Gambit's CUE July 2019

CUE MAGAZINE A M O N T H LY

LIFE + STYLE + DESIGN

GUIDE TO NEW ORLEANS

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MID-YEAR

CHECK-IN How are you doing with your 2019 goals?

New Year’s resolution: Lose 10 pounds by summer!

So much king cake …

Walking to the parade route counts, right?

JANUARY

FEBRUARY

MARCH

Crawfish and beer and festival season, oh my!

APRIL

MAY

It’s too hot to sweat

JUNE

WEBUyand SELL

[ FROM THE EDITOR ]

traditional vintage modern antique

CONTENTS JULY 2019

REGENCY STYLE CHAIRS $65 each

HOUSE sTUFF home • office • hotel

3939 Toulouse St • Mid City (1 block off North Carrollton) • Open 7 days!

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BEAUTY Is dry brushing the cure

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HEALTH &Reinvigorating WELLNESS those

for what ails your skin?

2019 goals

504-638-7332 or 504-251-6262

New Orleans Gifts Local Artists & Designers

BywaterClothing Redecorate this summer with artwork by Jane Brewster, at Bywater Clothing

P H OTO BY K A R L A P H OTO G R A P H Y

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FITNESS How to choose the

best athletic shoe for your workout

ICYMI …

This sign on the door to the restroom at Bacchanal Wine just cracked me up — days after seeing it, I’m still laughing. The world finds itself gripped in intense (and at times, obtuse) debate about gender, sexual orientation and identification and the roles that these concepts

10 REAL ESTATE

Sure signs that it’s time to move

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FITNESS Off-the-grid summer

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CUE TIPS Ragtime Poetry Company’s

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HOME Weekend DIY

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#FOLLOWING Sara Perez-Ekanger,

fitness classes around town

improvement projects

ON

CUE

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1 block off Napoleon Uptown | 504.502.6206 | BywaterClothing.com

Publisher JEANNE EXNICIOS FOSTER Editor KATHERINE M. JOHNSON Creative Services Director DORA SISON

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PHOTO BY K ATHERINE M. JOHNSON

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Photo of the restroom plaque at Bacchanal Wine.

flower lady and owner of Antigua Floral + Styling

ADVERTISING

Advertising Inquiries (504) 483-3150 Advertising Director SANDY STEIN BRONDUM (504) 483-3150

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Sales Coordinator | MICHELE SLONSKI Sales Assistant | KAYLA FLETCHER Senior Sales Representatives JILL GIEGER (504) 483-3131

EDITORIAL

[ jillg@gambitweekly.com] Sales Representatives

Managing Editor KANDACE POWER GRAVES

Contributing Writers

play in both private and public life.

The discussion is critical, necessary and overdue, but also nuanced, complicated and difficult. Personally, I try not to take myself too seriously, so I enjoyed what I interpreted as a lighthearted approach to the bathroom politics of both gender and hygiene (seriously, please wash your hands).

poets-for-hire and Gerald Haessig’s Cafe-ERGO

SARAH RAVITS, SUZANNE PFEFFERLE TAFUR, KAYLEE POCHE

PRODUCTION Pre-Press Coordinator JASON WHITTAKER

BRANDIN DUBOS (504) 483-3152

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Graphic Designers

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WINNFIELD JEANSONNE, MARIA BOUÉ, SHERIE DELACROIX-ALFARO

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[ BEAUTY ]

A smooth skin MIRACLE? Is dry brushing the answer to all of your dermatological nightmares? B Y K A Y L E E P O C H E DESPITE ITS RECENT TRENDINESS, DRY BRUSHING is not a new prac-

tice. The technique, which involves rubbing a firm brush lightly against your dry skin, has roots in ancient rituals dating back centuries.

Gwyneth Paltrow and other beauty gurus swear by it, but what exactly does dry brushing do? Whether you’re adding it onto your spa package or taking a DIY approach, here’s what you should know about the practice.

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It exfoliates the skin, but perhaps not much else.

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Sharla Martin is director of The Spa at Windsor Court (300 Gravier St., 504-596-4736; www.windsorcourthotel.com/spa), which has offered dry brushing services and accessories for eight years. She says dry brushing helps exfoliate the skin’s outer layer, which “helps your moisturizer to sink in on a deeper level.”

While dry brushing is rumored to reduce toxins and eliminate cellulite, Sarah Jackson, dermatologist at Audubon Dermatology (3525 Prytania St., Suite 501, 504-895-3376; www. audubondermatology.com), says there is little scientific evidence it does anything other than exfoliate the skin.

“Many people feel their cellulite looks better after a manipulation,” Jackson says. “I would tell my patients, ‘If you do dry brushing, and you think your cellulite looks better, then you should continue to do it as long as you’re not overdoing it.’

“As far as true medical benefits from dry brushing … it’s [not] something that I would recommend as a dermatologist,” she adds. “[But] I do think there’s an exfoliation benefit for people who might need a little exfoliation.”

The results are immediate, but not permanent.

Martin, who regularly dry brushes, says on the first day, you’ll notice “a tightening and a smoothing of the skin. You’ll just have an overall glow.

“If you do it daily, you’re going to maintain those results,” she says. “If you drop off like I do in the wintertime, it’s not necessarily starting from scratch because you can see immediate results, especially during the first week, but it’s nothing that’s going to be permanent.”

It’s not for all skin types.

Before trying dry brushing, Jackson says you should evaluate whether your skin needs exfoliating.

“If you are young, then your skin exfoliates very well on its own,” Jackson says. “If you’re older and you feel like your skin is not exfoliating, then maybe you would benefit from it. But the reality is most skin, especially young skin, does not need physical exfoliation.”

And those with dry skin, sensitive skin or eczema should stay away from dry brushing altogether, because it can break down the skin’s natural barrier and make it harder to retain moisture.

It doesn’t have to be a professional job.

P H OTO B Y C H E R Y L G E R B E R

The Spa at Windsor Court offers dry brushing as an add-on to any of its beauty treatment packages.

Dry brushing can be done in a spa or at home before you hop in the shower.

The Spa at Windsor Court offers a 15-minute dry brushing add-on to any of its massage services for $25.

The spa also sells its own synthetic boar-bristle body brush for $15.

“It’s an easy thing to do at home,” Martin says. “It adds about five minutes to your shower routine.”

As with any type of exfoliation, after dry brushing, moisturize immediately to avoid drying out the skin. If you’re new to dry brushing, you’ll want to ease yourself into it, performing the treatment no more than twice a week.

Be gentle.

“If you overdo dry brushing and you either use a brush that is too rough or if you use a technique that’s too firm,” she says, “you can create little tiny tears in your skin … and increase your risk of infection.”

[ H E A LT H + W E L L N E S S ]

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TIME FOR A

MID-YEAR CHECK-IN

BY S U Z A N N E P F E F F E R L E TA F U R

Re-evaluate your goals with the right mindset NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS ARE MADE WITH THE BEST OF INTENTIONS.

But by the time July arrives — following the revelry of Mardi Gras and an onslaught of springtime festivals — those goals (understandably) often have become an afterthought.

Summer is the perfect time to get back on track.

“Life can happen very quickly,” says Dr. Rachel Csaki, a psychiatrist with Ochsner Health System. “We get busy, and sometimes we can lose sight of our goals. It helps to pause and revisit them. You can reaffirm your commitment to those goals and explore what’s working and what’s not working.”

Citing an acronym from a psychiatry journal, Csaki says goals should be SMART: They should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound, meaning the goal-setter should have some sort of deadline in mind.

“It’s important to have that time-bound piece, so you can come back and say, ‘Let me see how I’m doing,’ ” she says. “‘Let me see if these goals are still meaningful to me and relevant in my life.’ ” Csaki offers her advice on how to assess — in a healthy, productive way — the progress we’ve made (or haven’t) toward our goals.

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After you’ve reached a goal, do something nice for yourself. Rewards can reinforce the reasons you’ve wanted to make a change, and they also make the process more exciting and sustainable.

Enlist the support of your friends and family. If possible, partner with someone who is working toward a similar goal.

Take advantage of technology.

“There is so much technology available now to keep us on track — from apps to online support groups, podcasts and TED Talks,” she says. “Technology can be a tremendous asset in goal-setting.”

Avoid negative influences in your life. If there are people, experiences or things that seem to pull you in the wrong direction, step away from them.

Surround yourself with positive people.

Create an atmosphere that’s conducive to positive change, and practice basic self-care. Csaki suggests asking yourself some of the following questions: “Am I getting enough rest?

Am I following a healthy diet? Do I have work-life balance? How do I manage stress? Am I making times for things that bring me joy or happiness?” Ultimately, she says, “We have to be compassionate and kind to ourselves.”

S

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Acknowledge the highlights of the process so far. You may not have met your goal, but if you’ve “moved the needle a little bit,” you’ve made progress, she says. If your goal was to lose weight, celebrate “non-scale victories,” such as dropping a jean size, taking the stairs at work instead of the elevator or feeling like you have more energy.

“Realize that every step is a step in the right direction,” she says.

Recognize that trying to meet a goal is like embarking on a journey.

We may lose our way, gain forward momentum, or find a better path to travel. Setbacks are part of any journey and present the opportunity to start anew, change habits and reflect on what you are trying to achieve.

When you’re feeling frustrated, write down a few positive things that have happened recently. “Changing your mindset can help you cope with fear, disappointment and anxiety,” Csaki says. If you keep hitting a roadblock, take a step back and analyze what’s triggering the return to old habits or ways of thinking.

Try dividing a major goal into smaller, more achievable goals. “A lot of times we set these big New Year’s resolutions or goals, and they’re very large,” Csaki says. “Break it down and make it fun.”

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[FITNESS ]

GET ON THE

good foot

Soft 7 Sneaker

by ECCO

How to choose the right shoe for your workout

BY K AT HERINE M . J O HNS O N DO YOU NEED A NEW PAIR OF SNEAKS to help you tackle your fitness goals? (Has not having the right shoe been your go-to excuse to veer away from the plan to lose “X” pounds before summer vacation?) Phil Piediscalzo, owner of Orleans Shoe Co. (509 N. Carrollton Ave., Suite B, 504-324-7718; 539 Bienville St., 504-875-2929; 2109 Magazine St., 504-309-7702; 3000 Severn Ave., Metairie, 504-888-7080; www.orleansshoes.com), a locally-owned shoe emporium (that also sells arch supports manufactured by The Good Feet Store) has some advice to get you ready to resume those workouts.

No matter the activity or the type of shoe, Piediscalzo emphasizes the importance of the shoe’s fit.

“You don’t ever want to say that the shoe is going to ‘break in,’ ” he says. “You want it to be

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Cloud running shoe by On

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comfortable right off the bat. Sometimes your foot will break in before the shoe does — you could end up with a blister or worse.”

Get your foot measured and be prepared to spend 20 to 30 minutes trying on and walking around in different brands and styles of shoes.

“The more you try on, you’ll know which ones fit wider, which ones fit narrow, which ones have a deeper toe box and so on,” he says. “Just because it’s a Nike or a New Balance doesn’t mean they all fit the same. … Sometimes [manufacturers] change the styles up, and sometimes even if the color changes, the shoe might fit differently [because of the dyeing process].”

Working with a staff of experienced fitters really can help, especially if you’re already experiencing foot issues or pain in the lower extremities. Bring in an old pair of shoes when getting fitted for a new pair — the fitters at stores like Orleans Shoe Co. can look at the wear pattern on the old shoes to determine problem areas and possible solutions.

“The mistake that … I see the most is people always go for the most cushion, and cushion doesn’t mean comfort,” he says.

“Some people might need a little more firmness, or a stiffer shoe. … Cushion feels good when you first put it on, but … you need something that provides arch support and keeps your foot more stable and more supported.”

Wearing a too-soft shoe allows the foot to move in ways that it shouldn’t, such as pronating (the foot turning in when walking or running) or supinating (turning out). These movements can cause the foot to roll in the shoe and can exacerbate existing foot problems or cause new ones (back pain can be an indicator that you’re wearing the wrong shoe).

WALKING SHOES

The details:

Piediscalzo says walking shoes usually are designed for durability. Often, they’re made out of leather, since feet don’t sweat as much while walking (as opposed to running) in them.

“However, with the hot weather that we get … it’s nice to have a walking shoe in a canvas or mesh material,” he says.

Walking shoes often are a bit weighty and should be firm in the soles and heels. Walking shoes make good everyday shoes.

The fit:

If you’re buying a walking shoe as a work shoe, the fit is crucial. Make sure there’s room in the toe box, that the heel doesn’t rub and that the weight isn’t too heavy.

“You can buy the top shoe on the market, but if you get the wrong size, it’s not going to help you at all,” Piediscalzo says.

The recommendation:

Soft 7 Sneaker by ECCO

[FITNESS ]

Give

NEW LIFE RUNNING SHOES The details:

A good running shoe should be lightweight and have a roomy toe box to allow the forward movement of the foot in the shoe. It’s important that the shoe can breathe, so choose one that’s made of canvas or a similar material. Piediscalzo explains that running shoes are made explicitly for straight-forward motion, so there isn’t a lot of lateral support.

Running shoes should only be worn for that purpose — attempting side-toside motion (such as you might do in aerobics or high-intensity interval training) could allow the foot to pronate or supinate, causing strain and possible injury. Running shoes are not good for everyday wear.

The fit:

and running shoes),” Piediscalzo says. “You have a little more lateral support — they’re firmer on the sides and have more structure.”

Cross-trainers are good gym shoes for workouts such as tennis or racquetball, CrossFit, P90X and other training regimens that combine intervals of different directional movements. The shoes often are made out of canvas to allow ease of movement, but that also means the shoe is less durable than a walking shoe.

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The fit:

A good pair of cross-trainers is lightweight but sturdy.

The soles should be firm (especially around the perimeter), to provide support for a range of motions.

The recommendation: Hupana shoe in knit jacquard by Hoka One One

“You want something with a lot of cushion in the forefoot and the heel, because you’re going to be pounding your feet into the ground,” he says.

“You put twice as much pressure on your feet when you’re running as when you’re walking.”

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The details:

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C UE M AG A Z I N E •

“This is a really nice entry-level running shoe. It’s super light, and it comes with elastic laces so you can just slip them on. But when you’re going running, you need to change them to the [included] real laces (for stability).”

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Workouts IN THE WILD Change up your summertime workout routine with exercise options outside the studio

[ FITNESS ] year-round on Wednesdays from 6:30 a.m.7:30 a.m. at The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk (500 Port of New Orleans Place, Julia Street entrance). Weather permitting, the sessions are held on the balcony overlooking the Mississippi River. Donations are welcome, and parking will be validated.

Sunset Soiree Footprints to Fitness (www. footprintstofitness.com) founder April Dupre leads workouts incorporating yoga, Pilates, barre, HIIT and cardio exercises at the pool at the Roosevelt Hotel New Orleans (130 Roosevelt Way) July 8, 15, 22 and 29. Admission $22.

(Footprints to Fitness also hosts a series of free Cardio Blast, Fitness Fusion, Zumba and chair yoga classes at recreation centers around town. See website for schedules.)

BY K A NDACE P OW ER G R AV E S

Tai Chi/Chi Kung At Noma The Wellness Center at East Jefferson General Hospital’s (www.ejgh.org) Terry Rappold leads tai chi classes in the galleries at the New Orleans Museum of Art (1 Collins C. Diboll Circle) or in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden (if weather permits) from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. every Monday. Admission $5.

Register at (504) 456-5000.

Tap Room Yoga Bring your own mat and take a yoga class in the barrel room or the brewery warehouse at NOLA Brewing Co. (3001 Tchoupitoulas St.) from 6 p.m.-7 p.m. every Monday through Sept. 2. Beginners welcome. A $5 donation is recommended, and attendees get $1 off beer.

Tribe Yard Yoga P H OTO B Y JARED SAM PSON

Domineaux Yoga hosts a weekly community yoga class at the Historic Carver Theater on Mondays.

Bikram Yoga Domineaux Yoga (www. facebook.com/ domineauxyoga) presents free hourlong community Bikram yoga classes at 5:30 p.m.

Mondays at the Historic Carver Theater (2101 Orleans Ave.).

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Flash Mob Dance Workshops

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Flashmob New Orleans (www. flashmobneworleans.com) sponsors a “Dazzle, Sparkle, Sashay and Prance!” workshop led by actor/ dancer/choreographer Kenneth “Kynt” Bryan, with a flash mob performance to be held this summer. The workshops teach choreography based on traditional New Orleans dances and popular music. Workshops are held 3:30 p.m.-4:30 p.m. every Saturday through July 20 at 717 Adams St. Admission is $10 per class. Register by emailing kyntbryan@ hotmail.com or call (504) 453-6991.

Hip Hop Ya Brass The fitness and lifestyle group Move Ya Brass (www.move-yabrass.com) hosts the dance fitness class from 5:45 p.m.-6:45 p.m. Tuesdays under the Mandeville wharf at Crescent Park (2300 N. Peters St.). Admission is free.

Jazz Yoga The free yoga class is held at 4 p.m. every

other Wednesday at the New Orleans Jazz Museum (400 Esplanade Ave.). The hourlong class is led by Adrienne Byrd, and a national park ranger will provide jazz piano accompaniment.

Lakefront Workout

The Drifter Hotel (3522 Tulane Ave.). Admission is $15 and includes a complimentary alcoholic beverage and access to the hotel pool for the day.

Sistahs Making a Change

November Project New Orleans (www. november-project.com/new-orleans-la) holds a class of mixed fitness techniques at 5:15 a.m. and 6 a.m. every Wednesday at Champions Square. Admission is free.

Professional dancer and registered nurse Jamilah PetersMuhammad leads this dance-based workout from 6 p.m.-8 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at the Ashe Cultural Arts Center (1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.; www.ashecac.org). Offerings change every few months and include African, salsa, Haitian, tap and contemporary dance, Zumba, Cuban music and more. There are educational films and presentations about health and wellness on Mondays, and a meal is served after each class. Admission is free. Donations are welcome.

Poolside Sweat Sessions

Summer Sweat

November Project New Orleans (www. november-project.com/new-orleans-la) offers a fitness class that mixes HIIT with circuit training at 6 a.m. on Fridays at Shelter 1 on Lakeshore Drive. Admission is free.

Morning Fitness Class

Isabel Juliet leads the flow and restore class from 11 a.m.-noon Sundays at the pool at The Drifter Hotel (3522 Tulane Ave.).

Admission is $10 and includes access to the hotel pool for the day.

Power Yoga Pool Party NOLA Tribe Yoga (www.nolatribeyoga.com) presents a power yoga class for students 21 and older from 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Saturdays at the pool at

Pure Barre (www.facebook.com/pbnola) hosts free community workouts at 6 p.m.

Tuesdays in July (beginning July 9) at Canal Place (333 Canal Place, level 3). The workouts are low-impact and strengthen the whole body. Bring your own mat and water bottle and arrive 15 minutes early.

Sunrise Yoga Jai Bhakti Yoga Foundation (www.jaibhaktiyoga.com) holds free weekly yoga sessions

NOLA Tribe Yoga (www.nolatribeyoga.com) holds a flow yoga social from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. on Wednesdays through July at The Tchoup Yard (405 Third St.). Admission is $5, and food and drinks are available.

Twerk Ya Brass Open to all fitness levels, the class teaches participants to work out using music. It’s at 5:45 p.m. every Thursday at the Mandeville wharf at Crescent Park (2300 N. Peters St.).

Admission is free.

Yoga and a Beer Start the week with a free outdoor yoga class (it moves inside when it rains) at 11 a.m.

Sundays at Parleaux Beer Lab (634 Lesseps St.). Admission is free but tips are appreciated, and participants get $1 off pints of beer after class.

Yoga in the Sculpture Garden The Wellness Center at East Jefferson General Hospital (www. ejgh.org) leads yoga classes from 8 a.m.-9 a.m. every Saturday in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden (City Park, 1 Collins C. Diboll Circle; www.noma.org) or New Orleans Museum of Art galleries (when weather is inclement).

Zumba at The Park Ochsner Health System runs Zumba classes at the Peristyle in City Park (Dreyfous Street and Anseman Avenue; www. neworleanscitypark.com) from 8 a.m.-8:45 a.m. every Saturday (rain or shine) through 2019. Bring gym shoes and water. Admission is free; to register or for more information, call (504) 733-1600.

[ HOME ] PHOTO BY SUSAN P OAG FOR SPRUCE/ N O M I TA J O S H I I N T E R I O R D E S I G N

WHO NEEDS THE ‘PROPERTY BROTHERS’?

Nomita Joshi-Gupta of Spruce wallpaper and design boutique says installing wallpaper is a quick, impactful way to change up a room, and that it can be accomplished in just a few days.

Swap out your pillows

Local experts suggest quick improvement projects to reinvigorate your home

BY K AY L EE P O C H E

WHEN YOU’RE IN THE MIDST OF THE MIDYEAR DOLDRUMS, a little change can go

a long way. Whether you’re sick of your wall color or that dingy light fixture in the dining room just isn’t cutting it anymore, these weekend home projects will bring just the right amount of “new” to your living space to get you ready to tackle the second half of 2019.

Before you dive deep into any projects, Nomita Joshi-Gupta, owner of wallpaper and design store Spruce (2043 Magazine recommends first taking a day to organize and clean your space. Having a lesscluttered sense of the area will allow you to better envision potential projects.

And as tempting as it is, don’t get too enticed by those marathons of “House realistic expectations is key to actually finishing projects and not just leaving a mess in the middle of your living room.

Replace your light fixtures Lights also can drastically change the feel of a room, transforming a dim space into a bright, inviting place you’re proud to call home — and it isn’t hard to do, Joshi-Gupta says. Whether you shop at hardware stores or online, there is no shortage of options available.

When selecting your light fixtures, pay attention to whether the fixture requires a regular or LED connection.

“You can’t just stick LED wherever you want,” she says. “You have to make sure that the electrical connections are [appropriate].”

Lately, Joshi-Gupta says people are loving light fixtures with open bulbs and globes with brushed gold, rose gold and matte black finishes. The trends are moving away from industrial lighting and traditional chandeliers.

Upgrade your cabinets If you want to change the look of your kitchen or bathroom cabinets without replacing them or doing a major renovation, try changing out the hardware, such as knobs and pulls. When choosing hardware, Hebert advises clients to keep in mind the home’s existing style and decor.

“Say you’re in a rustic house [or] a bungalow — well, you wouldn’t necessarily want to do everything modern,” he says. “Always remember the bones that you’re working with.”

If swapping out the knobs isn’t as transformative as you hoped and you have a week to spare, try repainting the cabinets.

“It takes a week because you have to be careful about preparing your cabinets,” Joshi-Gupta says.

You should clean and lightly sand the cabinets before painting (she likes Benjamin Moore’s Advance interior paint and Sherwin Williams’ specialty cabinet paint). “You don’t want them to look shoddy after a couple of months.”

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Hunters” on HGTV, she says. Setting

To add a splash of color to your walls, painting or wallpapering a room is a big change that can be accomplished in only a few days.

“It’s a super dramatic change that completely transforms your room,” Joshi-Gupta says.

If looking at paint swatch after paint swatch is just too stressful and you could use some color guidance, Joshi-Gupta says that recently she’s seen her clients gravitate toward green and coral hues. Preferred shades range from light mint green to deep forest green and from light blush to a deep salmon.

Wallpaper is another option.

Before you make any purchases, Joshi-Gupta says, you should decide whether you want to wallpaper a whole room or just an accent wall or the ceiling. She recommends starting small.

“You might get bored of it in a couple of years, so maybe just investing in a feature wall and making it look like more of a piece of art is fun,” she says. “Sometimes people seem to be able to live with it better in smaller spaces because it’s a little bit more palatable.”

But the most important thing to consider when wallpapering is your budget, Joshi-Gupta says. “Wall-

paper can be expensive,” she says.

“It can go from anywhere from $50 for a roll to many hundred dollars a roll.”

For DIY-ers, she recommends self-adhesive wallpaper, which peels off like a sticker. “That’s a very easy way to really glam up your space or make it updated very quickly,” she says.

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St., 504-265-0946; www.sprucenola.com),

Add color to the walls

If you want to add a splash of color to your room but prefer to keep your wall color neutral, try switching out your sofa pillows, says Nick J. Hebert, owner of interior and event design boutique Nick J (601 Baronne St., 504-354-8438; www. facebook.com/nickjnola). Hebert says pillows are one of the easiest ways to switch up a living space.

“A pillow can start off an entire room,” Hebert says. “I’ve had plenty of clients that brought me a pillow and they said, ‘Okay, can you work around this pillow and create this room?’ ” If you’re on a budget or are just looking for pillows to change out on a regular basis, Hebert recommends scouring stores like Marshalls and Home Goods. For those wanting to make a bigger investment, he suggests a local interior design boutique.

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Experts weigh the pros and cons of selling a home

BY SUZ A NNE PFEFFERLE TA FUR

R E AC H 155, 901 L O C A L SHOPPE R S*

ALTHOUGH SELLING A HOME DOESN’T COME WITH THE SAME WHIRLWIND OF EXCITEMENT as buying one, it’s a major life decision that affects you and your wallet.

As William Soniat, Realtor and broker/owner of Soniat Realty (3940 Canal St., 504-488-8988; www.soniatrealty.com), points out, people may move so they can be closer to work or loved ones, or because they prefer a lifestyle more conducive to a certain neighborhood. Young families outgrow their starter homes and need to upsize. Or the kids move out and parents find themselves with a home that offers more space — and requires more upkeep — than they’d like, so they downsize.

Regardless of the reasons you’d like a new home, you must decide whether or not selling your current one makes good financial sense.

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WHAT CAN YOU AFFORD?

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I S S U E D AT E

AUGUST 6

A D S PA C E

JULY 26

To advertise: Sandy Stein at 504.483.3150 or sandys@gambitweekly.com *The Media Audit Release Spring 2017/ Winter 2018 Average Issue Readership.

Rachel West, a mortgage lender with NOLA Lending Group (citywide, 866-872-5399; www. nolalending.com), a division of Fidelity Bank, believes you should sell your home if it has become a financial burden. Otherwise, you may become “house poor.”

Many of her clients, especially young couples, yearn for a spacious house that eventually will accommodate a family.

But she warns that if they don’t “start off small,” they will get hit with a burdensome mortgage payment.

“People will calculate their monthly payments using mortgage calculators or online tools, and they don’t necessarily take into consideration everything that

comes along with that payment — which is not only your principal and interest payment, but also homeowner’s insurance, flood insurance, property taxes and mortgage insurance,” West says.

For example, a client may want a house that costs $250,000, and think they can manage a monthly payment of $1,100. But when those extra expenses are added to the bill, the monthly payment rises to $2,100, West explains.

“Everything you’re making is going towards your home,” she says. “I think you should be able to live your life and not have to put every penny you make towards your home.”

DO YOU LIKE YOUR HOME BUT NOT THE LOCATION? OR VICE VERSA? If you’re looking for a change of scenery, consider your home’s resale value. If you are in an upand-coming location, you stand to make money by selling your house, West says. “It’s a smart investment,” she adds.

She encourages house-hunting clients to think of the big picture: Will the new neighborhood increase or decrease in value in the near future?

If the layout or design of your home no longer works but you like your location — and it’s a location that will increase in value — a renovation loan to revamp the house is the way to go. However, if the property needs work and you’re not thrilled about the location, it’s best to pack up and move, West says.

“You don’t want to dump a lot of money into a house that you can’t … get back by selling,” she says.

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If you decide to move, you should consider whether or not you need the equity from the sale to invest in another home elsewhere, Soniat says.

“Selling is not the only option,” he says. “If you feel that you, a family member or a friend may want to move into the home in the future, you may consider renting your home or condo unit in the interim.”

Some homeowners realize the market isn’t strong enough for them to sell and pay off their mortgage or recoup their equity.

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C UE M AG A Z I N E •

IS TURNING YOUR HOME INTO A RENTAL REALISTIC?

They may want to use the house as a rental property until they aren’t “upside-down on their mortgage,” he says.

West thinks rental properties are a great investment, but she warns that a landlord needs the organizational skills necessary to manage their properties and keep their personal finances separate from those of the rentals. She adds that there isn’t a financial benefit to running a rental if its profits are not covering most (if not all) of the mortgage.

Your debt-to-income ratio also is a major factor in deciding whether to rent out your home.

If you lack the income to support a few different mortgages, that can prevent you from getting the loan you want for a new house, she says.

“Even though you can use some rental income for qualification purposes, it’s usually not the amount of the mortgage,” she says. “You really have to be careful if you’re trying to get approved for a certain amount; it can hold you back if you hold onto properties and you can’t necessarily afford them.”

HOME WORKS

A bigger house often comes with a higher value, especially in certain areas of the city, West says. Renovating and enlarging a home often means a better price if you eventually sell it.

“I think a renovation is a great thing to do, as long as you stay within your means,” she says.

Soniat believes that if you are willing to deal with the disruption of moving every few years, you could buy a home, make improvements, sell it, cash out the equity and then re-invest and repeat.

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GAMBIT’S PET ADOPT-A-THON

HELP A

Homeles ess

Animall w New

Home

ARTIST, POTTER AND GLASSBLOWER GERALD HAESSIG has de-

SPONSORED BY

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Takepawsrescue.org 504-914-4803

Sponsored By:

GAMBIT

C UE M AG A Z I N E •

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DEADLINE TO DONATE: DONATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY:

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JULY 3

ISSUE DATE: JULY 9 SPONSOR FORM

On the go with CAFE-ERGO Stay caffeinated while on-the-go with local artist Gerald Haessig’s Cafe-ERGO mug B Y S A R A H R A V I T S

FIND A

ROWDY

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Mail a check for $25 with the form below, or visit bestofneworleans.com/ petadoption or call (504) 483-3150 to sponsor a pet from a local shelter.

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A photo of a local adoptable pet will run in the JULY 9 PETS section of Gambit with your name credited as the pet’s sponsor.

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A Gambit reader will see the adorable animal and rush to the participating shelter to give featured pet a forever home all thanks to you!

MAIL FORMS TO:

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Number of Pets x $25 = Total $ Name(s) of Sponsor(s): TO PAY WITH CREDIT CARD complete the information below: NAME AS IT APPEARS ON CARD: CARD BILLING ADDRESS: CITY, STATE, ZIP: CARD NUMBER: EXPIRATION DATE: CSV: PHONE NUMBER (IN CASE WE HAVE QUESTIONS): You can also MAIL A CHECK made payable to Capital City Press or call (504) 483-3140.

veloped a new product that’s both functional and fashionable: the Cafe-ERGO coffee mug, a sturdy, ergonomic porcelain cup that can hold up to 10 ounces of coffee, tea, soup or ice cream.

A member of the Dutch Alley Artist’s Co-op in the French Market, where he is the featured artist of the month for July, Haessig developed the idea for the cup when his colleagues and fellow artists suggested that he create a unique coffee mug that could serve as a keepsake for the many tourists and locals who visit the market.

After research on patenting and ergonomic design, along with consultations with his own chiropractor and several physical therapists, Haessig created the original design, which is available in left-handed and right-handed versions. The microwave- and dishwasher-safe vessel is double-walled for insulation and is designed to fit in the palm of the hand, which relieves stress on fingers and joints. Instead of a traditional handle, Haessig applies a crescent-shaped, notched flange.

Though he has been a professional artist for about 25 years, Haessig says he’s still learning.

Developing the design of the mug and the entrepreneurial skills to distribute it taught him a lot, and in 2017, it earned him the Golden Award of Merit at the Invention and New Product Exposition (INPEX), the largest American invention trade show.

Haessig makes the mugs using small-scale production techniques, and each is hand-glazed.

“I am slip-casting them in small batches to get the basic doublewalled silhouette,” he says. “The flange is also slip-cast, then hand-applied to the body of the cup.” The mugs are then dipped in glaze, or the glaze is hand-applied,

The design of Gerald Haessig’s Cafe-ERGO coffee mug (pictured in matte green porcelain) won the Golden Award of Merit at the Invention and New Product Exposition (INPEX) in 2017.

and fired twice. The cups emblazoned with the “NOLA” decal are fired a third time.

“I’ve learned a lot along the way, and still have a way to go,” he says.

“But the cup is a great new design and offers relief to those with hand issues.”

Haessig, who also works with clay, glass, stoneware and raku, mostly makes functional pottery, though some of the pieces are decorative.

He is working on expanding the line to include other ergonomic and user-friendly items.

The mug is available at the Dutch Alley Artist’s Co-op (912 N. Peters St., 504-412-9220; www. dutchalleyartistsco-op.com), Zele NOLA (2841 Magazine St., 504450-0789; www.zelenola.com) and online at www.cafe-ergo.com.

As the featured artist of the month, Haessig will discuss his art at the gallery every Sunday in July, as well as Friday, July 19 and Friday, July 26. The Dutch Alley Artist’s Coop is open daily.

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about 20 lines or so — in just a few minutes. When working large events, they bring in extra writing talent from a network of fellow wordsmiths they’ve cultivated in the city.

Sometimes their writing is guided by a specific word, phrase or emotion from a patron. Morris says the topics can be lighthearted or dark, capturing the range of the human condition.

“It can be hyper-specific or general,” he says. He’s typed poems “for [the birthday of] an aborted fetus, a 75th wedding anniversary, dogs, the repair of a relationship and the potential presence of extraterrestrial life in the universe.”

The poems often elicit an emotional response from clients and guests.

Morris says it’s not uncommon for their customers to tear up or ask for a hug.

“What people crave is being seen, heard and felt, and that’s what we offer,” he says.

While the poets use the writing tools of an analog era, they also busk digitally. Customers can commission a poem online (www.ragtimepoetry. com) and receive a physical copy in the mail. Fees are donation-based.

But at the end of the day (or night), no matter the occasion — harboring a secret crush, attending a convention, undergoing an existential crisis or maybe a combination of these common, human scenarios — “We are going to surprise you,” Morris says.

C UE M AG A Z I N E •

out in vintage clothing and toting old-fashioned typewriters, are bringing Bohemian flair to parties, weddings and other social gatherings — one hand-typed poem at a time — with their collaborative venture, Ragtime Poetry Co. The duo met in the Faubourg Marigny in December 2018, when Shkolnik invited Morris, who recently had relocated to New Orleans from upstate New York, to join him on a poetry busking gig on Frenchmen Street. They sat side-by-side, taking “orders” from nighttime revelers for customized keepsake poems. The two writers immediately formed a bond, and soon Morris joined Shkolnik’s fledgling literary enterprise as vice president.

For both Morris and Shkolnik, creativity runs in the family. Morris’ mother, Kathleen Morris, is a published poet. Morris studied poetry in college, and then helped form a literary magazine in Prague. Shkolnik, who grew up in Boston, was influenced by his late grandmother, who he describes as a Jewish-Ukranian matriarch who came to the U.S. at the end of the Cold War. She memorized Soviet poetry and performed it for the community well into her old age, while wearing huge hats and sparkling dresses.

Morris and Shkolnik also create using other media. Shkolnik has worked as a journalist and is writing his second novel, and Morris is a professional pianist.

With Ragtime Poetry, they bring individualized poems to the masses. They hope to foster connections with people and better understand them. “[The poems] are entirely for the sake of others,” Shkolnik says. “My poems are not my own. … I try to write the poem that the person in front of me most needs. Sometimes they need a poem to help reckon with cancer, a poem to hold on to slipping hope, a poem to save a marriage or inaugurate one.”

“Poetry is the fastest, most effective way to communicate with words,” Morris says. “I’ve always been drawn to it. It’s prose with everything unnecessary boiled out.”

Morris and Shkolnik are able to generate these works — usually

13

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#FOLLOWING:

SARA PEREZ-EKANGER

BY K ATHERINE M. JOHNSON PHOTOS BY K ARL A PHOTOGRAPHY

OWNER AND “FLOWER LADY” OF ANTIGUA FLORAL + STYLING

@A N TIGUAFLOR AL SARA PEREZ-EKANGER’S ROAD TO “FLOWER LADY” STATUS may have begun with a Springfield, Missouri bigbox-store peace lily named Alejandro that she bought for her college dorm room. Or it could have been the exotic flora she encountered in El Salvador (the country of her parents’ birth), Nicaragua, Guatemala or the other Central American locales to which her work as a translator for missionary groups brought her. Or it could have been the plants that her mom cultivated in their home — no matter how large or small the home — and transported with them any time the family moved.

“Those plants represented home for me,” Perez-Ekanger says.

Or it could be simple coincidence.

Perez-Ekanger grew up in the San Francisco Bay area, and after a brief stint in junior college and two semesters spent abroad working as a translator for Christian missionary groups, a family friend encouraged her to apply for a basketball scholarship to attend Evangel University in Missouri. There, she met her husband, Trevor. Shortly after they graduated, they married. A few months later, they moved to New Orleans.

Perez-Ekanger’s “career” was an elusive concept when she first arrived here. Her husband worked as a photographer; she worked as a server in a few restaurants and also had a gig at

a Starbucks coffee shop for a bit, but the real architects of her future were around the corner from the apartment they rented: Carrollton Flower Market and then-proprietor Lisa Rogers. Perez-Ekanger (jokingly at first) mentioned to her husband how much fun it would be to work in a flower shop.

“He literally pushed me through the doors,” she says. She was hired, and “the owner, Lisa, took me under her wing, teaching me a lot of things about aesthetics.”

As Perez-Ekanger’s skills evolved, Rogers encouraged her to “keep practicing and owning it,” and Perez-Ekanger began freelancing as a floral designer for venues around the city, including Stella Plantation. After three years of working for other businesses, the plan to open Antigua Floral + Styling took shape. The company turned three in February, quickly surpassing its humble beginnings in the living room of the Ekangers’ one-bedroom apartment.

Now, she and her team have a dedicated studio space in Gert Town.

“At one point, I couldn’t take more business because of how small the studio was,” she says. Now, she and her team can travel for special events.

They’ve been flown as far as Key West, Florida to design and style a wedding for a client.

“It was an incredible opportunity,” she says. “It was cool to represent [a class of creatives] from New Orleans.”

Just as her work space evolves, so does her design aesthetic.

The most-viewed photos of her work feature exotic tropical flowers, such as proteas and anemones, and vibrant colors, such as coral and fuchsia, but PerezEkanger likes to think of those designs as a “branching-off point” (pun intended).

“We can do more,” she says.

Her designs incorporate elements as varied as late-winter peonies, smilax climbing shrubs, burlap, lace, live succulents, miniature disco balls and even out-of-season pampas grass for those ever-so-trendy, Pinterest-inspired spring weddings (she’s got a guy for that). The most important thing for her and the Antigua team is that in the end, the aesthetic embodies the client.

“I want to make sure that people walk in and think, ‘Oh my goodness, this is so Elizabeth, this is so them,’ or if we work with a company, and they say, ‘Oh my gosh, this so Spotify’ — if we can bring

their brand or tell their story through just decor, it’s a reflection of who they are,” she says. “If we do that, we nailed it.”

Perez-Ekanger also creates largescale installations, such as the ones she designed for retail boutique Saint Claude Social Club and for New Orleans Entrepreneur Week. But surprisingly (or maybe not so surprisingly), she doesn’t intend for floral design to be the end-all, be-all of her working life. One day, she may start a nonprofit, or create a scholarship to help the children of immigrants pay for college, or maybe she’ll open a coffee shop offering cash-and-carry floral arrangements.

“I think (the shop’s success) has given me permission to dream a little bit more of the what-could-be,” she says.

Indie Anna Jones, her golden retriever/ cocker spaniel mix — “We got him the

day before we moved to New Orleans. …

He keeps us grounded.” is plants.”

Wedding ring — “My husband Trevor has been my support and encourage[ment] since the beginning.”

Cup of coffee — “About 90 percent of the

time, I have a cup of coffee in my hands.”

my heart.”

Floral clippers — “This tool is always in

my purse. … I love what I do for a living.”

Favorite flower or plant? “Cafe au lait

dahlias. I almost called the business Cafe au Lait Florals, but then everyone thought I was going to open a coffee shop.”

Favorite summertime treat? “Blueberry pie

ice cream from Creole Creamery — it tastes like Pop Tarts.”

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Crescent moon necklace by Mimosa Handcrafted — “I hold this city close to

“The food. I used to be so skinny when I first moved here.”

C UE M AG A Z I N E •

Potted plant — “My love language

Favorite thing about living in New Orleans?

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