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Volume 23/Issue 16/2005

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by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain 
Visit their site: RipandMarsha.COM

GAA Gala Presents Winners; Raises $2,878 for Buzzy's Boys & Girls

2005 Gay Appreciation Awards' Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient Kitty Blackwell & Life Partner Liz Simms

The 18th annual Gay Appreciation Awards Gala was a smash success presenting the 2005 winners and raising $2,878 for the William Fanning Foundation (Buzzy's Boys & Girls) at Body & Soul in New Orleans. The evening was dedicated to the 2005 Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, legendary bar baroness, Kitty Blackwell.

Past Lifetime Achievement Award recipients include Jimmie Callaway, the late Dan Fountain [Betty Buttons], the late Andy Boudreaux, the late Buzzy Fanning, the late Dirty Dottie, the late 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, Charlene Schneider, Steve Mettner, Marty Curtin & Koo Gaffney, and Donnie Jay James.

The entertainment was phenomenal this year with outstanding presentations from special guests, The Austin Babtist Women, along with the Top 5 Show Bar of the Year Finalists including Big Daddy's, Cowpokes, 4 Seasons, Golden Lantern and Oz, plus last year's Entertainer of the Year, Bianca Del Rio, and the founder of the GAA, Marcy Marcell.

The generosity of those who bought VIP Tables raised $2,100 including Todd Blauvelt ($200), Queen Fashions ($100), Oz New Orleans ($200), Mickey Nolan Salon ($200), Cowpokes ($300), The Friendly Bar/Betty's ($300), Alternatives ($100), Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli ($100), Starlight By The Park ($100), Pride Specialty ($100), Hair Asylum ($100), Double Play ($100), Timm Holt & Lords of Leather ($100) and Tami Tarmac ($100). The door raised $350, stage tips $403, and Charlie Hooper donated $25. The expenses of the gala including plaques and DJ Dan Meaux were underwritten by sponsor, Ambush Mag.

The Gulf South readership of Ambush Mag selected, by popular vote, the winners of the following awards:

Circuit Party/Event of the Year, Halloween;

Hair Salon of the Year, Salon d’Malta;

Gay Carnival (Mardi Gras) Ball of the Year, Lords of Leather;

Neighborhood Bar of the Year, Friendly Bar;

Buzzy Fanning AIDS Award, Austin Babtist Women/Austin;

Bitch of the Year, Bianca Del Rio;

Show Bar of the Year, Oz;

Performing Arts Award, Austin Babtist Women/Austin;

Restaurant/Deli of the Year, Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli;

Special GAA Guests, The Austin Babtist Women : Widow Modine Murphy, Betty Bea Blessing, Deacon Dave, OFeelYa Faith & Ima Spinster

Dance Bar of the Year, Oz;

Bartender of the Year, Mike Farley/Oz;

DJ of the Year, Mary Pappas/Oz;

Leather Bar of the Year, Phoenix;

GLBT Business of the Year, Queen Fashions;

Leather Person of the Year, Wally Sherwood;

Transgender of the Year, TT Thompson;

Lesbian of the Year, Mina Hernandez;

Gay Man of the Year, Robin Malta; and

Entertainer of the Year, Bianca Del Rio.

The GAA Board of Directors chose the recipients for the following awards:

Cheridon Comedy Award, Delta Louise Carter;

Fly Fashion Glamour Award, Miss Gay America Raquel Chevallier; and

Fly Fashion Victim Award, Tittie Toulouse.

The Marsha Delain Award of Excellence presented and selected by Marsha Naquin-Delain went to Madam Adam Hawkins.

Special thanks to DJ Dan Meaux, trophy girl Vicki Vynes, Paul Van Geffen for his assistance at the door, all of the entertainers, and all of the bartenders for their outstanding service.

The GAA Board of Directors includes Lisa Beaumann, Teryl-Lynn Foxx, Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain and Toni JP Pizanie. For more on the GAA visit AmbushMag.COM/GAA.

Street Theater benefits Pride Aug. 4 at Marigny Theatre

The New Orleans Alliance of Pride is proud to announce the New Orleans premier of Doric Wilson’s Street Theater, directed by Todd Blauvelt and Donnie Jay James. The opening Gala will be held on Thurs., Aug. 4 at The Marigny Theater, 1210 Marigny Street, in New Orleans, behind Cowpokes. Tickets for the opening night party, beginning at 7pm, including wine and appetizers with the cast before the 8pm curtain are only $30 per person, and can be had by calling Todd Blauvelt at 504.361.8273 or Donnie Jay at 504.940.5653

Street Theater, which has an ensemble cast of fourteen, will play Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights thru the month of August with an 8pm curtain. For information and reservations for all performances except the Gala please call 947-0505.

Father/Daughter Team Opens at FAB on Aug. 5

On Fri., Aug 5, the father/daughter team of Michael P. Smith and Leslie Smith offer Jazz lovers a special signing opportunity from 6 til 9pm at FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books, 600 Frenchmen Street, in New Orleans, as part of the 5th Annual Satchmo Club Strut.

Through striking and powerful photography, the legendary Michael P. Smith takes his fans on a memorable visual trip through the some of the very best years of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival and other great venues in the Big Easy. His style entertains and provides his readers with precious visions of the essence and soul of New Orleans music and culture. He captures the charm, beauty and mystique of this popular, magical city’s great and unique musical extravaganzas and soulful Jazz stars.

Michael P. Smith will be signing his books including Jazz Fest Memories, Mardi Gras Indians, Spirit World: Pattern in the Expressive Folk Culture of African-American New Orleans, New Orleans Jazz Fest: A Pictorial History and A Joyful Noise: A Celebration of New Orleans Music.

Leslie Smith has been singing professionally since she was 13 and was introduced to the special backstage world of New Orleans music by her father at an even earlier age. The passion and intelligence she brings to live performances at venues as varied as New Orlean’s Snug Harbor and New York’s Lincoln Center have won her the respect and admiration of countless audiences.

Leslie is adding to her creative talents and fan base through the publication of her recent book written in concert with Jan Clifford and Kevin McCaffrey - The Incomplete, Year-by-Year Selectively Quirky, Prime Facts Edition of the History of The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Leslie will be signing this wonderfully entertaining book which offers all the listings of who played when, where and what time each Festival year with over 400 photos and a special section on the incredible food, heritage and crafts of the Festivals.

Mwindo Host Pool Party Sat., Aug. 20

The Krewe of Mwindo will host it's annual Pool Party Sat., Aug. 20, 6 til 10pm, in New Orleans at the French Quarter Courtyard Hotel, 1101 N. Rampart St. The Hot Boy and Hot Girl contest is the featured event again this year. The theme is Pink, so wear pink and come have some fun. Tickets are $15 with a cash bar and free food. Contact any Mwindo member for tickets.

Unique Exhibition at FAB

You are invited to visit FAB - Faubourg Marigny Art & Books newly spiffed-up art space at 600 Frenchmen Street, near Cafe Brazil and Snug Harbor and other neat Marigny neighborhood haunts in New Orleans. Come see a unique exhibition of male and female nudes and other works created by local artists and is presented to salute the Contemporary Arts Center’s Culture of Queer tribute to New Orleans painter J. B Harter.

The CAC exhibit was made possible with assistance from the Leslie-Lohman Gay Art Foundation of New York and the John Burton Harter Charitable Trust. This is a "must see" show up at the CAC through the middle of September and open for White Linen Night.

FAB offers the New Orleans and Gulf South’s GLBT community a convenient location to view and acquire cutting edge art offered at affordable prices with attractive payment plans available to assist you make that very special art purchase a reality this summer. The work includes paintings, drawings, photographs and sculpture that you will not find anywhere else in New Orleans.

FAB is also your convenient location for photography and art books featuring the work of J. B. Harter, Paul Cadmus, Bruce Weber, Robert Mapplethorpe, James Spada, Christopher Makos, Howard Roffman, Tom of Finland and others. Also wonderfully entertaining books like The George Bush Coloring Book, How to Burn Down the House, Letters From New Orleans and Ken and Thelma - The Story of The Confederacy of Dunces and the new James Dean Fifty Years Ago.

You can find great fiction like Booker Award winning The Line of Beauty by Alan Hollinghurst and Michael Cunningham - Specimen Days and Augustin Burroughs - Magical Thinking, and Jim Grimsley - The Ordinary and Alex Sanchez - So Hard to Say, Aaron Krach - Half-Life, David Leddick - The Handsomest Man in the World, and nonfiction like Will Fellows Passion to Preserve. Local authors including Greg Herren - Murder in the Rue St. Ann, Ken Mask - Murder at the Butt, Tony Fennelly - The Glory Hole Murders, and Michael Patrick Welch - The Donkey Show, Poppy Z. Brite - Prime and Julia Smith, Claude Summers, and many others. The best New Orleans architectural and historical coffee table books are available at FAB including New Orleans Style, Obituary Cocktail, Elegance and Decadence and many others.

FAB is celebrating its 28th year as one of New Orleans most unique neighborhood bookstores. Open daily from noon til 7pm and later on weekends.

Gulf Coast TIDE Needs New Members to Join Efforts

Pensacola, FL - "Whether you are part of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender community, a parent, family member, or friend or just someone who believes in equal rights and protections for all Americans, Gulf Coast TIDE needs you to join us as we work to make our Community and our area a better place for all people - regardless of race, creed, gender, or sexual orientation," says Jon Durre, president of Gulf Coast TIDE.

Gulf Coast TIDE, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation that exists to provide education, empowerment, and visibility within and beyond the Gulf Coast lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) community. With its stated goal: "Together In Diversity & Equality," Gulf Coast TIDE, Inc. is working to build stronger ties between individuals and organizations serving the Escambia & Santa Rosa county Gulf Coast LGBT Community - affirming, assisting, and augmenting their efforts - while at the same time, being actively involved in advocacy efforts to promote acceptance, equality, and diversity.

Gulf Coast TIDE is involved in a number of mission-driven efforts including plans for an exciting new Community Festival in October. Come Out Pensacola! 2005 will combine a series of events - including workshops, a film festival, an inter-faith worship service, an Eric Hyman concert, and an all-day Community Fair/Celebration at Bayview Park with live entertainment, children’s fair, arts, crafts, exhibits, food, beverages, and much, much more. Look for details soon at: ComeOutPensacola.com.

"We’ve seen more than our share of hard times thanks to Ivan and Dennis. It’s time for us to make some good things happen instead. Come Out Pensacola! 2005 is just one of the exciting things we have planned for our community." Durre continued, "The TIDE in Gulf Coast TIDE stands for ‘Together In Diversity & Equality.’ We are looking to make a positive difference in our community and we need at least 250 people to capture the vision and join us." Anyone interested in becoming a member of Gulf Coast TIDE can sign up on-line or print off a mail-in application at: www.GulfCoastTIDE.org. Annual membership dues are: Students: $10, Individuals: $20, & Family/Household: $30.
 

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