red stick paparazzi Out and about ~ Baton Rouge, Louisiana photos: Brad Benedict Benedict

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1 Debbie out running errands red stick paparazzi Chef Barry taking a break Hammond stud Josh at Splash Happy trio at George s Out and about ~ Baton Rouge, Louisiana photos: Brad Benedict Benedict Rick enjoying breakfast at Capitol Grocery Publishing tycoon Richard busy working Claudette caught without cigar Guy with beautiful Nicole Fox Another cutie Chris at Splash David snuggles up to Quentin Ready to dance the night away Splash stud Lance & friends Josie & pet on Sunday stroll Guy & Richard with the green team Louis playing pool at Hound Dogs Super sexy Luther with Chansley Cliff relaxing with Sunday paper The Divas at George s Dwayne gets a big hug Aaron & fantastic Big Girl GayAustin.Net GayHouston.COM GayBatonRouge.BIZ GayPensacola.COM GayAmerica.COM Oct. 9-22, 2007 EXPOSE'-1 of 48

2 Strollin' Around hot tails of red stick by Brad Benedict Like those New Orleans ladies and gents who stroll all the way to Esplanade, Spanish Towners can do the same except they would have to do their stroll from the Stewart-Dougherty mansion to the ancient and moss-draped Boyd Oak across from the Pentagon Barracks. You can actually notice these strollers and dog-walkers on just about any day of the week, but it is especially noticeable on weekends and holidays. Saturday mornings are lively occasions for the produce buyers and arts people. Sometimes there seems to be more dogs than people at the Farmers Market on Saturday mornings in old Red Stick, but that does stretch it a little. I ve been guilty of doing this, but I usually shop early and walk the dog closer to noon when the allons acadiana by Patrick Clinton BlondAtULL@aol.com Even though the Fall Break is over, the fun is just beginning in downtown Lafayette. The clock is ticking and the countdown is on. In less than two weeks, the Halloween celebrations begin, and if you re anything like me, it is the very best time of year. I always love getting dressed up and letting slip that wild side that seems to stay hidden so much of the year. And the celebrations this season should be better than ever. The Sound Factory and Back Side are not only celebrating one of the wildest holidays of the year, but the 10th anniversary of the Grand Opening of Sound Factory. With two big events coinciding on a single night, it s sure to be a party like no other. And don t forget, at midnight will be the most festive Costume Contest in all of Lafayette. So if you haven t started already, you better start working on an outrageous outfit. You don t want to be the only one that s underdressed. Besides throwing a party like nobody else, Sound Factory and Back Side have a weekly lineup that tops everybody else in town, hands down. Every night of the week, Sound Factory offers a different drink special. So no matter what night you decide to drop in, you ll get great prices along with their one of a kind service. They are open seven days a week and work tirelessly to make sure each night is both fun and unique. Tuesdays are Karaoke Night at Sound Factory, which seems like nothing new, but to change things up, karaoke is now hosted by the ever popular Chad Evans. Chad s a radio deejay out of Lake Charles who has as much personality as he does talent. His charisma really breathes new life into the karaoke experience. And he crowds have left and there is more room to walk with the animals. Lots of people come out for this little weekend diversion. It s a little comical sometimes because there is this elderly priest who is in a wheelchair, and you had better get out of his way. He thinks he is on the freeway and will flat out run you over. Heaven forbid if an animal is in the way. We locals have come to know all the farmers and nursery people who set up here every weekend. If it rains, things are moved into the parking garage. On the first Saturday of each month, the arts and crafts people exhibit in the adjacent church parking lot. These first weekends are always crowded, and I ve noticed lately that our city s finest men in blue have found a parking spot and just love to give tickets. I have to admit that this is needed, but at the same time, we are only talking about doesn t limit the kinds of music he offers. He has everything from oldies and country to dance and rap. So if you haven t been out lately on a Tuesday night or you think Karaoke Night is just the same old thing, you definitely need to come by. Whether you enjoy being on stage or simply watching those that do, you re sure to have an awesome night; Chad will make sure of that. And the rest of the week at Sound Factory and Back Side is just as entertaining. Between karaoke on Tuesday nights and Show Night on Sundays, they pack each night with everything from kickass contests to drag shows and pool tournaments. And scattered throughout are fabulous drink specials and the unforgettable dance music spun by DJ Huggies. And unlike many other dance clubs, Sound Factory has a quieter more relaxed side, a Back Side, where you can take a break from the loud music and socialize with your friends, or make some new ones. So next time you re trying to figure out something to do, come by Sound Factory and its Back Side. You re sure to have an unforgettable night. And you ll sleep better at night knowing you re supporting a gay owned and operated business. And after Halloween is past, the celebrations just get wilder. We are literally at the beginning of the big holiday season. Like dominoes, there ll be Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year, and of course Mardi Gras. I sure hope you got some sleep over the Fall Break because there won t be much rest until well into next year. But there ll sure be a lot of celebrating. Until next time, have fun and be safe. I ll see you around town. four hours on a Saturday morning, and this could just convince people to go elsewhere. It is not a very good way for promoting downtown visitors. Now if we could convince these same boys in blue to do a few tickets for those state workers who speed down Spanish Town Road, it would really help tremendously. The corner of Seventh Street and Spanish Town Road has stop signs, but I think some of these illustrious state employees haven t learned to read yet, and they certainly don t mind speeding down the street on their way home. I ve often wondered what they would think if several hundred people came tearing down their neighborhood street when the work day ends. Even when we tried to get speed bumps, we were told that it would offend state workers. Do I really care if this offends them? We live here people! Slow down! Watch out sweet little kitties. Them workers are coming through. Weekends and holidays are really okay. Other than the traffic for market customers, the Spanish Town community is relatively quiet. People stop to talk while out walking their dogs, or they stop and chat with those sitting on their porches. It is a rather nice and casual atmosphere. Jerry, Debbie s son, lives next door to Josie and across from the Capitol Grocery. Since the store doesn t have a liquor license, it is only natural for friends to get a cool one and go across to sip their brew. At other times, usually late in the evening around dark, it looks like open court is in session. Chairs are in the yard and on the sidewalk, and the porch is packed with visitors. It is a meeting of the minds for both gays and straights, and it is a great mixture of intelligent and caring individuals. I love my walks around the area. I usually stop at Debbie and Claudette s place and chat for awhile. Sometimes Josie is there too, but most of time I meet Josie walking her dog around the neighborhood and down my street. There is only one person who breaks all the rules and walks his dog without a leash. That s just his way of defying the law, the same way a certain female abuses red zones. It s as if it is their way or no way. I choose to ignore people like this. It s a matter of respect, and it is difficult to respect anyone who is so self-centered and above the law. Therefore, they don t deserve any respect at all. I have to tell you that last Sunday when I was out, Claudette must have just come out for the day because she was all polished and dressed in new attire. She didn t have her trademark cigar, but she was bright and bushy tailed in her yellow shoes, blue and yellow plaid pants, white shirt, and spiffy hairdo. Casually leaning on the fence, she was surveying her kingdom and welcoming all who came within her domain. She is frank and to the point in her opinions, and she usually hits the nail right on the head. I like that in a woman, and I think she is one of the best. Of course if you are looking for a more calm and relaxed individual, you have to look no further than Josie. This Spanish Town resident is just one of the very nicest women I ve ever met. She seems to get along well with everyone, and she is perhaps the most well-liked and respected woman in the community. She carries herself with a rather casual approach at life but at the same time is one who appears to have her feet firmly planted on the ground. It is always a pleasure talking with her. Sitting around the tables in front of the grocery store is another spot for casual meetings. Most of the time, you see two or three people with laptops, or reading newspapers, or eating their lunch with friends. If it s crowded, there are other tables inside, which is especially nice if it is raining. Barry is the head chef and comes up with some rather nice meals. It surprises people when they see the menus posted outside. You just can t beat his meat loaf, red beans and rice, or smothered steaks. From cat food and bathroom items to gourmet coffee and snacks, Capitol Grocery offers it all. The one thing that pleased me about this particular corner was when they removed the pay phone outside. Of course, these are fast becoming obsolete, but this one encouraged riff-raff at all hours of the night. It wasn t unusual to see illegal things happening here, but now it is perhaps one of the busiest and best corners in the entire downtown section. It is a Spanish Town landmark. Spanish Town welcomes you to come and walk her streets. It is residential, not at all like the French Quarter, and there is so much to see here beautiful houses that have been restored, nice and unusual plants, and those pink flamingos. I guess I m going to have to get one so I can keep up with the Joneses. Pink is the color as long as you don t paint it on the street. Our great city fathers do not like this. In the meantime, check out the neighborhood. It is a nice place and filled with nice people. Comin' Around As you can see, there is more to any city than the bars and shopping centers, but with the gay community, you either live in an area of common interests or you gather at bars to be with others of similar interests. That is why Baton Rouge is so blessed. The bar scene is nice but not like New Orleans. You have them scattered out here, so there is no walking with drinks and merging into the crowds along the street. Each one here is separate, different, and offer customers a variety of options in entertainment from karaoke to dancing to shows. Take your pick, or pick them all. George s is the oldest and most widely known of the local bars. It s not only the bar with the personal touch, but it s the bar that has kept in touch with the community over the years and has offered a place to gather and have a nice time. This really is a testament to how Richard has guided this business over the years, and with the great selection of people working for him, it just is one that doesn t get any better. After all these years of being here, I have to say that there are a couple of guys that I really hated to see leave. My buddy Joey, now at Good Friends, was a great loss, but he is within driving distance so things are okay now. The other one is Joe, who was an instant attraction for everyone, and he moved away to Georgia or Florida. I have often wondered what happened to him. The last time I saw him, I took a picture of him from the Ambush balcony on Bourbon Street. All the others guys who now can be found at George s are exceptionally nice, and that includes Chansley too. However, if I was going to pick that personal touch person, it wouldn t be her (nothing personal sweetie), but I definitely could cherish a moment or two with sexy [continued on Expose-3] EXPOSE'-2 of 48 Oct. 9-22, 2007 AmbushMag.COM GayBars.COM GayMardiGras.COM GayNewOrleans.COM SouthernDecadence.COM

3 hot tails of red stick...from EX-2 Luther. My tongue gets hard just thinking about him. I always enjoy being at George s. This same feeling carries over to Splash. I find that if the bartenders are appealing and friendly, I have a better time whether I m alone or with friends. It s all about making someone feel welcome, and I am always welcomed graciously when I enter the front door. Mia is just one of the great assets of this dance emporium. If you want an impression to stick, you start at the front door, and that is exactly what happens at Splash. I always think of Hair when I walk in. Time has moved on, but I still expect to see her sitting there. I was surprised when she left Baton Rouge, but Las Vegas seems to be good for her. Longevity, whether it is at the door or behind the bar, helps to set the tone for the bar itself, and with Splash, the fact that all employees are sticking around for longer periods says a lot for the management. The same could be said for Hound Dogs. I ve seen lots of bartenders come and go, but then along came Joy and Johnny, and things leveled off. Now if newcomer Louis sticks around, it will be what I consider to be the best trio yet. There are others who work here, but I m not that familiar with them so I can t really comment on their personalities or their working relationships with customers. What I can see now is a bar that has become one of excellence in service and in atmosphere. James and Kyle are to be congratulated [continued on Expose-6] GayAustin.Net GayHouston.COM GayBatonRouge.BIZ GayPensacola.COM GayAmerica.COM Oct. 9-22, 2007 EXPOSE'-3 of 48

4 Chelsea & Kelly cutting up acadiana paparazzi John bartending Dani & Kaylay getting wild Lauren & Christina Brody enjoying a night out Tina, The Chad, Truvy & Vera at Sound Factory Matt, the cheerleader, B.T. Becca enjoying a night off Dani chillin Sydni & Shay The Fabulous Mark, manager of Sound Factory & Back Side Trey having a drink after filming Cocktailin' in Acadiana ~ Lafayette, Louisiana photos: Patrick Clinton Nick, Blake & Josh out Natalie, running lines before filming Jeremy, a regular Sonny taking a break from pool Dan relaxing Zach getting wild at Back Side Patrick & Ethan taking a much needed break Patrick directing filming of Last Getaway EXPOSE'-4 of 48 Oct. 9-22, 2007 AmbushMag.COM GayBars.COM GayMardiGras.COM GayNewOrleans.COM SouthernDecadence.COM

5 GayAustin.Net GayHouston.COM GayBatonRouge.BIZ GayPensacola.COM GayAmerica.COM Oct. 9-22, 2007 EXPOSE'-5 of 48