Visit their site: ripandmarsha.com
GAA Gala Will Announce 2001-2002 Winners,
Chosen by Ambush Readers, June 30 at Cowpokes
Ambush readers will find out the results of their voting endeavors at the 15th Annual Gay Appreciation Awards Gala on Sun., June 30. Cowpokes, 2240 St. Claude Ave., is the venue for the 2001-2002 awards. Doors open at 7pm, with showtime 8pm sharp. Admission is $10. Limited VIP table seating is available. A table of 8 is $200. Call Rip Naquin-Delain, 504.522.8049 for table reservations.
Marcy Marcell founded the Gay Appreciation Awards [GAA] in 1987 and that first presentation was hosted at The Other Side. Following years saw the awards show at Soiled Dove Saloon, Elaine's, Baker's Hall, We Are Family, MRB, Big Daddy's, Corner Pocket, Rubyfruit Jungle, Body & Soul and the Mint. Marcell turned over the reigns of the GAA in 1997 to Ambush.
Prior to 1997, the awards honored only those in the New Orleans area with award recipients nominated and then voted on by a committee led by Marcell.
In an effort to expand the awards, the new GAA Board of Directors decided to host the first public nominations ballot appearing in Ambush, which drew nominations from New Orleans and Baton Rouge in 1997. The top 5 nominees were then placed on a public voting ballot. Voting took place at New Orleans Pride Fest that year. This was the first year that a non-New Orleans business was nominated in the top 5. Chances in Hammond made it into the Show Bar and Dance Bar categories while Brett Scott of Chances was nominated in the DJ of the Year category.
After looking into other newspaper public voting ballots, the GAA Board decided in 1999 to host only one public voting ballot. This appears to be the fairest process to determine the winners of the awards. From the one week of public voting by both print and on-line ballot, the Top 5 Finalists are announced in Ambush. However, the winner in each category is not announced until the GAA Gala.
The last gala hosted in 2000 saw Abracadabra in Pensacola as the first non-New Orleans winner in the Circuit Party of the Year category. Due to 9/11, the 15th awards presentation was postponed until June, 2002, so the winners will win for both 2001 and 2002. This year the Top 5 Finalists hail from across the Gulf South including the cities of Austin, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans and Pensacola.
The acclaimed Austin Babtist Women, one of the Top 5 Finalists in Entertainer of the Year category, will guest star for the 15th Gay Appreciation Awards Gala. Direct from Austin, TX, the group over the past 16 years has raised almost $5 million for various HIV/AIDS and breast cancer causes. The troupe, Modine Murphy [founder], O'Feelya Faith [musicmaker], Ethyl Mae Studebaker [choreographer], Ima Spinster [hairdresser] and Deacon Dave, will open and close the gala celebrating this year's theme, "Sunday Night Revival: Church Hats Welcome."
Due to the generosity of corporate sponsors Bud Light and Ambush Mag, all monies generated through door admissions and VIP table sales will benefit the evening's charity, the New Orleans AIDS Monument construction project. Additionally, all stage performance tips will go to the charity. The five show bars of the year finalists are invited to perform a production presentation. The last Entertainer of the Year winner Bianca Del Rio is also slated to perform, as well as GAA Founder Marcy Marcell.
King Cake Queen IX Lisa Beaumann and Easter Grand Marshal III Teryl-Lynn Foxx will serve as celebrity emcees.
Top 5 Award Finalists include:
Circuit Party/Event of the Year: Gay Easter Parade/New Orleans, Halloween/New Orleans, Memorial Day Wknd./Pensacola, Southern Decadence/New Orleans, Splash Day/Austin;
Hair Salon of the Year: Arthur's House of Glamour, Burke's at the Fairmont, Eclipse, Hair Asylum, Headquarters;
Newcomer of the Year [new entertainer]: Blanche DeBris, Derisha Jenkins, Tiffany Rose, Syria Sinclaire, Monica Storm;
Neighborhood Bar of the Year: Corner Pocket, Cowpokes, Good Friends, Ninth Circle, Voodoo;
Buzzy Fanning AIDS Award [organization or individual]: NO/AIDS Task Force, PFLAG/New Orleans, Slutpuppy Revue, James Swire, Taylor Trinity/Austin;
Bitch of the Year: Jonathan Bray, Paris Chanel/Austin, Bianca Del Rio, Phyllis Denmark, Jay Sewell;
Show Bar of the Year: Bourbon Pub/Parade, Cowpokes, Forum/Austin, Golden Lantern, Oz;
GLBT Friendly Business of the Year: Cowpokes, Queen Fashions, Shim Sham Club, Something Different, United Cab;
Performing Arts Award [play or performance group/no individuals]: Drama, Glitz, Profiles, Slutpuppy Revue, "When Ya Smilin'";
Restaurant/Deli of the Year: Bywater Bar.B.Que/Lorenzo's, Clover Grill, Katz Deli/Austin, Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, Quarter Scene;
Dance Bar of the Year: Bourbon Pub/Parade, Boyz Cellar/Austin, Cowpokes, Forum/Austin, Oz;
Bartender of the Year: Mike Farley/Oz, Ted Mahaffy/Golden Lantern, Jeffrey Markel/Oz, Jim Rabalais/Voodoo, Rex Romans/Cowpokes;
DJ of the Year: Miah Love/Austin, Lance Daugherty/Club 735, Wayne Mancuso/Bourbon Pub/Parade, Wayne Monroe/Cowpokes, Tim Pflueger/Oz;
Leather Bar of the Year: Chain Drive/Austin, Dallas Eagle, Phoenix, Rawhide 2010, Ripcord/Houston;
GLBT Business of the Year: Cowpokes, Hit Parade, Queen Fashions, Something Different, Tapelenders Video/Austin; Leather Person of the Year: Red Hanson, Timm Holt, Rusty Tennant, Wally Sherwood, CW Stambaugh;
Transgender of the Year: Autumn, Simone Devereaux, Courtney Sharp, Syria Sinclaire, Tonisha "TT" Thompson;
Lesbian of the Year: Emily Armstrong, Dianne Rushen, Denise Black, Mina Hernandez, Yvette Miguez;
Gay Man of the Year: Carl Ford, Tommy Elias, Timm Holt, Wally Sherwood, David Weick;
Entertainer of the Year: Austin Babtist Women, Asya Alexander, Bianca Del Rio, Taylor Trinity/Austin, Nikki Rich.
Additionally, the GAA Board will present the Lifetime Achievement Award to New Orleans businessman Steve Mettner for his outstanding community service. Past Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include Jimmie Callaway, Dan Fountain [Betty Buttons], the late Andy Boudreaux, the late Buzzy Fanning, the late Dirty Dottie, Miss Fury, Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain, the late Dan Romero, the late Miss Do, Louise McFarland, Dixie Fasnacht, Alice Brady and John Dodt, Gene Adams and Charlene Schneider.
The board also presents the Cheridon Comedy Award in memory of Sonny C. Cleveland, first GAA President. Nominees for the Cheridon Comedy Award include Bambi & The Dixie Chunks, Blanche DeBris, Eva Las Vegas, Jackie Mae and Slutpuppy Revue.
The board will also present two Fly Fashion Awards in memory of Ms. Fly including the Fly Fashion Glamour Award and the Fly Fashion Victim Award.
The Marsha Delain Award of Excellence [the drag ambassador award] is presented by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain.
The GAA Board of Directors includes Pres. Toni J.P. Pizanie, Vice Pres. Rhyn Pate, Lisa Beaumann, Lance Ford, Teryl-Lynn Foxx and Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain. For additional info., visit AmbushMag.COM/GAA.
LAZFEST is Thurs., July 4 in Cabrini Park
For the 8th year, Project Lazarus' fun money-maker, the fun- raiser with splash, will be held in Cabrini Park located in the French Quarter (corner of Dauphine and Barracks) on the Fourth of July from 11am to 6pm.
Besides the giddy fun of dunking your friend, or enemy, in the dunking pool, LAZFEST is a great way to celebrate Independence Day and help one of New Orleans' most effective AIDS service organizations. Enjoy live music, games, drawings, silent auction, prize booth, take-a-chance booth, White Elephant table and unlimited food, beer and soft drinks for only $15.00. Children under 12 are admitted free.
LAZFEST is also in need of volunteers. If you can work for 2 hours or more on July 4, please call Michael at 504.949.3609 and sign up to give some much needed help. Do it with a friend! Or become a Lazfest Patriot. Your donation at any level will help meet Project Lazarus' financial goal. Buy or sell raffle tickets. Win cash prizes. Buy a T-shirt. Donate items to be used in the silent auction, prize booth, take-a-chance booth or White Elephant table. If you are spring cleaning, you may find some unused treasures that can be used. Best of all, though, attend LAZFEST and help celebrate 18 years of service to the community.
2002 Essence Music Festival July 4, 5, & 6 in La. Superdome
The summer's best Festival keeps getting better as Babyface, Brian McKnight, Tom Joyner & the Morning Show Crew, A.J. Jamal, and others have all recently been confirmed to appear at the Coca-Cola Presents the 2002 Essence Music Festival, July 4, 5 and 6 in New Orleans.
They will be joining Luther Vandross, Alicia Keys, Mary J. Blige, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly and many others who were previously announced for the Festival's evening concerts to be held at the Louisiana Superdome.
Also on hand will be India.Arie, Gerald Levert, Faith Evans, Steve Harvey, Cedric the Entertainer, Angie Stone, Al Green, and The Isley Brothers.
Comedian A. J. Jamal will emcee the Main Stage all three nights.
In addition to the Superdome Main Stage, the Festival simultaneously presents performances in four unique Superlounges. Among the many acts slated to perform in these lounges are Etta James, The Brothers Johnson, Tyrone Davis, The Rebirth Brass Band, The Ohio Players, The Aubrey Twins, Big Al Carson and Nu Beginning, to list but a few.
Bishop T. D. Jakes and Donnie McClurkin have been scheduled to appear on July 5 at the popular free Empowerment Seminar Series, which features African-American intellectuals, political activists, and religious and social leaders discussing issues of spirituality, love, popular culture and more at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.
Essence Entertainment LLC, in association with Festival Productions of New Orleans, produces the Essence Music Festival, the largest gathering of African Americans in the nation.
Tickets are available online at www.ticketmaster.com, or by calling 800.488.5252, 504.522.5555, or 225.761.8400 in Baton Rouge.
Wayne Sheffield Wins 1st Place in Bull Riding at IGRA
Sponsored by the country/western bar Cowpokes located on the cor- ner of St. Claude and Marigny, New Orleans resident Wayne Sheffield returned from the Internationl Gay Rodeo Association's "Southern Spurs Rodeo 2002" in Atlanta recently with First Place in the Bull Riding Competition. Wayne was the only man to "cover" his bull (stay on the the full time) and even managed to head butt one of the critters. Mr. Sheffield's ribbons, from this and other rodeos, are proudly displayed at Cowpokes.
Bull Riding is the ultimate rodeo event. It is an advanced version of steer riding, but with a half-ton more beef to contend with and the added danger that many bulls turn back on the rider and attempt to get even for having their rountines disrupted.
Friendly Bar & Satyricon Invite You to Help Them Celebrate Miss Dixie's 92nd
Miss Dixie Fasnacht, the doyen of French Quarter Gay bars, will celebrate her 92nd birthday on July 7 and part of that celebration will take place at the Friendly Bar, 2301 Chartres St.
The Friendly Bar and the Mystic Krewe of Satyricon, of which Ms. Dixie is an honorary member, are throwing a birthday bash for the the party girl from 3pm to 6pm with a light buffet, cake and a cash bar. All are invited.
For more information, call 504.525.4498.
Navratilova Wants to Adopt
Tennis great Martina Navratilova wants to adopt children and says she'll be a "good, fun mother." Navratilova, 45, a nine-time Wimbledon champion, won her first singles match since 1994 at the Eastbourne grass-court tournament recently in England.
In an interview with the British Broadcasting Corp.'s magazine Radio Times, Navratilova said she was a "spoiled brat" at the peak of her fame and now wants children. "The time when I could have my own children has passed," Navratilova said. "I could adopt a 5-year-old, a brother and a sister, or two sisters. There are too many kids out there who want a home. It will happen when the time is right, and I'll be a good, fun mother."
Navratilova said she is very happy in her current relationship but declined to identify her partner.
"I'm in the best relationship I could be in, and let's leave it at that," she said. "She is the most amazing human being, period, and I've known her a long time. I've said similar things before, but I didn't really find the right person. This one is for life, which is brilliant." [from the Advocate]
Lesbian Documentary Wins Award in Seattle
Deborah Dickson won the Golden Space Needle at the 28th Seattle International Film Festival for her documentary Ruthie & Connie: Every Room in the House, reports indieWIRE.com.
The film deals with a past-middle-aged Lesbian couple and the story of their life together.
Ruthie & Connie will be featured in various Gay and Lesbian film festivals across the country this summer. [from the Advocate]
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