the "official" dish ...from Main-4 donation the night of the event, you will be For More information or the full list of mation visit www.diningoutforlife.org. entered into a drawing for a night’s stay at participating restaurants, visit Satyricon Sponsors the International House Hotel or the W www.noaidsdfl.com or call 504.821.2601 NOMA Presents A Tribute to Running With Scissors’ New Orleans - French Quarter. ext 217. Participating restaurants include NO/AIDS would like to thank the gen- Cole Pratt Opening Night of popular hot spots, longtime favorites and erous sponsors that make Dining Out For his summer, the New Orleans A Place in the Sun casual eateries in neighborhoods from Life possible: Abita Beer, RAIN Organics Museum of Art presents A Trib- he Mystic Krewe of Satyricon Metairie to the Marigny, North Shore to the Vodka, Ambush Magazine, Gambit Tute to Cole Pratt: His Gallery’s will sponsor the opening night, West Bank, and everywhere in-between. Weekly, NOLA.com, The Times Pica- First 15 Years, 1993-2008, an exhibition TFriday, July 11, at 8pm, of Run- There are long time participants such as yune, Where Y’AT Magazine, Interna- of work by 29 artists represented by the ning with Scisssor’s newest venture into Louisiana Pizza Kitchen and La Peniche, tional House Hotel, W New Orleans - influential New Orleans-based gallerist. ridiculous theatre, their version of the and new supporters such as Phil’s Grill French Quarter. Pratt passed away unexpectedly on April Paramount classic, A Place in the Sun, at and The Country Club. There’s even the NO/AIDS Task Force, the oldest HIV/ 19. “Cole Pratt was a loyal friend and Le Chat Noir, 715 St. Charles Avenue, New opportunity to catch dinner and a show at AIDS service organization in the Gulf South, longtime supporter of the New Orleans Orleans. All tickets to this performance Minacapelli’s Dinner Playhouse in Slidell was founded in 1983 in response to the Museum of Art,” said NOMA director E. only are $25 and can be obtained by call- which will be participating on Friday, July early devastating effects of the AIDS epi- John Bullard. “This exhibition is our way of ing 504.525.4498. For all other perfor- 18 only. demic in the New Orleans area. Over the recognizing his contributions to the visual mances, please call Le Chat’s box office This year, Dining Out For Life is proud past twenty five years the agency has arts in Louisiana. Through the artists he at 504.581.5812. to have Ted Allen as spokesperson for the created a continuum of supportive ser- supported and encouraged, Cole left a annual event. Food and wine connois- vices to assist people affected and in- legacy that will endure for centuries in this NO/AIDS Task Force Holds seur on Bravo’s hit TV series “Queer Eye fected by HIV. Programs include HIV pre- Museum, as well as in many of this city’s For The Straight Guy,” Allen is currently a vention education, a medical clinic, food finest private collections.” 14th Annual Dining Out For judge for Bravo’s “” and Food pantry and meal delivery services, mental Robert Coleman “Cole” Pratt, Jr. Life Thursday, July 17 Network’s “” as well as health, HIV testing & counseling, housing (1955-2008), a native of Mississippi, was n Thursday, July 17, host of the PBS series “Uncorked: Wine and medication assistance, among many well known for the Magazine Street gallery NO/AIDS Task Force is invit- Made Simple”. Says Allen: “I’m really privi- others. The mission of NO/AIDS Task Force he opened in Uptown New Orleans in Oing everyone to support a leged to be involved with Dining Out for is “to reduce the spread of HIV infection, 1993. The Cole Pratt Gallery showcased great cause over a great meal for the 14th Life, especially at a time when too many provide services, advocate empowerment, artists from around the world, but built its annual Dining Out For Life fund-raiser. people wrongly believe the HIV/AIDS cri- safeguard the rights and dignity of HIV- reputation on those with ties to New Or- The Task Force has teamed up with over sis no longer IS a crisis. New HIV infec- affected individuals, and provide for an leans and the South. 35 New Orleans area restaurants to raise tions are on the rise in a generation of enlightened public.” Over the last 13 years, A Tribute to Cole Pratt: His Gallery’s funds to help men, women and families young gay men who weren’t around the Dining Out For Life has helped raise over First Fifteen Years, 1993-2008 includes affected by HIV and AIDS. first time AIDS ravaged our country; mean- $450,000 for the programs and services work by Leslie Addison, Wayne Amedee, Stand up against HIV and AIDS by while, heterosexual women of color con- of NO/AIDS Task Force. Randy Asprodites, Lea Barton, James sitting down at one of your favorite restau- tinue to be the fastest growing population Dining Out For Life International is the Beaman, Robert Berguson, Barbara rants. All you have to do is gather your of people with HIV. Dining Out makes it non-profit organization that runs the an- Brainard, Andrew Bucci, Marie Bukowski, family and friends for a good meal at one possible for virtually everyone to make a nual Dining Out For LifeR event. Dining Denyce Celentano, Aaron Collier, Chris- of the participating restaurants, and 25% meaningful contribution to the fight against Out For LifeR is an annual fund-raising tine Cozic, Judy Cooper, Susan Downing- of your check will go to supporting the AIDS, while at the same time having fun event that raises awareness and funding White, Carolyn Evans, Miriam Hirsch, Ri- services that NO/AIDS Task Force pro- and supporting restaurants in their com- for nonprofit organizations dedicated to chard Johnson, Robert Lansden, Gary vides. Additionally, by making an extra munity-it’s a win/win/win!” the fight against HIV/AIDS. For more infor- [continued on Main-8]

MAIN~6 of 48 • AmbushMag.COM • July 1-14, 2008 • The One & Only Official Southern Decadence Guide • SouthernDecadence.COM GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • July 1-14, 2008 • AmbushMag.COM • MAIN~7 of 48 the "official" dish ...from 6 Museum hours. Take home a piece of art. Shop at the JUNGUA – The Descendants The New Orleans Museum of Art and Museum Store and Center for Southern of the Dragon at Harrah’s Martin, Dale Newkirk, Katie Rafferty, the Sculpture Garden are fully accessible Craft and Design for a unique creation – all Sylvaine Sancton, Phil Sandusky, Karen to handicapped visitors and wheelchairs purchases are 5 percent off. (Don’t forget Theatre in August Stastny, Paul Tarver, Glennray Tutor, are available from the front desk. that the store also stocks CDs, books and itness 2,500 years of tradi- Hasmig Vartanian, Evert Witte, and Carlos Ogden hats and T-shirts.) tion rolled into 90- Zervigon. Of the 29 artists, nine are repre- Ogden Museum of Southern Tune in at Ogden After Hours. Enjoy W minutes of pure entertain- sented in NOMA’s permanent collection: Art Celebrates its 5th the good vibes on Thursday nights, 6pm ment. Harrah’s New Orleans proudly pre- Amedee, Bucci, Cooper, Evans, Hirsch, to 8pm. Admission is only $5, too! sents JUNGUA - The Descendants of the Johnson, Sandusky, Tarver, and Vartanian. Anniversary through Aug. 31 Kid Appreciation = Art Appreciation. Dragon featuring the Shaolin Disciples The New Orleans Museum of Art, elief is here! The Ogden Mu- Activities for children all summer long. founded in 1910 by Isaac Delgado, houses seum of Southern Art will make (And Ogden After Hours has a children’s more than 40,000 art objects encompass- Rthe sultry New Orleans sum- art activity table.) ing 4,000 years of world art. Works from mer seem like a cool breeze with activities Air conditioning. Never underestimate the permanent collection, along with con- for the whole family, exhibitions and music the pleasure of viewing art in a climate- tinuously changing temporary exhibitions, through August 31. The high point is the controlled building! are on view in the Museum’s 46 galleries museum’s fifth anniversary, August 23, Be sure to check the Web site Wednesdays from noon to 8pm and Thurs- when it will host a variety of special events (www.ogdenmuseum.org) and the days through Sundays from 10am to 5pm. and activities, August 21 to 24. Need an Ogden-gram for more updates about all Admission to the Museum is free to Loui- excuse to visit? the exciting activities at the Ogden this siana residents through the generosity of Top Five Reasons to Visit the Ogden summer. the Helis Foundation. this Summer: Museum hours are 11am - 4pm Admission to the adjacent Sydney Adults pay only $5 admission! That’s Wednesday through Sunday and 6 - 8pm and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, right, half off general admission. (And, $5 Thursday evenings for Ogden After Hours. featuring work by 57 artists, including more gets you into the Southern Museum Free to members, $5 general admission several of the 20th century’s great master of Food and Beverage in the Riverwalk. (through Aug. 31, 2008). The museum is sculptors, is always free during regular $10 = 2 museums!) located at 925 Camp Street.

(martial artists) and the Imperial Acrobats of China (contortionists, hand balancers, foot jugglers and aerialists). Catch the show at Harrah’s Theatre, Thursday through Sunday, August 7 – 10, August 14 – 17 and August 21 – 24, at 8pm nightly. A high impact, theatrical entertain- ment experience for all audiences, JUNGUA - Descendants of the Dragon celebrates the Chinese culture in an ex- plosion of kung fu, acrobatics, music and dance. Dramatic scenery, authentic props and lavish costumes create a feast for the eyes. The amazing skills of China’s finest acrobats and martial arts masters com- bine with modern staging, exciting chore- ography and dramatic music and lighting to mesmerize the senses. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased in person at Harrah’s box of- fice, by calling 504.533.6600 or on-line at Ticketmaster.com. You must be at least 21 to attend shows at Harrah’s Theatre. More information about the show and show times is available at www.harrahsneworleans.com. Harrah’s New Orleans is operated by a subsidiary of Harrah’s Entertainment, Inc., the world’s largest provider of branded casino entertainment. Since its begin- ning in Reno, Nevada nearly 70 years ago, Harrah’s has grown through development of new properties, expansions and acqui- sitions. Harrah’s Entertainment is focused on building loyalty and value with its cus- tomers through a unique combination of great service, excellent products, unsur- passed distribution, operational excel- lence and technology leadership.

MCC Founder Performs First Legal Same-Sex Marriage os Angeles, CA - Reverend El- der Troy Perry, Founder of Met- Lropolitan Community Churches (MCC) worldwide and a plaintiff in the recent California Supreme Court marriage cases, performed his first wed- ding ceremony in the United States in [continued on Main-12]

MAIN~8 of 48 • AmbushMag.COM • July 1-14, 2008 • The One & Only Official Southern Decadence Guide • SouthernDecadence.COM GayMardiGras.COM • GayNewOrleans.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • July 1-14, 2008 • AmbushMag.COM • MAIN~9 of 48 MAIN~10 of 48 • AmbushMag.COM • July 1-14, 2008 • The One & Only Official Southern Decadence Guide • SouthernDecadence.COM