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The Social Scene
Irish Mike Drags for SDGM XXX Press Party: New Southern Deca- dence Grand Marshal [SDGM] XXX Irish Mike Sheehan invited selected guests to his press party hosted upstairs at the Parade, 801 Bourbon St. Rumors were floating around before the event that it was going to take Irish Mike some three hours to get dressed for the blowout. What a surprise when guests arrived to find this grand marshal in high drag! Certainly unexpected, it did cause quite a stir.
When we asked about Mike's stage name, one fan told us a name. So when we had the opportunity to introduce the grand marshal, we did so, and introduced him as that stage name. Mike went wild and told us he'd kill us if we used that name. He said this was his one and only time in drag and that he was "Irish" Mike!
So, of course now we all know it's Irish Mike whether he chooses to show his "femme" or "butch" side! Ya know the Official Southern Decadence Paparazzi has to stay on the good side of the grand marshal, so we try to honor his requests.
But let's get back to the party. Guests were able to mingle for two hours greeting old friends and meeting new ones. Many of the businesses were well represented including Blanche DeBris and Phil Marino of Oz, Chuck Turner and Doc of Double Play/Four Seasons/Angles/Billy's, Blake Miller and Ken of Country Club, Peter Thomas and Hoyle Byrd of Petunias, Michael Elias and Don Russell of the Corner Pocket, former grand marshals Rick Thomas and Tony Langlinais of Ninth Circle, Tom Frese and Mario Manzo of Club 735, Blake McBride of Bourbon Pub/Parade, Ken Grandpre and Ken French of Wood Enterprises, Kenneth Matherne of Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Brenda Laura of Hair Asylum, former grand marshal Pat Ritter of Voodoo and the Miller Lite gang, who is one of the sponsors of the grand marshal.
Crescent City Outlaws Names Best Chest Winners: The Cres- cent City Outlaws were up next with their club night at Cowpokes, 2240 St. Claude. Excitement was in the air as the gang here was getting ready for the Best Chest Contest. Seven men competed for the Best Male Chest including George, Mike, Matthew, Eric, 2 Chris's and Bruce, and one for Best Female Chest, Anissa. Well, ya'll know Best Female was our girl friend and the Whiz's own Anissa, but Bruce won Best Male. Crescent City Outlaws member Mike Murray of Bywater Bar.B.Que/Lorenzo's donated a gift basket to each winner.
Phoenix Celebrates Its 20th: Up next was the Phoenix, 941 Elysian Fields, celebrating its 20th Anniversary blowout with "20 Years of Broadway." The crowd was so huge here that it was almost impossible to get one more body in this place. The show opened with three members of the New Orleans Gay Men's Chorus singing live. This was followed as Phoenix bar baron Jamie Temple took to the stage with Catt dazzling and terrorizing this festive crowd. Former King Cake Queen and Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Smurf Murphy was celebrity emcee bringing over 20 acts to the stage including Rotunda, former SDGM Olive, Dauphney Up, Ghetto Girl Bruce, Ursuline Burgundy, Marcy Marcell, Red Velour, Donnie Jay, Eva Las Vegas, Miss Vicky and a bevy of other talented beauties.
It's Sunday with Ted at the Golden Lantern: After a marvelous brunch at Marigny Brasserie, 640 Frenchmen, it was a short walk up to see Bartender of the Year Top 5 nominee Ted Mahaffy over at the Golden Lantern, 1239 Royal. Bar baron Ms. Verona was slung up at the bar with some of the Lantern's other more colorful regulars. It's always fun to see what gossip "Miss Vicky" has to offer, or some insight into the previous evening's activities. Yes, Ted had a delightful time mimicking Eva over at the Phoenix Anniversary Show, which went over like a lead balloon, since Ghetto Girl Bruce had stolen the show right before Ted hit the stage.
But let's get back to the Lantern. You know a visit there is not complete without the wise cracks spewing from the legendary Winston, who will be having his big birthday blowout on Aug. 18 at the Lantern. And if you're lucky enough to get Winston and Lucille at the bar at the same time, there's sure to be fireworks since both are noted for not being opinionated at all. Yeah! Right?!
Drag Bingo Highlights Sippin' with the Sisters: It was off to the land of Oz, Dance Bar and Show Bar of the Year Oz, that is. Sun. afternoons, it's Sippin' with the Sisters featuring showgirls Blanche DeBris and Nikki Rich upstairs at Oz's famous Bloody Mary Bar.
While enjoying the shenanigans of Blanche and Nikki, superstar Bianca Del Rio does Drag Bingo downstairs where both floors play for prizes. Every time there's a break between bingo play, Blanche is busy "reading balls" while poor Nikki is covering for the old girl behind the bar. Once game play begins, all attention returns as Bitch of the Year Bianca does her nasty, hysterical monologue. All this fun, and in the Z bingo game, we even won a dinner for two at Belle Forche', 1407 Decatur. But of course, Bianca said the dinner for two was only enough for Rip ...guess you'll have to leave Marsha at home!
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