Ambush Magazine Volume 44 Issue 01

A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION CELEBRATING LGBTQ+ CULTURE SINCE 1982

VOLUME 44 ISSUE 1 February 2, 2026

Mardi Gras Issue

AMBUSH is published six times a year and has a print circulation footprint across the Gulf Coast. For ad rates and other information, email frankearlperez@gmail.com or camzimmerman504@gmail.com

T.J. Acosta

EDITOR IN CHIEF

Frank Perez

AD SALES

Frank Perez, Cam Zimmerman

CONTRIBUTORS

Brian Sands, Tony Leggio, Jim Meadows, Felicia Phillips, Charles Pizzo, Kelly Schexnaildre, Cas O’Brien, Frank Perez

LOGISTICS COORDINATORS

Jeffrey Palmquist, Ryne Stoned, Chris Trentacoste, Dwain Hertz

PHOTOGRAPHERS

Tony Leggio, Dwain Hertz

COVER DESIGN

Ryan Leitner

AMBUSH Magazine is published bimonthly. 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.

Copyright 1982 2025 AMBUSH PUBLISHING LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS, & PHOTOS.

The Of ficial Dish TJ Acosta

Dear AMBUSH Nation,

On behalf of everyone at AMBUSH, Happy Carnival. Mardi Gras is in full swing and I would encourage everyone to celebrate in some way. There are many parades and Gay Mardi Gras balls to attend – so bring your tuxedo to the cleaners and get ready to celebrate Carnival in style! You can find a full list of Gay Mardi Gras balls on our website at Ambushmag.com. Also, be sure to check out our event calendar each month on our website called “Under the Gaydar.”

Now is a good time to remind you to support our LGBTQ+ businesses and advertisers in AMBUSH. Show them some love and tell them that AMBUSH sent you! Our LGBTQ+ businesses are vital to our community and need our support now more than ever.

I would also like to take this opportunity to congratulate Debbie With A D, King Cake Queen XXXI – The People’s Queen! Debbie has a great story to tell and has been serving our community for over 10 years working as the HIV Prevention Manager at CrescentCare and most recently as a “public health drag queen.” We appreciate her contributions to our community and hope she has an amazing reign as King Cake Queen XXXI. Happy Carnival!

From the Editor’s Desk Frank Perez

Finding Joy in Troubled Times

Almost everyone has heard of Mardi Gras, but I suspect some who don ’t live along the Gulf Coast are not aware that Shrove Tuesday is the culmination of an entire season. And what a season it is! Beginning on Twelfth Night, when the rest of the country is settling down after the busy holiday season and getting back to work, we are just gearing up for the real party. Carnival Season is a

tion. In short, it’s a season devoted to joy.

And joy is more necessary than ever in these troubled times. As the country continues to lurch towards authoritarian fascism, fear and despondency have descended upon the nation like dark storm clouds. As millions lose their healthcare, and millions more find it increasingly difficult to pay their bills, the wealthiest among us grow even more wealthy. As the middle class shrinks, the 1% swells. As Trump ’s stormtroopers indiscriminately kidnap and murder law abiding citizens with impunity, due process and the rule of law have devolved into quaint notions of a bygone era.

Righteous indignation at the horrors Trump and the republicans have unleashed is justified, but passionate anger must be tempered by perspective and joy. Marching is good. Protesting is necessary. But we cannot let our rage rob us of our humanity. T o do so would be to forget why we’re fighting. Our founders enshrined “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness ” in the Declaration of Independence. In a way, embracing Carnival and celebrating Mardi Gras is a form of resistance. So, while our nation m ay be a dumpster fire right now, don ’t let anyone steal your joy.

Weekly Events Tony Leggio

Monday

NOAGE New Orleans Walking Group; Audubon Park; 6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA; 4 p.m. NO-

AGE’s weekly walking group meets on Mondays at 4:00 p.m. at the Magazine Street entrance to Audubon Zoo. They start walking promptly at 4:00, so be sure to arrive a few minutes early. Please consult with your primary care physician before beginning any new fitness regimen, especially if you are not

used to regular exercise. PLEASE NOTE: The walking group will be AUTOMATICALLY CANCELED in the event of inclement weather.

Cooking with Monica: The Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St., New Orleans, LA; 5 p.m. Come enjoy delicious food cooked by Monica every Monday at 5 p.m. and stay and enjoy cocktails with her till her shift ends at 2 a.m.

Ms. Shannon’s Open Mic Night & After Hours Art Bazaar:

Checkpoint Charlies; 501 Esplanade Ave., New Orleans, LA; 7 p.m. – midnight. Hosted by Christine Simo and featuring live music, tarot readings, thrift clothing, art, and much more. Come support local artists and grab a few drinks to kick back while you are at it!

Monday Night Madness Pool Tournament: SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave. Gulfport, MS; 9 p.m. – midnight. $5 per person winner takes all.

Betsy Propane’s Smoke Show; The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 8 – 9:30 p.m. Betsy Propane & The Accessories are a Jazz Trio fronted by a female lead singer, who dabbles in the Ancient Art of Bump & Grind, and wants to share those powerful pipes through song & performance. Cover $20.

Mondays at the Den: The Four Seasons Den & Patio Bar; 1229 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, LA; 8 p.m. Come check out the hot men dancing every Mon day night.

LAZY SUSAN KARAOKE: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Mondays are, once again, a DRAG! See your favorite Queens! Sing your favorite songs! GET WEIRD! With a rotating cast of drag hosts.

Tuesday

Sing A Long Karaoke with DJ Slay: Flip Side Bar and Patio; 213 Conti St., Mobile, AL.; 7 – 11 p.m.

Drag Bingo: The Country Club New Orleans; 834 Louisa Street, New Orleans, LA; 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Gia Giavanni performs and calls bingo for a fun night of entertainment and prizes.

Trivia Night: Crossing NOLA; 439 Dauphine St.; 7:30 p.m. 5 Rounds of Ten Questions Plus a Bonus Round; Prizes for 1st, 2nd & Last Place; $3 Wells & Domestics ‘til 8PM; Kitchen Open ‘til 10PM. Call the Bar at (504) 523 4517 to Reserve a Table

George’s Tuesday Night Trivia; George’s Place; 860 St. Louis St., Baton Rouge; 7 – 9 p.m. Come play trivia every Tuesday with a different theme each week.

Big Easy Stompers Line Dancing: Mags 940; 940 Elysian Fields Ave., New Orleans, LA.; 8 – 11 p.m. The Big Easy Stompers have free dance classes every Tuesday. They have been giving dance classes to the LGBTQ+ community and general public. Classes are free and start at 8:00 p.m. and open dancing at 9:00 p.m. All are welcome, including beginners.

No Judgment Karaoke at Good Friend ’s: Good Friend’s Bar; 740 Dauphine St.; 8 p.m. – midnight. Come enjoy karaoke with fabulous hosts and a chance to win great prizes.

Weekly Pool Tournament; Phoenix Bar; 941 Elysian Fields Ave., New Orleans, LA; 8 – 10 p.m. The Phoenix Pool Tournament is every Tuesday night! $5 buy in, winner takes all. Drink specials begin at 7 p.m.

Trivia Tuesdays; SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave. Gulfport, MS; 8 – 10 p.m. Come out and enjoy Big Gay Trivia with Tara Shay Montgomery.

B Bob’s Gay Bar Bingo: B Bob’s; 213 Conti St., Mobile AL; 8:30 & 10 p.m. Hosted by Champagne Munroe, come out for fun and great prizes.

(Cont’d on pg. 12)

AMBUSH is published six times a year in February, April, June, August, October, and December. Contact Frank Perez at frankearlperez@gmail or Cam Zimmerman at camzimmerman504@gmail.com for advertising rates.

Weekly Events Cont’d.

Open Talent Night: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Hosted by Debbie with a D.

Wednesday

Showtunes Sing A Long; Bourbon Pub & Parade; 801 Bourbon St.; 8 – midnight. With VJ Brendan Thompson. Grab a Cocktail and Sing – A – Long to some of your all time favorites.

No Judgment Karaoke; Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 8 p.m. – midnight. Come sing you heart out at the oldest Gay Bar in New Orleans.

Men At The Den: The Four Seasons Den & Patio Bar; 1229 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, LA; 8 p.m. Join the Four for an evening of gogo dancing!

Wednesday Night Variety Show: The Page; 542 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA.; 9:15 p.m. Hosted by Simone Rishard. $5 entry fee and drinks specials all night.

Big Gay Game Show; Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 8:30 p.m. Audience members have the chance to compete with their favorite Drag Super Stars for chances to win some fabulous prizes in this all new sh ow Games include: Lip Sync 4 Your Life, Are You Smarter than a Drag Queen, Guess the Key Word, What’s in the BOX, and much more. Weekly Rotating Hos. Featuring the Ladies of Oz and Many More of New Orleans Drag Entertainers. Show Time 8:30 p.m. Featuring the Ladies of Oz and DJ Tim Pflueger.

Queen’s Karaoke: George’ s Place; 860 St. Louis St., Baton Rouge; 10 p.m. – midnight. Hosted every Wednesday by Alvin McGee starting at 10 p.m.

Thursday

Karaoke at Pub: Bourbon Pub & Parade; 801 Bourbon St.; 7:00 p.m. – midnight. Sing your heart out every Thursday

upstairs at the Parade. There will be a different special host each week. Choose from over 30,000 songs.

The Van Ella Bordella: A Storyville Burlesque; The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 8 – 9:30 p.m. The Van Ella Bordella, New Orleans’ Storyville spectacle, is back with an all new show, original music, and courtesans. Limited seating. Join Madam Lola Van Ella and her courtesans for an evening of debauchery, scandal, decadent delights and Victorian era brothel history. For tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com.

QUEERS OF COMEDY New Orleans: Oz; 800 Bourbon St.; 8 p.m. A group of queer comedians performing comedy together.

Jezebell’s Jukebox – With a Twist: SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave, Gulfport, MS.; 9 p.m. Join us Thursday at 9 p.m. at Sipps Bar for an unforgettable night of music, sass, and surprises with the fabulous Jez ebell Sin! Singing hits from all genres and era s. Happy Hour from 4–6 p.m. – $2 off everything alcoholic.

Oz Strip Off: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 10 p.m. – midnight. Come enjoy the Oz Strip Off contest sponsored by Swiss Navy. Contestants in this male gogo competition can win $300 in cash and prizes for 1st Place.

Karaoke Night; George’s Place; 860 St. Louis St., Baton Rouge; 10 p.m. – midnight. Hosted every Thursday by Cassini starting at 10 p.m.

So You Think You Can Drag: B Bob’s; 213 Conti St., Mobile AL; 11 p.m. Winner chosen by audience applause.

Friday

Drag Bingo: The Roundup; 560 E Heinberg St, Pensacola, FL; 6 – 9 p.m. No cover. 9 games with prizes, last game blackout.

Cardio with NOAGE: Treme Recreation Community Center; 900 N. Villere St.; 6 p.m. Dance Cardio is a low impact dance cardio workout for active adults aging actively, set to high energy hip hop, rock, R & B, blues and funk. (Cont ’d. on pg. 14)

Trans Matters Cas O’Brien

Lee G. Brewster and his Mardi Gras Boutique

In the 1960s, a gay man named Lee G. Brewster opened up a clothing business in New York City, specifically tailored for cross dressers, transgender, and gender non conforming people. Brewster started his business in his apartment, and by the time he passed away in 2000, the business had grown into a 5,000 square foot retail space at 400 West 14th Street. Brewster always made sure the shop was not

on the first floor of a building, so his customers would feel safe and secure. He wanted people to have to find the store, preferably by word of mouth in the community. The store was called Lee’ s Mardi Gras Boutique, and it was a magical place full of satin gloves and corsets, where famous costume designers to every day closeted businessmen would find the outfits of their dreams.

For decades, Mardi Gras was an annual day of relief and solace for LGBT+ people, where they could express themselves without worry of judgment or harassment. Brewster was known in the New Orleans LGBT+ community for bringing gay and transgender tourists to our city to experience the freedom and magic of Mardi Gras. Brewster wanted people to feel that way every time they stepped into his store.

Brewster grew up in West Virginia and, after losing a job as a file clerk at the FBI for being gay, moved to New York City in the 1960s. Brewster soon became an icon in the New York Drag scene and a prominent figure in fighting for gay liberation and transgender rights. At a time when many gay men did not condone cross dressing and the start of the transgender rights movement, Brewster knew we all belonged in a community together. Brewster was the first activist in New York to get discriminatory laws removed from the books. He also helped a young soldier kicked out for being gay reverse their dishonorable discharge from the army to an honorable one by helping fund a lawyer and talking to the soldier's captain himself. Essentially, Brewster did not give up on anything easily.

in New Orleans at Mardi Gras in 1971. Joe Crews, photographer. Louisiana State Museum.

Between his store, the annual Lee’s Mardi Gras Ball, his magazine DRAG and his community organizing to fight for his drag queen and cross dressing family, Brewster became one of the most formative transgender activists before transgender was an official term. It’s so important to remember that Mardi Gras has provided so much for our queer community, and to know a gay man from West Virginia, who was able to take a piece of that magic to New York City and to turn it into so much more for our community, is that extra umf I needed going into this Mardi Gras season.

If you’d like to see more pictures or articles on Lee G. Brewster, feel free to email me at cassadyobrien@gmail.com for resources.

Weekly Events Cont’d.

Trixie Minx’s Burlesque Ballroom at The Jazz Playhouse: Royal Sonesta; 300 Bourbon St.; 7 and 9 p.m. shows. Come join us for a modern spin on a classic 1960’s Bourbon Street Burlesque Show with a rotating cast of soloists all per forming classic strip tease to live music, bringing quality Jazz Burlesque back to its original home on Bourbon Street. Get tickets at www.eventbrite.com

Whiskey & Rhinestones: The Original Nite Cap: 1300 St. Bernard Ave., New Orleans, LA; 8 p.m. Whiskey & Rhinestones returns in it's new forever home The Original Nite Cap! Nestled upstairs in the historic 7th Ward of New Orleans overlooking St. Bernard Ave burlesque dancers invoke the spirit of his tory and celebration of the city while you enjoy incredible cocktails and a smattering of delicious food options to enjoy during the show. The Original Nite Cap operates under the direction of local burlesque legend, Bella Blue, and strives to create a guest experience that is unparalleled in both hospitality and quality entertainment. Please do not hesitate to let us know if you are celebrating a special event. 7 p.m. doors. 8 p.m. showtime. $20 cover. Featuring a rotating cast of local and traveling burlesque entertainers! Tickets are at Eventbrite.com and at the door. We open to the public at 9 p.m.! You're welcome to stay after the show and continue to hang with us!

Freaky Fridays: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 8 p.m. Oz New Orleans is the place to be this Friday and all Fridays as Ivy Dripp and JoJo host “FREAKY FRIDAYS,” featuring performances that are sure to amaze and delight! A show that celebrates glam and horror! Join us for this one of a kind variety show spectacular!

Wigsnatchers Drag Show: The Maison; 508 Frenchman Street, New Orleans, LA; 8:30 p.m. The Wig Snatchers Drag Show features some of New Orleans’ best drag artists performing comedy, dance, and musical numbers every Friday and Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. in The Penthouse upstairs at The Maison. While the show is no cover/first come first served, they do offer the ability to guarantee seating for your group by reserving a VIP section.

Fab Friday Show Night: Splash Nightclub; 2183 Highland Road, Baton Rouge, LA; 9 p.m. Splash ’s Show Night is BACK, and it's about to be EPIC! Join us every Friday for the hottest drag show in the capital city! Get ready to be dazzled by the fabulous Bombshells of Baton Rouge, plus a surprise special guest each week! Hosted by the fabulous Miss Thing, who ’s serving looks and laughs all night long! Whether you ’re a drag

aficionado or just looking for a fun night out, this is the place to be! Don’t miss the chance to live your best life with us!

Bayou Blues Burlesque: The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 10:30 p.m. Tickets available at eventbrite.com and at the door. An intimate night of live blues music accompanied by burlesque and variety acts. Drink specials by your bartenders and comfy seating to enjoy the art of the strip tease. Music by The Delta Revues Burlesque by Miss Oops C. (AKA Oops the Clown).

Karaoke Night @ Sipps: SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave. Gulfport, MS; 9 p.m. – midnight. Come sing your heart out.

Fab Fridays Show Night: Splash Nightclub; 2183 Highland Rd., Baton Rouge; 9 p.m. Join us every Friday for the hottest drag show in the capital city! Get ready to be dazzled by the fabulous Bombshells of Baton Rouge, plus a surprise special guest each week! Hosted by the fabulous Miss Thing, who ’s serving looks and laughs all night long! Whether you ’re a drag aficionado or just looking for a fun night out, this is the place to be! Don’t miss the chance to live your best life with us! $4 well drinks before 11.

The Famous Corner Pocket New Meat Contest; The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; 10 p.m. (Boys dancin ’ from 7 p.m.).

The country ’s longest running all male amateur dance contest (over three decades!) Hosted by Corner Pocket Emcee Felicia Phillips and former Southern Decadence Grand Marshal. Bring your sexiest, skimpiest, and tightest undies (but no jock straps) for a chance at a cash prize of $100 ($200 if it ’ s your first time in our contest). Open to all contestants over 21. New dancers encouraged.

Guys Night Fridays: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 10 p.m, Dance the night away at New Orleans ’ #1 Gay Dance Club with DJ Tim Pflueger 15 X Winner GAA “DJ of the Year” / Adam Joseph / Orlando Ricardo. THE OZ GOGOs DANCING ON THE BAR ALL WEEKEND!

Friday Night Drag: George’s Place; 860 St. Louis St., Baton Rouge; 11 p.m. Join us Fridays Nights @georgesplacebr for the area’s best drag entertainers.

Terrioke: Le Cabaret; 834 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA; 11:59 p.m. Come sing karaoke with Terri Aqui.

Saturday

Drag Brunch @ the Country Club: Country Club; 634 Louisa St.; 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Enjoy delightful Drag performances and a delicious brunch! Reservations can be made at opentable.com

(Cont’d. on pg. 16)

Weekly

Events Cont’

Free Comedy Jam for Improvisers: Big Couch; 1045 Desire Street; 1 p.m. Just because improv is unscripted, doesn ’t mean you can’t practice it! We welcome improvisers of all levels to join us weekly to hone their improv skills, learn new ones, and connect with fun folks. An improv jam is an opportunity for anyone to perform and watch scenes.

LGBTQIA+ Youth Drop Inn Nights: New Orleans Pride Center; 2762 Orleans Ave., New Orleans, LA: 3 5 p.m. Every Saturday from 3 5 p.m., LGBTQ+ youth (ages 13 24) can join us at The Pride Center for different activities including movies, arts, journaling, and more! FREE to attend!

Wigsnatchers Drag Show: The Maison; 508 Frenchman Street, New Orleans, LA; 8:30 p.m. The Wig Snatchers Drag Show features some of New Orleans’ best drag artists performing comedy, dance, and musical numbers every Friday and Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. in The Penthouse upstairs at The Maison. While the show is no cover/first come first served, they do offer the ability to guarantee seating for your group by reserving a VIP section.

Drag Me To The Lantern: The Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St., New Orleans, LA; 10 p.m. Drag show starting at 10 p.m. with revolving cast.

Dance Bitches Dance: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 10 p.m. Dance the night away at New Orleans ’ #1 Gay Dance Club with DJ Tim Pflueger. 15 X Winner GAA “DJ of the Year” followed by DJ Adam Joseph or DJ Orlando Ricardo.

Show Night: SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave.; Gulfport, MS.; 11:30 p.m. Come check out the fabulous Nicole DuBois and a rotating cast of drag performers each week.

Sunday

Drag Brunch @ the Country Club: Country Club; 634 Louisa St.; 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Enjoy delightful drag performances and a delicious brunch! Reservations can be made at opentable.com

Morning Worship: Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans; 5401 S. Claiborne Ave.; 10 – 11 a.m. Our worship services are best described as “Blended.” We recognize that many of our congregants come from different religious and spiritual backgrounds. We strive to incorporate elements from those various backgrounds so that all can feel a little more connected to our services.

Solemn High Mass; St. Anna ’s Episcopal Church; 1313 Esplanade Ave.; starts at 10:30 a.m. We are a diverse congregation, and our slogan is “All are welcomed. None are shunned. ” Our worship style is ornate with deep ritual yet remains warm

and inviting. We are also kid and pet friendly. A real community church, St. Anna ’s welcomes all members of the LGBTQ+ community.

WigSnatchers Drag Brunch: Marigny Brasserie; 640 Frenchmen St., New Orleans, LA; 12 – 3 p.m. Located in the heart of historic Frenchmen St. comes the hottest Drag Show New Orleans has to offer. Hosted by Cosette LaFemme and Mistie Bonét, Drag Brunch @ Marigny Brasserie guarantees a welcoming and entertaining experience with some of Nola ’s finest Drag Queens. Come enjoy performances by some of the most iconic artists of all time while you start the day with a plate of New Orleans, a drink in hand, and a safe space to have fun and express yourself. Email marigny.brasserie@kfkgroup.com to inquire about special event offers and group pricing of parties of 5 or more.

Writing Across the Rainbow: New Orleans Pride Center; 2762 Orleans Ave., New Orleans, LA; 2 5 p.m. Writing Across the Rainbow is our new ongoing monthly LGBTQIA+ workshop focused on all aspects of writing, spanning how to get your first words on paper, to getting published and sharing your work with the world! Award winning editor and writer Sorella Smith will host this event which will also feature other writers as guest (Cont’d. on pg. 42)

D Debbie with a D Named King Cake Queen XXXI

The Krewe of Queenateenas recently named local drag performer and HIV / AIDS advocate Debbie with a D King Cake Queen for 2026. She will reign as The People ’ s Queen.

Growing up, Debbie with a D was homeschooled. Her father was the pastor of an Assemblies of God megachurch and did not react well when his son came out as gay while pursuing a degree in Mass Communication from Towson University in Baltimore. When threatened

with being sent to a “pray the gay away ” conversion therapy camp, he chose to leave home, recalling “it didn’t feel safe to be at home. ”

Debbie with a D was homeless for two years, living in a car and couch surfing with friends. Eventually he got a job at a coffee shop, where he met his future husband. After coming out, he began learning about gay culture and history and was particularly struck with the story and implications o f the AIDS epidemic This sparked an interest in public health.

While in New Orleans, Debbie with a D earned a Masters Degree in public health. From 2011 to 2013, she volunteered at Crescent Care until she was hired as HIV Prevention Manager, a job he held until 2022. For the last three years she has worked full time as “public health drag queen. ”

Comparatively speaking, Debbie with a D is fairly new to drag. The first time she did drag was for the Krewe of Armeinius ball in 2017, a beginning which came full circle last year when Debbie with a D reigned as Queen Armeinius LV. She recalls, “I was rough. Ha!” When asked about drag influences in her career, she stated, “I’ve learned many drag things from many fabulous queens. Laveau Contraire helped me a lot when I first got my start. If you want a drag house to follow, look for Haus Contraire! I work with them frequently and they are an incredibly talented house. I also was in Cylce 8 of the Drag Workshop put on by Vinsantos. And I would be REMISS if I didn't give a shout out to Poppy Tooker; she may not have taught me drag but she taught me how to brunch and be fabulous and put me on the back cover of her book Drag Queen Brunch, which really opened so many doors for me early in my career. ”

Captain Dawl, Muffy and Jay Bee Vanderbilt. (I appreciate documentation and queer history so I love giving shoutouts to the entertainers around me who are really hustling to keep queer nightlife in New Orleans vibrant).”

Debbie with a D has not ventured into the Pageant Circuit, but she has won a number of awards: the Mardi Gras Bourbon St. Awards in 2020 and 2022 for the Best Drag Category, New Orleans #1 Drag Queen by the Gambit Best Of New Orleans edition in 2024 and 2025, and Entertainer of the Year at the Gay Appreciation Awards in 2025.

When asked about her name, she said, “I loved Anne of Green Gables growing up and the heroine always said her name was Anne with an E. That and I love a double entendre.”

Currently, Debbie with a D has a regular show at Oz New Orleans every Tuesday night, which is a talent competition. She says, “That show is so much fun because of the diverse talent and spectrum of style of performers that comes out. Usually it's drag queens, but also kings, live vocalists, comedians, and burlesque performers too. Tuesdays are my new Fridays. Kozmik and Roslynn Aphrodite Alexander have helped me from the beginning with that show and we regularly have the talents of Ya'Rai Alexander, LadyFran, Vantasia Divine, Emonie, Camilla St. Charles, Bunni, Bozeaux LeFou, Ritchi Aphrodite, Qween Quan, Nicki Nicolai, Barbie,

In addition to her regular Tuesday gig, Debbie with a D also works with Saint John to host Sunday brunches regularly. She also does weddings, birthdays, anniversaries, corporate events, and other private events. She can be reached at DebbieWithaDBooking@gmail.com

The Krewe of Queenateenas grew out of a Mardi Gras bead toss from the fabled “Ambush Mansion ” balcony initiated by Rip and Marsha Naquin Delain in 1987. Their good friend Jay Loomis, who would eventually reign as King Cake Queen II, dubbed the group “The Krewe of Queenateenas ” The first King Cake Queen was selected in 1994 and has been an annual feature of gay Carnival since then.

Chop Chop Charles Pizzo

Greatness is There and Growing at the New Succotash NOLA

Famed New Orleans artist George Dureau created the artwork for the menu and matchbook covers at Marti’s, a long dormant, gay operated French Quarter restaurant that once also housed the acclaimed Peristyle. Now, the space at Dumaine and N. Rampart has been given a handsome new lease on life.

Succotash NOLA opened on New Year ’s Eve. The vibe is upscale and chic.

chic. Rich, dark green walls accentuate large, colorful works of art (there is an original, full length mural in the bar). Chandeliers looks like palm leaves (and reminded me of a Las Vegas showgirl’ s headpiece). Art Deco esque wall sconces add a gentle glow.

The artistry continues on the plate. A trio of large scallops were perfectly cooked, quite gently, to bring out their natural sugars. A pool of corn cream underneath further enhanced their sweetness. It was a beautiful plate with a herbal green oil surrounding the sauce, tiny dots of orange, and a splash of red in the form small, sliced peppers. Fresh sprigs of dill crown the scallops. Bits of crispy pork belly were scattered on the plate, adding a salty counterpoint. This is one of the best dishes I have eaten in a long time.

Equally intriguing were the fried soft shell crabs, with fresh lump crab and crab fat coconut curry. A pair of large crabs were crispy on the outside yet juicy on the inside. A forkful of crispy crab with added lump crabmeat makes for an indulgent bite. The style of cooking is simple yet refined –even elevated. The menu is modern and eclectic, with touches that are local and some that are global. The crab fat coconut curry is a perfect example. Seafood eaters are blessed with soft shell crabs all around town, yet this combination offers a fresh twist.

On a quiet night, Chef K was making the rounds in the dining room. She attributed the crab ’s crispiness to a mixture of white and corn flours, plus panko breadcrumbs in the breading. She stated how long it’s fried in precise minutes. Impressive. However, that precision was nowhere to be found in another dish.

Beautifully plated salmon was firm to the fork and overcooked till chalky. The dish includes a crispy skin salmon fillet, salmon croquettes, and seafood beurre blanc with caviar. The croquette needed more seasoning. That said, this dish has a lot of promise. If properly executed, the mix of textures and flavors could be excellent, with the caviar adding a gentle burst of

salinity. A charred lemon sat atop the perfect beurre blanc (butter sauce).

At the opposite end of the spectrum were a dozen raw oysters. These were plump and salty, enhanced by a lovely Caribbean fish sauce offering a flavorful twist. Ketchup and horseradish were also available. This was an unexpected gift of the kitchen, who did not know who we were.

A devilled egg appetizer features gochujang deviled eggs, crispy pork belly, fried mushrooms and scallions–with a choice of fried shrimp or oysters to top it off. Gochujang is a Korean spicy sweet red pepper paste. Here, it’ s mixed with the egg yolk and piped back into half of a hard boiled egg white. While the use of gochujang represents a bit of worldliness and whimsy, it was understated and imperceptible on the palate. But the crispy oyster perched atop, and salty pork belly, boosted the flavor.

Another favorite was the frog legs. These are usually drowning in some type of butter sauce, ruining the crispy breading. That is not the case at Succotash NOLA, where that delicious Caribbean fish sauce (first presented with the raw oysters) is served on the side. Brown butter scallions and ginger plus fresno peppers round out this excellent dish. This might be the first frog leg dish I have eaten in decades where you can actually taste the delicate frog meat.

Fried okra served on a bed of corn cream, bell pepper ketchup with blistered tomatoes and pork belly is, according to the chef, a deconstructed version of the namesake succotash. It was truly excellent. The kitchen excels at anything fried, and garnishes featuring sweet corn and umami rich pork belly are woven throughout the menu to great effect.

An appetizer with seafood dressing, superb fried shiitake mushrooms (Cont’d. on pg. 45)

NEWS BRIEFS

Trump Administration Proposes Cash Bounties on Trans Activists

Attorney General Pam Bondi recently instructed the FBI to create a “cash reward system” for tips on “domestic terrorists.” Included in the definition of domestic terrorists are “radical gender ideology” advocates. The directive was made public when a memo from Bondi dated Dec. 5 was leaked. The memo reads, “The FBI shall establish a cash reward system for information that leads to the successful identification and arrest of individuals in the leadership of domestic terrorist organizations.”

Epstein Files Still Not Fully Released

Representatives Thomas Massey (R KY) and Ro Khanna (D CA), co authors of the Epstein Files Transparency Act, have requested a special master to oversee the release of the Epstein files. The DOJ has failed to comply with the law, which nearly unanimous ly passed both houses of Congress. Khanna called the DOJ ’s failure “an obstruction of justice. ”

New Orleans Marks World AIDS Day

World AIDS Day was recognized in New Orleans on December 1. The Crescent City Leathermen and the New Orleans Phoenix organized a gathering and procession from the Phoenix to Washington Square ’s exterior. A small ceremony was held near the AIDS monument in the park. On December 8, a memorial service for AIDS victims was held at St. Anna ’s Episcopal Church. The service was sponsored by St. Anna ’s, The Faerie Playhouse, Inclusive Louisiana, and the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana.

Helena Moreno Sworn

in

as Mayor of New Orleans

Former City Council Member and State Representative Helena Moreno was recently inaugurated as the 63rd Mayor of New Orleans. Moreno is the second woman and first Latina to hold the position. Moreno has long been an ally to the LGBT+ community, having condemned anti trans legislation, championed inclusivity in government, attended Pride events, and advocated for LGBT+ rights. She has also used her political influence to endorse other pro LGBT+ candidates and policies.

Crescent City Rougaroux Wins Tournament

The Crescent City Rougaroux Rugby team travelled to Houston on Saturday, December 6, 2025, to compete in the four team round robin December Classic Tournament hosted by Space City Rugby. The team came home victorious with the trophy in hand.

Mardi Gras Memories and a Pink Glitter Tribute by Mike Sullivan

I met Rip and Marsha a few years after I moved to New Orleans in 1981. We were neighbors on Bourbon Street and worked together at the old Petunia ’s restaurant. We remained close friends until their deaths in 2017. In the 30+ years we knew each other, they published Ambush Magazine and became fixtures in the French Quarter.

Every Mardi Gras morning, I and a few of their friends remember Rip and Marsha with a pink glitter tribute in front of their former home, the old Ambush headquarters, (located in the 800 block of Bourbon Street).

It started as a sort of joking request they made to me in 1987 or 1988, not long after their first Mardi Gras day in the “Ambush Mansion.” The request was to “scatter our ashes when we are gone” and was repeated with more specificity over time. It was easy to say, “yes, of course” to that first request.

Their first Mardi Gras in the “Mansion” was the beginning of a tradition which lasted until their passing in 2017. Rip, Marsha, Michael Strong, Marsha’ s mother and I celebrated the day by tossing beads from the balcony and eating red beans and King Cake. It was my first balcony bead toss, and I didn ’t realize how tame it was. But it was so much fun that I couldn ’t stop smiling for a few days afterward. On Ash Wednesday, my co workers asked me why I couldn ’t stop smiling.

The tradition grew yearly into several annual traditions: balcony decorations, the Krewe of Queenatinas, the coronation of the King Cake Queen, and the Mardi Gras day bead toss. Guests at the first few King Cake Queen Coronation Parties included members of Patio Planters, mostly older, single, long time French Quarter women. It was always fascinating seeing these women dressed in evening wear, fur stoles and diamonds, not rhinestones, sitting and talking to the King Cake Queen and the other all done up drag queens.

From the second year, the Mardi Gras day bead toss became an audition for the next year’s King Cake Queen. Prospects were evaluated by costume and appearance, but most importantly by who on the balcony got the most guys in the street to expose themselves in exchange for beads. I didn ’t meet those qualifications, but King Cake Queen II, Jay Loomis, called and offered me the opportunity of being KCQ III. I was honored but declined, giving Smurf Murphy the chance to receive that title.

Decorating the balcony was, of course, part of the fun. The theme in 1995 was Egyptian. The balcony was beautiful with a Pharoah ’s head, eyes of Horus, and columns topped with

cobras posed to strike. Afterward, these decorations were placed into the Mansion ’s entrance hall and were enjoyed for years after. Another memorable theme was the devil balcony, which had large devil faces with red flashing eyes. My dear friend David visited me yearly from Michigan during that period for Mardi Gras. We were walking past the Mansion one evening during the lead up and someone was standing under the balcony selling nitrous oxide balloons. We each bought one, sat on the curb across from the balcony, inhaled and became extra spooked by those intense blinking red eyes.

At some point the “we want you to spread our ashes” became “we want you to spread our ashes on Bourbon Street on Mardi Gras day.” I again agreed to do it.

What started out as a lighthearted way to have fun took on a life of its own. Politicians, at the time just beginning to court the gay vote, began clamoring for invitations to the coronation parties. I’ll never forget the one Mayor Ray Nagin attended. “Mayor, I would like for you to meet Tittie Toulouse. ” He replied, “Oh! Tittie Toulouse! It’s nice to meet you.” A young Mitch Landrieu was there one year. I saw him smiling and agilely coming down the stairs to leave. Jackie Clarkson attended in order to rebrand herself after voting against a city ordinance making discrimination against gay people for employment or in obtaining housing illegal. Mayor Sydney Barthelemy also attended.

At some point, Rip instructed me, “spread our ashes on Bourbon Street at midnight on Mardi Gras day in front of the street cleaners.” I smiled and countered with “How about I put your ashes in a confetti canon with pink glitter and shoot it over the crowd on Bourbon Street on Mardi Gras day? ”

The exchange humorously continued periodically over the years until the sad time came for me to follow through. I was reluctantly prepared to honor the commitment but was relieved to find out after their passing that Cathy, Rip's sister, had told him that she would not allow the spreading of the ashes. Ultimately, the ashes were interred (Cont ’d. on pg. 21)

Mardi Gras Memories Cont ’d.

at the St. Louis Cemetery # 3 on Esplanade Avenue.

That first Mardi Gras after losing them was hard. The feeling of loss was still strong and I wondered how to honor their wishes. Hmm … pink glitter, Bourbon Street, and confetti canons are available but no ashes. Pink glitter ashes on Bourbon street. Pink glitter on Bourbon street! Use pink glitter to write Rip and Marsha ’s names in front of The Mansion!

WHO WILL BE CROWNED GRAND REVELER X?

And so it began. On Mardi Gras morning, 2018, I and a few friends (Jeff, Frank, Felicia, Chris, John and Carey) gathered in front of 824 Bourbon Street, wrote Rip and Marsha ’s names in the street with pink glitter. This tradition has continued every year since, and at some point was supplemented with chalk writing.

Each year, people walking down the street would ask what was going on, which enabled us to share Rip and Marsha ’s story.

Last year, Cam, Yasmin, and Steven told people who asked what was going on if there was a loved one they would like to remember, they were welcome to write their names as well. And they did.

This inclusion added a new dimension to the ceremony. The small group of friends who has been remembering Rip and Marsha every year would like to extend to you, who are reading this, an invitation to come to the 800 block of Bourbon Street at 9:30 Mardi Gras morning to honor Rip, Marsha and your loved one by adding their name with some sprinkles of pink glitter! I will be adding my dear friend David’s name on February 17, 2026.

Ricky Graham’s song “Every Day is Mardi Gras in Heaven ” says “The clouds there are purple, green and gold. ” I wonder if its streets have been sprinkled with pink glitter?

Cur tain Up Brian Sands

With Mardi Gras approaching, there’s a bit less theatrical activity in town as people head to parades and parties. Once we get past Carnival, however, a number of worthy productions will debut. Plan to go see them no need to give up theater for Lent, eh?

The NOLA Project is currently giving the regional premiere of Fat Ham. In this brilliant, Pulitzer Prize winning dramedy, James Ijames has reconfigured Hamlet so that its marvelously dysfunctional family is no longer fighting over Denmark but, rather, a BBQ restaurant in the South. You don ’t need to be familiar with Shakespeare’ s melancholy Prince but it will add to your enjoyment as Fat Ham sticks to the basic outlines of the Bard ’ s most famous play.

In Fat Ham, however, the protagonist becomes Juicy, a sensitive queer Black 20something who occasionally breaks into the original iambic pentameter, as Ijames examines toxic masculinity, sexuality, family loyalty and much more. Tenaj Wallace directs a marvelous cast at Dillard University ’s Cook Theater through February 6.

Brechtfest VII, the seventh annual New Orleans celebration of the writings of German poet and playwright Bertolt Brecht will take place February 3 and 4 at the AllWays Lounge Twilight Room, and will include music, spoken word, and puppetry.

The critically acclaimed best selling novel Water for Elephants comes to the Saenger Theatre as a spectacle filled new musical February 3 8. After losing what matters most, a young man jumps a moving train unsure of where the road will take him and finds a new home with the crew of a traveling circus, and a life and love beyond his wildest dreams.

I’ve heard nothing but good things about Tony Award nominated director Jessica Stone ’s production which features a book by three time Tony nominee Rick Elice adapted from Sara Gruen’s novel, and a score by the PigPen Theatre Co.

Other shows coming to the Saenger will be Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera (March 4 15) and The Great Gatsby (March 24 19), a new musical based on F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic novel of love, wealth and tragedy set during the Roaring Twenties. And if you're looking for just a one night stand, the hilarious Wanda Sykes comes to the Saenger on March 19; btw, if you've been hiding under a rock for the past 17 years, she's a lesbian.

Speaking of new musicals, Goat in the Road Productions will present Carlota at CANOA (4210 St. Claude Ave.) from March 5 thru March 14. Carlota weaves together the life and legacy of Carlota Ruíz de González, a fictional character rooted in Cuban and New Orleans history. Carlota is "a grandmother, a revolutionary, a healer, and a pain in the ass. She stabbed a

Spanish colonel (maybe), survived a flood, crisscrossed Cuba, played the lotto, smoked too much, saved lives, survived enslavement and laughed when she wanted."

Carlota features an original score by Denise Frazier, Peter J Bowling, & Yusa, direction by Chris Kaminstein & Richon May, and a story that takes audiences from the 20th century to the 19th century and back again.

If you're in the mood for a classic musical comedy, head to Le Petit Theatre March 5 29 for the joyful Guys and Dolls, the Tony winning stage version of Damon Runyon's colorful tales of gangsters, gamblers, showgirls, and holy rollers. Boasting a score that includes such gems as Luck Be a Lady, Take Back Your Mink, and Sit Down, You're Rockin' the Boat, direction by A.J. Allegra & Jauné Buisson, and Leslie Claverie & Michael Paternostro as Miss Adelaide & Nathan Detroit, I bet this'll be a bushel and a peckful of fun.

Out in Metairie, Jefferson Performing Arts (JPA) presents Scott Sauber's production of Frozen. This adaptation of the hit Disney animated movie tells of Princesses Anna and Elsa who grow up sheltered inside their castle, isolated from the world and increasingly distant from each other. When Elsa is crowned queen, the magical powers she ’ s tried to conceal from her sister take control, and she flees into the mountains. As winter descends on the queendom, Anna sets off on a journey to find Elsa and bring her home – (Cont’d on pg. 31)

HAPPY CARNIVAL

Curtains Up Cont’d.

with the help of hardworking ice harvester Kristoff, his loyal reindeer Sven, and a happy go lucky snowman named Olaf. JPA will let Frozen go March 6 15.

If you prefer more serious drama, The Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans kicks off its 11th season with the rarely produced Small Craft Warnings. In a forgotten seaside bar, Williams brings together a ragtag band of drifters, dreamers, and outcasts who cling to each other as they search for connection and fight against loneliness.

Small Craft Warnings plays at Loyola's Lower Depths Theat

re March 12 29 in collaboration with the Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival.

And in Bastard Nation, a new play by Anita Vatshell, following the death of the family matriarch, siblings grapple with secrets revealed in her will. Adoption is only one of the discoveries they face as they redefine their sense of family. Bastard Nation explores the shadow aspects of adoption through a comedic lens, and the reproductive justice crisis in the United States today. This dramedy will be performed March 26 April 5 at the New Marigny Theatre.

Happy Carnival! Happy Theatergoing!!

Ask Felicia Felicia Phillips

Dear Felicia: My husband and I met in New Orleans at Mardi Gras in 1985 and it was literally love at first sight. Neither of us were from New Orleans, but after getting together we made sure that we never missed Mardi Gras, and it served as our official anniversary trip ever since. He passed away in June, but I know he would want me to carry on our tradition. My question is how do you think I could best honor his memory here in true Mardi Gras fashion? Robert from Chicago

Dear Robert: First my deepest condolences for your loss, reading this I have no doubt you had 40 years of magic with your husband and Mardi Gras here being the spark certainly kept that flame burning bright. I am honored to give you my suggestions, the most common and traditional way is a second line which are done year round. Second lines can be quite pricey as they generally require a permit and the cost of the band to lead and police escort . Unless you have a group of people coming with you it might not be what would be the best way in your case.

One of the oldest traditions here is The Krewe of Saint Anne ’s annual costumed walking parade from the Bywater into the French Quarter ending up at the river for its tradition of taking ashes there to honor those who have passed and where the members d ip streamers in the river to bless onlookers it is as festive as it is moving. It starts early in the morning and draws hundreds of locals into the streets to kick off Fat Tuesday.

A newer and closer to my heart suggestion is The Ambush Mansion Annual Glitter Memorial! It started in 2018 after the passing of the founders of Ambush Magazine, Rip & Marsha. A group of their closest friends knew what their private wishes were, which directly revolved around their yearly Fat Tuesday bead toss. Every Fat Tuesday a growing number of us meet at 828 Bourbon wit h colored chalk and lots of glitter to draw our own thoughts and remembrance of them on the street. Over there years as others passed their names were added and it has now grown into a time and place for anyone to come and share their tributes to their friends and loved ones passed and I can guarantee you will leave with new friends and a sense of having honored your dearly departed in a way that is truly New Orleans which is as magical as your 40 years with you husband. Hope this helps you with y our decision.

FRENCH QUARTER / MARIGNY

U Haul Diaries Kelly Schexnaildre

From Closet to Carnival

Mardi Gras in Louisiana is a very special time; we wait patiently for the holidays to pass so we can arrive at our favorite season, when the costumes are wild, the streets are loud, and the city ’s energy turns electric. It’s a collision of a frightful underworld and joyous revelry, pomp and circumstance married to unbridled chaos. I learned how real that collision was when I was ten years old, watching a man get stabbed three times as floats rolled past, music blared, and the crowd kept

roaring. Mardi Gras carries the same charge as coming out of the closet: you awaken into a new world, reborn, but as both yourself and someone new at the same time.

Most people don ’t realize how seriously we take our costumes. Carnival is for masks and ball gowns, for being traffic cones and hot dogs, for hand sewing elaborate outfits and embroidering jackets with red and white beans. Each costume is an opportunity to become someone to experiment, to conceal, or to call forward a piece of yourself. Queer people understand this instinctively. Many of us are as comfortable in costume as we are in our everyday clothes. From ancient Greek theater to modern drag brunches, we’ ve always lived across spectrums of personality and gender, moving easily along the edge of masculine and feminine, blending them without apology.

Carnival’s unpredictable energy hums and bends time to its will; days stretch beyond themselves as colors intensify and every sound feels edible. I remember my first time in a gay bar I had

never seen so many queer people in one place. During Mardi Gras, that same feeling spills into the streets: we are numerous, visible, and uncontained. Bodies collide. There are sloppy kisses, relentless dancing, music vibrating through our cells. We are rewired into authenticity, called again and again to come out, wherever we are.

From king cake to special throws to the many Krewes that bring their magic, Mardi Gras reminds us that celebration is a form of unity. When we lead with love, we receive it. We stand shoulder to shoulder, drinking in the drama and divinity of each moment, allowing ourselves to be seen and held in community. From closet to Carnival, freedom looks like wearing your soul on your sleeve and letting it be awakened into something new. Imagine dawn breaking over Royal Street on Mardi Gras morning, locals and tourists gathered to watch Saint Anne the final parade, the most elaborate costumes each person glowing with the fire of their own wild heart.

Weekly Events Cont’d.

presenters. This is an ongoing workshop, so you can attend as many meetings as you want! This is a free event, but everyone should bring their own pens, notebooks, computers, and tablets. Everyone has stories to tell, fictional, factual, or otherwise. This workshop will assist you with such concepts as: World building, Plotting, Character creation, Continuity maintenance, Editing, Sharing constructive criticism of work, The journey forward, either to publishing or wherever you want to take your writing. All prose types are welcome, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, etc. We hope to see you there!

Sing A Long Sundays: Bourbon Pub & Parade; 801 Bourbon St.; 4 p.m. – mid night. Join Gay Appreciation Award Winner VJ Brendan for Sing A Long Sundays.

Vanessa Carr: The Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St., New Orleans, LA; 3 – 5 p.m. Come see Vanessa Carr Kennedy sing your favorite songs.

Trash Disco; Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 4 – 10 p.m. Come dance the night away at one of the best places to end your weekend of fun, Lafitte’s in Exile, home of the world famous napkin toss that happens every Sunday between 8:30 and 10 p.m.

The PlayGirlz Show: The Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 5 – 7 p.m. Come out and enjoy the show featuring Gia GiaVanni with special guests each week.

The Roundup Review: The Roundup; 560 E Heinberg St, Pensacola, FL; 5:30 p.m. No cover. Great drag show every Sunday.

Zingo!; The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; 6 p.m. Zingo! with the boy’s pullin’ the balls. Can you say, O 69? Come play to

win fabulous prizes and bar tabs (free to play). Corner Pocket Emcee Felicia Phillips and former Southern Decadence Grand Marshal hosts.

Minx Burlesque: Howlin Wolf; 907 S. Peters St., New Orleans, LA; 6 p.m. Minx Burlesque is LIVE at the Howlin ’ Wolf. Featuring a rotating cast of performers for a new and exciting show each week. From classic strip tease to circus acts to comedy Queens, Minx Burlesque has something to please and tease every audience member. For tickets, go to https:// www.ticketweb.com/events/org/13741?pl=howlin

SIPPS Drag Bingo: SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave.; Gulfport, MS.; 7 p.m. Come play bingo for great prizes every Sunday.

Drag Bingeaux; Oz; 800 Bourbon St.; 7 – 9 p.m. Hosted by Ivy Dripp with gogo boys. 11 games, no cover.

The Opulence Hour: Maison; 508 Frenchmen St.; 8 – 9 p.m. The troupe that brought you “Talk Nerdy To Me: A Weekly Nerdlesque Revue” is putting on our Sunday best for this new burlesque and variety show. The Society of Sin Burlesque & Variety every Sunday at The Maison on Frenchman at 7pm. Every week there will be a different show filled with decadent costumes, extravagant aesthetics, and big moods from our rotating cast of entertainers. For tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com

Lipstixx Ladies on Parade; Bourbon Pub & Parade; 801 Bourbon St.; 8 – 10 p.m. Hosted by Miss Aubrey Synclaire. Showtime 8pm Sharp! Reservations accepted on a “first come first serve” at 504 529 2107.

The Ladies of Oz Show Night; Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 9:30 11:30 p.m. Featuring the Ladies of Oz and DJ Tim Pflueger.

Community Focus Jim Meadows

OK Fine, I’ll Be Gay for Carnival

I’ve never gotten very excited about the Carnival season or Mardi Gras, but I would be very disappointed if the rest of you decided to take on that attitude.

I feel much more comfortable and content at small gatherings of close friends than with large crowds

of acquaintances. If I go to a party, after saying hello to the hosts, the next order of business is finding a kindred soul or two I can commiserate with on the outer limits of the affair.

I live in “the box,” the residential area Uptown where most of the bigger parades roll during Carnival. There have been many times when I haven’t been able to get home easily, and many times when I haven’t been able to leave home because of the parades. You might even picture me as the Mardi Gras Grinch, glaring down from Mount Crumpit, planning vengeance for the revelers as they slightly inconvenience me.

I hope with all my heart that they never stop.

I live in the greatest city in this country, a place where existence itself is enough of an excuse for celebration and joy. I rarely go to parades, but when I hear the sound of the marching bands getting closer and closer to my house, I feel more and more at ease. I’ m reminded of where I am in the world, and that I don ’t want to be anywhere else or surrounded by any other people.

My disdain is reserved for the other 63 parishes, and farther afield, and never has it been greater. They ’ve attacked my country, and I will despise them until my last breath. They thrive on what I hate more than anything: cruelty and abuse of power.

Nameless, faceless secret police are kidnapping, murdering, beating and degrading untold numbers of human beings. Children are being used as bait to capture undocumented immigrants, the vast majority of whom have committed no crime other than hoping for better lives for their families. Peaceful protesters are being brutalized, in some cases literally held down while monsters attack them with chemical weapons. Meanwhile, international sex traffickers and their accomplices are being protected by those in power out of loyalty to their syphilitic, imbecilic king: the worst offender of that particular lot. His dark appetites and those of all his obscenely wealthy and powerful cronies threaten not only the stability, hope, and health of our nation ’s people, but the future of the entire world. They have betrayed our allies around the world, creating a legacy of stupidity and cruelty that will outlast us for generations. They have done everything they could to stamp

out everything that is good in us.

And, perhaps worst of all, there are people many of us loved and cared for who actually tolerate it, or even celebrate it. Worse than any horrors that psychopaths can dream up are the everyday people who vote it in, then sit back to watch it happen. Every day, they make a mockery of every principle, doctrine, and creed they once pretended to hold sacred. There will be no forgiveness for them.

But through all of this, people are standing up, showing up, and fighting for all of our futures. Their bravery and conviction are the reason I know we will win. As I write this, thousands of peaceful protesters are on the streets of Minneapolis, where the temperature is ten degrees below zero. Our politicians are mostly failing us, but that ’s nothing new. Good Americans are out there fighting back, and my money is on them.

And our enemies are actually pathetically weak. Like all bullies, their only recourse is bravado and brutality, but they ’re actually not that big. Just incredibly bloated.

Two decades ago, New Orleans was devastated by Hurricane Katrina. In the aftermath, there were many who thought that Mardi Gras should have been cancelled. That was understandable then, and it’s understandable now. It can feel “ wrong” to feel anything like joy in a time of overwhelming grief. And yet, as one local woman said at the time, “I’ll get a red wagon, fill it with beads and walk down the street. I don ’t give a shit what anybody else does.”

Sixty four years ago, dozens of gay men were arrested for daring to celebrate Carnival at the Krewe of Yuga ball. The newspaper printed their names, ruining lives and careers. But Yvonne “Miss Dixie” Fasnacht bailed them out of jail. And while that particular raid ended Yuga, Gay Carnival survived, and still thrives. (Cont’d. on pg. 44)

Community Focus Cont ’d.

A year ago, for the first time, I found myself telling my husband: “We need to get out of here. We need to move to a country where we’re not in this kind of danger. ” But this is my country, and more importantly, this is my city, and I ’ll be goddamned if I’m going to leave over a bunch of stupid crazy people who think they started and won a battle that ’s actually been waged since the dawn of humanity.

I’m staying for the fight, and God help me, I ’m staying for the party. Y’all are throwing one, so the very least I can do is show up. You’ll find me on the edge, laughing through a smoke, I hope.

Chop Chop Cont ’d.

and horseradish cream sauce sounded interesting, but the horseradish overpowered the dish. While I yearned for more gochujang in the deviled egg, I wanted much less horseradish in this sauce. (On a side note, I first tried the pairing of horseradish cream sauce with fish at the Michelin 3 star Le Bernadin in Manhattan, where it worked well. It ’s all about finding the right balance.)

That balance was beautifully struck with the duck dirty fried rice with fried egg, crispy duck skin and apricot duck sauce. The first bite was rich with duck fat lightly coating the rice. Every part of the duck is utilized, adding to the luscious taste. The egg adds creaminess, with crispy duck skin providing delicious crunch.

We tried one side, corn maque choux, made of corn, onions, and a generous amount of crispy pork belly. Several of the garnishes hinted at this –but the full side was like a bucket of salty sweet goodness topped with crunchy scallions cut on the bias. We scraped the dish clean.

The menu is evolving and continues to change. We tried a popover at the first dinner that was absent on the next visit. Pears cooked with warm spices were ladled over what appeared to be a flower blossom of puff pastry, garnished with fresh pear and cardamon whipped cream. This was scrumptious and I wanted more. The menu is varied, offering steaks and gumbo too.

Which sums up my take on Succotash NOLA: I want more. Greatness is there and growing.

Charles Pizzo is a native New Orleanian and PR professional. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and former chairman of IABC, the International Association of Business Communicators. All photos by Charles Pizzo

AMBUSH is published six times a year and has a print circulation footprint across the Gulf Coast. For ad rates and other information, email frankearlperez@gmail.com or camzimmerman504@gmail.com

Krewe of Queenateenas King Cake Queens

1994 Excommunicated by Captain Rip Naquin

1995 Jay Loomis: Jewel of the Nile

1996 Smurf Murphy: The Rainbow Queen

1997 Reba Douglas: Pearl of the Sea

1998 Elizabeth “Liz” Simms: The She Devil

1999 Christine Cheridon: Czarina

2000 Stephanie Williams: Goddess 2000

2001 Phyllis Denmark: The Peacock Queen

2002 Lisa Beaumann: The Freedom Queen

2003 Teryl Lynn Foxx: The Voodoo Queen

2004 Excommunicated by Captain Rip Naquin

2005 Savanna DeLorean: The Amazon Queen

2006 Raven Kennedy: The Diamond Queen

2007 Princesse Stephaney: The Fantasy Queen

2008 Marsha Naquin Delain: The Fleur de Lis Queen

2009 Tami Tarmac: The Grandee Queen

2010 Opal Masters: The Parisian Queen

2011 Rona Conners: The Chrysanthemum Queen

2012 Nicole DuBois: The Samba Queen

2013 Dusty Debris: The Platinum Queen

2014 Barbara Ella: The Borghese Queen

2015 Aubrey Synclaire: Queen of the Opera

2016 Aubrey Synclaire: Queen of the Opera, Act Two

2017 Monica Synclaire Kennedy: The Pride Queen

2018 Solitaire

2019 Tiffany Alexander: The Silver Anniversary Queen

2020 Felicia Phillips: The Ruby Queen

2021 Felicia Phillips: The Covid Queen

2022 Regina Adams: The Amethyst Queen

2023 Bootsie DeVille: Queen of the Neon Labyrinth

2024 George “Rita George” Roth: The Classic Queen

2025 Athena Jewelle: The Phoenix Queen

2026 Debbie with a D: The People’s Queen

C O M I N G S O O N