AUSTIN, TEXAS

Tales of Steers and Queers from Texas

Howdy again from the Capital City of the Lone Star State. Well, how about that Christmas y'all and what a year-1997! Thank God it is almost over! I remember when this year started back in New Orleans throwing those dildos off the balcony, but that's another story / another time. As this is my second column from Texas, let me update you on the multitude of places of interest and happenings in Austin for our Gay and Lesbian Family this holiday season.

Don't know what to do for New Year's Eve? How about trying something different this year to have fun and help out a great cause at the same time. "Simple Elegance" is the theme of this year's 3rd annual New Year's Eve Extravaganza to be held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin sponsored by the Umbrella Foundation benefiting AIDS Services of Austin and ALLGO / Informe SIDA. The night's festivities will feature great music, an open bar, and a silent action. Admittance is $75 per person. For more information, contact ASA at 512.451.2273 or Informe SIDA at 512.472.2001.

Hop on over late night to Area 52 where one can find a great Mix Dance/ House Music Party Place going on. Lots of club kids keep this place grooving until the morning light. Open Late Wed. - Sun., 10pm till? The Fabulous Ms. Paris Chanel hosts weekly Amateur Drag Queen Contests on Wednesdays at Midnight. Paris also hosts Drag Comedy Shows on Thursdays starting at Midnight! New Year's Eve will play host to a Super Blow Out from 10pm till 8am with guest DJ from Corpus, DJ X; and, free giveaways like T-shirts, CD's, etc., a balloon drop at Midnight and free champagne toast. Not to be missed is the weekend of January 3 - 4, 1998. Check out Area 52 for details on this surprise event. Don't miss it because it's the last!

Ever wonder who takes all those pictures of Hot Men? One such photographer is living right here in Austin-Mark Lynch of Latent Images Photography. Mark has seen and shot many a HOT MAN through his camera lens and has even published his work in "EyeCandy", a men's collection. Mark has plans to publish another collection of his work soon. Visit Mark and his work via his online gallery: at http://www.latentimages.com. Mark continues to search for new talents so if you have what it takes, contact him via the web.

Over and up at 'Bout Time, a mixed neighborhood "Cheers" type cruise bar, will host their New Year's Eve Party. A free champagne toast to the New Year will be served up at Midnight with DJ Raul, spinning the waxes for your listening pleasure. On New Year's Day, black eyed peas and cornbread will be served when the bar opens at noon. A Big Kudos and Hats Off goes out to past Texas Gay Rodeo Association (TGRA) 1998 Candidate Wayne Marion for raising thousands of dollars for local charities over this past year. Way to go Wayne! TGRA raised $379 recently at their BT Christmas Show benefiting local charities. BT's also recently featured their annual Christmas Show hosted by the Capital City Queens (CCQ) where hundreds of dollars were raised in proceeds benefiting Project Transitions. CCQ's founding members are Ms. Bibi Gunn, Ms. Mary Kay, Ms. Mona Lee and Ms. Diana Dior. Bout Time would like to welcome Corey Ducket a.k.a. CoraBeth as their new Bar Manager for the last several months. Don't forget Bout Time is the only Bar in Austin, OPEN at 7am everyday Mon - Sat. Come on out for your morning wake-up.

Let 'er rip over at Chain Drive. A men's only leather bar. Recently, Chain Drive held their Full Moon as well as their Moist Jock Contests with wild crowds cheering on the winners. For New Year's Eve, Chain Drive will be hosting their "Brand Spanking" New Year Party where Father Time will spank the New Year's Boy! Their drink specials will include 85-cent domestic beers and $1.25 Well Drinks till 11pm. At Midnight, a black eyed pea Buffet and Champagne Toast will be served up. Come on out and spank bartenders Paul, Robert, Randy, Brett and Jim for your New Year's Luck. While at the Drive, don't forget to visit the Leather Chest inside, Open Wed. - Sat., 8pm - 1am for all your leather needs.

Check in at Charlie's, a Men's Dance and Cruise Bar. Tuesday's at Charlie's is Steak and Chicken Dinner Night from 6 - 8pm. Come out and get a piece of meat cooked by Jerry and David. Recently, Charlie's hosted their Customer Appreciation Party and the celebration lasted three days later with Daddy Wayne's 12th Annual Christmas Day Dinner. Needless to say, all had a grand old time with the "family" celebrating with holiday spirit-or was that spirits? On New Year's Eve Charlie's is hosting its very own champagne toast and cash balloon drop at Midnight. New Year's Day provides patrons with a chance at even more fun when Charlie's sponsors their Daddy Wayne's Black Eyed Pea Cookoff. Come bring your best pot of Peas in for Prizes. Judging begins at 7pm with dancers all night long for your entertainment! Look for the "Predication Party" on January 9th when the best predications for 1998 will win prizes. Coming in late January, Charlie's hosts their White Sale where all White Liquors are featured at reduced prices. Lastly, their Super Bowl Sunday Party will be scheduled with more details to follow.

Come out and live on or at The Edge-The Dance/ Attitude Free/ No Drama Lounge Bar. On Mondays it's known as Tragic Lee Mondays with Camp Lounge Night featuring Retro spun and Happy Hour all day long. A $5 dollar buy-in provides patrons with $1 Well, Domestics and Snapps. Tuesday's is Karaoke Night from 7-11:30pm as well as "Beat the Clock". Happy Hour Specials are from 4 - 5pm with $1 Wells and Snapps. From 5- 6pm it becomes $1.25 and then turning into $1.50 between 6 - 7pm and $2 dollars from 7 - 8pm. On Wednesdays it's their Classic Disco Party with Happy Hour all day. It's time to play Beat the Clock again on Tragic Lee Thursdays with Retro spun all day. Friday and Saturday gets hopping and patrons Get Off with Dance music by Don Engle. On Sunday's, The Edge features a High Energy Dance Party all Night Long. Coming up on January 24th, DJ Darin Arrowood from Atlanta will rock the house in Ben Parsley's & Slash Productions Circuit Night Austin. Cover is $10 at the Door. Net proceeds will benefit persons living with AIDS through Helping Hands for Life, Inc. Come out and live and have a shot or two with bartenders, Jeff, Carrie, Biff, Christy, Carl, Bobby, and Regina at the Edge.

Boot scoot and boogie at Country Edge-Austin's newest All County Dance Bar. County Edge is closed on Mondays; however, it gears up every Tues. - Sat. from 5 - 2am and on Sundays from 2pm to 2am On Tuesdays, come out for Happy Hour from 5 - 2pm and have Fajitas on Wednesday from 6 - 9pm. On Thursdays it is Classic County with $1.50 Domestics and Well and Free Pool. Friday and Saturday is Dance Night at County Edge and winding down-or is that up?-on Sundays for Fajitas from 5 - 8pm. Drink em up at County Edge with bartenders, Terry, Lance, Eddie and Lorin, and just say "Howdy" next time to Manager Warren.

While at the The Forum, the Best Men's Dance and Cruise bar, come ring in the New Year where the 2nd Annual "Black and Blue Bash" will he hosted New Year's Eve. Patrons can kick the cobwebs of 1997 to the curb. A free champagne toast will be held at midnight and drink specials all night long. On New Year's Day, The Forum will host their finals for the Star Search Show. Finalists will compete for $400 in cash and prizes. Recently, The Capital City Men's Chorus performed their Christmas Concert before a packed house and a great time was had by all. Starting back up in January, it's "Back to the Boathouse" every Wednesday Night, with music from the 80's and very early 90's. Optional buy-ins provides great specials. Dance to the Rhythm nightly with DJs Ro, Danny and Little Debbie mixing the hottest music nightly. Come on out to The Forum. We're here, why aren't you?

Change your attitude at Oilcan Harry's, voted the #1 Gay Cruise Bar in Austin. Oilcan's recently held their "Full Moon Tee" Party and the winner who braved his cute bare ass was none other than Douglas who won $250 in Cash for his best full moon. Coming up New Year's Eve, Oilcan's will party down with party favors, free champagne and a cash balloon drop at Midnight. Don't miss it! Patrons of Oilcan's can come out and eat, drink and be merry every Monday, Thursday and Friday at Happy Hour where free buffets are served from 5 till it's gone. Every Wednesday Night is Oilcan's MailBox Review where all can play postman and send that special someone a hot mail message from 10pm till close. Also on Wednesday's Oilcan's pours out their specials with $2.50 Well and Beer all night long. Don't forget that for your entertainment and delight, Hot Male Dancers are featured on Thursday's from 10pm till 1:30am, Friday's from 6 - 8pm and Sunday's from 6pm - 8pm and then again from 10pm till 1:30am. Also on Sundays, it's Hangover Harry's Day with Mimosa's for a buck and Bloody Marys for only two dollars from 2 - 7pm. Coming up on the 12th of January, all you hot asses have another shot at winning $250 in Cash for your best full moon. Step on out to Oilcan's to their central dance floor and boogie to the beat of the night with DJs Sid, Dig'em and Miss H.

Two-step over to the Rainbow Cattle Company, "The Only Gay Owned and Operated Country Bar in Austin," and come shuffle your boots to the music. RCC recently hosted their Christmas Show Fundraiser featuring the Austin Baptist Women and featured guests who gave many an outstanding performance. The night's event helped to raise over $1120 split between Austin's local HIV Wellness Center and Project Transitions with $120 dollars going towards Pediatric Aids of Austin from their Christmas Ornament Sale. On New Year's Eve, RCC kicks off their celebration with a balloon drop at Midnight and a free champagne toast. Be There! On Tuesday, RCC gives free County Dance Lessons beginning at 8pm, with dancing at 9:30pm. Wednesday's at RCC features your best voices with their weekly Karoake at 8:30pm. It's Steak and Grilled Chicken Night on Thursdays from 6 - 8:30pm. Don't Forget that RCC features Shuffleboard, Pool and Darts with Tournaments starting back up in January.

Over and above Austin's New York Style Deli, Katz, which by the way, never closes, you will find Top of the Marc Night Club. On Monday, December 29, The Top of the Marc hosts female impersonators with La Cage Follies. Headlining the benefit show for Aids Services of Austin (ASA) are local Divas portraying famous celebrities such as Lauren Taylor as Bette Midler, Scarlett Leigh as Cher, DeeDee Davis as Dolly Parton, Kelly Kline as Selena and Shawn Michaels and Heather Thomas as the Dueling Reba McEntires. Show time starts at 8pm New Year's Eve with a Las Vegas-style La Cage Follies Revue and Chef Barry's Award-Winning Culinary Arts Institute Multi-Course Gourmet Dinner. Additional entertainment will feature sensational rock & soul dance band Mike Milligan and the Midnight Movers. At $100 per person, you get reserved seating and party favors and more or, $125 reserves you this special night as well as a room for 2 at the Radisson Hotel. Call Lisa Katz at 512-472-5420 for reservations and more information. The celebration and proceeds go to benefit ASA.

The Gentlemen's Club is at Midtowne Spa. Experience it! Recently, the Heart of Texas Bears hosted their monthly "Bears of the Baths" with Den Mother Scott S. and her cubs. Reservations are now being reserved for New Year's Eve. Free champagne at Midnight, party favors, appetizers and dancers are featured throughout the night. The festivities start at 10pm. On December 27th, make sure you don't miss out on Midtowne's Flashlight Party. The Party starts at 11pm and lasts till 5am. Free miniature flashlights will be given away to seek out your fun and adventure. Midtowne will offer Free and Confidential HIV Testing on 29th of December from 7 -9pm. Every Monday at 11pm and every Friday at 12pm there are Male Dancer(s) for your delight. Every Tuesday is "Chicken Night" where 18-25 year olds will receive Free Lockers. On Wednesdays, all patrons receive half price rooms. On Friday and Saturday's, Midtowne suggests that you come and get your room(s) rented early before 11:30pm because they always get "packed." In and Out Passes are available for these nights.

The Care Program, a Journey Outpatient Treatment Program, is starting up an HIV Support Group now on Tuesday nights at 6pm till 8pm on January 6. For more information, please contact Leigh or Janet at 512.473.2273 x 113.

Ambush Magazine 2000 is distributed biweekly throughout Austin and the Gulf South with a distribution of over 10,000. For advertisement or to list your upcoming events or place pictures, please contact me now at Ambush Headquarters by calling 1.800.876.1484. Media Kits are available upon request. You may reach me also via email at: OzParade@aol.com. All comments, feedback and letters are welcomed.

On another note, If you have had too much to drink this Holiday Season, please take advantage of Austin's Safe Ride Home Program. Various locations are around Austin and the following dates are available for rides: December 24, 1997 & January 2, 1998. Call 512.434.7788 for a free cab ride home. Rides are available anywhere within Travis County. Remember that we want to see you alive in the New Year.

That's all for now folks. Have a safe and very Merry New Year. I am off to New Orleans myself to find my New Year Dream Man or was that just to be and become the Big Easy? You can probably find me lushing it up at either the Great OZ or over at the Bourbon Pub and Parade. Until then, have more fun and "Prospero Anos". Cheers! Elf #5