Official Southern Decadence XXXIX Celebration of Gay Life, Music & Culture, is expected to bring in over 125,000 revelers for this year's weekend long celebration. Numerous hotels in the French Quarter are already booked solid, and event downloads at SouthernDecadence.COM are topping 25,000 weekly.
Southern Decadence began on Wednesday, September 1 and runs through Labor Day, Monday, September 6. In 2009, the celebration brought in over 100,000 revelers with a projected economic impact of over $150 million to the local economy in New Orleans. The weekend ranks in the top 5 celebrations held in the city. The 2010 celebration will be led by Southern Decadence Grand Marshals (SDGMs) XXXVI Toby Lefort and Julien Artressia. This year's theme is Leather & Feathers; colors are powder blue, black and purple; song is "Tu Es Foutu" You Promised Me! by InGrid, English/French version; and charity is NO/AIDS Task Force.
The mayor's office, city council, police department, sanitation department, streets department and local businesses have worked together to ensure tha visitors and locals will enjoy a safe Southern Decadence. 1st Knights of Decadence Welcome Parade Friday, Sept. 3 Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Toby Lefort has organized the first Knights of Decadence Welcome Parade on Friday, September 3 at 7:30pm. The parade is slated to have fourteen floats and two jazz bands. The parade starts on Elysian Fields @ Royal, down Royal to Esplanade, left on Esplanade to Decatur, right on Decatur to St. Louis, right on St. Louis to Bourbon, right on Bourbon ending at Dumaine at Cafe Lafitte in Exile.
SDGM Drag Show Kicks Off on Friday, Sept. 3
The Official Southern Decadence Grand Marshals Drag Show kicks off the weekend at the Home of Southern Decadence, Tubby's Golden Lantern, 1239 Royal St. on Friday, September 3. Beginning at 10pm sharp, MCs Michael Brandon and Rikki Redd kick off the affair featuring SDGMs XXXVI Toby Lefort and Julien Artressia with former SDGMs Electra City, Tittie Toulouse, Regina Adams and many others.
7th Bourbon Street Extravaganza Sept. 4
Napoleon's Itch, 734 Bourbon St., host the 7th Bourbon Street Extravaganza on Saturday, September 4 at 5pm. The free live concert is at the corner of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets. This year's event promises to be bigger than ever according to promoter Chuck Robinson bringing the talents of Deborah Cox, Jeanie Tracy, Erika Jayne with 12 dancers, Kimberley Locke and Damian Faul plus many surprises, to the concert stage.
2010 Southern Decadence Parade Route 36th Southern Decadence Parade Sunday, Sept. 5
The 36th annual Southern Decadence Parade celebrating Southern Decadence 39 begins at Tubby's Golden Lantern, 1239 Royal at Barracks in the French Quarter on Sunday, September 5. Tens of thousands of people will line the route to watch the thousands of parade participants go by.
This year from 11am till 1:50pm you can enjoy the Pre-Parade Show on the outdoor stage with Guest MCs Sadie Sheperd, Divas R Us, Coca, Miss Tubby's Golden Lantern Vanessa Carmicheal and more. Southern Decadence Grand Marshals (SDGM) XXXVI Toby Lefort and Julien Artressia will be introduced and toasted by Southern Decadence Susan Lucci's Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain at 2pm. At this point the grand marshals will address the crowd and then kick off the parade. Once the parade kicks off, the grand marshals will stop at each bar on the route for 10 to 15 minutes.
Since the parade has grown so much, the City of New Orleans has required a parade permit for the past twelve years. The Southern Decadence Grand Marshals have changed the route slightly this year. The parade leaves Tubby's Golden Lantern at 2pm going up Royal to St. Louis, turning right on St. Louis, right on N. Rampart, right on Toulouse, left on Burgundy, left on St. Peter, right on N. Rampart, stopping at St. Ann, then right on St. Ann, and left on Bourbon ending at Cafe Lafitte in Exile. Sixteen area businesses have underwritten the cost of the parade permit and fees for the police officers required for the parade. Special thanks to the 2010 Parade Sponsors: 700 Club, Ambush, Bourbon Pub/Parade, Cafe Lafitte in Exile, Corner Pocket, Double Play, Tubby's Golden Lantern, Good Friends Bar, Le Roundup, Napoleon's Itch, Ninth Circle, Orlando's Society Page, Oz Nightclub, Starlight By The Park, Rawhide and Voodoo Bar.
17th Southern Decadence Bead Toss Sunday, Sept. 5
Following the parade on Sunday, September 5 is the 17th Official Southern Decadence Bead Toss hosted by Southern Decadence Susan Lucci's Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain. It will be led by Southern Decadence Grand Marshals XXXVI Toby Lefort and Julien Artressia from the balcony of Ambush headquarters at 828 Bourbon Street. Beginning around 4ish pm, the annual event is sponsored by Ambush Mag and SouthernDecadence.COM. The grand marshals and a small group of invited guest toss thousands of beads to the multitudes below.
SouthernDecadence.COM Hosts Official Sponsors of Southern Decadence
Again this year, the Official Sponsors of Southern Decadence are hosted as a courtesy to the grand marshals at SouthernDecadence.COM. SDGMs XXXVI Toby Lefort and Julien Artressia chose Official Media Guide - Ambush Mag, Official Website - SouthernDecadence.COM, Official Casino - Harrah's New Orleans, Official Beer - Bud Light, Official Caterer/Deli - Quartermaster: The Nellie Deli, Official Rum & Vodka - Republic National Distributing Company, Official Photographer - Larry Graham: GrahamStudioOne.COM, and Official Printer - Sir Speedy. Drinking, Dining, Shopping, Haircuts, Work Outs. The Crescent City is renowned for its numerous drinking party establishments. In this issue of Ambush you will find numerous bar related activities and major events centered around the Official Southern Decadence celebration. The bars and clubs offer live performances, the hottest DJs on the circuit, contests, dancers, swimming, art shows and leather block parties. There is definitely something for everyone this Southern Decadence.You are sure to find just the activity you want to experience this Labor Day Weekend. Restaurants, grills and delis are in abundance as well. You'll want to see Chop Chop for Ambush Mag dining recommendations. Of course, shopping is always a delight! You'll find autos, retail/shopping, bookstores, florists, hair salons, lodging/accommodations, massage, models/escorts, museum/arts, organizations, pharmacies, photography, real estate, services, spas, theatres, and website listings.
Survivor's Bar Crawl Closes Out Weekend
Labor Day, September 6 closes out the weekend with the 13th Annual Southern Decadence Survivors Outer Loop BarCrawl. It is led by Cruise Director - Ted Mahaffy, honoring SDGMs XXXVI Toby Lefort and Julien Artressia. The crawl begins with snacks at 2pm at Corner Pocket, then off to Double Play, Le Roundup, Orlando's Society Page, 700 Club, ending with a Labor Day BBQ at Starlight By The Park.
Presenting Sponsor of
Southern Decadence 2010 at OZ Nightclub