by Wally Sherwood
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA
SAVE A HORSE, RIDE A COWPOKE" is the motto for the popular Country and Western bar of the same name at the corner of St. Claude and Marigny. However, that is not entirely true, thanks to the International Gay Rodeo Association, which offers numerous opportunities to poke both cowboys and cowgirls. The circuit has been well underway since the first of the year, but the worldwide convention is set for July 26-29 in Long Beach and the international invitational rodeo is Oct. 18-21 in Palm Springs.
Otherwise, you can rope in Oklahoma City on May 25-27, Atlanta and Salt Lake City on June 1-3, San Jose on June 15-17, and Calgary and Omaha, June 29-July 1. Other rodeos scheduled are Albuquerque on Aug. 10-12, Sacramento on Aug. 17-19, Chicago on Aug. 24-26, Kansas City on Aug. 31-Sept. 2, Washington DC on Sept. 7-9, San Diego on Sept. 21-23 and Dallas on Nov. 9-11. For more details, write: 900 E. Colfax Ave., Denver, CO, 80218-1915; phone: 303.832.4472; fax: 303.860.9105; Web; or, e-mail: PatrickTerry@IGRA.com.
The fetish community of New Orleans has gained two more supporters. Lee Briggs, former treasurer of the infamous Chicago Hellfire Club, has moved down south from the Windy City. Leather craftsman John Wildermuth, who was active with a S/M club, the Society of Janus, while in San Francisco, has arrived by way of Portland, OR. And if you are already missing Mardi Gras, you might consider going to the Texas Conference of Clubs run over the Memorial Day weekend. The theme is "Masquerade Fantasy" and the guy to call is Danny Burden at 210.434.6498.
The Crescent City Outlaws will sponsor an evening uniform party and bust on May 19 at Cowpokes. Mr. Louisiana Olympus Leather, Butch Arnold, was unbelievable in pink and pansies for the Easter Sunday party at the Phoenix. The 735 Club hosted a piercing show. Joe and Rob were the superb chefs for the crawfish boil held by the New Orleans Bears for members and guests in the Venture-N patio. The Lords of Leather were not content with only one rush party, but held no less than three at Cowpokes, Four Seasons and the Phoenix - and are even planning another one in Baton Rouge.
WALLY'S SHORTS: It is nearly summer, but feels like New Year's Eve every Sat. at the Corner Pocket when Lisa Beaumann hosts the midnight male revue...Michael Hickerson, Tony Langlinais, Dr. Louise McFarland and Liz Simon were among those supporting the Feast of Love benefit for the Gay and Lesbian Center...Aletha Bryant, Michael Chase, Pat Ritter and Rick Thomas attacked the Quartermaster's delicious delights at the kick-off reception for the Gay Easter Parade at Oz...get-well wishes go out to Wayne Gibson, Pat O'Rourke and Wayne White.
May 12 and 13 are the dates for the Buzzy's Boys and Girls benefit sale from 10am until 4pm in the Tulle Shed behind the Friendly Bar...Le Roundup was festive for Marty's birthday bash and Felina's farewell party...Becky Allen, Cyndi Christian and John Hurlbert were at Feelings to help pay tribute to Lady B. J. Crosby...Blake Miller had the Country Club pack howling for more at a Dog-Gone Fashion Show to raise funds for the Jefferson SPCA...George, Norm, Phil and Wayne were among the many well-wishers singing "Happy Birthday!" to Clark at Big Daddy's.
The Krewe of Amon Ra held its spring rush party at Another Corner, while Petronius chose Voodoo at Congo Square...Lucille and Ms. Verona celebrated three years of ownership of the Golden Lantern, home of the Golden Age Revue...Mardi Gras man Henri Schinder, winner of the Book of the Year Award from Gulf South Booksellers, was duly honored at the Historic New Orleans Collection's champagne reception for the Tennessee Williams Festival.
Cast members of Showtime's Queer As Folk made a surprise visit to Oz...James Abel and Saul Gaston marked their first year together on Apr. 25...tickets are now on sale at Orlando's Society Page for the Krewe of Mwindo's annual Essence Raffle on June 23...the Mardi Gras Club served white chocolate bread pudding at its French Quarter Festival booth...Petronius will hold the krewe's Fiesta d'Mayo on May 20 at 1pm at Oz...Bill D., Kevin and Mark celebrated their birthdays at the Phoenix, and yours truly is the next one there on Mother's Day at 6pm, so please do stop by.
THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD: It is great that our fellow San Francisco writer, Armistead Maupin, is finally getting his Further Tales of the City aired Sun. at 8pm on Showtime. Right-wingers raised such a controversy when the original miniseries aired on PBS that the network was scared to attempt a sequel. We first met Maupin at a reception when he was a grand marshal for the Gay Freedom Parade and, this time around, he promises to tell all about his bed-hopping days including a tryst with the late Rock Hudson. And does anyone besides us remember that whenever Rock was in town, he always went by to see his boyfriend at the Bourbon Pub?
This munchin and Kevin Butler enlisted the help of some high-powered agents and advertised widely to find a better apartment that would accept our well-behaved mature cat, Kzin. Then we came in contact with Linda Robertson and immediately came to the end of the yellow brick road. If you need similar help, we recommend that you call her at Prudential Gardner, 504.282.3898, and say we sent you. You can now reach "Sherwood's Forest" at 2525 Rue Chartres, New Orleans, LA 70117-8608. The phone/fax number is still the same as at the top of this column, 504.949.0882.
