by Eric A. Crabtree
AUSTIN, TEXAS
Austin & Ambush -
Two Years Old
Two years ago, on Dec. 12, 1997, Ambush Magazine (Vol. 15, Issue 25) was introduced and distributed in Austin with a column entitled: "Tales of Steers and Queers from Texas." Some 500 magazines were distributed grown from a limited edition publication test-marketed in Texas. Today, over 2000 copies are distributed biweekly in Austin. Since Dec. 1997, Ambush in Austin has succeeded as Austin's entertainment flamboyant Gulf South publication. During 1997, AmbushOnline was approaching 17 million unique hits per month with its Web sites www.ambushonline.com and www.ambushmag.com. Today, these Web sites are approaching over 100 million unique hits per month under the conglomerate Web site known as www.gayworld.net. Ambush also created Austin online at www.gayaustin.net,. Ambush continues to thrive as Austin's #1 GLBT tabloid. Thank you Austin for your continued support and readership. Look for 1999 Austin Reflections in the last edition of this year distributed Christmas Week. Happy Christmas and on to Y2K - The new Millennium.
Holiday Rhapsody '99
The HIV Wellness Center (HWC) and Interfaith Care Alliance will be co-hosting Holiday Rhapsody 1999 Fri., Dec. 17. The event will be held at the Ragsdale Center, on the St. Edward's University Campus, in the third floor ballroom. Weather permitting, there will outdoor terraces for cocktails and mingling as well. The party starts at 7pm with cocktail-hour, featuring the smooth sounds of the Billy Wolfe Trio, and a preview of the items available for purchase in the silent auction. A buffet will be served at 8pm. Bidding for the silent auction begins at 8pm and concludes at 10pm. All donations and silent auction purchases are tax-deductible. Both organizations are still soliciting donations for the silent auction. The entertainment in the ballroom will begin at about 8pm. Featured entertainers for the evening will be our comic emcee, Mr. Amos Ewing, as well as the ever-fabulous Austin Babtist Women, and Brother Gerald Muller and the Hilltopper Chorale. There will be dancing to the mix-sounds of DJ Dig'M beginning at 10pm till 11pm. Under the musical direction of Billy Wolfe, participants are invited to a Holiday Songfest with tips to each performer donated to Holiday Rhapsody and prizes awarded for amounts raised. Tickets for Holiday Rhapsody can be purchased at Alien Records, Lobo Books, the HIV Wellness Center, or Interfaith Care Alliance. General Admission tickets are still available at $35. Reserved tables are available for $500, and will include 8 complimentary tickets to the event. Anyone wishing to reserve a table should contact Jeffrey Bennett at HWC, 512.467.0088, or Roger Temme at ICA, 512.459.5883 or Bart Loeser at 512.380.0998.
Austin Holiday Circuit Parties
RED & GREEN '99 premiers for its third year engagement Sat., Dec. 11 at Mercury Hall in Austin located at 615 Cardinal Lane. RED and GREEN '99 donates 100% of the proceeds to benefit HIV Wellness Center & Out Youth Austin. Tickets are $60 with hosts at $95. An open bar will feature cocktails with Santa from 8pm and then dancing with the Snowmen from 11pm - 3am with Circuit DJ Michael Tank from Houston. Tickets are available at Lobo Bookstore and Outlines in Austin or from Ben Parsley and Splash Productions. Ambush is an official sponsor of RED and GREEN '99; however, other sponsors, hosts and volunteers are welcome. More info. is obtained from Splash Productions at www.partyaustin.com, by calling 888.558.1791 or in Austin at 512.478.1791. Last year's RED and GREEN II Party raised over $5,000 for area Austin charities. On Sun, Dec. 12, look for "Krunch" Tea Dance at Twist Nightclub at 505 Neches St. from 4pm - 11pm. Tickets are $15/door ; $10 for students with valid ID. More info may be obtained by calling 512.478.1791 or visit www.partyaustin.com/krunch. On Sat., Dec 18, dance to Circuit DJ Scott Horner of Oz Nightclub - New Orleans playing Austin for "Jingle Balls" Holiday Circuit at the Boyz Cellar, Sat., Dec. 18 from 10pm till 4am. DJ Filthy Rich spins from 4am till 7am, no cover before midnight and cover at the door afterwards. Don't forget to wear your Jingle Balls. This should be a great party! Coming in the new millennium, look for Equinox Austin 2000 (EA2K) - The 30-HR Dance Party at Austin's La Zona Rosa on 612 W. 4th St. on Sat. and Sun., Jan. 22-23. EA2K will be featuring - live from England - SUNSCREEM as well as guest DJs from around the country: David Knapp (NYC), Don Bishop (Palm Springs), Roland Belmares (Austin), Lydia Prim (New Orleans), and Michael Tank (Houston). Info on EA2K can be obtained at www.partyaustin.com/equinox2000.htm.
Ready for a Miracle?
Since 1986, the Austin Babtist Women (ABW's) have raised more than $3,997,500 for Central Texas charities. On Dec. 19, 1999, they're going to make it an even $4 million. Are You Ready for a Miracle? - The Austin Babtist Women's 13th Annual Christmas Show - will be staged on Sun., Dec. 19 at the Rainbow Cattle Company, located at 305 West 5th St. The pre-show starts at 8:30pm and features Austin music legend Margaret Wright. At 9pm, the big show begins with Austin media celebrity Troy Kimmell as Master of Ceremonies. The event is sponsored by Ambush and will benefit the HIV Wellness Center. Admission is free. The Austin Babtist Women - an all Gay, all volunteer, all male charity comedy troupe - tour Texas and the United States to raise much-needed funds for AIDS and breast cancer charities.
The ABW will be joined by cabaret performers from throughout the state for their 13th annual Christmas show Are You Ready for a Miracle? where they will reach the miraculous $4 million mark of money raised for charity. The event will also feature a silent auction of more than a 40 celebrity autographed photographs and personal items, Donations include items from Bob Hope, Lauren Bacall, Debbie Reynolds, Lily Tomlin, Greg Louganis, the cast of Will and Grace, Matthew Broderick, Bea Arthur, Brendon Fraser, Sally Field, Randy Travis, Alan Jackson, LeAnn Rimes, and Shelley Winters, among others. In addition, 16 Broadway posters signed by the New York cast members will be auctioned for charity. An incredible selection of more than $3,000 worth of raffle items will also be awarded, including tickets to the national Broadway tours of Jekyll & Hyde and Sunset Boulevard. Other items include stays at the Driskill Hotel, Omni Downtown, and Summit Bed and Breakfast, event tickets, dinners, a special UT Adventure and an impressive Texas Road Trip package. All money raised at the event will benefit the HIV Wellness Center of Austin. For complete information on the event, visit the Austin Babtist Women's Web site at www.abw.homepage.com.
DJ Danny Tenaglia Reviewed
[The following is a recap of GROOVE by promoter DJ Chris Trope]
On Sat., Nov. 27, about 2,000 partygoers witnessed the Austin debut of NYC DJ/producer Danny Tenaglia at GROOVE, a Dusk Production, held in the Austin Music Hall. The party kicked off at 9pm with Austin's own Coy West spinning a nice set of deep, pumping house music until 11pm. Next up was Dallas' Rob Vaughan. Rob brought the energy level up with a harder edged set, and by 1am the vibe was already set for the rest of the evening. The diverse crowds cheered as Danny stepped up to the decks and started his set with his signature dark but soulful sound. For the next 5 hours he seamlessly wove in and out of all styles of house music. From deep, minimal grooves into harder tech-house, into full on progressive, this was a true musical picture painted by a true artist. When he dropped Celeda's "Be Yourself," the crowd lost it. I was looking down from the upstairs balcony and have never seen so many people GETTIN' DOWN in the Music Hall. The whole venue had been transformed into a HUGE dance floor. The sound was tight (courtesy of BBK), and the lighting was phenomenal (courtesy of Doc Optik). By this point, Danny was already 3 hours into his set, and the energy just kept building.
By 6am there were still around 500 people left cheering and requesting autographs. When the lights came on, the crowd screamed for one more song, and Danny happily obliged. He played Jocelyn Brown's "Hercules" to end the night. Afterwards, Danny stepped to the front of the stage and signed some CDs, a couple of baseball caps, and shook hands with admiring fans. He got on the mic (actually it was a headphone, since he couldn't find a mic) and thanked everyone for coming out. He said he'd be back again to play a longer set, which I'm hoping happens in the very near future. To sum it all up, this was an incredible party in every aspect. The music was otherworldly, and there was a great mixed crowd of people who came together for the music. The sound and lighting was solid and the vibe was excellent. It was great to see so many kinds of people show appreciation for one truly original DJ in the world today. Music is always the answer.
