SouthernDecadence.com • Dec. 2-15, 2014 • Facebook.com/AmbushMag • The Official Mag©: AmbushMag.com • 11 chocolate mint chip ice cream was so big, show featuring Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis, that a table of six could not put a dent into Johnny Cash and Carl Perkins. I followed book review it. After dinner we explored the Quad area the show up with a quick dinner at Carnegie and enjoyed the live entertainers, my favor- Deli at The Mirage, just like I remember it in ite was the hot cowboys and Chippendale New York. Wolf at the Door, The Third Buddha, A Gathering Storm Dancers you could pose with for pictures. I finished the evening at one of the final What Comes Around, The Forever Mara- by Frank Perez Good lord, they have everything there. private parties at the Drais Nightclub and thon, and A Gathering Storm; and four Email: [email protected] I came back to the hotel and the bar Beach Club at the Cromwell Hotel. I have collections of short fiction: Dancing on the Jameson Currier. A Gathering Storm. inside the Mirage, Revolution was having no other word to describe this place than Moon; Desire, Lust, Passion, Sex; Still Chelsea Station Editions, 2014. ISBN: Gay Night entitled Revo Sunday. Seems sexy. I mean this club is like you have seen Dancing: New and Selected Stories; and 978-1-937627-20-1. 354 pages. $20.00. the gay scene shifts from club to club on the in the movies. You take an elevator up to the The Haunted Heart and Other Tales, Although A Gathering Storm is strip depending on the night of the week space and enter in the nightclub area. which was awarded a Black Quill Award for Jameson Currier’s latest novel to be pub- and as luck would have it, it was in my hotel Large velvet red curtains three stories tall Best Dark Genre Fiction Collection. lished, it was actually written fifteen years on Sunday, yeah me! Revolution is a pretty were pulled open leading you from the huge Currier’s short fiction has appeared in ago in the aftermath of the Matthew Shepard creatively designed bar styled after the dance floor area to the Beach Club that had many literary magazines and Web sites. murder. Drawing inspiration from that case Cirque du Soleil’s Beatle’s Love. After a few cabanas with infinity hot tubs in them. His AIDS-themed short stories have also and other hate crimes that followed, Currier cocktails, I turned in for the night. One thing Because yes at a pool, you need a hot been translated into French by Anne-Laure has written a novel about a hate crime that is cocktails in Vegas are expensive. I will tub in your cabana. There were two huge Hubert and published as Les Fantômes. occurs in a small college town somewhere never complain about drink prices in New pools each with a dance floor in it. All the His reviews, essays, interviews, and ar- in the American South. Orleans when the average drink there is pools in Vegas have DJs spinning at them ticles on AIDS and gay culture have been Much has been written about the Mat- about $12. it seems. From any spot in the outdoor area published in many national and local pub- thew Shepard case, and it was covered I was in Las Vegas for the IMEX show which had different levels, the view was lications. In 2010 he founded Chelsea extensively in the media, but Currier ob- which is a meetings industry trade show. I astounding. Inside an eight foot LED disco Station Editions, an independent press serves in the novel’s introduction, “I felt was part of the New Orleans CVB booth style bar would lower and spin on above devoted to gay literature. Books published what was missing from the news were the promoting the city to meeting planners your head on the dance floor. At several by the press have been honored by the details and stories of the individuals in- worldwide. There were booths of cities points during the night a confetti launcher Lambda Literary Foundation, the American volved—the crime was analyzed and politi- from around the globe from London to would drop tons of white confetti on the Library Association GLBTRT Roundtable, cized but oddly not humanized.” Brazil, Japan to Cleveland and everywhere dancers, then when it touched the floor air the Saints and Sinners Literary Festival, In A Gathering Storm, Currier suc- in between. This is truly a global experi- jets from below would shoot it back up the Gaylactic Spectrum Awards Founda- cessfully humanizes not only the victim of a ence and one I was truly in awe to be a part creating a eddying effect like you were tion, and the Rainbow Book Awards. hate crime, but also the assailants, as well of. Monday I was in sales training classes dancing in a snow globe. Now this is mind- In 2011, Currier launched the literary as the community in which the crime oc- all day. That evening we started with a blowing fun. Stripper poles were all over magazine Chelsea Station, which has pub- curs. Written in the present tense from the small reception at the Paradise Café in The the place with dancers and guests were lished the works of more than a hundred perspectives of several people involved, Mirage then we were off to the Light night- encouraged to stand on the banquets and writers and in 2014 re-launched the maga- the novel effectively explores not only the club in Mandalay Bay for a private party. dance. I have been to many nightclubs in zine as an online literary site. Jameson emotional nature of a hate crime, but also Now this is where Vegas shines the most at my day both in the US and abroad and I Currier is a member of the Board of Direc- its causes and consequences—and how is their nightlife. Light is a technically have to say that this is probably rates as tors of the Arch and Bruce Brown Founda- we as both individuals and as communities charged experience that combines elements one of my top three. Simply marvelous tion, a recipient of a fellowship from New process such tragedies. of Cirque with the cutting edge music and night. York Foundation for the Arts, and has been The narrative structure of the novel is visuals on their Led screens that cover On Wednesday, I spent half a day at a judge for many literary competitions. He not linear, but rather circular and oscillates almost the entire space. Guests danced the trade show before grabbing a bite at currently resides in New York. both in time and various characters’ per- and drank as accomplished aerialists per- California Pizza Kitchen and heading out to spective. Syntactically, the sentences are formed above our heads. Then after the the airport. And this is where Vegas reels short and choppy (a departure for Currier) is roaring fires, splashing waters and lots of event, we took the party upstairs to the you in, never play at the airport, you will and serve to convey a tone of fragmenta- thunderous sounds topped with a horrific House of Blues Foundation Room (thank always loose. This is where they need to tion. beast that pops out at the end. This mar- goodness I am a member) which has a get their money back before you depart, This book is not an easy read but it is velous 11-minute show boasts dramatic, spectacular view of the entire strip. We drain your last dollar out of you. So for those a worthwhile read. It is a thoughtful explo- mind-blowing special effects, neon lights continued our dance party to the wee hours who have yet to get to Las Vegas, put it on ration of the emotional complexities of ho- and the surrounding fountains. Storyline is of the morning. On returning to my hotel, I your bucket list, there is truly something mophobia and a reverent tribute to the simplistic, witness the fall of Atlantis reen- briefly gambled before bed. there for everybody. Now where is my next victims of hate crimes. Despite its grim acted by 9-foot-tall lifelike animatronic stat- Tuesday was the start of the trade Ambush on the road, grab a lei, because subject, the novel does manage to strike ues (and a scary 20-foot winged dragon) show which is an intense three days of I am Hawaii bound. Stay tuned. hopeful notes. costumed in armor and leather by the leg- appointments meeting with people trying to Jameson Currier is the author of six endary Hollywood blacksmith company convince them to come to our wonderful city To Quote A Queen novels: Where the Rainbow Ends, nomi- Sword & Stone. The tale begins with King with their groups. That night I started at the Tis’ the season to be jolly. In honor of nated for a Lambda Literary award, The Atlas deciding whether his son or daughter Mirage with dinner at one of my favorite the yuletide month, I thought the next two should take over in ruling Atlantis. Greed restaurants I tried when I was there, issues would be a great time to share with and haughtiness get the better of the two as Japonais. This eatery is described as the you some quotes about this lovely holiday they brag about how one’s ability is better balance of the East meshes with the exu- under the gaydar ...from 10 season. We will stray slightly from my than the other. The sister waves her staff berance of the West. Japonais is one of format since not all these quotes are from ards and now three new white lion cubs: and shows off her water power. On the flip those memorable dining excursions that people in the gay community. So relax, grab Madiba, Timba-Masai and Freedom. I got side, the brother waves his torch and bursts you talk about years after. From the chic a glass of spiked eggnog and enjoy. to enjoy these playful guys first hand as of flames erupt all around him. The family décor to the deliciously imaginative dishes, “The main reason Santa is so jolly is they frolicked with their handlers, so cute. learns the ultimate lesson — let’s just say this place was innovative. It is a hip, fresh because he knows where all the bad girls Afterwards I enjoyed the bottlenose dolphin it doesn’t result in a “time-out.” The deci- and had one of the best dishes I have ever live.” – George Carlin show. sion falls out of the father’s hands and the eaten in my life tempura Brussel sprouts. “Nothing says holidays, like a cheese After sight-seeing, next was shopping other gods show their wrath with the Fall of The Vegas restaurant (there is one in Chi- log.” – Ellen DeGeneres and in case you did not know; Vegas has Atlantis. A terrifying beast with wings ap- cago and New York) has garnered rave “The Supreme Court has ruled that everything and it is supersized. I started at pears from behind Atlas’ throne and watches reviews such as Condé Nast Traveler – they cannot have a nativity scene in Wash- the Kardashian Khaos store in The Mirage, the destruction of Atlantis. This is one “Top 66 Restaurants in The World.” ington, D.C. This wasn’t for any religious sorry, yes I had to see what the queens of incredible show and just a sample of the After dinner we went to the Bellagio for reasons. They couldn’t find three wise men vapidity were selling and I am glad to say I many free things there are to see and do in another private party at The Bank. This and a virgin.” – Jay Leno hit a steal, you buy over $20 of merchandise Vegas. swanky, upscale hot-spot was once again “I stopped believing in Santa Claus and I received a complimentary Khloe That night I went to dinner with some tailored for guests. Tonight started with a when I was six. Mother took me to see him Kardashian beach towel, I will cherish it colleagues at Guy Fieri’s Vegas Kitchen meeting industry’s version of American Idol in a department store and he asked for my forever. Next I went to the Forum Shops and Bar located at the Quad. This place followed by dancing once again to the wee autograph.” – Shirley Temple next door at Caesar’s Palace. Seriously was over the top and his food was awe- hours of morn. “I’ve been giving back since I was a this place is a shopping paradise. The inspiring, I have never seen burgers quite Tuesday was another day of meetings teen, handing out turkeys at Thanksgiving shopping gods nodded and said let there like his. His tatted turkey burger and maca- then off to a cocktail reception hosted by and handing out toys at toys drives for be Cartier, Gucci and Jimmy Choo. Hell the roni and cheese burger were to die for. And AVW Resorts at Table 10, an Emeril’s res- Christmas. It’s very important to give back H & M is a three story architectural wonder. talk about oversized, the burgers are so big taurant. Seem to never be able to com- as a youth. It’s as simple as helping an old And speaking of the gods, another free they fill up an entire plate and you need pletely get away from NOLA. After I went to lady across the street or giving up your seat show is The Fall of Atlantis Show which another one just for the sides. Don’t even see the Broadway hit Million Dollar Quar- on the bus for someone who is pregnant.” highlights sibling rivalry at its fiercest. There get me started on dessert, their mountain of tet at Harrah’s. This is a fun musical tribute – Queen Latifah 12 • The Official Mag©: AmbushMag.com • Dec. 2-15, 2014 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide© since 1982 • GayMardiGras.com SouthernDecadence.com • Dec. 2-15, 2014 • Facebook.com/AmbushMag • The Official Mag©: AmbushMag.com • 13 14 • The Official Mag©: AmbushMag.com • Dec. 2-15, 2014 • Official Gay Mardi Gras Guide© since 1982 • GayMardiGras.com SouthernDecadence.com • Dec. 2-15, 2014 • Facebook.com/AmbushMag • The Official Mag©: AmbushMag.com • 15