Comedy Cabaret; Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 10 p.m. The Comedy Cabaret stars Jeff D. featuring Gia Giavanni. Enjoy hilarious comedians, amazing talent and the Ladies of Oz. Strip Off: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; midnight Persana Shoulders hosts the Strip Off every Thursday night. Sign up begins at 11 p.m. and the show features a spotlight performance by Miss Gay Louisiana America 2013 Mercedes Ellis Loreal. Winners receive 1st PLACE - $100 Cash • 2nd PLACE - $50 Bar tab Prime Time Trivia: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; starts at 9 p.m. Come out and enjoy trivia with great prizes with your host Honey Bee. Retro Night: The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; starts at 10 p.m. Enjoy drink special from 10 p.m. to midnight and the best hits form the 80’s and 90’s.

FRIDAY

Music of Senator Ken: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Enjoy live music with Senator Ken playing all your favorites.

Play Girlz: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 10 - 11:30 p.m. Drag show featuring Gia GiaVanni and special

14 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

guests.

New Meat Amateur Dance Contest: Corner Pocket; 640 St. Louis St.; 6:30 p.m. Anyone can enter - $100 cash prize.

Fireball Fridays: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway Blvd.; open to close. $4 Fireball Shots.

Take It Off Fridays: Four Seasons Bar; 3229 N. Causeway; 5 p.m. - 12:30 a.m. Includes $2.50 domestic beers and $3 well drinks from 5 - 9 p.m.; $15 drink and drown from 9 - 11 p.m. all well cocktails; and Underwear Party with free well. Cocktails for those who strip down to their underwear from midnight to 12:30 a.m.

Rupaul’s Drag Race All Star Season 4 Viewing Party with Laveau Contraire: Kajun’s Pub; 2256 St. Claude Avenue; 7 - 9 p.m. Get those heels down to Kajun’s Pub for RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 4! This season, each episode is a whopping 90 minutes followed by an episode of Untucked! Each week, Laveau will be joined by a co-host from the local drag scene to help entertain you with insightful commentary, witty banter, and dazzling performances! They’ll also have prizes, drink specials, interactive games and did I say prizes?

SATURDAY

Music of Vanessa Carr Kennedy; Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Enjoy songstress Vanessa

as she sings some of the tops hits of yesterday and today.

Divas R Us; Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 10 - 11:30 p.m. This wonderful drag show directed by Monica Sinclaire Kennedy includes a special guests stars.

Piano Bar with Trey Ming; Good Friends Bar; 740 Dauphine St.; 4 – 7 p.m. Sing along with your favorite songs with Talented piano player Trey Ming.

Drag Dingo: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 6 - 8 p.m. Catch ChiChi Rodriquez, Persana Shoulders for Drag Bingo! 11 games of Bingo, 11 chances to win prizes! All the fun starts at 6 pm till 8 pm in their upstairs bar with your favorite bottom, Jake, slinging drinks for you all night long!

SUNDAY

Bottomless Sundays: Double Play Bar; 439 Dauphine St.. The drink special is $15 Bottomless Bloody Marys and Mimosas from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Bottomless Mimosas: Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 1 - 4 p.m.

Bottomless Mimosas are offered upstairs from 1 - 4 p.m. for $12.

The Original Trash Disco: Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 410 p.m. Includes the original napkin toss and the best music videos to sing along with.

You Better Sing Karaoke; Grand-

Pre’s; 834 North Rampart St.; 7 p.m.

Join DJ Dereesha as he plays Karaoke.

The Half Assed-Straight Boys: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 3 - 5 p.m.

Jubilee: Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 5 p.m. This Sunday Funday show stars Reba Douglas and special guests.

Zingo: Corner Pocket; 640 St. Louis St.; 6:30 p.m. Play Bingo followed by the Barry BareAss Dancer of the Week Contest.

Oz Show Night: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 9:30 p.m. This popular drag show is hosted by Persana Shoulders and features Connie Hung, Anastascia Davenport; Chichi Rodriguez and Dominique DeLorean.

Drink Drown and Drag: The Bourbon Pub; 801 Bourbon St.; 6 - 9 p.m.

Sunday Funday upstairs at The Parade. $15 Drink and Drown from 6 – 9 p.m. with a star studded drag show starting at 8 p.m.

Sunday Worship: Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans (MCCNO); 5401 S. Claiborne Ave; 10:00 a.m. New Orleans first LGBTQ church welcomes you to join us for our Sunday worship service where they celebrate God’s Love for everyone.

Drag Dingo: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon Street; 6 - 8 p.m. Catch ChiChi Rodriquez, Persana Shoulders for Drag Bingo! 11 games of Bingo, 11

chances to win prizes! All the fun starts at 6 pm till 8 pm in their upstairs bar with your favorite bottom, Jake, slinging drinks for you all night long.

SPECIAL EVENTS TUESDAY 1/1

New Year’s Day Celebration: Bourbon Pub and Parade; 801 Bourbon Street; 3 - 10 p.m. Happy Hour Prices upstairs from 3 - 8 p.m. and The Ladies of #Lipstixx ‘Best of 2018” at 8 p.m.

THURSDAY 1/3

Freshman Flashbacks: The Hi Ho Lounge; 2239 St. Claude Avenue; 9 p.m. - midnight. It’s prom night at the Hi-Ho Lounge! Come enjoy a prom on a budget with the Gaslight Girls as they present a burlesque prom night. Come in your old prom clothes and enjoy our photo booth. They will be crowning a best dressed Queen and King who will receive a special gift. Each performer will be debuting an ode to the person they used to be in High School. Expect to see all the classic cliques! Goth, cheerleader, stoner, band nerd, and so much more! Free Show! Doors at 9 p.m.; show at 10 p.m. Performers: Ember Blaize, Sofi Le Bear, February Ford, Poseidon S Davenport, Dick Jones Burly, Meredith Mon Archm, Nikki Wicked and Brie Fox.

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THURSDAY 1/3

Looped: Mags 940; 940 Elysian Fields; 7 p.m. Looped is a play by Matthew Lombardo that had a Broadway run in 2010. Starring Elizabeth Bouvier as Tallulah Bankhead & featuring Greg Nacozy as Danny Miller. Get tickets on their Facebook page and through Eventbrite.

SATURDAY 1/5

OUTclimb | LGBT+ Climb Night: New Orleans Boulder Lounge; 2360 St. Claude Ave.; starts at 7 p.m. OUTclimb is a New Orleans based LGBT+ climbing club dedicated to providing a safe and welcoming space for queer & trans people to climb. With support from the New Orleans Boulder Lounge on St. Claude, they are able to offer a night of climbing FREE to the LGBT+ community of New Orleans and surrounding areas. Allies are welcome to attend and should donate $5-$15 as you are able. Donations will go to a local LGBT+ organization.

It’s Showtime on Rampart Street; GrandPre’s; 834 North Rampart St.; 10 p.m. Come out and catch this exciting drag show starring Moanalot Fontaine and special Guests.

SUNDAY 1/6

Mama Honey’s Drag Brunch: Cru; 535 Franklin Avenue; 11 a.m. - 3

p.m. New location for the new year for Mama Honey’s Drag Brunch! Beginning January 6, we will be proudly appearing at Cru by Chef Marlon Alexander every Sunday. 535 Franklin Avenue. Show’s beginning at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Our first show will feature your favorite hostess, Vanessa Carr Kennedy, and the amazing talents of Monica Synclaire-Kennedy, Britnee Alexander, and Jinesys Sinclaire Ace. Tickets on Eventbrite.

Frank Perez’s 12th Night Party; 704 Rampart Street; 6 p.m. - midnight. The Lord of Misrule and his Mystik Krewe du Rue Royale Revelers command your presence at Frank’s Annual 12th Night Party. The doors open at 6:00pm. Procession of previous Grand Revelers and Coronation of the new Grand Reveler begins at 7:00 p.m. NEW THIS YEAR: A change in venue. The Grand Reveler Ballroom is located at 704 N. Rampart Street, next door to The Black Penny. $20 gets you admission to the party (includes dinner and an open bar), as well as a year long membership in the Krewe du Rue Royale Revelers. Admission pins are available at my shop at 638 St. Ann. Admission at the door is $25.

HoneyBee Trivia Thursdays 7:00 PM

MONDAY 1/7

Mondays Are A Drag: Southern Rep Theatre; 2541 Bayou Road; 8 - 10 p.m. Reba Douglas presents TABER-

NACLE! (Doors at 7 PM for 8 PM performance), $5 at door. Come to Southern Rep Theatre for MONDAYS ARE A DRAG, starring Reba Douglas with Latonia Dupree Black and Malaysia P.J. Walker. MONDAYS ARE A DRAG is Southern Rep’s night to let local drag artists of all kinds have the Lagniappe stage all to themselves to curate their heart’s desire. Glitz, glamour, and racy delights are sure to ensue, and the bar is always open!

TUESDAY 1/8 – SUNDAY 1/13

THURSDAY 1/10

Les Miserables: Saenger Theatre; 1111 Canal Street. Cameron Mackintosh’s acclaimed production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg’s Tony Award-winning musical phenomenon, LES MISÉRABLES has its New Orleans engagement at the Saenger Theatre direct from a celebrated two-and-a-half year Broadway engagement. To purchase tickets, visit BroadwayInNewOrleans.com, all Ticketmaster outlets, by phone (800) 9822787 or at the Saenger Theatre Box Office (1111 Canal St.) Ticket prices start at $30. The performance schedule for LES MISÉRABLES is as follows: Tuesday – Thursday: 7:30 p.m.; Friday: 8 p.m.; Saturday: 2 p.m., 8 p.m.; Sunday: 1 p.m., 6:30 p.m.

Set against the backdrop of 19th-century France, LES

Happy Hour Daily

MISÉRABLES tells an enthralling story of broken dreams and unrequited love, passion, sacrifice and redemption – a timeless testament to the survival of the human spirit. Featuring one of the greatest scores of all time, with thrilling and beloved songs including “I Dreamed A Dream,” “On My Own,” “Bring Him Home,” “One Day More,” and many more, this epic and uplifting story has become one of the most celebrated musicals in theatrical history.

Looped: Mags 940; 940 Elysian Fields; 7 p.m. Looped is a play by Matthew Lombardo that had a Broadway run in 2010. Starring Elizabeth Bouvier as Tallulah Bankhead & featuring Greg Nacozy as Danny Miler. Get tickets on their Facebook page and through Eventbrite.

SATURDAY 1/12

Dykes Do Deadlifts: Vitality By Kristin; 4304 Firestone Road; 11 a.m.

They are back again with another fun workout for a good cause! They are partnering with the creators of Dykes Do again to bring you Dykes Do Deadlifts! A space for queer women to get our pump on in a judgement-free zone. This event’s proceeds will benefit BreakOUT: “BreakOUT! builds the power of LGBTQ youth most impacted by the criminal justice system to

Sat, 01/05 - 10pm

noon - 9:00 PM $3.00 wells and domestics

Wednesday Video Game Night 7:00 PM

The best place to watch Saints Playoff action

16 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

affect concrete policy change to fight the criminalization of LGBTQ youth in New Orleans, LA.” Don’t let the words “deadlift” freak you out. Dykes Do Deadlifts, and all programming at Vitality, is first-timer friendly. Check out their page on Facebook for registration details.

SATURDAY 1/19

Drag Queen Storytime: Alvar Library; 913 Alvar Street; starts at 1 p.m.

Come listen to the beautiful and talented Vanessa and Desiree read stories.

Open to all families, caregivers, and children of all ages.

It’s Showtime on Rampart Street; GrandPre’s; 834 North Rampart St.; 10 p.m. Come out and catch this exciting drag show starring Moanalot Fontaine and special Guests.

SUNDAY 1/20

Kinky Cabaret - Seance: The Twilight Room at the Allways Lounge;

2240. St. Claude Avenue; 8 - 10 p.m.

Since the 18th Century and before, the Séance has been a staple of esoteric culture, a ritualistic vessel for calling forth the spirits of lives lost. Candles and incense and crystal balls and tambourines and a drag-queen-medium chanting bitchfully authoritative incantations…. And, before you know it, voices from the past fill the room… along with gorgeous performers, fabulous music, and thunderous applause!

To celebrate the resurrection of Kinky Kabaret, they will be hosting a musical SÉANCE, calling to life the spirits of artists gone by. Plan on a stellar cast invoking creative spirits using their own talents and the help of the audience.

The Cast of Shamans, Mediums, and Kinky Spiritualists: Dede Onassis, Angie Z, Expecta Patrone and hosted by Trey Bien.

UNDER THE GAYDAR

Mobile Hot Happenings WEEKLY AT FLIP SIDE

WEEKLY AT B-BOB’S

SUNDAY Funday with Karaoke MONDAY Service Industry Night TUESDAY Karaoke WEDNESDAY Rock n Roll Bingo 8PM THURSDAY Karaoke SATURDAY SEC Football

TUESDAY Gay Bar BINGO 9:30 & 11PM THURSDAY Amateur Drag Night 11PM FRIDAY & SATURDAY Midnight Drag Show

54 S. Conception St., Mobile, AL (251) 431-8819

213 Conti St., Mobile, AL (251) 433-2262

ARE WE MISSING YOUR EVENTS? Email info@ambushpublishing.com

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Ambush AT THE BOURBON PUB & PARADE

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ANNOUNCEMENT

Loyola University to Offer Tour-Guiding, French Quarter History Courses Loyola University will begin offering Professional Tour Guiding courses this month. The courses will be offered through the Division of Professional and Continuing Studies and are non-credit.

The new initiative is part of an attempt to accommodate the city’s growing tourism industry as well as to address increasing concerns that many of the newly licensed guides on the streets have not been properly trained.

The city of New Orleans currently mandates that any guides who are paid for giving tours have a city issued tour guide license. At present, there are only three requirements to be issued a license: pay an application fee to the city, pass an FBI background check, and score a 70% on a written test. Students who successfully complete the first course at Loyola will have the city test waived.

Professional Tour Guiding 1 begins on January 22. Designed for people who are preparing to take the New Orleans Tour Guide Permit exam or just want to learn more about the

city, this course is a rich exploration of New Orleans’ colorful history and the tourism industry. Students participate in classroom sessions and two field trips that are guided walking tours of the French Quarter and the Garden District. Classroom sessions consist of instructor lectures, guest speakers, and student presentations. Students also have the option to take the Tour Guide Permit exam for the City of New Orleans on the last night of class. Cost is $395.

Professional Tour Guiding 2 begins on April 30. The focus of this course is research and story-telling. Students will learn techniques and resources to enhance their research and storytelling skills and build better tours. Class sessions will consist of lectures, workshops, and guest speaker presentations from research facilities such as The Historic New Orleans Collection, Louisiana Research Collection, New Orleans Public Library, the Notarial Archives, the Archdiocese Archives, Newcomb College Institute, the Louisiana State Museum, and Amistad Re-

search Center. Students will choose one subject to investigate and give a report on that topic at the end of the class. The last class meeting is a field trip with guided walking tour. Cost is $195.

French Quarter History begins on March 27. This class 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. Cost is $245.

The courses have been designed by and will be taught by local historian, licensed tour guide, and Ambush columnist Frank Perez. Perez has a long history of experience in both education and tourism. A former Associate Pro-

fessor of English, Perez taught Tour Guiding courses at Delgado Community College and created that college’s French Quarter History course. He is also a long-time tour guide, a volunteer with the Friends of the Cabildo, and for several years has owned a tour booking agency. Perez is also a member of the Sustainable Tourism Task Force, a collaborative effort among local residents and tour professionals to address the potentially harmful effects of an over-saturated tourism market.

Registration for all three courses is now open.

More information here: http://pcs.loyno.edu/ programs/non-credit-courses

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A COMMUNITY WITHIN COMMUNITIES

Blessings, Resolutions, Revolution

The Very Rev. Bill Terry+ fr.bill@stannanola.org Blessings are an ancient way of passing along your most heartfelt hopes and beliefs. Biblical blessings took on deep meaning for the readers and storytellers of both the Hebrew Bible and Christian Bible. Blessings conferred upon the receiver more than just a wish. I am so grateful for these several years with you who read this column. Your friendship, and it is a friendship, mean so much to me personally. I want to offer you my blessings as both a priest and brother who simply walks the roads of life with you.

• May you feel the power of love that surrounds you.

• May you enjoy a safe place to shelter.

• May you be filled with good things to eat.

• May your spirit be filled with hope.

• May the peace that passes all understanding be in you.

• Finally, know that you are loved and loveable.

Resolutions are what we do as a new year comes upon us. “Resolution” means to make something happen with determination. Are you determined to change something? No I don’t mean the brand of Vodka you are drinking.

No I don’t mean losing the weight of Christmas meals. Yes, the New Year is a great time to make a resolution to change something.

Perhaps that change might mean letting things go of things that have hindered you. Perhaps it means to let some anger or anxiety go. That is the best starting point for “resolution.”

Resolved: I will forgive those that have hurt me; I will ask for forgiveness of those whom I have hurt.

Resolved: I will no longer let my stubbornness or arrogance prevent me from a life of compassion, hope, and giving to others even my “enemies.” Those are the sort of resolutions that may take a year or even a lifetime to achieve.

Resolutions should be entered into thoughtfully. For faith traditions like

mine, we use the time of Advent and Lent to make resolutions. But the New Year is as good a time as any. My wish and hope for this New Year, my Resolution, is to find in my heart the determination to bring a greater peace to our immediate community. We live in turmoil and often in fear or loathing. I pray that I may have the insight and will to bring hope and peace in some small way to our community. In fact I already have been given some of the food of hope just this past Christmastide.

I was blessed to be included in the Celebration of Life for Lisa Beauman.

My acolyte Allison Reid and I were vested and we found ourselves in the Corner Pocket. As we all watched Lisa’s performances on video monitors it became part of the sermon. Our prayers suggested hope instead of despair; life instead of death. Listening to the crowded room pray a prayer or two had power and was moving. So many have deep spiritual roots. It was a gift to Allison and me.

I was blessed to represent St. Anna’s just a few days before at the Bourbon Pub. Their Annual Christmas party was, as always, great fun and absolutely fantastic. Part of that party is a request to bring a toy or two for kids who otherwise might not have any.

As always, the community went above and beyond. From a bicycle to major dollies and other fine things for children in poverty.

One mother had reached out to a “mothers on line” group saying she had no money to buy presents for her kids and did anyone know of a place that might help. She lives in the upper 9th Ward. She has three children. She makes minimum wage and is always working. Her husband had left her a time ago. Her kids are ages 3, 4 and 6. She expected a toy or two and that would have been enough. Imagine her experience when she received over six wonderful toys for each of her children AND a bike for her six-year-old son.

She wept with joy. You did this.

Just as with the Pub, after Lisa’s Celebration, Allison and I went to the Phoenix for a cocktail or two and to meet up with my wife and several of St. Anna’s happy elves not to mention Eric and the day shift crew. Why? Because there upon the pool table were again literally dozens of wonderful toys all given for children who find themselves in poverty. One of my favorite photos is that of Eric and me standing above a veritable tower of toys. MAGNIFICENT! Over 30 children received dozens of excellent toys. These kids represent the children of Anna’s Place. If that wasn’t enough, a church down in Violet where working class folk struggle to make ends meet distributed dozens of toys to their community ensuring that every child, even the most poor, got Christmas this year. THAT WAS YOU the gift givers. The bounty and generosity and yes caring that the LGBTQ+ community consistently offers is without peer. YOU ARE AMAZING! So, resolutions are suggested, blessings given and received. All in the

life of our Community within Communities. But, what about this REVOLUTION?!

Yes, we need and must demand a Revolution. We must and can overthrow the laws and lawlessness of those that deprive LGBTQ+ persons from “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of another cocktail in peace!” We must make a Revolution that is based on RADICAL inclusion. That inclusion. It is the New Year....Viva La Queer! Yes, we need to stand up and take notice and be noticed. We must work both within our own community to find a more inclusive way. Transgender persons need to be loved and included within our own circles - as an example.

Young folk need to reach out to older folk. Those in despair need relief and a safe place to go and be who they are. We must revolt against complacency and bigotry, against feuding and fighting, against bias and poverty.

As we greet a New Year, let Blessings pour forth, let our Resolutions become personally transforming, and finally LET THE REVOLUTION BEGIN! THE REVOLUTION OF LOVE.

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Party Down Tony Leggio ledgemgp@gmail.com I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season filled with laughter and happiness. This year’s holiday season was a sparkling array of parties, events and even an Elf. Let’s begin on Monday with the holiday party at the Bourbon Pub. The Bourbon Pub hosted a festive gathering, inviting staff and special customers to an evening of food, cocktails and entertainment. But to add to the merriment of the night, there were also several philanthropic moments. Owner Sandy Sachs presented a check to Crescent Care to help with all their hard work for the community.Guests brought unwrapped toys to be given to children in need.

Holidays are about giving and the Pub not only gave back to the community, but also to the guests with one of the best holiday shows of the season.

Aubrey Sinclaire hosted the evening’s festivities that opened up with a powerhouse Frozen number by Nicole Dubois. I love a show that begins with Let It Go, one of my favorite feel good songs and a gay anthem. In addition to their normal cast they had the fabulous Kandy Cane who rocked as Mari-

ah Carey. Thank you to the Pub for all they do for the community and hosting a spectacular evening.

Following on Wednesday night, Oz had its holiday party. Once again, partygoers brought unwrapped toys for less fortunate children. The evening flowed wonderfully with food and libations upstairs. Guests enjoyed delectable cuisine and mingled before the holiday show hosted by the effervescent Persana Shoulders and featuring the Ladies of Oz. As always the girls put on a memorable evening of entertainment.

That weekend saw an extravaganza of holiday festivities starting on Friday afternoon at Arnaud’s annual 12 Days of Christmas lunch. For this grand event the Friday before Christmas, the tables are assigned one of the 12 days of Christmas from the carol and at a certain time, a raucous singalong starts where each table gets up and does their part of the song. People go all out for this luncheon dressing in costume and decorating their tables.

This year I was lucky enough to be at Valerie Landry’s table and we were “Six Geese A Laying,” sponsored by

Grey Goose. We had decorated chapeaus to wear in the appropriate blue and grey color scheme. The lunch was filled with dear friends in and out of the hospitality community and was a three hour dining experience followed by a stop over at Patrick’s Bar Vin for more celebratory wine and champagne. Patrick’s is located at 730 Bienville Street and has one of the best wine lists in the Quarter. They had a DJ and dancing and lots of free flowing wine.

I ended the night by attending the annual Gulf South LGBT Chamber Holiday Party held at the gorgeous French Quarter residence of Dustin Woehrmann and Jeff Hebert. The Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce Gulf South provides valuable business development opportunities and educational resources to LGBT and allied businesses in the Gulf South Region. As the official Gulf South affiliate chamber of the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce (NGLCC), GLCC GS represents LGBT-owned businesses and actively promotes and creates supplier diversity and procurement opportunities for its growing base of corporate partners, business members, and interested parties. The party offered a great networking opportunity in a relaxed setting. And Jeff and Dustin’s home is straight out of Architectural Digest. Fabulous end to the evening.

Saturday was one of those marathon event days that began with A Christmas Carol at Le Petit Theatre.

I have seen the movie and the play many times but Le Petit’s rendition was truly inspired with Bob Edes spectacular as Ebenezer Scrooge.

Next I attended Lisa Beaumann’s Celebration of Life at the Corner Pocket. It seems like we have said goodbye to many New Orleans icons in the last year and a half. Lisa was not just a performer, she was a mentor, teacher, entertainer and friend. Her charm and wit knew no bounds and she shared them freely with everyone.

Lisa did not just “do” Liza Minnelli, she personified her. She lived her character and she gave her most whenever she was on stage. I am very lucky to have had her friendship in my life.

Lisa, rest in peace, we will miss you.

My final stop of the evening was Kajun Pub’s holiday party at owners Lisa and Joann’s private home. Their holiday open house was an opportunity to thank family, friends, employees and good customers in a more intimate setting. Guests were greeted by a beautifully decorated tree as they entered and enjoyed good food and delicious wine from their private wine collection.

I needed my first weekend by attending my friend Bonnie Bayer’s birthday soiree at her home in the Pontalba Apartments which luckily overlook Jackson Square just in time for Caroling in the Square that evening. Bon-

nie’s home is lovely and the perfect place for this particular evening (and New Year’s Eve too)!

If Caroling in the Square is one of locals’ and visitors’ holiday season highlights, it’s not necessarily for the music, since most people can never keep in sync with the lyrics, but for enjoying a festive night out in a historic setting. A holiday tradition since 1946, Jackson Square gets illuminated by hundreds of candles held by singers, crooning Christmas favorites.

Mondays may be dull in other cities but not New Orleans especially during the holiday season. After doing my quick weekly walk with the New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders (NOAGE) group at Lafitte’s Greenway, I went to My House Social’s Annual Community Dinner Holiday Party at Capulet, the new bar/restaurant in the Bywater. My House Social is a culinary curation company based in and inspired by the innovative, hospitable soul of New Orleans. Several of the chefs they work with catered the evening with Shank Charcuterie providing amazing meat dishes.

On Tuesday, I went to see one of my favorite holiday classics at the Saenger. The Broadway series brought the musical Elf here and it was just as much fun as the movie.

The songs were poppy, holiday fun.

Eric Williams as Buddy stole the show keeping the audience in stitches with his childhood naïveté as the man child brought up by Santa and elves in the North Pole meeting his real family for the first time back in New York. This was a grand, family friendly holiday show.

On Thursday, my day started very early when I attended the WHIV holiday party at their station. Sally and Adonis hosted their morning show with a variety of guests from the past year.

While we waited, we enjoyed a party with them and PFLAG staff. It was a marvelous way to start the day off with radio fun and fellowship.

That night, NOAGE hosted its ugly sweater potluck holiday party at St. Anna’s Church on Esplanade Avenue for a large crowd. Lots of delectable food showed that even mere citizens in our city can be noted amateur chefs.

The party was filled with warmth and friendship as members and supporters gathered to celebrate the holiday season. I love a good ugly sweater contest and the winner of the contest, Kenny Tucker, did a creative “partridge-in-apear-tree” one.

The following day I hosted my holiday gathering at my home in the Marigny. Unlike the gorgeous houses I have been to in the holiday season, my house is a relatively small party spot.

May not be much, but I call it home.

The lovely Countess C. Alice was my bartender and my sexy Santa Blake passed out shots of Holiday Blowjobs to guests. There was lots food,

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SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with CrescentCare AT ART AGAINST AIDS

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a crackling fire in the backyard to keep guests cozy & warm, and a lot of cocktails. I started this holiday tradition last year and definitely will continue it every year. It’s a lovely way to connect with friends during this busy season.

As Christmas neared, my stamina seemed to tire, as even I test my limits during the holidays.

On Saturday I attended two festive events, one hosted by Sam Nguyen and the other at Phillips Bar and Restaurant for Ambush owner Tomy Acosta and his twin brother Toby.

Sam’s party was the perfect first stop for an evening of fun. His Gentilly home was decorated brightly and he laid out a tasty spread for guests.

Next Tomy and Toby were joined by family and friends for their 40th birthday. Cocktails flowed as well-wishers danced, dined and cut the cake in celebration of these wonderful guys’ birth.

On Christmas Eve, another fabulous Monday in NOLA, I stopped by two revelries. The first was hosted

by RJ Buras and Rodney Thoulion at their Westbank Manor. Once again, family and friends gathered for a remarkable and delicious spread of food and drink. They must cook for weeks to prepare all the dishes. OMG their bacon wrapped jalapeños were to die for. But food and drink aside, I love it when people open their home up. It is a very personal and special way of

saying Merry Christmas.

I then hopped over to Jim Tomeny’s party at his lovely home. He had set up his outdoor courtyard to be a lighted wonderland for guests to relax and enjoy cocktails. There were lots of people in attendance from the gay community so it was wonderful catching up with friends I had not seen this holiday season. He also had an extraordinary number of young hot straight guys there, not sure what that was about but I liked it. Talk about the stockings being hung.

Christmas Day was all about my family. I had been helping my mother cook all weekend and it culminated in our family lunch at her house. I had

invited a few friends to join my crazy, dysfunctional (personally, I think it’s their best features) family for a holiday meal.

That night I went to my friend Laura and her husband Gary’s home to break bread once again. Their house is always filled with food (Gary is a talented chef) and laughter, an ideal way to end my holiday. I look forward to their dinner every year.

That wraps up Christmas 2018. It was a very difficult year but in many ways but it also brought lots of blessings. I wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year. And here’s a toast to all the parties to come in 2019!

cles. Her place in the 20th Century literary canon is firmly fixed. Grace Frick has traditionally, and unfairly, been regarded as an appendage of Yourcenar—an injustice Howard rectifies in this epic dual-biography.

The two women met in 1937 at a hotel bar in Paris. Yourcenar and a friend were discussing Coleridge when Frick, a doctoral candidate from Yale who was sitting nearby, walked up to them and informed them their interpretation of the Romantic poet was all wrong. Thus began their life together.

The next day Yourcenar, originally from Belgium, bedded the graduate student

and within a few years she and Frick moved to the United States, settling in Maine. There, the two embarked on one of the most consequential literary collaboration of the modern era.

We Met in Paris is monumental.

Drawing on her personal friendship with both women as well as her experience as the director of the museum housed in the couple’s former home, Howard has woven together a brilliant and warm tale that proves to be the definitive work on this literary power couple. It is a significant addition to the growing body of scholarship on lesbian literature.

BOOK REVIEW We Met in Paris Frank Perez frankearlperez@gmail.com We Met in Paris: Grace Frick and Her Life with Marguerite Yourcenar.

Joan E. Howard.

University of Missouri Press, 2018. 468 pages. $45.00.

Grace Frick introduced English-language readers all over the world to the distinguished French author Marguerite Yourcenar with her award-winning translation of Yourcenar’s novel Memoirs of Hadrian in 1954. European biographies of Yourcenar have often disparaged Frick and her relationship with Yourcenar, however. This work shows Frick as a person of substance in her own right and paints a portrait of both

women that is at once intimate and scrupulously documented. This book contains a great deal of new information that will disrupt long-held beliefs about Yourcenar and may even shock some of her scholars and fans.

Yourcenar and her work have enjoyed sustained interest and relevance for nearly 100 years. Her masterpiece, Memoirs of Hadrian, is still in print after six decades and was the basis for the opera Hadrian last year by Rufus Wainwright. Throughout her long career, Yourcenar was showered with awards and accolades and was the subject of numerous books and arti-

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with the Golden Lantern PHOTOS COURTESY OF GLENN PAUL MELANCON

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SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Glenn Paul Melancon CUTTER’S CHRISTMAS DINNER

MAYORS PROCLAMATION AND WINTER WONDERLAND CHECK PRESENTATION

CRU SOFT OPENING

SNAP PAPARAZZI Out & About with Tony Leggio AT LISA BEAUMANN’S MEMORIAL AT THE CORNER POCKET

AT JIM TOMENY’S CHRISTMAS EVE PARTY AT HIS HOME

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Trodding the Boards Brian Sands bsnola2@hotmail.com

The Year in Review

Much has occurred in New Orleans’s theater world in the last twelve months, but one achievement stands out above all else. After noting in this annual round-up for the past six years that Southern Rep had lost its home, was looking for a home, had found a home, was renovating its soon-to-be home, at last I can write “Southern Rep has opened its new permanent home.”

And what a home it is! Located on Bayou Road, a magnificent renovation job has reshaped the interior of the former St. Rose de Lima Church into a sleek 125-seat mainstage theater plus a Lagniappe Stage with an adjacent airy bar area, administrative offices, and education & rehearsal rooms; an outdoor community stage will soon be added to the mix.

In addition, Southern Rep has expanded its programming to include not only its standard five-play season and Pat Bourgeois’ long-running comic soap opera Debauchery!, but Mondays Are a Drag, a new weekly event featuring a wide range of female illusionists, and Care for Creatives which offers well-being workshops and a series of healing sessions that approach wellness through music, drama and visual art; yoga and Tai Chi are part of

Our legacy is yours.

New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders (NOAGE) provides services and advocacy for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender older adults in the New Orleans metro area.

We host regular social events for LGBT older adults and their allies, and we provide cultural competency trainings for healthcare and other service providers.

To learn more, visit www.noagenola.org, or call (504)517-2345.

the schedule as well.

Though the complex’s official Grand Opening will take place on January 19, Southern Rep has already presented a number of shows there, starting with A Doll’s House, Part 2, Aimée Hayes’ production of Lucas Hnath’s sequel to Ibsen, which starred a radiant Jessica Podewell along with Trey Burvant, Sarah Durn, Liann Pattison, all excellent, and Tucker Fuller’s original classical-style music that further enhanced the show; I actually enjoyed it more than the acclaimed Broadway version.

Alas, not all the news was good.

Richard Mayer’s Valiant Theatre and Lounge in Old Arabi where I had enjoyed musicals, comedies and dramas as well as Andrew Larimer and Alex Wallace’s birthday tribute to Robert Burns, shuttered. Although The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret still thrives, The Theatre at St. Claude is no more; AllWays’ owner Zalia BeVille told me, however, that she hopes to present more theater there in the future. The Anthony Bean Community Theater, while offering children’s programming, has yet to make a return to a full schedule.

And after 10+ years and many wonderful productions, Cripple Creek Theatre ceased operations when its co-Artistic Directors Andrew Vaught and Emilie Whelan moved on to pursue professional opportunities elsewhere.

They closed on a high note with Whelan’s inspired production of Sueño, an adaptation of Calderon de la Barca’s Life is a Dream, that had marvelous performances by Cameron-Mitchell Ware, Devyn Tyler, Rahim Glaspy, Jessica Lozano, and Pamela D. Roberts, among others, beautiful original music (Brian Coogan), and exciting fight choreography (Kevin Murphy).

Other talented theater folks who departed NOLA for personal or professional reasons, more than usual it seemed, included Leslie Boles & Liam Kraus, Evan Spigelman, Ronald Joseph, Chris Ramage, Andrew Larimer, Rebecca Frank, Cecile Monteyne, and Jason Kirkpatrick. They will be missed but hopefully will return regularly.

Sadly some will not be returning again. Our theater community lost actress Lyla Hay Owen, director Carl Walker, critic Patrick Shannon, producer Patrick Lee, and Tommy Elias and the legendary Lisa Beaumann who together as director and performer, respectively, brought the art of female illusion for a quarter century to countless fans on Bourbon Street and throughout New Orleans.

Not surprisingly then, there seemed to be less productions in 2018,

Sarah Faust and David Stubbs in Peter and the Starcatcher at Slidell Little Theater about 10% fewer compared to 2017 by the CBD. my reckoning.

Slotted Spoon Productions deWhile shows did pop up in off the buted with Trey Ming’s original musical beaten path venues--a historic building I Wrote a Song and has plans for more (The Stranger Disease at Madame LGBTQ-themed programming in 2019.

John’s Legacy), a church (Sueño at Having co-produced one show last First Unitarian Universalist Church), year, Radical Buffoon(s) expanded a bakery (The Aliens at Pralines by this year with forays into drama (The Jean), an outdoor hotel swimming Dumb Waiter), dance theater (Stories pool (The Last! at the Drifter Hotel), Without Words) and children’s theater a museum (Postcards From Over the with Artistic Director Jon Greene in the Edge at Newcomb Art Museum) and charming Balloonacy. a former lighthouse (Balloonacy at I missed Aqua Mob’s premiere The Lighthouse Building)--New Orleproduction in 2017 but it looks like ans continues to need more performthey’ll be having an annual show in ing spaces. and around the Drifter’s pool. This Other than Southern Rep’s, only year’s The Last!, a water ballet parotwo emerged in 2018. That The NOLA dy inspired by Peter Beagle’s The Last Project has done several shows at the Unicorn, may have been a little ragged Lions Gate Theater at Lusher High but provided good summertime fun.

School may not be too surprising as On the North Shore, I was glad that A.J. Allegra, the Project’s Artistic DirecCafé’ Luke Dinner Theatre returned to tor, teaches at Lusher. Whether other life this past May after a hiatus of sevcompanies will appear in this attractive eral years. They have a new location space remains to be seen. in Olde Towne Slidell where a Carol Following the demise of the ValBurnett tribute, So Glad We Had This iant, The Company: A St. Bernard Time Together, plays January 4-13.

Community Theatre leased and renFounded in 2014, 30 by Nineovated a building on Paris Road in ty Theatre may not be new but I just Chalmette that formerly housed a Bail learned of it in 2018. I look forward Bonds company & a jiu-jitsu studio, to visiting its Mandeville home base and turned it into the Azienda Theater. where a wide range of popular shows I haven’t been there yet but plan to go are done. in 2019.

Popular describes some of the Despite the challenge of finding a celebrities who passed through NOLA proper locale, some new companies this year including Monty Python’s forged ahead.

John Cleese, 92-year-young legend Beaubourg kicked off with the Tony Bennett, NOLA’s own Drag Race aforementioned The Aliens, Annie champ whose Blame It On Bianca Baker’s tale of angst and friendship, Del Rio epitomized bitchy fun, burfeaturing a smashing professional delesque performer Chris Harder with his but by young Conor Doremus. Word delightful semi-autobiographical Porn has it that this troupe led by David WilTo Be A Star and, more recently, Tony liams will be opening a new theater in winner Christine Ebersole, Lady Bun-

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The cast of Goat in the Road’s Foreign to Myself ny, and penis painter Brent Ray Fraser, all three of whom I’ll be covering in our next issue.

There may not have been much star power in the Saenger’s Broadway series but after years of cartoon-inspired shows, wan revivals and jukebox musicals, 2018 provided at least six solidly entertaining shows: An American in Paris, The Color Purple, Waitress, Aladdin, School of Rock, and On Your Feet! That said, I suspect many people took a subscription to insure tickets to Hamilton arriving here in March.

Other shows that had me “on my feet” included The Three Musketeers, Pete McElligott’s wildly imaginative adaptation of the Dumas classic. This magnificent NOLA Project/NOMA co-production swashbuckled its way through the Besthoff Sculpture Garden filled with running jokes, mistaken identities, dollops of bawdiness, evildoers getting their comeuppance, and, perhaps best of all, a bewitching humanism that nodded to the #MeToo movement.

Director Mark Routhier expertly balanced the show’s slapstick comedy with its occasional more somber moments, guiding a perfect cast (Khiry Armstead, James Bartelle, William Bowling, Sarah Carlton, Keith Claverie, Leslie Claverie, Julie Dietz, Jon Greene, Lauren Malara, John Neisler, Kali Russell, and Alex Martinez Wallace who did the superb fight choreography as well) to get the most out of McElligott’s witty wordplay, zany humor, and edge-of-your-seat adventuresomeness.

Pulitzer-nominated playwright Branden Jacob-Jenkins received his local debut at UNO with Gloria, a trenchant social satire involving workplace violence, the media, social-climbing colleagues and much more. David Hoover gave it a whip-smart, pitch perfect production with incisive performances by, among others, Julia Fong, Danielle James, Rachel Morris (also outstanding in UNO’s Desdemona,

A Play About a Handkerchief) and, particularly, a first swaggering, then humbled Austin Krieger, whom I found amateurish in UNO’s The Aliens two years ago; how satisfying to see him mature into a tremendously accomplished actor.

Also at UNO, Kristin Shoffner’s production of A Doll’s House keenly demonstrated Ibsen’s timelessness.

Carli Collis brought an astonishing subtlety yet inevitability to Nora’s transformation.

Over at Delgado, See ‘Em On Stage partnered with the community college for an exhilarating production of The Wiz. Director Christopher Bentivegna brought out the individuality of each chorus member making an oftentimes flat musical vibrantly three-dimensional. With her gorgeous voice, Charis Gullage made for an absolutely endearing Dorothy and Jon Elliott (Scarecrow), Rahim Glaspy (The Wiz), Dominique McClellan (Tin Man), and Eddie J. Smith (Lion) all provided irresistibly appealing support.

Another school, NOCCA, gave the regional premiere to a Stephen Sondheim musical. Let that sink in. Anyone Can Whistle, one of the more obscure works in the Sondheim canon, has a rather bizarre book and a middling score despite three classics (There Won’t Be Trumpets, Everybody Says Don’t, and the title tune). That, however, didn’t prevent Michael McKelvey and his ridiculously talented cast from rendering a topnotch production.

Madeline Bourgeois was lovely in a role originally played by Lee Remick (and, subsequently, Bernadette Peters and Audra McDonald). Nicolette Sigur, as a corrupt mayor (originally Angela Lansbury, later Madeline Kahn and Patti LuPone) was nothing short of sensational.

NOCCA’s drama department delivered a probing play that examined how societies, from Rwanda to Bosnia to Northern Ireland, deal with genocidal conflicts. Truth and Reconciliation, in Silas Cooper’s simple but powerful

Rachel Morris and Austin Krieger in UNO’s Gloria (photo by Ali Mae Raney) production, may not have provided answers, but did begin a vital conversation.

Two NOCCA students, Amelia Jacquat and Renell Taylor, stood out in a terrific cast in Dames at Sea at The WWII Museum’s Stage Door Canteen. Director Banu Gibson found the ideal equilibrium between campy satire and sincere emotions to make this send-up of 42nd Street and other Busby Berkeley musicals a five-star treat (albeit one that might’ve played even

better in the more camp-appreciating realm of the Marigny).

Goat in the Road’s original Foreign to Myself compassionately explored the challenges facing returning veterans and their reintegration into society. Christopher Kaminstein, aided by Joshua Courtney (lighting), Nick Benacerraf (set), Kyle Sheehan (sound), Peter J Bowling (music), and the entire cast delivered a stunning production that got under one’s skin and stayed there, hauntingly.

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Jessica Lozano, Ian Hoch and Khiry Armstead in The Stranger Disease For fans of immersive theater--I’m one--Goat in the Road also scored with Stranger Disease. Writers/directors Chris Kaminstein and Kiyoko McCrae made the decision to run the 40-minute show twice in quick succession to allow viewers an opportunity to see as many scenes as possible. As its seven characters (and the audiences who followed them) moved around the two floors and the courtyard of Madame John’s Legacy and determined what to do in the face of an 1878 yellow fever epidemic, we witnessed the challenging complexities of race relations

in post-Reconstruction-era New Orleans and the heart-breaking consequences of ignominious laws and social conventions.

Another part of New Orleans history came joyously to life in Historical Musical Train Tour. In 45 minutes, Andrew Larimer (book) and Paul Soniat (score) enlightened us as to City Park’s history, flora & fauna, and some of its more noteworthy structures as we choo-choo’ed along the miniature train tracks, stopping and starting for various Schoolhouse Rock-style numbers.

Sean Patterson’s direction moved

Patrick Hunter and Carli Collis in UNO’s A Doll’s House (photo by Diane Baas) things along smoothly, and found just the right overall tone for the show. Like Stranger Disease, I hope Train Tour returns with its edifying entertainment for both tourists and locals alike.

A visit to St. Tammany Parish provided enchanting entertainment at Slidell Little Theater with Gary Mendoza’s utterly engaging Peter and the Starcatcher. This paean to the magic of storytelling improved on Broadway by having actual teenagers play age-appropriate roles and allowing the audience to imagine details without relying on an over-cluttered set. Sarah Faust and David Stubbs, as the future Peter Pan and Wendy, both gave winning performances, while Julie Generes’ mermaid costumes could star in their own Mardi Gras parade.

For sheer entertainment, Jefferson Performing Arts Society’ (JPAS) Shear Madness furnished it aplenty.

The longest-running play in American history takes place in an Uptown hair salon where a murder is committed and the audience helps solve the whodunit. For its NOLA debut, Director Kris Shaw and his crackerjack cast (Glen Boyer, Jonathan Damaré, John Detty, Casey Groves, Alison Logan, Janet Shea) adapted the script to add in knowing local references as well as terrible puns and naughty wordplay.

Silly? Yes. But involving, funny, and extremely well-done. If you haven’t yet seen it, you can catch it (or catch it again) when it returns to the Westwego Performing Art Theatre Jan. 18-Feb. 10.

For some reason, there were an unusual amount of Christmas-themed shows this year, with a high number giving audiences an early Xmas present.

JPAS served up more merriment via a heartwarming White Christmas.

With Michael McKelvey at the helm, and Kevin Murphy & Bryce Slocumb

in the Bing Crosby/Danny Kaye roles, this stage version of Irving Berlin’s hit movie may have been a bit old-fashioned but who cares when it’s this well done.

“Another A Christmas Carol,” you shudder? Well, “Bah” to you humbug.

Le Petit’s new adaptation by Maxwell Williams, who also directed, and Curtis Billings engrossed from the start with special effects, humor, seriousness, supernatural wizardry and Bob Edes, Jr. whose commanding performance could stand with the greatest of Scrooges of past, present or future.

Using mostly classic carols and popular songs NOCCA Stage Company’s All is Calm movingly took us through WWI in general and, in particular, an episode when on Christmas Eve 1914 some German and British soldiers momentarily laid down their guns. Blake Coheley directed the firstrate all-male cast with assurance, enriching the 75-minute show with deep conviction.

I’m not sure if I ever want to see The Mutilated again, because after Augustin J Correro’s fabulous interpretation of it for The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans (TWTCNO), there’s no need to sit through again Williams’ only occasionally compelling parody of himself.

I’ll be happy to sit thru any show, however, that allows Tracey Collins and Margeaux Fanning, as two frenemies living in unpeaceful coexistence in da Quarter, to give fantastic dual portraits of desperate living.

And while the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s Holiday Spectacular featuring the 610 Stompers has become an annual tradition boasting the highest level of terpsichorean talent (and humor and musicianship), this year’s edition added the vocal prowess and divine diva presence of the singular Miss Varla Jean Merman

26 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

James Bartelle, William Bowling, Alex Wallace and Kali Russell in The NOLA Project’s The Three Musketeers

Southern Rep’s new home on Bayou Road for extra holiday gaiety.

Other memorable shows included My Fair Lady (Tulane Summer Lyric Theatre (TSLT)) with loverly performances by Christopher E. Carey, Jackie Vanderbeck and Edes; All the Way (Southern Rep) featuring a bravura turn by Jason Kirkpatrick as LBJ; Eclipsed (Southern Rep) with Valentina Imokhai, Idella Johnson, Sarah Nansubuga standing out as women horrifically caught up in the Liberian civil war; and the thought-provoking The Pillowman (NOLA Project) with Michael Aaron Santos brilliant as a calculating cop.

And at the risk of leaving somebody out, here are, in addition to those already mentioned, some other praiseworthy folks who trod the boards in 2018: A.J. Allegra (All’s Well That

Liann Pattison and Jessica Podewell in Southern Rep’s A Doll’s House, Part 2 (Photo by John B. Barrois) Ends Well, Tulane Shakespeare Festival (TSF)); Beth Bartley (A Streetcar Named Desire, Le Petit); Jake Bartush, Tracey E Collins, Kyle Daigrepont (Vieux Carré (TWTCNO)); Trina Beck, Anthony Michael Harvey (Dames at Sea); Marie Becnel, Elizabeth McCoy, Eli Timm (The Laramie Project, Storyville Collective/Delgado); Errol Berry, Christian Warren (The Boys Next Door, Delgado); Leslie Castay, Maggie Windler (Ragtime, TSLT); Leslie Claverie (Ragtime; The Revolutionists, NOLA Project); Melisande Cook (Macbeth, TSF); Libby Farizo, Zack Landry, Chris-

tine Tonry (Mamma Mia!, The Company); Marc Fouchi, Ken Goode, Jr. (Million Dollar Quartet, Rivertown); Liam Gillen, Meredith Owens (Newsies, TSLT); Claire Gresham (Men on Boats, NOLA Project); Martha Hefte, Melissa Cotton Hunter (White Christmas); Barry Shabaka Henley (Satchmo at the Waldorf, Le Petit); Naiya Jasmine, Meghan McDermott (Doubt, Delgado); Elyse Manning, Rebecca Rae, Emilie Whelan (Vieux Carré, AllWays Lounge); Jimmy Murphy, Christian Tarzetti (Catch Me If You Can, JPAS); Zachary Paige-Westbrook (Romeo and Juliet, Dillard); David San-

chez (Silent Sky, Mt. Carmel); Reneé Saussaye (45 Seconds from Broadway, Slidell Little Theater); Barbara Shorts (Crowns, Le Petit); Robert Simpson (All the King’s Men, Playmakers of Covington).

And since anything that occurs for two years in this town becomes a tradition, More Lovely and More Temperate, the annual jubilant reading of all 154 of Shakespeare’s sonnets (in which I’ve had the pleasure of participating), has now reached that noble level and also serves as a tribute to Michael Martin’s indefatigable enterprise and energy.

So now, go make you ready for more dazzling theater in 2019!

Please send press releases and notices of your upcoming shows to Brian Sands at bsnola2@hotmail.com.

The cast of The Wiz at Delgado Whitney Mixon, Alex Martinez Wallace, Tracy Norwood in Historical Musical Train Tour in City Park

Glenn Boyer (standing) and John Detty in JPAS’ Shear Madness

Anthony Michael Harvey, Amelia Jacquat and Renell Taylor in Dames at Sea at the WWII Museum

Bob Edes, Jr. and Zeb Hollins III in Le Petit’s A Christmas Carol (Photo by Brittney Werner)

www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 27

COMMUNITY VOICE

Self-Reflection

Pastor Allie Rowland Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans alisan.rowloand@gmail.com For most of us, the holiday celebrations are over. We’ve opened most (if not all) of our gifts, ate our holiday dinner, and spent time with friends and family. Most of us have turned our thoughts to the new year, and how we’ll say goodbye to 2018 and hello to 2019. Although not many of us make New Year’s resolutions anymore, the practice of self-reflection is still a valuable one. It can help us to achieve our goal but it can also help us to live better lives, and to be people who are more compassionate, kind, humble, patient, forgiving, and loving.

All of us know that this isn’t easy.

We know that there are times when we just can’t understand how someone got themselves into that mess; when we are irritable and don’t really want to be kind; when we’re trying to be humble, but honestly we know that we’re right; when we feel if we have to wait any longer for something we might lose our minds; and when we really know that the person we are angry with does not understand how they have harmed

us (how can we forgive?) And honestly, even when we are really trying, it is not always that easy to be loving. Even people we have fallen in love with can sometimes really irritate us.

How do we do our best to change, while still understanding that we’re not perfect, without getting bogged down in non-productive feelings of guilt? I really do believe the answer is some type of self-reflection. St. Ignatius of Loyola’s Daily Examen provides an opportunity to reflect and pray at the end of the day…asking where God and love were during your day and how you might be guided. If you’d like to try the Daily Examen, this website will guide you through it: https://www.ignatianspirituality.com/ignatian-prayer/the-examen.

If the daily examen doesn’t appeal to you, reviewing your day and listing that for which you are grateful is another wonderful way to engage in some self reflection. Writing in a daily journal, or sharing a conversation about your day with a friend can be other ways to develop a daily practice of self-reflec-

tion.

If you’ve used a practice like this, or you do so now, I encourage you to share with a friend how it’s helped you.

Because self-reflection can help you to live in more ways that are loving. If you are honest with yourself, and admit to yourself when, instead of thinking about someone else’s hardship with compassion, you judged them for not doing better; when instead of being kind, you posted on Facebook that everyone in the opposite political party is evil; when instead of being humble, you insisted that only your way could be the right way; when instead of being patient, you snapped at your friend, your coworker, or your partner; when instead of forgiving, you nurtured your grudge against someone else; when instead of being loving, you hardened your heart and rejected others.

If you are honest with yourself, you can ask for forgiveness when necessary, and make better choices in the future. And if you are honest with yourself you can celebrate the moments

when you were inspired to love better: when you were able to imagine yourself in someone else’s situation and have compassion for their struggle; when you spoke or acted thoughtfully and with kindness; when you opened yourself up to the possibility that there could be more than one right way; when you were able to calm yourself instead of losing your patience; when you forgave someone and let go of an old hurt; or when you reached out beyond yourself to be loving to someone.

The practice of self-reflection can improve your life in many ways. It can help you determine what brings you the most fulfillment and joy in your life and help you in moving more towards it. As we use self-reflection more in our lives, and love more deeply, the more love surrounds us and sustains us. And the more deeply we love, the more we can savor our lives.

As you reflect on your year in 2018 and set your goals for 2019, may you celebrate the new year with joy!

FINANCIAL & BUSINESS Can the Markets and Economy Maintain Momentum?

Scot I. Billeaudeau, JD, LL.M. ADPA® s.billeaudeau@ampf.com The current bull market, which is nine years in the making, ranks as the longest of all time This persistent upward trend has eclipsed the market climb that spanned most of the 1990s.

And, stocks are showing few signs of letting up. Synchronously, the economy has maintained a steady if unspectacular rate of growth. Patient investors have likely been rewarded, but the big question many have now is how long

can this growth continue?

Current market environment The primary fundamental factors that tend to drive the direction of the stock market look favorable. The economy continues on a positive growth track, inflation levels remain modest by historical standards, and corporate profits have been consistently growing.

The stage appears set for these trends to endure in the near term.

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Yet if history is any indicator, the good times will eventually come to an end. While many speculate about the timing of a market downturn, the reality is that it is very difficult to know in advance when such an event may occur.

This is because bull markets don’t die of old age. Sudden turns in the markets and economy are often dictated by unpredictable external events. For example, if current trade tensions escalate dramatically, inflation rises at a more rapid rate or a major military conflict begins to emerge overseas, markets might react negatively.

Positioning your portfolio today Amid this economic backdrop, should you make changes to your portfolio? There is no set answer that applies to every investor. If you are feeling good about the upward trend of stocks, don’t become complacent about your investments. On the other hand, if you are cautious or feeling jittery about what’s on the horizon, know there are steps you can take to feel more confident.

No matter your mindset, now is a good time to review your portfolio. Ask yourself the following questions as a

starting point: Is your portfolio properly diversified to reflect the risk level you are willing to accept?

Are you comfortable that your investment mix is appropriate given the time you have to achieve your key financial goals?

Remember not to be overly influenced by the headlines or day-to-day market changes. A better approach is to take the daily news in stride, keeping your long-term goals in the forefront as you look for persistent trends in the market. If you want help crafting a financial plan for your goals, determining your risk tolerance or assessing market patterns, consider consulting a financial advisor in your area.

Scot I. Billeaudeau, JD, LL.M. ADPA®, is a Financial Advisor with Waterfront Wealth Management, a private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. He specializes in addressing the unique needs of the diverse LGBTQ community, fee-based financial planning and asset management strategies, and has been in practice for 11 years.

28 · The1Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 6/1/18 January – 14, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com Untitled-6 12:491PM

SNAP PAPARAZZI Oz New Orleans PHOTOS BY DWAIN HERTZ AND ANDREW HOPKINS #OZNEWORLEANS & SUBMITTED BY PERSANA SHOULDERS

OZ New Orleans 2-story, 24/7 gay dance club with DJs, drag shows, go-go dancers & a balcony for people-watching.

OPENING HOURS

FRI, SAT & SUN: 24/7 MON–THURS: Opens at 1PM

ADDRESS 800 Bourbon Street New Orleans, LA Phone: (504) 593-9491 www.GayMardiGras.com · www.GayEasterParade.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · 29

LGBT Owned & Friendly Business Directory

bars

Job Opportunities Ambush Magazine is growing!

Freelance & Contributing Writers Wanted

We want to hear from you if you are a working or aspiring journalist interested in covering topics meaningful to the LGBTQ community.

Snap Paparazzi Photographer Wanted

Do you frequent the LGBTQ bars and events? We want to hear from you if you are interested in regularly covering the bars and events.

If you are interested, please email your resume, cover letter, and portfolio to info@ambushpublishing.com

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. Café Lafitte in Exile is the oldest continuously operating gay bar in the United States.

CORNER POCKET, 940 St. Louis, 568.9829, CornerPocket.NET COUNTRY CLUB, 634 Louisa St., TheCountryClubNewOrleans.COM, 945.0742 CUTTER’S, 706 Franklin, 948.4200 CROSSING (formerly 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. Designed for a casual night out or a quiet evening with that special someone, we offer a wide selection of liquor, beer, and the world renowned Separator.

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 NAPOLEON’S ITCH, 734 Bourbon St., 237-4144 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. Leather, Dark Rooms, & Bears All Around. You can feel the throb of excitement and smell it in the air. This isn’t just a bar. This is an experience!

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

Easter Sunday, April 11, 2018, 19th Official Gay Easter Parade, New Orleans, sponsored by Ambush, GayEasterParade. 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

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. More than just a hardware store, Mary’s Ace French Quarter Hardware also features an extensive selection of kitchen and bath items upstairs.

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 “half-kitchen”, courtyard and half-open tubhouse with spa (hot tub/ whirlpool). Clothing optional in sunbathing and hot tub area. Walking distance to French Quarter. Immediate vicinity of gay and lesbian bars/venues. [0815] The french quarter guest houses, 1005

30 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

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, P.O. Box 2587, LaPlace, LA 70069, 522.8049, AmbushMag.COM; email: info@ambushpublishing.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, 828A 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; HalloweenNewOrleans.COM KREWE OF AMON-RA, PO Box 7033, Metairie, LA 70010, KreweOfAmonRa. COM KREWE OF ARMEINIUS, 433 N Broad St, New Orleans, LA 70119, www. armeinius.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, Gay-

MardiGras.COM/KCQ LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, 1308 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504.475.7911, www.lgbtarchivesla.org MYSTIC KREWE OF LORDS OF LEATHER, 1000 Bourbon St #B415, New Orleans, LA 70116, www.lordsofleather.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 NO/AIDS TASK FORCE, 2601 Tulane Ave., Suite 500, 70119; 504.821.2601; NOAIDSTaskForce.COM NEW ORLEANS PRIDE, info@neworleanspridefestival.com; 504.321.6006; NewOrleansPrideFestival.COM; NOLAPride.

ORG; New Orleans Pride fully embraces the message of “One CommUNITY” as we celebrate our history and promote the future prosperity of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast Region. We use public awareness and education about the LGBT+ community as a way to combat “phobias” and discrimination. Our programs, seminars and events leading up to, and during Pride weekend, are meant to include individuals from all walks of life.

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 504.947.2121, stannanola.org Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans (MCCNO), 5401 S. Claiborne Ave — Pastor Alisan Rowland: New Orleans first LGBTQ church welcomes you to join us for our weekly Sunday worship services at 10:00 AM, where we celebrate God’s Love for everyone.

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

Get Listed for $10 per Issue Want to see your business, organization, or event in our next issue?

Email Ambush sales@ambushpublishing.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. Since 1939, our quirky, cozy, unique diner has been home to the best breakfasts & burgers on Bourbon Street–maybe even the whole French Quarter!

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 Louisiana Pizza Kitchen Uptown, 615 S Carrollton Ave, 866-5900, www.louisianapizzakitchenuptown.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

real estate

New Orleans, LA [504] Engel & Völkers New Orleans, Michael Styles, Realtor — Michael specializes in helping first-time homebuyers and real estate investors find the perfect New Orleans properties. 504.777.1773, NolaStyles.com Latter & Blum, Steven Richards Realtor, 504.258.1800, SteveRichardsProperties.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

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

Your financial needs are unique.

Whether you want to provide for your loved ones, support the organizations that are important to you, or plan for your own comfortable retirement, I can help you plan for your goals. I’ll look at all aspects of your finances, then find solutions that are right for your unique needs. I’ll be there to adjust your plan as life unfolds. When you have the right approach, life can be brilliant.

Scot I. Billeaudeau, JD, LL.M., ADPA® Financial Advisor Waterfront Wealth Management A private wealth advisory practice of Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. 3939 N Causeway Blvd, Ste 400 Metairie, LA 70002 504.889.1704 s.billeaudeau@ampf.com ameripriseadvisors.com/s.billeaudeau

Ameriprise Financial is proud to be recognized with another perfect score on the Human Rights Campaign’s Corporate Equality Index.

Investment advisory products and services are made available through Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc., a registered investment adviser.

Ameriprise Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA and SIPC. © 2018 Ameriprise Financial, Inc. All rights reserved.

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32 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com

Small-school players find niches with No. 1-seeded Saints Les East, Crescent City Sports NEW ORLEANS – Wil Lutz has had a record-breaking season as the New Orleans Saints place-kicker.

David Onyemata is the only Saint to have a three-sack game this season.

Craig Robertson twice has foiled faked kicks that were pivotal plays in pivotal victories.

Jermon Bushrod has been a valuable backup on the offensive line, starting five games at left tackle and also playing guard.

Dan Arnold switched from wide receiver to tight end in training camp, made the roster and has become a contributor at his new position.

Each of these players took a road less traveled to the NFL, none having played at a school from a Power 5 conference. In fact, only Robertson played at an FBS program (North Texas).

Nonetheless each found a niche on a team that is the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs after finishing 13-3 despite a 30-7 loss to Carolina on Sunday in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome.

“There’s probably a little bit more uncertainty with players that don’t come from some of these Power 5 conference teams,” Saints defensive coordinator Dennis Allen said.

But these players and others overcame that uncertainty.

Onyemata, a native of Nigeria who never played football until he arrived at the University of Manitoba, is an extreme example.

Bill Johnson was New Orleans’ defensive line coach when he went to Manitoba to scout Onyemata before the Saints drafted him in the third round of the 2016 draft.

“He just fell in love with the kid,” Al-

len said. “The number one thing you’ve got to identify is, does the player have the skill set to do the things that you’re going to ask him to do, which David obviously did, and then the one thing that we realized in spending time with him is he actually is a very quick learner.

He just had to see it once or twice and then he had it.”

Players who attract the attention of Power 5 schools might have dozens of scholarship offers. Onyemata’s application letter to Manitoba was his first communication with a college and when it elicited a positive response in less than a week he was sold.

Football at Manitoba was not considered a training ground for the NFL, but merely an extracurricular activity.

“The only coaches at our school that were paid were the head coach and the assistant head coach,” Onyemata said. “Everyone else was a volunteer. They had other things to do.

They would go to their work and then after work they would come down to practice. They were just doing it for a good cause.”

No player from Manitoba had ever been drafted, though defensive end Israel Idonije found a job as an undrafted free agent and wound up playing 11 seasons with the Chicago Bears.

The Saints signed Arnold as an undrafted free agent from Wisconsin-Platteville in 2017.

“I definitely think there’s a stigma where it’s, “OK, can this kid actually play with the big boys or is it something where he just had success against not as athletic people?”” Arnold said. “You have to overcome that in the coaches’ eyes and I think you have to work a lit-

Taysom Hill does it all for Saints Rene Nadeau, Crescent City Sports New Orleans Saints standout Taysom Hill represents everything that the locals love, an underdog and overachiever who plays snap-to-whistle giving 110 percent effort each down.

It’s hard for Hill not to be a fan favorite. He treats every snap like it’s his last and plays with abandon, a competitor to the enth degree. Hill squeezes every ounce out of his ability.

Undrafted out of BYU in 2017, the quarterback signed with Green Bay. Strictly as a quarterback in college, Hill threw for 6,926 yards, 43 touchdowns and 31 interceptions. He added 2,815 yards as a runner (5.3 yard average) with 32 touchdowns.

When he was released at the conclusion of preseason by the Packers, he was claimed by the Saints but didn’t make the active roster until the final month of the season. This year, he has

made many key impacts on offense and special teams.

Since he arrived in the Big Eas, Hill has played in a number of roles. This season he has recorded six special teams tackles and returned one punt along with 14 kickoffs. He has made catches as a receiver, rushed for 185 yards with a touchdown and attempted seven passes (completing three).

During game weeks, Hill attends meeting groups with the quarterbacks, running backs, receivers, tight ends and special teams.

Arguably, he made the biggest impact on special teams this season with a blocked punt at Tampa Bay in the third quarter. The first block of his career turned the game in favor of the Saints, earning him a NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor.

“I’m not surprised that play trig-

tle harder.”

Bushrod excelled enough at little Towson State that the Saints used a fourth-round draft choice on him in 2007 even though he wasn’t invited to the Combine.

“It was definitely an adjustment when I got here,” Bushrod said. “It’s not like playing your I-A competition. (The Saints) developed me. They gave me an opportunity to get stronger, work on my technique, work on my body, things like that. It was definitely an adjustment. Then every year it’s just a grind to stay in it.”

Bushrod stayed with the Saints six seasons, spent three in Chicago and two in Miami before returning to New Orleans this season.

Robertson said the uneven playing field levels out for small-school players once they make an NFL roster.

“You only get one opportunity when you’re a small-school guy because they look at some of these bigger-school guys like they’ve been playing against quote unquote NFL competition for a while,” Robertson said. “(But) after you’re in the league it’s just who you are.”

Lutz said it’s really just who you are for kickers all along because they

don’t have to transition to competing with bigger, stronger, faster opponents.

“It’s solely your performance,” he said. “The only thing that changes is the hashes are skinnier in the NFL.” However, Lutz, who played at Georgia State, said there’s one other intangible factor.

“If you’re looking at two even guys and you’ve got a guy who has played in front of 90,000 fans every Saturday and you’ve got a guy who’s played in front of 1,000 every Saturday, obviously you’re going to suspect the other guy has got a little stronger mental side,” he said. “I didn’t get to play in front of big crowds so that was probably the only thing that was shell shocking when I got here.”

Onyemata said “sometimes it’s surreal” to ponder how far he has come. But, he added, “Sometimes I wonder if I hadn’t gone to the University of Manitoba and picked somewhere else, would this be happening right now?”

This article was originally published

by Crescent City Sports. For the most comprehensive sports coverage in the Big Easy, visit crescentcitysports.com.

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gered the momentum the way it did,” Saints coach Sean Payton said following the contest. The team scored 25 unanswered points following that play, putting the game out of reach for the Buccaneers.

The roles that he was asked to play presented numerous challenges at first but he has found a common thread.

“Initially being on special teams, it was so foreign to me because I’d never done it,” Hill explained. “I’m feeling pretty comfortable now. The (position) coaches have all done a good job of putting me in situations that they all relate to each other. Last year doing just special teams was the most difficult transition for me, but I’m comfortable now.”

Hill is a freakish athlete. Payton sees him in a simple light. “He’s a football player. When the game is over, on a grass field his (uniform) is going to be dirty.”

A just over 6-foot-1 and 221 pounds, Hill runs a 4.44 forty with a 38.5 vertical and a 10’2″ standing long

jump. He squats 625 pounds. Fast, strong and fearless.

A native of Pocatello, he was the 2008 Idaho Gatorade Player of the Year after throwing for 2,269 yards and 18 touchdowns while running for 1,491 yards and 24 scores. Hill considered offers from Arizona, Boise State, Oregon State, BYU, Washington State, Utah and Stanford. He originally committed to Jim Harbaugh at Stanford, but decided on BYU and an LDS church mission.

After establishing himself as a starter in ’13, he fractured his leg on Oct. 3, 2014. Then in 2015, he suffered another setback after a lisfranc fracture in the ’15 home opener against Nebraska cost him a whole season with the Cougars.

When Hill returned in 2016 with a medical redshirt from the previous season, he changed his jersey number from No. 4 to No. 7 to honor his brother Dexter, who died earlier that year. They shared a close bond.

Another injury cropped up for Hill

in 2016 when he hyperextended his elbow late in the season. The lack of wear-and-tear from so many snaps as a dual-threat spread quarterback has helped him stay healthier at the next level.

Although he lines up in a number of spots for the Saints, Hill feels most comfortable as you’d expect at quarterback.

“My role at QB is what I’m used to and that’s what I enjoy the most,” he declared. “At the end when I’m competing out on the field, it’s hard to argue with being on the field. But I’m most comfortable at QB.” “I grew up playing QB, that’s my mentality. I grew up watching Drew (Brees), Peyton Manning, those two guys stuck out to me. That’s who my brother followed. I would also throw Steve (Young) in there. My brother was a big fan of his from BYU.” Hill lives a different existence from the usual NFL quarterback. He spends practice time doing tackling drills despite donning a red (no contact) jersey.

Might we ever see him on defense?

“I’ve done that, probably a safety, probably a strong safety or outside linebacker would be the easiest transition for someone like me. But, no one talks about that,” Hill said with a grin.

Who Dat Nation has wrapped their collective arms around the 28-year old.

“I’ve never been in a city like this,” he beamed. “This is as good as it gets.

(Fans) do everything on behalf of the Saints. I’ve never played in an atmosphere or environment that is good as this is.”

If Taysom Hill is not named team MVP, he will certainly be high on ballots of fans and teammates. No matter the position he plays, he is a winner on a winning squad.

This article was originally published

by Crescent City Sports. For the most comprehensive sports coverage in the Big Easy, visit crescentcitysports.com.

Looking for light at end of darkening Pelicans tunnel Ken Trahan, Crescent City Sports The promise of October is quickly turning into the despair of December.

Perhaps there will be a jolt in January.

The New Orleans Pelicans 20182019 season is in bad need of a boost after the team suffered its fifth consecutive loss, 122-119 at Dallas Wednesday night.

It was a familiar script.

The Pelicans once again held a lead in the fourth quarter and could not hold it. The awful “clutch” time performance and record continues to be dismal.

It is hard to point fingers but the problems are obvious.

There is little depth. There is little defense. There is little execution when it matters most.

You can always count on Anthony Davis, Jrue Holiday and Julius Randle to stuff the stat sheet. You cannot count on anyone else on a nightly basis.

After a great start to the season, E’Twaun Moore has virtually disappeared. He no longer starts and no longer produces.

Since scoring 17 points in a home win over Dallas on Dec. 5, Moore has scored just 48 points in his last nine games. He is just 6-of-23 (26%) from 3-point range in that span and that is his primary value to the team.

Solomon Hill has done little. Wesley Johnson has not left the bench in seven of the last nine games. Cheick Diallo has not played in the last three games. Ian Clark is a fading memory.

Andrew Harrison has done little. Kenrich Williams is in watch mode when with the team.

Frank Jackson is getting time now and showed flashes in Dallas, scoring 10 points in just 14 minutes. Jahlil Okafor has put together four solid performances in succession off the bench while Darius Miller and Tim Frazier have been decent.

When Elfrid Payton and Nikola

Mirotic return, it will be a better team but will it be too late?

Of the 15 teams in the Western Conference, 14 are genuine playoff contenders and the Pelicans currently reside in the 14th spot.

To be fair, Alvin Gentry has been snake-bit.

He had his full complement of players for the first four games of the season. Not surprisingly, New Orleans started 4-0. It appeared that the momentum from the end of last season had carried over. Davis, Holiday, Moore, Mirotic, Payton and Randle were playing superbly.

Then came an injury to Payton.

Then came the injury to Mirotic.

Then came losing.

Davis carried the Pelicans in the fourth quarter of last night’s loss at Dallas and he has do be the alpha dog on this team at all times. That is what is expected of superstars, which Davis is.

He had two shots a 3-pointers in the final minute which he missed but at least he took the initiative.

Davis was doing most of his damage down low, dominating for much of the game.

That is where he is best suited to play, though he must step out and gain the respect of defenders by hitting midrange jumpers.

Davis is shooting just under 32 percent from 3-point range. He shot a career-best 34 percent from beyond the arc a year ago. He has that as part of his arsenal and has to, though it should be a small sample-size.

The roster simply isn’t good enough

around Davis, Holiday and Randle with the injuries to Payton and Mirotic.

Can Gentry do a better job inn scheming down the stretch of games?

That is most certainly the case.

Can Davis do a better job of demanding the ball and making plays with the game on the line? That is most certainly the case.

Can the team make more of a concerted effort to defend better at all times? That is most certainly the case.

What is most certain, at this point, is that the season is slipping away. The team has already played nearly 43 percent of its games. When will Payton and Mirotic return and how effective will they be?

Now comes three straight home games, including a rematch with Dallas, facing a hot Houston team and taking on another team ahead of the Pelicans in Minnesota.

It is time to flip the switch and escape the darkening tunnel.

Otherwise, the 2018-19 season will fade into the oblivion of darkness, severely clouding the future of Davis in the Big Easy. With a losing team and no playoff appearance, it will not be easy to convince Davis to stay but you already knew that.

This article was originally published

by Crescent City Sports. For the most comprehensive sports coverage in the Big Easy, visit crescentcitysports.com.

34 · The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South: www.AmbushMag.com · January 1 – 14, 2019 · Official Southern Decadence Guide · www.SouthernDecadence.com