Vendredi

Isaac has come and gone, and it’ll be raining men this weekend on Bourbon and St. Ann. Southern Decadence 2012 is here for the 41st year in a row, and the official theme for this year’s fest is Peace, Love, & Hope=Monkey Dance. Grand Marshals Pat McArdle & TJ Conard invite everyone to fly high with this year’s official song, Starships by Nicki Minaj, and the festival’s charity for the year is  Belle Reve. 

Publisher and Editor of Ambush Magazine Rip Naquin said the only thing Isaac affected was people’s ability to travel, but he’s still expecting a big turnout considering the circumstances. “It really affected the airport. We’re not going to get the 135,000 people we expected, but we’ll have a good turnout. Here in New Orleans, a hurricane is one thing. We were fortunate, we didn’t have the severe effects that a lot of communities had,” said Naquin. “We’re here to show tourists and locals alike a good time,” Naquin said.

Wood Enterprises is located in the “Fruit Loop,” on the 900 block of Bourbon at St. Ann, and the company owns Lafitte’s in Exile, Raw Hide, Good Friends Bar, and the Clover Grill. General Manager Ken Grandpre said that the events Decadence are great, but people come in hoards for the unstructured portion of the evening. “The most exciting event is what happens on the streets, it’s a big street party,” Grandpre said.

You can find the entire list of events for tonight’s Southern Decadence celebration below:

Maybe a Little Monkey Business (The Country Club, 6pm-1am)

Southern Decadence Welcome Party (House of Blues, 6-9pm)

Boys on Stage on the Pole (Rainbow Room, 7pm til)

Southern Decadence Block Party with Vendors (Phoenix, 9pm-2am)

Lords of Leather Beer Bust (Phoenix, 9pm-2am)

New Orleans Radical Faeries Present Prince of Perversion Ball: The Ass Menagerie (Café Istanbul, 9pm)

Southern Decadence DJ Event (Oz, full list of performers on their website)

Bearracuda with Live CD release party for Christeene (One Eyed Jacks, 10pm)

BLUE MOON: The MAN Show featuring DJ Eddie Mitchell, Monster Cross & Tyriq Davenport, The Double Play (10pm)

Dancers (Michael’s on the Park, 10pm)

New Meat Amateur Dance Contest with $100 cash prize (The Corner Pocket, 10pm)

Annual Official Southern Decadence Grand Marshall’s Drag Show (Golden Lantern, 11pm)

Bleachmen Follies featuring Klorocks Bleachman & friends (Michael’s on the Park, 11pm)

Boys on Parade hosted by Jasmine Essex and Matt B. with DJ Mike Bryant (Bourbon Pub, 12am)

Underwear Party (Michael’s on the Park, 12am)

Boys on Stage on the Pole Hot Body Contest (Rainbow Room, 1am)