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Over 70,000 Expected
This Southern Decadence
Revelers are expected to reach 70,000 this Southern Decadence holiday. Now in its 28th year, the end of summer celebration pumps in millions of dollars during New Orleans' Labor Day Weekend. Last year's crowd was estimated at 60,000 with a projected economic impact of some 30 million dollars. If crowds reach 70,000 in 1999, the economic impact could well exceed 35 million. The projections are low averaging $500 for each visitor's 3-day holiday stay.
SD Parade Sept. 5th, 2pm,
Golden Lantern, Royal@Barracks
The 27th 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. 5th. Southern Decadence Grand Marshal [SDGM] XXVII Errol Rizzuto will lead the Dark Lady Tour: Dissidents of Decadence Parade. Rizzuto chose black and silver as his colors and Bud Light as 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 three years. The 1999 parade is sponsored, for the second year, by Ambush Mag and Ambush-onLINE, Bourbon Pub and Parade, Oz New Orleans and Wood Enterprises [Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Good Friends Bar, Rawhide 2010, Clover Grill and Poppy's Grill.] These Quarter businesses underwrote the $625 parade permit fee. 
Giant 98 Page Ambush
This giant 98 page edition of Ambush Mag brings readers some 72 pages advertising the hottest activities happening in New Orleans, Austin,TX, Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Metairie and Pensacola/FL. Ambush [Ambushmag.com] continues as Louisiana's largest #1 Gay Lesbian Bisexual Transgender [GLBT] tabloid serving the Gulf South market, Texas to Florida.
Ambush has worked diligently with businesses, organizations and tourism officials striving to make the communities it serves as top GLBT destinations in the country. 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 to fashion its acceptability in the straight corporate world. If the straight corporate world wants the giant almighty GLBT buck, then it will have to fashion its image to entice and embrace the entire GLBT community.
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, special events calendar or other items for columns, please copy the facts correctly. It's rather amusing when ya'll can't get the printed dates, locations or even street corners correct!
Drink, Dine, Shop
& Workout 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 fried green tomatoes, and Lorenzo's fabu pizzas and calzones.
In the French Quarter, you'll want to try Cafe Sbisa's famous N'awlins cookin', Clover Grill's burgers and milk shakes, House of Blues New Orleans specialties, Krystal burgers and chili pups, la Madeleine's croissant sandwiches and pastries, Lucky Cheng's exotic AmeriAsian cuisine, Mama Rosa's muffelettas and pizzas, Mona Lisa's lasagna and Caesar salad, Petunias' world's largest crepes and Cajun/Creole breakfasts/entrees, Poppy's Grill's breakfasts and burgers, Quarter Scene's innovative New Orleans cuisine, and Quartermaster-The Nellie Deli's great BBQ ribs and chicken fried steak.
And let's not forget shopping, every true queen's delight! Chi-wa-wa Ga-ga has great Pride gear for that "dinky little dog" in your family. 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.
Gay-Mart has a large selection of unique T-shirts, Pride merchandise and gifts. Limbo is definitely the stop to find just that right Dark Lady Tour drag ensemble complete with spiked heel pumps or boots, and let's not forget all that circuit gear. Serendipitous Masks has incredible jewelry and masks fit for any queen. Finish off your ensemble with a stop at Sugar and Spice for that perfect decadent "Southern Belle" parasol.
Do you need help with hair? Warlock's has just opened on N. Rampart and has noted hair extension experts specializing in custom blended colour.
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
New Orleans
For the first time this year, the Hilton Riverside actively courted Decadence revelers with a banner ad on both the www.gayneworleans.com and www.southerndecadence.com Web sites. Part of the AmbushonLINE conglomerate, the sites total over 2.5 million hits and 275,000 unique visitors per month.
The Inter-Continental Hotel also courted revelers with a banner ad on southerndecadence.com. Last year the hotel solicited revelers through print advertising in Ambush Mag.
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, Bourgoyne Guest House and New Orleans Guest House are also excellent choices.
Other online lodging services includes Big Easy/French Quarter Lodging, French Quarter Accommodation Service, La Dauphine Residence des Artistes, Old Town Inn New Orleans and House of David Guest House.
HBB 2 Features
DJ Wendi Cermak
Has Been Ball [HBB] 2 will feature the talents of DJ Wendi Cermak. Wendi will be spinning the greatest "has been" hits and is currently the music critic for Ambush Mag. Admission is $10 at the door.
HBB 2 is set for Sat., Sept. 4th, 9pm-2am, at the Mint, N. Rampart at Elysian Fields and is presented by Ambush Mag and southerndecadence.com. Special guest is SDGM XXVII Errol Rizzuto who will crown the winner of the Has Been of the Year [HBY] 2 Kontest. Judged by audience response, HBY 2 will win $500 cash and crown.
Anyone can enter. Be sure to come as your favorite "has been" Southern Decadence Grand Marshal, screen or stage star, sports figure or any run-of-the-mill ordinary "has been" celebrity. Last year's winner, HBY 1 Candie Samples, portrayed "has been" Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Ms. Fly.
Hellraiser Weekend 2
Comes to Pensacola
Pensacola, Florida's own Emerald City, brings its second Hellraiser Weekend to the Emerald Coast Labor Day Weekend. Fri., Sept. 3rd is sure to be a hit with the Boxer Blackout Party and featured midnight Wet Boxer Contest with $100 cash to the winner.
Saturday's Hellraiser Dance Party will showcase the talents of DJ Dewight Barkley with illuminations by Jack Jokumsen.
Then, Sunday's Drink 'Till You Drown blowout kicks off at 9 pm. Revelers will also experience Jewels of the Emerald Coast, some of the hottest entertainers to hit the stage in Pensacola.
Society & Culture
Numerous parties, fundraisers, plus even one grand opening, has filled the social calendar. Voodoo at Congo Square hosted its festive grand opening featuring a gorgeous Voodoo Princess, who could really read beads. The bar's new library wall mural boasts quite a few best sellers including "Don't" by Miss Do.
Oz raised a whopping $4,550 for Larry Bagneris' run for the State Representative, District 93 seat. If elected, Larry will become the first openly Gay elected representative in the Louisiana House.
Both Lafitte's and 4 Seasons hosted the High Heel Pool Tourney raising $'s for various charities.
Lucille's Golden Lantern hosted Winston's annual surprise birthday bash, complete with a festive buffet and all the fixin's.
Mike Murray and Bywater Bar-B-Que bid a fond farewell to their friend and associate, Linda S. Smith. Friends celebrated her life with complimentary drinks and fabu buffet highlighted with real Southern fried chicken and portabella grilled veggie poboys.
Footloose raised $400 for PrideFest '99 with its funfilled evening of entertainment complete with buffet and prize drawings.
Krystal's VIP Night welcomed 547 guests gobbling up 1,152 Krystals and cheese Krystals, 1,280 chicken wings, 420 Krystal chicks, 384 chili cheese pups and 288 corn dogs. We're not going to even attempt to discuss liquor consumption here. Hostess Becky Allen joined the festivities led by owner DB Carnes.
PrideFest garnered another $481 from Rubyfruit Jungle's Shagadellic 70's Party. The festive dance party boasted the talents of DJ Ricki Taconi of Phoenix fame. Rubyfruit's Pam Young and Joyce Arsenault donated $200 to the fundraiser.
Club Park Avenue opened its doors as the newest lounge in Metairie.
735 nightclub/bar's opening has been unexpectedly delayed.
And as you read this, the doors should be open to Regina's Society Page Lounge.
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