Long Beach Revealed

Cordially Invited

Empress Jackie calls one and all to celebrate a year of fundraising

BY JAMIE WETHERBE

The 36th Elected Empress of all Long Beach, the Darling Jacquelyn Evangelista LaCol Rockafeller, a.k.a. Empress Jackie, plans to end her year-long reign by throwing a weekend-long celebration—and everyone is invited. “I've worked so long to have this weekend, it's like planning a wedding,” she says. “This is my victory party.”

The International Imperial Court of Long Beach will host the coronation ceremony Feb. 29-March 2 aboard the Queen Mary, where a new emperor and empress will be crowned, and funds from the event will benefit charity. While some Imperial Courts (there are 70 chapters internationally) prefer a more regal ceremony, Jackie opted for another type of theme, Hotties on Harley's. “I'm known as the Harley Davidson Empress,” the experienced motorcyclist explains, “and I encourage everyone to wear their leathers and have fun.”

Tickets for the main event are on sale for $60. After a five-star sit-down dinner, guests can take in several performances—including Long Beach Pride Star winner, Donovan Marcelle—and the new monarchs, as decided by Long Beach residents' votes, will be crowned. After that, says Jackie, “the strobe lights come on, and there's a dance party till midnight.” Sunday's events include a victory brunch, also aboard the Queen Mary, followed by a victory party at the nearby Silver Fox bar.

Empress Jackie takes her fundraising work very seriously. “It's the most creative way of putting my drag to use,” Jackie says, “to raise money for charities and awareness [for the Imperial Court].”

The 25-member Long Beach Imperial Court is an all-volunteer nonprofit. Since its inception in the early '70s, the court has raised $1 million, and this year alone, thousands of dollars went to the St. Mary's Hospital CARE program. Members also donate their time to organizations like Long Beach Pride and AIDS Hospice Homes. Still, outside “the core gay group, no one really knows about us,” Jackie says.

A decade ago, coronations pulled some 600 people, but this year, Jackie expects closer to 300. Holding the celebrations aboard the Queen Mary, Jackie hopes, will boost the court's profile and pull people from all over. “New York, Canada, even Boise, Idaho,” she adds. Sounds like a party.

For more information or to buy tickets, call 714/915-1084 or visit www.longbeachimperialcourt.org (package and hotel rates are also available).

COMMUNITY

Getting with the program

Long Beach organization networks gay businesses

Two years ago, when Karen Hewus opened her Long Beach-based graphic design company, LOOK! Graphics, she immediately got busy networking with other business owners. But as a lesbian business owner, Hewus didn't want to hide her identity. Instead, she joined the Long Beach Community Business Network, a networking group for gay-owned and gay-friendly businesses in the Long Beach area.

“As a lesbian, I feel like I can present who I am with this group,” says Hewus of the LBCBN. “I've made connections that I never would have had without the group. Not only that, I've gotten a lot of business out of it.” She estimates 25% of her business has come as a result of the group.

“It's members using members,” says Paul Duncan, a credit card processor who serves as co-chair of the 15-year-old LBCBN. “Long Beach has an outstanding gay business community. We help promote member businesses and help new businesses establish themselves.”

The group meets twice a month at member restaurants. In addition to the networking time, attendees are given 30 seconds to present themselves to the entire group, while two members drawn from a hat get a chance to do a 5-minute presentation.

A unique part of the meetings comes at the end during the “thank you” period. Members express gratitude for doing business with other members or for sending work their way.

“The thanks have become a real important part of it,” says Hewus. “Anytime I go, I get a lot of thanks from other businesses there. And I get a lot of opportunities to give thanks to others for the work that's come to me because of the group.”

“It's like a little love fest at the end of our meetings,” says “Uncle” Ernie Santora, president of the Palm Springs-based First Community Insurance, which opened a Long Beach branch office last year. “The thank yous really are a special part of that group.”

Santora doesn't mind driving in from Palm Springs for the mixers. “There are a lot of great people there and I've gotten a lot of business as a result,” he says. “It's really the best money we've ever spent.”

Long Beach Community Business Network holds lunch mixers on the first Wednesday of each month, evening mixers on the third Wednesday. Membership costs $110 per year; $60 per year for nonprofits. The mixers are $10 for members; $12 for first-time non-members. For more information, visit www.lbcbn.org.

SCENE

Communal Coffee

Hot Java Brews Sense of Community in Long Beach

BY SYLVIA RODEMEYER

Starbuck's has a goal of being the world's “Third Place.” According to the corporate caffeine conglomerate, your third place is the place you spend time at between your job and home. If Long Beach residents are aware of Starbucks’ plan, they aren't listening. Instead locals have embraced Hot Java Café as their “Third Place,” and who can blame them? With plush, comfortable couches and a functioning fireplace, Hot Java looks like the living room we all wish we had, complete with expertly-made beverages and attractive and knowledgeable baristas.

The shop owes its success to the hard work of the owners, who strive to make Hot Java a warm and accepting space. Located on the corner of Broadway and Junipero, it is owned by a group of Long Beach Gay and Lesbian Inc. board members, who strive in every aspect of their life for LGBT rights and respect.

Annie Parkhurst, 26, found Hot Java shortly after moving to Long Beach two years ago. “It's the Cheers of coffee houses—everyone knows your name and there is none of the corporate guilt of going to Starbucks,” Parkhurst says. Parkhurst and her friends are now a fixture of Hot Java, and they can often be found with a drink in one hand and a cigarette in the other at one of the tables on the café's patio, enjoying the ambiance and the company.

Benny Lemaster, a long-time customer and recent addition to the Hot Java staff, said the LGBT community support was a large part of his decision to work at Hot Java. “The community aspect has always attracted me and the overall ambience is inviting. It is not only a hot spot for coffee lovers, but for the queer community,” Lemaster adds.

Lemaster hosts Hot Java's poetry night on the first Saturday of each month, and frequently steps out from behind the coffee bar to share one of his original pieces. Beyond poetry, Hot Java hosts a number of other events, including Drag Bingo every third Sunday and Laugh-a-Latte, featuring a variety of local comics, on the third Saturday of the month.

Hot Java is located at 2101 E. Broadway Ave., Long Beach. For more information, visit www.hotjavalb.com.

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Escape the holidays with movies at South Bay Center

For those fighting off the holiday blues or just wanting to escape the Christmas rush, the South Bay Center offers up free movie nights every Friday starting at 7 p.m. “Everyone is welcome. And even if you're not in the mood for a movie, you can still come by and just hang out,” assures spokesperson Dottie Wine. The movie for Dec. 21 and Dec. 28 will be a two-part “gothic, girly romance.” The South Bay Center is located at 2235 Sepulveda Blvd., Suite 4 (between Crenshaw and Arlington), in Torrance. For more information, visit www.southbaycenter.org or call 310/328-6550.

Get dragged to the Closet Ball

After a long absence, the Closet Ball returns to Long Beach, offering first timers an opportunity to compete in drag. “I know there are a lot of gay boys out there who want to do drag, so here's their chance,” says hostess Empress Jackie, of the Imperial Court of Long Beach. The contest is open to anyone who has never done drag before; the winner will be determined by the effectiveness of his/her transformation. The Closet Ball is Saturday, Jan. 26, starting at 6 p.m. at the Sea Port Marina Hotel, 6400 E. Pacific Coast Highway. $10 to watch, $25 to enter the contest. Proceeds benefit St. Mary's CARE Program. For more information, call Empress Jackie at 714/915-1084.

Naughty meets nice at Black and White Winter Ball

Long Beach AIDS Foundation sponsors a Black and White Winter Ball on Saturday, Jan. 26, starting at 8 p.m. at Piston's, 2020 E. Artesia Blvd. in Long Beach. “It's naughty meets nice, vanilla meets kink,” says organizer Jeff Wacha. “It'll be a carnival atmosphere, sort of a Mardi Gras warm-up party.” Attendees are encouraged to wear costumes in black or white, the more outrageous, the better. A King and Queen of the Ball will be crowned. Proceeds benefit the AIDS Life Emergency Fund, a stop-gap fund for people who need emergency assistance with bills. For more information, send email to jeff.wacha@lbaidsfoundation.org or call 562/987-5200.

Lambda Awards aboard the Queen

Long Beach Lambda Democratic Club's 26th annual Human Rights Awards Banquet, honoring people who have contributed to the advancement of civil rights will be Sunday, Jan. 27, at 5 p.m. aboard the Queen Mary. Among the awards given out, attorney Stephanie Lofton will receive the “Outstanding Woman of the Year” award while “Outstanding Man of the Year” will go to Long Beach AIDS Foundation Executive Director Gary Bowie. “This is the event of the year in the LGBT community. It's a black-tie affair, but it's a chance to have fun and honor our own,” says organizer Denise Penn. And since the event is happening just a week before the California primary, “some of the Presidential candidates will likely drop by,” teases Penn. For more information, send e-mails to glnmontv@aol.com.