The Garden Staff
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Rusty Jones: Owner
Years With The Garden: Started at the Brass Garden in 1986 Famous Icon: My favorite icon in our community is still Mongo and the late David Vitiritto Why The Garden? I’ve spent all of my adult life as a patron, door person, bartender, manager and now proud LGBT+ owner. Your Legacy: My legacy is to make it a safe space for everyone to come and mingle and celebrate who they are. I’ve lost so many dear friends and family over the years from AIDS in the 80s and 90s to various reasons now. I want those souls to be celebrated and know that they are still with us. Just as I would like to be celebrated when my time comes. |
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Jerry Byrd: Co-Owner
Years With The Garden: 4 years Famous Icon: George Michaels Why The Garden? As a member of the LGBT+ community, it is my mission to carry on The Garden legacy for future generations to come. There is always work to be done and I am always ready to get to work. Your Legacy: Mother of the House of Phatpussy (Feen-a-mint). My dream is to plant flowers all over the world. |
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Jack Frost: When Kingdoms Come Director
Years Entertaining: 9 years Famous Icon: Brendon Urie, Freddy Mercury Favorite Song to Perform: Anything P@TD Why The Garden? This was my first safe LQBTQ+ space as well as my first stage. I have made so many amazing memories and met so many amazing people. I met my wife there and have found a home at the Garden Nightclub. Your Legacy: I want to continue to help the next generation of entertainers grow and express themselves. We need to destroy the labels littering the drag community and remember that we are all Kings and Queens when we hit that stage. #LetsGetFrosty |
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Blake Lyal: Marketing and Social Media Manager
Years With The Garden: 8 years Famous Icon: Lady Gaga, Cher Why The Garden? When I moved to Des Moines in 2010, I had only known a couple of people. We frequented another establishment, and when that era ended The Garden welcomed us all like family. They gave us jobs and gave us a home. I felt very strongly towards that kind of graciousness. Your Legacy: I began taking pictures with a digital camera in high school and started to fall in love. After moving to Des Moines, I decided to up my camera game. I taught myself everything that I could to understand that DSLR camera. Later, I downloaded photoshop and watch YouTube video after video until I taught myself everything I needed to know about the software. The time, effort, and enormous amount of money spent on equipment has brought me to where I am today. I’ve taken a lot of cast photos over the years and I do all of our meet and greet events at The Garden. I continue to learn, grow, and experiment with new techniques to bring the best quality photos for our guests. Recently, I have also become part of our Social Media team. We are always responding to your messages and continuously are looking for ways to expand our online presence. |
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Evian Waters: Front Door + Security
Years With The Garden: Many years Famous Icon: Betty White Why The Garden? I like seeing all of your smiling faces at the door. Your Legacy: I am a 2 time Miss Capital City Pride. A former Ms. Buddies and a former Ms Blazing Saddle. I am a former Empress Of Iowa where we raise money for charity. I have been doing the art of female impersonation for over 20 years in the great state of Iowa. |
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Muffy Rosenberg: Open Stage/Cougar Cabaret Director
Years Entertaining: 40 years Famous Icon: Elizabeth Taylor for being there for the Gay community at the very beginning of the Aids Crisis . Also at one time she was Fat and Fabulous. Favorite Song to Perform: I'm gonna sit right down and write myself a Letter Lena Horne. Why The Garden? Garden diversity, community, and our owner Rusty. Your Legacy: Miss Max 1, Miss Gay Ne America Miss Gay Nebraska US of A, Nebraska EOY, Miss Omaha Mining Company 1, Miss Gay Iowa US of A at Large 1, Miss Blazing Saddle, Miss Garden ,Miss Gay Iowa Us of A Classic, Princess Royal Nebraska 4 and 6, Iowa 18, Empress of Imperial Court of Iowa 20 and 22 , Grand Duchess of All Iowa. The Guardian Angel Scholarship Founder, and the first recipient of The Capital City Pride Robert (Mongo) Eikleberry Community Service Award. |
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Ziggy Rettig-Garcia: Graphic Designer
Years With The Garden: 8 years Famous Icon: Ross Mathews Why The Garden? Because Jade was performing all the time and I was spending all my time there figured might as well get paid for it lol. Also I love this community and our safe place. Your Legacy: Been working at the garden about 6/7 years. It’s a big part of my husbands and my life. We’ve grown to become part of the garden family and like being part of a place that allows people to express themselves freely and openly. |
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Kenneth Rosales: Bar Manager
Years With The Garden: 13 years Famous Icon: In terms of an LGBTQ person it would be Raymond Burr when he started in Godzilla King of the monsters in 1956. I'm a huge Godzilla fan and to find out the lead American actor in real life was gay made me appreciate the monster movies even more. Speaking of sci fi, that genre accentuated my gay upbringing idolizing handsome and action stars such as Gil Girard, Lee Majors, Harrison Ford, Christopher Reeves and Robert Urich to name a few. As for the women... Shows like Golden Girls, Designing Women, Tales of The City series and Absolutely Fabulous were huge in my upbringing. For music, Queen, Olivia Newton John, Elton John and Madonna were major influence as well as 80s Alternative music such as Depeche Mode, New Order, The Cure... Why The Garden? After moving here from Long Island, New York and moving out of my Fraternity at Iowa State, I really felt out of place. The Garden made me feel like I belonged and the music and the people were so not Iowa. It's been my home away from home and will always be an integral part of my life. Your Legacy: My first job at the Garden was being a security guard for Ce Ce Peniston. My popularity with the patrons made the management hire me as a bartender. From there it's been a whirlwind of gay moments, from being in Drag, joining the drag family of Co owner Jerry Byrd's aka the PHATPUSSIES, named KenyaBendover... Though I don't drag unless the alcohol is provided. But as time went on, I gained a management spot and one of the primary decorators for the bar. For the new location I've assisted in it's renovation and it's future. 3 decades and counting, my heart is with the Garden. |