What's Hot? - Ambush Mag

what's hot?
Volume 22/Issue 18/2004



by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain
Visit their site: ripandmarsha.com

Giant 104 Page Ambush
This giant 104 page edition of Ambush Mag brings readers some 85 pages advertising the hottest activities happening in New Orleans; Austin, TX; Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Metairie, LA. This marks the third year as the largest edition printed by this publication. Some 175 businesses, both Gay and Gay friendly chose to advertise this year. Ambush [AmbushMag.COM] is the Gulf South’s oldest and largest Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender [GLBT] regional publication covering the lucrative Texas to Florida market since 1982.
The magazine serves as Official Southern Decadence Guide while AmbushOnLine’s SouthernDecadence.COM serves as the original, oldest and only Official Website of Southern Decadence dedicated to the preservation of the history and traditions of Southern Decadence in New Orleans since 1972.
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. 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.

SDGM XXXII Donnie "Jager" Jay

Over 120,000 Revelers Expected for SD XXXIII
Official Southern Decadence XXXIII: A Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture, is expected to bring in over 120,000 revelers, the same estimated figure as last year’s weeklong celebration. It is believed that the 2003 economic impact could have well exceeded $96 million, based on an $800 per person conservative spending average.
Although this is the 33rd Southern Decadence celebration, this is actually the 32nd parade and only the 31st year with a grand marshal.
The mayor’s office, city council, police department, sanitation department, streets department and local businesses have worked together to ensure that visitors and locals will enjoy a safe Southern Decadence.
SD Parade Sun., Sept. 5th
The 32nd Annual Southern Decadence Parade celebrating Official Southern Decadence XXXIII 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. 5th. Southern Decadence Grand Marshal [SDGM] XXXII Donnie "Jager" Jay will lead the parade. The 2004 theme is Daydreams & Fantasies: Welcome To My Harem and this year’s colors are the electric blue, silver and black.
Since the parade has grown so much, the City of New Orleans has required a parade permit for the past eight years.
Seventeen area businesses have underwritten the cost of the $990.25 parade permit and fees for the police officers required for the parade. Special thanks to the 2004 Parade Sponsors: Golden Lantern, Petunias, Le Roundup, Double Play, Corner Pocket, Orlando’s Society Page, Ninth Circle, Voodoo, 7th Circle, Starlight By The Park, Quarter Scene Restaurant, Good Friends Bar, Bourbon Pub/Parade, Napoleon's Itch, Oz, Ambush, and Cafe Lafitte in Exile.
SouthernDecadence.COM Hosts the Official Sponsors of Southern Decadence
This year all of the Official Sponsors of Southern Decadence are hosted on the Official Southern Decadence Website, Southern-Decadence.COM. SDGM XXXII Donnie "Jager" Jay chose Jagermeister as the Official Shot of Southern Decadence; Bud Light as the Official Beer of Southern Decadence, the Bourbon Orleans Hotel as the Official Hotel of Southern Decadence and SouthernDecadence.COM as the Official Website of Southern Decadence.
Through sponsorship agreements promoting Official Southern Decadence in advertising, web and promotional support, Harrah's is the Official Casino of Southern Decadence, D-Dance is the Official Circuit Party of Southern Decadence, and Ambush Mag is the Official Guide of Southern Decadence.
Promotional Partners include GayNewOrleans.COM, Oz, House of Blues, Petunias, GayAmerica.COM, GayBars.COM, GayMardiGras.COM, HalloweenNewOrleans.COM and Gay EasterParade.COM.
Harrah’s New Orleans Casino Continues to Promote SD
Harrah’s New Orleans Casino, through extensive sponsorship agreements has assisted in the promotion of Official Southern Decadence XXXIII. As Official Southern Decadence Casino, the company cosponsored the full page full color ads appearing in Ambush promoting the giant New Orleans holiday, along with the magazine and SouthernDecadence.COM. The company also sponsors the Official Southern Decadence Website with an individual banner ad, "worth their blinks in gold," according to one Atlanta critic.
So please support the businesses who have supported Southern Decadence. Harrah’s New Orleans Casino on Canal Street is a favorite spot for both locals and visitors.
Drink, Dine, Shop; Get a Hair Cut or Workout for SD
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 see Chop Chop for Ambush’s dining recommendations.
Of course shopping is every true Queen’s delight! Flip through the ads or look in the Classified listings in the center Expose section of Ambush for retail/shopping, bookstores, florists, galleries, gardening, hair/wig salons, laser hair removal, laundries, lodging/accommodations, massage, models/escorts, museum/arts, organizations, pharmacies, photography, real estate, receptions/halls, services, spas, theatres, tattoos/piercings and websites.
Tony Moran Headlines
D-Dance at SD
Superstar DJ Tony Moran headlines D-Dance Saturday Night (735 Bourbon) at this year’s Southern Decadence.
Back by popular demand, this year’s circuit party promises to be the hottest ticket in town. The combination of DJ and producer Tony Moran along with a new venue, lighting and laser experience makes this one hot ticket! The event is produced entirely by volunteers with two goals in mind: giving you one hell of a party, and raising funds for the NO/AIDS Task Force (100% of the event’s proceeds benefit the community-based AIDS service organization). Don’t miss this Southern Decadence event from 11pm – 4am on Sat., Sep. 4th You can purchase your tickets at the following ticket outlets: 735 Bourbon, 735 Bourbon Street; Second Skin Leatherm 521 St. Philip Stree, and Iberville Suites, 910 Iberville Street.
No doubt, Tony’s a whiz behind the turntables but what is sure to come as surprise to many is that Tony SINGS! Yes, that sweet voice you hear on Tony’s latest release, The Promise, belongs to Moran!   We spoke with him in his studio in New York.
AMBUSH: Bravo! You never cease to amaze, Tony. The original The Promise was released by When In Rome in the late 80s. What inspired you to re-record the hit song?
Tony: I tried to get the original version to use as a bonus classic on my Winter party cd but they refused to license it to me. I loved the song so much that I decided to go into the studio and sing it myself. I felt I could do it justice.
AMBUSH: Have you gotten any feedback from the members of When In Rome?
Tony: We did hear from them after the promotional copies were sent out. They didn’t want me to release the song because they’re planning to put out their own 2004 version. Whatever. I’ll always be a fan of the original version, but I am also proud of the one that I’ve done and we’ll just have to let the dance floor decide the rest.
AMBUSH: So you’ve already conquered producing and DJing – is singing next?
Tony: I love to sing. No Question. But it’s not part of some unrealized dream for me. I am in a great space right now and I am not afraid to try different things or to expose myself in different ways. To DJ again has revitalized me in ways that I had never expected it to. I can’t believe that I pushed it to the side for so long and if singing threatened to do that again I would rather give up singing on records. Djing and producing is and will remain #1 for me.
AMBUSH: And will you play The Promise at D-Dance?
Tony: You bet!
The Promise is available in stores nationwide, including Virgin, FYE, SPEC*s Music, Camelot, and online at www.centaurmusic.com. For more info on Tony, visit www.djtonymoran.com and catch him live at D-Dance Sept. 4th!
Oz Promotes Southern Decadence Events
You can always keep abreast of the latest information and updates for the giant Southern Decadence blowout on the Oz website at OzNewOrleans.COM. You can learn about the rich and colorful history of this event at SouthernDecadence.COM. It’s truly a New Orleans original ... more than just a "gay" version of Mardi Gras (site hosted by Ambush Magazine).
Martha Wash and Jeanie Tracy will appear live in a FREE Concert Sat., Sept. 4 at 5pm. This is a Southern Decadence first! Presented by Napoleon’s Itch, the new club in The Bourbon Orleans Hotel, the free outdoor concert is on Bourbon Street at the corner of St. Ann! Martha Wash is the legendary diva with some of the most recognizable dance and pop hits of the 80s and 90s, including It’s Raining Men. Jeannie Tracy is the classic dance diva with many hits to her credit, including one of this summer’s anthems, Cha Cha Heels, remixed by Ralphie Rosario.  And you can watch it all from the Oz balcony!
The incredible, hot, sexy and sultry beautiful Men of Manwatch will be dancing on the Oz bartops all weekend long. Check them out, starting Wed., Sept 1, at noon through Monday night!
The "official" parade starts Sunday at 2pm in front of the Golden Lantern on Royal Street and winds its way through the Quarter ... the crowds all day inside and outside of Oz will be huge!
Oz Southern Decadence Schedule of Events includes:

SDGM XXXII Donnie "Jager" Jay

Wednesday, 11:30pm, Official Southern Decadence Kickoff Drag Show featuring Southern Decadence Grand Marshall XXXII Donnie Jay;
Thursday, Drag Queen BINGO, 6pm, followed by Miss Queen Fashion Pageant, then Blanche de Bris and the Oz Calendar Boy Contest at midnight (NO COVER!);
Friday night, DJ Alyson Calagna, midnight ‘til;
Sat. night, TWIRL GIRL! Grab your Pussy and Scream Dance Party, DJ Abel spins from midnight ‘til;
Sunday, One Night in Heaven Dance Party featuring DJ Barry Harris from midnight ‘til; and
Monday, DJ Joe Gauthreaux, 6pm until midnight.
The DJ linup for the weekend also includes Raymond Mattix, Mary Pappas and Tim Pflueger.
Decadence Kickoff Show at Oz: "Illusions" featuring special guest performer Southern Decadence Grand Marshall Donnie Jay and the Great Oz Cast! Wednesday, September 1 — showtime 11:30.
FAB Fashion, Art Show & Sidewalk Sale Sept. 4th
FAB, Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen Street, proudly salutes Southern Decadence 2004 and with a FAB Fashion and Art Show and Sidewalk Sale. This event is Sat., Sept. 4 from 6pm til 10pm. Come enjoy our special evening DECADENCE FASHION sale of creative dress and accessories for the Decadence scene from top local designers and vintage dealers. Come get your deliciously fun drag, hats, shoes, jewelry, and whatever on Frenchmen Street. Art will also be on the street Saturday night. Peter Devine will be signing his Marigny/Bywater landmark photos and Kevin R. Roberts will be selling his Legendary Bars and New Orleans Restaurant posters.
View the 2004 DECADENCE ART SHOW from Noon till 7 PM daily at the former site of the Faubourg Marigny Bookstore, one of our oldest gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender bookstores.
FAB proprietor Otis Fennell is featuring his Naked Men Underwater color photos taken in pools around the Marigny and Bywater including The Country Club. Other oversized poster prints of naked men are in the shop.
Raven De Waters and CayC Wolff’s color and digitally manipulated photos of nude women are on display.
The warm watercolor and charcoal nude female drawings from Nicole Roche are available for viewing.
Broussard’s charcoal male drawings are also featured as are Andras Konya’s and Brad Dupuy’s nude male paintings. Peter Mars retrospective portrayal of James Dean is in the gallery. Also showing are the transgender drawings by Sharon Brown, presenting a very striking look at nude transgender models.
FAB invites artists to submit examples of their work by visiting the shop and encourages residents to come celebrate and support local creative talent.

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