Gambit Digital Edition: May 13, 2024

May 13 - 19

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Editor | JOHN STANTON

PoliticalEditor | CLANCyDUBOS

Arts &Entertainment Editor | WILL COVIELLO

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ARTS +ENTERTAINMENT

Bigtent

BayouBoogalooexpandsitsofferingsforMay17-19festonBayouSt.John

byWillCoviello |

AFTERTHEMID-CITYBAYOUBOOGALOO

INTRODUCEDATENTforstand-up comedylastyear,it’sexpandingthe offeringsagainthisyear,bringingmore kindsoflocalentertainmenttothe annualfestivalonBayouSt.John

Thefestival’smainattractionisstill livemusic,andtheline-upincludes Wu-TangClan’sGZA,NikWest, Afroman,LezZeppelin,GeorgePorter Jr.&Runnin’Pardners,Buckwheat ZydecoJr.,Quintron&MissPussycat, Morning40Federation,SaxKixAveand more.Therealsoisalargeartmarket, boatingonBayouSt.Johnandmore fromFriday,May17,throughSunday, May19.

BayouBoogaloo’slineupforthe comedytentlastyearincludedSean Patton,LauraSanders,GenevaJoyand othercomics.Itwentwell,sofestival founderJaredZellerdecidedtoexpand theofferingsthisyear.Andthere’sa largertent,whichiscalledtheRuby SlipperComedy&CabaretStage.Zeller notesthattheshadealsoenhancedthe tent’sappeal

Thisyear’sline-upincludesstand-ups RyanRogersandShepKellyofLGBTLOL andMattOwens,plusaroastbattleon Saturday.FridaynightfeaturesIsaac Kozellhostinganeditionofthelocal showStonedvs.Drunkvs.Sober,in whichcomediansinvariousstatesof inebriationcompetetodeliverthebest jokes.SundaybringscomediansAndrew Polk,TajWashington,Lafayette’sJason LeonardandTylerArceneauxandan editionofComedyBeasthostedby AmandaGandAllisonHotard.

Thetentwillalsohostburlesque fromMinxBurlesqueandLeftyLucy’s BurlesqueBingo.OnSunday,there’s adragbrunchshowwithEureeka Starfish,anditwillfeaturetentsponsor RubySlipper’sbloodymarys

Thefestival’sSaturdayheadliningslot isoccupiedbyWu-TangClancofounder GZA,whohashadasuccessfulsolo careerstartingwith“LiquidSwords,” releasedin1995.He’scurrentlyontour withthePhunkyNomads,andthey’re performingbothWu-TangandGZA classics,buttolivemusic.

PrecedingGZAisanotherrapper andbandcollaboration.LosAngeles rapperChali2nawasamemberof therapcollectiveJurassic5.Heused toperformregularlyinNewOrleans, especiallywithlocalfunkbandsaround JazzFesttime.AtBayouBoogaloo, he’sperformingwithlocalfunkband NaughtyProfessor.

Saturdayalsofeaturesacoupleof powerhousevocalistsinAnjelika“Jelly” JosephsingingwithRawDealandSierra GreenandtheGiants.

HeadliningFridaynightisvocalistand bassistNikWest.Sheblendsrock,funk andsoul,andisknownforherwork withPrince,aswellasDaveStewartof theEurythmicsandJohnMayer.Friday night’sfunkylineupalsofeaturesGeorge PorterJr.&Runnin’Pardners,SaxKixAve andQuintron&MissPussycat. CaliforniarapperAfromanperforms onSunday.Hemadeabigsplashin theearly2000swiththereleaseofhis studioalbum“BecauseIGotHigh,”and hewaslaternominatedforaGrammy forBestRapSoloPerformanceforthe titletrack

AlsoheadliningSundayisNewyork’s LezZeppelin.Theall-womentribute bandfoundedbyguitaristStephPaynes hasreleasedalbumsofLedZeppelin covers,aswellasamusingrewrites,likea holidayversionof“StairwaytoHeaven.” SundayalsobringsBigSam’sFunky Nation,localelectronicartistIFE,New OrleanscumbiabandLosGuirosand JoshuaStarkmanhostinganeditionof hisVarietyHour.

TheartmarketextendsfromOrleans AvenuetoDumaineStreet,andthere aremorethan60vendorsoffering paintings,jewelry,ceramics,fiber works,clothes,leathergoods,accessories,perfumes,bodyproducts,plants, cigars,somepackagedfoodsandmore. Manyfestivalgoersliketoenjoythe bayouinwhatthefestivalcallsthe MossStreetMarina.Peoplecanuse

Slowdive

IttookawhileforSlowdivetogetthe recognitionitdeserves.TheEnglish bandintheearly’90swasoneof theleadinggroupsinshoegaze,but itwasn’tuntilthemid-2000sthat criticsstartedtorealizewhattheindie rocksceneoncehad.Bythatpoint, Slowdivehadbeenbrokenupfora decade.In2014,though,Slowdive decidedtoreformtoplayafestival, whichledtoanextensivetouranda newalbum,theirfirstinmorethan20 years.Thebandfollowedituplastyear withitsfifthLP,“EverythingisAlive,” andisagainontour.At8p.m.Tuesday, May14,attheCivicTheatre.Tickets are$40viacivicnola.com

inflatables,canoes,kayaks,some typesofboatsandhomemaderafts Designatedentrypointsaretheend ofthebayouatLafitteStreetandat theDumaineStreetbridge.Attendees whowanttoputhomemaderaftsin thebayouforthefestivalareasked toleavecreditcardinformation,but wouldonlybechargediffestivalstaff havetoremoveabandonedrafts.Visit thefestivalwebsiteforrulesabout wateraccess

Severalenvironmentalandconservationgroupswillhaveinformationbooths atthefestival.

Thefestivalhasmorethan15food vendorsspreadaroundthegrounds, andthere’severythingfromburgersfromBub’sNOLAtoAjunCajun, Empanola,Southernsfoodtruck, Xanh’sVietnamese-inspiredfoodand HaitiandishesfromFritai.Festival beersponsorUrbanSouthBreweryis bringingbackBoogalooBlondealefor theevent.Thefestivalalsohasacrawfish-eatingcontest

Thefestivaliscashless.VIPtickets areavailablefortheCanopyClub, andtheyincludeprivaterestrooms, shadedviewingareas,foodandbeveragesandmore.

Thefestivalencouragesattendees tousebicyclestogettoandfromthe fest.It’saccessibleviatheLafitte Greenway,andthere’sbikeparkingon theGreenwaysideofthefest. Forticketsandinformation, visitthebayouboogaloo.com.

‘RootedinRhythm’

TheLouisianaPhilharmonic Orchestraclosesits2023-24regular seasonwithaconcertcelebration ofNewOrleansjazz,classicalmusic andmusiceducation.TheLPOalso willcollaboratewithPreservation HallJazzBandforthefirsttime—an exampleoftheorchestra’srecent closeworkwithNewOrleansbands andartists.ConductedbyMatthew KraemerandfeaturingpianistSean Chen,theprogramincludesGeorge Gershwin’sCuban-inspired“Rhumba” andhisConcertoinFmajor.The LPOwillthenbejoinedbythePres HallJazzBandtoplaytheiroriginals. At7:30p.m.Friday,May17,atthe OrpheumTheatre.Ticketsstartat $28vialpomusic.com

MeridianBrothers

AcoupleweeksafterNewOrleans gotahugeinfusionofColombian musicatJazzFest,Bogata’sMeridian BrothersreturntotheMusicBox Village.TheMeridianBrothershave releasedconceptalbumspresentedas aretrosalsabandcollaboratingwith othergroups.Itsupcomingrelease, “MiLatinoamericaSufre,”explores

PROVIDED PHOTOBYINGRIDPOP

PHOTOBYSOPHIAGERMER/ THETIMES-PICAYUNE

THUMBS UP/ THUMBS DOWN

CalceaJohnsonandNe’Kiya Jackson,twoSt.Mary’sAcademy graduates,wererecentlyinterviewedonCBS’s“60Minutes” abouttheirgroundbreaking mathematicaldiscoverylastyear provingthePythagoreanTheorem usingtrigonometry,something mathematiciansthoughtimpossible.Duringtheinterview,they alsoannouncedtheyhaduncoveredseveralmoresuchproofs. JohnsonisnowastudentatLSU andJacksonisattendingXavier UniversityofLouisiana,both withscholarships.

OPENING GAMBIT

Who’sgotapoolwecanuseasanofficeforthesummer?

29,626

THENUMBEROF NEWORLEANSPUBLICLIBRARY CARDHOLDERSUNDER THEAGEOF18.

TheNewOrleansPublicLibraryannounced lastweekparentsandlegalguardiansmust showupin-persontolibrarybranchesto updatetheirkids’permissionsettings,in accordancewithastatelawthattakeseffect May30.Ostensiblydesignedtoprevent youngpeoplefromaccessing“inappropriate”material,thelawispartofconservatives’broaderbookbanningagenda

TheLouisianaHouseof Representatives lastweekvoteddownameasure thatwouldhavemadeitillegal tocarryaconcealedhandgun withoutapermitwithin100feetof aparade.WithLouisianasoonto allowpermitlessconcealedcarry, supportersofHouseBill627saidit wouldhelplawenforcementkeep eventslikeCarnivalparadesand secondlinessafer.

Absencemakestheheartgrowfonder: MayorCantrellspent36daysouttown duringfour-monthstretch

BETWEENNOV.11OFLASTYEAR—THE DAYSHELEFTFORACLIMATECONFERENCEINKENYA—andwhenshe returnedfromaMiamiclimateconferenceonMarch13,MayorLaToya Cantrellspentaneye-popping36 daysontheroad.

Alltold,thatmeansCantrellwas notinNewOrleansformorethan amonth,or36%ofthetotal134 calendardayperiod.

MayorCantrell,whoiscurrentlyin Canadaforanotherclimateconference,wentonatotalofseventrips, includingtwointernationally,during thisstretch.

shealsochosetonotlobbythem aggressivelyeitherinpublicorbehind thescenes,althoughmembersofthe CityCouncilandthecity’slegislative delegationdid.

C’EST WHAT ?

Whatareyourplans forthesummer?

LouisianainlateAprilfiledalawsuitagainsttheU.S.Department ofEducationforitsrecent expansionofTitleIXprotections forLGBTQstudents.TitleIX regulationsnowincludeprotectionsforstudentsbasedonsexual orientationandgenderidentity. Mississippi,MontanaandIdaho alsohavesignedontothesuit, whicharguesthenewprotections areafederaloverreach.

Alotwashappeninghereathome whilethemayorwasgone.Following hiselectionearlierintheyear,Gov. JeffLandryhadcreatedaseriesof transitionpanelstohelpplanhis takeoverfromformerDemocratic Gov.JohnBelEdwards.Allofthose committees’policyrecommendationswouldhavesomesortof implicationsforNewOrleansandits residents,includingonesspecifically focusedoncrimeinNewOrleansand thecity’sSewerage&WaterBoard. Althoughthemayorwasnot includedinthosecommittees,

Followinghisinaugurationin earlyJanuary,meanwhile,Landry convenedtwospecialsessionsofthe legislature,includingoneinwhichhe andhisalliesrolledbackalmostall ofthereformstothecriminaljustice systemofthelastdecadeormore. Atthesametime,legislatorswere planningtheirvariouslegislative agendasfortheregularsession.It isunclearwhat,ifany,roleCantrell playedinprivatediscussionson thoseissues,thoughshewasrelativelyhandsoffpublicly

Thetotalcostofthosetrips, includingexpensesrelatedtothe mayorherself,membersofher securitydetailandherpersonal staff,wasmorethan$130,000.The totalcosttothecitywasjustunder $82,000becauseinsomeinstances eventorganizerspaidforthemayor’stravelandlodgingexpensesbut notforstaff.

Mostofthecostsforhertravel werelimitedtohotels,airfare,food

MayorCantrellinLasVegas,Nevada. PHOTOFROMFACEBOOK

andoccasionalrideshareortaxi services.DuringaFebruaryjunket toLasVegasthemayor’steamspent $3,370.70onacarservice,roughly $561aday,whichwasordersofmagnitudehigherthanwhatCantrelland herteamreportedspendingontaxis orridesharesonanyofherothertrips. Forinstance,duringafour-daytripto MiamiinMarch,RavenFrederick,the mayor’sDigital/SocialMediaManager, reportedspending$333.54ontaxisor ridesharesduringtheentiretrip.

Themayorhaslonginsistedherbusy travelitineraryhasprovidedbenefits forthecity,thoughitisunclearwhich, ifany,havematerialized.InDecember themayordidtoutaMemorandum ofUnderstandingshesignedwithan OhiocompanyduringhertriptoDubai. However,thatagreementappearsto haveviolatedacityordinancerequiringhertoobtaincouncilapproval beforesigningit—andheradministrationappearstohaveabandonedwork onitshortlyafter.

Themayor’sofficedidnotreturna requestforcommentbypresstime JohnStanton

Louisianacommittee killsbillthatwouldhave letrapesurvivorsunder 17getabortions

THELOUISIANAHOUSECOMMITTEEON AdministrationofCriminalJustice onTuesdayrejected4-7abillthat wouldhavegivenanyoneyounger than17whobecomespregnantdue torapeorincesttheoptiontohave anabortion

Theyalsovoteddownthreemeasuresaimedatclarifyinglanguagein statelawtogivedoctorsprotections fortreatingcertainpregnancyand medicalcomplications.

LouisianaRighttoLife,apowerfulanti-abortiongroupinthestate, opposedallthebills

HouseBill164byRep.DelishaBoyd, aNewOrleansDemocrat,originally addedrapeandincestexceptionsto thestate’snear-totalabortionban, regardlessofage.Butshenarrowedit incommittee.

“Thisistoprotectourmostvulnerablechildren,”Boydsaid.“Visualizea babyhavingababy.”

betterwithfriends

Boydsaidshebroughtthebill becauseshewantedchildrenandteenagesurvivorsofrapetohavethechoice hermotherdidn’thaveinthe‘60s.

Boyd’smotherwasrapedat15and becamepregnantwithher.Abortion wasillegalatthetime.Afterward,she beganself-medicatinganddiedbefore theageof30,Boydsaid.

“Mystoryismymothersacrificedher lifeforalifebecauseshedidn’thavean option,”shesaid.

Thecommitteeheardemotional testimonyfromsurvivorsofrapeand incestaswellasfromafewothers

StateRep.DelishaBoyd PHOTOBYMICHAEL

whowereborn astheresultof rapeandincest.

Rep.JoyWalters, aShreveport Democratonthe committee,also sharedthatshehad beenraped.

SadieSummerlin toldthecommitteeshewasrapedasa teenagerandsupportedthebill.

“Rapeisacrimeofcontrol,”shesaid “Asarapesurvivor,itisverydifficult toseethedifferencebetweenarapist andthestateofLouisianacurrently withtheselaws.”

Dr.NeelimaSukhavasi,aBaton RougeOB/GyN,alsotestifiedin supportofthebill,sayinginthepast yearalone,she’ddeliveredbabies ofteenagersasyoungas13whohad becomepregnantduetorape. OPENING

Someofthemsufferedpregnancy complicationssuchaspreclampsia highbloodpressurethatcanresultin seizures—andpost-partumhemmorhagingakaheavybleedingafterbirth, whichshesaidaretheleadingcausesof maternaldeathsinthestate

“Oneoftheseteenagersdelivered ababywhileclutchingateddybear,” Sukhavasisaid.“That’sanimageIfeel likeonceyouseethatyoucan’tunsee.”

Rep.DodieHorton,aHaughton Republican,saidwhileshesupportsthe deathpenaltyforrape,shecouldnot supportgivingsurvivorstheoptionto haveanabortion,becausethepotential childresultingfromthatpregnancy wouldbe“innocent.”

“I’meitherpro-lifeorI’mnot,”she said.“Ican’thaveanyinbetween.”

BoydtoldHortontoreadapassage fromtheBible’sBookofExodusthat Rep.PatMoore,aMonroeDemocrat, requestedmembersread.Moorewas absentfromthecommitteeduetoa deathinthefamily,Boydsaid.They wentbackandforthshortlyquoting scriptureateachother

Rep.LaurenVentrella,aGreenwell SpringsRepublican,saidshewasconcernedthatateenagercouldlieabout beingrapedinordertogetanabortion

“It’snotclearif17-year-oldsare cominginandtheyhadanincidentwith theirboyfriendorwhathaveyouand they’recominginandthey’resaying that,thatisaconcerndirectlyfrommy districtaboutthis,”shesaid.“Howdo wesay,ohyes,weknowbarnonethat thisiswhathappened.”

Medicalprofessionalstestifiedthat thoughthereisnotalwaysphysical evidenceofrape,therearesomeindicators.Louisianalawalsostatesthat nobodyunder17canlegallyconsent tosex.

Thebillfailedonapartylinevote, withRepublicansvotingagainstitand Democratsvotingforit

ThecommitteekilledbothHouse Bills56and63byRep.Candace Newell,aNewOrleansDemocrat, whichattemptedtogivehealthcare providersmoreprotectionfortreating pregnancycomplicationsandoutcomes,includingmiscarriages

Forexample,HB63clarifiedthat adoctorcantreatcancerorblood disordersinapregnantpersonwithout gettingprosecutedifthattreatment negativelyaffectstheirpregnancyand specifiesthatamolarpregnancy,in whichanonviablepregnancycausesa tumorintheuterus,isnota“clinically diagnosablepregnancy.”

HB56definednon-viablepregnancies,whichNewellsaidwasatthe requestofopponentsofthebill.But Clappersaidthewordingcouldhave

legalizedaboutupuntilviability,upto 24weeks.Themeasurethenfailed3-9, withDemocratRep.RoyDarylAdams ofJacksonvotingagainstit

ThecommitteealsorejectedHB293 byRep.AimeeFreeman,aNewOrleans Democrat,whichwouldhavetweaked thestate’sdefinitionofabortionto require“specificintent”ratherthan just“intent”to“terminateaclinically diagnosablepregnancy.”

LouisianaRighttoLifearguedthat “specificintent”wastoohardofaburdentoproveand“makesitveryunlikely thatanyonecouldeverbefoundguilty ofthecrimeofabortion.”

Meanwhile,severalhealthcareproviderstoldthecommitteethere’sacurrentclimateoffearsurroundingtreating pregnantpatientswithLouisiana’s currentabortionlaws.

Dr.JenniferAvegno,directorofthe NewOrleansHealthDepartment,said thatasafacultymemberofbothTulane andLSU’smedicalschoolsthatthe stateisseeingashortageofOB/GyNs. Addingclarificationsinalawmany healthcareproviderssayisconfusing couldhelpaddressthatshortage, shesaid.

“Givingusthisclarityandthesecurity inastatethathascriminalpenaltiesfor physicianswouldbehelpfulintermsof makingitabetterplaceforfolksthat wanttopractice,”Avegnosaid

Shesaidsheworriedthatifthe statecan’tattractwomen’shealth careproviders,Louisianacouldend upwithasituationlikeIdaho’s,where insomecaseswomenwithriskypregnanciesarebeingflownoutofthe stateinhelicopters.

“Sickwomeninhelicoptersisvery dangerous,”Avegnosaid.

HaleyBeaversKhoury,asecondyear medicalstudentatLSU,saidLouisiana’s anti-abortionlawsaregettinginthe wayofwhatshe’sbeingtaughtinschool arebestmedicalpracticesincaringfor pregnantpeople.

“Itwouldnotbeinmyinterestto practiceinastatethatdoesnotsupport meusingmymedicaleducationtothe bestdegreepossibleformypatients,” shesaid

LouisianaRighttoLife’sClapper saidthelawalreadyprotectsproviders,thougharecentreportbyreproductiverightsorganizationsdirectly contradictthat

Inthatreport,Louisianadoctors saidthestate’sabortionlawsare negativelyimpactinghowtheycare forpregnantpatients.

Becausedoctorsfearcriminalpenalties,they’redelayingcareuntilconditionsbecomemoredireandoptingfor moreinvasiveprocedurestoavoidany appearanceofprovidinganabortion

ThoughnoLouisianadoctors havebeenprosecutedsince theSupremeCourtoverturned Roev.Wadein2022,reproductiverightsadvocateJulie SchwamHarrissaid,“Every doctorinLouisianaisafraidof beingmadethefirstexample ofcriminalintent.”

Clappersaidsome“better medicaleducation”oncurrent lawsisneeded,butnotnewlaws. —KayleePoche

Youngpeopleface restrictedaccess atpubliclibraries startingMay30, unlessparents updatecardsettings

THENEWORLEANSPUBLIC

LIBRARY(NOPL)willautomaticallystart restrictingminors’accesstocertain librarymaterialsonMay30,unless theirparentorguardianvisitsalibrary locationinpersontoopt-out.

That’sbecauseofalawtheLouisiana Legislaturepassedlastyearrequiring thelocallibrarysystemsinthestateto createpoliciesthatletparentsselect librarycardsthatpreventtheirchildren from“checkingoutitemsthatthecommunitysaysareinappropriate.”Ifnot, thelibrarywouldlosefunding ThesystemNOPLcameupwith featuresfouroptionsforadultguardians toselectfortheirchildren:

Option1:AllLibrarymaterials Option2:Librarymaterialsexcept physicalmaterialsthattheLibrary Boardhasdeemedsexuallyexplicit,as definedbystatelaw

Option3:Librarymaterialsexcept physicalmaterialsthattheLibrary Boardhasdeemedsexuallyexplicit, asdefinedbystatelaw,andall digitalmaterialsthatareavailable forcheckout

Option4:Librarymaterialsexcept foralldigitalmaterialsthatareavailable forcheckout

NOPLsaysphysicalmaterialrefers tobooks,moviesandCDs.Digital materialsincludee-books,audiobooks, streamingmusicandstreamingvideo, whichcardholderscanaccessthrough libraryapps.

“Thistransitionisabigoneforour youthlibrarycardholders,”Heather Riley,directorofpublicservices,saidin anewsreleasetoday.“Weunderstand thatitmaybeconfusing,butthelibrary ispreparedtohelpourpatronsmake thebestdecisionsfortheirfamilies.”

AnNOPLspokespersontoldGambit that29,626cardholdersinNewOrleans are17andyounger.

Parentswillneedtoupdate theirkids’permissionsettings attheNewOrleansPublic Library,pernewstatelaw

Thelawtakingeffectispartofan ongoingnationwideeffortbyfar-right politicianstolimitmaterialtheysayis “sexuallyexplicit”frombeingaccessed atpubliclibraries.Inpractice,however,that’softenmeantattemptsto challengeandbanbooksaboutLGBTQ peopleandrace.

Freespeechadvocatesandeducators havearguedthatcensoringinformationinpubliclibrariessetsadangerous precedentandburdenslibraryworkers andboardsthatoverseethem.

NOPLalsosaysitalready“organizes materialsbysubjectandinage-appropriatesectionsincludingchildren’sand youngadultareas”andthatlibrarians donotincludeadultmaterialsinthe children’ssection.

NOPLalsohasothersystemsinplace accordingtoa24-year-oldfederal lawtopreventyoungpeoplefrom accessinginappropriatematerialwhen usingitscomputers,includingsoftware thatblockscertainwebsites.Italso alreadyrequireschildrenunder12tobe accompaniedbyanadultwhenusinga computerwithoutafilter.

“Wehopethatthesechangesspark conversationsbetweenadultsandthe youthintheircareaboutwhatmedia isappropriateforthemtoread,watch andconsume,”saidEmilyPainton,the library’sexecutivedirectorandcity librarianinastatement

FormoreinformationontheNew OrleansPublicLibrary’spolicies, visitnolalibrary.org/policies.For moreinformationonthechangesto youthcards,askalibrarianatask. nolalibrary.org.—SarahRavits

LouisianaSenate panelbacksanti-trans bathroomandanti-free speechbills

THESENATEJUDICIARYCCOMMITTEE

TUESDAYunanimouslyapproved apairofanti-civilrightsbills,one barringtransgenderpeoplefrom usingbathroomsdesignatedfor theirgenderinpublicfacilitiesand anotherallowingpolicetoarrest anyoneapproachingthemwithin 25feet.

Undertheso-called“Bathroom Bill,”HouseBill608,wouldapplyto bathrooms,changingrooms,sleeping areasinshelters,dormsandother spacesinpublicschools,domestic violencesheltersandprisons

Additionally,itrequirespublic schoolstolabelallbathroomseither formen,womenormembersofthe samefamily

Thebillwasapprovedunanimouslybyvoicevote,withno Democratspresent.

IfsignedintolawbyGov.Jeff Landry,thebillwouldpotentiallyput thestateatoddswithfederallaw, whichrequiresprisonstoprovide transpeoplewithprivatebathroom facilities.Incarceratedtranspeople arefarmorelikelytobesexually harassedorassaultedthanother incarceratedpeople

Thebillcouldalsosubjectpeople,regardlessoftheirgender,to harassmentbypoliceifsomeone accusesthemofviolatingthelaw.The billauthorsallegethebillisdesigned topreventsexualassaults,which arealreadyillegal,andthereisno evidencethattranspeopleusinga

humanrights.

bathroomdesignatedfortheirgender increasetheriskofassaults. Alsoapprovedonvoicevotewas HB173,whichwouldallowpolice toarrestanyonewithin25feetof themwhiletheyareengagedintheir “duties.”Thebillisinresponseto membersofthepublicandmedia filmingsituationslikethepolicekilling ofGeorgeFloydandmorerecent videosofpoliceviolenceagainst protestersoncollegecampuses.

Currentlawalreadymakesinterferingwithpoliceexecutingtheir dutiesacrime.Thenewbillwould severelylimittheabilityofthepublic andreporterstodocumentpolice activities.Thebillappearstorun afoulofthe1stAmendmentofthe U.S.Constitution.

Lawmakerspassedasimilarbill lastyear,whichthen-Gov.John BelEdwards,aDemocrat,vetoed. CurrentGov.JeffLandrysupports themeasure.

Meanwhile,thecommitteedid approveameasurethatwouldprovidethemselvesandotherlegislators withsafeguards:HB823,whichbars gunsandotherdangerousweaponsin theCapitolBuilding Currentstatelawalreadymakes carryingagunintheCapitol Buildingillegal.

Thatvotecomesevenasthe legislaturehasrejectedabilltolimit gunsatparadesandappearsposed tokillameasuretomakecarrying aconcealedweaponintheFrench Quarterandotherpartsofthecity illegal.—JohnStanton

TchefuncteTrace, Covington,La

IMAGEBYCHEIKAT / GETTYIMAGES Transrightsare

shop @gaetanasnola

atouch of gold

COMMENTARY

FORYEARS,JAZZ FESTHASBEENA RAREBEACONOF POSITIVITYfordisabledmusiclovers bymakingpeople withmobilityissues andotherdisabilities notonlywelcome butpartofthe experience.While othermusicfestivals typicallyprovide onlywhat’srequired undertheAmericans withDisabilitiesAct, JazzFestgavemusic fansofeveryshape,sizeandability thebestpossibleexperience—and improvedityearoveryear. Unfortunatelyformanydisabledfestgoers,thisyear’sJazzFestexperience wasdifferent—anddisappointing. ThosewhospokewithGambitsaid theywereoftentreated,atbest,asa problemtobesolvedor,atworst,a nuisancetobedemeaned.

Theydescribedbeingforcedto “prove”orotherwisejustifytheir requestforaccesstothefestival’s manyhandicappedspaces.Emma Walker(whoisGambiteditorJohn Stanton’spartner)isanamputee.Asin pastyears,herfirststopatthefestwas theAccessCentertogetawristband forhandicap-accessibleviewingareas Unlikeinpastyears,Walkerwas askedwhysheneededaccesstothose areas.Shewastoldrepeatedlythatif shecouldmovebetweenstages,she didn’tqualify—astandardnotpreviouslyimposed.Moreover,itcreateda defactohierarchyofdisability

interactionwithstaff,asdidathird womanwhowasvisitingtownforthe festival.Theseinteractionsdistressed anddemeanedeachofthedisabled peoplewhospoketous Inaresponsetoarequestfor comment,festivalorganizerssaidin astatementthattheyarecommitted toprovidingdisabledpersonsaccess andtomeetingalllegalrequirements Theyadded,“TheFestivaldoesnot askpatronstoexplaintheirdisability anddoesnotaskfororuseany‘proof,’ identification,orotherinformation specifictoaperson’sdisability.”The statementlistedquestionsstaffare supposedtoask:WhatcanIhelpyou with?Whatdoyouneed?Whatbarrier areyouexperiencing?Whataccommodationareyourequesting?

Thestatementalsosaidthefestis consideringadditionalwaystomake theeventmoreaccessibleandenjoyablenextyear,includingadditional seatingintentsfornon-wheelchair userswithdisabilities.Weapplaud thatandanyothermeasuresthatwill achievethatgoal.

Walkerultimatelyreceivedawristband,butonlyaftersheexplained whyhavingaprostheticlegcanmake movingthroughcrowdsandfindinga placetowatchashowdifficult. Thisgoesbeyondstaffbeingunable torecognizeaperson’sdisabilityby sight,whichshouldnotbeastandard anyway.Infact,whenrepeatedlychallengedbyfestivalstaff,Walkerhadto liftherprostheticlegandshowthem. Worsestill,onsubsequentdays,staff whowitnessedherfirstinappropriate interactiontreatedherpoorly Sadly,Walker’sexperiencewasn’t aone-off.TonjiWilliams,aNew Orleansnativeanddisabledveteran, toldGambitshehadanear-identical

WealsotakeJazzFestatitsword thatitiscommittedtomeetingADA standards.Organizershaveexceeded theminthepastandledtheirindustry ondisabilityissues—recognizingthat ADAstandardsareaminimum,not acap,onwhatvenues,businesses andgovernmentmustprovidethe disabledcommunity.

Whatevercausedalapsethisyear,we trustthefestwilldobetternextyear

DUBOS

@clancygambit

Revisedrecordsbill stillaturdsandwich

GOV.JEFFLANDRY

DEFENDEDHIS

IDEAOFEVISCERATINGLouisiana’s PublicRecords Lawbycomparing ittoorderinga restaurantmeal Heclaimeddiners don’tcaretosee howchefsprepare theirfood;they onlycarehowit tastes

Countyourself luckyifLandry hasneverinvited youtodinner —becausehisideaofagoodpublic recordslaw,toborrowhisanalogy,isa turdsandwich

R-TurkeyCreek,and GovernorJeffLandry.

Formostofthepast50years, Louisianahadastrongpublicrecords law.FormerGov.BobbyJindalweakeneditsignificantlyviahisOrwellian “transparency”billin2009.

Jindalclaimedhisbillwouldmake thegovernor’sofficemoretransparent,buttheoppositewastrue —thankstoagubernatorial“deliberativeprocess”exceptionthathis administrationusedtoshrouditself insecrecy.Thelawwassorepugnant thatlawmakersrepealeditassoonas Jindalleftoffice

Landry,clearlynostudentofhistory, nowpromotesameasure—SenateBill 482bySen.HeatherCloud,R-Turkey Creek—thatwouldmakeJindallook likeoneoftheSunshineBoys.

Cloud’sbillwouldresurrectJindal’s “deliberativeprocess”exceptionand injectitwithsteroids,applyingitto allrecordsrelatingtodecisionsbyall stateandlocalofficialsandagencies— notjustthoseofthegovernor.

Thatwouldpreventcitizensfrom knowingjustaboutanythingpublic officialsareupto,whichwouldsuit Landryjustfine.Heis,afterall,the guywhosuedaTimes-Picayune reporterformerelyrequestingpublic recordsfromhisofficewhenhewas attorneygeneral.

Understandably,Cloud’sbillignited afirestormfromcitizensandmedia, muchtoLandry’schagrin.Hewhined toreportersaboutthepushback, culminatinginhisclownishlypuerile “restaurantorder”comparison.

Cloud’sbillappearsdead,butthe threattotransparencyisfarfromover. Anothermeasure,SenateBill423by

TUES

Sen.JayMorris,R-WestMonroe,is abouttobecomealmostasbad

Asoriginallyintroduced,Morris’ SB423wouldlimitaccesstopublic recordstocitizensofLouisiana—an ideathat’sbadenoughonitsface, especiallyconsideringthatMorrisis anattorneywhoseclientsinclude out-of-statemortgagecompaniesthat dependonaccesstopubliclyfiledliens andconveyances.

Morrisnowwantstomakehisbill evenworsebyamendingittoinclude partofCloud’sbill,transforming SB423intoablanketexceptionfor virtuallyallofLandry’srecords—and thoseofhisstaff.Morris’proposed amendment,whichtheSenatehas yettoapprove,wouldalsostripthe definitionofgubernatorialstafffrom currentlaw,amovethatcouldshield allexecutivebranchcommunications frompublicview

Supportersofthis“compromise” aresellingitasmore“palatable”than Cloud’sbill.

That’sonlytrueifyouprefera coupleofturdsliderstoafoot-long turdpo-boy

Or,ifyoupreferamore“palatable” metaphor,asandwichinitiallymade ofarsenic,cyanide,strychnineand ricinnowwillonlyincludearsenic andcyanide

Eitherway,whatLandry’ssellingis noxioustoanynotionofgovernmentaltransparency.Senatorsshouldn’t buyit.

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BLAKE PONTCHARTRAIN™

@GambitBlake|askblake@gambitweekly.com

HeyBlake, WehaveJoeBrown ParkinNewOrleans EastandGernonBrown RecreationCenterinCity Park.IknowBrownis acommonname,butis thereanyconnection? Whatcanyoutellme aboutboth?

Dearreader,

THETWOMENARENOTRELATED, buteachleftanindeliblemarkon NewOrleans.

TherecreationcenternearCity ParkisnamedforG.GernonBrown, thelegendaryJesuitHighSchool coachandteacherwhoalsowasone ofthefoundersoftheNewOrleans RecreationDepartment Fromthe1930sthroughthe1950s, Brown’sJesuitteamswon42major championships,including16state championshipsinthreesports—football,baseballandbasketball.Hewas inductedintotheGreaterNewOrleans SportsHallofFameandLouisiana SportsHallofFame.

“Brownwasacoachinthetradition ofKnuteRockneorFrankLeahy. Hisgreatestattributewastheability tomakeboysperformbeyondtheir normalcapabilities,”wroteTimesPicayunesportscolumnistBuddy DilibertoinaJanuary1963column markingBrown’sdeath.

Brownwasachartermemberand organizerofNewOrleansJuniorSports Association,forerunneroftheNew

OrleansRecreationDepartment.He wasappointedcoordinatorofNORD programsin1953andayearlaterwas namedexecutiveassistantdirector. Therecreationcenterbearinghisname atHarrisonAvenueandMarconiDrive wasdedicatedin1967.

JoeBrownParkinNewOrleansEast isnamedforJoeW.Brown,aTexas nativewhomovedtoNewOrleanswith hiswifeDorothyin1925.Whenhedied in1959,TheTimes-Picayunecalled himthestate’slargestindependent oilproducer

In1958,theBrownsestablishedthe JoeW.andDorothyDorsettBrown Foundation,whichdonated163acres oflandtoestablishJoeW.Brown MemorialParkin1962.Thefoundationalsodonated$250,000tobuild thepark’sJoeW.BrownRecreation Center,dedicatedin1976

Book TheAmazing Henrietta, whocan performfor anyage group andany genre—fromclassic

Email: henrietta.alves@gmail.com formoreinformation SeeHenrietta performweeklyat HolyDiver,Tuesdaysat6:30

ITWASTHEMEETINGPLACEONCANALSTREETFORGENERATIONSOFNEW ORLEANIANS:“UNDERTHECLOCKATHOLMES”—thebelovedD.H.HolmesdepartmentstorefoundedinNewOrleansin1842.Thelandmarkanditstimepiecewere immortalizedintheopeningsceneofJohnKennedyToole’sPulitzerPrizewinning novel,“AConfederacyofDunces.”

Thirty-fiveyearsagothisweek,theclockdisappeared—notlongafterDillard’s acquiredD.H.HolmesandsubsequentlycloseditsCanalStreetflagshipstore.

In1995,twoKennermen—AnthonyRihnerandFrankTripoliJr.—admittedto takingtheclockonMay17,1989.AstheyrecountedtoTheTimes-Picayune,at about10:30p.m.thatnight,theysetupaladder,snippedtheclock’selectrical wireandremovedeightboltsholdingtheclockinplace.Tripoliexplainedthathe andRihner,aformerHolmesemployee,knewtheitem’semotionalmeaningto NewOrleanians.“It’sjustastupid,simple-lookingclock,”Tripolisaid.“Nobodyat Dillard’swouldhaveknownthesignificanceofit.”

TheywerecaughtintheactbySallyReeves,historian/authorandadaughter-inlawofonetimeHolmesPresidentandChairmanHughEvans.Aftersomequestions fromReeves,themenconvincedhertheywouldtakecareoftheclock,shesaid. Sixyearslater,whenthesitereopenedasahotel(nowtheHyattCentricFrench QuarterNewOrleans),themenreturnedtheclock.Itwentondisplayinthehotel’s ClockBarbeforebeingremountedoutside.AstatueofToole’siconicprotagonist, IgnatiusJ.Reilly,wasaddednearby.

BLAKEVIEW

NEW BOOK DETAILS THE LIFE OF DEB ‘BIG RED’ COTTON AND HER RADICAL CALL FOR EMPATHY BREAK

CYCLE THE

BY JA KE CL APP

DEBORAHCOTTONARRIVEDINNEWORLEANSIN

2005,justafewmonthsbeforeHurricaneKatrina,and quicklyembracedthecity’sculture,especiallyitsSocialAid& PleasureClubandsecondlinecommunities.Thecitywouldin turnembraceherback.

Anorganizer,activistandwriter,Cottonbegandocumentingsecondlineparades,MardiGrasIndiansandbrass bands,firstpostingtonola.com’scommunitysectionunder thenameBigRedCottonandtheninaweeklycolumnfor Gambit Cotton’scolumnwasanimmediatehit,saysGambit’sthen-editorKevinAllman,anditledtobetterrelations betweensecondlineorganizers,policeandthecity.

Cotton’swritingwas“whip-smart,very,veryfunnyand seriouslyphilosophicalwhensheneededtobe,”Allmansays

CottonwasattheMother’sDaysecondlineonMay12, 2013,whentwoyoungmenfiredgunsintothecrowd,hitting 19people Cottonwasthemostgrievouslywoundedand underwentnumeroussurgeriestosaveherlife andthen issuedastunningstatement.

Ratherthanharborresentmentforthemenwhoshother, Cottonsoughtcompassionandunderstandingforbrothers AkeinScottandShawnScott.Inherpubliccommentsand writing,Cottonnotedthebrothers andcountlessother youngBlackmen hadbeenfailedbyNewOrleans,LouisianaandtheUnitedStates

Cottonwouldcontinuetofightforthatunderstandinguntil herdeathonMay2,2017,frominjuriesshehadsufferedin theshooting Shewas52

JournalistMarkHertsgaardalsowasshotinthelegatthe secondline,andwhilehewasabletoreturnhometoSan Franciscosoonafter,hepaidcloseattentiontotheaftermath oftheshooting HethoughtCotton’sresponsewasremarkable,hesays.

Aftertheshooting,HertsgaardconnectedwithCottonand thetwobecamefriends.AtCotton’surging,hewrotehislatestbook,‘BigRed’sMercy:TheShootingofDeborahCotton andRaceinAmerica.’

WhilethebookcentersonCottonandherresponsetothe shooting,italsotacklesissuesofrace,violence,NewOrleans’ culturaltraditionsandthelegacyofslavery,America’sunaddressedoriginalsin.

Alauncheventfor“BigRed’sMercy”willbeheldat6p.m. Wednesday,May15,atGardenDistrictBooksandwillinclude

aconversationbetweenHertsgaardand NewOrleansjournalistRamonVargas Findmoredetailsatgardendistrictbookshop.com.

GAMBIT: Whywasitimportant toconnectwithDebafter theshooting?

HERTSGAARD: Iwasreadingthe stories,andthenIreadwhatshesaidatthe (NewOrleansCityCouncil)hearing.Iwas like,‘Ohmygosh,thiswomanisasaint.I havegottomeether.’There’saparagraph inthebook IwasraisedChristianand wasraisedtobelieveinforgiveness,andI trymybest.Butboy,Iwasn’tatthatplace shewas.

Whenshesaidwhatshesaid,Ideeply admiredit,butitalsomademecurious. Ithought,‘Howintheworlddoyoudo that?Wheredoyousummonthatkindof strength?’Andasareporteryouhaveto becurious.

Atthatpoint,Iwasfarfromwanting towritethisbook.Ididthinktherewas abookwaitingtobewritten,butIwas writingaboutclimatechange,andIdid notwanttobetheonewritingthisbook I thoughtthepersonwhoshouldwriteitwas Deb.She’sagoodwriter,shehadavoice andshewastheonewhosaidthis amazingthing.

Whenwefinallymetface-to-faceandI suggestedthattoher,shedeclined Later Irealizedthatitwaskindofstupidonmy part shesaid,‘LookIjustgotshot Idon’t wanttorelivethisforanothertwoyears whilewritingaboutit.’

Debwasanorganizer,anactivistthrough andthrough.Andoneofthethingsthatis asignalcharacteristicofgoodorganizers istheyhaveanabilitytopersuadeother

GraduationCap Decorandmore!

peopletodothingsthatneedtobe done.Andthatiscertainlywhatshedid inthatcase.‘Hmm,you’reright,Mark Abookdoesneedtobewritten.Ithink you’recalledtowritethisbook.’

GAMBIT: WhatwasDeblike?

HERTSGAARD: WhenIwas firstreachingouttoher,itwasKevin (Allman,Gambit’sthen-editor)who connectedme.AndIwascareful,too, becauseIknewshewasatdeath’sdoor, andthefactthatshehadsurvivedwas amiracle,soIdidn’twanttopresstoo hard.ButthenIhappenedtobeinvited tospeakatLSUacouplemonthsafter theshooting.IwasgoingtobeinNew Orleansanyway,soItooktheopportunitytoreachouttoKevinandhe graciouslyputmeintouchwithher.But shewastooilltomeetthatfirsttime. Wespokeoverthephone.

DeborahCottonin2013 atthe‘It’sALoveThing Benefit’atGasaGasa.The benefitwastohelpCotton withhermedicalbillsasa resultoftheshooting.

PHOTOBYPETER FOREST / THETIMES-PICAYUNE

way,whitepeoplelistentootherwhite peoplemorethantheylistentous That’sjustafact.’

ToDeb. it’slike,‘No,it’syoum-fers whoneedtobetalkingandwriting aboutit.’

Oncewefinallymet,wejusthititoff, Ithink.AndIreallyrespectedherand learnedalotfromher.Shecaredabout alotofthethingsthatIdid.Itturnedout thatforbothofus,theanti-apartheid struggleinSouthAfricawasabigpartof ourpoliticalcomingsofage. Thefirsttimeweactuallymetfaceto-face,wewenttoJazzFesttogether. Thiswas2014.AndIremembershewas verykeentoseeChakaKhan.Butfirst wehungoutandjusttalkedonthegrass thereforawhile.AndIwasimpressed bywhatshehaddoneandhowshe maintainedherbelief(forcompassion) allthewaythrough Debbelievedverymuchinsocial changeandactivismandorganizing,but shealsoreallylikedtohaveagoodtime. ShelovedbeinginNewOrleans.She lovedsecondlines,food,flirting,men shelovedeverythingaboutthecity.And shehadthatabilitytobeaveryserious personinherpoliticsbutnotadrag,you know,notagoodie-two-shoeswho’s alwayslookingoveryourshoulderand waggingtheirfinger.Thatwasnot DebCotton.

Andthat’spartofwhyshewasnever goingtobeonewhosaid,‘Ohno,Mark, you’rewhite.Youcan’twriteabout race.’ThatwasareactionIgot(from publishers)morethanoncewhiledoing thisbookandtryingtosellit.

Thatsortofattitudebecamemore prominentincertaincirclesintheUnited States,especiallyonthepoliticalleftin thoseyearsaftertheshooting.Iwant tobeveryclearhere:I’mnotsomeone who’sgoingtokickdownonthe‘woke’ stuff,becausethatconcernisavalid one.Peoplearereactingagainstliterally centuriesofbigotryandoppression. Deb’spositiononallofthatwas,‘It’s whitepeoplemorethananyonewho needstotalkaboutthis.’Here’saclassic DebCottonline:‘We’vebeentalking aboutitfor400years.It’swhitepeople whoain’tbeentalkingaboutit.’And thensheaddsthekicker:‘Oh,andbythe

GAMBIT: Youweresurprised bythereactionstoDeb’sstatementforcompassion?

HERTSGAARD: Whenshe said,basically,thatweshouldnotthrow thesekidstothewolvesandunderstand howracismcankillaBlackpersoneven whenaBlackfingerpullsatrigger—that wasnotpopular.Thatwasoneofthe thingsIlearnedwhenIstarteddoingthe reportingforthebook—asimpressed asIwaswithDeb’spointofview,itwas notwidelysharedamongBlackorwhite peopleclosetotheshooting Thatwasinterestingtometolearn thatpeopledidnotshareherpointof view.Whenwewereshot,Ididn’tknow Deb,whichiswhytheopeninglineof thebookis‘DeborahCottonandImet bygettingshottogether.’

GAMBIT: Wasthatresistance specifictoNewOrleans,ora broaderculturalissue?

Tassels!!

TheTBCBrassBandperformsoutsidethe CarverTheaterfollowingthememorial serviceforCottonin2017.

HERTSGAARD: Iwouldbe cautiousaboutdrawinganyconclusions astowhetherthisisaNewOrleansperspectiveornot.Ithink,ingeneral,when I’vetalkedtopeopleoutsideofNew Orleanswhofindoutaboutthebook, there’scertaingeneralthemesthatare truewhetheryou’reinNewOrleansor not andyouseethisplayingoutnowin the2024presidentialcampaign crime isaverydivisiveissue,andsomepeople takeavery,Trumppositiononcrime andLawandOrder.TheRepublican Party’spositiononcrimehasbeenLaw andOrder,whichmanypeopleonthe leftinterpretas‘keepBlackpeople down.’Andthat’snotwrong thereis verystrongracialdogwhistlinggoingon whentheysay‘LawandOrder.’

Sointhatsense,IthinkthelackofembraceofDeb’spositioninNewOrleans wasalignedwithwhatmanypeopleoutsideofNewOrleansthink.ButinNew Orleans,there’sadifferentshapetoit,a differentnuancetoit,preciselybecause ithasbeenaviolentcity It’sespecially hardinacitylikethattonotbeA,alittle jadedbytheviolence,butB,alsobeinpatientwithit,Ithink ‘Whattheheck isitgoingtotakeforthistostop?’

Andsomepeoplefelt inaccurately inmyview theyfeltDebwasmaking excusesforwhathappened.Andthere’s adifferencebetweenmakinganexcuse forsomethingandofferinganexplanation.Andshewasverymuchtryingto offeranexplanation.

Laterinthebook,shesays,‘Lookthis isgoingtokeephappening’ shootings, andforthatmatter,electingawhitesupremacistafterthefirstBlackpresident untilwedealwiththerootcauses.And thatwasthefundamentalpoint.

Shebelievedtheseguysshouldbe punished Shewasn’tsayingthey shouldgofree.Shesaidtheyhaveto

have You’vebrokenmyheartanumber oftimesinthisconversation,butthese aretheconversationswehavetohave ifwe’reevergoingtobreakthecycle’... poverty;deadends;dealingdrugsisthe onlyrealemployment;addiction;shootingsandkeepingpeopleinpoverty. Soshedoeschangeinthatregard, inasense,becausesheseesthatbroaderperspective,but,andIadmirethis, shecontinuestoholdontohersense thatwehavetofacethefactsasthey are.Wehavetounderstandwhat causesallofthis.Wehavetohavea deeperunderstanding.

GAMBIT:

Whyisthebook dedicatedto‘Allofslavery’s victims,thenandnow?’

THE POWER OF FORGIVENESS

Kidnappedasachild, gravelywoundedina massshootingasanadult, racialjusticeactivistDeborahCottonneverthelessurgedmercyforher attackersandhealingfor thenation.

BY MA RK HERTSGAA RD

beimprisonedforatimebutunderstandthattheydidn’tdothatina vacuum.Thiscityandthiscountry createdthosecircumstances

GAMBIT: Doyouknowif

Deb’sviewswerechangedbythis traumaticevent?Frombeforeand aftertheshooting?

HERTSGAARD: Bythe[shooting],no.

Butafterthehearing,Iendedup uncoveringawholeotherbackstoryto theshooting,thatdidnotcomeoutin thecourt.There’stwosortoftributaries ofariverthatfedintowhatweheard incourt.Thereisthebackstoryabout themainshooter,whichisAkeinScott hisbrotheralsoshot,butAkeinwas themainshooter andthatbackstory solidifiedDeb’sview,‘Theseguyswere basicallydoomedfromthetimethey werekids Theydidn’thaveparenting, theylivedinpoverty,therewasnofood inthehouse’etc.

Butthentherewasanothersideofthe storythatcameoutseparatelythathad todowith itputtheiractionsinamuch harsherlight.(Hertsgaard’sreporting uncoveredthattheScottbrothershad likelybeeninvolvedinthedeathsoftwo othermenandhadalmostkilledafamily memberduringtheMother’s Dayshooting.)

Oneofthelastchaptersofthebookis ‘HardConversations,’andIhadtoshare thatinformationwithDeb.Andthose werehardconversations,becausethey reallychallengedherview

But but toDeb’sgreatcredit,she didnot[budge].Shetookthatin,and shesaid,‘Thisisahardconversation, butitisahardconversationwehadto

HERTSGAARD: Ilearnedalot aboutslaverywritingthisbook AndI admitatacertainpointinthebookthat Iwasembarrassedtodiscoverhowlittle Ireallyknew IwenttoJohnsHopkins University IstudiedalotofUShistory. ItookagraduatelevelclassinWest Africanhistory.Andnevertheless,by thetimeIdotheresearchforthisbook, IrealizedIdidn’tknowjacksquatabout slavery,andsomuchofwhatIthought Iknewwaswrong.Andsoitwaspartly Deb,butitwasalsothesecondline institutionthatdrewmebacktothat, becausesecondlinesevolvedoutof theburialritesthatenslavedAfricans broughtwiththemtoLouisiana.

Andthatthrough-linewaswhatled meto andwhatDebwastellingme throughoutallofthis waswhatledme todothatresearch.Andthatwasher mainpoint:Untilwereallyfaceslavery, we’renotgoingtogettothebottom ofthis

Iwantpeopletogototheroot,which isslavery,theoriginalsin,andwehave neverfullyfaceditandmadeitright. Peoplewilljumpupandsay,‘What areyoutalkingabout,wehadacivilwar aboutthis.’Wedid,andslaveryasa conceptwasdefeated,butitdidn’tend. Slaverycontinued itjust shape-shifted.

ThatiswhatIthinktothisdayweas anationstilldon’treallyconfront.We occasionallytalkaboutracism,and aftertheGeorgeFloydprotests,there hasbeenalotoftalkaboutraceand racism andweabsolutelyneedthat butyou’renevergoingtoreallyget tothecoreofituntilyouunderstand, recognize,acknowledgethatit’sslavery thatsitsatthebottomofthisandwe’ve neverreallymadeitright.

BelowisanexcerptfromMark Hertsgaard’s“BigRed’sMercy:The ShootingofDeborahCottonanda StoryofRaceinAmerica,”published May7byPegasusBooks.Hertsgaard isajournalistandexecutivedirector ofCoveringClimateNow.Hewas woundedduringtheshootingatthe 2013Mother’sDaysecondlinethat alsogrievouslyinjuredDeborah“Big Red”Cotton.

DEBORAHCOTTONHADA FAIRYTALECHILDHOODbutnotin agoodway.Longbeforeshebecame aracialjusticeactivist,longbefore shewasgunneddowninthebiggest massshootinginmodernNewOrleans history,shewaskidnapped her word asatoddlerandtakenaway fromhermother Sheinsteadgrew upwithaproverbialevilstepmother whobeatheralmostdaily.Andthere wasatwist:thisevilstepmotherwas asecretstepmother Thekidnapper washerfather.

Deb’sparentsdivorcedwhenshe wasayearold.Herfather,Hayes Cotton,andhermother,Carolee Reed,sharedcustodyoftheiryoung daughter,drivingherbackandforth betweentheirrespectiveresidencesin LosAngeles.Oneday,whilethelittle girlwaswithherfather,thetwoof themdisappeared.

“IwenttopickDebbieupforavisit, andtheyweren’tthere,”CaroleeReed saidyearslater.Thiswasinthedays beforecellphonesandinternet,when trackingdownamissingpersonwas noeasytask.“AllIhadwasHayes’s mother’sphonenumber,”Reed continued.“Icalled,butshewouldn’t help.Mydaughterwasgone.Ihadno ideawhere.IthoughtI’dneversee heragain.”

ItturnedoutthatHayesCottonhad takenlittleDebbietoTexas,where hehadgrownup Hehadremarried,reconnectingwithhiscollege sweetheart,awomannamedSandra Hayes,Sandra,andlittleDebbie settlednearDallas,whereHayes

PHOTO BY MICHAEL DEMOCKER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE.

workedintheaviationindustryasan engineer.Andsotheliesbegan HayesandSandrawerebothBlack, butlittleDebbiewasremarkably light-skinned.Nevertheless,they repeatedlytoldherthatSandrawas hermother.Butthelittlegirl hadquestions.

“Icouldn’tunderstandwhythere werenopicturesofherwithmewhen Iwasababy,”Debsaidyearslater “She’dsaythepicturesmusthave gottenlostwhenwemovedhouses. Thatdidn’tmakesensetome.”

Evenhardertounderstandwaswhy Sandraalwaysseemedsoangryat littleDebbie,andwhysheexpressed thatangersoviolently

“Doyouknowthatmovie,‘MommieDearest?’”Debasked.“Thatwas mylifewithmystepmother.Ifanythingwentwrongaroundthehouse, she’dbeatme.Iftherewasascratch onthefurniture,ifathreadwas missingfromherblouse,oranything wasoutofplace,shewouldbeatme forit.”Thebeatingsdidn’tstop“until Daddyfinallygothisheadoutofhis assanddivorcedher.ThatwaswhenI wastwelve.”

OnlythendidateenagedDeborah Cottonbegintolearnheractualfamilyhistory.Thefirstrevelationcame duringasummervacationwhenshe

andherfatherwerevisitinghisfamily inMexia,atinytownabout60miles southofDallas.Oneday,acasual questionfromHayes’ssisterIrmalet thecatoutofthebag.

“Irmawasastraightshooterwho wouldtellyouthetruth,”Debbie’s “sister-cousin”Le’Trese,who witnessedtheincident,laterrecalled “OnedaysheaskedDebbie,‘Areyou everintouchwithyourmom?’Debbie thoughtshewasaskingaboutSandra, and[Debbie]saidno,shewasn’t. Irmasaid,‘No,notSandra,yourreal mom.’Debbiesaid,‘Whatrealmom?’ Irmasaid,‘Oh.Uh,youbetterask yourgrandma.’”

Debbieracedacrosstheyard,flung openthedoor,andfoundhergrandmotherstandingatthekitchensink

“Whydidn’tyoutellmeaboutmy realmother?”Debbie angrilydemanded.

Thequestionstrucktheoldlady likeaphysicalblow.Grabbingthesink withbothhandstokeepfromfalling, shewailed,“ItoldHayestotellyou.I toldhim.”

“Suddenlyallthepiecesinthepuzzlefit,”theadultDebsaid.“That’s whymymothercouldnevershow mepicturesofherwithmeasababy Becauseshewasn’tmyrealmother.”

Onlyafterplentyoftherapydidanadult DeborahCottonsurmisetherestofthe story.“Whenmydadkidnappedmeand tookmetoTexas,heknewhecouldn’t raisemeonhisown,”shesaid.“He hadtowork.So,hefoundhiscollege sweetheartagain.ButIthinkshealways resentedmyfatherforleavingher behindinTexasandmarryinganother womanoutinCalifornia.Iwasliving proofofthatwoman,soshetookitout onme.”

DEBWASDETERMINEDtofindher realmother,evenasherfatherinsisted thathehadnoideahowtocontacther afteralltheseyears.WhenDebturned eighteenandcouldlegallydoasshe pleased,shetoldherfathershewas goingtoLosAngelestolookforher mother,whetherhelikeditornot.He triedtostopher,literallystandinginthe drivewaytoblockhercarfromleaving,

butDebmaneuveredaroundhimand headedwest.

UnderDeb’srelentlessquestioning,herfatherfinallyconfessedthat herbiologicalmotherwasWhite andnamedCarolee.Shewasalso Jewish InLosAngeles,afamilyfriend contactedareasynagoguesonDeb’s behalf Eventually,apossiblematch wasdiscovered,andthewomanin questionwasinvitedforavisit.

Sixteenyearshadpassedsince athree-year-oldDebbieCotton hadlastseenCaroleeReed Butthe physicalresemblancebetweenthe twowassostrongtheyknewinstantly thattheysharedblood.

“AsIsattheredoingmymakeup andgettingready,Isawinthemirror’s reflectionmymothercomingin thefrontdoor,andherfacelooked likemine,”Debsaidyearslater.“I rememberedawomanfromwhenI waslittlewhohadlonghairlikemy mom’s,butmyfathertoldmeshewas ababysitter Thenwhenwetalked, hervoicewaslikemine,too.”

DeborahCotton’sreconnection withherbiologicalmothercameata stageoflife thelateteens when individualsareseekingtheirownpath inlife Deb’sdeceit-ladenchildhood madethatsearchespeciallychallenging;shehadbeenwrongedinsuchan

intimatewayfromsuchayoungage. Afterlivingwithbothofherparents forthefirstthreeyearsofherlife, aperiodwhenthefoundationsof emotionalhealthareformed,shewas suddenlyrippedawayfromhermother Thatactofemotionalviolencewas compoundedbytheliesherfather andstepmothertoldtocoveritup Thenviolenceofthephysicalvariety followedasherstepmotherroutinely beatherforoffensesshedid notcommit

Somevictimsofinjusticerespond byinflictingitonothers;Deborah Cottonchoseadifferentpath In additiontoregularpsychotherapy, shebeganexploringtheJewishside ofheridentity.Herspiritualjourney attendingsynagogue,readingJewish texts,anddiscussingthemwith rabbis becameapermanentpartof herlife.

“There’saHebrewphrasethat Ifindcompelling,”shelatersaid. “TikkunOlam Itmeans,healthe world.Judaismteachesthatpartof ourtaskashumanbeingswho’ve beengiventhegiftoflifeistohealthe worldaroundus,andespeciallyto helpthedisadvantaged.AsaJew,itis notincumbentuponyoutocomplete thetask.Butitisincumbentuponyou todoyourpart.”

LindaUsdin,DJSoulSisterandDeborah Cotton,right,atSoulSister’s9th annualBirthdayJamin2015

PHOTO BY JOSH BRASTED / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Anotherturningpointinherlife’strajectorycamewhenfourwhiteLosAngelespoliceofficerswerecaughtonvideo brutallybeatingaBlackmotorist,Rodney King.Thevideoshowedthefourofficers draggingKingfrombehindthewheelof hiscar,hurlinghimtothepavement,and kickinghimoverandoverandoveruntil hisbodystoppedmoving Foreshadowingthecellphonevideos thatlaterwoulddocumentpolicebrutalityagainstGeorgeFloydandotherpeople ofcolor,thevideooftheRodneyKing beatingwasshownrepeatedlyonlocal, national,andinternationaltelevision.As withtheGeorgeFloydvideo,itsparked spiritedpublicdiscussionandcalls forreform.

Whenajuryof10Whites,oneLatino, andoneAsianneverthelessacquittedthe fourWhiteofficers,LosAngeleserupted inprotest.FiresandlootingscarredAfrican-Americanneighborhoodsaboveall. Anestimated53peoplediedand2,383 wereinjured.

Thereactionofherwhitecoworkers totheunresttriggeredwhatDeblater called“myracialawakening.”

Throughhersynagogue,shehad gottenajobasareceptionistatan investmentfirmoperatedbyOrthodoxJews.Thedayoftheverdict,she recalled,“Iwasseatedatmydeskout frontlikealwayswhenthesetwoladies inthebackshouted,‘They’reblowingup the10,’thefreewaythatrunsthrough downtownL.A.Suddenly,everyonein theofficecamerunninguptomydesk, hysterical,andstartedshoutingatme, ‘Whataretheygonnado?Whatarethey gonnado?’”

“Inthatmoment,Isuddenlyrealized, ‘Oh,I’mnotJewishanymore—I’mone ofthem,”Debcontinued.“Thesesweet Jewishladieswho’dwelcomedmeto sedersandtriedtosetmeupwiththeir nephews,theirrealfeelingswerecoming outnow.Intheireyes,IwasBlack, andIwouldalwaysbeBlack.Itwasa life-changingmoment.”

“Igrewupwithaconservativeview ofrace,”Debadded.“Myfatherused tosaystufflike,‘Blackpeopleshould stopblamingtheWhitemanandpull themselvesupbytheirbootstraps.’”But now,HayesCotton’sdaughterbeganto seethingsdifferently—andtochangeher lifeaccordingly.ShequitherscreenwritingclassesatUCLAandtookajobasa labororganizer,helpingwomenofcolor fightforbetterwages.Shegotadegree inBlackStudiesatSanFranciscoState University.Sheexploredfeminism.“Ina way,”shelatersaid,“thatRodneyKing experienceputmeonthepaththattook metoNewOrleansandthesocialjustice workI’vedoneeversince.”

DeborahCottonwithTBCBrassBandleaderEdward Jacksonin2013.TheTBCBrassBandwasperforminginthe samesecondlineparadeduringthedayoftheshooting. PHOTOBYPETER FOREST /THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

INNEWORLEANS,DeborahCotton’s activismfocusedonreformingthecity’s policedepartment,whichhadawell-de-

servedreputationforcorruption,racism, andbrutality.Underthepenname“Big RedCotton,”shewrotearticlesforlocal newsoutletscallingoutthemisdeeds ofpoliceofficersandtheirsuperiors. ShetestifiedatCityCouncilhearings, oncelambastingthesuperintendentof policeforshowingupatcrimescenesand recitingthearrestrecordsofdeadvictims forTVcameras.“Anarrestrecordisnota guiltyrecord,”Debpointedout,especiallyinacitywherepolicehadawell-documentedhistoryofraciallyprofilingyoung Blackmen

DebCotton’smosthigh-profile momentinNewOrleanscamewhenshe wasgravelywoundedinamassshooting thatmadeTVnewsaroundtheworld. Eerilyforsomeonewhoselifeexperiencewithmotherswassofraught,the shootingtookplaceonaMother’sDay afternoon.Blasphemously,thegunmen targetedasecondlineparade,aniconic ritualofAfrican-Americanculturethat datedbacktoslaverydaysandhelped birthjazz.Tragically,thetwogunmen whofelled20peoplewerenotKuKlux Klansmenortrigger-happycops;they,

likealmosteveryoneelseatthatparade, wereBlack.

DeborahCottonwasnotexpectedto livethroughthenight.Thebulletthat struckhershredvitalorgansasittore diagonallyacrossherabdomen.Trauma unitsurgeonsnicknamedthatareaofthe body“thesoulhole,”becausewounds thereusuallywerefatal

ButDeblivedlongenoughtodictatea statementthataclosefrienddelivered onherbehalftoahastilycalledCity Councilhearing.Asurveillancevideohad surfacedadayaftertheattackshowing ayoungBlackmanfiringahandguninto theparadecrowdatpointblankrangeas men,women,andchildrenfledinterror. Deb’sCityCouncilstatementimplored thepeopleofNewOrleanstostopand thinkbeforepassingjudgment.“Doyou knowwhatittakestobesodisconnected inyourheartthatyouwalkoutintoa gatheringofhundredsofpeoplewho lookjustlikeyouandbeginfiring?”she asked.AlludingtothebleakcircumstancesfacingmanyyoungBlackmeninher city—parentsabsentorimpoverished, abysmalschools,rampantgangandpoliceviolence,fewjobpossibilitiesbeyond

meniallaborordrugdealing—shesaid, “Theseyoungmenhavebeenseparated fromusbysomuchtrauma.”

InwhatbothDebandthepoliceinvestigatingtheshootingtermed“amiracle,” Debslowlyrecoveredenoughtoleave thehospitalandresumeasemblanceof normallife(thoughshewouldeventually undergomorethan30majorsurgeries) Hercallformercyandunderstanding forthegunmenforeshadowedtheBlack LivesMattermovement,whichsprang tolifefourmonthslater.ButDeborah Cotton’sversionofBlackLivesMatter camewithatwist.

ToDeb,Blacklivesmatteredeven ifaBlackpersonhaddonesomething reprehensible,likeshootingintoa peacefulcrowdatasecond-lineparade AndBlacklivesmatteredeventhen, shesaid,because“racismcankillBlack peopleevenwhenaBlackfingerpulls thetrigger.”Thegunmanseenfiring intothecrowdintheMother’sDayvideo “clearlymadehorriblechoicesthathave ruinedhislife,”sheadded.“Buthedidn’t dothatinavacuum.Thiscityandthis countrycreatedthatvacuum.”

Chat Chat Cat

WITH PRETTY PRETTY PRINCESS MEOW MEOW JAWSY JAWS

Dear Pretty Pretty Princess Meow Meow Jawsy Jaws,

I have recently heard terrifying stories of an evil gnome witch named Kristi who stalks the northern wastelands, terrorizing animals and humans alike, striking innocents down on a whim. While I wouldn’t normally concern myself with such things, WBRARK TV reported this White Walker recently visited the human governor’s cabinet. And given his abject cruelty to his own kind, I can’t help but worry we might see the sort of unprovoked attacks upon petkind here as they’ve had in the north.

[NAME REDACTED DUE TO FEARS OF WHITE WALKER RETRIBUTION]

My Loyal and True Subjects,

IT IS WITH A HEAVY HEART thatWe reporttherumorsofadeathdealingWhiteWalker aretrue andthatshehasmadeanappearance hereinLouisiana.Ourthoughtsandprayersgoout tothepetizensoftheNorthWasteRealm,who nownotonlyliveinabland,unseasonedhellscape buthavetocontendwiththethreatofsudden deatharoundeverycorner

NotsincetheGreatRomneyCarControversy of2012(RIPSeamus)hasournationofpetsbeen moreunnerved Afterall,manyofbipeds’leaders revelintryingtooneupeachotherinhowcruelto oneanothertheycanbe,sothesuddenattackon petdomisjustifiablyconcerning.

Thegoodnewsforusisthatthehumangovernor (whodespitebeingcalledClownfishisinnoway amemberofthatmajesticanddeliciousaquatic clan)appearstoofocusedonexactinghiscruelty uponotherhumanstogiveuspetsmuchconsideration unlessyou’readuckorgator,inwhichcase youshouldprobablygointowitnesspawtection. However,outofanabundanceofcautionand concern,hereareafewthingstokeepinminduntil thethreatoftheWhiteWalkershaspassed

• Mostimportantly,andWecannotstressthis enough,doNOT,underanycircumstances, enteranygravelpitswithahuman,ESPECIALLYanunhingedonewithaboomstick. Ourcaninefriendsneedtobeextravigilant, particularlysincetheyarealwaysfallingfor humanity’soldesttrick,the“Heybuddy, let’sgoforaridetothevet!There’llbelotsof treats!”canard

• Ifyou’readogandyouandyourhumanare havingtroublegettingalong,hireatrainer. About90%oftheproblemsmostdogs havewiththeirbipedsstemfromasimple lackoftraining Whetherit’sproperwalking techniques,howtotalktoyouorevenbehavioralissuesthatforceyoutochewuptheir furniture,itcanalmostalwaysbeaddressed throughtraining.

• Therearetonsoftrainingservicesintown, includingfromtheLouisianaASPCA,the TopDogTrainingAcademyandUpward Dog,andmostprovideindividualorgroup classes,aswellastargetedtrainingfor specificissuesyoumighthavewith yourhuman.

• Unfortunately,sometimeshumanscanbe eitheruntrainableorsimplysuchtrashthat youcan’tkeepthemanymore.Sobeforeyour humanchoosesviolence,gethelp!Thereare anumberofservicesaroundtownwhichwill takeyouinandhelpyoufindanewhome Justbemindfultolookforhumanswho won’tchooseviolencethemselves what thehumanscall“nokillshelters” when choosingarefuge,eitherforyourselforfor apetyouknow

• Finally,ifyouseeapetindanger,haveyour humancalltheappropriatebipedauthorities. Werealizenoneofuswanttogetinvolvedin theaffairsofothersorfinditunfathomable thatahumanwouldwanttodoharmupon oneoftheGoddess’favoredcreatures. Butthesadfactisintheseuncertaintimes, ifyouseesomething,makeyourhuman saysomething.

Asmostofyouknow,Wewerebornintoexile. ButthehumansatZeus’Rescuesnotonlytook UsinbutmarshalledtheirforcestorestoreUsto Ourthrone.Theyandotherhumanswhohave dedicatedtheirlivestothebettermentofpetdom areatruecredittotheirspecies.

BewaretheWhite WalkeroftheNorth.

PHOTO BY ALEX BRANDON / THE AP

Critters and Sitters

TIPS FOR LEAVING TOWN WITHOUT YOUR FLUFFY FRIEND

BY SARAH RAVITS

Nomatterhowemotionallyattachedyouareto yourpet,thereislikelygoingtobeatimewhen you’regoingtobeapartovernight,whetherit’s foravacation,aworktriporsomeotherevent.

Fortunately,thereareplentyofpet-sittingbusinessesandotheroptionsforownerslookingfor petcare.Thereareanincreasingnumberofapps andservicesoutthere,likeRover,inaddition topetboardingplacesacrosstown,likeCanine Connection,CampBowWowandDogtopia.

Andofcourse,youcanhireareliablefriendor thekiddownthestreet(andmaybetheirtrusted parent)orchooseaspecializedagencythatcan havesomeonetogotoyourhome.

Oneofthemostimportantthingsisforyouand yourpetaliketohavepeaceofmindwhile you’reaway

Whiledogsaregenerallymoreamenableto boardingorstayingoutsidetheirhome,catsgenerallydonotliketobebroughttoanewlocation.

“Catscanbeespeciallypickyaboutbeing boarded,”saysBeckyLivaudais,co-founderof

CrescentCityCatSitters.“Theygenerallywant tostayintheirownhomes.”

WhenLivaudaishearsfromanewclient,oneof thefirstordersofbusinessistopayavisittothe hometogettoknowthecat.

That’sagoodideaforanytypeofpet,soboth theownerandthesitterhaveabetterideaof whattheyaregettingintoandsothesitter canfamiliarizethemselveswiththenew surroundings

“Takingthattimehelpsuslearnandgetsusto interactwiththecat,”shesays

Petownerswhoarebringingtheirpetstosomeone’shouseshouldgivethecritterachanceto sniffouttheirnew,temporarysurroundings beforehand.

Theirbehaviorsmaybedifferentinanunfamiliar setting,sothatletsthesitterknowwhat toexpect

Ifthepetisaccustomedtousingacrate,itcould beusefultobringitwiththepettoofferasense offamiliarityinadifferentspace.

Unfortunatelyforeverypetowneroutthere, animalscannotsendtextmessagesorphotos, whichiswhyit’snicetohearfromapet-sitter aboutwhatthefurchildhasbeenupto

Livaudaissaysit’sexpectedforsittersto sendphotographicproof.Shesendsafull reporttothepetowneraftereveryvisit,which includespictures

“Peoplelovetoseepicturesoftheirpetswhen theyaren’thome,”shesays “Ithelpsgivethem peaceofmind,like,thebaby’scuddlingwiththe sitterandgettingherpatiotime itletsthem know[thepets]arecomfortable.”

Petsittersandownersshouldalsofigureouthow muchmaintenancethepetisgoingtoneed.For cats,Livaudaissaysshepreferstovisitdaily,at leastfor15minutes.

“That’smyminimum,”shesays.“Itdependson thecat,butsomeneedtwice-dailyvisits,sometimeswedo30minutes,someneedanhour.”

Shesaysthatsheisespeciallymindfulabout howmuchsocialtimethepetsneed,aspetsand ownershavebecomeincreasinglyemotionallyattachedinrecentyears.Thepandemicrestrictions of2020stillhavealingeringeffect,astheypaved thewayforownerstospendmoretimeathome withtheirpets

“SinceCovid,clientswhomaybeusedtobook usfor15minutesnowwant30minutes,because theirpetisusedtothemworkingfromhome,” Livaudaissays

PHOTO BY CAVAN IMAGES / GETTY

PHOTO BY RAPHAEL ANGELI / GETTY

CHECKLIST FOR PET OWNERS

• Figure out when you’re going to be out of town and give your pet sitter as much of a head’s up as you can.

• Host a meet and greet to get the pet comfortable with the sitter.

• Make sure the sitter is aware of any medical conditions, quirks or special interests of the pet.

• Let the sitter know about food: Does the pet need to be alone while eating? Do they drink out of a fountain or a bowl? Do they “free feed” or get a specific amount? Do they prefer a specific bowl? These are all things to consider.

• Make sure to leave instructions about any medication your pet needs.

• Supply the sitter with extra cleaner, garbage bags and instructions for things that could potentially become soiled, like furniture or rugs, in case the pet has an accident.

• Leave contact information for the vet.

• For cats, leave extra kitty litter.

• Leave extra treats and / or toys for the pet.

• Have an emergency contact.

• Work out financial compensation in advance.

• Have a potential evacuation plan for your pet with someone you trust aside from the pet sitter, who often can’t accommodate the pet on the road long-term. That can be a friend, neighbor or family member who has agreed in advance to pick up the pet and care for them while staying out of the storm’s path.

PETWANTS GARDEN DISTRICT

COOKIE

Main Hospital (24-hour emergency) •101 Metairie Road •504-835-4266 Kenner •4041 Williams Blvd. •504-443-4400

Lakeview •734 AllenToussaint Boulevard•504-830-4080

West Esplanade •5040 WEsplanade Ave.,Metairie•504-455-2345 Freret •4525FreretSt. •504-830-4095

Marigny •1009 ElysianFieldsAve.•504-372-2950

SATSUMA ANDSAZERAC PhotobyJacob Veith

Boudreaux

Hryniewich

Toys Toys Treats&

Magazine St.; 504-269-8711; petceteranola.com).

m Pet Wants (2039 St , 504-982-2779;

petwantsgardendistrict.com).

$5.95from Southern Paws (633 Toulouse St., 504-510-5324;shopsouthernpaws.com)

Clara, theresilientpup foundshotinShreveport, hasdefied theodds. Afterreceiving top-notch care at Viking Clinic, South Paws,and East Riverside, sheisnow thriving.Special thanks go to Brittany andSabrina,who have souped upher “hot wheels” andoccasionallytakeher home so that Claracan be herselfand can have more freedom to roam andmeet otherpeopleand pups. The community’s support hasbeen overwhelming,but Claraisstill looking forher foreverhome. Thisloving, energetic girl is ready forafamily to callher own. We are confidentthatone day, Clara will walk on allfours!

If youare interested in fostering or adopting Clara or anyof these pups,please email midcitymutt@gmail.com or message

City Mutt Mama’s on Facebook.

BEN

MARILYN MAYBEL

MILLER

CUPCAKE

GINGER

DUDLEY

LETTIE WEEZER ROCK BIRD MIMI

BIGGS

DEUCE JOJO

EAT+DRINK

Origenstory

THEWAYCHEFJULIOMACHADOSEES IT,VENEZUELANCUISINEhasmuchin commonwiththeNewOrleanstable “Ourfoodcombinesingredients usedbyIndigenouspeople,then theSpanishbroughttheirinfluence tomycountry,alsotheAfrican slaves,”Machadosays.“Wealsohave Caribbeaninfluences,whichyoualso seehereinNewOrleans.”

Althoughthechef’slocalculinary journeystartedinMexicanrestaurants,hispassionishisculinaryroots Heissharinghisgrandmother’sstyle ofhomecookingwithhisguests “Itwasalittlescarytoput ‘VenezuelanBistro’onthesign,”he says.“Ididn’tknowifpeoplewould understandthefoodrightaway.But openingthisplacewassomethingI hadtodo,andwealreadyhavesome regularsfromtheneighborhood.”

MachadoopenedOrigenVenezuelan BistroinBywateronApril14

Thediningroomwasbusyon arecentafternoon,withguests enjoyingamixofbrunchandsavory dishesfromtheall-daymenu.The settingradiateshomespuncharm, withdesigntoucheslikebargeboard, distressedwalls,abeadboardceiling andsoftlighting.There’sroomfor 28dinersatascatteringoftables, includinghightops,allsetwith gleamingstoneware.Outback, thereispatioseatingfor16,withan outdoorgrillinthecornerwherethe chefwillbarbecue.Thebaroffers cocktails,wineandbeer,andthereis adaily3-6p.m.happyhour

Thechef/ownerhastweakedthe menuabitsinceopening,clarifying someofthedishestomakethemmore approachabletothosenewtohiscountry’scuisine.Whatiscalledcazuelas,or casseroles,inhiscountryareactually minibrunchbowlsmeanttomixand matchflavors.Reinapepeada—just oneofthemenu’sglutenfreeoptions— featuresarepas,orflatcornmealcakes, toppedwithshreddedchickendressed inavocadomayonnaise.Shredded beef,chorizo,baconandeggs,and cheeseandcauliflowerareafewmore brunchbowloptions.

Frenchtoastshakes handswithgrilledcheese forthecachapa,agriddled sweetcornpancakepaired withadiscofsoftand stringycheese,servedwith twoeggsandblackbeans ontheside.Tequeños, apopularVenezuelan snackandstreetfood,are cheese-stuffedbreadstickswithacrunchy exteriorthatgiveswayto anoozy,meltyfilling.It’sa kissingcousintomozzarellasticksbutbaked insteadoffried.

The“revivethesoul”cevichehasasavorymixofbaby squid,mussels,shrimpand bayscallopsmarinatedin applecidervinegar,tomato sauce,onions,garlic,cayenneandcilantro

Grilledpicanha,also calledacoulotteorsirloin cap,isasignaturesteak servedthroughoutSouth America.AtOrigen, itcomeswithalinkof chorizo,freshcutyucafries,potatoes andsalad.Thereisanoutstanding grilledsteaksandwichandasada negro,ahousespecialtytypically servedonholidaymenusinCaracas. Aneyeofroundroastbeefissimmeredinsugarcanesaucelacedwith vinegaruntilit’sdarkandcaramelized,andservedwithriceandfried plantainsontheside

FORK +CENTER

Emaildining@gambitweekly.com

Talentpoolparty

ACOUPLEOFPOPULARNEWORLEANS POP-UPSandTurningTableswillopen theStaycationpop-upatMargaret PlacefromMemorialDayweekend toLaborDay.TherewillbeSpanishinspiredfood,icecream,drinks, entertainmentand“poolpartyvibes,” saysorganizerJillianDuran MargaretPlaceisaboutiquehotel andeventspaceintheLowerGarden District.There’sacocktail-sizedpool inthecourtyard,andit’llbeopento Staycationpatrons.Admissionisfree. TheStaycationideacomesfrom Duran,whomakescreativeicecream flavorsviaRahmHaus,andAdam Mayer,founderofthepop-upsTxow TxowpintxosandLatkeDaddy.They broughtonToureFolkesandTurning Tablestohandlethebar.

Thepop-upwillbeopenThursdays throughSundaysfromnoontoat least10p.m.,andlaterdepending onthecrowd,Duransays.Theyalso expecttohaveaserviceindustry nightonMondays

Machadowantedtooffervegetariansinterestingflavorsaswell,like thegrilledcauliflowersteakserved withblackbeansandsalad.Tostones deplayafeaturesthickslicesoftwice friedplantainstoppedwithslaw, Cotijacheeseandadrizzleofrosy Creolesauce.

“ThesearethedishesIgrewup with,”Machadosays.“Mygrandma hadmebringingherachickenfrom thehenhousewhenIwas6.Shegrew corn,beans,everythingwasfresh.My cheffriendsalwayssaymygrandmotheristhebestcook.”

Hisgrandmotherlivesherenow, alongwithhisbrotherandcousins. “Thisisafamilybusiness.”hesays. “Weallworktogether.”

Althoughhewenttoculinary schoolinCaracasbeforecomingto NewOrleans,Machadoranaculinary consultingbusinessinhishome countryandwashiredbycompaniesthroughoutSouthAmericaand Europeforproductdevelopment “Iwasneverachefthere,”hesays. “Thatjobisverydifferentfrom runningarestaurant.ButI’mlearning everyday,andmyteamhasalotof experience.Theyhelpme.”

“IhadtofollowwhatIfeelpassionateabout,”saysthechef.“Ifeel 100%comfortableinmykitchen. Thisismyroots.Iwanttoshare mystyleofVenezuelanfoodwith NewOrleans.”

ChefsJillianDuranandAdamMayer areopeningthesummerpop-up StaycationatMargaretPlace.

PHOTOPROVIDEDBYJILLIAN

Foodservicewillincludealightmenu withthingslikehamsandwiches,baked goodsandgrab-and-goitemsavailable fromnoonto4p.m.Afullkitchenmenu willbeofferedfrom4-10p.m.Itwill featuresalads,chorizosmashburger sandwichesandmore.Therealsowill beafewticketedspecialdinnersover thesummer.

RahmHauspreviouslyoccupieda spaceinsidethenearbyCourtyard Brewery,whereitsoldpintsandscoops. AtStaycation,Duranwillofferrotating flavors,manyfromitspastfavorites includingCookieMonsterandBlackand Gold.She’llfocusonnostalgicsummer flavors,likecreamsicleandstrawberry

DURAN

JulioMachadoopensVenezuelanrestaurantinBywater byBethD’Addono |

BrothersJulioandCarlos MachadoatOrigen restaurantonSt.ClaudeAve. PHOTOBYCHERYLGERBER

shortcake,aswellascreativeflavors likeThaiteaOreoicecream.She’llalso bringbackherSundaySundaespecial. RahmHausalsowilloffericecream fordogs.ItsDoggieDoughicecream flavorschange,butthey’remadewithoutsugarordairy,usingingredients safefordogs,likeeggs,oats,coconut andapples.

ThebarwillbehandledbyTurning Tables,whichprovidestraining andmentorshiptopeopleofcolor inthebarindustry.Themenuwill includecocktails,frozendrinks, spritzes,non-alcoholicdrinksand THCbeverages.Therealsowillbe coldbrewcoffee.

DuranandMayerexpecttohave entertainmentsomenights,from ambientsoundscapestoDJsets,as wellasmovienightsandlivemusic.

Therealsowillbesomedaytime programsordesignatedgrouphangouttimes.

Formoreinformation,see@staycation_nolaonInstagram —WillCoviello

Resettingthebar

WITHTHECOMPLETIONOFTHEDAZE BETWEENMUSICFESTIVALinthefirst weekofMay,theFaubourgBrewery finallyclosed.Lastweek,Happy RaptorDistillingannounceditwill shutteronMay17

Thatclosestwotaproomstolocal customers,buttherealsoarenewbars openingasthelocalbarscenecontinuestochange.

FaubourgBrewerystartedto undergochangeslastsummer.New OrleansSaintsandPelicansowners TomandGayleBensonboughtthe formerDixieBreweryin2017and builtthenewbreweryinNewOrleans East.In2022,GayleBensonmerged thecompanywithMadeBytheWater, whichownedbreweriesinFloridaand theCarolinas.Theplanwastomake thelocalfacilitytheprimarylocation forproducingbeers,butinNovember 2023,theyceasedbrewingatthesite. Themusicfestivalwasthefinalevent atthebrewery’staproomandoutdoor eventspace.

HappyRaptorisknownforitslineof 504Rums,includingseveralflavored rums,andcocktailmixers.Itopened itsdistilleryandtastingroomon CarondeletStreetinFebruary2020 Amonthlater,theCovidpandemic forcedbarstoclose,andHappyRaptor madebatchedcocktailsandhand sanitizerinadditiontoitsrums.

Duringthepandemic,itwasawarded agrantunderaprogramofthe AmericanRescuePlanActof2021, butdidn’treceivethemoneybefore fundingwascutoff,saidco-founder MeaganMoreland-Taliancichina statementannouncingtheclosure.

Subsequentsetbacks,including HurricaneIda,provedtobetoomuch toovercome.Thetastingroomwillbe openforlimitedhoursthroughMay17.

TheLibrary,agastropubroom upstairsattheItalianPielocationat 3629PrytaniaSt.nearTouroInfirmary, beganasoftopeninginearlyAprilafter beingshutteredsincethepandemic.It hasreopenedwiththeupstairsbarand foodspecials,suchascrawfishboils, onsomenightswhilethedownstairs restaurantisundergoingrenovations. AfullreopeningisexpectedinMay.

RyanGuilloryisanewpartneratthe businessandisbehindamakeover inconceptandofferings.Beforethe pandemic,thebarhadaliterarytheme withdrinksnamedafterwritersand

PHOTOPROVIDEDBYTHE LIBRARY

TheLibraryservesclassic cocktailsinUptown.

books.Now,theLibraryisa“cocktail repository”thatfocusesonclassic drinksandimprovedbartechnology

“I’mtheheadlibrarian,”says Guillory,whohasbeenabarmanager attheMapleLeafBarforyearsand organizesitsparticipationinevents likeOakStreetPo-BoyFestivaland theKreweofO.A.K.’sMidsummer MardiGras.

Guilloryisinspiredbythebarchemistrybeingpioneeredbypeoplelike Newyorkspiritsindustryinnovator DavidArnold,whowasbehindthe high-endcocktailbarBooker&Dax andnowrunsabarequipmentcompanyofthesamename.

AtTheLibrary,Guilloryismaking traditionalNewOrleansRamosGin Fizzes,completewithgin,lemonjuice, orangeflowerwater,creamandegg white,butinsteadofhavingbartenders spendalotoftimehand-shakingthe mixture,he’susingaculinaryiSiwhippertomaketheminminutes.

Therealsoaremanyinfusedliquors, suchasjalapeno-infusedtequila.Many spiritsaremilk-washed,aprocessthat clarifiesaspiritandgivesitabetter mouthfeel,Guillorysays.He’salso developedhisownwaytocarbonate drinks,suchasarecentmintjulep specialandapaloma.Butthepointis

WANGECHI MUTU INTERTWINED

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Your dreamoflivingonthe wateriscloserthan youimagine. Fish from your backyard or in Lake Salvador,just20minutes away by boat. Allwhile being an easy15minutedrive from downtown NewOrleans.Lotsinour private, Caribbean influencedcommunity startatjust$75k.

Owner financing is availablewithjust5%down. Contact us formoredetails.

Wangechi Mutu, Lizard Love, 2006.Mixed media, ink, spraypaint,and collageonMylar 28 1⁄4 ×24 1⁄4 in.framed. Courtesy theartist, GladstoneGallery,and Victoria Miro Gallery.

nottricks,likethemoleculargastronomyculinarytrend,hesays.“It’sgood cocktailsdoneright,”hesays. Somenewbarshaveopenedin recentmonths,includingNightbloom TheownersofBacchanalWine openedthebarat3100St.Claude Ave.,acornerspotoppositeGalaxie TacosandtheSaturnBar.Italsois focusingonclassiccocktails,suchas oldfashionedsandNegronis.It’sopen dailyfrom5p.m.until.

InMid-City,TheCauseandtheCure, orC&C,openedat2540BanksSt., inthespaceformerlyoccupiedby Fharmacy,whichwasknownforits burgers.Thenewspothasasmallmenu includingsmashburgers,Korean-style hotdogsandacheesybeefsandwich. Thebaroffersdraftbeersfrom Abita,UrbanSouthBreweryand GnarlyBarley,bottledbeers,hard seltzersandamenuofhousecocktails.There’sLavenderLemonade madewithginorvodka,andthe St.Peter’sPunchisaversionofa hurricanethatreferencesitssisterbar, HighGrace,intheFrenchQuarter C&Chasoutdoorseatingonaback patio.ThebarisopenWednesday throughSunday,andthekitchenis openfrom11a.m.to11p.m.Thebar offersa20%discountondrinksto hospitalstaffandserviceindustry workers.—WillCoviello

Meat-n-Stuff

ATAMEAT-N-THREE,THEFORMAT ISSPELLEDOUTINTHENAME,and thestyleoffoodisfamiliarthrough tradition.Butgiventhenamesbehind anewonecomingsoontotheUptown neighborhoodneartheuniversities, youknowitwillbeabitdifferent HotStuffissettoopenintheweeks aheadat7507MapleSt.It’sthelatest siblingforTurkeyandtheWolf,the IrishChannelrestaurantknownforits creativesandwiches HotStuffistakingshapeinthe spacethatwaspreviouslyFavoriDeli, whichclosedin2022. Thecenterofthenewrestaurantis alongsteamtablethatwillbestocked withadailyrotationofdishes,ready toserve.Dinerscanscootatrayalong thelineandpickamaindish(meator otherwise)andthreesides.

ThisiswhatLouisianacallsaplate lunch,thoughit’sameat-n-threein Alabama,andthat’swhereHotStuff chefandpartnerNateBarfieldgrew up.ThesamegoesinVirginia,home stateofMasonHereford,whowith hiswifeLaurenAgudocreatedTurkey andtheWolfin2016

Barfieldhascookedtherealmost fromthebeginning(hejoinedthestaff fourdaysafteritopened).He’sbringing

someTurkeyandtheWolfsensibility toHotStuff.He’snotouttoreinvent themeat-n-three,butHotStuffisnot goingstrictlytraditionaleither.

“TurkeyandtheWolftaughtme youcouldlookatfoodwithadifferent lens,”Barfieldsays.

HotStuffisdesignedforquickserviceandaimeddirectlyatlunch,with openinghoursof11a.m.to5p.m Breakfastornighttimeserviceare possibilitiesinthefuture,butthere aren’timmediateplansalongthose linesnow

Forinstance,thehamburgersteak willbehamburgersteakaupoivre, withFrenchpeppercornsauce.The greenbeansmightgetadoseofmiso, andgarlicchilecrispwillfinishthe roastedcabbagewedges

Friedchickenissettobeamainstay, fromarecipeBarfieldandHereford andtheircohortsdevelopedwitha marinadeofbuttermilkandhotsauce. Redbeansandricewillnaturallybeon thelineonMondays

“ThisisacombinationofthewayI grewup,eatingbackhomeandliving inNewOrleans,experiencingplate lunchesandfishfries,”Barfieldsays.

Thecounterwheredinerspaywill doubleasabar,withauniquelyDIy approach.Patronscanorderaspirit andthentakeitovertothesoftdrink fountaintofixtheirownmixeddrink.

The30-seatdiningroomleadstoa patio,coveredwithatinroofbutalso deckedoutwithneon.

FollowingthestylesetbyTurkey andtheWolf,therearealotoffun detailsworkedintotherestaurant

TheDaleEarnhardtNo.3logo makesnumerousappearancesaround theroom,riffingonthethreeofmeatn-three.Vintagepostersandnostalgic toysfrom’90syoutharealloverthe space,withsomeembeddedina countertop.Eventherestroomsarea gas(butIwon’tspoilthesurprise).

HotStuffwillbethethirdsibling restaurantforTurkeyandTheWolf, afterthebreakfastspotMolly’sRise andShineandthe’80stimecapsule HungryEyes,whichsplitsthedifferencebetweenbarandrestaurant.

Allwereconceivedforthesame reason,withpartnerswhocameup throughtheearlierrestaurants.

“Whenweseepeopleonstaffwho arereadytoopentheirownplace, wewanttopartnerwiththemtodo somethingnew,”Herefordsays.

KateMirante,operationsdirector fortheotherrestaurants,willbe generalmanageratHotStuffatits opening.—IanMcNulty/ TheTimes-Picayune

MarlonGreen

Chef

byWillCoviello

AFTERNEARLYTWODECADESINTHE OILANDGASINDUSTRY,MarlonGreen lefttostarthispop-upBarbekyu, whichcombinesFilipinoandBlack Southerncooking.Hebringsthe pop-uptoSecondLineBrewingon manySundays,aswellasthenew NightBloomandotherspots.He’ll beatSecondLineonMay12and26 OnMonday,May20,he’llcookat MisterMao’sbarbecueseries.See @barbekyu_nolaonInstagramfor moreinformationonthepop-upor mistermaonola.comforreservations

Howdidyouget interestedincooking?

MARLONGREEN: It’sbeenalong timeintheworks.Icameoutoftheoil andgasindustry.TheculinarybackgroundIgrewupiniswhatinfluenced thiswholething.Igrewupinrestaurants.Therewasafamilyrestaurant thatwasownedbyfriendsofthefamily,Jake’sSeafood&Restaurant.It’s anItalian-Creoleseafoodrestaurant, likeMandina’s.It’sbeeninMarrerofor 35years.Itwasalmostlikedaycare.All thekidsweremycousins.Wegrewup inthere.Wewerestandingonchairsin thekitchengrindingupday-oldFrench breadforbreadpudding.

Iwantedpeopletotastethefood fromouruniqueupbringing.Mymom wasachef,andmydadwasfromcountryMississippi.TherewasthisFilipinoBlackmixture.Soweateredbeansand ricewithadobo,andwedidn’tknow thatwasdifferent.Itwasn’tuntilwegot olderthatwerealizedthatisn’tathing Thewholebarbecueconcept: Growingup,almosteverySunday, wewouldhavewhatwecalledskinny steaks.Thintopsirlointhatmymom putinaFilipinomarinade,andweate itwithwhitericeandsaladwithItalian dressing.Wegrilledhotdogsthatwere putinthemarinadetoo.Myparents wouldsay,“We’rehavingbarbecue today,”sothat’swhatIthought barbecuewas.Atacertainage,Iwent somewhereandtheyhadribsslathered withallthisbarbecuesauce,andIwas likeIdon’tlikethis.ButthenIgrewto lovethat.

Ihaven’tputsteakoutthereyet,butI wanttobecausethat’swhatdroveme: myBlacksidebeingfromMississippi andtheamazementofwhenmymom putoutFilipinofood.ForThanksgiving, we’dhavethisbigsmorgasbordofall thesedifferentcuisines.Iwantedto sharesomeofthatwithpeople.

Whatwasyour firstpop-up?

G: Myfirstpop-upwasatMusicBox Village.ThecoordinatorknewFilipino food.Thefirstonewasabrassbrunch Ithoughtpeoplewerecomingtohear music,buttheywerecomingtoeat brunch.Somefolkswithmehadno restaurantexperience,soitwasme andmymombackthere.

TheexperienceatJake’sprepared me.Itwashighvolume.Itwaslike LentenFridaycrazy,orjustanyFriday wascrazy.Wewerepreppingallthe time.Therewasn’taslowday.Wehad all-you-can-eatcatfishonTuesdays, andthewholeWestBankwouldcome Itreallypreparedme Iwasreadytohandlethingswhen Igotintopop-ups.Headdownand readyfortherush.

ButwebroughtFilipino-Creole food.Wedidchickenandwaffleswith Filipino-stylechicken.Wedidshrimp andgritsintheCreolestyle.Wedid chickenandpork(adobo)sincealotof peopletheredidn’teatpork

WithBarbekyu,Ihavepancit,skewers,lumpiawithourmango-habanero-pineapplesauce,andcucumber salad.youcouldhavetwoskewersand wehadallthedifferentsides.Wehave chickenadobodirtyrice.

MyregularspotsnowareSecond LineBrewingmostSundays,butin springwe’vebeenalternatingwith aboiledcrawfishpop-up.We’re goingtobeatNightBloom,thenew cocktailbar.IamatBrieuxCarresome Saturdays.IhavebeenatEcologyand Parleaux(BeerLab).

Mymenuvaries.AtSecondLine, it’ssuchalargecrowd.Wehavelike 10itemsonthemenu.Ihavebeen

WINE OF TH E WEEK

incorporatingoursmokedbarbecue SoImightdobrisketoneweekendand ribsthenextweekend. Abigsellerthatstaysonthemenu areporkadoboboudinballs.That catcheseveryone’sattention.We servethatwithgarlicaioli.Wedopork andshrimpinthelumpia,withthe carrotsandvegetablesandseasonings, andthatcomeswiththemango-habanero-pineapplesauce.Wedoporkand chickenadobo,butwedon’tusually havethembothatthatsametime SometimesIdotocinoskewers. TocinoisatraditionalFilipinobreakfast.It’scutupporkshoulderthathas asweetandsavorycure.SoIputiton skewersandchar-grilledit.ToincorporatetheSouthernsmokeaspect,I startedmakingtocinoribsandsmoking them.Iservethatwitheggsandrice Ilearnedeverythingfrommymom. Mymomcomesandhelpsme.It’s almostlikeIambackintraining.

Whatareyou doingatMisterMao?

G: We’regoingtobepartofthe barbecueseries.We’regoingtodo theskewersandporkadoboboudin balls.We’regoingtodosomething calledchickeninasal.It’smarinated chickentheFilipinoway.We’regoing toserveitwithredbeansandriceand potatosalad.

Tomixthingsup,withtheskewers, we’regoingtoserveitwithatchara, whichispickledpapayasalad.With theboudinballs,we’llservepickled onionsandgarlicaioliandmaybesome chickenadobogravy.

Relax Riesling

RELAX Riesling is slightlydry with a wonderfulfruity bouquetand intense flavors of apples and peaches with just a hint of citrus. It pairs perfectlywith avariety of foods,fromgrilled seafood and poultry to spicysouthern dishes and freshsalads.

DISTRIBUTED BY

PHOTOPROVIDEDBY MARLON GREEN

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OuttoEatisanindexofGambitcontractadvertisers.Unlessnoted,addressesareforNewOrleans andallacceptcreditcards.Updates:Email willc@gambitweekly.comorcall(504)483-3106

AngeloBrocato’s 214N.CarrolltonAve., (504)486-1465;angelobrocatoicecream. com—Thissweetshopservesitsowngelato, spumoni,Italianice,cannolis,biscotti,fig cookies,tiramisu,macaroonsandmore. LunchanddinnerTue.-Sun $

Annunciation—1016AnnunciationSt.,(504) 568-0245;annunciationrestaurant.com GulfDrumyvonneisservedwithbrown buttersaucewithmushroomsandartichoke hearts.Reservationsrecommended.Dinner Thu.-Mon.$$$

Bamboula’s 514FrenchmenSt.;bamboulasmusic.com—Thelivemusicvenue’s kitchenoffersamenuoftraditionaland creativeCreoledishes,suchasCreolecrawfishcrepeswithgoatcheeseandchardonnay sauce.Reservationsaccepted.Lunch,dinner andlate-nightdaily $$

TheBlueCrabRestaurantandOyster Bar—118HarborViewCourt,Slidell,(985) 315-7001;7900LakeshoreDrive,(504) 284-2898;thebluecrabnola.com Basin barbecueshrimpareservedovercheesegrits withacheesebiscuit.Outdoorseatingavailable.Noreservations.Lakeview:Lunchand dinnerTue.-Sun.Slidell:LunchWed.-Fri., dinnerWed.-Sun.,brunchSat.-Sun $$

Broussard’s—819ContiSt.,(504)581-3866; broussards.com Rainbowtroutamandine isservedwithtassoandcornmacquechoux andCreolemeunieresauce.Reservations recommended.Outdoorseatingavailable. DinnerWed.-Sat.,brunchSun.$$$ CafeNormandie—HigginsHotel,480 AndrewHigginsBlvd.,(504)528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining—Themenu combinesclassicFrenchdishesandLouisiana itemslikecrabbeignetswithherbaioli.No reservations.Breakfastandlunchdaily.$$ TheCommissary—634OrangeSt.,(504) 274-1850;thecommissarynola.com—A smokedturkeysandwichisservedwith bacon,tomatojam,herbedcreamcheese, arugulaandherbvinaigretteonhoneyoat bread.Noreservations.Outdoorseating available.LunchTue.-Sat.$$ Curio—301RoyalSt.,(504)717-4198;curionola.com—ThecreativeCreolemenuincludes blackenedGulfshrimpservedwithchicken andandouillejambalaya.Reservations accepted.Lunchanddinnerdaily.$$ Dahla—611O’KeefeAve.,(504)766-6602; dahlarestaurant.com—Themenuincludes popularThaidisheslikepadthai,drunken noodles,curriesandfriedrice.Crispyskinned duckbasilispreparedwithvegetablesand Thaibasil.Deliveryavailable.Reservations accepted.LunchanddinnerMon.-Sat $$ DesireOysterBar—RoyalSonestaNew Orleans,300BourbonSt.,(504)586-0300; sonesta.com/desireoysterbar—Amenu fullofGulfseafoodincludeschar-grilled oysterstoppedwithParmesanandherbs Reservationsrecommended.Breakfast, lunchanddinnerdaily.$$ DickieBrennan’sBourbonHouse—144 BourbonSt.,(504)522-0111;bourbonhouse. com—There’saseafoodrawbaranddisheslike redfishwithlemonbuerreblanc.Reservations accepted.Lunchanddinnerdaily $$$ DickieBrennan’sSteakhouse 716Iberville St.,(504)522-2467;dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com—A6-ouncefiletmignonis

$—averagedinnerentréeunder$10

$$—$11-$20

$$$—$20-up

servedwithfriedoysters,creamedspinach, potatoesandbearnaise.Reservationsrecommended.DinnerMon.-Sat.$$$ ElPavoReal 4401S.BroadAve.,(504) 266-2022;elpavorealnola.com—Themenu includestacos,enchiladasandsauteedGulf fishtoppedwithtomatoes,olives,onionand capers,servedwithriceandstringbeans. Outdoorseatingavailable.Noreservations LunchandearlydinnerTue.-Sat.$$ Juan’sFlyingBurrito—515BaronneSt., (504)529-5825;2018MagazineSt.,(504) 569-0000;4724S.CarrolltonAve.,(504) 486-9950;8140OakSt.,(504)897-4800; juansflyingburrito.com TheFlyingBurrito includessteak,shrimp,chicken,cheddarjack cheese,blackbeans,rice,guacamoleand salsa.Outdoorseatingavailable.Noreservations.LunchanddinnerThu.-Tue $$ Katie’sRestaurant—3701IbervilleSt.,(504) 488-6582;katiesinmidcity.com TheeclecticmenuincludesaCajunCubanwithroasted pork,ham,cheeseandpickles.Delivery available.Reservationsacceptedforlarge parties.LunchanddinnerTue.-Sun $$ Kilroy’sBar—HigginsHotel,480Andrew HigginsBlvd.,(504)528-1941;higginshotelnola.com/dining—Thebarmenu includessandwiches,saladsandflatbreads, includingonetoppedwithpeach,prosciutto, stracciatellacheese,arugulaandpecans.No reservations.DinnerWed.-Sat.$$ LegacyKitchen’sCraftTavern—700 TchoupitoulasSt.,(504)613-2350;legacykitchen.com—Themenuincludesoysters, flatbreads,burgers,sandwiches,saladsand aNOLAStyleGritsBowltoppedwithbacon, cheddarandapoachedegg.Reservations accepted.Breakfast,lunchanddinnerdaily.$$ LegacyKitchenSteak&Chop—91Westbank Expressway,Gretna,(504)513-2606; legacykitchen.com Themenuincludes filetsmignonsandbone-inrib-eyes,as wellasburgers,saladsandseafooddishes. Reservationsaccepted.Outdoorseating available.LunchanddinnerMon.-Sat $$ LuzianneCafe 481GirodSt.,(504)2651972;luziannecafe.com—CajunSunshine Beignetsarestuffedwitheggs,bacon,cheese andhotsauce.Noreservations.Deliveryavailable.BreakfastandlunchWed.-Sun $$ Mikimoto 3301S.CarrolltonAve.,(504) 488-1881;mikimotosushi.com TheSouth Carrolltonrollincludestunatataki,avocado andsnowcrab.Themenualsohasnoodle dishes,teriyakiandmore.Reservations accepted.Deliveryavailable.LunchSun.Fri.,dinnerdaily $$ Mosca’s—4137Highway90West,Westwego, (504)436-8950;moscasrestaurant.com— Thisfamily-styleeateryservesItaliandishes andspecialtiesincludingchickenalagrande andbakedoystersMosca.Reservations accepted.DinnerWed.-Sat.Cashonly $$$ Mother’sRestaurant 401PoydrasSt., (504)523-9656;mothersrestaurant.net— Thiscounter-servicespotservespo-boys, jambalaya,crawfishetouffee,redbeansand riceandmore.Deliveryavailable.Noreservations.Breakfast,lunchanddinnerdaily.$$ NewOrleansHamburger&SeafoodCo.—817 VeteransMemorialBlvd.,Metairie,(504)8378580;1005S.ClearviewParkway,Jefferson, (504)734-1122;2515BManhattanBlvd.,

Harvey,(504)684-6050;4141St.Charles Ave.,(504)247-9753;6920VeteransMemorial Blvd.,Metairie,(504)455-1272;nohsc.com Themenuofburgers,saladsandCreoledishes includesthin-friedCatfishLafitteoverricepilaf. Deliveryavailable.Lunchanddinnerdaily.$$ Neyow’sCreoleCafe—3332BienvilleSt.,(504) 827-5474;neyows.com—Themenuincludes redbeanswithfriedchickenorporkchops,as wellasseafoodplatters,po-boys,grilledoysters,saladsandmore.Noreservations.Lunch daily,dinnerMon.-Sat.,brunchSun.$$ NiceGuysBar&Grill—7910EarhartBlvd., (504)302-2404;niceguysbarandgrillnola.com Char-grilledoystersaretoppedwithcheese Themenualsoincludeswings,quesadillas, burgers,salads,seafoodpastaandmore.No reservations.Lunchdaily,dinnerMon.-Sat.$$$ TheOriginalItalianPie—3629PrytaniaSt., (504)766-8912;theoriginalitalianpieuptown.com TheItalianPiecomboincludes pepperoni,Italiansausage,groundbeef, mushrooms,onions,bellpepper,black olives,mozzarellaandhouse-madetomato sauce.Noreservations.DinnerandlatenightTue.-Sat.$$ OrleansGrapevineWineBar&Bistro—720 OrleansAve.,(504)523-1930;orleansgrapevine.com—Thewinebar’smenuincludes Creolepastawithshrimpandandouillein tomatocreamsauce.Reservationsaccepted forlargeparties.Outdoorseatingavailable. DinnerThu.-Sun $$ PalaceCafe 605CanalSt.,(504)523-1661; palacecafe.com ThecontemporaryCreole menuincludescrabmeatcheesecakewith mushroomsandCreolemeunieresauce. Outdoorseatingavailable.Reservationsrecommended.BreakfastandlunchWed.-Fri., dinnerWed.-Sun.,brunchSat.-Sun $$$ ParishGrill—4650W.EsplanadeAve.,Suite 100,Metairie,(504)345-2878;parishgrill.com Themenuincludesburgers,sandwiches, pizzaandsauteedandouillewithfigdip, bluecheeseandtoastpoints.Reservations accepted.LunchanddinnerMon.-Sat.$$ PeacockRoom—KimptonHotelFontenot, 501TchoupitoulasSt.,(504)324-3073; peacockroomnola.com—Blacklentilvadouvancurrycomeswithroastedtomatoes, mushroomsandbasmatirice.Reservations accepted.DinnerWed.-Mon.,brunchSun $$ Rosie’sontheRoof HigginsHotel,480 AndrewHigginsBlvd.,(504)528-1941;

LuizanneCafe(481Girod St.,504-265-1972; luziannecafe.com)servesa hotchickensandwich.

PHOTOBYIAN MCNULTY / THETIMES-PICAYUNE

higginshotelnola.com/dining—Therooftopbar hasamenuofsandwiches,burgersandsmall plates.Noreservations.Dinnerdaily.$$ Tableau 616St.PeterSt.,(504)9343463;tableaufrenchquarter.com—Pasta bouillabaissefeaturessquidinkmafaldine, littleneckclams,Gulfshrimp,squid,seafood broth,rouilleandherbedbreadcrumbs Outdoorseatingavailable.Reservations recommended.DinnerWed.-Sun.,brunch Thu.-Sun $$$

Tacklebox—817CommonSt.,(504) 827-1651;legacykitchen.com Themenu includesoysters,anddisheslikeredfishSt Charleswithgarlic-herbbutter,asparagus,mushroomsandcrawfishcornbread. Reservationsaccepted.Breakfast,lunchand dinnerdaily.$$

Theo’sNeighborhoodPizza—1212S. ClearviewParkway,Elmwood,(504) 733-3803;2125VeteransMemorialBlvd., Metairie,(504)510-4282;4024CanalSt., (504)302-1133;4218MagazineSt.,(504) 894-8554;70488Highway21,Covington, (985)234-9420;theospizza.com A MarilynnPotaSupremepieistopped withmozzarella,pepperoni,sausage, hamburger,mushrooms,bellpeppersand onions.Therealsoaresalads,sandwiches andmore.Deliveryavailable.Lunchand dinnerTue.-Sat $

Tito’sCeviche&Pisco—1433St.Charles Ave.,(504)354-1342;5015MagazineSt., (504)267-7612;titoscevichepisco.com— Peruvianlomosaltadofeaturessauteed beef,onions,tomatoes,soysauceandpisco, servedwithpotatoesandrice.OutdoorseatingavailableonMagazineStreet.Delivery available.Reservationsaccepted.Lunchand dinnerMon.-Sat.,brunchSun.$$$ TheVintage—3121MagazineSt.,(504) 324-7144;thevintagenola.com—Themenu includesbeignets,flatbreadsandaveggie sandwichwithavocado,onions,arugula,red pepperandpepperjackcheese.Noreservations.Deliveryandoutdoorseatingavailable Breakfast,lunchanddinnerdaily.$$

guitarintropicalLatinmusicaswellas theinfluencesofCongoleserumba, AfrobeatandAfricaninfluenceson Colombianmusic.Indiefolksinger ThaoNguyen,formerlyofThaoand theGetDownStayDown,alsoperforms.At8p.m.Thursday,May16,at theMusicBoxVillage.Tickets$30in advanceviamusicboxvillage.com.

SeanPaul

DancehallandreggaeartistSeanPaul hadalreadyhitsuccessinhisnative Jamaicabeforefindinginternational fameintheearly2000swiththe songs“GetBusy”and“Temperature.” Paulreleasedhiseighthstudioalbum, “Scorcha,”in2022andreceiveda Grammynominationforbestreggae album.He’snowona22-datetourand playsTheFillmoreat7p.m.Friday, May17.Ticketsstartat$25 viafillmorenola.com

DuskyWaters

beactivethisyear:Brooks&Dunn arenowonthe“Reboot”tour,named fortheir2019albumwhichfoundthe duore-recording12oftheirhits,like “NeonMoon”and“MyMaria,”with guestmusicians.Theyplayat7p.m Thursday,May16,attheSmoothie KingCenterwithDavidLeeMurphy andErnest.Ticketsstartat$25via smoothiekingcenter.com

BalletGoestoBroadway

JeffersonBalletTheatrepresents piecesfromsomeofBroadway’smost popularmusicals,including“West SideStory,”“GuysandDolls,”“42nd Street,”“TheKingandI,”“Singin’in theRain”andmore.KennyBeckchoreographstheprogram,whichincorporatesdancestylesfromtaptoballet. JPASpresentstheshowat7:30p.m Saturday,May18,and2p.m.Sunday, May19,atJeffersonPerformingArts Center.Findticketsatjpas.org

JohnSinclairtribute

NewOrleansAmericanamusician DuskyWatersputsamoderntouchto folk,gospelandsoul.Watersreleased herdebutalbum,“PassItOn,”last yearandrecentlyplayedFrench QuarterFestandJazzFest.Catchher nextat9p.m.Saturday,May18,at SiberiawithChloeMarieandAndrew Jobin&TheCrispyBoys.Ticketsare $12.40viasiberianola.com

CyrilNeville

NewOrleanslivingfunklegendCyril NevillekicksoffaChickieWahWah residencyonSunday,May19,with twosetsfollowingBayouBoogaloo. Theshowstartsat9:30p.m.,andhe’ll playat8p.m.everySundayfollowing. Ticketsare$20advanceviachickiewahwah.comand$25atthedoor.

NOCCAJazzEnsemble

TheNewOrleansCenterforCreative Arts’springconcertwiththestudent jazzensembleisachancetocatch someofthecity’sbestyoungmusiciansandnextgreatartists.Pianist MichaelPellera,chairofNOCCA’sjazz department,leadstheensembleat 7:30p.m.and9:30p.m.Thursday, May16,atSnugHarbor.Ticketsare $20viasnugjazz.com

Brooks&Dunn

Forthelastdecadeorso,country duoKixBrooksandRonnieDunn havebeenonapseudo-hiatus.The CountryMusicHallofFamerswill reuniteoccasionallyforone-offshows oralimitedstringofdatesandthen laylowforawhile.They’regoingto

JohnSinclairwasknownforhis poetry,politicalactivism,hosting ashowonWWOZ,hisearlyyears workingwithrockbandMC5and more.HediedApril2.“JohnSinclair isFree”isatributefeaturingpoetry, musicandfilms,andtherewillbea secondlinewiththeTremeBrassBand. PerformersincludeChuckPerkins, ValentinePierce,MeganBurns,Dennis Fomento,DavidKunian,CarloDitto andmore.At7p.m.Friday,May17, atZeitgeistTheatre&Lounge.Find informationatzeitgeistnola.org

JohnnyVidacovichTrio NewOrleansmasterdrummer JohnnyVidacovichhostsdifferent musicianseachThursdayinMay forshowsattheMapleLeaf.This week,Vidacovichwillbejoinedby bassistChrisSeverinandtrumpeter JohnMichaelBradfordat8p.m Thursday,May16.Ticketsare$15 advanceatmapleleafbar.comand $20atthedoor

Ms.Pat

Ms.Pat,akaPatricaWilliams,hasa Netflixcomedyspecial,competed onNBC’s“LastComicStanding,” andhoststhepodcastThePatdown withMs.Pat.Shealsostarredinher namesakeBET+show,“TheMs.Pat Show,”inwhichsheplaysaformer convictturnedsuburbanmom.She performsat8p.m.Saturday,May18, atTheJoyTheater.Findticketsvia thejoytheater.com.

MUSIC

FOR COMPLETE MUSIC LISTINGS AND MORE EVENTSTAKING PLACE IN THE NEWORLEANS AREA, VISIT CALENDAR.GAMBITWEEKLY.COM

Tolearnmoreaboutaddingyourevent tothemusiccalendar,pleaseemail listingsedit@gambitweekly.com

MONDAY13

BAMBOULAS TheRugcutters,1:15pm; JonRonierBand,5:30pm;EdWillsBlues 4Sale,9pm

BJ'SLOUNGEBYWATER—LittleFreddie Kingandfriends,9pm

BOURBONOBAR—TiffanyHallAndThe JazzMasters,4pm;KidMerv,8pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB

MatineeAllStarBand,1pm;LeeFloyd AndThunderboltTrio,5pm;Richard ScottandFriends,8pm

MARIGNYOPERAHOUSE BenFox,8pm

THEJOYTHEATER—Kublai KhanTX,8pm

TUESDAY14

BAMBOULAS Jean-PaulBrionandthe SultrySweets,1:15pm;GiselleAnguizola Quartet,5:30pm;CaitieB.andTheHand MeDowns,9pm

BAYOUBARATTHEPONTCHARTRAIN

HOTEL PeterHarrisandtheO.G.'sft. TonyDagradi,SteveMasakowski,and StantonMoore,8pm

BOURBONOBAR Dr.Zach,4pm; IngridLuccia,8pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB—

Richard"Piano"Scott,1pm;ColinMyers Band,5pm;FritzelsAllStarBandw/Jamil Sharif,8pm

THERABBITHOLE—RebirthBrass Band,10pm

WEDNESDAY15

BAYOUBARATTHEPONTCHARTRAIN

HOTEL FirmRootsft.PeterHarris, DerekDouget,DwightFitch,Jr.,andthe NewOrleansGroovemaster,8pm

BLUENILE NewBreedBrass Band,9:30pm

BOURBONOBAR—GaryBrown,4pm; Serabee,8pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB

Richard“Piano”Scott,1pm;Bourbon StreetStars,5pm;FritzelsAllStarBand W/KevinRayClark,8pm

JEANLAFITTENATIONALHISTORICAL PARKVISITORCENTER,NEWORLEANS JAZZNATIONALHISTORICALPARK

—BrunoElisabetsky&SaskiaWalker BrazilianQuartet,2pm

MARIGNYOPERAHOUSE Mahmoud Chouki+OscarRossignoli,8pm

THURSDAY16

BAMBOULAS—MissSigridandtheZig Zags,1:15pm;ChristinaKaminisand TheMix,5:30pm;WolfeJohn'sBlues Band,9pm

BAYOUBARATTHEPONTCHARTRAIN

HOTEL—DoubleBirdft.PeterHarris, DwightFitch,Jr.,MilesBerry,andGerald Watkins,8pm

BJ'SLOUNGEBYWATER—Coleman Akin’sSwingSetSeptet,9pm;Meridian Brothers,11pm

BLUENILE—Wherey'atBrassBand,9pm

BOURBONOBAR Kimchisoop,4pm; DavisRogan,8pm

COMMONSCLUBATVIRGINHOTELS NEWORLEANS SariyahIdanduo,6pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB— Richard“Piano”Scott,12:30pm;Doyle CooperBand,2:30pm;JohnSaavedra Band,6pm;FritzelsAllStarBandW/ KevinRayClark,8pm

MUSICBOXVILLAGE—MeridianBrothers andThao,8pm

PEACOCKROOM,HOTELFONTENOT— DaLovebirds,TenSpencer,8pm

ROCK'N'BOWL—RustyMetoyer& ZydecoKrush,8pm

SMOOTHIEKINGCENTER—Brooks& Dunn,7pm

THEGOAT CorpseDust,Presentation, Tweakhoney,10pm

TIPITINA'S GFlip,Florrie,7pm

FRIDAY17

BAMBOULAS—FelipeAntonioQuinteto, 2:15pm;LesGetrexandCreoleCooking, 6:30pm;Bettisand3rdDegreeBrassBand, 10pm;StephenBrashearBand,11am

BAYOUBARATTHEPONTCHARTRAIN

HOTEL yyRPft.PeterHarris,John MichaelBradford,JohnMaestas, andJoe Ashlar,8pm

BJ'SLOUNGEBYWATER Diamond J&theRubyRedRaindrops,The Unmentionables,9pm

BLUENILE—TheCaesarBrothersFunk Box,8pm;KermitRuffinsandthe BarbecueSwingers,11pm

BOURBONOBAR EllenSmith&April Spain,4pm;RhythmKings,8pm BOURBONSTREETHONKYTONK —The BadSandys,8pm

CARROLLTONSTATION—Sweet Magnolia,Feeferella,9pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB

—Richard"Piano"Scott,12:30pm; SamFriend,2:30pm;LeeFloydand ThunderboltTrio,6pm;FritzelsAll StarBandW/KevinRayClark,Chuck Brackman,8pm

HOTELSAINTVINCENT—Preservation HallJazzBand,6pm

ORPHEUMTHEATER—"Rootedin Rhythm"LPOBenefitConcert,7:30pm

ROCK'N'BOWL—TheRouge Krewe,8:30pm THEGOAT Collection,Mars& OtherPlanets,JamesJohnsonJR,Miss Morning,10pm THERABBITHOLE TBCBrassBand,9pm

SATURDAY18

ABITABREWPUB SweetMagnolia,6pm BAMBOULAS—TheJaywalkers,11am; Boardwalkerandthe3FingerSwingers, 2:15pm;JohnnyMastroBlues,6:30pm; PaggyPrineandSouthernSoul,10pm BJ'SLOUNGEBYWATER—Morning40 Federation,10pm BLUENILE GeorgeBrownBand,8pm BOURBONOBAR—BrianWingard,4pm; TheBluesMasters,8pm FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB— Richard"Piano"Scott,12:30pm;Steve DetroyBand,2:30pm;LeeFloydand ThunderboltTrio,6pm;FritzelsAllStar Bandw/JamilSharif,9pm JEANLAFITTENATIONALHISTORICAL PARKVISITORCENTER,NEWORLEANS JAZZNATIONALHISTORICALPARK— DrumCirclewithMichaelSkinkus,10:30 am;RachelTherreinQuartet,2pm PIROGUE’SWHISKEYBAYOU—Tiffany Pollack&Co.,8pm ROCK'N'BOWL SugarShaker,8:30pm

LittleFreddieKing playsBJsMay13.

PHOTOBYSOPHIAGERMER/ THETIMES-PICAYUNE

SNUGHARBORJAZZBISTRO Judith Owen-7:30PM&9:30PM,7:30pm TIPITINA'S—TchoupMakingSenseA NOLATributetoTalkingHeads,9pm

SUNDAY19

BAMBOULAS AaronLevinsonand Friends,10:30am;youse,1:15pm;The MidnightBrawlers,5:30pm;EdWills Blues4Sale,9pm

BLUENILE—TheBakedPotatoes,8pm; StreetLegendsBrassBand,10:30pm BOURBONOBAR MarcStone,4pm; KennyBrown&theKBExpress,8pm BOURBONSTREETHONKYTONK —The BadSandys,8pm

FRITZEL'SEUROPEANJAZZCLUB— DoyleCooperBand,12:30pm;LeeFloyd &ThunderboltTrio,5pm;FritzelsAllStar Bandw/MikeFulton,8pm OLDARABILIGHTHOUSERECORDSAND BOOKS—FrenchieMoeBluesTrio,4pm TOULOUSETHEATRE Phosphorescent, 8pm

Cannedlaughter byWillCoviello

DINING GUIDE

THEBERMUDA CANCOMPANYIS PREPARINGFOR ABIGREVEAL, inIntramural Theater’snew comedyofthe samename,which opensthisweekat MusicBoxVillage. Thecompanyis readytounveilthe world’sfirstvacuum resealablecan.

Kiefer,the overbearingleader ofthefamilybusiness,isawarehe’s carryingonhisfamily’slegacy,and alsothatnothingshouldbesaidabout afewpastinternswhodisappeared. Harperfromhumanresourcesis makingsureeveryoneisinagood mood.Beverley,adistantcousinof Kiefer,isanewinternwhocan’tdo anythingtoanyoneelse’ssatisfaction Verafrommarketingisn’tgoingtolet anythinggetinthewayoftherollout. AndDanthecustodianjustwantsto winemployeeoftheyear Everythingiscomingtogether forareportertocometotheoffice andcoverthelaunch,butthere’sa problem.Nooneknowswherethe prototypeis.

smallgroupsdevelopingdifferent outlines.Eventuallytheychooseone, andstartwritingthework,including specificpartsfortheactorswhowill playthem.Inthiscase,thatincludes LaurenWells,whoisinthethirdtrimesterofpregnancy,playingKiefer.

Pastseedshavebeenaboutvoyeurism,reincarnationandsynesthesia, theabnormalbrainprocessinwhich experiencesareprocessedthrough multiple,unrelatedsenses.Thisseason’sworkwasalwaysgoingtobea comedy,inthecompany’ssometimes surrealandabsurdstyle

Thecomedyisfreewheelingand dark,andalloftheco-workersare strong-willedandlargerthanlife.

“We’vealwaysfantasizedabout doinganofficeplay,”saysIntramural founderBennettKirschner.“The officeissuchastrange,contrived, repressedplacethatitreallylends itselftocomedy.”

Thecomedyalsocanfeellikepages from“AConfederacyofDunces,”in partbecauseofbuffoonery,andalso becauseitissetinNewOrleans.The companydevisedthestoryasbeingset ontheedgeoftheindustrialcanal,and that’swherethey’llperformit.They’re usingtheschoolhousebuildingconstructedattheMusicBoxVillage.Also intheplayistheworkerwhooperates thedrawbridgeonSt.ClaudeAvenue.

Whiletheshowisinacontemporary office,itsoriginsarefarfromthere Intramuralputsononedevised workoftheatereveryyear,plus worksbyotherplaywrightsand sometimesshowcasesofone-act plays.Foradevisedpiece,theystart withaseedideaandspendamonth workingupcharacters,settings, conflictsandmore.Thatleadsto

Buttheseedwas“Woyzeck,” anunfinishedearly19th-century workbyGermanplaywrightGeorg Buchner.Inthedrama,apoorsoldier suffersamentalbreakdownashe worksoddjobsandvolunteersfor medicalexperimentstomakeextra money.Afteranothersoldiersleeps withhismistress,Woyzeckstabsher, thoughtheyhaveachildtogether It’soneofthefirstplaystoexplore insanityasacriminaldefense.And ithasnothingtodowithgettingrich sellinganew-fangledcan.

“Westartedwiththeplayandpicked uponvariousthemes,”Kirschnersays “Thewaysinwhichworkgiveswayto persona,andthewayworkcanhollow outoursenseofself.”

TheBermudacompanyisrifewith realandpettyconflicts.Thegreatnew canmeansdifferentthingstodifferent people,eventhoughtheyallseeitasa greatleapforward.

“TheBermudaCanCompany”runs May17,19-20&24-27attheMusic BoxVillage.TheMusicBoxisopen toticketbuyersforanhourbefore showtime.Tickets$20viaintramuraltheater.org.

PROVIDED PHOTOBY TRICIA ANDERSON

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CharmingHistorical Dblbuiltin1895.Prime Location.Liveon1-side &haverental($1850) helpw/mortgage! GoodInvestment!3913 hasaLivingRm,3Lrg Bdrms&Eat-inKitchen. 3915hasaDbleParlorw/SideHallthatallowsfor IndependentBedrooms.LrgUpdtdKit.Bothunitshave LotsofClosets.EasilyAccessibletoFrenchmenSt& Fr.Qtr $395,000

FUN ‘N’GAMES

APT OMISSION

By Frank A. Longo

ACROSS

1Lackofvitality

7NeighborofFlorida

14Garlickysauces

20Inarationalmanner

21Unexpireddriver’s license,e.g.

22Well-spoken

23Wholebunchof babyfelines?

25Regions,weatherwise

26Somereddishdeer

27SexeducatorShere

28JokesterJay

30Viscousstuff

31DVD- (dataholders)

32Makeangry

33Dogsthathuntegrets?

37Fadeaway

38B.A.,e.g.

39Corp.execincharge ofadsandbranding

41Locale

42“Oh,gotcha”

43Snacks that help physicists build atomic bombs?

47Campusdigs

49Text-scanningdevice: Abbr.

50Frenchfor“theking”

51Headup

531890sveepStevenson

55Backofan overseasship?

59EntrepreneurBezos

whocookssheep delicacies?

63Tan-colored

64“Ichbin Berliner”

66ActorsMomoa andStatham

67Frigid

68Ladieswhouse SpeedStick?

72 Newton

75Sharedalivingspace

77Water,inLille

782008documentary aboutthenationaldebt

80Covergirlfromacityin centralGeorgia?

84Firebreather’sparachutedescent?

NEWTOMARKET LOWERGARDENDISTRICT

1128-30 MelpomeneStreet NewOrleans, LA 70130

88Flabbergast

89Paddyfood

91 Park(Edison’shome)

92Machinerywheel

93Unwell

97Packageshippedto singerDolly?

102 Fromthetop

104 En (infullcourt)

106 FreeTVspot,inbrief

107 “ItautI a puddytat!”

108 Med.group

109 Serenityina rabbitcolony?

112 Woodsyden

114 U-boats,e.g.

115 Feelunwell

116 Andeanland

117 FrenchessayistSimone

118 SingerHorne

119 Nag

122 Answerfrom poetCountee?

126 Greekgoddess ofwisdom

127 Phoeniciangoddess offertility

128 “Couldbe”

129 Deny

130 Own

131 AtlanticCity hotel/casino

DOWN

1Request

2CapitalofKenya

3Buries

4Doles(out)

5Specksinlamer

6“Anthem”authorRand

7Benefit

8Med.testworker

9Balmadditive

10Playbillinfo

11Befuddle

12Sometrackrunners

13Lymphoidthroatmass 14Ravens’gp.

15“Sendme” 16“Yes,yes!,”inFrance

17Foodflatfish

18SuffixwithBenedict

19Roads:Abbr

24Bunwornattheback oftheneck

29Savvyabout

31Fightarbiter

32Co.shuffling

33Expectation

34Thatgirl

35Unstimulatingjava

36Letterstroke

38Protestatwhich peopleliedown

40“Uncle”ofoldTV

44Wholelot

45U.S.spygp.

46“Uncle”oftheU.S. 48SingerAimee 52“Oftheday,”onmenus 54VIPsatraves 55DOJagency 56Tolkienfiend 57CroonerOrbison

58Often-dingedcarfeature 60 -o’-shanter 61Mao -tung 62Endingforballorbass 65DE-to-VTdir. 68Dad’smate 69Angstygenre 70Flandersof “TheSimpsons” 71Fishingboots 72Animal’scoat 73Thesame:Prefix 74Hiatus 75CartoonistChast 76Walletbills 78Spouse’sfather,e.g. 79Badsmell

80Kindofparrot

81Refrigeratorbrand

82Reluctanttobefilmed 83Glassedge 85Latin“Ilove” 86Non-Jewish 87Comparable(with) 90Robin’swear 94“Sonof,”inArabic 95AlwhodrewLi’lAbner 96Patella 98Naturalgifts 99England-to-France connector 100 Envoy’sresidence 101 --Angeles

103 Authors 105 Davidof “NYPDBlue” 110 JusticeKagan 111 Nichesects 113 Buenos 114 Capitalof SouthKorea

117 Existed 118 MegMallon’sgp. 119 Wok,e.g. 120 Greekvowel 121 Lightbeam 123 Notesbeforetis

124 Sis,e.g. 125 Swirlyletter