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by Eric A. Crabtree
AUSTIN, TEXAS

July 4th Picnic hosted By Austin Tavern Guild

The Austin Tavern Guild (ATG) will host the annual Fourth of July Picnic from 12 noon till 6pm at Waterloo Park for our Gay and Lesbian community. The picnic is open to all to come out and have fun. Each member affiliated with ATG will sponsor either food or drink booths, live bands, recorded music and decorations / tents. Members will also be selling donated T-shirts. Proceeds from the day go to benefit local charities in our community. The afternoon will highlight competitive volleyball tournaments between the bars and clubs with trophies to be awarded. For the pet lovers, there will be a pet contest hosted by Margie's Grooming and Boarding (5701 Burnet Rd., 512.451.3243) for prizes. Competition categories include the best Gay Pet, Pet That Looks Most Like Owners, Prettiest Pet and of course, Ugliest.

Members of the ATG who will be proudly hosting the picnic include Ambush Magazine 2000, 'Bout Time, Charlie's Austin, Dick's Deja Disco, Midtowne Spa, Oilcan Harry's, Rainbow Cattle Company, Rhythm House, Splash Video Bar, The Edge, The Forum, The United Court of Austin, and our newest members, Tropical Heat Caf‚ and the 1920's Club. Corporate sponsor of the Picnic includes Centex Beverage - Miller Brewing Company.

DIGG Spring 1998 CD Released

The newly released DIGG, spring 1998 compilation CD, is now available for one's listening and dancing pleasure. The CD is the master works complied, mixed and edited by DJ Michael Brown of Chain Drive and a Video DJ of Splash Video Bar. DIGG features popular music that includes "Give Me Love" - DJ Dado vs. Michelle Weeks, "Frozen" -Madonna, "You Only Have To Say You Love Me" - Hannah Jones, "I'm Gonna Luv U" - Summer Junkies, "Until the Day" - Funky Green Dogs, "A Little Too Fast" - Bumpee, "Bad Girls" - Burger Queen, "Catch Me" -The Absolute, "Into You" - Force Mass Motion, "Repeated Love" - A.T.G.O.C and "Right Now" -Ispirazione.

The DIGG CD may be obtained at Alien Records located at 501 West 15th St., in Austin, TX and coming soon to stores in Chicago, San Francisco and New York. One may obtain additional info by contacting Michael Brown, Rocko Records (rockorecords@hotmail.com) at 1712B Enfield Rd., Austin, TX 78703 or by calling at 512.457.9624.

TGRA Awards Funds For Local Charities

On June 6 the local Texas Gay Rodeo Association (TGRA) held their monthly meeting in Austin where the chapter met at `Bout Time to disperse yearly funds for local charities, which received $1847.12 each, raised by TGRA benefits from 1997. These charities include ALLGRO, Pediatric Aids League (PAL), Out Youth Austin, Project Transitions and the Center for Battered Women, now known as Safe Place. TGRA member, Wayne Marion commented, "TGRA raises money throughout the year to support our local charities to try and make Austin a better and caring place." Wayne may be found cooking every Sun. at `Bout Time with hamburgers from 5-8pm benefiting TGRA Charities.

Miss Gay Austin America Pageant Crowns Winner

Miss Austin 1996 & 1997 Scarlett Leigh, recently crowned Aspen Tyler from Dallas as Miss Gay Austin America 1998. The Pageant was hosted by Paul Parkinson Productions and Top of the Marc, and kicked off the La Cage Follies featured every Mon. at 8pm benefiting Project Transitions, Inc. There were over 300 people watching six contestants compete in evening gown, creative fashion, talent and on stage question. Miss Nacha Type from Charlie's Austin was crowned First Alternate. Both Aspen and Nacha will represent Austin at the Miss Gay Texas Pageant in Sept. The Austin Pageant is the preliminary to this pageant.

Presiding over the evening's events were Miss Gay Texas America 1997-1998 Kofi, and promoters Paul Parkinson, Miss Ashley Collins and Tim Mangham. The evening's climax was Miss Leigh's presentation of the first Nicole Living Legend Award to Miss Gay U. S. of A., Lauren Taylor, and her partner Tom Kidwell. Both Lauren and Tom have provided the community in outstanding efforts in female impersonation. Lauren is a regular at the La Cage Follies, which has set a goal to raise $50,000 for Project Transitions, Inc. The night of the Miss Gay Austin American Pageant raised over $1,900.

Austin Gay Pride Week - Loud and Proud

Austin Gay Pride Week was very loud and proud with a host of activities held around the city. The Capital City Men's Chorus (CCMC) featured a concert entitled "Together in Pride" and was quite a success. Cornerstone Community Center (Austin Gay and Lesbian Center) hosted an open house with a wine and cheese reception along with a tour of the newly updated facility. Cornerstone now features the Out Youth Jerry Strickland Library full of Gay and Lesbian topics for anyone interested. For more information on Cornerstone, visit their great web site at http://www.cornerstonecenter.org/ or by calling 512.708.1515.

The week continued with many dances hosted around the city. Club Skirt held the first Pride Dance for the women at Fiesta Gardens. Their next event will be held on Sat., Aug. 29. For the guys, there was the Austin Men's Party (AMP) hosted at Zilker Clubhouse with their next event planned for Sun., June 28 from 7-10pm. Both parties benefit Cornerstone Community Center. Other dances around the city included the Project Transitions 3rd Annual Texas Swing Dance, the Mostly Music Marathon held at First Unitarian Church, Out Youth's Eighth Annual Alternative Prom and the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas (LGRL) Women's Dance.

Around the city in the clubs, the Forum hosted their Red, White and You Party for the City of Hope Foundation, while Charlie's Austin featured great dancers, music and their Super Sunday Show. Rainbow Cattle Company held their Proud and Loud Gay Pride Show. Up at 'Bout Time, the Texas Gay Rodeo Association (TGRA) featured a benefit show. Also at 'Bout Time, the Miss Universal Thang finals were held benefiting Project Transitions with the crowning of Miss Mexico, Ima Caliente. Oilcan Harry's had packed crowds with their dancers and great music while The Edge crowned Mr. and Mrs. Gay Pride Hawaiian Luau wrapping up their Pride Week Luau. Dick's pulled in the men with their featured hot men in showers and great music.

Over at Chain Drive it was Pride and great times. The Drive continues to host cookouts every Sun. from 5-9pm benefiting Pediatric Aids League, (PAL) HIV Wellness Center and Project Transitions. The brunches of both Rhythm House and the 1920's Club packed in the buffet Sun. crowds. Of course, Pride was not complete without the rumored fun experienced at Midtowne Spa. Pride Week wrapped up with the Lesbian and Gay Rights Lobby of Texas (LGRL) yearly Gay Pride Festival. The highlights included performances by local bands, Capital City Men's Chorus and the fun and wild antics of the Austin Babtist Women. Fantastic pride fellowship was had by all during the day despite the competition of some of our community heading over to see Olivia Newton John and Kool and the Gang perform at South Park Meadows.

Quick Tea Tales Of Queers

Congratulations and good luck go out to Randy Cunniff on opening our newest club, Splash Video Bar located at 4th & Brazos. The bar is spectacular with those videos! Check `em out. Welcome bartender Kindell at Dick's now for Happy Hour. Need a job? Apply at Rainbow Cattle Company for bar backs, part-time bartenders and doormen. If you have not realized by now, Ambush is Austin's fastest growing and most popular Gay and Lesbian publication. This edition marks our 15th issue covering the Capital City and we would simply like to say thank you for your continued readership and support. C ya at Waterloo on the 4th and play safe! Eric

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