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CONTENTS

AUGUST 10 — AUGUST 16, 2026 VOLUME 47 || NUMBER 32

CUTTIN’ CANNABIS Will Congress stop the THC selzter ban? ........15 Cookin’ with flower ..........16 Guest Opinion by Jim Higdon .................17 NEWS Opening Gambit ............... 9 Blake Pontchartrain..........13 BONO Best of New Orleans Ballot Categories .............19

P H O TO BY M I C H A E L J O H N S O N / T H E T I M E S- P I C AY U N E

Cuttin’ Cannabis Will Congress stop the THC selzter ban? @The_Gambit @gambitneworleans

F E AT U R E S Arts & Entertainment ........ 7 Eat & Drink .................... 27 Music Listings ................. 38 Music ............................40 Going Out .......................41 Puzzles ......................... 43 C OV E R P H O TO E L E M E N T S BY G E T T Y I M AG E S . C OV E R D E S I G N BY D O R A S I S O N

S TA F F EDITORIAL

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GAMBIT (ISSN 1089-3520) IS PUBLISHED WEEKLY BY CAPITAL CITY PRESS, LLC, 840 ST. CHARLES AVE., NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130. (504) 486-5900. WE CANNOT BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THE RETURN OF UNSOLICITED MANUSCRIPTS EVEN IF ACCOMPANIED BY A SASE. ALL MATERIAL PUBLISHED IN GAMBIT IS COPYRIGHTED: COPYRIGHT 2026 CAPITAL CITY PRESS, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Rebellious spirit

Jamison Ross

Harold Ellis Clark’s ‘Ganking Mr. Guidry’ premieres at Le Petit | by Will Coviello IN SEVERAL OF HIS PLAYS, Harold Ellis Clark has explored family relationships under duress in contemporary settings. “Tour Detour” focused on a soldier about to go to war trying to reckon with his incarcerated father. In ”Back in the Day,” a mother and daughter cope with the aftermath of violence and separation. His new drama, “Ganking Mr. Guidry,” was in part inspired by the 1811 German Coast uprising, a massive slave rebellion that started on the Andry Plantation in what is now LaPlace and moved toward New Orleans. “In 2018, I visited Whitney Plantation for the first time and was mesmerized by the part of the exhibit that deals with the 1811 slave rebellion,” Clark says. “I knew about the rebellion, but the way they talked about the intricate planning really inspired me.” “Ganking Mr. Guidry” premieres at Le Petit Theatre on Aug. 13-16. The drama is set in 1878, just after the end of post-Civil War Reconstruction. Junie, Graylin and other formerly enslaved Black men work harvesting sugarcane on a former plantation owned by a man named Guidry. It is a changing and uncertain time, as Black people are losing rights they gained during Reconstruction. But much of the drama revolves around the legacy of past events. Junie has come to the former plantation because his grandmother died there during the slave rebellion. The weight of that history intrigued Clark. “You can imagine the trauma of the descendants learning about that or being asked about it afterwards?” Clark says. “That was the big thing that resonated me.” The drama explores generational trauma and how people try to change their future. Junie is torn between taking pride in his grandmother’s story and needing to release himself from its burden. The other laborers Junie shares living quarters with don’t know it, but he’s hiding a gun. Hundreds of men and women participated in the rebellion, but Guidry’s plantation and events there are fictional, imagined as an offshoot of the revolt. The fictionalized events also weigh on Mr. Guidry, whose relatives struggled to put down the rebellion. Guidry also has taken in Rowena, a Black woman whose life was turned upside down when her husband, a

he was married to a Sioux woman. He knew Sitting Bull.” Dorman was known as Black Hawk. He spoke Sioux and was working for the army at Little Bighorn. In “Ganking Mr. Guidry,” there’s a character named Isaiah who escaped slavery at Algiers and went to Dakota country. The drama is being directed by John Grimsley, who has worked with Clark before. He directed two productions of “Fishers of Men,” as well as a production of “We Live Here” in Durban, South Africa. Junie is played by Martin Bats Bradford, a veteran actor who appeared in movies including “The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey,” the TV series “NCIS: New Harold Ellis Clark’s ‘Ganking Mr. Guidry’ Orleans” and local stages. premieres at Le Petit Theatre. Graylin is played by Al Aubry, PHOTO PROVIDED BY LE PETIT THEATRE who has appeared in many productions at Anthony Bean Community Theater. Rowena is Creole free man of color, was killed for played by Nicole Collins, who recently trying to integrate a railcar. Besides the appeared in Crescent City Stage’s proplantation home, Junie has his eye on duction of “Primary Trust,” and she’s her as well. worked with Clark in radio. She also The drama also has another inspirawas in “Treme” and “Twelve Years a tion. A couple of the laborers have pasts Slave.” Rahim Glaspy plays Purnell, and intertwined with Native Americans. But Kenneth Brown Jr. is Sammy. that’s not built around kinship between Clark has been working on the escaped enslaved people finding refuge drama since his 2018 visit to Whitney with tribes in Louisiana. Plantation. The production is getting Graylin, an older man, has returned support from the Whitney and this to Louisiana following the Battle of the year’s Carol Sutton Memorial Grant. Little Bighorn, where Gen. Armstrong Clark notes that it’s premiering on a Custer and his forces were massacred year of anniversaries, from the nation’s by Lakota Sioux, Northern Cheyenne 250th to the 150th of the Battle of and Arapaho tribes. Graylin was not in Little Bighorn. But its idea of rebellion is the battle and left as the tensions escamore timeless. lated between the U.S. government and “People were resisting all the time,” the tribes it was pushing further west. Clark says. “I think that’s something Clark has long been interested people forget about. I was reading the in a historical figure involved in archives of The Times-Picayune. They those events. were always looking for a ’10-year-old Isaiah Dorman was a Black man who boy,’ or a ’19-year-old female’ — the worked as an interpreter for the U.S. slaves. People were always trying to Army and associated with various rebel and resist.” tribes. He is believed to be the only Black person to die in the Battle of Little Bighorn. “I have this longtime fascination with Isaiah Dorman,” Clark says. “He spoke several Native American languages, and

“Ganking Mr. Guidry” is at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, and Friday, Aug. 14, 2 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 14, and at 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 16. Tickets $22-$65 via lepetittheatre.com.

Jamison Ross won the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Drums Competition in 2012, and he’s blended jazz, soul and R&B, winning Grammy awards for instrumental jazz and producing Avery Sunshine’s 2025 Best Progressive R&B Album “So Glad to Know You.” Ross has been on a long string of tour dates around the globe and returns home for a Soul Sessions show at the Jazz & Blues Market. At 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 12. Tickets $39.70 and up via ticketmaster.com.

PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Sean Jordan

Sean Jordan is one of the hosts of the comedy podcast “All Fantasy Everything,” along with Ian Karmel and Dave Gborie. He’s released a couple of stand-up comedy albums, including “Girl Dad,” about having a daughter during the pandemic and a subsequent vasectomy. He also hosts his own podcast, “It’s Nice to Be Nice,” about acts of kindness that changed people’s lives. He performs stand-up at 7 & 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Sports Drink. Tickets $28.99 via sportsdrink.org.

Chuck Prophet

Chuck Prophet’s career has progressed through several phases since he emerged with the psychedelic rock band Green on Red in the 1980s. In his solo career, he combined rock, alt-country and Americana sounds over the course of more than a dozen albums. More recently, the Bay Area native flirted with cumbia. His current touring group is mixing country rock and cumbia at 9 p.m., Friday, Aug. 14, at Chickie Wah Wah. Tickets $32.61 via chickiewahwah.com.

Eagles of Death Metal

The garage rock band Eagles of Death Metal has performed with a host of musicians filling out the band, and official member Josh Homme hasn’t always been a lock to appear because of his role leading Southern California PAGE 37

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THE AMOUNT OF TRANSPARENCY THERE HAS BEEN BETWEEN SPACEX EXECUTIVES AND LOCALS LIVING IN VERMILION PARISH.

Wendell Brunious and Cyril Neville will both be given awards

by the upcoming Cutting Edge CE Conference in recognition for their contributions to New Orleans music and the local entertainment industry. The annual conference focuses on the business of music and entertainment. Brunious, a trumpeter and the musical director at Preservation Hall, will receive the 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award, and funk legend Neville will be given the Music Influencer Award.

The Trump administration

wants to loosen rules meant to protect historic sites during new construction projects, a move local preservationists say could be disastrous for New Orleans’ landmarks and iconic architecture. The Advisory Council for Historic Preservation, which includes Gov. Jeff Landry, recommended the rule changes to the 1966 National Historic Preservation Act. Currently, the rules require a public review process allowing locals to weigh in on new construction — but Landry thinks that’s too much a burden for industry projects.

Renting in Louisiana is becoming increasingly unaffordable for low-wage workers in the state. Someone working full-time must earn $18.35 an hour in order to afford a one-bedroom apartment at fair market rate, a recent National Low Income Housing Coalition report found. The state’s minimum wage is $7.25, or $2.13 for tipped employees.

New Orleans City Council Vice President Matthew Willard PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

New Orleans may soon require police to regularly report on use of drones THE NEW ORLEANS CITY COUNCIL GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

Aug. 5 approved a new measure requiring the New Orleans Police Department to provide monthly updates on its increasing use of drones for surveillance and emergency response situations. The committee unanimously advanced the ordinance, authored by City Council Vice President Matthew Willard. Prior to the vote, Willard said he decided to bring the ordinance up after NOPD began expanding its use of drones to include emergency response situations. That “raised some concerns with me, and I didn’t believe we had the proper guardrails set in place,” he said. Willard said transparency was his goal and that NOPD supported it. It “wasn’t a tug of war, tough back and forth with the NOPD,” he said. “My office drafted this ordinance ... and NOPD said, ‘This is good.’ ” Council Member Lesli Harris, who along with Council Member Aimee McCarron has been an outspoken opponent of NOPD’s use of drones, said, “I am against the use of drones in law enforcement. But we are using them, and I think these guardrails are important.”

Under the ordinance, NOPD will be required to create a public database that is updated monthly detailing aspects of its use of drones in the city. The department will also have to provide quarterly reports on the program to the city council. The ordinance comes as NOPD looks to ramp up its use of drones in the city significantly. This spring, NOPD disclosed it was launching a pilot program to use them as first responders to surveil the French Quarter and CBD and would likely look to expand that into the 7th District and New Orleans East. Last month, 404 Media reported that in June NOPD had published a draft plan that included the possibility of arming drones — a significant escalation — on its website before abruptly taking it down. That plan appears to be on hold. Whether it will stay that way remains to be seen. Last year after public scrutiny, NOPD claimed to have dropped a plan to set up a sprawling real-time facial recognition surveillance system in New Orleans. But multiple sources have told Gambit NOPD Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick has been quietly PAGE 10

The aeronautical corporation and pet project of billionaire Elon Musk — who recently accidentally crashed a rocket into the moon — is reportedly in talks to purchase a 130,000-acre tract of land along the coast for launching rockets. But public officials, including Gov. Jeff Landry, as well as SpaceX executives, have declined to speak with reporters and residents who will be impacted. State officials continue facing backlash for signing dozens of NDAs with major companies that leave constituents in the dark.

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is facing a potential $125 million budget gap in 2027 and that the council and the administration will have to find ways to close it as they begin work on the 2027 budget. The administration is also hoping bringing some work in-house will help the city’s long-term budget, though in order to do so it will likely mean short-term spending increases. For instance, Giarrusso said the administration would like to hire more city EMS workers. While that will cost the city an additional $600,000 a year, it would eventually result in spending reductions when the city no longer relies on outside contractors. The administration has already begun working with departments on where they can cut things. “Cuts aren’t a potential. They are a definite,” Giarrusso said. “The question is the magnitude.” — John Stanton

New program aims to give formerly incarcerated women access to dental care A first responder drone PHOTO BY MICHELLE HUNTER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

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pushing to revive the plan now that public anger has died down. While the ordinance does include reporting rules for NOPD, it fell well short of privacy and civil rights groups’ hopes. For instance, it does not include any penalties for reporting failures, which is a chronic problem with NOPD. It also does not include a requirement for NOPD to report on the demographics of those who are surveilled nor does it include a complaint process for citizens. Meanwhile, Chief Administrative Officer Joe Giarrusso briefed the council on the Moreno administration’s ongoing efforts to dig the city out of the financial hole left by the Cantrell administration. The administration July 9 announced it wouldn’t seek approval for a short-term $110 million loan from the State Bond Commission after Gov. Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill, who both serve on the commission, made clear they would not OK it. In an interview with Gambit after that decision, Moreno discussed a number of likely efforts her administration would take to ensure the city is funded through the end of the year. Giarrusso’s update was largely as had been expected for weeks, though he did say the administration was no longer looking to use some or all of the roughly $100 million

the city got this spring from selling the lease rights for Caesars Casino to a financial institution for nine years to get the money upfront. Opposition from Gov. Jeff Landry and Attorney General Liz Murrill forced the Moreno administration to not seek a planned short-term loan for the city. Rather, Giarrusso said the administration was now looking to a variety of funding sources, including $35 million in “Bond Eligible Expenditures,” $5.5 million in remaining American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds as well as collecting $20 million owed the city by the Sewerage & Water Board and $25 million in outstanding grant repayments. He also said they are considering using $25 million from the city’s rainy day fund, though that would have to be repaid in 2027. The council also discussed a number of other ways to increase revenue, particularly long term, including stepping up parking enforcement and increasing some city fees, including short-term rental fees. The administration is also expected to push the council to increase trash collection fees, which have not gone up since 2011. After Hurricane Ida, the city went from twice a week pickup to once a week. But Giarrusso also warned the council that cuts will be coming in the future. He noted that the city

LOUISIANA ADVOCACY GROUPS WHO HELP INCARCERATED WOMEN ARE TEAMING UP to ease the burden of

accessing dental care upon release. The Thurman Perry Foundation, a nonprofit that helps women and girls who are impacted by incarceration, July 31 announced a new $5,000 grant program to begin funding a program to help recently incarcerated women with dental care. The program is being run in partnership with the likeminded FIT Clinic Initiative, whose mission is to improve health outcomes for formerly incarcerated people. Many women leave prison and face a slew of hardships, including untreated dental conditions, which can be exacerbated by a lack of income. That, in turn, can make it harder to find employment. “Formerly incarcerated women often lack access to basic dental care, which becomes another barrier to employment, confidence and successful reentry,” said Danielle Metz, co-director of FIT Clinic, in a news release. “Restoring a smile is a matter of dignity, not luxury.” Gabrielle Perry, the executive director of the Thurman Perry Foundation, is an epidemiologist and a formerly incarcerated woman herself. She said her mother died as a result of inadequate health care while she was incarcerated. Perry has since made it her mission to help women and girls get second chances, educational assistance and other opportunities.

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Through her organization’s Girl Code program, she’s also helped donate nearly 400,000 menstrual products to incarcerated women in Louisiana and across the U.S. According to the state Department of Public Safety & Corrections, more than 1,000 women and girls are currently incarcerated in Louisiana. Perry said the new partnership focused on dental care will help women lead “more successful lives after incarceration.” — Sarah Ravits CrescentCare gives away free IUDs in August CrescentCare in New Orleans is giving away free IUDs in August to eligible patients. The Mirena IUD is a long-term form of birth control that sits in the uterus and can prevent pregnancy for up to eight years. It can also treat heavy periods. To be eligible, a person must be uninsured and make 400% or less of the Federal Poverty Level. That’s $62,600 for a single-person household, $84,600 for a two-person household, $106,600 for a three-person household and $160,750 for a household of four. Without insurance, an IUD typically costs between $500 and $1,800, according to Planned Parenthood. In addition to providing the IUD at no cost, CrescentCare will also

waive the visit fee. Proof of income is required, which can include a month’s worth of pay stubs, letter from an employer, tax forms and more. The IUDs are available on a first come, first served basis through Sept. 1. Those interested can schedule an appointment by calling (504) 821-2601 or visiting the Mid-City Walk-In Clinic at 2515 Canal St. — Kaylee Poche

Pope Leo embraces his enslaved ancestors in New Orleans POPE LEO XIV ACKNOWLEDGED HIS FAMILY’S ROOTS in both slav-

ery and immigration in an interview with NBC News July 29. “I come from a family that my grandparents were immigrants ... [and] on my mother’s side, we have people who were both slaves and slave owners,” he said. Pope Leo is the first Black pope, first American pope and now the first pope to acknowledge a familial connection to the Atlantic Slave Trade. He’s also almost certainly the first to have had ancestors who likely came to the Americas via the Middle Passage. PAGE 12

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Although he was born in Chicago, the Holy Father has deep roots in New Orleans’ Creole community. His grandparents, Joseph and Louise Martinez, were originally from the 7th Ward before moving to Chicago sometime between 1910 and 1912, according to research done by the Historic New Orleans Collection. According to HNOC Family Historian Jari Honora, before moving to Chicago his grandparents lived at 1933 N. Prieur St., which was destroyed when the I-10 was built over Claiborne Avenue as part of the anti-Black “redlining” redevelopment and highway construction era in the United States. HNOC first reported Pope Leo’s Creole roots shortly after he became the leader of Catholic Church last year. His Chicago family has since come to New Orleans to reconnect with their family here. It’s not entirely clear if Pope Leo knew of his Creole roots. According to HNOC’s research, upon arriving in Chicago his family claimed to be white. That was not an uncommon decision for “passe” Black people during one of several periods in American history in which attacks on Black political participation and representation by state and national politicians, the court system, the media and popular culture were common. Pope Leo’s comments are particularly notable as they came in response to a question about what he “loves” about America. Pope Leo responded that his immigrant and

Creole roots gave him a “sense of freedom, the sense of opportunity,” adding that those parts of his ancestry also demonstrate the country’s foundational promise of inviting “generations people from around the world to be part of America.” Earlier in the interview, the Holy Father stressed he views himself as a pope “who happens to be American.” That makes sense, given that he is not only the leader of a worldwide faith but also a spiritual leader whose basic job is to look after the welfare of all of humanity, regardless of religion. In that way it is not unsimilar to how American politicians have viewed themselves as more than their party once they took office as a mayor, a president or a governor of a state like Louisiana, at least until the last few years when that has no longer always been the case. In the interview, Pope Leo also said he hopes to visit the U.S. sometime in the next few years. If he decides to come before the 2028 presidential election, he would likely visit in 2027 since popes typically don’t like to interfere in national elections. While Vice President JD Vance says he is a Catholic convert, coming to the U.S. under the current administration would be, at the least, awkward. Both Vance and President Donald Trump have been vocal critics of Pope Leo’s outspoken reminders of the Gospels’ teachings on empathy and love for outsiders like immigrants and messages of anti-violence and peace. — John Stanton

BL AKE PONTCHARTR AIN™

Hey Blake,

I spent many summer nights seeing movies at the Lakeside Theatre in Metairie. I remember it expanded as they added more screens. There was also a Lakeside Cinema closer to the mall. Was there any connection between the two?

Dear reader,

THE LAKESIDE THEATRE WAS LOCALLY OWNED AND OPENED IN 1965,

while Lakeside Cinema, opened in 1967, was owned by the Bostonbased General Cinema chain. According to Rene Brunet Jr. and Jack Stewart’s book “There’s One in Your Neighborhood: The Lost Movie Theaters of New Orleans,” William H. “Bill” Cobb and his partners Dr. Charles Johnson and Dr. William Terrell opened Lakeside Theater at 3526 Veterans Memorial Blvd. in August 1965. Lakeside Shopping Center, located across the street, was just five years old. Built at a cost of $300,000, according to “Lost Metairie” author Catherine Campanella, it featured a screen that was 50 feet wide and 23 feet high. The original theater, often referred to as “Cobb’s Lakeside,” could seat 728 in plush, high-back rocking chair seats. Many moviegoers will remember the lobby, with its

The old Lakeside Theatre. PHOTO BY C.F. BENNETT/ THE TIMES-PICAYUNE ARCHIVE

chandeliers, fountain, rock garden and modern concession stand. The first picture shown was the comedy “Clarence, the Cross-Eyed Lion.” In 1970 and again in 1974, Cobb and his partners expanded, eventually opening four Lakeside theaters on the property and an adjacent lot. According to Brunet and Stewart, at one point Lakeside was the highest-grossing theater in the New Orleans area. It closed in 1997, amid competition from megaplexes. Lakeside Cinema was located inside and adjacent to Lakeside Shopping Center. Its Lakeside 1 and 2 theaters opened on Aug. 4, 1967, with “The Dirty Dozen” and “The Gnome-Mobile.” According to Brunet and Stewart, an adjacent building, housing Cinemas 3 and 4, was added in 1976. In 1978, Lakeside 2 was closed and divided into two theaters. It reopened as Lakeside 5 in 1978. All the Lakeside Cinema theaters closed in 2000.

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BLAKEVIEW IN HONOR OF NATIONAL VINYL RECORD DAY (AUG. 12), we visit some fondly remembered local record shops of the past and one of the present. Smith’s Record Center was among the oldest, operating at 2019 St. Charles Ave. from the 1950s through 1996. It began as an outgrowth of Smith’s Pharmacy next door. The owner’s children, Irvin Smith and Annette Smason, transformed a shop which initially sold greeting cards and gifts into a spot selling record players, radios and records. Smith’s, which was managed for many years by Annette’s son Alan, developed a loyal following, particularly for opera and classical music, and added stores in Lakeside Shopping Center and The Plaza in Lake Forest. Odyssey Records, owned by Henry Holzenthal and his sons Gary and Karl, became a go-to spot for rap, hip hop and bounce music. According to WWOZ’s A Closer Walk website, the shop in a Dublin Street strip mall “earned a place in rap history as the spot where, in 1993, an 11-year-old Lil Wayne first met Cash Money Records co-founder Bryan ‘Baby’ Williams, while a young DJ Khaled looked on from behind the counter; all three went on to the upper echelon of the industry.” Odyssey expanded with stores on Canal Street, the Carrollton Shopping Center and The Plaza. All have since closed. Still going strong is the Louisiana Music Factory, founded by Barry Smith and WWOZ co-founder Jerry Brock. Opened in 1992 at 225 N. Peters St., the store — known for stocking the music of local artists and hosting live performances — moved to Decatur St. before settling into its current home at 421 Frenchmen St.

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BRINK

Hemp industry ramps up effort to repeal a federal ban on THC seltzers before it’s too late

BY K AYLEE POCHE & JOHN STANTON Editor’s note: This is a developing story. Check bestofneworleans.com for the latest. AT PRESS TIME AUG. 7, the United States Senate was debating whether to approve a one-month delay to a national ban on consumable hemp products like THC seltzers and gummies. The delay could pave the way for a full repeal of the ban and a new regulatory regime for the industry. Despite opposition from many conservatives, prohibitionists and the liquor industry, supporters of the industry were able to include the one-month delay to the ban into the Senate’s version of a mustpass short-term government spending bill, known as a continuing resolution, before recessing until after the Labor Day holiday next month. If a ban is included in the CR, THC seltzers and other products will remain legal through Dec. 11. But more importantly for industry leaders, it could give them the time and political space to eliminate the ban altogether. The efforts on Capitol Hill come as the industry also is launching an aggressive voter outreach and lobbying campaign to build public pressure on lawmakers, including House Speaker Mike Johnson and Majority Leader Steve Scalise, two Louisiana Republicans who are among the most powerful figures in Washington. Louisiana is one of a host of states where consumable hemp products are legal and regulated. In 2024, the industry fought off a ban at the state level. Instead, the state legislature imposed restrictions on the amount of THC that can be in products like seltzers, limits on where they can be sold and strict age limits. The hemp industry has become one of the fastest growing in Louisiana over the last five years and is a rare example of a homegrown sector taking off unconnected to the oil and gas industry in the state. The delay is supported by a unique coalition. In addition to the industry and many Democrats, a sizable number of Republicans in Congress also support repealing the ban, including Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas, who reportedly has been making the case for the delay during closed door meetings of the Senate GOP caucus. The Trump administration also supports repealing the ban and regulating the industry. In fact, last week Trump pressed Republicans to keep the delay in the spending bill, much to the consternation of prohibitionists.

Sen. Bill Cassidy opposes your right to drink THC seltzers PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Sen. Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican, is not a fan of THC products or fun. PHOTO BY MARK SCHIEFELBEIN / THE AP

Four-packs of Louie Louie THC seltzers are packaged at Port Orleans Brewing. PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

But 35 state attorneys general, including Louisiana’s Liz Murrill, came out in favor of the ban and in opposition to any delay in an Aug. 4 letter to House and Senate leaders At the Capitol, ban supporters are led primarily by Sen. Mitch McConnell and Rep. Andy Harris. A Kentucky Republican, McConnell has been a longtime opponent of THC products, partially because of his personal proclivities and partially because of the bourbon industry. For years, McConnell worked as the leader of Senate Republicans, and his ability to force lawmakers into line was unmatched. However, the retiring McConnell stepped down as Senate majority leader when he decided to leave the Senate. He has been hospitalized for months, with a return to work doubtful. Harris, meanwhile, is the chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, a group of ultra right-wing conservatives. That position gives Harris, who over his career has been staunchly anti-cannabis, enormous power in the House. When he is able to keep his caucus in line, he can wield enough votes to essentially block most major pieces of legislation. Harris also has allies on the powerful House Rules Committee, which will be tasked with approving the spending bill next month before it can come to the floor for a full vote. He’s widely expected to try and have the ban delay stripped from the bill during that process, though it remains unclear if enough Republicans would be willing to buck the White House over the issue. MEANWHILE, the hemp industry also is turning its attention to the states in

an effort to build public support for a repeal. On July 27, the newly formed Louisiana Hemp Beverage Coalition sent a letter to Louisiana’s congress members, asking them to stop the ban from going into effect. It was signed by executives of major retailers, including Rouses CEO Donny Rouse and Martin’s owner Cedric Martin. Jacob Landry, CEO of Urban South Brewery (which makes Driftee THCinfused seltzers), said most of Louisiana’s congressional delegation hasn’t taken a position on THC products aside from Rep. Troy Carter, a New Orleans Democrat who supports keeping them legal. “When we have met with staffers, it’s been very noncommittal,” he says. Last week, however, Sen. Bill Cassidy came out in support of the ban, signing onto an amendment to strip the delay out of the spending bill. Landry says he and others have been encouraging customers through social media and newsletters to reach out to Congress members in support of THC drinks. And there are templates available to make it easier for people. “I still don’t think that our representatives understand how mainstream this is, particularly on the beverage side, and how many regular folks are consuming them,” Landry says. That’s why he and other members of the association paid for a survey by Cygnal last month polling Louisiana voters on their support for hemp products. In the survey, 70% of respondents said they wanted states or the federal government to regulate hemp products, compared to the 14% who said they

support a ban. And 52% said they support their Congress member voting to repeal the ban, with 25% saying they’d oppose the move. WHEN FACING an impending deadline, the particulars of the House and the Senate’s schedule and when they’re actually in session are crucial. Prior to the Senate’s summer recess, Landry told Gambit, “If the one-month extension passes, I think we’ll feel pretty good about a final solution coming because it would be an acknowledgement by the Senate and the House that we don’t want to shut everything down completely.” Landry says if the one-month extension passes, they’ll have to see if there is both willpower and time to pass a bill regulating THC products on the federal level. “All of us want regulation,” he says. “All of us want clarity.” If not, Landry says they’ll push for another delay. “If that timeline is still too tight for those to work through the process, then I think asking for another extension in that second continuing resolution would be the best route, but preferably something like a year, not month by month,” he says. Absent the extension, the best THC business owners can hope for is to reverse the ban after it goes into effect. For smaller businesses, the sooner they can do that, the better, as many fear having the ban take effect for some time will hurt the small businesses that have been able to capitalize on the market in its early stages “A lot of our optimism rides on whether or not this one-month ban goes into place,” Landry says.

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COOKING WITH CANNABIS MEANS A LOT MORE THAN POT BROWNIES. There are many ways to use THC in cooking. Here is a process to get cannabis’ properties into a usable cooking form, and a recipe from chef Pedro Lucero, founder of the pop-up Potluck Tacos. Find the pop-up at Carrollton Station and @potlucktacos on Instagram. There also are more recipes at bestofneworleans.com.

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DECARBOXYLATION

LET’S GEAUX

The process to activate the compounds in cannabis BY PEDRO LU CERO ▶ Preheat oven to 230-240 degrees F

(110-115 degrees C) ▶ Break up cannabis into rice size grains (include stems) ▶ Spread out evenly on a baking sheet and cover with foil to avoid burning ▶ Bake for 30-40 minutes ▶ Wrap the decarbed THC in aluminum foil in a ball or whatever creative shape you desire and immediately put it in the freezer. Let sit for 10-15 minutes (I find this helps the cannabinoids from further processing into your different spectrum of THC, CBD, CBN, etc., while giving a consistency needed when cooking with cannabis.)

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After decarboxylating, use for infusions of any kind. Note: You can use any method you like for infusion. I find the MagicButter the easiest for beginners and worth the investment. Using double boilers and controlling temperature on a stove top aren’t always easy.

GREEN DEVILED EGGS BY PEDRO LU CERO INGREDIENTS: ▶ 12 medium boiled eggs

▶ 2 tsp. fresh tarragon, chopped

▶ 2 Tbsp. coconut cannabis oil

▶ 1 pinch Tajín

(40-50 mgs of THC) ▶ 2 Tbsp. mayonnaise ▶ 1 tsp. stone ground Creole mustard ▶ 1 tsp. lime juice ▶ 1 tsp. garlic, finely minced ▶ 2 tsp. fresh parsley, chopped (save full individual leaves for garnish)

▶ 1/2 tsp. soy sauce ▶ 1/2 tsp. lemon zest ▶ 1 Tbsp. chives, chopped ▶ Salt and pepper to taste ▶ Paprika for garnish

DIRECTIONS:

Cut medium-boiled eggs in half long ways. Carefully remove the yolk and place in a mixing bowl. Set egg white aside on a cold serving plate. Add all dry ingredients into the bowl with the egg yolks and mix with a spatula until egg yolks are no longer in chunks. Then add all other ingredients and fold in the coconut cannabis oil for even distribution. Use a quart- or gallon-size Ziploc bag and put the mix in the bag. Cut a small tip off one corner to be able to squeeze controlled portions into the egg white halves. Don’t be afraid to pile it on to overflow the yolk hole. Dust with paprika and top with a parsley leaf. Each egg should have 2-4 milligrams of THC. Eat responsibly and enjoy.

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GUEST OPINION

Louisiana voters don’t want a hemp ban BY JIM HIGDON Jennifer Kimery adjusts containers of THC gummies PHOTO BY MICHAEL JOHNSON / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATURE DECIDED A FEW YEARS AGO to regulate hemp products like low-dose THC beverages, and now Congress wants to bigfoot Louisiana’s states rights by demanding a full prohibition of these products. Fortunately, there is an effort to prevent this big-government takeover by regulating these products at the federal level, but the fight is far from over. This proposed prohibition traces back to Senator Mitch McConnell, Republican of Kentucky, who inserted language into the appropriations bill Congress passed in November 2025 to end the government shutdown. The McConnell ban will redefine legal hemp as products that contain no more than 0.4 milligrams of THC per container. That number is so small it outlaws virtually every hemp beverage, gummy and tincture on the market. It appears designed to eliminate the entire product category. Louisiana has taken a different approach. The Legislature in Baton Rouge passed its own hemp beverage law in 2024, requiring every product sold in the state to be tested, licensed and capped at 5 milligrams of THC per serving. Sen. McConnell’s pending 0.4mg-per-container standard will eliminate this product category outright unless Congress changes course. America has learned this lesson over and over: prohibition does not make demand disappear. Prohibition just pushes that demand into a black market with no testing, no licensing, and no age limit. That’s the exact outcome Louisiana’s law was written to avoid, and what could be coming to Louisiana due to an overreaching federal government. But not all hope is lost. As of the time of this writing Aug. 7, the U.S. Senate was considering a one-month reprieve for non-synthetic hemp

products. That would push the deadline for banning most hemp products nationwide from Nov. 12 to Dec. 11, which will be a signal that Senate leadership would rather create a regulatory framework for non-synthetic hemp products than let a blanket prohibition hand the market over to criminal enterprise. Louisiana’s congressional delegation should look at where their voters stand before deciding whether to protect the Senate’s one-month extension should it reach the House in September. A poll conducted in mid-July found 70 percent of Louisiana voters want hemp products regulated and just 14 percent want them banned outright. Sixty percent, including 66 percent of Republicans, said it is not Washington’s place to ban a product that Louisiana already regulates. Fifty-two percent would support their member of Congress voting to repeal the federal ban. Many survey respondents who were initially in favor of the ban came around when educated on the issue. When Louisiana Republicans learned that the state has capped potency to 5 milligrams THC per serving, support for the ban collapsed by a net 31 points. Despite these strong poll numbers, the Louisiana hemp beverage market is under threat by a handful of members of Congress, led by Rep. Andy Harris of Maryland, who has mounted a nationwide crusade against the legal market approved of by 70 percent of Louisiana voters. Louisiana’s Congressional delegation does not need to take Mr. Harris’s fight as their own. Louisiana voters have already said what they want, and it is not the total prohibition championed by Andy Harris or Mitch McConnell. Jim Higdon is co-founder and chief communications officer of Cornbread Hemp.

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Due Market opens in Terranova’s spot | by Beth D’Addono WHEN A SANDWICH IS GREAT, it’s epic.

The weekend special muffuletta at Terranova’s Meats is one example. The chicken parm at Francolini’s is another. And now that the Italian deli Dué Market is open at 3306 Esplanade Ave., its Italian hero and the Italian beef are duking it out for top bite. Its spicy tuna conserva, made with olives and Calabrian chili, and the turkey caprese also are both strong contenders. The new market has plenty going for it, thanks to taking over the original space where Terranova’s Grocery operated for a century. Karen and Benjamin Terranova retired from their go-to neighborhood spot last year, but the family business is still dug into the neighborhood. Now the third generation, Anthony Terranova and his wife Jennifer, operate Terranova’s Meats in a corner of the store’s old footprint. Dué General Manager Chrissy Hardy is well versed in the family-owned hospitality business. She and her siblings are partners in Macromia Group, which runs more than a dozen concepts here and in Miami. The family has New Orleans roots, and Hardy and her sister Cecile Hardy Tanguis grew up in Uptown. Cecile’s husband Barre Tanguis is from Monroe. Brother Joe Reiss runs Taziki’s Mediterranean Cafe in Metairie and Poke Loa in Uptown. The company’s culinary director is Barre’s cousin, chef J.D. Hilburn, based in Brooklyn. Dué — named for the Tanguis family’s pug — means two in Italian, referring to a second life for the longtime Esplanade anchor. While the reimagined space still has the same terrazzo floor, there is now a long marble counter across from the doorway, handsome built-in green cabinetry, a service area for gelato and snowballs, and a large deli case spotlighting imported Italian meats and prepared foods. In the center of the store, open stainless steel shelving spotlights delicacies like potato crisps from Madrid, tins of Fishwife seafood and olive oil infused with Calabrian chili

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Although this bread can steal the show, it manages to share the spotlight with the chef’s Italian beef, a juicy cut of chuck that he cooks sous vide for 24 hours in a blend of balsamic and stock. It is grilled and served with oozing horseradish aioli, melted provolone and caramelized onions. Brumfield says the Chef Dylan Brumfield and Chrissy Italian hero is the top Hardy at Due Market seller so far, with its PHOTO BY MADDIE SPINNER / GAMBIT premium stack of salami, prosciutto cotto, capicola and provolone, dressed peppers — exactly the kind of treats with vegetables and Italian vinaigrette. to bring to a dinner party or delight For the less famished, there are a foodie with a curious palate. paninettos, smaller sandwiches stuffed Besides the likes of Genoa salami with that Sicilian tuna, mortadella and and mortadella, the deli case also holds mozzarella or a vegetarian-friendly wedges of Parmesan and asiago, triple caprese scattered with bits of torn cream brie and house-made nibbles basil. There’s also a Caesar and an by the pound, including egg salad and Italian chopped salad. All of the Sicilian tuna with extra virgin olive oil meats featured in the sandwiches and a medley of black and green olives. are available by the pound Dué’s chef de cuisine is Dylan In the morning, there is French Brumfield, who most recently worked Truck coffee, bargain priced at $1.50 for Mid City Pizza and has a backa cup, and pastries from Bittersweet ground in fine dining at restaurants Confections. Sandwiches start rolling including Bayona, Brown Butter out at 11 a.m., and locals pop in and out Southern Kitchen and MoPho. in a steady stream, dining or picking Brumfield grew up in Lakeview, up supplies for dinner or snacks at and his mother’s side of the family home. The store closes at 9 p.m. has Sicilian roots, so he’s no stranger Down the road, Hardy says to a sandwich with an Italian accent. wine and beer might be added. He says they make as much from The Tanguis family lives near scratch as possible, including handBayou St. John, and Hardy stretched mozzarella and stracalso lived there for years. ciatella. The mozzarella goes into a “My son Finn and I lived just up the grilled cheese sandwich along with street,” she says. “He grew up loving sharp cheddar and provolone. Miss Karen at Terranova’s. She was Dué uses breads including Dong so great with all the neighborhood Phuong brioche and French pistokids. We used to joke that if the family lettes and imported pan de cristal, ever decided to close, they’d let us developed in 2004 by master baker have the place because of Finn.” Jordi Nomen in Barcelona. It’s called Her son, now 16, works scooping glass bread for a reason: The crust snowballs at Dué when he’s not in is shatteringly crisp while the texschool. “We missed this neighborhood ture inside is airy with a honeycomb so much when we moved to Metairie,” crumb, less dense than focaccia. she says. “Now, we don’t have to.”

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Ladies Nights

A FEW TABLES WERE SEATED FOR EARLY DINNER one night at Compère

Lapin, but the real action at chef Nina Compton’s Warehouse District restaurant was at the bar. A crowd of mostly women was chatting and circulating as they sipped special rum cocktails and noshed bar snacks from Compton’s menu and also from guest chef Lisa Nelson, of MidCity’s backstreet “Trinbagonian island soul food” restaurant Queen Trini Lisa. It was a different pace for what might’ve otherwise been a slow weeknight in downtown New Orleans in deep summer. It was also the first edition of a new happy hour series that is moving to different local restaurants from week to week over the next two months. The series is called Ladies Night NOLA, but that’s not because the specials are for only women (they’re open to all). Rather, each of the restaurants is led by women, either as chef, proprietor, co-owner or some combination of these roles.

Chefs Lisa Nelson (left) and Nina Compton collaborated for a Ladies Night NOLA happy hour. PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Each one brings different flair to their own edition, with a changing roster of collaborations, mini markets, karaoke at one, a whole fish breakdown at another and cocktails from stop to stop. Compton cooked up the series through discussions with her fellow “lady boss” friends in the business, she says. She sees it as a way for hospitality businesses to dial up some self-help in summer, support each other and highlight just how much women are shaping the modern New Orleans dining scene. PAGE 29

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PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

“I see these women as fearless leaders in our community, and they deserve more attention for what they’re doing,” Compton says. When she proposed the idea, it caught fire, and the circle of collaborators grew to a 10-part series. “We’re all looking for ways to mix things up in the summer, and, let’s be honest, people are looking for a deal,” Compton says. “So it’s just about having fun and getting people together, introducing them to places and people they might not know yet.” “My hope is people turn it into that thing they do after work, getting the ladies together and going out for ladies night again,” she adds. Some events are drop-by happy hours; others are ticketed with reservations recommended. All are on Wednesdays from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Upcoming Ladies Night NOLA events include Aug. 12, at Mister Mao in Uptown. There will be a collaboration with the Marigny bakery/cafe Ayu Bakehouse with French Truck espresso martinis, snacks and karaoke (and the event goes until 8 p.m.). On Aug. 19, the party moves to Rosedale, which will collaborate with Porgy’s Seafood Market, and there will be a mini market of local vendors, light appetizers, live music, wines selected by Rosedale sommelier Michelle Gueydan and a whole fish butchery demo from Porgy’s fish monger Caitlin Carney, who will supply crudo plates. Tickets for that event are $40. On Aug. 26, Dolfy’s hosts a “Pintxos & Pitchers” happy hour with a choice of Basque-style bar snacks and pitchers of summery cocktails, and there will be live entertainment. Tickets are $45. Ladies Nights will continue in September at Peche Seafood Grill, Dakar NOLA, Zasu, Lil Dizzy’s Cafe and Mosquito Supper Club. — Ian McNulty / The Times-Picayune

known for its smashstyle burgers and beef tallow shoestring fries, has become the latest addition to the New Orleans Fair Grounds Race Course, introducing a national brand to concession stands long defined by local fare. The Fair Grounds recently announced the opening in an Instagram post featuring Steak ‘n Shake’s milkshakes topped with whipped cream and maraschino cherries. Because the restaurant is located on the slots floor, guests dining with anyone under 21 can enter through the trackside doors, according to the post. The opening marks Steak ’n Shake’s first location in New Orleans and the second in Louisiana. The chain joins a handful of concession stands at the Fair Grounds, where vendors have long served local staples such as gumbo, bread pudding and coffee and pastries from PJ’s Coffee. Steak ’n Shake is among the latest entrants in the city’s growing smash burger scene, where neighborhood restaurants specialize in thin, crispedged patties — a style that has risen in popularity in recent years and contrasts with the thicker burgers that long dominated American menus. Late last year, Bub’s Burgers expanded to the Northshore after serving smash burgers for years at its Uptown and Mid-City locations. Months later, 2 Potnas, a former Gentilly food stand, opened on Banks Street in Mid-City, serving several smash burger variations alongside french fries, onion rings and Zapp’s potato chips. In April, Patty’s Burger Bar quietly opened on Magazine Street in the Warehouse District. Steak ’n Shake, however, was making smash burgers on a griddle long before the style became popular, according to the company’s website. The chain opened its first location in Illinois in 1934, serving thinly pressed patties made from 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef on a toasted bun. Today, the restaurant has hundreds of locations across the United States. — Poet Wolfe / The Times-Picayune

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Dr. Shannon Gonsoulin Co-owner, Gonsoulin Land & Cattle by Will Coviello DR. SHANNON GONSOULIN IS A VETERINARIAN WHO STARTED A CATTLE BUSINESS on his family farm in New

Iberia. He is the seventh generation of the family that settled in Louisiana. Gonsoulin Land & Cattle raises cows, and its grass-fed beef is distributed across the state. It will be highlighted, along with another local farm’s meat, at Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse Summer Picnic on Aug. 15. The indoor event features a variety of beef cuts prepared in all types of dishes, and the ranchers attend the event. For more about Gonsoulin, visit glcranch.com. For more about the Summer Picnic, go to dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com.

What are the origins of your family’s ranch? DR. SHANNON GONSOULIN: The first

Gonsoulin was a land surveyor who was sent by the king of France. He had married into the royal lineage. His name was Francois Gonsoulin. He came in the 1750s. In 1767, he established a homestead in the Attakapas district, which is now St. Martinville. He started raising cattle, and the brand that he registered in 1787 is “F2.” He said that “F” was for his first name, and the “2” was because he was married. Branded cattle started here in Louisiana. The old brand books in St. Martinville have us listed on the first page. The brand book is so old, the pages aren’t numbered. We’re not sure if that was the first page. But if it is the first page, then we’re the 10th oldest brand in the United States. We’re pretty proud of that. The cattle were here from the Spanish. As the territory got more populated, after the Acadians settled here from Nova Scotia, the deer supply and the wild animal supply started to go down. So they started using cattle as their beef source. That’s how the ranches started having large herds, and they would not only use those animals locally, they would send those animals for the Revolutionary War effort and for New Orleans. So the beef cattle was a big part of the protein source for the early settlers, and it just continued since then, and it moved out west as well.

PHOTO PROVIDED BY GONSOULIN LAND & CATTLE

But you restarted the family cattle business.

G: The ranch has always been used for some kind of agricultural product. It jumped from cattle to timber to soybeans to sugarcane to cattle. So we’ve been doing it for a while. I am a veterinarian by trade. When I moved back home, we always had cattle here and there, but we never had it as a big operation. When I came back in ’94, we started looking at things we could do differently. It took us about 10 years to find our spot. The niche that we picked was the grass-fed niche, which was pretty simple for us because that’s all we used to do. In 2006, we started doing the grass-fed line to create a niche. The goal was simply to develop a product that we could sell to our family and neighbors. It was never meant to be as big as it has gotten. It has taken off with consumers. We started early enough that we were on the forefront of that kind of stuff. We started in 2006 with 40 mama cows. We weren’t looking at building it up to a huge herd. We were going to start a little niche market and see what happens. In 2006, everybody was getting on the bandwagon: farm-to-table, all natural, local, organic. At that point in time, there was nobody regulating what you could be. I could say I am Organic Joe and charge $20 more for what I was producing, but nobody was confirming that I was organic. The American Grassfed Association was an association that if you gained

membership, they’d send a veterinarian down to the ranch. He’d stay for two days, and he made sure that what we said we were doing we were actually doing. It was thirdparty verification process. It helped us. Things worked very well, and we started to gain momentum. We started going to food shows. We were in Rouses Markets for a while. We were in about 30 markets and have since stopped. We tried to get into restaurants. I met Dickie Brennan at a farm-to-table convention. He’s been big trying to promote Louisiana products. We got to be good friends. We did sell meat at several of his restaurants until Covid came and messed things up. We’ve been doing the Picnic for 12 or 13 years.

What kind of products do you produce? G: We have a processing plant. We process our meat ourselves, and we’re state inspected. That allows us to sell in the state of Louisiana. If we wanted to send our stuff to a U.S.D.A. facility to sell nationwide, we could. But we sell out in state. We’re not looking at going national. We sell at the Baton Rouge Farmers Market and the Lafayette Farmers Market. We were at the Crescent City Farmers Market before Covid. We’re looking to get back into the New Orleans market. We also have a store at the ranch where we sell the individual cuts. We also sell beef by quarter, half and whole sides of beef, so in bulk. We’re trying to sell every part of the cow and utilize as much as we can. There’s a lot more than some rib-eye and some ground meat. We try to sell every part of the cow because every part of the cow costs money. We sell knuckle bones, and people take that and make a beef broth. We sell the marrow bones. Those sell out. We sell the organ meats. We started to produce a primal ground beef, which is 60% beef, 20% heart, 10% liver and 10% kidney. We can’t keep that in stock. We try to find some way where every part of the cow has somewhere to go. We’ll customize it if we can.

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Out to Eat is an index of Gambit contract advertisers. Unless noted, addresses are for New Orleans and all accept credit cards. Updates: Email willc@gambitweekly.com or call (504) 483-3106. 3rd Block Depot — 316 Chartres St., (504) 552-4095; 3rdblockdepot.com — The menu ranges from seafood and sausage gumbo and Gulf shrimp ceviche to smashburgers and steaks. Brunch brings crab cake Benedict with hollandaise on an English muffin. Reservations available. Breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner daily. $$$ Acropolis Cuisine — 3841 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 888-9046; acropoliscuisine.com — The menu of classic Greek dishes includes souvlaki, gyros and pita wraps, spanakopita, hummus and Greek salads. Moussaka has layers of eggplant, potatoes, zucchini, ground beef and bechamel. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. $$ Angelo Brocato’s — 214 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-1465; angelobrocatoicecream. com — This Mid-City sweet shop serves its own gelato in flavors like praline, salted caramel and tiramisu, as well as Italian ices in flavors like lemon, strawberry and mango. There also are cannolis, biscotti, fig cookies, tiramisu, macaroons and coffee drinks. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $ Annunciation — 1016 Annunciation St., (504) 568-0245; annunciationrestaurant.com — Gulf fish Capri includes artichokes, crawfish, tomatoes and capers. There also are oysters, seafood pasta dishes, salads, steaks, lamb chops and desserts like bananas Foster bread pudding and lemon icebox tart. Reservations recommended. Dinner Thu.-Mon. $$$ Audubon Clubhouse — 6500 Magazine St., (504) 558-1200; audubonclubhouse.com — The menu by Dickie Brennan and Co. includes crabmeat cheesecake, shrimp remoulade, fried oysters, burgers, sandwiches and more. Shrimp Tchefuncte combines house-made andouille, mushrooms, popcorn rice and Creole meuniere sauce. Outdoor seating available. Reservations recommended. Brunch, lunch and dinner daily. $$$ Banana Blossom — 500 9th St., Gretna, (504) 500-0997; 504bananablossom. com — There are traditional Thai dishes like pad thai, green curry, pineapple fried rice, drunken noodles and coconut shrimp as well as original creations. Beef rib Chiang Mai features a slow-braised beef rib with yellow curry, egg noodles, pickled mustard greens, cilantro and chili oil. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $$ Budsi’s Authentic Thai — 1760 N. Rampart St., (504) 381-4636; budsisthai.com — Chef Budsaba Mason prepares dishes from her native Issan region of Thailand and other popular Thai dishes like papaya salad, grilled pork shoulder, larb, khao soi, pad thai and red curry. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $$ Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop — 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, (504) 835-2022; gumbostop. com — The Gumbo Stop has several gumbo varieties including chicken and sausage gumbo and seafood gumbo with shrimp, crab and crawfish. The menu also has boudin balls, Bayou shrimp scampi, crawfish etouffee and fried shrimp po-boys. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $$ The Commissary — 634 Orange St., (504) 274-1850; thecommissarynola.com — Dickie Brennan’s Commissary supplies his other restaurant kitchens and also has a dine-in menu and prepared foods to go. A smoked

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O U T T O E AT $ — average dinner entrée under $10 $$ — $11-$20 $$$ — $20-up turkey sandwich is served with bacon, tomato jam, herbed cream cheese, arugula and herb vinaigrette on honey oat bread. The menu includes dips, salads, sandwiches, boudin balls, fried oysters and more. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Tue.-Sat. $$ The Country Club — 634 Louisa St., (504) 945-0742; thecountryclubneworleans. com — The Bywater restaurant and pool has a menu of crab beignets, truffle mac and cheese, shrimp and grits, burgers and more. Seared redfish is served with kale, toasted chickpeas, sesame seeds, chili crisp and whipped tahini. Outdoor seating available. Reservations recommended. Lunch, brunch and dinner daily. $$$ Delacroix Restaurant — 1 Poydras St., (504) 655-9002; delacroixrestaurant.com — With views overlooking the Mississippi River, the restaurant serves a mix of South Louisiana dishes like smoked duck gumbo, crawfish bisque, shrimp Creole, blackened redfish and crawfish étouffée. Drum amandine is served with green beans and stewed potatoes. Reservations available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$ Desire Oyster Bar — Royal Sonesta New Orleans, 300 Bourbon St., (504) 586-0300; sonesta.com/desireoysterbar — A menu full of Gulf seafood includes oysters served raw on the half-shell or char-broiled with with Parmesan, garlic and herbs. The menu also includes po-boys, gumbo, blackened fish, fried seafood platters and more. Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$ Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House — 144 Bourbon St., (504) 522-0111; bourbonhouse. com — There’s a seafood raw bar with raw and char-broiled oysters, fish dip, crab fingers, shrimp and more. Redfish “on the half-shell” is cooked skin-on and served with crab-boiled potatoes, frisee and lemon buerre blanc. The bar offers a wide selection of bourbon and whiskies. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$ Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse — 716 Iberville St., (504) 522-2467; dickiebrennanssteakhouse.com — The menu includes a variety of steaks, plus seared Gulf fish, lobster pasta, barbecue shrimp and more. A 6-ounce filet mignon is served with fried oysters, creamed spinach, potatoes and bearnaise. Reservations recommended. Dinner Mon.Sat. $$$ Domenica — 123 Baronne St., (504) 6486020; domenicarestaurant.com — The Italian restaurant offers a mix of wood-fired Napolitano-style pizzas and house-made pastas. Appetizers include various salumi and cheese boards, antipasti, roasted cauliflower and more. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$ Don’s Seafood — 4801 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 888-1555; donsseafoodonline.com — The seafood options range from char-broiled oysters to seafood gumbo, fried shrimp and catfish platters and stuffed flounder. The menu also has rib-eye steaks. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily. $$ Elizabeth’s Restaurant — 601 Gallier St., (504) 944-9272; elizabethsrestaurantnola. com — Elizabeth’s is known for its signature

Pickled shrimp is on the menu at the Audubon Clubhouse by Dickie Brennan & Co. (6975 Magazine St., 504-558-1200; audubonclubhouse.com) in Audubon Park. PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

praline bacon, and the menu also includes boudin balls, shrimp and grits, chicken and waffles and eggs Florentine. Outdoor seating available. Reservations accepted for parties of 10 or more. Breakfast and lunch daily. $$ Katie’s Restaurant — 3701 Iberville St., (504) 488-6582; katiesinmidcity.com — The Cajun Cuban is stuffed with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. The eclectic menu also includes char-grilled oysters, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, fried seafood platters, pasta, salads and more. Delivery available. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily. $$ King Brasserie & Bar — Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, 501 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 324-3000; kingbrasserieandbar.com — The restaurant’s menu is inspired by the cuisine of the Riviera and southern France. There are dishes like steak frites and bouillabaisse as well as blackened Gulf fish and barbecue shrimp and oysters. Reservations recommended. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$$ Legacy Kitchen’s Craft Tavern — 700 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 613-2350; legacykitchen.com — The menu includes oysters, flatbreads, burgers, sandwiches, salads and sharable plates like NOLA Tot Debris. A slow-cooked pulled pork barbecue sandwich is served with coleslaw on a brioche bun. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$ Legacy Kitchen Steak & Chop — 91 Westbank Expressway, Gretna, (504) 513-2606; legacykitchen.com — The selection of steaks and chops includes filet mignon, bone-in rib-eye,

top sirloin and double pork chops and a la carte toppings include bearnaise, blue cheese and sauteed crabmeat. There also are burgers, salads, pasta, seafood entrees, char-broiled oysters and more. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$ Luke — 333 St. Charles Ave., (504) 3782840; lukeneworleans.com — The raw bar offers oysters, boiled shrimp, cured tuna, smoked trout dip and more. The menu has dishes like shrimp and grits, crab omelets, crawfish etouffee and steak frites. Reservations encouraged. Breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner daily. $$$ Lyons Corner — 537 Gravier St., (504) 5270006; lyonscornernola.com — The eclectic menu includes Cajun prawns, bang-bang fried oysters, chicken sandwiches, salads and more. In the morning, there are breakfast empanadas, muffins, croissants, scones, beignets and more. Delivery and takeout available. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$ Mikimoto — 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 488-1881; mikimotosushi.com — The menu of Japanese cuisine includes sushi, signature rolls, tempura fried items, udon noodles, teriyaki, salads and more.The South Carrollton roll includes tuna tataki, avocado, snow crab, green onion and wasabi roe. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch Sun.-Fri., dinner daily. $$ PAGE 35

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Mosca’s — 4137 Highway 90 West, Westwego, (504) 436-8950; moscasrestaurant.com — This family-style eatery serves Italian dishes and specialties including shrimp Mosca, baked oysters Mosca and spaghetti bordelaise and chicken cacciatore. Chicken a la grands is sauteed with garlic, rosemary, Italian herbs and white wine. Reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.-Sat. Cash only. $$$ Mother’s Restaurant — 401 Poydras St., (504) 523-9656; mothersrestaurant.net — This counter-service spot serves po-boys dressed with sliced cabbage like the Famous Ferdi filled with ham, roast beef and debris. Creole favorites include jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice and more. Breakfast is available all day. Delivery available. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$ Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro — 720 Orleans Ave., (504) 523-1930; orleansgrapevine.com — The wine bar offers a selectoin of cheese boards and appetizers. Creole pasta combines shrimp and andouille in tomato cream sauce. Reservations accepted for large parties. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Thu.-Sun. $$ Pascal’s Manale — 1838 Napoleon Ave., (504) 895-4877; pascalsmanale.com — This Creole-Italian spot invented New Orleansstyle barbecue shrimp, and the menu also includes seafood gumbo, crab cakes, oysters and Italian-style pasta dishes. There’s also an oyster bar. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. $$$ Peacock Room — Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, 501 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 324-3073; peacockroomnola.com — At brunch, braised short rib grillades are served over grits with mushrooms, a poached egg and shaved truffle. The dinner menu has oysters, salads, pasta, shrimp and grits, a burger, cheese plates and more. Reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.-Mon., brunch Sun. $$ Pizza Domenica — 4933 Magazine St., (504) 301-4978; pizzadomenica.com — Pizza is the focus of this offshoot of the Italian restaurant Domenica. There also are meatballs, roasted cauliflower and house-made pastas. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. $$ Restaurant August — 301 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 299-9777; restaurantaugust.com — The fine dining restaurant serves Creole and contemporary dishes featuring foie gras, Gulf fish, duck and more. Gnocchi are served with crab, summer truffles and Parmesan. Reservations recommended. Dinner Sun.Fri., lunch Fri. $$$ Rivershack Tavern — 3449 River Road, Jefferson, (504) 834-4938; rivershacktavern.com — This tavern along the levee offers a casual menu of roast beef po-boys, burgers, wraps, fried shrimp platters, catfish and gumbo. A country fried steak is served with brown gravy, mashed potatoes, vegetables and salad. Outdoor seating available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. $$ Shaya — 4213 Magazine St., (504) 891-4213; shayarestaurant.com — The Mediterranean and Middle Eastern menu includes dishes like hummus, falafel, kebabs, grilled chicken and wood-oven pita bread. A chicken schnitzel sandwich is dressed with little gem lettuce, pickles and harissa mayonnaise on sesame brioche bread. Outdoor seating available. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$ Stingray’s Restaurant & Bar — 1303 W. Esplanade Ave., Kenner, (504) 443-4040; stingraysseafoodrestaurant.com — Zydeco

fish is stuffed with crabmeat dressing and topped with shrimp cream sauce. The menu also includes fried shrimp and oyster platters, grilled redfish, crabmeat jalapeños, and boudin egg rolls. Reservations available. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$ Tableau — 616 St. Peter St., (504) 934-3463; tableaufrenchquarter.com — The menu features traditional and creative Creole dishes. Pasta bouillabaisse features squid ink mafaldine, little neck clams, Gulf shrimp, squid, seafood broth, rouille and herbed breadcrumbs. Outdoor seating available on the balcony. Reservations recommended. Dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Thu.-Sun. $$$ Tacklebox — 817 Common St., (504) 827-1651; legacykitchen.com — The menu includes raw and char-broiled oysters, seafood platters, po-boys, fried chicken, crab and corn bisque and more. Redfish St. Charles is served with garlic-herb butter, asparagus, mushrooms and crawfish cornbread. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$ Tavi — 330 N. New Hampshire St., (985) 200-2045; tavirestaurant.com — The menu combines dishes from the Middle East, North Africa and the Mediterranean. There’s hummus, falafel, kebabs, flatbreads, grilled fish, lamb burgers and more. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. $$$ Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 1212 S. Clearview Parkway, Elmwood, (504) 733-3803; 2125 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 510-4282; 4024 Canal St., (504) 302-1133; 4218 Magazine St., (504) 894-8554; 70488 Highway 21, Covington, (985) 234-9420; theospizza.com — A Marilynn Pota Supreme pie is topped with mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, hamburger, mushrooms, bell peppers and onions. There also are salads, sandwiches, wings, breadsticks and more. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily. $ The Vintage — 3121 Magazine St., (504) 324-7144; thevintagenola.com — There’s a full coffee drinks menu and baked goods and beignets, as well as a full bar. The menu has flatbreads, cheese boards, small plates and a pressed vegetable sandwich with avocado, onions, arugula, red pepper and pepper jack cheese. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$ Vyoone’s — 412 Girod St., (504) 381-4384; vyoone.com — The French-Creole menu includes dishes like escargot, crawfish beignets, crab cakes, shrimp pasta, duck a l’orange and lamb chops. Reservations recommended. Dinner Wed.-Sun. $$$ Willa Jean — 611 O’Keefe Ave., (504) 5097334; willajean.com — The bakery and cafe serves biscuits with honey butter, cookies, pastries, breakfast sandwiches, shrimp and grits and more. Avocado toasts are made with house-baked ciabatta topped with tomatillo, spiced pepitas, pickled onion, cilantro and chipotle aioli. Outdoor seating available. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. $$ Yinzer’s Amazing Cheesesteaks — 1514 Delachaise St., (412) 860-6801; yinzersamazingcheesesteaks.com —There are classic and original cheesesteaks filled with steak, chicken and more. Diners can opt for toppings like provolone, house-made cheddar whiz, mushrooms, onions, banana peppers and more. Delivery available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Sun. $

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A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T PAGE 7

stoner rock band Queens of the Stone Age. That leaves the other official core member, Jesse Hughes, aka Boots Electric, leading the show. The band has been celebrating the 20th anniversary of its “Death by Sexy” album. Headsend opens at 7:30 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, at House of Blues. Tickets $37 and up via ticketmaster.com.

Steve Turre, Delfeayo Marsalis and Herlin Riley

Steve Turre is an accomplished trombonist and also is known to play a seashell. He’s known for his work in jazz, but he also was a member of the “Saturday Night Live” band for a season. He’s in town for an annual collaboration with trombonist Delfeayo Marsalis, and they’re joined by drummer Herlin Riley. At 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14, and Saturday, Aug. 15, at Snug Harbor. Tickets $52.60 via snugjazz.com.

Punchis Banda Rave

Street. For more information visit bkhouse.org.

Masego

Masego arrives in New Orleans a week into a tour promoting his latest album, “Fix Your Face,” a follow-up to the lush blend of soul, jazz and R&B on his 2023 self-titled release. The Jamaicanborn artist has dubbed his own sound “traphouse jazz” and he’s drawn a Grammy nomination for progressive R&B album. New York R&B singer Lekan opens at 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 10, at The Fillmore. Tickets $47.15 and up via ticketmaster.com.

Billy Iuso

Guitarist Billy Iuso headlines a Free Fridays show at Tipitina’s. Funk group Pocket Chocolate opens at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 14. Admission is first come, first served. Find information at tipitinas.com.

What do you get when you mix Banda, a kinda sorta brass band music from Sinaloa, Mexico, EDM beats and a light show? Apparently, the Punchis Banda Rave. And honestly, it’s surprising nobody thought to mash up the infectious, brass heavy and imminently danceable Banda with EDM sooner. The traveling rave makes a stop Friday, Aug. 14, at Republic. The show runs from 10 p.m. to 3 a.m. Tickets $26.90 to $48.51 via republicnola.com.

Under the Influence

Sharon Martin and Friends

The Moth

BK House Bicentennial

Emerging Directors Showcase

Jazz vocalist Sharon Martin celebrates August birthdays with a host of special guests, including Guitar Slim Jr., vocalist Shonte and violinist Lenzie Ward, son of jazz violinist Michael Ward. At 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 15, at Cafe Istanbul. Tickets $20 in advance via @ shamartinmusic on Instagram, and $25 at the door. The BK House celebrates the 200th anniversary of the beginning of construction on the French Quarter home with a block party. The event includes music by Crescent City DJ, birthday cake and a complimentary specialty cocktail. There’s also a cash bar. The home is best known as the former residence of Gen. P.G.T. Beauregard, the writer Frances Parkinson Keyes and chess champion Paul Morphy, among others. It’s a living monument to preservation, having escaped demolition several times throughout its colorful history. At 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, on the 1100 block of Chartres

Singer-songwriter Mia Borders is joined by Micah McKee, Ainsley Matich, Rebecca Crenshaw, Sage Rouge and more in a salute to Bill Withers, the soul and R&B singer who recorded hits including “Lean on Me,” “Ain’t No Sunshine” and “Lovely Day.” At 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 13, at the indoor Pavilion stage at the Broadside. Find information at broadsidenola.com. The theme for the open mic storytelling competition is “schooled,” highlighting tales of learning experiences for better or worse. People can sign up beginning at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 11, to share their five-minute stories. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. at Cafe Instanbul. Tickets $13-$18 via themoth.org.

Fat Squirrel productions presents three plays in its new Emerging Directors Showcase. Carlos Turner directs Susan Haspell’s “Suppressed Desires,” Indigo Kercher directs Matthew McLachlan’s “The Knowledge of Sin” and Liann Pattison directs Alice Gerstenberg’s “Overtones.” Each night features showings of two of the three plays. At 7:30 pm. Thursday, Aug. 13, through Saturday, Aug. 15, at CANOA. Tickets $25 via fatsquirrelnola.square.site.

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MONDAY 10 30/90 — The Odom Poles, 6 pm; Piano Man ‘G,’ 9 pm BACCHANAL — Boma Bango Trio, 6 pm BJ’S LOUNGE — Red Beans & Blues with The Rump Shakers, 9 pm BROADSIDE — Hot Summer Salsa Nights, 7 pm BUFFA’S — David Doucet, 7 pm CARROLLTON STATION — Biscuits n’ Jam with Meryl Zimmerman & Friends, 10 pm DA JUMP OFF LOUNGE — Sporty’s Brass Band, 9:30 pm DOS JEFES — John Fohl, 8:30 pm THE FILLMORE — Masego, 8 pm FRITZEL’S JAZZ CLUB — Tin Men, 5 pm; Richard Scott & Friends, 8 pm GASA GASA — Glass Mansions, Night Medicine, Sailem, Calamansi, 8 pm HOUSE OF BLUES — Eagles Of Death Metal: Death By Sexy 20th Anniversary Tour, 6:30 pm MAHOGANY JAZZ HALL — Victor Campbell, 6 pm; The Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, 8 pm THE MAISON — Brett Gardner, 5 pm; Gene’s Music Machine, 8 pm MAPLE LEAF BAR — George Porter Jr. Trio, 7 pm; 10 pm SNUG HARBOR — Charmaine Neville Band, 7:30 pm; 9:30 pm SPOTTED CAT — Dominick Grillo & The Frenchmen Street All-Stars, 6 pm; Yirmey Ysrael, 9 pm ST. ROCH TAVERN — Miss Martha & Her Goodtime Gang + We Hate Lindsay, 9 pm TRUE SOUTH — Danny Alexander Blues Jam, 8 pm

TUESDAY 11 30/90 — Sugar & The Daddies, 6 pm; Higher Heights Reggae, 9 pm BACCHANAL — Tangiers Combo, 6 pm BANKS STREET BAR — VetJams, 7 pm BAYOU BAR — The OG’s, 8 pm; 10 pm BUFFA’S — Alex McMurray, 7 pm CAFÉ NEGRIL — The SupSunday Swing with The Steve DeTroy Jazz Bander-MostFantastic-Blues-N-Such Jam, 7 pm DOS JEFES — Tom Hook, 8:30 pm FRITZEL’S JAZZ CLUB — Richard “Piano” Scott, 1 pm; Colin Myers Orchestra, 5 pm; Fritzel’s All Star Band with Jamil Sharif, 8 pm

GASA GASA — The Miss B. Haven Show, 9:30 pm MAHOGANY JAZZ HALL — Big Joe Kennedy, 6 pm; Kevin Louis & The Home Team, 8 pm THE MAISON — Jacky Blaire, 5 pm; The Melatauns, 8 pm SALON SALON — Salvador Avila, 7 pm SPOTTED CAT — Brett Gallo Jazz Band, 2 pm; Sweetie Pies of New Orleans, 6 pm; Smoking Time Jazz Club, 9:30 pm VAUGHAN’S LOUNGE — Cuttin’ Up with Lil Prince & the Youngbloods, 10 pm

WEDNESDAY, 12 30/90 — Josh Benitez Band, 6 pm; The Budz, 9 pm BACCHANAL — Jesse Morrow, 6 pm BAYOU BAR — Firm Roots, 8 & 10 pm BOURBON O BAR — Nina Hungerland, 8 pm BUFFA’S — Carmella Rappazzo with Russell Welch - Fiona Slattery - Matt Rhody, 7 pm CAFÉ NEGRIL — Jam-ilton, 7:30 pm CARROLLTON STATION — Hump Day Happy Hour with Lenny Zenith & Friends, 5 pm DBA — The Next Level Band, 8 pm FRITZEL’S JAZZ CLUB — Richard “Piano” Scott, 1 pm; Bourbon Street Stars, 5 pm; Fritzel’s All Star Band with Kevin Ray Clark, 8 pm HOLY DIVER — The Amazing Henrietta, 8 pm GASA GASA — Daybreak, Astro Alloy, hey thanks., 8 pm MAHOGANY JAZZ HALL — Paul Longstreth, 6 pm; Mahogany Hall All Stars: Tom Fischer, 8 pm THE MAISON — Gene’s Music Machine, 6 pm MAYFIELD’S 208 — Irvin Mayfield ft. Kermit Ruffins, 6 pm NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & BLUES MARKET — Jamison Ross Presents Summer Soul, 7:30 pm PAULIE’S — PUPS Jam, 8 pm SANTOS BAR — Chambre Noir with DJ Paco, 10 pm SNUG HARBOR — JFA presents Brian Toval & the Vision, 5 pm; Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra, 7:30 & 9:30 pm SPOTTED CAT — Chris Christy, 2 pm; Marty Peters & The Party Meters, 9:30 pm

Tuba Skinny plays Buffa’s Friday, Aug. 14, at 8 p.m.

THURSDAY 13 30/90 — The Dapper Dandies, 6 pm; Kim in the Wind, 9 pm BACCHANAL — Raphael Bas, 7 pm; BAYOU BAR — Firm Roots, 8 pm; 10 pm BJ’S LOUNGE — Spoonfed Jr., 9 pm BLUE NILE — Irvin Mayfield’s Music Church, 10 pm; DJ T-Roy, 11 pm BMC — The Funky Soles, 6 pm; The Leroy Marshall Band, 9 pm THE BRASS MONKEY — Adam Pearce, 7 pm BROADSIDE — Under the Influence with Mia Borders, 7 pm BUFFA’S — Father Ron & Friends, 7 pm CAFÉ NEGRIL — Sugar & the Daddies, 8 pm; Armani Smith & Soul Ties, 10 pm CAROUSEL BAR — Lena Prima & Her Band, 9 pm DBA — Vegas Cola Band, 8 pm DOS JEFES — The Ben Fox Band, 8:30 pm DOUBLE DEALER — Tiago Guy, 9 pm FRITZEL’S JAZZ CLUB — Richard “Piano” Scott, 12 pm; Doyle Cooper Band, 2 pm; John Saavedra Band, 5 pm; Fritzel’s All Star Band with Caleb Nelson, 8 pm GOOD MEASURE — Sarah Quintana Trio, 8 pm GRETNA TAVERN — Adam Pearce, 8 pm LE BON TEMPS ROULE — The Soul Rebels, 11 pm

PHOTO BY ROBIN MAY / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

THE MAISON — The Champagniacs, 4:30 pm; Brett Gardner, 8:30 pm PAULIE’S — The Tanglers Trio, 6 pm PEACOCK ROOM — Da Lovebirds: Robin Barnes & Pat Casey, 8 pm SALON SALON — Victoria Douton, 7 pm SNUG HARBOR — Julian Lee Quartet, 7:30 & 9:30 pm VAUGHAN’S LOUNGE — Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet, 10 pm

FRIDAY 14 30/90 — Decaturadio, 5 pm; Brass Flavor, 8 pm; T. Cherrelle & Lou’s Bayou, 11 pm ANNA’S — The Upstairs Tee Na Na Nay with DJs Lady Li, Karo & Rey Roge, 9 pm BACCHANAL — Willie Green, 7 pm BAYOU BAR — Solid Harmony, 8 & 10 pm BJ’S LOUNGE — Jenn Howard + Burris, 9 pm BLUE NILE — The Rozes, 8 pm; Kermit Ruffins & the BBQ Swingers, 10 pm; Mikey Offline (upstairs), 10 pm BRUTTO AMERICANO — Audrey LeCrone Trio, 8 pm BUFFA’S — Tuba Skinny, 8 pm CAFÉ NEGRIL — Jamey St. Pierre & The Honeycreepers, 6:30 pm; Higher Heights, 10 pm

CARROLLTON STATION — Sweet Magnolia + Minos the Saint, 9 pm CHAPEL CLUB — DJ Heelturn, 9 pm CHICKIE WAH WAH — Chuck Prophet, 7 pm DBA — Dana Abbott, 6 pm DOS JEFES — Vivaz!, 9 pm DOUBLE DEALER — The Satin Strings, 9:30 pm FRITZEL’S JAZZ CLUB — Richard “Piano” Scott, 12:30 pm; Owen Callahan Band, 2:30 pm; Lange/ Woodis Band, 6 pm; Fritzel’s All Star Band with Chuck Brackman, 9 pm GASA GASA — slowhole, $kratz, tortuous, 8 pm GOOD MEASURE — Ado Soul & The Tribe, 9 pm HOLY DIVER — DarkLounge Ministries, 8 pm; Filth Abyss with DJS Mange & Scythe, 10 pm HOWLIN’ WOLF — VetJams, 7 pm LE BON TEMPS ROULÉ — Caleb Tokarska, 11 pm THE MAISON — Shotgun Jazz Band, 5 pm; Street Lyfe, 9 pm ORIGEN BISTRO — Manny Arteaga & Tony Seville, 7 pm THE RABBIT HOLE — Clububy w/ Snaxx & Klitz, 10 pm SANTOS BAR — CHCKNDRUM Dance Party, 9 pm SATURN BAR — _thesmoothcat with Sly Watts and Bobbirush, 10 pm SIBERIA — Abby & The Arsonists + Collections + Molly’s Lips + Atomic Broad, 9 pm SNUG HARBOR — Steve Turre & Delfeayo Marsalis with Herlin Riley, 7:30 & 9:30 pm TIPITINA’S — Free Fridays Concert Series ft. Billy Iuso + Pocket Chocolate, 9 pm

SATURDAY 15 BACCHANAL — Miles Berry, 7 pm BANKS STREET BAR — The Junior League + Chill Buddy, 9 pm BJ’S LOUNGE — Dirty Rotten Snake in the Grass + We Hate Lindsay, 9 pm BLUE NILE — The Caesar Brothers’ FunkBox, 7:30 pm; Afrobeat NOLA, 10 pm BMC — Tropical Weather, 3 pm; Sugar & The Daddies, 6 pm; Ado Soul & the Tribe, 9 pm BUFFA’S — Vanessa Carr, 8 pm CAFÉ NEGRIL — Orphaned in Storyville, 2 pm; Dana Abbott, 6 pm; Zena Moses & Rue Fiya, 9 pm and Higher Heights Reggae, 10 pm DBA — Tuba Skinny, 6 pm; Colin Davis & Night People, 10 pm

DOS JEFES — Z2 Trio, 9 pm DOUBLE DEALER — The Slick Skillet Serenaders, 9:30 pm GASA GASA — Sweet Crude, 9 pm GOOD MEASURE — Flow Tribe, 9 pm HOLY DIVER — Sh!tomato, Peopling, Empty Model & Walkingonsunshine, 9 pm HOUSE OF BLUES — Buku Burlesque ft. Live Brass & Jazz Music led by Hannah Kreiger-Benson, 9 pm LE BON TEMPS ROULÉ — Basch Jernigan Band, 11 pm THE MAISON — Nola Axe Men; 1 pm; Smoking Time Jazz Club, 4 pm OKAY BAR — Ben Polaroid + Bright Cloud + Half Raccoon + DJ PlantDDY, 9 pm PAULIE’S — James Hausman & Damon Reynolds, 11 am RABBIT HOLE — Lee Foss, 4 pm SANTOS — Hickoids + Mongo + STMBLR + Gacked, 10 pm SIBERIA — _thesmoothcat with Sly Watts and Bobbirush, 9 pm TIPITINA’S — The Low End Theory Players Presents: Biggie vs. Pac, 9 pm

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SUNDAY 16 ALLWAYS LOUNGE — Sunday Swing with The Steve DeTroy Jazz Band, 8 pm BACCHANAL — David Sigler, 7 pm BJ’S LOUNGE — James McClaskey & The Rhythm Band, 9 pm BMC — Sierra & the Green Notes, 3 pm; J.A.M Brass Band, 6 pm BUFFA’S — Daniel Lewis, 7 pm CAFÉ NEGRIL — The Rumpshakers, 4 pm; Maurice Cade & the E.S.S. Band, 9 pm DOS JEFES — Raphael Bas, 8 pm GASA GASA — Fudge + NOLO, 9 pm HOWLIN’ WOLF — Hot 8 Brass Band, 10:30 pm MAHOGANY JAZZ HALL — Smoking Time Jazz Club, 2:30 pm; Big Joe Kennedy, 6 pm; Mahogany Hall Swingsters ft. Roderick Paulin, 8 pm NO DICE — The Montvales + Nathan Evans Fox, 9 pm SIBERIA — Soft Palms with Donny’s Demeanor and Dummy Plug, 9 pm ST. ROCH MARKET — Craig Cortello, The “Canine Crooner”, 6 pm

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Moon shot by Jake Clapp

A FEW YEARS AGO, LAURA FISHER WAS ENDING MARDI GRAS DAY the way a lot

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of New Orleanians do: by removing her costume and washing off all the glitter. She had a lot of star- and moon-shaped glitter on her face and after one big swipe, “I looked in the mirror and I just got that feeling that we only know as people who have Mardi Gras,” Fisher says. “So much builds up to it and we know how important that is, and the initial feelings of the end of it every year, there’s that grief and sadness but also the gratitude for how amazing it was.” Fisher paused and ran to her piano, and a song “poured out of me,” the New Orleans-based musician says. “It was like this love song and this breakup song for Mardi Gras and everything that it holds.” With the help of her frequent collaborator and producer Adam Keil and bassist Pete Olynciw, the song became the dreamy, synth-pop track “Half the Moon and Stars,” which closes Fisher’s newest album with an ethereal quality. And there are similar moments of inspiration brought to electronica life with the help of friends all over the record. Co-released by New Orleans label Strange Daisy Records and the U.K.’s Cruel Nature Records, “The Sky is a Wondrous Being I am Lucky to be Inside” is Fisher’s first solo album since the 2023 double release of “Rose-Coloured Dream” and “In Name Only, For It is Neither.” In the three years in between, Fisher has been busy performing with Jess Joy, People Museum, Avery Island BCE, Loucey, Lyla George and other New Orleans indie rock and synth-pop groups with experimental tendencies. Last year, Fisher’s math rock/art pop band Matron said good-bye with a final EP. Fisher took different approaches to her two previous EPs. “Rose-Coloured Dream” leaned into dark synth-pop, while “In Name Only” was a reflective, piano-focused album of micro-chamber arrangements. Those styles now blend together on “The Sky,” alongside subtle influences from the other musicians Fisher performs with. “It was a natural process to just have it all combined on this record and [have] some of the collaborators that I’ve

Laura Fisher PROVIDED PHOTO BY SARAH KEHOE

grown even closer with,” says Fisher, a vocalist, pianist and synth-player. Fisher wanted to test herself by writing shorter songs that felt complete, and the nine-track album is brief — the longest track, “Wildfire,” is about three minutes long. But she packs a lot into each track, with math rock and trip hop influences and cathartic moments. Lyrically, she uses the music to process recent life changes and emotional situations. As Fisher puts it, “There’s a lot of stories on this record.” Recorded at Marigny Studios and McKinley Studios, “The Sky” includes performances by Theresa Romero, who fronts the band Butte, vocalists RVBY My Dear and Zetroc and Henry Lopez on electronic drums as well as bassist Olynciw and Keil on guitar, bass and drums. There also are lyrical contributions from Fisher’s friends Ashleigh Morris and Care Welsh. And Fisher received a Church of Noise grant to support the recording. “I feel like everything I do affects everything else. I like to be super intentional with the things I get deep into creatively and try so many different things,” Fisher says. “Every time I collaborate with people, it just becomes easier to continue doing so and makes me better at it.” “The Sky is a Wondrous Being I am Lucky to be Inside” is now available on streaming, on vinyl through Strange Daisy and on cassette through Cruel Nature. A video shot by Derek Zimmer for the song “Trial & The Wishing Gun” also was released recently. Find it all at linktr.ee/laurafishermusic.

GOING OUT

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NearlyWeds P U B L I C A T I O N

by Will Coviello

NATHALIA TOLEDO’S “EKEKO IN CUSTODY” is a

timely look at abundance, and it won top honors in a bountiful edition of the Louisiana Contemporary expo, which just opened at the Ogden Museum of Southern Art. Toledo’s Ekeko is a porcelain version of the Andean god of abundance and prosperity. The colorful figure bears an array of loaded baskets and even some cash, fruit and corn. His hands are raised in what both looks like a greeting and a sign of surrender. It’s a fascinating piece in an impressive collection of 50 works by 45 artists from across Louisiana. Toledo is originally from Ecuador, and she’s now based in Mandeville. Her sculpted porcelain pieces and paintings have been included in recent shows, including the “Refreshing America” expo last year at the CAC. She’s inspired by the clay work of people indigenous to the Ecuadorian Amazon and pre-Colombian art. Ekeko is a pre-Colombian god who is depicted bearing food, goods and money. Toledo’s version plays on that, but her round figure also carries on his back a ladder and bags of tools. Some of the parcels are made of porcelain, with others constructed from other materials, and the cash is real. In one basket, he has a passport and iPhone. Here, the hope is also for recognition that immigrant labor has built the wealth of the nation. Traditionally, one makes some sacrifice or exchange when asking to be rewarded by Ekeko, but here that contract is broken, as immigrants are taken for granted or rejected despite their hardship and labors. The expo is strong on painting, and other top prizes include Metairie painter Pamela Skehan’s “Tipping Point,” in which a girl lies in the grass of a soccer field under dramatic skies and surrounded by stark bursts of burning orange, suggesting rising temperatures, changing climate and an uncertain future. Ruston painter Emily Ezell’s “Emily Arose” is a Baroque tableau filled with pudgy cherubs and reclining figures wearing laurel wreaths. The kaleidoscopic colors and numerous cherubs give it a lush and also chaotic feel that extends to smaller horrifying details.

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‘Ekeko in Custody’ by Nathalia Toledo PHOTO BY WILL COVIELLO / GAMBIT

More whimsical canvasses include Josiah Bolth’s oil painting “Ghosts Hanging Laundry,” in which socks and underwear hanging on clotheslines get animated shape from a good breeze. Photographer Brandon Holland’s “Angel’s Dresses” is a literal version of the same concept, but in a grittier image as clothes hang off a porch railing on a weathered home. More whimsical is Baton Rouge photographer Pablo Perez-Castroman’s image of yellow smiley-face balloons piled in a shopping cart. The show includes one video work by filmmaker Angela Lynn Tucker. “Barbara Jordan: Red, White + Blue” features a montage of images projected on the bottom of a bleached American flag. The short film includes then-Congress Member Barbara Jordan addressing the U.S. House Judiciary Committee on impeaching President Richard Nixon in 1974, and it’s a meditation on the gap between symbols and laws and social realities. This is the 15th edition of the Louisiana Contemporary show. The juried show is open to artists from across the state, and while most of this year’s artists are from the New Orleans area, inclusions stretch from Baton Rouge to Ruston. More than half of this year’s artists are being included for the first time. The show’s guest judge is Sarah Jones, who curates performances as head of live arts at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. She previously worked at New York’s Gagosian gallery. The Louisiana Contemporary is at Ogden Museum of Southern Art through Feb. 14, 2027. Find information at ogdenmuseum.org.

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