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Grand Marshals Predict 100,000 Revelers
Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XXIX Bianca Del Rio, Pat "Estelle" Ritter and Rick Thomas predict 100,000 revelers this Southern Decadence [SD] holiday. Now in its 30th year, the end of summer celebration pumps in millions of dollars during New Orleans' Labor Day Weekend.
The 29th Southern Decadence 2000 end-of-summer celebration brought out a record 91,000 revelers. The economic impact is believed to have surpassed $72 million for the local New Orleans economy.
Ambush contacted some 50 businesses following Decadence weekend to see if attendance and business was up this year over the '99 celebration. The 5 day holiday, Thurs., Aug. 31 - Mon., Sept. 4, 2000 saw attendance/business up on an average of 30 percent. Three businesses contacted were down slightly from 1999, four businesses did the same as 1999 and 26 businesses were up over 20 percent, as high as 40 percent and, in one case, a whopping 90 percent up over 1999.
In years past Ambush has calculated a modest $500 per person spending average. However, after questioning some 100 locals and 300 tourists during Decadence weekend, Ambush found the spending rates significantly higher. Accommodations, dining, social activities, gambling and shopping figured into the new conservative average of $800 per person.
The 100 locals questioned spent $350 up to $1,000, with over half spending $550 each during the five day period. Those on the higher end had also eaten out at least three times during the same period, while 26 of the locals questioned had visited Harrah's Casino at least once, with 7 visiting the casino 2 or more times.
The 300 tourists questioned spent $900, up to a whopping $2,500 for the five day period. Some were required to book a minimum of three days for accommodations while most were required to book a five day minimum. Over half spent between $1,200 - $1,500 each. The tourists dined out for all meals and 103 questioned visited Harrah's once while 23 visited the casino 2 or more times.
If crowds reach 100,000 in 2001, the economic impact could well exceed $80 million.
New Orleans Mayor Welcomes
Southern Decadence Visitors
New Orleans Mayor Marc H. Morial has issued a letter for the first time welcoming the Southern Decadence celebration. Mayor Morial acknowledges, " Exposure like this is particularly important to the businesses and residents of New Orleans. It gives us a chance to share with a large audience some of our grand style and culture."
Ambush, SDGMs, Gay Business Leaders
& City Officials Meet with Police Department
Ambush set up an informational meeting with Southern Decadence Grand Marshals, Gay French Quarter business leaders, city officials and the New Orleans Police Department, French Quarter 8th District, to discuss preparations for the Official Southern Decadence XXX celebration.
Officer Mary L. Lathouwers, GLBT liaison from the 8th District, was joined by 8th District Captain Ernie Demma for the meeting. According to Capt. Demma, "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, the elimination of public nudity, public sex and urination in the streets, plus points of contacts of key players, deployment of police personnel, and signs on Gay bars.
Larry Bagneris, Jr., Executive Director of the Human Relations Commission, and JoAnn Abbott Thaxton, Director of the Office of Mayor: Tourism & Arts, joined SDGM XXIX Pat "Estelle" Ritter [representing Voodoo and Ninth Circle] and representatives of Ambush, Le Roundup, Double Play, NO/AIDS Task Force, 735 nightclub/bar, Golden Lantern, Wood Enterprises, Corner Pocket and Oz.
This year the Street Department will close Bourbon Street between Orleans and St. Philip; St. Ann between Burgundy and Royal, and Dumaine between Royal and Dauphine beginning Fri., Aug. 31 12noon through Mon., Sept. 3 at 12noon. The department will 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 XXIX Bianca Del Rio, Pat "Estelle" Ritter and Rick Thomas, 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 8th District GLBT liaison directly for questions or help during Decadence weekend. Officer Mary L. Lathouwers can be contacted at 565.7530.
See Southern Decadence Tips and Tricks on page 14 for visitor safety.
No Public Nudity, Sex
or Urination in the Streets Allowed
Locals are asked to assist with this year's Southern Decadence blowout by asking other locals and visitors not to participate in public nudity, public sex or public urination. Please take these functions inside, and whatever you do, play safe. Revelers could be arrested and spend their entire Labor Day Weekend in jail.
SD Parade Sept. 2, 2pm,
Golden Lantern, Royal@Barracks
The 29th annual Southern Decadence Parade celebrating Official Southern Decadence XXX 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. 2. Southern Decadence Grand Marshals [SDGMs] XXIX Bianca, Estelle & Rick will lead the Menage A Trois Parade. The trio chose purple, pink and red as their colors, "Lady Marmalade" as their song and Miller Lite/Foster's and Smirnoff as their sponsors. See Special Events on page 60 for other Decadence activities.
Since the parade has grown so much, the City of New Orleans has required a parade permit for the past five years. The 2001 parade is sponsored by Golden Lantern, MRB, Le Roundup, Double Play, Corner Pocket, Orlando's Society Page, Ninth Circle, Voodoo, Rawhide, Good Friends, Bourbon Pub/Parade, 735 nightclub/bar, Oz New Orleans, Ambush and Cafe Lafitte's in Exile. These Quarter businesses underwrote the $1,265.25 fee which covered both the parade permit and police officer charges for the parade.
Giant 112 Page Ambush
This giant 112 page edition of Ambush Mag brings readers some 84 pages advertising the hottest activities happening in New Orleans; Austin, Galveston and Houston, TX; Baton Rouge, Gretna, Lafayette and Metairie, LA; 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.
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/Lorenzo's great spicy BBQ, delicious poboys, fabu pizzas and calzones.
In the French Quarter, be sure and visit the Alpine for Cajun and Creole delights serving lunch and dinner daily with breakfast buffet on weekends.
Andrew Jaeger's House of Seafood and Andrew Jaeger's Back Kitchen serve great local favorites.
The upscale, snappy/casual Bombay Club's Shrimp Bombay Remoulade - jumbo Gulf shrimp with its special remoulade sauce - is a 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 a Jazz trio.
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 they deliver.
Petunias' world's largest crepes and Cajun/Creole breakfasts/entrees are quite popular, but get there early 'cause there's always long lines.
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 2001 Zagat Survey.
Quartermaster-The Nellie Deli's does great BBQ ribs, chicken fried steak, other plate lunches, sandwiches and salads.
Secret Garden boasts local favorites, great seafood, nightly specials and fabu desserts.
And let's not forget shopping, every true queen's delight! Alternatives has great gift ideas, its Southern Decadence T-shirts and other SD wear.
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.
Big Girls Don't Cry has those jumbo petite sizes 16-3X. You can find great hats, jewelry and clothing here.
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.
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 Leather Shop. Andre and Larry are gobbling up the whole 1200 block of Decatur where they're located.
Maskarade boasts masks, jewelry and great gift ideas.
Queen Fashions is your Southern Decadence drag headquarters with absolutely fabulous heels, clothing and wigs.
Rab Dab Clothing and Gifts offers its Southern Decadence 2001 T-shirt, as well as just the right skimpy attire those big ole beefy circuit boys like to wear, showing off those buff bods.
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. And here exclusively you can get a third dimensions' brand new 3D adult greeting cards.
Do you need help with hair? Brenda Laura's Hair Asylum is one of the best and even features former SDGM Robin Malta as one of this salon's hit stylist.
Vieux Carre' and St. Charles Visitor Centers offer discounts on Swamp, Air Boat, Plantation, Historic French Quarter, Ghost and Voodoo/Cemetery tours if you mention you saw it here in Ambush.
Cajun Pride Tours offers a variety of tours various hours each day.
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.
Flex New Orleans is the city's newest spa complete with a full gym, sauna, steam room, snack bar, hot tubs and so much more.
Accommodations
Hotel accommodations can be booked right online through any of the AMBUSHonLINE Web sites by clicking on its "Get A Room" banner. The sites register over 3.5 million hits and 375,000 unique visitors per month.
Other on-line lodging services include A List regulars Big Easy/French Quarter Lodging, French Quarter Accommodation Service, and Old Town Inn New Orleans.
Angevin House is only seven blocks from the Quarter and is one of the city's quaintest B&Bs.
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.
Bon Maison Guest House and Bourgoyne Guest House are also excellent choices.
Other choices available online include Ariana Inn, Bigeasy.com Hotel Reservations, House of David, La Maison Montblanc, New Orleans Guest House and Royal Street Courtyard.
Visit here for more info. on these great lodging choices.
Miller Lite/Foster's, Harrah's New Orleans Casino
& Absolut Promote Official SD XXX
Miller Lite/Foster's, Harrah's New Orleans Casino and Absolut through extensive sponsorship agreements have assisted in the promotion of Official Southern Decadence XXX. As Official Beer, Casino and Vodka of SouthernDecadence.COM respectively, the three companies cosponsored the full page full color ads appearing in Ambush Mag since June promoting the giant New Orleans holiday. The three companies also sponsor the Official Southern Decadence Web site with individual banner ads, "worth their blinks in gold," according to one Atlanta critic.
So when you order a drink this holiday weekend, make it a Miller Lite, Foster's or Absolut, and support these businesses who have supported Southern Decadence.
And don't forget Harrah's New Orleans Casino on Canal Street. It is a favorite spot for both locals and visitors, and the Mr. Louisiana Leather Contest will be held here Sat., Sept. 1.
Submission Set For Sun., Sept. 2nd
at the Municipal Auditorium
Johnny Chisholm, in association with Oz, will present Submission, the first circuit party to be held Labor Day Weekend at the Municipal Auditorium, adjacent to the French Quarter. Submission is set for Sun., Sept. 2nd from 9pm to 4am featuring internationally known circuit DJ Manny Lehman. Chisholm has made quite a name for himself throughout the circuit world for his first class party endeavors. With Abracadabra and Beach Maneuvers in Pensacola, One Mighty Party in Orlando and Icon in South Beach under his belt, Chisholm is noted for producing some of the best parties on the circuit. Last year, Abracadabra was voted Circuit Party of the Year in the Gulf South. Miller Lite and Ambush, sponsors in most of Chisholm's parties, continue on as sponsors for Submission. This circuit party should bring even more revelers to town for the giant Southern Decadence weekend celebration, Aug. 31st-Sept. 3rd.
Tickets are $50 in advance available, through Aug. 31, at ozneworleans.com on the Internet only. The After Hours Party will follow at Oz, 4am-9am, with DJ Barry Harris. Your Submission ticket stub will get you half price admission to the After Hours Party.
5th Southern Decadence Survivors Bar Run
on Labor Day, Mon., Sept. 3
Cruise Director Ted Mahaffy returns again to lead the 5th Official Southern Decadence Survivors' Underwear Bar Run on Labor Day, Mon., Sept. 3, 1pm. The event kicks off at the home bar of late SDGM XXI Ms. Fly, the Corner Pocket, 940 St. Louis St. Mahaffy will then lead the run to Double Play, Orlando's Society Page, Ninth Circle, Voodoo, TT's, Cowpokes, Phoenix ending at the Golden Lantern, Mahaffy's home bar.
SDGMs XXIX Estelle, Bianca and Rick are planning to join the fun filled afternoon, as previous Grand Marshals have. Although this is usually a locals event, SD revelers and guests are invited to join the madness.
As an added bonus, Ninth Circle at Congo Square will host its $10,000 Cash Raffle Drawing for the $2,000 and $1,000 winners when the bar run stops in, benefiting Buzzy's Boys & Girls.
Graham Studio One
Southern Decadence Poster Series Exhibition
at Golden Lantern
Finally, a tangible, visual and lasting tribute to Southern Decadence, and its current and former Grand Marshals, Graham, the photographer of GRAHAM STUDIO ONE fame, has produced what surely will become an important tradition in celebrating Southern Decadence. He has lent his formidable talent to produce a series of photographic posters featuring the Grand Marshals. Although many more will soon be added to the series, part of the exhibit can now be seen at LUCILLE'S - GOLDERN LANTERN, 1239 Royal St., New Orleans. (Where it all began.) The poster series titled "GRAHAM CELEBRATING SOUTHERN DECADENCE," contains some of the most colorful and spirited of the Grand Marshals, including this year's Menage a Trios - featuring ESTELLE, BIANCA DEL RIO and RICK THOMAS in their splendid HOLLYWOOD theme.
The exhibit will soon grow thanks to GRAHAM being able to set up an on-site studio during the recent Grand Marshals' luncheon. Some former Grand Marshals came this year from New York, Florida, and several different cities and were immortalized by Graham's camera.
The posters are signed and numbered by the photographer and limited to 50 copies each. Each is 11"x17" . Twenty-five percent of all sales is being donated to FOOD FOR FRIENDS, the charitable choice of the current Grand Marshals. The posters may be purchased at $25 each directly from Graham Studio One via their Web site; or by calling the studio at 504.943.0037.
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