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July 20-22: Prepared to get Lumberjacked! at Mobile Bleather Weekend 2012, Special Guest: Colt's Bob Hager What do lumberjacks wear in the heat of summer? Hopefully, not a lot! But you might learn the answer July 20-22 in Mobile, Alabama, when Mobile Bleather Weekend 2012 gets Lumberjacked! That s the theme of this year s annual gathering of the bear, leather and levi community, billed as The South s Premier Bear/Leather Event. As always, Mobile s gay bars have united behind the effort, as have Mobile s host clubs, the Gulf Coast Bears and the Southern Renegades. Other clubs, such as New Orleans Lords of Leather, also play host. And turning up the heat at this year s event will be special guest, Colt Studio s own Bob Hager. Check him out on line and you ll see why he s a perfect match for this year s Lumberjacked theme! Two highlights of the weekend are the 2012 Mr. Southern Renegade Contest and the Mr. Gulf Coast Bear Contest. The Mr. Southern Renegade competition is a levi/leather event, taking place Friday night at B-Bob s in Mobile. Three past winners have continued on to receive the Mr. Louisiana Leather Contest title in New Orleans, and then competed at International Mr. Leather in Chicago. Among them are Mr. Rob Mills of Mobile (2011), Mr. Toby LeFort of New Orleans (2009) and Mr. John Cauley of Mobile (2008). As for the Mr. Gulf Coast Bear Contest, it s an annual summer staple in Mobile, and the event from which Bleather Weekend was born. The Mr. GCB Contest happens Saturday night at B-Bob s, and has a reputation for the unexpected. This year, expect contestants to get wrapped up in the Lumbear-jacked theme. Last year s winner? Mr. Kevin Patterson of Birmingham. Collections for South Alabama CARES, Mobile s local HIV/AID help agency, will take place during both contests. Besides B-Bob s, two more Mobile hot spots Colt Studio s own Bob Hager participate in the weekend. Gabriel s Downtown will host pre-contest cocktail parties, as well as a Party Till Dawn (PTD) celebration featuring, what else, Bear-a-o-kee. The Midtown Pub will host a sausagefest and a farewell brunch... as well as their Notorious Friday Night Black Party. The host hotel for Mobile Bleather Weekend 2012 is the new Hampton Inn and Suites in Downtown Mobile. For special rates, as well as a complete event guide and past event photos, visit the Bleather website at www.mobilebleatherweekend.com. There s no run package to buy, no list to sign, no payment to make! Just show up in Mobile July 20-22, when the men takeover downtown Mobile! Supporters for Mobile Bleather Weekend 2012 include Bud Light, Barenjager, Bear Bones Clothing, Hampton Inn & Suites, B-Bob s, Gabriels Downtown, The Midtown Pub, Southern Renegades, Gulf Coast Bears and Lords of Leather. feature Ambush Celebrates New Orleans Pride with Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee Balcony Bash; Pride Grand Marshals XXXIII Matthew Birkhoff & Tony Leggio feted @ Queen's Brunch Ambush Mag's Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain hosted Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee Balcony celebrating New Orleans Pride weekend. The Ambush Mansion balcony overlooking World famous Bourbon Street, boasted Union Jack bunting along with the Royal Standard of the United Kingdom (the flag flown when the Queen is in residence) direct from London on each end, and of course, Pride colors. First on Saturday, ten guests used the balcony as the reviewing stand for New Orleans Pride Parade which passed directly in front of the Ambush Queen Elizabeth's Diamond Jubilee Balcony Mansion. The parade was a colorful display of Pride from numerous organizations, all led by Pride Grand Marshals XXXIII Matthew Birkhoff and Tony Leggio, as well as Honorary Pride Grand Marshal T-Pot. Birkhoff is both a popular bartender and host at the Bourbon Pub Parade. Leggio is the event planner for Mardi Gras Productions, a popular columnist for Ambush Mag writing Under The Gaydar, Captain of the Krewe of Satyricon, a past Easter Grand Marshal, and now a member of the Gay Easter Parade Board of Directors. T-Pot hails from B97 Radio hosting Afternoon Swirl. On Sunday to close out Pride weekend, the Naquin- [continued on 24] 22 The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM July 3-16, 2012 Official ficial Southern n Decadence Guide SouthernDecadence.COM
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feature...from 22 Delain's hosted the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Brunch which feted Pride Grand Marshals Matthew and Tony. Twentyfour guests were in for the occasion enjoying both the brunch with cocktails, inside the mansion and out on the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Balcony. Mobile s finest Jasyn Fowler as ZaZa in La Cage Aux Folles @ JJP Miss Venus directing Judson Finest, Beautiful, Dropouts ~ Mobile, Alabama ~ Photos by Cie Anne & John mobile paparazzi Bacchus' beautiful bartender John & Matt Going away party to Seattle with Jason Hello Boys & Girl Beauty School Dropouts with Order of Osiris @ Grease Mobile s finest Jennifer Autry & guest Roll Tide with O Brian @ B-Bob s Jayme, Amanda & Maury @ B-Bob s Miss Toni Dee @ B-Bob s with Brother Timmy New Orleans 33rd Pride Grand Marshals Matthew Birkhoff & Tony Leggio The brunch prepared by the party hosts included Bayou TurDucKen Roll with Plantation Duck Gravy and Bette Davis Jezebel Sauce; Queen's Quail Eggs with Watercress Aioli; Creole Tomatoes, Louisiana Cucumbers and Red Bells with Chef Jay Loomis' (formerly of Petunias) famous Blu Cheese Dressing; Cheddar Log rolled in Louisiana Pecans, and Antoine's Cream Cheese King Cake. Plaque Polishing Commerates 39th Anniversary of The Upstairs Fire Bourbon Pub Parade's Chuck Kee, Christopher Morton, and Steven Reigns clean and polish The Upstairs Fire memorial plaque closing out New Orleans Gay Pride 2012 on the 39th anniversary of the Upstairs Lounge Fire, June 14, 2012. Bacchus Party with Ryan & Brandon Jason Dottley (Sordid Live, Series) performing @ B-Bob s with Jerry Ehlen & Eric Browne Bacchus Patio Party with King Stevie, OOO Tuesday Bingo Hostess & MC Jawackatema Davenport with special guest Miss Taylor Heart The Upstairs Lounge at Iberville and Chartres Streets was the site of the deadliest fire in New Orleans history on June 24, 1973. Thirty-two victims [continued on 27] 24 The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM July 3-16, 2012 Official ficial Southern n Decadence Guide SouthernDecadence.COM
Gay EasterParade.COM GayMardiGras.COM GayNewOrleans.COM July 3-16, 2012 The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM 25