by Eric A. Crabtree
AUSTIN, TEXAS
RED & GREEN '99 Raises $4,000
for Austin Charities
RED & GREEN '99 scored recently when 250 revelers raised $4,000 for Austin charities in its third year engagement. RED and GREEN '99 donated 100% of the proceeds split between the Austin HIV Wellness Center & Out Youth Austin. Special thanks to all the Patron Saints who helped fund and host the majority of RED & GREEN '99 while Angels sponsored the backbone of this event contributing more than the ticket price raising funds. The event, held at Mercury Hall, an old converted church, started with cocktails with Santa under the main refreshment tent. Then it was dancing inside with the snowmen featuring the sounds of DJ Michael Tank (Pacific Street & Riches - Houston). Despite the inclement weather throughout the night, revelers maintained a great party atmosphere between the dancing and the refreshment tent till 4am. More info. on all the Patrons Saints and Angels names who made RED & GREEN '99 a great success can be obtained from Splash Productions at www.partyaustin.com. Coming in the new Millennium, look for Equinox Austin 2000 (EA2K) - The 30-Hour 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 and guest DJs from around the country: David Knapp (NYC), Don Bishop (Palm Springs), Roland Belmares (Austin), Lydia Prim (New Orleans), and Michael Tank (Houston). More on EA2K is at www.partyaustin.com/equinox2000.htm or by calling 888.558.1791 or 512.478.1791.
Austin Y2K Festivities
Merry Millennium 2000 and here's hoping your Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa or Festivus Holiday was just grand. In celebration of the coming year, area Gay and Lesbian businesses have slated many festivities. The 1920's Club will be closed Xmas Eve, Xmas Day and the 26th, but reopens the 27th through New Year's Eve. On NYE, they host their grand Millennium Party with a buffet, show, champagne toast and dancers (female and male). Tickets, in advance, are $50 per person for this gala event. On New Year's Day and Jan. 2, they will be closed. `Bout Time will host a New Year's Eve celebration with a Millennium Masquerade Ball NYE Party with free party favors, a balloon drop and champagne toast at midnight. New Year's Day opens at 2pm with black-eyed peas, cornbread, cabbage and football watching on the big screen. The Boyz Cellar hosts Y2 Care? with Da Music Don't Stop. No cover and free champagne toast at midnight and free party favors and glow sticks with DJ Filthy Rich. Chain Drive rings in 2000 with Leather & Ice with DJ Don Engle keeping you warm with old and new, free champagne, buffet and party favors along with after-hours & breakfast snacks. Charlie's Austin presents their Night before Christmas Pajama Party on Christmas Eve. Christmas Day, Charlie's Austin, along with 'Bout Time, features their 17th Annual Daddy Wayne's Christmas Day Dinner open to all with doors open at noon and serving at 1pm with all the fixings. All are asked to bring desserts to share. Their New Year's celebration kicks off with a free champagne toast at midnight along with a cash balloon drop. New Year's Day it's Daddy Wayne's Cotton Bowl Party opening early. A black-eyed peas and cornbread contest will be held for prizes.
Dick's opens noon Christmas Day with eggnog and brandy Alexander's. At 8pm, they host their Holiday Cabaret "While's Santa's Away" with host Dee Dee Davis. On New Years' Day they host the first happy hour of the new Millennium open at 9am for the UT Cotton Bowl Game, $1 drink specials till noon and food, football and fun. Into Jan., Dick's offers all month long everyday till close their White Sale with $2 vodka drinks. The Forum rocks in the New Year with their Rooftop NYE2K Party at 6pm with lavish hors d'oeuvres and champagne at 9pm. At midnight 2000, more servings of free champagne and their NYE Breakfast with Eggs Benedict, ham and all the fixings. A limited number of rooftop tickets are still available at $35 or general admission for $25 with dancing till 4am. VIP2000 memberships are still on sale with lots of benefits. Gaby and Mo's ask that you check their establishment for holiday hours and specials. Midtowne Spa is currently booking up fast and is still taking reservations for New Year's Eve for rooms and lockers. They will feature a midnight party with champagne, buffet and apple cider. Oilcan Harry's will claim to celebrate the best-crowded party in town on New Year's Eve with no cover with party favors & midnight champagne toast. DJs Dig 'M, Licious & Bang spin the clock down. Splash Video Bar celebrates 2000 with the top 10-video countdown by DJ/VJ Matt. Splash climaxes the evening with the New Year's ball drop televised live from New York City starting at midnight. A champagne toast rings in the New Year. On New Year's Day, they play host televising all the great football bowl games on their 44 TV monitors. Rainbow Cattle Company have billed themselves as the NYE C/W Party headquarters with party favors, champagne toast and C/W dancing. Austin has all of Sixth St., Congress Ave. and most of downtown blocked off with live bands, stages and booths NYE making all of "GuyTown" a virtual Party with revelers in every corner. Cheers!
1999 Austin Ambush Reflections
In the words of Prince as I heard them ring in New Year '99, "2000 Zero Zero, oops, out of time, so let's party like's it 1999." Boy, what a year it has been here at the turn of the century. To explain a whole year is hard, so let me try to summarize the highlights. As the Ambush Diva for Austin, I would like to think that I have enlightened, informed and entertained our readers. We celebrated many victories and some defeats. Austin had excitement with its newest bar Boyz Cellar opening and had tears as N8 Wear burned to the ground and friends passed away. Throughout the year, laughter and tears were abundant with many good friends, acquaintances, bartenders, bar backs, managers, DJs, music, and yes, barrels of alcohol. To sum up a year in sex, I would have to say that AOL and the Internet have become a great buffet menu of men, especially when you can just order in with free delivery. Throughout this past year, Ambush has been a very active member of the Austin Tavern Guild (ATG) and has also sponsored many events throughout the year. Events Ambush sponsored, both with and without ATG, were First Splash, Meltdown '99, Pride '99, Fourth of July Picnic, Last Splash, and Perfect Day '99. Others were the United Court of Austin Reign V, Dining for Life, AIDS Walk Austin, Texas Coming Out Day, World AIDS Day, Holiday Swing, Holiday Rhapsody, Red and Green Party, and Ready for A Miracle. Ambush featured and covered almost every major event over this past year. Thanks Austin for support and your readership making Ambush your #1 publication. Past media columns & pictures from '99 on Gay/Lesbian Austin can be found at www.gayaustin.net.
Coverage throughout the year featured many unions, anniversaries, letters and E-mail and top 10 DJs and their playlists. Jan. highlighted Red & Green II Party raising over $5,000, Mr. Gay Austin All-American Contest, ASA 1999 RED Ribbon Dinner Series, and Ginger & Sarah Release CD - Do What You Will. There was the Ambush Quote of the Times, Super Bowl Sunday Events and Austin Babtist Women Reflect on 13 Years Providing Humor & Support in Charity Care. Feb. marked Mardi Gras In Exile '99 - Austin Style, CCMC Presents Sweetheart Cabaret & Releases Silent Noon CD, The OZ Parties Commence This Month and United Court Offers Feb. Festivities. March featured You Should Care - March On Austin, Rodeo Roundup Time, SXSW, 1998 Bean Awards, Austin Circuit News and CCMC Spring Concert. April sprang in the MUT Pageant, Eeyore Turns 36 party, Equinox Austin CD Released. May featured First Splash, SPAMARAMA, Pro Arts Presents Wilson's Two Trains Running, and Meltdown '99 - Lust In Space. May also featured Texas Swing and Paul E. Verdine Remembered. June was pride Month with 6,000 attending PrideFest '99, Woman's Pride Dance, Mr. Austin Leather Benefit, Mr. Gay Austin USA 1999 Contest and the Mr. Gay Capital of Texas All -American 1999 Contest It also featured the 1999 Pride Concert - "Naked Man". June also highlighted Revisited, Part One CD Released and Nuevas Tamaleras Presented. Lastly in June, Austin Ambush started the AmbushAustin ONELIST, which is a biweekly email on announcements, events and happenings in Austin. Today, over 315 members subscribe to the ONELIST www.onelist.com/subscribe/AmbushAustin. July festivities featured the July 4th Picnic by the Austin Tavern Guild, Meltdown CD/Video Released, Hungry? Eat (Almost) for Free and Who's Where & Doing What? July was also the month of ASA Hosts Dinner & Viva Las Vegas Nite, HIV Wellness Hosts A Night to Live For, Red Hot VIII raises over $14,000. Aug. featured DJ Licious Releases New CD Mix, South Park - The Movie Review, The Ginger & Sarah Explosion, and Stormie M. Graham.
Sept. offered Last Splash, Perfect Day '99, UCA Coronation Slated - Reign V - A Big Success, UCA Voting & Coronation Slated, Rikki Unique Crowned Miss Austin USofA 2000 and Quick Tea Tales of Queers. Sept also featured my trip to Boston / New England. Oct. promoted the Texas Coming Out Day Fest, 7th Annual Dining for Life & 12th Annual Aids Walk, The United Court Hosts Show - Donates Funds, Lesbolympics, Halloween '99 ~Austin Style, Trance World CD Released and Let's All Get Along! Nov. roped in TGRA Rodeo Weekend, The OZ Parties Host 1st Anniversary, Ginger & Sarah Band Hop A Ride On Oprah's Oxygen Media Tour, Thanksgiving Month - Austin and Baptist Retreat on Tap. Dec. presented World AIDS Day, Red & Green '99, Capital City Men's Chorus Begins 11th Anniversary, Project Transitions Features Holiday Swing, Holiday Rhapsody Featured, Austin Circuit Parties Scheduled, Licious Raw 1 CD Released, Austin & Ambush - Two Years Old, Ready for A Miracle? and DJ Danny Tenaglia Reviewed. Many of these events this past year included fundraisers benefiting Texas Gay Rodeo Association (TGRA), HIV Wellness Center, Austin Babtist Women, Out Youth Austin, United Court of Austin, Project Transitions, Pediatric Aids League (PAL), Aids Services of Austin (ASA), Out Youth Austin, and the Breast Cancer Research Center.
Enormous gratitude to the staff and management at 1920's Club, 'Bout Time, Boyz Cellar, Chain Drive, Charlie's Austin, Dick's Deja Disco, The Forum, Gaby & Mo's, Midtowne Spa, Oilcan Harry's, Rainbow Cattle Company, and Splash Video Bar. Thank you also David and David, Outlines, Tapelenders, Leather Chest, Exotic Piercing and Tabu Tattoo's. Additional thanks to Day's Inn, Splash Productions - Ben Parsley, Alien Records, Circuittoys.Com, AMP - Austin Men's Project, Sparks, Club Inferno and Lobo Bookstore. Thank you Vincent DuDonis for your friendship and assistance. I experienced 1999 with a bang! From the many relationships to the fun and experience at all the circuit parties, club events, charity functions and yes, my circuit toys. I have grown older, wiser, and yet stronger. Friendships have been many throughout this past year, but several individuals have influenced me like no others. Starting with my best friend, Vincent. He has been the cornerstone of my life. Next are JJ and Rob a.k.a. Ron (no longer a couple), but still good friends continue to give me immense strength, friendship and guidance. Clifton of course is my party animal Yankee Alien from the North that always will hold a special place in my heart. Tom, my ex lover and I have become better friends over the years for which I truly cherish. Ben Parsley helped me see life through Music & Dance and has always been there when I needed a release from this stressful World. Of course, what else can I say about the Ambush Staff who continues to stronghold me to this commitment in Austin? Cheers Rip, Marsha, George, Sonny. Cheers everyone wishing you good health, great happiness, wealth & hot safe sex in the new Millennium. Can I breathe now? Mr. Austin Ambush has left the building!
