the "official" dish by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide Has it All! Ambush Mag, the Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide for over 31 years has everything that both tourists and locals need to make this holiday an experience like no other. With 56 pages, this issue covers the gamut from top notch entertainment to World class DJs, dancers, drag stars, balls, events, parades, activities, plus shopping, services, and more. Just flip through these pages or keep us on your mobile devise at AmbushMag.COM or Facebook.COM/ AmbushMag or Facebook.COM/GayMardiGrasNOLA. It's comprehensive, it's exciting, Laissez les Bons Temps Rouler (Let The Good Times Roll)! King Cake Queen of Gay Mardi Gras Issues Official Proclamation; 26th Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss Feb. 12 In Edict 2013, King Cake Queen XX of Gay Mardi Gras Dusty Debris issued the holiday s Official Proclamation which states, Her royal Majesty sends greetings and announces with pleasure her invitation for all to gather from near and far and join in the many celebrations under the Rainbow Banner of Gay Mardi Gras leading up to the 26th Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss February 12, 2013, 2pm ish, at the Ambush Palace, 828 Bourbon Street. by The Platinum Queen The bead toss, hosted by the Krewe of Queenateenas, brings 50 invited revelers to the Ambush balcony to take part in the festivities. Celebrating 20 Years of Magic, Myths & Mortals, the krewe will be led by King Cake Queen XX Dusty Debris tossing thousands of throws to the throngs below. It follows the 49th annual Bourbon Street Awards. For more information, visit GayMardiGras.COM. Oz & Bud Light present the 49th Annual Bourbon Street Awards Worth a Whopping $3,000 in Cash Prizes Feb. 12 The 49th Annual Bourbon Street Awards Show, the ultimate costume contest, is set for Mardi Gras Day, February 12, 2013 at 12noon. Johnny Chisholm, Doyle Yeager and Oz New Orleans, as well as Bud Light brings us this fantastic contest. Award category prizes now are worth $3,000! Categories include: Best Drag, Best Leather, Best Group and Best of Show with 1st, 2nd and 3rd places in each category. First place in each category wins $500 cash. The Best Overall Costume, the grandest award of all, garners a whopping $1,000 cash prize. Celebrity emcees will feature the talents of mega circuit star Bianca Del Rio and Oz s own Blanche Debris. In 2009, for the first time in 23 inside celebrazzi 10 celebrazzi 12 petronius/kcq paparazzi/nola 14 moment in gay new orleans history 16 ambush paparazzi/new orleans 18 under the gaydar 20 ambush paparazzi/new orleans 22 49th bourbon street awards 28 gay mardi gras proclamation 29 dusty debris as lady gaga 30 Mardi Gras Highlights issue out Feb. 19 DEADLINE: Wed., Feb. 13 spotlight feature/king cake queen 32 classifieds 34 trodding the boards 36 kcq coronation paparazzi/nola 40 pensacola paparazzi 44 kcq coronation paparazzi/nola 46 a community within communities 50 review 50 chop chop/restaurant review 52 kcq coronation paparazzi/nola 54 Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 828-A Bourbon St. New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 504.522.8049 marsha@ripandmarsha.com years, the contest actually took place back on Bourbon Street. Since 2002, Oz New Orleans has presented the contest on St. Ann at Bourbon. 2009 saw the contest outside Oz on Bourbon Street down from Ambush Headquarters at 828 Bourbon. The awards were previously held outside of Cafe Lafitte in Exile on Bourbon until 1985 when it was moved to the corner of Burgundy and St. Ann outside of Rawhide in 1986. The parade of costumes will originate down Bourbon at Dumaine passing both Cafe Lafitte in Exile and Clover Grill, the original site of the awards, heading past Ambush Headquarters towards Oz at 800 Bourbon. The Bourbon Street Awards, well into its fourth decade, has hosted some of the most exciting and extravagant Mardi Gras costumes ever seen. That s why it remains The Best Free Show of Mardi Gras. It is followed by the 26th annual Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss led by King Cake Queen XX Dusty Debris at Ambush Headquarters, 828 Bourbon Street. Gay Mardi Gras 2013 The schedule for Gay Mardi Gras 2013 is available at GayMardiGras.COM. Remaining balls and events include: Friday, February 8th... ~9pm- 12midnight, Friday Night Before Mardi Gras Extravaganza XIV, Audubon Tea Room, New Orleans ~9pm-2am, Lords of Leather presents Night of the Black Mask Beer Bust, Phoenix/Eagle, Elysian Fields @ N. Rampart, New Orleans Saturday, February 9th... ~9pm, Krewe of Armeinius Bal Masque XLV, Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center, New Orleans Sunday, February 10th... ~8pm, Lords of Leather Bal Masque XXX, Frederick J. Sigur Civic Center, New Orleans MARDI GRAS (Fat Tuesday), February 12th... ~12noon, 49th Annual Bourbon Street Awards, Oz, Corner of St. Ann at 800 Bourbon St. ~2pm - 26th Annual Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss led by King Cake Queen XX Dusty Debris as The Platinum Queen, Ambush Headquarters Balcony, 828 Bourbon St. Tommy Elias & Starr Daniels Chosen as Easter Grand Marshals XIV by GEP Board The Board of Directors of the Gay Easter Parade is proud to announce that Tommy Elias and Starr Daniels have been selected to reign as Easter Grand Marshals XIV. Participating in the parade, its fundraisers and events for numerous years led to the choice of this year s grand marshals. Both are 6 The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM Feb. 5-18, 2013 Official ficial Gay Mardi di Gras Guide GayMardiGras.COM THE OFFICIAL MAG Facebook.COM/AmbushMag Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 Louisiana-Florida Official Gay Easter Parade Guide Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide Official Gay New Orleans Guide Official Southern Decadence Guide OFFICE/SHIPPING ADDRESS: 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 USA OFFICE HOURS: 10am-3pm Monday-Friday [Except Holidays] Email: marsha@ripandmarsha.com PHONE: 1.504.522.8049 ANNUAL READERSHIP OVER 1 MILLION: 260,000+ in print/780,000+ On-line CIRCULATION: Alabama-Mobile Florida - Pensacola Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Slidell Mississippi - Bay St. Louis, Biloxi STAFF: PUBLISHER/EDITOR R. Rip Naquin-Delain, New Orleans PRODUCTION DIRECTOR M. Marsha Naquin-Delain, New Orleans GULF SOUTH/NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Rip Naquin-Delain 504.522.8049 NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Paul Melancon 504.357.8440 paulmelancon_ambushmag@yahoo.com THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Blanche-Alabama Frankie Fierce, Charles Jenkins, Tony Leggio, Frank Perez, Arthur Severio, Rev. Bill Terry, Rory Wright-New Orleans Bob Brunson, MIss Cie & John, Leon Weekley- Mobile, AL Lauren Mitchell-Pensacola, FL National Advertising Rep: Rivendell Media 212.242.6863 Ambush Mag is published on alternate Tuesdays of each month by Ambush, Inc., R. Rip Naquin- Delain, President. Advertising, Copy & Photo DEAD- LINE is alternate Tuesdays, 4pm, prior to publication week, accepted via e-mail only: marsha@ripandmarsha.com, except for special holidays. The Publisher assumes no responsibility for the claims of advertisers and has the right to reject any advertising. The inclusion of an individual's name or photograph in this publication implies nothing about that individual's sexual orientation. Letters, stories, etc., appearing herein are not necessarily the opinion of the Publisher or Staff of AMBUSH Mag. Subscription rate is $45 for 1/2 Year; $75 for 1 year. Sample Copy is $3 First Class Mail. 1982-2013, AMBUSH, INC., ALL RIGHTS RE- SERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRO- DUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS and PHOTOS. AMgrant - AMbush Advertising Grant Donation also heavily involved in many cultural and charitable events in the community. The parade minus expenses benefits Food For Friends, and over the past eleven years, donations to charity have exceeded $147,439. The 14th annual Gay Easter Parade is Sunday, March 31 beginning at 4:30pm following its traditional route through the French Quarter. Board members are Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain, Electra City, Tittie Toulouse, Opal Masters, Rona Conners and Tony Leggio. Sponsorships are currently available in five categories: Presenting ($2,500+), Platinum ($1,000), Gold ($500), Silver ($250), or Bronze ($100). [continued on 8]
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the "official" dish...from 6 Applications are currently available at GayEasterParade.COM. Friday Night Before Mardi Gras has joined as a Platinum Sponsor. a highly successful run at the Kennedy Center. Prior to that, she starred in the Tony Award-winning masterpiece, A Little Night Music opposite Elaine Stritch. In 2012, Peters received her third Tony Award, The Isabelle Stevenson Award, acknowledging her substantial contribution as a humanitarian. Recently, she added author and songwriter to her roster of achievements with her debut children s book, Broadway Barks, aptly named after the organization she co-founded with good friend, Mary Tyler Moore. The book landed on The New York Times Bestseller list shortly after publication. Her second children s book, Stella is a Star, features yet another original song EGM XIV Tommy Elias EGM XIV Starr Daniels Scheduled fundraisers include: Saturday, Feb. 23, 4-6pm, Cutter s, 3rd Sponsorship Party under the direction of the GEP Board-get your sponsorship form at GayEasterParade.COM and join the party; Saturday, March 2, 8-11pm, Michael s On The Park, 5th Eggstravaganza under the direction of Opal Masters; Saturday, March 9, 8-10pm, Oz, 12th Star Studded Drag Extravaganza under the direction of Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain; Saturday, March 16, 4 Seasons, Metairie, 12th Spring Fever & VIP Reception under the direction of Electra City and Tittie Toulouse; Saturday, March 23, 8-10pm, Double Play, 14th Purple Party Grand Marshals Reception under the direction of the GEP Board; and Friday, March 29 (Time & Place TBA), 4th Bunnies in The Big Easy under the directions of Tony Leggio and Rona Conners. CWB XIV set for Feb. 25 @ Oz Benefiting NOSIDA The 14th annual Crack Whore Ball (CWB) is set for Monday, Feb. 25 at Oz, 800 Bourbon Street celebrating My Favorite T ings, this year s theme. The ball benefits New Orleans Society for Infectious Diseases Awareness (NOSIDA) which actively promotes awareness of the physical, mental, and emotional effects that infectious diseases inflict on communities worldwide. The annual ball gives service industry personnel and their friends the opportunity to relax and party since most worked through Carnival. The highlight of the evening is when Irish Mike announces the new Crack Whore Queen at the stroke of midnight. Then there s the presentation of the monies raised at the ball to NOSIDA. The $40 ticket includes open pre- mium bar from 9pm-1am. Tickets are limited. Get your tickets from a past Crack Whore Queen or at Ninth Circle, 700 N. Rampart, or Voodoo Bar, 718 N. Rampart. Past Crack Whore Queens include 1 unknown, 2 Kabrina Watson, 3 Genevieve, 4 Janice Goodbee, 5 Wade Burnham, 6 Rip and Marsha Naquin- Delain, 7 Aletha Bryant, 8 the late Wendy the official dish...from 8 Byrne, 9 Chris Morton, 10 Frankie Fierce, 11 DL Broadway, 12 Sabrina, and 13 Duane Parrish. LPO hosts Bernadette Peters Feb. 28 Fresh from her triumph in the Broadway revival of Follies, Tony Awardwinning Broadway star Bernadette Peters will soon grace the stage together with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra for a magical evening of songs from her greatest Broadway shows. Bernadette Peters: Live with the LPO takes place Thursday, Feb. 28, at 7:30pm at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center Theater. Tickets start at $20 and are available online at LPOmusic.com or by calling 504.523.6530. Throughout her illustrious career, three-time Tony Award-winning actress Bernadette Peters has dazzled audiences and critics with her performances on stage, film and television, in concert, and on recordings. Peters recently starred on Broadway in the critically acclaimed production of Follies, after Bernadette Peters Photo by Firooz Zahedi written and sung by the author. The book package includes a recording of an original song of which Bernadette s royalties from the sale of both books goes to support Broadway Barks. While Peters is best known for her work in the theater, she also boasts an impressive list of television credits including her recent guest appearance on NBC s SMASH. She has also appeared in the Lifetime movie, Living Proof opposite Harry Connick, Jr.; a guest starring role in the two-hour 2008 season premiere of ABC s, Grey s Anatomy, and a recurring role on Ugly [continued on 16] 8 The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM Feb. 5-18, 2013 Official ficial Gay Mardi di Gras Guide GayMardiGras.COM
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celebrazzi All hail King Cake Queen XX of Gay Mardi Gras Dusty Debris reigning as The Platinum Queen over the Krewe of Queenateenas: 20 Years of Magic, Myths & Mortals celebrated at the 20th King Cake Queen Coronation in the Ambush Mansion on Bourbon Street in New Orleans. Some invited 187 members of Gay Carnival Society greeted the new queen at the festive soiree in a haute couture designer gown created by the queen herself. The Platinum Queen will lead the 26th Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss on Tuesday, Feb. 12, 2013, 2pm ish from the world famous Ambush balcony at 828 Bourbon Street. (GayMardiGras.COM/KCQ) Photo: King Cake Queen's II/ Emeritus Jay Loomis, IV Arthur Severio, IX Lisa Beaumann, XIII Raven Kennedy, XIV Princesse Stephaney, XX Dusty Debris, XV Marsha Naquin-Delain, XVI Tami Tarmac, XVII Opal Masters & XIX Nicole DuBois (Left & Right) Official Coronation Portrait of King Cake Queen XX Dusty Debris by Royal KCQ Photographer Larry Graham of GrahamStudioOne.COM 10 The Official Mag: AmbushMag.COM Feb. 5-18, 2013 Official ficial Gay Mardi di Gras Guide GayMardiGras.COM