SouthernDecadence.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • July 3-16, 2007 • AmbushMag.COM • MAIN~1 of 52 MAIN~2 of 52 • AmbushMag.COM • July 3-16, 2007 • The One & Only Official Gay New Orleans Guide • GayNewOrleans.COM SouthernDecadence.COM • GayMardiGras.COM • GayEasterParade.COM • July 3-16, 2007 • AmbushMag.COM • MAIN~3 of 52 Opal Masters, Princesse Stephaney. All Show Bar of the Year Finalists are the "official" dish invited to perform a production number. The GAA Board of Directors is excited to Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 • Texas-Florida by Rip & Marsha Naquin-Delain have GAA Founder and Lifetime Achieve- ment Award recipient Marcy Marcell and RipandMarsha.COM OFFICE/SHIPPING ADDRESS: E-mail: [email protected] 2006 Entertainer of the Year Donnie Jay as 828-A Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70116-3137 special guest stars for the 2007 GAA Gala. USA The Board of Directors chose the Top OFFICE HOURS: 10am-3pm 5 Finalists for the Cheridon Comedy Award GAA Gala July 8 Benefits Gay Carnival (Mardi Gras) Ball of the Monday-Friday [Except Holidays] Year - Krewe of Amon Ra, Krewe of in memory of Sonny Cheridon Cleveland Buzzy's Boys & Girls Armeinius, Krewe of Mwindo, Lords of - Rona Conners, Blanche Debris, Jaded E-mail: [email protected] PHONE: 1.504.522.8049 • 1.504.522.8047 he 20th annual Gay Apprecia Leather, Mystic Krewe of Satyricon; Jade, Princesse Stephaney, Tittie tion Awards Gala is set for Sun Neighborhood Bar of the Year - Cow- Toulouse; ANNUAL READERSHIP: Tday, July 8 from 7-10pm in the pokes, Cutter's, Friendly Bar, Golden Lan- Fly Fashion Glamour Award in 650,000+ in print/3.5 Million+ On-line Marigny Theatre, 1030 Marigny St. in New tern, Starlight By The Park; memory of Miss Fly - Jessica Daniels, Orleans. The winners in each category, NATIONAL CIRCULATION: Buzzy Fanning AIDS Award - Austin Mercedes Ellis Loreal, Opal Masters, Rikki USA... Alabama-Birmingham, Mobile voted on by the Gulf South readership of Babtist Women/Austin, Toby Lefort, Tony Redd, Ava Synclaire; and Florida - Ft. Lauderdale, Miami/South Beach, Ambush Mag, will be announced at the Leggio, New Orleans Bear & Bear Trap- Fly Fashion Victim Award in memory Pensacola • Georgia - Atlanta Louisiana - Baton Rouge, Lafayette, Lake gala which benefits the William Fanning per Social Club, NO/AIDS Task Force; of Miss Fly - Ursuline Burgundy, Electra Foundation, aka Buzzy’s Boys & Girls. Charles, Metairie, New Orleans, Shreveport, Slidell Bitch of the Year - Rusty LaRoux, Tony City, Miss Trailer Park Erica Frost, Miss Mississippi - Biloxi, Hattiesburg, Jackson There are some VIP Tables of four for Leggio, Madam Adam, Princesse Mascara Joey, Kabrina Watson. Texas - Austin, Corpus Christi, Dallas, Eustace, $100 still left. Please contact Rip Naquin- Stephaney, Kabrina Watson; The winners of those three awards Galveston, Houston, San Antonio, Delain for table reservations at South Padre Island Show Bar of the Year - Big Daddy's, will also be announced at the Gala along STAFF: 504.522.8047 or Bourbon Pub/Parade, Cowpokes, Oz, Star- with the recipient of the Marsha Delain PUBLISHER/EDITOR [email protected]. light By The Park; Award of Excellence presented by Marsha R. Rip Naquin-Delain, New Orleans PRODUCTION DIRECTOR The Board of Directors of the GAA are Performing Arts Award - Austin Babtist Naquin-Delain. proud to present the coveted Lifetime M. Marsha Naquin-Delain, New Orleans Women/Austin, New Orleans Gay Men’s The Board of Directors includes Lisa GULF SOUTH/NEW ORLEANS AD SALES Achievement Award to the legendary Marcy Chorus, NORD, Running with Scissors, Beaumann, Teryl-Lynn Foxx, Toni Pizanie Rip Naquin-Delain • 504.522.8049 Marcell, founder of the Gay Appreciation To Do Productions' Take Me Out; and Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain. Am- LESBIAN/POLITICAL ISSUES Awards. bush Mag is proud to sponsor the awards Toni J.P. Pizanie, New Orleans Restaurant/Deli of the Year - Clover TEXAS SALES REP Grill, Elizabeth's, Mona Lisa, Quartermas- each year. For additional information visit Garry Holley • 512.291.1563 ter: The Nellie Deli, Verti Mart; AmbushMag.COM/GAA. THEATRE/PERFORMING ARTS CRITIC Brian Sands, Patrick Shannon Dance Bar of the Year - Bourbon Pub/ AD REPS/JOURNALISTS/PHOTOGRAPHERS Parade, Cowpokes, Oilcan Harry’s/Aus- Coca-Cola Presents 2007 Bob Hemby-Austin, TX tin, Oz, Splash/Baton Rouge; Essence Fest Celebrating Brad Benedict-Baton Rouge, LA Bartender of the Year - Ron Caesear/ Patrick Clinton-Lafayette, LA Black Music & Culture Miss Dee, Donnie Jay, Bourbon Pub, Eric Evans/Rawhide, Allen Douglas Minich -New Orleans Jones/Oz, Lance Pippin, Stephen Murrell/ he 13th Annual Essence Mu- Roy Williams-Pensacola, FL Cowpokes; sic Festival presented by Coca- CARTOONIST Kevin M. Butler DJ of the Year - Buddy/Cowpokes, TCola will celebrate its home- NATIONAL ADVERTISING REP coming to New Orleans this July 5, 6 and Rivendell Media~212.242.6863 Johnny Love/Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Mary AMBUSH Mag is published on alternate Tues- Pappas/Oz, Tim Pflueger/Oz, Richie Rich/ 7 with the biggest names in entertainment days of each month by Ambush, Inc., R. Rip Naquin- Cowpokes; and the nation’s most dynamic speakers, Delain, President. Advertising, Copy & Photo DEAD- Leather Bar of the Year - Chain Drive/ authors and leaders. LINE is alternate Tuesdays, 4pm, prior to publication Mainstage performances for the 2007 week, accepted via e-mail only: [email protected]. Austin, Cowpokes, Phoenix, Rawhide The Publisher assumes no responsibility for the claims 2010, Ripcord/Houston; Essence Music Festival presented by of advertisers and has the right to reject any advertis- GLBT Business of the Year - Alterna- Coca-Cola include Beyonce; Mary J. Blige; ing. The inclusion of an individual's name or photograph Chris Brown; Ciara; Steve Harvey; Isley in this publication implies nothing about that individual's tives, Queen Fashions, Troy Jowers Real- sexual orientation. Letters, stories, etc., appearing tor, Marigny Manor House, Tapelenders/ Brothers featuring Ronald Isley; Ludacris; herein are not necessarily the opinion of the Publisher Austin; Maze featuring Frankie Beverly; Ne-Yo; or Staff of AMBUSH Mag. Subscription rate is $45 for Leather Person of the Year - Rich The O’Jays with Keith Sweat and Johnny 1/2 Year; $75 for 1 year. Sample Copy is $3 First Class Daigle, Jimmy Johnson, CW Stambaugh, Gill; Lionel Richie; Kelly Rowland; Robin Mail. ©1982-2007, AMBUSH, INC., ALL RIGHTS Marcy Marcell Danny Starnes, Mark Steinbauer; Thicke; Plus an opening night gospel per- (photo: Larry Graham) RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRO- Transgender of the Year - Regina formance by McDonald’s Inspiration Cel- DUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF Adams, Vivica Devereaux, Rusty LaRoux, ebration artists Smokie Norful and THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, The Top 5 Finalists voted on-line for Marcy Marcell, Opal Vanderhurst; Vanessa Bell-Armstrong. MAPS and PHOTOS. AMgrant - AMbush Ad- by Ambush readers include: Lesbian of the Year - Marty Curtin, Koo Running concurrently with the main- vertising Grant Donation Circuit Party/Event of the Year - Hal- Gaffney, Mina Hernandez, Mary Pappas, stage performances in the Superlounges: loween/New Orleans, Gay Easter Parade/ Keri Watson; Anthony David; Angie Stone; Chuck D and The Ernest N. Morial Convention New Orleans, One Mighty Weekend/Or- Gay Man of the Year - Nathan Brooks, Public Enemy; Common; Elizabeth With- Center is the official daytime destination lando, Red Party/New Orleans, Southern Glenn Fonte, Toby Lefort, Tony Leggio, ers; Jermaine Paul; Kenny Lattimore and for inspiration and motivation at the ES- Decadence/New Orleans; Lance Pippin; Chante Moore; Kindred; Lyfe Jennings; SENCE Cares! Empowerment Seminar Hair Salon of the Year - Bobby Blue, Entertainer of the Year - Austin Babtist MC Lyte; Mint Condition; Najee; Nuttin but Series. Hosted by ESSENCE’s Susan L. Cleary California Concept, Hair Asylum, Women/Austin, Lauren Brown, Elizabeth, Stringz; Pieces of a Dream; Rachelle Taylor, speakers, authors, and national Mickey Nolan Salon, Salon d’Malta; Ferrell; Rahsaan Patterson; Rebirth Brass leaders will convene to share dialogue Band; Roy Anthony & Legit with Cupid; around the theme, “Claiming our Gay Appreciation Award Winners Edition Out: Ruben Studdard; Slum Village; and Sun- City…Claiming Ourselves.” Tues., July 17 DEADLINE: Tues., July 10 shine Anderson. In addition to the free and open-to- inside “From the amazing talent roster we the-public Essence Empowerment Semi- have planned for the concerts at the Loui- nars, the Festival’s daytime offerings also one last song 28 AMBUSH/main siana Superdome to the phenomenal line- include the Essence Marketplace, a show- sappho psalm 6 celebrazzi, cartoon 30 up of renowned speakers at the Empow- clubs & krewes 10 nola nightlife, price busters 31 case of quality fine arts & crafts by African- pride corner new orleans 12 EXPOSE/center erment Seminars, this special homecom- American vendors from all over the world. new orleans paparazzi 15 baton rouge paparazzi 1 ing celebration is gearing up to be the The Marketplace will also include in- ambush paparazzi/nola 18 hot tails of red stick/baton rouge 2 greatest Essence Music Festival ever,” teractive sponsor presentations, celebrity gay appreciation awards gala 19 allons acadiana 4 says Michelle Ebanks, president, Essence meet-and-greets, Festival souvenirs and cookin' w/auntie dee, chop chop 20 lafayette paparazzi 6 Communications Inc. “Festival-goers will a book fair with author book signings. trodding the boards 22 capitol comments/austin bar map 8 not only be entertained and enlightened, Additionally, the 2007 Essence Music drag survivor, flirt, pride pics 24,25 austin paparazzi 9 but will be making a difference in the New Festival presented by Coca-Cola spon- spotlight, obituary, on the boards 26 classifieds 12 Orleans community as a portion of all sors a day-long Youth Outreach Program, Gulf South Entertainment/Travel Guide Since 1982 concert ticket proceeds will benefit the which hosts local children for games, 828-A Bourbon St.