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100,000 Revelers Predicted
This Southern Decadence
Southern Decadence Grand Marshals Thom "Smurf" Murphy and Tony Langlinais predict 100,000 revelers this Southern Decadence [SD] holiday. Now in its 29th year, the end of summer celebration pumps in millions of dollars during New Orleans' Labor Day Weekend. Last year's crowd was estimated at 70,000 with a projected economic impact of some $35 million. If crowds reach 100,000 in 2000, the economic impact could well exceed $50 million. The projections are low averaging $500 for each visitor's 3-day holiday stay.
Police Dept. Hosts
Historic SD Meet
with
GLBT Business Leaders
For the first time in the history of Southern Decadence, the New Orleans Police Department, French Quarter 8th District, invited Quarter GLBT business leaders to meet with them. Ambush was approached early on by Officer Jim O'Hern who came to this publication for all of the history, events and info. available on Southern Decadence to orient the 8th District. Ambush gave all pertinent info. from its high traffic southerndecadence.com Web site and from Ambush Mag's extensive special events listings.
Officer O'Hern was joined at the meeting by Officer Mary L. Lathouwers. Both have been appointed 8th District liaisons to the Gay/ Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender community by 8th District Captain Ernie Demma. According to the letter issued by the police department, "...a meeting will be held to discuss Southern Decadence 2000. Business and community leaders are highly encouraged to attend.
"It is our goal to ensure a safe and enjoyable event for everyone. As Southern Decadence has grown over the years, the need for some community planning becomes more important. We want to insure that both visitors and residents are safe, and that residents of the French Quarter are left with a good feeling about this event."
The meeting addressed concerns over traffic control, street closures, points of contacts of key players, deployment of police personnel and signs on Gay bars.
This year the police department will close Bourbon Street between Orleans and St. Philip; St. Ann and Dumaine Streets between Royal and Dauphine beginning Friday, Sept. 1st 6pm or earlier each day until 6:30am through Monday, Sept. 4 at 6:30am. The department will request the city post no parking signs in those areas to protect property. This will not affect residents with off-street parking.
A slow moving patrol unit will provide police presence on a two-mile route approximately every eight minutes towards the edges of the Quarter. The police visibility is provided to deter robbery or crime/muggings in those areas and to protect visitors and residents alike.
Ambush, under the direction of Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XXVIII Thom "Smurf" Murphy and Tony Langlinais, filed the parade permit with 8th District administrative assistant Officer Dennis Gibliant. The annual parade route remains secret to the public as tradition dictates. Ambush and area GLBT businesses pay all parade fees.
EMS units will be on hand to handle any emergencies that may arise.
The 8th District also asks that Gay bars consider posting a sign which states, "this is a Gay Bar, please be nice or you will be asked to leave," so any visitors stumbling in unknowingly, will not have an excuse for being a nuisance.
Area businesses may contact the liaisons directly for questions or help during Decadence weekend. Officer Jim O'Hern and Officer Mary L. Lathouwers can be contacted at 565.7530.
See Southern Decadence Tips and Tricks on page 29 for visitor safety.
SD Parade Sept. 3rd, 2pm, Golden Lantern, Royal@Barracks
The 28th annual Southern Decadence Parade begins at Lucille's Golden Lantern, 1239 Royal at Barracks in the French Quarter. Always starting at 2pm sharp, this year's parade is Sun., Sept. 3rd. Southern Decadence Grand Marshals [SDGMs] XXVIII Thom "Smurf" Murphy and Tony Langlinais will lead the Taboo X 2: The Forbidden Pleasures Tour Parade. Murphy and Langlinais chose red, silver and black as their colors, "Man I Feel Like A Woman" as the Official Song and Bud Light as the Official Beer. See Special Events on page 46 for other Decadence activities.
Since the parade has grown so much, the City of New Orleans has required a parade permit for the past four years. The 2000 parade is sponsored, for the third year, by Ambush Mag and AmbushLINE, Bourbon Pub/Parade, Oz New Orleans, Wood Enterprises [Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Good Friends Bar, Rawhide 2010, Clover Grill and Poppy's Grill] and this year joined by 735 nightclub/bar. These Quarter businesses underwrote the entire parade permit fee.
Giant 108 Page Ambush
This giant 108 page edition of Ambush Mag brings readers some 82 pages advertising the hottest activities happening in New Orleans, Austin, TX, Baton Rouge, Harvey, Lafayette, Metairie and Pensacola, FL. This marks the largest edition ever printed by this publication. Ambush [Ambushmag.com] continues as Louisiana's only surviving tabloid, the only New Orleans Gay owned and operated tabloid, and the Gulf South's oldest and largest Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/ Transgender [GLBT] regional publication covering the lucrative Texas to Florida market.
Ambush has worked diligently with businesses, organizations and tourism officials striving to make the communities it serves as top GLBT destinations in the world. Ambush's success is largely due to its policy of inclusion representing all aspects of the GLBT community. Ambush does not discriminate against boy bar ads, leather bar ads or escort ads. The publication also gives hundreds of thousands of dollars each year back in services and monies through its AMgrant [Ambush Advertising Grant Program] to the communities which make Ambush possible.
And for you faux gossip columnists out there, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery; however, when ya'll are copying the content of Ambush ads, the special events calendar or other items for columns, please copy the facts correctly.
Drink, Dine, Shop;
Get a Hair Cut;
Tour or Workout in New Orleans
The Crescent City is renowned for its numerous drinking party establishments. In this issue of Ambush you will find numerous bar related activities centered around Southern Decadence. As you look through the ads, you are sure to find just the activity you want to experience this Labor Day Weekend.
Restaurants, grills and delis are in abundance as well. You'll want to visit the Bywater and try Bywater Bar-B-Que's great spicy BBQ and delicious poboys, and Lorenzo's fabu pizzas and calzones.
In the French Quarter, be sure and visit Andrew Jaeger's House of Seafood. This popular eatery has some great local favorites serving dinner nightly along with live music.
The upscale, snappy/casual Bombay Club's Shrimp Bombay Remoulade - jumbo Gulf shrimp with Chef Brian's special remoulade sauce - is must. The Coq Au Vin, slow roasted baby chicken in a cabernet sauvignon wine sauce with mushrooms & onions, is one of the most popular entrees; or, on the late night menu, the Bombay Burger on a Roll is the crowd favorite.
Cafe Sbisa's famous old N'awlins cookin' brings in the crowds nightly. Their annual Decadence Jazz Brunch is a must featuring Steve Marz on piano and Ken Weatherup on vocals.
Clover Grill's burgers and milk shakes are great 24 hours. House of Blues New Orleans specialties are not to be missed along with their fabu Sunday Gospel Brunch.
Krystal burgers and chili pups are a hit and the Krystal is Official Delivery Restaurant of Southern Decadence.
Lucky Cheng's exotic AmeriAsian cuisine is always good, but the drag diva waitresses are to-die-for fabu.
Mama Rosa's has giant muffelettas and was voted as one of the top 10 pizzas in the country.
Petunias' world's largest crepes and Cajun/Creole breakfasts/entrees are quite popular and this year, Petunias serves as Official Restaurant of Southern Decadence.
Poppy's Grill's breakfast and burgers are some of the best on St. Peter St.
Quarter Scene's innovative New Orleans cookin' is a must and this popular restaurant just received "Best Casual Breakfast in the Quarter" rating by the 2000 Zagat Survey.
Restaurant/Deli of the Year Quartermaster-The Nellie Deli's does great BBQ ribs and chicken fried steak.
And let's not forget shopping, every true queen's delight! Airline Adult Books in Kenner and sister store Chartres Street Conxxxion in the Quarter boasts some of the very best in adult films, novelties and gifts.
The Bourbon Strip-Tease boasts exotic clothing, sexy dance wear, plus adult gifts and toys.
Chi-wa-wa Ga-ga has great Decadence gear for that "dinky little dog" in your family.
GLBT Business of the Year Faubourg Marigny Books offers some of the best GLBT literary selections around and even has gift items, calendars and CDs.
French Quarter Camera can take care of all your one hour photo needs.
The Herb Import Company has herbal smoking blends, Magic Mushrooms and detox products.
Gargoyles Leather and Gargoyles Shoes has great leather/latex/vinyl and incredible drag pumps. And don't forget their brand new Leather Shop. Andre and Larry are gobbling up the whole 1200 block of Decatur where they're located.
Limbo is definitely the stop to find just that right Hidden Pleasures Tour drag ensemble complete with spiked heel pumps or boots, and let's not forget all that revealing circuit gear.
Paradise Adult Video in Kenner along with sister stores Hollywood Conxxxion in Houma, Planet X Video in New Orleans East and Slidell Adult Superstore in Slidell boasts a large selection of classic adult videos, DVDs, magazines, novelties and so much more.
Rab Dab Clothing and Gifts offers both black and white Southern Decadence 2000 T-shirts, as well as just the right skimpy attire those big ole beefy circuit boys like to wear, showing off those fab bods. Ask David about those dive in shorts Ambush is so crazy about. It's a must when you're searching for family jewels!
Royal Treasures boasts crystal, gifts, boas, masks, wings, sequins and rhinestones for big girls and divas.
Elayne Angel and her staff of friendly professionals can take care of all your body piercing needs and fill your order for just that right piece of jewelry.
Second Skin Leather is having a giant "Taboo X 2" blowout sale and soon will offer adult video rentals.
Serendipitous Masks has incredible jewelry and masks fit for any queen.
Something Different uptown is absolutely one of the best card and gift shops in town for the discriminating shopper.
Do you need help with hair? Brenda Laura's Salon Millennia is one of the best and even features former SDGM Robin Malta as one of this salon's hit stylist.
Garden District Tours begin daily at Igor's Lounge, 2133 St. Charles Ave. View the largest collection of antebellum homes in the U.S. and even see where Anne Rice and Trent Reznor live, plus visit Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 unless closed.
The Club New Orleans touts "5 floors of Heaven [no angels please]" for this Decadent holiday. The Club has the latest workout equipment to keep you circuit boys in tip top shape.
Accommodations/Casinos New Orleans
The Intercontinental Hotel actively courted Decadence revelers with a banner ad on the highly visible southerndecadence.com Web site, for the second year in a row. Part of the AMBUSHonLINE conglomerate, the sites total over 3.5 million hits and 375,000 unique visitors per month.
Not to be left out of the lucrative market, Harrah's New Orleans Casino on Canal Street bought a banner ad on southerndecadence.com and a full page full color ad in this issue of Ambush Mag for the first time.
The Hilton New Orleans Riverside also courted revelers with a spot on the A List at www.gayamerica.com, www.gayneworleans.com and www.crescentcity.com for three months.
Other online lodging services include A List regulars Big Easy/French Quarter Lodging, French Quarter Accommodation Service, and Old Town Inn New Orleans.
Big Easy Guest House is a great choice with continental breakfast offered and even boasts German spoken. It's only a 4 to 5 minute walk to the Quarter.
Royal Barracks Guest House regularly welcomes visitors to the Crescent City, featuring a hot tub, tropical courtyard, private baths and private entrances. Royal Barracks is one of the quaintest guest houses in the Quarter.
Big D's Bed & Breakfast is conveniently located to the Marigny bars, not far from the French Quarter.
Bon Maison Guest House and Bourgoyne Guest House are also excellent choices.
Other choices available online include Ariana Inn, Bigeasy.com Hotel Reservations, Easton House B&B, House of David, New Orleans Guest House and Royal Street Courtyard.
Visit gayneworleans.com/lodgingn.htm for more info. on these great lodging choices.
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