I'm so very tardy with this piece -- the event happened
a while ago and alas, my memory banks have been purged
of much of the finer details. In any event, this article
is mainly about gal pal Genevieve with some event recap
(and a few pics) thrown in. The Crack Whore Ball itself,
from the mag of the same name, I think is a hilarious
concept -- and one hell of an annual party too. New Orleans
LOVES parties. New Orleans LOVES themes for parties. New
Orleans LOVES costuming and role-playing for parties and
they indulge in same relentlessly throughout the year.
Consequently, I LOVE New Orleans. (OH - and I believe
Le Marquis is handling the design and maintenance of their
website. Keeping it all in the family - so to speak. As
it were...)
I first met Gen many years ago before I moved to New
Orleans when Indra and I visited Le Marquis, Micha and
Kallisti who were at the time roommates. Gen was a gorgeous
blonde then, and delightfully saucy, racy and irreverent
about life, love and the pursuit of pleasure. (Gen was
"immortalized" during that time period in Le
Marquis' play, "Sophie Wright Place," which can be found
on Sepulchritude at the Chateau Pernod or Suffering is
Hip sections.)
Years later I am living here, Gen is a now a brunette,
and still as gorgeous as she is saucy, racy and irreverent.
She is legendary in the Scene in New Orleans for, among
other bawdy exploits, the tale of her deflowering at 16
years of age by John Denver. Her deflowering tale is coupled
with other ribald recountings of sordid sexual exploits
with good ole boy John. This illicit liaison with him,
the accompanying tales, and the twisted pleasure the South
gets out of everyone's personal life escapades (something
I find as irresistible about living here as I find it
alarming), prompted a large amount of people in New Orleans
and in cities all over who had heard tell of the "dangerous
liaison" to send Gen condolence and sympathy cards when
news of John Denver's death hit the headlines. The South
has a sick and twisted sense of humor -- something I find
appealing as well as appalling! Oh what a paradox!
Hanging out at the Abbey, another of my fave haunts
on Decatur Street, one gets invited to indulge in all
sorts of interesting THINGS. Every now and again, when
I need to decompress after work, I skip-to-my-lou to visit
Gen, who works the 6pm-2am shift there. One such Monday
night, Gen handed me a delightful flyer (which I have
since misplaced, dammit) announcing Crack Whore Magazine's
Annual Crack Whore Ball where one of many competitors
would be crowned, Queen of the Crack Whores, based on
costume, persona for the night, etc. Gen informed me that
she was running for Queen to defend her crown, having
won the Queen of the Crack Whores title last year.
Gen: (handing me the flyer, which depicted
her in last year's winning ensemble, a very slutty nurse
outfit). You have to come to this. You have to vote for
me. I'm running against two draq queens.
Melusine: I'm SO there. So very there.
What is your costume this year?
Gen: I don't know yet. I'm toying with
the idea of going as Divine.
Melusine: A female doing a male doing
drag. VERY nice.
Gen: I don't know. It might be a little
too complicated for some.
Melusine: MEOW. Well you have a week
to figure it out.
I was delirious with glee a the thought of the event
-- falling on a Monday in late January? (Er, February?)
(Early March?) ANYWAY, the event was held at Ampersand
with a $25 ticket/entry charge and an open bar from 9pm
through about 2 am, after which you had to start purchasing
your own alcohol (if one wasn't already medicated enough
by then, that is).
I visited the Abbey practically every night the week
before the Ball to help Gen brainstorm (oh -- and to have
drinks too. THAT started my brief obsession with apple-jack
shots and many a Abbey regular were only too obliged to
buy me them. Ouch OUCH baby).
The Crack Whore Ball night finally arrived! I coasted
through my day at work, Gen still had not decided what
her costume would be and I was excited to see what she
came up with. I decided my costume would be a laudanum
addicted opium addict from the 1930's. Kallisti graciously
sent me a quaint little bottle with a beautifully decorated
label she made herself that said Laudanum. Ahhh the days
of yore when opiates were not only in vogue, but easily
acquired!
The Ball was fabulous! So many people for a Monday night
and so many costumes. My damn camera, however, didn't
capture all the stuff I wanted to and the pics attached
to this article were all that came out. Luckily, most
of the pics of Gen in her slutty cheerleader outfit came
out great! She won the title easily for the second year
in a row as the two guys in drag were very uninspired
in their costuming. (I mean REALLY).
So let's hear it for Genevieve - Queen of the Crack
Whores! Her exploits continue -- legendary as always --
and who knows where - or in what escapade she will turn
up next. Rumor has it she may be moving away in the near
future. SAY IT ISN'T SO, Gen!
You fill up my senses, like a night in a forest
(or a vodka tonic and a snort of (ahem) snuff at the Crack
Whore Ball).
