SEPTEMBER 2011 | 1
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Out on the Town Editor’s Note: Hey y’all!
Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Mike Halterman
Creative Director: Joshua Beadle
Writers: Tori Mattison, Andrew Stankevich, Berneta Haynes, Erika Gilliam-Long, Sapphire Nicole Rachels, Michael Ross Photo Credits: Pepper MaShay cover photo from John Colombo. Deidre Hall cover photo and main layout photo from NBC/Days of our Lives. Special Thanks to: Thanks to Juliette Harris and John Filizzola at It Girl Public Relations for coordinating Deidre Hall interview and for inviting us to the NBC Studios in Burbank, CA.
Our NEW website! www.outonthetownmag.com.
facebook.com/outonthetown
Like my photo? Haha! It’s the cover the readers chose as their favorite of the past 12 months. I’m sure our drag queen columnist Tori Mattison will be happy to learn of this new development! I honestly feel so honored that we are celebrating one full year in business. We’ve grown in that time to serve six states, and we’ve morphed from providing a magazine for the GLBT community to being the GLBT community’s magazine...something a lot of people believe in, not just me or our writers or our art director. I have fulfilled one of my main purposes in starting this magazine: for it to mean something to someone (actually quite a few someones). My heart swells when I see what we’ve accomplished. Not me. We. Here’s to another successful year! Thanks to our trusty staff: Josh, Andrew, Berneta, Erika, James, Sapphire and Tori...but also to our original staff from one year ago: Brandy Woodall, Tammy Enyeart and Deb Honeycutt, for without them, we wouldn’t be where we are now. Lots and Lots of Love, Mike Halterman Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Table of Contents:
Tori Mattison’s Lowdown ........................................................................................... 10-11 How Sapphire Sees It ...................................................................................................... 14 DIVAS! Pepper MaShay .............................................................................................. 16-18 DIVAS! Deidre Hall ................................................................................................. 20-22 Local Notables: Tom Head and Randi Romo .................................................................. 24-25 Bar Profile: Speakeasy, Fayetteville, AR ............................................................................ 26 Bar Profile: B-Bob’s, Mobile, AL .................................................................................. 27 Bars and Clubs Yellow Pages ........................................................................................ 28 - 31 OUT ON THE TOWN MAGAZINE is published by OUT ON THE TOWN PUBLISHING, LLC Copyright 2011 Out on the Town Publishing, LLC Opinions expressed in the pages of Out on the Town Magazine are not necessarily those held by the owners of Out on the Town Publishing, LLC. or its staff. Publication of the name or photograph of any living person or organization in articles or advertising in Out on the Town Magazine shall not be construed or implication made as any indication of the sexual orientation of such persons or organizations. All copy, text, display, photos and illustrations in the ads are published with the understanding that the advertisers are fully authorized, have secured proper written consent for the use of names, pictures and testimonials of any living person, and Out on the Town Magazine may lawfully publish said ads. The advertiser automatically agrees by submitting said ad to indemnify and hold harmless Out on the Town Publishing, LLC from any and all liability, loss and expense of any nature out of such publication. The deadline for the monthly release of Out on the Town Magazine is the third Friday of the month at 11 a.m. Central Time for advertising submitted from an outside graphics firm and the third Monday of the month for new advertising made and designed in-house by Out on the Town Magazine (extra fees apply). In the event that an ad is accepted after deadline, the advertiser agrees by submitting such an ad to indemnify and hold harmless Out on the Town Publishing, LLC from any and all liability, loss and expense of any nature that may arise from any error that may be made in said ad. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or in whole of this publication without written permission is prohibited.
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SEPTEMBER 2011 | 9
¥ Tori Mattison’s
LOWDOWN I have an announcement to make on behalf of drag queens everywhere! You come to all of our shows and we love you for doing it, but we have a few things that we wanna bitch about. For starters, tipping drag queens is only desired -- but not required. We are thankful for your tips because tipping is a sign of appreciation, but if you’re NOT going to tip, DO NOT sit at the front row! Save those seats for people who actually help us support our cause. I’ve chatted with a few fabulous queens from all over the region who have a few pet peeves that they want to share with you before you come out to the next show.
Obsinity hails from Birmingham, Alabama and can be seen every Friday and Saturday at Al’s on Seventh. she has been pleasing crowds for eight years and is your current reigning Magic City Entertainer Of The Year. Her favorite aspect of Al’s -- which consists of 3 connecting rooms and a huge patio -- is “The venue itself... The history there, and the crowd that comes in to see us perform week after week. It’s by far my favorite venue to perform at in Birmingham!” When asked what makes her angry at a show, she states: “I’m a pretty laid back person and don’t lose my temper very often, but one that thing that has always bothered me is someone who is sitting or
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Lauren Mitchell
Mia Bone’t
standing directly in front of the stage and not even paying attention to the show. If you’re not going to watch the show, move so someone else can enjoy it!
Lauren Mitchell Is a gorgeous queen from Pensacola, Florida who has been twirling since 1987! She has been the show director at Emerald City for 13 years, and can be seen there every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday! Emerald city is made up of five areas: Emerald City, the dance club side with two rooms, a patio and a roof top terrace; and The Other Side is their martini/ video bar. Emerald City draws in a crowd of 200300 on a regular night, and then on special occasions such as Pensacola Pride, the crowd explodes to 700+! Well, what really pisses you off when you’re onstage? “Not much makes me angry at work unless it affects the show…My biggest pet peeve would be a wet stage!” So don’t sit your drinks on the stage, they could fall over and get all over the place. Nobody likes to see a queen bust her ass on the runway, honey!
Mia Bone’t is a delicious chocolate diva from Baton Rouge, Louisiana whose beauty is only outshined by her fantastic personality. I’ve had the pleasure of working with Mia several times at the Drama Club in Houma, but her main bar is Splash in Baton Rouge -- which she describes as a huge 2-story warehouse with 4 bars and amazing lights that draws a crowd of 200-300 on weekends. When asked, she admitted that her favorite aspect of the bar is the stage. “Our stage is awesome because it’s a theatre-style stage with a working curtain and runway.” Her advice to drag show patrons would be: “Stay OFF the stage when I am performing! Y’all came to see me entertain you, you’re not there to entertain me!” Amen sister; that is all sorts of rude. You don’t have to stay in your seats, but you need to stay off the stage unless you’re on cast. Catch Mia at Splash every other weekend.
I want to wish a huge congratulations to Zia D’Yor for winning Miss Gay Arkansas America on August 14th. I was in Little Rock doing shows for that weekend, so I was able to witness Evening gown and Solo talent. I had so much fun at the venue and
Obsinity seeing the contestants (I was VERY excited about seeing Mya Alexander and Morgan McCall onstage finally!). It was a very eventful evening, and I congratulate all the contestants for having the gall to get up there and compete! Except the one contestant who completely stole someone else’s talent. I hope you got clocked for that! And of course I always reserve the last paragraph for me and my hometown of Jackson, Mississippi. Bottoms Up is coming along nicely with many new changes. They have recently crowned a Mister and Miss Bottoms Up Emeritus (Onyx Desire and Mia Chambers), who, although there was no pageant, will be in charge of organizing all future pageants associated with Bottoms Up. The cabaret room has been rearranged to allow more patrons to file in for a fantastic show. You will be seeing me a lot more at Bottoms Up now, so check out my facebook page for dates. If you come to a show, remember to utilize what you’ve learned, because an angry queen is a force never to be reckoned with!
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SEPTEMBER 2011 | 13
“SAPPHIRE HOW
SEES
Dear Sapphire
IT
As the end of summer approaches, me and my friends are trying to figure out a way to end it with a bang! We are writing to ask if you have any suggestions on what to do or where to go? “Summer Lovin’” Dear “Summer Lovin’” –
Sapphire Nicole Rachels is the show director at Splash Bar Florida in Panama City Beach. If you have a question you’d like to ask Sapphire, e-mail her at sapphirenicole@yahoo. com.
Of course! There’s only one obvious answer to this question...you should definitely come to the beach & see me!!! (And bring lots of money! lol) No, but the beach is an obvious idea and we should stay really busy right up until fall. It really depends on your budget. If you want to travel out of town...look into concerts or theme parks. During your visit, stay near all the good shopping or some restaurants that you’ve never tried. For something a little simpler, a well-planned barbecue with family and friends around a local lake or pool is always fun! Dear Sapphire Whenever I go out, there’s this one queen who won’t leave me alone. She’s
“
always starting drama and even if she’s not around, people are always bringing her up. Any ideas on how to avoid this pest? “Booger Be Gone” Dear “Booger Be Gone” – Sounds like this individual thrives on attention, whether it’s good or bad. Although you probably feel like just tackling them sometimes, lol, you must remember to either kill them with kindness or pay them no mind altogether. If you don’t have anything nice to say, then don’t say it at all. Be the bigger person and don’t waste your breath if others are bringing this individual up in conversation. You will gain more peace within yourself if you have a clear conscience and sweep all of their negativity under the rug!!! This person must make serious changes within themselves to better their lives, but by avoiding them and their issues altogether, you are already ten steps ahead!!! ....and THAT’s how Sapphire sees it!!
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COVER STORY
16 | OUT ON THE TOWN | THE DEEP SOUTH’S HOTTEST GLBT MAGAZINE
PEPPER MASHAY:
LIFE, LIBERTY AND THE PURSUIT OF THE PERFECT JAM By Mike Halterman For over 15 years, Pepper MaShay has been a driving force behind the high-energy creative gay dance scene. Born Jean McClain in Muncie, Indiana in 1953, she started her music career singing backup to other more-established music mainstays before she scored her own big break in 1995. Perhaps the best known of her numerous hits is the 2006 #1 single “Lost Yo Mind,” which was her first chart-topper and sat atop the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play charts for the final two weeks of the year that year. Embraced by the GLBT community and an in-charge “diva” in her own right, we honor Pepper MaShay in our first anniversary issue and talk to her about her life, career, and what she’s doing right now. Who were your musical inspirations growing up? How/ when did you know you wanted to be a singer? [One of] my idols [was] Aretha Franklin (who I discovered at 15; I would sit in front of the radio as she belted out “Chain of Fools”. You had to try and sing along with her because she was touching your soul! Wow!). I started singing when I was 7 years old in front of family members before Sunday dinner. That was a great time. My grandfather would start with the
accordion and then us children would start our part. My first song I fell in love with was The Four Seasons’ “Sherry Baby”. It was funny singing that high note. I knew right then it was music I wanted to do. When did you know that living in Indiana was just not enough for you and you had to leave? Do you miss it sometimes? I was born in Indiana, [but I] only went through the 5th grade while my stepdad was in Vietnam. I was raised a military brat. My mom didn’t like to travel so she was able to get jobs through the military hospital system. She was a nurse’s assistant. I went back when my father passed, and the city didn’t look the same. Folks are really hurting. There are no jobs. I still have family members left in the state. I would like to do Talbot House in Indianapolis. That would be great!! You sang backup to quite a few famous names before you made a name of your own. Who did you love to work with? What was your favorite story or encounter from that time? I have one name to say and that is Tina Turner! She was so beautiful when I saw her. A living legend! We spent two days with her in the studio doing the soundtrack music
to the movie, “What’s Love Got To Do With It”. I hired the other two vocalists for the session and we all sounded good together. She did a little vocal test on all three of us and when I started to sing I was nervous, so she took her hand and hit me in the stomach area (diaphragm) and told me she wanted to hear it from there, not my throat! We all three laughed and that put me at ease. It was like butta after that. Such a sweet and beautiful lady. She let us take pictures with her on our last day. Ms. Turner is the big dealio! You were “discovered” in your own right in the 1990s. How did this occur? How was the transformation from Jean McClain, singer, to Pepper MaShay, dance diva? Was it fun, rocky, etc? I decided to do dance music after meeting a gentleman who saw me singing for Vonda Shepard at a club. The guy told me I was too good to be singing behind other people. He told me to consider singing dance music. I had never given it much thought before. So, I told a manager friend of mine to look for a producer who did dance music. That’s when I started working with different producers. I started working with a producer by the name Michael O’Hara. He helped name me Pepper MaShay. I wanted to make sure the last name looked and spelled like a real
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COVER STORY name. So, Pepper MaShay was born. I started doing a lot of songs and one tape fell into the hands of Azuli Records of London. I did 9 songs with the label before going my own way. After that situation, I started doing club gigs. It’s always rocky when you’re starting out. But that’s the fun of it. You have to struggle for the good things you want in life. You will appreciate the success that much more. Out of all the hits you’ve had on the dance charts, which one is your favorite? What kinds of different emotions and memories are evoked with each song you’ve recorded? I love “Dive In The Pool”! It gave me the opportunity to do what I’m doing now, which is having a career traveling around the world to do music shows! That’s pretty incredible. I know a lot of folks my age who aren’t doing anything that they actually love doing. So many of my GLBT kids told me the song changed their lives. I really took that to heart. I feel blessed! “Lost Yo Mind” was my first #1 Billboard hit with just my name. I will forever be grateful to Georgie Porgie stressing the importance of it! It was based off of my marriage that went south. I was married for 27 years and I have two sons, Trey and Bryan, from it. I feel you have to go through every part of your life and take stock of it so you won’t make the same mistakes again. So in my case I wrote a song about it. “Love & Understanding” is another favorite. It tells the story of where I’m at in my life right now. I’m going through a “short sell on my home”. Times have been rough for me in making
money. So, I too will lose my home in the process. But what this situation has taught me is that you can’t take stuff with you. You’ve got to live within your means. You will be much happier for it. Do you feel comfortable being called a “diva”? I feel honored being called a “diva”. My meaning behind the term is a lot more positive than a lot of [people’s meanings]. It means to me that I know what I’m doing when it comes to music and how I want to “roll” with it. I choose my own songs and I’m also included into the production from beginning to end. Tell us about your single “Use Somebody” (a cover of the 2008 Kings of Leon hit). What’s the story behind its creation? What does it mean to you when you sing it or hear it on the radio? My favorite song right now is “Use Somebody”! I made a friend pull off to the side of the road when i heard the song in September 2009. I was in Houston, Texas. To have finally been able to turn it into a dance song is just fantastic to me. I feel the song was based off of my life and it hit a chord within me. I’m making sure the song is being heard the best way I can and that’s through Internet radio. Can’t afford mainstream radio. It costs so much money to promote to the mainstream radio stations. I love the production by Carlyle Barriteau, who does not come from a dance music background. He’s a Berklee School guy and he’s also my co-partner “CB” in my acoustic/blues project “Sista Jean & CB”. If you could do absolutely anything with your day, what would you do and where would you go?
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I would spend it like I am now, with my best friend Ellen Osborne who has the most beautiful horses and she lets me ride them when I want to. I used to ride as a child in Texas and now I have that opportunity to do it again. I love traveling to different countries that I haven’t visited before. That’s fun also! What do your GLBT fans mean to you? What fan encounter will you never forget? My GLBT fans are very important to me! Not only because of the music, but also for their wellbeing in our society. I’ve become very personal with the fight for marriage equality in California and for people in general living their lives the way they see fit for themselves. I will forever fight that battle. I’ll never forget when a young man came to me and told me just how much his parents had hated him when he came out to them. I told him he must be strong in standing up for who he is and I told him to reach out to his mom anyway. That will stick with me for as long as I’ll remain on this earth. What kind of advice would you give to aspiring singers who are reaching for the stars? To all aspiring artists out in the world, I would suggest to them to go back and truly listen to the greats. My mom was very important in that regard. She bought me every kind of music that I loved. And from that, I went on to learn how to sing with the radio and learned how to write songs by the greats through studying their techniques. I wish I could have been able to have gone back to school but it wasn’t in the cards for me. So, I did OJT (On-the-Job Training) by working in clubs, singing backgrounds and performing live. I always give a quote to all who listen to me, “Never Give Up Your Dreams”.
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COVER STORY
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DEIDRE HALL:
THE DOC RETURNS TO SALEM By Michael Ross She’s been possessed by Satan. She’s slaughtered her family and friends while being brainwashed to act as a serial killer. (Don’t worry, her victims were all alive on a tropical island and eventually returned home safely.) She’s been held captive in a golden cage in the sewers beneath Paris. She’s wed the man of her dreams no fewer than four times – and that isn’t counting the botched nuptials and the marriages to others! If you’re looking for diva drama, look no further than Dr. Marlena Evans. The famous Days of Our Lives heroine, who was written off the show in a shocking move in January 2009, returns to the fictional town of Salem – and our television screens – this September. And her portrayer, Deidre Hall, could not be more enthusiastic. “It’s lovely to step back into,” Hall says during an on-set interview with Out on the Town, looking elegant as ever in a striped boat-neck blouse. “The silliness has been taken out of the show, and the creative part of it has really been heightened. There’s a lot of respect, [and there are] a lot of mutual creative forces going on.” The soap has widely touted its September 26th “relaunch,” in which a number of familiar faces – Hall and Drake Hogestyn (who plays Marlena’s longtime love, John Black) foremost among them – return to christen the new Horton Town Square, an expansive indoor/outdoor set. After the popular pair’s 2009 departure, though, it was unclear whether they would ever be seen in Salem again. Hall, who has played Marlena on and off since 1976 (she left for several years in the late 1980s, during which she starred in the primetime
series Our House), was thrown by their surprising ouster, which was reportedly a side effect of the sizable budget cuts foisted upon the show as a term of renewal. Nevertheless, she enjoyed the unexpected downtime, filling it with family and with new projects. “I have a new book, called Deidre Hall’s Kitchen Close-up,” she says. Writing a cookbook was not something she planned to do in her time off. “A close friend of mine [co-author Lynne Parmiter Bowman] and I love cooking. We always get together and sit in the kitchen and solve the world’s problems. We always said, ‘We need to write this stuff down,’ and one day, I thought, ‘Wait, I don’t have to wake up with a script in my hand!’ So we did. And it’s been wonderful.” Long before she became a published domestic goddess, though, Hall – along with the character of Marlena – was a gay icon. When asked if she was aware of this status, she lights up and says, “I am! I used to live in West Hollywood, and I was embraced.” As for how and why both she and her iconic character have become so beloved among gays: “I haven’t ever tried to dissect that, though. Help me.” I offer that many of Marlena’s larger-thanlife storylines, and the accompanying adversity through which she has persevered time and time again, are things to which members of the GLBT community can relate. Gay men, in particular, have a tendency to latch onto people and scenarios that feel impossibly glamorous, that promise an escape from daily lives in which they have not always been free to be who they really are. As
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COVER STORY for Hall herself, she has not been shy in opening up about her real-life struggles. Her two teenage sons were born via a surrogate after Hall struggled valiantly with infertility; she even starred as herself in the 1995 TV movie Never Say Never: The Deidre Hall Story, which she also produced. That sort of candid selfexpression is right at home in the GLBT community. “What you said!” Hall laughs, nodding insistently. She expresses how thrilled she is to be featured on the cover of what is not only an GLBT publication, but one based close to her home: she grew up in Lake Worth, Florida, and in fact was elected Junior Orange Bowl Queen in her youth. Asked if she still visits the state, she exclaims, “All the time!” Her opportunities for visits, though, will surely be diminished now that she is back at Days. As she sits beside Hogestyn on the brand-new set that will serve as Marlena and John’s home, she explains how her return came about. She participated in a book tour in celebration of the show’s 45th anniversary last year along with Greg Meng, who has long been involved with the show as NBC’s executive in charge of production. When fans inquired why Hall had not come back to the show yet, and she replied that she would simply have to be invited. At one point during the tour, Meng turned to her and said, “You’re invited.” And thus, the return of a daytime legend was set in motion.
producer Noel Maxam have recently taken over as co-executive producers, and Marlene McPherson and Darrell Ray Thomas have stepped in as the show’s new head writers. Part of the new team’s vision for Days includes the returns of popular veteran characters such as Marlena, as well as the stunning new Horton Town Square. As for what’s in store for her character: Hall previews that Marlena and John will be “a strong unit” and involved heavily with the characters of Sami, Rafe, Carrie, and Austin. She also shares that Marlena will be seen in a professional capacity as a psychiatrist, a facet of the character that previous regimes have tended to minimize. Asked whether, now that she’s on the other side of her break, it might have been good for Marlena to have an offscreen rest for a few years, Hall falls quiet. Finally, she looks up and says thoughtfully, with a knowing grin, “I think if you don’t go away, they can’t be thrilled to have you back.”
“A lot of changes were taking place that made it really thrilling to come back,” Hall says of her first few days back on the Days set. Meng and longtime
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LOCAL NOTABLES organize speakers for OUTober Fest, as well as for the related interfaith LGBT service in Smith Park. Head has been serving as the interim president for the Jackson NOW since 2010 and helped organize MS Reproductive Freedom Summer 2006, the largest Pro-Choice event in MS history.
TOM HEAD By Andrew Stankevich At thirty-three years old, Tom Head has written or co-written twenty-four nonfiction books. Tom wrote two-thirds of such titles as reference books for academic libraries and one-third for the general public, including a beginner’s guide to civil liberties. In addition to other freelance writing, Head’s also a regular columnist for Jackson’s vibrant alternative newsweekly, the Jackson Free Press. A biblical scholar, Tom has studied ancient Hebrew and Sanskrit. Mr. Head also works as a freelance instructor for Millsaps College and just finished his dissertation for his PhD in the history of ideas. “I write about love and human rights,” asserts Tom, who wears more than a few hats in Jackson’s progressive community.
Tom Head does a lot of volunteer work. Tom acknowledges, “with a small openly gay community, anyone can be a big fish in Mississippi’s small queer activist pond.” After the drama following the consecration (ordination) of Bishop Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in the Episcopal Church, Tom co-founded Jackson Integrity in 2003 to organize for the inclusion of LGBT people in the Episcopal faith. From 200306, Tom continued his efforts to welcome LGBT people in the Unitarian Universalist Church of Jackson and St. Andrew’s Cathedral. Tom acted as the coordinator for various Jackson area PFLAG chapters from 2007-09. After volunteering with the Mississippi ACLU for many years, the ACLU elected him to their board of directors from 2009-12. Mr. Head has also been active with Unity MS and helped
Tom has felt a passion for LGBT activism since lesbians raised him and because of his disability. Tom Head’s mothers have been together for sixteen years and Tom knew his mom’s partner since he was four. Due to his connection with LGBT people, as well as his suffering from Crouzon’s Syndrome, Tom knows about the isolation that LGBT people experience in MS. Tom was born with Crouzon Syndrome, a genetic, craniofacial condition that results in a slightly different facial and skull structure. Tom also suffers from a weakened immune system, as well as autism and mild brain damage. Tom does not drive as a result of his borderline autism. Mr. Head didn’t socialize with other kids in high school, due to his immune deficiency. Tom feels that as a disabled person, he too feels at odds with gender roles, even though he primarily dates women. Tom explained, “I didn’t participate in the same rites of passage that most men experience because of my disability… When I’m hanging out with other guys, I often feel like someone’s girlfriend, because I just can’t relate to the same interests as other men,” confessed Tom.
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RANDI ROMO
By Erika Gilliam-Long
This month in our “Local Notables”, we talk to Randi Romo. Randi is the head of the Center for Artistic Revolution (CAR). CAR is located in Little Rock, Arkansas and they are doing amazing things! How did CAR get started and has it changed a lot? CAR has been around since 2003 and was founded by LGBTQ and ally community members, many of whom were artists/activists. While LGBTQ-centric, we wanted to work with an analysis that is based on our belief that various forms of oppression are interconnected and work overall to the advantage of those who seek to maintain various power structures. An example of our work would be our opposing anti-LGBTQ and antiimmigrant legislative initiatives. CAR has indeed changed, although the founding premise that we work for “Fairness & Equality for ALL Arkansans” has never changed. We started in the back bedroom of a trailer and finally wound up housed at the First Presbyterian Church here in Little Rock, which was chosen
due to its central location. This spring we moved downstairs into a much larger basement space that has allowed us to open the very first LGBTQ youth center (Lucille Marie Hamilton Youth Center) in the state as well as house an adult community member space. We also have staff and interns who work on our initiative full-time and last year we began offering health insurance to staff. What is the main goal of CAR? We seek to dismantle oppression, build community, and secure equality utilizing education, organizing, advocacy and cultural work. What areas does CAR service? Any chance of expansion? We are always thinking about ways to expand our efforts. We are currently considering creating CAR chapters throughout the state. We do community organizing and advocacy work. For example we were the on the ground group that organized and led the effort to oust Clint McCance from the Midland School District’s school board
after he called for gay kids to kill themselves. Our latest effort was to have the Batesville Daily Guard change its policy that forces same sex and unmarried heterosexual surviving partners to pay to be listed as such in their partner’s obituary. This is still unresolved. We have the Safer Schools / Safe Spaces program, we have the La Salsa Rainbow Camp, We also have GEAR – Gender Equality Arkansas for our trans and gender variant community members, and CAR houses and works closely with Little Rock PFLAG. How can people get involved with CAR or receive help from CAR? For help or volunteer information anyone can contact us at 501244-9690 or email artchangesu@ yahoo.com. All donations are tax deductible and help out with all of our work! They can be made via paypal on our website (artisticrevolution.org) or mail a check payable to CAR to P.O. Box 2300, North Little Rock, AR 72114. We also have a membership drive going on where you can get a snazzy CAR shirt! All donations are tax deductible and help out with all of our work! Future plans for CAR? We have a few and these include increased legislative impact and some partisan electoral activities. One way that we are looking into doing that is through the creation of a 501(c)4. This would be a separate but affiliated entity, maybe known as CAR 2.0 or some other appropriate title. Other future work includes expanding our youth programming and the Safer Schools initiative, and building a stronger membership.
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BAR PROFILES
SPEAKEASY:
A TASTE OF HIGH-END FAYETTEVILLE By Berneta Haynes When asked to describe her favorite thing about Speakeasy, a high-end lounge and nightclub located in Fayetteville, Arkansas, co-owner Sara Baker-Ahaus stated, “Everyone who walks through our doors tells us how nice our establishment is. It makes me smile every time.” But Sara noted that her number one favorite thing about the lounge is the customers. “We truly have a loyal clientele, and it is building every day,” said Sara. Speakeasy opened just a few years ago one block off Dickson Street, the main strip in Fayetteville, and has been voted the number one nightclub in Northwest Arkansas every year since. It was one of the first establishments to bring the high-end experience to Fayetteville. Shane Ahaus, co-owner, doted on Sara and her family, who worked diligently with to open Speakeasy. “It was literally a concrete shell,” Shane said, speaking of the building when they first took over the space. Sara graduated from the University of Arkansas with a degree in architecture and design, he noted. “She used her education and creativity to create a wonderful space and experience,” said Shane. As far as the interior design of Speakeasy, it has two levels. The lounge and patio upstairs operates Wednesday through Saturday, while the downstairs dance area opens up Friday and Saturday
nights. But Sara stated that the bathrooms are what set Speakeasy apart from other bars in the area. “We have the best bathrooms on Dickson,” said Sara. The bathrooms are extremely large, well-designed, and clean. “So many new customers come out, and say ‘You guys have the nicest bathrooms!’,” Sara added. Sara admitted that operating a bar in Fayetteville, like anywhere else, comes with its share of challenges. The Dickson entertainment district has had a growing clientele, but when the economy collapsed recently, much of the clientele vanished. As a result, many establishments have come and gone. But ultimately this experience helped Speakeasy’s owners understand the mechanics of maintaining a business. “We had to learn very quickly how to “trim the fat” from our operations,” Sara said. Their loyal clientele and fabulous staff likely played a role in keeping Speakeasy afloat during such rough economic times. Sara describes their clientele as a great mix of individuals who range from jeans and t-shirt folks to folks who “go all out.” In addition, the staff is extremely friendly and personable. One of the owners – either Shane, Sara,
or Sara’s father, Ron – is at the bar at all times. “We’re typically working alongside our employees: bartending, bar backing, working the door, cleaning, etc.,” Sara explained. As a result, the staff and owners have great relationships with the clientele. So, why should you visit Speakeasy the next time you’re in Fayetteville? Well, here are five reasons. First, who doesn’t love amazing bathrooms?! Second, Speakeasy has a great selection of martinis, appetizers and desserts, which include a cheesecake topped with chocolate chips, chocolate sauce, and Raspberry Chipotle Sauce. Damn. Third, the bar has a DJ and great dance music on the first floor. Fourth, you only have to pay cover on Friday and Saturdays after 10pm and for special events. And, finally, at Speakeasy you are sure to make a new friend. “Whether the person is a customer or employee, you will always make a new friend with us,” said Sara. Speakeasy is located in the Metro Building at 509 West Spring Street, close to the University of Arkansas. For more information, visit SpeakeasyNWA.com or Facebook: SpeakeasyFayetteville.
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B-BOB’S By Erika Gilliam-Long Hey everyone! With this month being our first anniversary issue, we wanted to make sure to give you the hottest scoop we can! I’ve chosen a fantastic gay bar in my home state to give you all the wonderful details on! B-Bob’s is Mobile’s hottest gay bar! If you are headed out for vacation in the Gulf Shores or Mobile area, be sure to check them out! They offer all of the things to make your night great: amazing specials, activities, theme nights, drink specials, happy hour, shows and an awesome dance floor! We want to be sure you know where to party it up when you visit Mobile, Alabama. B-Bob’s offers two fully stocked drink bars to order your favorite drink or to check out their fantastic specials. Want to relax after a long day? B-Bob’s also offers Happy Hour everyday until 9pm. Each Thursday night they offer College Night where you can enter at 19 & drink at 21 with reduced cover and cheap well drinks. They are open 7 days a week, Monday - Thursday opening at 6 p.m. and opening at 7 p.m. all other days. Looking for activities other than dancing and getting your drink on? B-Bob’s has you covered with BINGO on Tuesday, Wii Games on Wednesday, and shows Thursday - Saturday. B-Bob’s offers a spacious dance floor, with the South’s only computer generated and touch
sensitive lighted dance floor! So grab your friends, grab your drink, and hit the lighted dance floor to dance the night away. Jerry Ehlen is the wonderful owner of B-Bob’s for 19 years running. Jerry and his staff are well known for their amazingly kind nature, helpful attitude, and quick service. B-Bob’s is well connected to the GLBT community and helps in any way that they can. B-Bob’s is the largest bar sponsor for Gay Pride. They also hold benefits for multiple GLBT groups in the area. B-Bob’s in Downtown Mobile is located at 213 Conti St in Mobile, Alabama. You can also check them out on Facebook for specials, information, and more or at their website http://b-bobs.com/.
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BARS & CLUBS
YELLOW PAGES
Florida: The Cabaret 101 S. Jefferson St. Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 607-2020 The Roundup 560 E. Heinberg St. Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 433-8482 Emerald City 406 E. Wright St. Pensacola, FL 32501 (850) 433-9491 Fiesta Room La Royale Lounge 100 Harrison Ave. Panama City, FL 32401 (850) 763-1755 Top of the Town 15 E. Intendencia St. Pensacola, FL 32502 (850) 434-8779 Splash Bar Florida 6520 Thomas Dr. Panama City Beach, FL 32408 (850) 236-3450
Alabama: B-Bob’s 213 Conti St. Mobile, AL 36602 (251) 433-2262 Gabriel’s Downtown 55 S. Joachim St. Mobile, AL 36602 (251) 432-4900
The Midtown Pub 153 S. Florida St. Mobile, AL 36606 (251) 471-5090
The Bus Station 710 N. Boundary Blvd. Montevallo, AL 35115 (205) 665-5353
Bacchus 455 Dauphin St. Mobile, AL 36602 (251) 445-4099
Partners Bar and Grill 631 Meridian St. N. Huntsville, AL 35801 (256) 539-0975
Club Imagination 4129 Ross Clark Cir. Dothan, AL 36303 (334) 792-6579
Vieux Carré 1204 Posey St. Huntsville, AL 35816 (256) 534-5970
Dothan Dance Club 2563 Ross Clark Cir. Dothan, AL 36301 (334) 792-5166 Club 322 322 N. Lawrence St. Montgomery, AL 36104 (334) 263-4322 Icon 516 Greensboro Ave. Tuscaloosa, AL 35401 (205) 345-3820 Al’s on Seventh 2627 7th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL 35233 (205) 321-2812 Our Place 2115 7th Ave. S. Birmingham, AL 35233 (205) 715-0077 Quest 416 24th St. S. Birmingham, AL 35233 (205) 251-4313
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Mississippi: Just Us Lounge 906 Division St. Biloxi, MS 39530 (228) 374-1007 Club Veaux 834 Howard Ave. Biloxi, MS 39530 (228) 207-3271 Bottoms Up 3911 Northview Dr. Jackson, MS 39206 (601) 981-2188 JC’s 425 North Mart Plaza Jackson, MS 39206 (601) 362-3108 Metro Reloaded 4670 Highway 80 W. Jackson, MS 39209 (601) 259-0661 Suga Shak 7684 Pine Springs Road Meridian, MS 39301 (601) 616-3069
Arkansas: Discovery/Triniti 1021 Jessie Rd. Little Rock, AR 72202 (501) 664-4784 (501) 664-2744 Pulse 307 W. 7th St. Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 374-3552 610 Center 610 Center St. Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 374-4678 Sway 412 Louisiana St. Little Rock, AR 72201 (501) 907-2582 Sidetracks 415 Main St. North Little Rock, AR 72114 (501) 244-0444 Jester’s 1010 E. Grand Ave. Hot Springs, AR 71901 (501) 624-5455 Club Kinkead’s 1004 1/2 Garrison Ave. Fort Smith, AR 72901 (479) 494-7477 The Chute 714 Laurel St. Texarkana, AR 71854 (870) 772-6900 Tangerine 21 N. Block Ave. Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 444-6100
Speakeasy 509 W. Spring St. Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 443-3279 Henri’s Just One More 19 1/2 Spring St. Eureka Springs, AR 72632 (479) 253-5795 Eureka Live 35 1/2 N. Main St. Eureka Springs, AR 72632 (479) 253-7020 Lumberyard Bar & Grill 105 E. Van Buren St. Eureka Springs, AR 72632 (479) 253-0400
Louisiana: Central Station 1025 Marshall St. Shreveport, LA 71101 (318) 222-2216 The Korner Lounge 800 Louisiana Ave. Shreveport, LA 71101 (318) 222-9796 Corner Bar 512 N. 3rd St. Monroe, LA 71201 (318) 329-0046 Club Pink 1914 Roselawn Ave. Monroe, LA 71201 (318) 654-7030 Olympus Bar 4003 MacArthur Dr. Alexandria, LA 71302 (318) 442-6735
Uniques Bar 3217 Industrial St. Alexandria, LA 71301 (318) 448-0555 Crystal’s 112 W. Broad St. Lake Charles, LA 70601 (337) 433-54 Jules Downtown 533 Jefferson St. Lafayette, LA 70501 (337) 264-8000 Tonic 2013 Pinhook Rd. Lafayette, LA 70501 (337) 269-6011 Cajun Cove 4550 Concord Ave. Baton Rouge, LA 70808 (225) 246-8317 George’s Place 860 Saint Louis St. Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (225) 387-9798 Hound Dogs 668 Main St. Baton Rouge, LA 70801 (225) 344-0807 Splash 2183 Highland Rd. Baton Rouge, LA 70802 (225) 242-9491 Drama Club/Act II 126 and 124 N. Hollywood Rd. Houma, LA 70364 (985) 580-2582/(985)8729997
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Club LAX 2301 N. Causeway Blvd Metairie, LA 70001 (504) 834-7979
The Country Club 634 Louisa St. New Orleans, LA 70117 (504) 945-0742
Rawhide 2010 740 Burgundy St. New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 525-8106
4 Seasons/ The Out Back Bar 3229 N. Causeway Blvd. Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 832-0659
Cutter’s 706 Franklin Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117 (504) 948-4200
Rubyfruit Jungle 1135 Decatur St. New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 373-5431
Double Play 439 Dauphine St. New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 523-4517
Orlando’s Society Page 542 N. Rampart St. New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 593-9941
Billy’s 2600 Hwy. 190 West Slidell, LA 70460 (985) 847-1921 Anything Geauxs 1540 W. Lindberg Dr. Slidell, LA 70458 (985) 643-2191 700 Club 700 Burgundy St. New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 561-1095 Big Daddy’s 2513 Royal St. New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 948-6288 Bourbon Pub & Parade 801 Bourbon St. New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 529-2107 Café Lafitte in Exile 901 Bourbon St. New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 522-8397 The Corner Pocket 940 St. Louis St. New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 568-9829
The Friendly Bar 2301 Chartres St. New Orleans, LA 70117 (504) 943-8929 JohnPaul’s 940 Elysian Fields Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117 (504) 944-1888 Le Roundup 819 St. Louis St. New Orleans, LA 70112 (504) 561-8340 Good Friends Bar 740 Dauphine St. New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 566-7191 Napoleon’s Itch 734 Bourbon St. New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 371-5450 Oz 800 Bourbon St. New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 593-9491 Phoenix/Eagle 941 Elysian Fields Ave. New Orleans, LA 70117 (504) 945-9264
Tubby’s Golden Lantern 1239 Royal St. New Orleans, LA 70116 (504) 529-2860
Tennessee: Tribe 1517-A Church St. Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 329-2912 Play Dance Bar 1519 Church St. Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 322-9627 Blue Gene’s 1715 Church St. Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 329-3508 Stirrup 1529 4th Ave. S. Nashville, TN 37210 (615) 782-0043 Canvas Lounge 1707 Church St. Nashville, TN 37203 (615) 320-8656
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Men of Pensacola Calendar Shoot Behind the Scenes
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Our readers are showing off their school spirit!
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Over 50 gay-owned and friendly businesses World class art community • Victorian architecture Energetic nightlife • Beautiful panoramic views Crystal clear lakes • Domestic partner registry Diversity Weekends & GLBT events year-round!
For an attractions and visitors guide call 866-947-4387 or visit www.eurekasprings.org