It was my second trip to Nawlins that I got to do a series of photos of drag queens. I had visited once before with my friend Cassandra for a quick weekend, and got wined and dined by a group of Compaq computer execs on expense account. But this second trip. Oh, we got to take our time and explore the city. Cass had found us a bed and breakfast listed by the NOLA B&B Bureau as eccentric. Later we found that the owner had listed it as eclectic, but hell, eccentric worked for us.

I arrived in town two nights before Cass. My absolutely fav modern dance company, Pilobolus, was performing right before we were due to arrive, so I bumped my flight so I could catch the show. I got to the Dive Inn Bed & Breakfast a few hours before the performance. This gave me the opportunity to chat with my host Wayne Porter. He not only ran the B&B with his partner (and now wife) Nora Steele, but he also had his own publishing house, Pontalba Press. That week, as well as for many weeks before and after, he was arranging photo shoots for his newest book, The Drag Queen Cookbook and Guide to Sensible Living. My timing could not have been better. Wayne, being the sweetie he is, let me tag along.

The next day, after the Pilobolus performance, I went with Wayne into the French Quarter to a fun little gay bar, Good Friends. I met the photographer, Keri, the editor, Winter, and all the models. The photographer was nice and did not seem to mind my million and one nosy questions. I had never worked with a square format camera, so it was a lot of fun to play. I took a few shots of the behind the scenes activities. One was used in the book.

We did a few different shoots that day, Ashe Blonde Wednesday Brunch, Common table etiquette is imperative for even the most uncommon Transvestite, and more. Then there was the shot that the hired photographer did not want to do. She was sure that her reputation as an artist would be besmirched if she did it - Come on now - she was shooting drag queens- fer crying out loud. Since I was the only other photographer there, I got the gig. I started snapping. Her frock will surely be spotted afterwards. What fun.

The next day we were off to take more photos. We drove out to Jimmy's River Shack to shoot Choosing a nightclub. There was a huge birthday party going on at Jimmy's. Now, you have to realize that Jimmy's is a biker bar. Bikers had ridden in from all over NOLA and Louisiana and then some. Jimmy was so cool to let this shoot happen on this special (crowded) night. Did those bikers stare at the queens! We tried to get some to get into the photos, but they would not. I have never seen such big burly bikers get so scared. They said that they would never live it down. I got another picture of a drag queen peeing, but this one Wayne decided not to use - no stream.

One more day of shooting after that. I had to leave early to go meet Cass when she got in. By the time we got back, the shoot was over, but we did get to hang in a beautiful home in the French Quarter owned by a beautiful queen. Everything in New Orleans is decorated with such impeccable style.

Now that you have read all about it, Buy the book!

The Drag Queen's Cookbook & Guide to Sensible Living