If you live in New Orleans, there’s a chance you’ve attended one of the several gay Carnival balls presented each Carnival season. If you have, you know these balls are highly elaborate productions requiring hundreds of hours of work and thousands of dollars. Perhaps the most amazing thing about the gay balls is that they are produced by relatively few people, depending on the … [Read more...] about The Lost Krewes of Gay Carnival
Featured
Ambush Interview: F. Michael Haynie
Theater audiences are “Letting It Go” this February with the New Orleans premiere of Frozen at the Saenger Theater. The Tony®-nominated Best Musical completed its Broadway run in March 2020 after breaking four house records at The St. James Theatre. I was lucky enough to see the show on opening weekend and it was fantastic. The lighting, costumes and set were just gorgeous … [Read more...] about Ambush Interview: F. Michael Haynie
“The Children of Yuga”
The 73rd year of Gay Carnival is upon us. For those familiar with it, Gay Carnival usually means formal balls produced by krewes such as Petronius, Amon-Ra, Armeinius, Lords of Leather, Mwindo, and Narcissus. But Gay Carnival did not start out with krewes or balls. It began with a group of gay men who decided to do lunch. It all began in 1949 when Bob … [Read more...] about “The Children of Yuga”
Drag Queen Profile: Analia XO
Where are you originally from? How did you end up in New Orleans? I was born and raised in Honduras, but I came to the U.S. when I was 10 years old. At the time, I was living with my mom in South Carolina, but was having financial struggles, so our aunt offered her a job here in New Orleans back in 2009, and I’ve been here ever since. How long have you been doing … [Read more...] about Drag Queen Profile: Analia XO
Under the Gaydar (February 2022 Event Calendar)
Welcome to 2022 and Mardi Gras season in New Orleans. The entire month of February is Carnival time as we work our way to Mardi Gras Day on March 1. Here are just some of the hot happenings in February to put on your “Gaydar.” If you want your event listed, send me an email at ledgemgp@gmail.com. Weekly Events Monday: SAGE New Orleans Walking Group; … [Read more...] about Under the Gaydar (February 2022 Event Calendar)
Ambush Announces New Regular Feature: Drag Queen Profiles
Ambush Magazine is pleased to announce a new regular column called Drag Queen Profiles. The column will appear twice a month. Active drag queens currently performing in the Gulf South are welcome to submit profiles. To be featured, please contact Frank Perez at frankearlperez@gmail.com. Submissions will include a brief questionnaire and a picture (along … [Read more...] about Ambush Announces New Regular Feature: Drag Queen Profiles
Let Them Eat King Cake, Queen!
The 2022 Mardi Gras season in New Orleans rolled in like a majestic Carnival float brightly ablaze with colored lights and gorgeously costumed revelers. After not celebrating Mardi Gras last year, we were ready to let our hair down but not our masks. Cautious celebrating was the feeling for the entire weekend of parades, Gay Mardi Gras events, parties and drag … [Read more...] about Let Them Eat King Cake, Queen!
The Future of St. Louis #1 Cemetery
St. Louis Cemetery #1, on the edge of the French Quarter, is one of the city’s premiere attractions for tourists. Opened in 1789 as a replacement for the St. Peter cemetery, which was deconsecrated in order to allow the residential development of the block bounded by N. Rampart, St. Peter, Burgundy, and Toulouse streets, St. Louis #1 is the oldest cemetery in New … [Read more...] about The Future of St. Louis #1 Cemetery
Trodding the Boards January 11, 2022
Josephine at the Marigny Opera House Much as I hate to say it, but the beginning of 2022 for NOLA’s performing arts scene had a distinct air of déjà vu about it. First, the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra cancelled its concert The Hero's Tragedy which was to feature Conductor Thomas Wilkins and David Anderson playing a contrabass concerto, something you don’t hear every … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards January 11, 2022
In Memoriam 2020—2021
Gene Adams Garth Beauregard Charles “Charlie Bear” Bezou Carl Bucholdt Don “Eagle” Bury Stewart Butler Kevin Chestnut Wayne Christenberry Chi Chi DeVayne Jo Divelbess Jules Duhe, Jr. Daddy Don Glenn Fonte Nicole Lynn Foxx Jay Gauthier Ron Graham Tom Hall William “Brad” Held Jim Henry John Kmiecik Chad Schuyler … [Read more...] about In Memoriam 2020—2021