Teacher (New Orleans, LA). Teach French to middle school students; develop lesson plans & exams; conduct classroom instructn; monitor student progress. Bach degree, any field. 1 yr of French/Eng‐lish teaching exp, incl some solid exp in: curriculum developmt; classroom mgmt; differentiated instruc‐tion. Native or near-native fluency in French (reading, writing, speaking). Excel commun skills. Must send CV & cvr ltr to kbourgeois@auduboncharter org or Kristen Bourgeois, French and Montessori Education, Inc. d/b/a Audubon Charter School, 3128 Constance Street, New Orleans, LA 70115 within 30 days, ref Job #2024-429.
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Matt Owens records a comedy special at Toulouse Theatre
BEFORE THE PANDEMIC, COMEDIAN
MATT OWENS HAD A SERIES of headlining shows at the Joy Theater. He was known for epic stories about boozy adventures and partying. And he threw in occasional physical bits, like a series of butt impressions.
Things were going well, and he filmed a show for a special. He felt like the show clicked in the theater, but he wasn’t completely satisfied with how it played on screen.
“It was fun live, but it wasn’t shot in a way that brought the audiences into the moment,” he says. “It was funny live, but it needed more choreography for the camera.”
So Owens never released the footage, expecting to reshoot it in May 2020. That, of course, was pre-empted by the pandemic shutdowns.
Now, after a string of intervening professional turns, he’s finally ready to shoot a new version, with expanded and new material. Owens will film two shows at the Toulouse Theatre on Saturday, Aug. 23, and New Orleans comedian Vincent Zambon will open. When the pandemic set in, Owens skipped the first round of Zoom and online comedy, but he got back out there with outdoor shows in a public park downtown and a parking lot show in Metairie where audiences in cars flashed their lights instead of laughing.
As different states weighed re-opening entertainment venues, Florida was one of the earliest, and Owens did shows at Comedy Zone clubs there. He was able to reschedule filming the special for fall 2022. But then he was offered a job he couldn’t turn down working with a top national comic. That gig kept him on the road, and it still keeps him busy, although out of the limelight because of an NDA.
As summer 2023 approached, he saw another opportunity, but it slipped away as his production team all got booked working in a busy season of film and TV projects. Owens had developed the team during his own stint in the film and TV industry. He’s acted in movies and appears in commercials as his schedule allows. Some of his short film work includes videos with the Bare Handed Bear Handlers.
Experience in the film world has shaped how Owens will reshoot the special. While the audience will get a stand-up show with a bit more of an interactive feel, the crew also will do some extra filming and post-production
by Will Coviello |
work so that the special will look more like a TV show. After the shows are recorded, Owens and actors will film some re-enactments of his stories.
They’ll also add some text, as in the “Drunk History” series, that will punch up some of the war stories in the set.
Owens expects to release the special in late fall. In the meantime, he’ll be busy on the comedy front.
He and Stuart Schayot run Laugh Life Comedy, which books and produces comedy shows across the region, from Pensacola to Lake Charles. They book some regular shows at The Howlin’ Wolf, and they’ll bring touring comics to town, including Cristina Mariani, Gianmarco Soresi and Kam Patterson.
Laugh Life Comedy also will book its third edition of NOLAxNOLA’s comedy events. That lineup features “Saturday Night Live” veteran Punkie Johnson, Kurt Metzger and Shelly Belly.
While the special has been delayed, Owens appreciates that things take time. He got an early start in comedy, first doing stand-up in a bar at age 17. He got an acting scholarship to go to college and did both acting and stand-up there. But hitting the clubs helped him find his way.
“It wasn’t until I leaned into being from the South and being a big barrel-chested goofball that I started getting laughs,” he says.
Midsummer Mardi Gras
The Krewe of O.A.K. hosts its Midsummer Mardi Gras parade and celebration Saturday, Aug. 23. The theme, “To Easy LOL,” is a reference to the 10-inmate jail break at Orleans Parish Prison. Participating krewes and costumed revelers will gather on Oak Street for the traditional kickoff ceremony from the balcony of the Maple Leaf Bar at 6:30 p.m. The procession does a loop on S. Carrollton Avenue and returns to Oak Street. The festivities include music by the River Eckert Band on an outdoor stage. For information, visit facebook.com/koak69.
Jason Mingledorf
He had plenty of success while trying to get started.
“I had a lot of little successes where I thought, ‘OK, we’re off to the races, here we go,’ ” Owens says. “There’s a club owner that says it takes 10 years to make a comic. That’s a legitimate timeline. It takes time to get your legs and find out who you are on stage and do all the fun rooms and the difficult clubs.”
Hard drinking and partying got wrapped up in the act. “I had this fear that if I quit drinking and partying that I wouldn’t be funny anymore,” he says. “I had this idea that that was part of my creative juices that allowed me to be funny. I stayed out there way too long — not letting go of what I thought made me hilarious.”
Getting sober helped him focus the comedy act, but he still tells war stories in his act. Those stories didn’t scare away his mother, who came to all of his big shows.
“She often says I wish you could be more like the people you work with,” he says. “I said, ‘Mom, you want me to be a PG comic.’ I didn’t live a PG life. It’s really hard to live my life and put it in PG-13 terms.”
Matt Owens performs at 7 & 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Toulouse Theatre. Tickets $19.23 via toulousetheatre.com.
Over his nearly 30-year career in New Orleans, saxophonist Jason Mingledorff has played with Galactic, Papa Grows Funk, Dr. John and Harry Connick Jr. as well as St. Paul & The Broken Bones and Clint Black. He’s also a member of the New Orleans Nightcrawlers and shared in the brass band’s Grammy Award win in 2021. Mingledorff in May released a new solo album, “The Journal Sessions.” He now plays a release show at 8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 21, at the Broadside with keys player Mike Lemmler, guitarist Bert Cotton, bassist Ed Wise and drummer Doug Garrison. Tickets are $16.93 via broadsidenola. com and $20 at the door.
We Love You, Ozzy!
Over a more than 50-year career, Ozzy Osbourne helped birth heavy metal and shape modern rock. The great Prince of Darkness died July 22 at the age of 76, and there have been numerous tributes to Osbourne over the last month. New Orleans now pays its respects with a tribute show at 8 p.m. Monday, Aug. 18, at Gasa Gasa. The bands Miranda and The Beat, More than Grit, Fen Magus, Tortuous and Gatsu will perform. Tickets are $18.16 via gasagasanola.com.
PHOTO BY MICHAEL DEMOCKER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
PHOTO BY SARA ESSEX BRADLEY
THUMBS UP/ THUMBS DOWN
New Orleanians rallied behind Mona Lisa Restaurant and helped save the business from being evicted from its spot on Royal Street. The Italian restaurant has been in the French Quarter for almost 40 years, but the owners recently learned — via text message — that their building had been sold and they had 60 days to vacate. An outcry of neighborhood support quickly followed, and Mona Lisa will stay in place.
OPENING GAMBIT
NEW ORLEANS NEWS + VIEWS
We’re half way to Fat Tuesday, y’all
COUNT #
The New Orleans Police Department recently tried to require social aid and pleasure clubs have a $5 million insurance policy for trolleys and trailers used during second-line parades. The requirement would have prohibitively raised costs for the clubs and hurt the New Orleans cultural tradition. The New Orleans City Council took action and unanimously passed a resolution asking NOPD to suspend enforcement.
Mayoral candidate Royce Duplessis is critical of Cantrell, accuses Moreno’s camp of ‘lies’
STATE SEN. ROYCE DUPLESSIS
ACCUSED New Orleans City Council Vice President Helena Moreno’s mayoral campaign of coordinating a smear campaign against him and sought to distance himself from outgoing Mayor LaToya Cantrell during an appearance Aug. 11 on the “Da OG Murda Show” — while also attempting to dodge the host’s often homophobic, xenophobic and misogynistic rhetoric.
During the roughly 40-minute long interview, Duplessis claimed Moreno and her allies are using his working relationship with Cantrell — who is deeply unpopular in the city — against him, and said her campaign is spreading “lies” linking him to the mayor.
publicly or in an official capacity. Her campaign has not aired any ads or published campaign material going after Duplessis or linking him to the current mayor.
However, some of her supporters have used Duplessis’ longstanding working relationship with Cantrell, as well as photos and videos of the two together at city and state events, to criticize the state senator and question whether he will represent a break from Cantrell if elected.
THE WINGSPAN, MEASURED IN FEET, OF AN AIRPLANE-SIZED SOLAR POWERED DRONE THAT RECENTLY LOGGED OVER 70 HOURS OF FLIGHT FROM STENNIS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.
The
The Trump administration has eliminated $156 million in EPA funding to Louisiana for solar energy growth on homes across the state. Louisiana received the grant last year and aimed to use it to expand access to renewable energy for low-income families. But the Trump administration decided to eliminate the EPA program completely.
“Helena Moreno and her camp in particular, they are actively working to try and spread lies and say things about me,” Duplessis said. “But I can stand up and defend my record anywhere.”
“I think the mayor has made a lot of mistakes,” he added. “I’m not here to defend her, she can defend herself. I’m running because I want to do better for the city ... It’s too much drama and too much chaos.”
Moreno has not connected Duplessis to Cantrell, at least
City Council President and Moreno ally JP Morrell, for example, recently slammed Duplessis in a social media video, suggesting Duplessis would govern like Cantrell after the senator argued the city council is as much to blame for the city’s problems as the administration.
“He believes that he needs to have a council that does what he says, because that’s what he’s entitled to,” Morrell said, adding, “There are people running to be the next mayor who absolutely intend to be like Mayor Cantrell, seeking power for the sake of power, crav(ing) perks for not doing work ... These are the kinds of people who feel entitled to Nice, France, and the same kind of
Coast over the next few years.
6.9%
C’EST WHAT ?
1.4%
Dubbed
Skydweller, the drone has so far made six test flights. The aircraft is designed to stay in the air for long periods and is being eyed by the U S. military as a surveillance tool. The company behind it, Skydweller Aero, is hoping to grow its workforce along the Gulf
OG Murda, left, and New Orleans mayoral candidate and state Sen. Royce Duplessis, right SCREENSHOT / YOUTUBE
people who waste our time while the city is on fire.”
Duplessis, who has called Morrell’s statement misleading and a mischaracterization of his platform, has made criticism of the council a regular part of his campaign stump speeches. In fact, even as he sought to put some distance between himself and the mayor, he returned to it during the OG Murda interview.
“If we have a big hurricane hit tomorrow, the leaders have to be able to get together in a room to plan, to do things, so that we don’t have people suffering. If I’m going back and forth with another elected official online, that’s going to make our job harder. Leadership requires people to put their differences aside,” Duplessis said.
“Everybody knows OG Murda can’t stand Mayor Cantrell,” the host said, referring to himself in the third person. “They presented you as like the next coming of Mayor Cantrell ... We don’t want nobody following her blueprint, we want someone with a plan who will make New Orleans great.”
“Facts,” said Duplessis, later adding, “People have been burned and misled by politicians. I want to come and address the people. There’s no place I’m not willing to go.”
The YouTube aired interview was filled with several twists, turns and outbursts from the host.
Prior to Duplessis joining him on air, OG Murda had kicked off the episode by sharing intimate details over a recent sexual experience that involved getting slapped in the face by a woman.
Shortly after the interview began, OG Murda sparked up a blunt and took an apparent detour, going on an expletive-fueled rant that appeared to be directed at someone in his own comments section on a live stream. After he resumed the interview, he falsely claimed that “illegal Mexican immigrants” are taking jobs away from locals.
Duplessis did not address that claim directly, rather saying his priority was to make New Orleans more economically viable by repairing infrastructure, streamlining the permitting
process for businesses and launching clean-up initiatives.
“My job would be to get more jobs to the city,” he said. “Fix the infrastructure, make it clean, make it safe ... I gotta make it work, I gotta make it functional.”
He also declined to weigh in on a conspiracy about the now infamous May Orleans Parish jail outbreak, which OG Murda speculated may have been connected to Cantrell’s alleged relationship with her former security detail, NOPD officer Jeffrey Vappie. The jail is overseen by the Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office, not the police department.
When OG Murda suggested the mayor had turned a blind eye to conditions that led to the escape because of her alleged affair, Duplessis replied that she was “noticeably absent” while other officials were scrambling for answers, but didn’t comment much further.
However, Duplessis did shut down the host’s comments on the recent Red Dress Run, which is put on by the local chapter of the national nonprofit Hash House Harriers, a running club that hosts an annual fundraiser for
several charities, where participants are encouraged to wear red dresses. It is an inclusive event that draws thousands to the French Quarter, but it is not specifically aligned with LGBTQ causes.
Referring to some reported brawls that took place after the event ended, OG Murda said, “All I know is we had a bunch of transgenders having a raw rumble like it was the WWE, I don’t know if it was gay fight club ... shouldn’t that be canceled?”
Duplessis, who has championed LGBTQ causes, said he stands behind his support for the queer community and that it looked like most people had a good time at the Red Dress Run.
OG Murda asked him if he refused to condemn the event because he gets money from LGBTQ people and because the city makes money of LGBTQ tourists.
“It’s not about money. It’s about inclusiveness,” Duplessis said, adding that his support for the community “doesn’t have to do with money or my campaign.” — Sarah Ravits
You’re free to live your lifeout loud! Becauseyou’vegot thecompassion of thecross,the security of theshield, and the comfortofBlue behind you.
District A Council election forum focuses on livability issues
THREE NEW ORLEANS PARENTS RUNNING TO REPLACE Council
Member Joe Giarrusso laid out their plans for making the district a more affordable and pleasant place to live during an Aug. 11 virtual forum hosted by Step Up.
Teacher Alex Mossing, Giarrusso’s former budget and policy director Aimee McCarron and project manager Bob Murrell are all running in District A, which covers parts of Mid-City, Lakeview, Hollygrove, Carrollton and Uptown. Mossing and McCarron are both Democrats, while Murrell is running as No Party.
Holly Friedman, Giarrusso’s former constituent services director who now works for District Attorney Jason Williams, and Bridget Neal, a former state employee running as a Republican, are also vying for the seat, but did not attend the forum.
McCarron touted her experience with the budget in Giarrusso’s office and said if elected she would create a five year plan for the city’s infrastructure, including long-term and short-term projects.
“I’ve not only heard your issues; I know where to find the money in the budget to fix them,” she said. Murrell, a community organizer with the local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America, ran for the seat four years ago. He said he was motivated to challenge Giarrusso then, claiming the council member did not support his push for a Green New Deal resolution.
He also criticized the “doubles to dorms” legislation Giarrusso passed aimed at curbing the practice of
adding bedrooms to residential doubles Uptown to turn them into housing for many students. It forced developers to create one new off-street parking space for each bedroom added.
Murrell said the law has caused problems for affordable housing developers, including some in Hollygrove who say the parking requirements have been “challenging.” He vowed to roll it back.
Mossing said that she decided to run after seeing costs rise and friends and family leave New Orleans, while infrastructure and other problems continued.
“The reason that a lot of people have trouble trusting our elected officials and our systems is that they don’t see them working,” she said.
“My property taxes have doubled over the last 10 years since we’ve owned our house, but my street still floods.”
The three candidates at the forum voiced their support for green infrastructure like rain barrels and adding more trees to soak up water during heavy rain events, as well as for solar power and other green energy.
Both Mossing and McCarron said they supported more public buses running more often. Murrell, a cyclist, added that he wanted to see protected cycling lanes across the city.
The candidates mostly agreed with each other on the issues. However, in a lightning round where candidates were instructed to give yes or no answers, Mossing said she supported the controversial Grain Train project in the Lower 9th Ward, while both Murrell and McCarron said they opposed it. — Kaylee Poche
Aimee McCarron (left), Bob Murrell and Alex Mossing
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City still charging school board collection fees on property taxes
NEW ORLEANS MAYOR LATOYA
CANTRELL WILL CONTINUE CHARGING the city’s school system millions of dollars in processing fees for collecting taxes that fund schools in defiance of a law prohibiting the practice, a senior administration official told the city council Aug. 13.
In April, the city council passed the ordinance, which directs the city’s Finance Department to collect property taxes without a charge for the Orleans Parish School Board through the end of 2026 to give them time to work out an agreement.
The school system had sued the city for charging millions of dollars in collection fees. The council and school board had included ending the suit in a broader school funding deal that Cantrell abruptly backed out of in January, forcing the council to pass the April law.
But during a budget hearing Wednesday, Chief Financial Officer Romy Samuel said her office has continued taking the fee out of the collected property tax, which annually accounts for an estimated $6 million of the $41 million taken in.
That didn’t sit well with council members.
“If there’s an ordinance that says a fee cannot be collected, how do you legally collect that fee?” Council President JP Morrell asked City Attorney Donesia Turner.
“That fee is still being collected because we’re in litigation,” Turner said.
Morrell called her response “the most nonsensical answer I’ve ever heard.”
Samuel insisted the fees were reasonable for the amount of work for the department, though Morrell said Jefferson Parish charges around $300,000 for a similar service. In response to collecting the taxes and not charging the fees, as the law requires, Samuel asked, “So we work for free?”
The school board has been suing the city over the collection fees for years. Last fall, the council, school system and mayor’s office announced an agreement. The city would pay the district $90 million over ten years, starting with a $20 million payment due the following April. The city also agreed to stop charging a fee on the taxes collected.
But earlier this year, Cantrell backed out of the deal, claiming without evidence that the city couldn’t afford the payments. The situation has been playing out in the courts. However, the council’s April law has not been challenged.
At the meeting, council members and Cantrell administration officials also advanced settlement negotiations over the Wisner Trust, a piece of oil-rich land donated to the city in 1914.
The trust proceeds had been going to the city, Wisner heirs, Tulane, LSU and others, despite a 2014 court ruling that the city no longer had to
share that money. In May, a judge ruled the city should be getting all the money.
Tulane and LSU have agreed to each give up their 12% interest in exchange for money. The budget committee approved a $350,000 payment to LSU to help cover their legal fees in the suit as a first step in a broader settlement with the university. The council already made a $20 million deal with Tulane.
However, Cantrell is still siding with the Wisner heirs and appealing the ruling, though it gives the city significantly more money.
When pressed on why, Deputy Chief Administrative Officer of Infrastructure Joe Threat, who replaces Gilbert Montano as CAO next week, said he hadn’t talked with Cantrell about that yet.
“Gilbert’s not here, and I have not discussed it with the mayor,” he said. “I start my turnover on Monday.” Morrell said he wanted an answer by Tuesday. — Kaylee Poche
in New Orleans
Ashé Cultural Arts Center of Performing Arts ReturnswithSwimmingUpstream: TheKatrina Monologues
This ar ticleisbroughtoyou by
Ashé Cultural Ar ts Center of Performing Ar ts .
This August,A shéCultural Ar ts Center brings one of itsmostpower fulworks back to thestage Swimming Upstream:The KatrinaMonologues. On August 29 –30, 2025,the MahaliaJackson Theater will host this moving productioninternationally, co-direc tedbyNew Orleanstheater icon Tommye Myrick and acclaimedauthor-ac tivist V(formerly EveEnsler).
CreatedbyacollectiveofNew Orleanswomen ar tists andactivists,SwimmingUpstreamhighlights women’sexperiences in thewakeofHurricanes Katrinaand Rita —stories ofen overlooked in mainstream narratives.Through vividstory telling, music, and movement,the performancecapturesthe hear tbreak,courage,and determination of survival,offering aspace forbothremembrance andhealing. Theshowwas frst performed at theSuperdometomarkthe 10 th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, making itsreturnapoignant reminder of thecit y’songoing resilience.
Ashé Cultural Ar ts Center has been acornerstone of NewOrleans’cultural landscapesince 1998.Its stor ybegan in 1993,whencommunity members came together to challengenarrowpor trayalsof African-American life in thearts. Partnering together,artists DouglasReddand writer-producer CarolBebelle,launchedEffortsofGrace,agroundbreaking series of installationsand performances celebratingAfrican-Americanresilience. As the movement grew,EffortsofGrace,Inc.established Ashé Cultural Ar ts Center,creatinga permanent home forart,culture,and communit y. Sincethen, Ashé hasremainedacultural anchor— producingover350 events ayear, from plays andconcertstodrumcircles andart exhibits.Its missionisclear:touse ar tand culturetofoster human, communit y, andeconomicdevelopment, with afocus on theAfrican diaspora. Beyond its stagesand galleries, Ashé work stopreserve cultural spaces and preventdisplacementin itsneighborhood.
ForA shé, Swimming Upstream is more than aperformance— it ’s astatement of purpose. “When youbring consciousnesstoany thing, things begin to shif,”saysV,authorand play wright,capturingthe spirit behind thecenter’scommitmentto meaningful,transformative stor ytelling Ticketsfor Swimming Upstream areavailable at ww w.mahaliajacksontheater.com. In addition, schoolsand communityorganizationsmay request complimentar ytickets at info@ashenola.orgto ensure thesestories remain accessible to all.
Don’tmissthe chance to experience aworkthat blends ar t, histor y, andresilienceintoanunforgettable evening.
@GambitBlake | askblake@gambitweekly.com
Hey Blake,
The Latter Library on St. Charles Avenue is my favorite. I know it was once a beautiful home, but when was it turned into a library and what can you tell me about its history?
Dear reader,
THE 15-ROOM ST. CHARLES AVENUE MANSION that has been a public library branch since 1948 was donated to the city of New Orleans by Harry and Anna Latter in memory of their son, First Lt. Milton H. Latter. He was killed in action in World War II fighting on Okinawa, Japan, in April 1945.
Harry Latter was the co-founder of the Latter and Blum real estate firm and a well-known philanthropist and civic leader. His son Milton attended Isidore Newman School, the Culver Military Academy and Tulane University before going on active duty in the Army.
The library at 5120 St. Charles Ave. which bears his name has a storied history. According to the Society of Architectural Historians, the home was built 1906-1907 for Canal Street merchant Marks Isaacs. After his death, the house was sold in 1912 to lumber baron Frank B. Williams and was occupied by his son, pioneer aviator Harry Williams. He was married to stage and silent film star Marguerite Clark.
After Harry Williams died in a plane crash in 1936, Clark sold the house to racetrack entrepreneur Robert Eddy,
who in turn sold it to the Latters for $100,000 in 1947, or the equivalent of about $1.4 million in today’s money.
In addition to the property, Latter donated $60,000 to make the renovations necessary to turn the home into a public library. With 20,000 volumes, it was the second largest library branch in the city at the time, second only to the main library, then located in what is today K&B Plaza near Harmony Circle.
The Milton H. Latter Library was dedicated in April 1948. “Only by education can the way be found to prevent future wars,” Harry Latter said at the ceremony, according to an article in The New Orleans Item.
Mayor deLesseps “Chep” Morrison accepted the gift on behalf of the city, calling it “a memorial to the civic spirit of our citizens.”
WE CONTINUE OUR LOOK AT SOME OF THE 29 LOCAL MUSEUMS taking part in New Orleans Museum Month by visiting the Pitot House on Bayou St. John, one of the oldest buildings in the city.
Built around 1799, the property is named for the fourth owner of the house — James Pitot, the city’s first American mayor. According to a history of the building by architect and historian Samuel Wilson Jr., Pitot owned and lived in the Creole colonial plantation-style house from 1810 to 1819.
Its original location at 1370 Moss St. was feet away from where it now stands at 1440 Moss St. It was moved there in the 1960s and remains one of the only surviving examples of a Louisiana plantation home from the Spanish colonial period. The home was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1971, and two years later it opened to the public as a museum and the headquarters of the Louisiana Landmarks Society. Furnished with antiques, it is open for tours and special events.
As part of New Orleans Museum Month, through the end of August, if you currently have or purchase a membership to a participating museum, you and a guest can visit the Pitot House and any or all of the other museums for free. Get more details at www.neworleans.com/museum-month.
BLAKE VIEW
Patrons gather on the lawn at the Milton H. Latter Memorial Library in 2011.
PHOTO BY RUSTY COSTANZA / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
possible to avoid, the elder generations kept insisting it was just make-believe.
Of course, that was stupid. Like any other experience, our online existence has helped shape not only our society, but who we all are as individuals. And while some older people may still resist reality, younger generations have moved on, accepting the fact
@MoMunchiesllc @momunchies
PALESTINIAN-AMERICAN CONTENT CREATOR
and activist
Mohammad Alkurd, aka Mo Munchies, uses his social media platform to not only share good local food recommendations, but also to humanize marginalized communities through cuisine and street food.
The New Orleans area native began vlogging about a decade ago, highlighting his favorite spots to grab a bite: namely, independent, POCowned restaurants and eateries, including immigrant-run corner stores and spots that often fly under the radar of mainstream media outlets.
“There’s something about going to those places, where you take a bite and you can feel the history, the culture and the love,” he says. “It’s not some sterilized, corporate dish they put together.”
His first experience going viral online was following a trip to New York around 2018, where he visited the popular Brooklyn bodega, The Ocky Way. He took some footage of a signature sandwich, then uploaded it to Instagram, TikTok and YouTube. A year later, the video started garnering thousands of “likes” across these platforms.
“It reiterated for me that sometimes content doesn’t go viral immediately, and sometimes a random event will cause it to go viral,” he says. “It could be months or years later.”
There are some misconceptions about his work as a content creator, of course. He likes to film with professional equipment, not just using his phone. He also spends hours researching places to highlight and often takes multiple trips to each spot to make sure it’s consistent.
“People are like, ‘It must be nice to go around and eat all week long,’ ” he says with a laugh. “But that’s the smallest part of my job — people will see the (short) video that I put together, but that video took four hours
Alkurd’s personal content is directly tied to his heritage and his work as an activist.
As the son of immigrants from Gaza, he grew up visiting relatives in the region, where he says they were always bonding over food from the vibrant local markets, like fresh fruits, vegetables and rotisserie chicken.
Gaza taught him “how food brought community together,” he says.
great new restaurants or hidden old-school gems, hold politicians to account and fundamentally make New Orleans a better place to live.
Below are just a few of the people who’ve figured out how to use the digital parts of their lives for the greater good — and in their own ways become leaders in our community.
As the region faces an ongoing humanitarian crisis and aid blockades by Israel, he has also been using his platform to stand up for human rights. That includes for Palestinians, as well as immigrants in the United States who are being disappeared from their homes without due process.
Overall, his mission is to help people “see Palestinians as humans, support local businesses and experience different cultures through food.”
“My love language at home is making something for somebody,” he adds.
He sees his videos as a virtual extension of that. “Seeing (my followers) happy because of a recommendation I made truly puts joy in my heart,” he says.
Mohammad Alkurd
PHOTO PROVIDED BY MOHAMAD ALKURD
TikTok: @ronorleans
Instagram: @ron.orleans
WHEN YOU WATCH Ron Anthony Johnson’s videos, what stands out is his infectious positivity. Even when he’s caught in the rain or walking three and a half hours from the CBD to his home in New Orleans East after his car transmission broke, he still manages to find a silver lining.
A few months before the pandemic, Johnson made a video about how New Orleanians call soda or soft drinks “cold drinks.” That eventually led to his “New Orleans Grammar” video series. Not wanting to put all his eggs in one basket, Johnson started making a variety of videos, from what to do in the city to history lessons, which he says he sometimes likes to disguise as “fun facts.” He started his “Haunted Ground” series around Halloween, exploring some of the supposedly haunted places in the city, while his “New Orleans with Love” series highlights what he loves about living in the city.
The way he tells it, Johnson was an introverted kid who spent his lunches reading “Goosebumps” in the library. But he’s clearly come out of his shell. Through content creation, he’s connected with people across the city, from viewers to event hosts and other creators. He’s super friendly and easy
NEWTRAL GROUNDZ has always been like a sandbox, says Brent Craige, the platform’s founder. It’s been a digital space for Craige and his colleagues to test out and validate ideas over the years and possibly spin off new brands and content, from music videos and short documentaries to, more recently, comics and a political podcast.
But at its core, Newtral Groundz is a cultural channel for New Orleans. “It really transitioned into a platform where we highlight underrepresented voices in communities that don’t traditionally have a voice in media,” Craige says.
Through its website, social media platforms and a Substack “newzletter,” Newtral Groundz shares a variety of content relevant to the city and especially to the Black community. Craige and a small team of volunteer managers, some of whom have their own brands, create their own content and re-share interesting posts, from news and business promotions to new music, history lessons and videos putting a comedic spin on local life.
They also regularly post open-ended questions to social media, asking things like “How important is it that our Mayor be from New Orleans?” and “How are we feeling about New Orleans Nightlife?” Hundreds of people chime in, sparking debates and getting people talking about the city.
With an interest in digital media, Craige launched a predecessor to Newtral Groundz while studying political science at Tuskegee University. When he moved back home to New Orleans, he started Newtral Groundz as a platform to help with his music video business — but the brand quickly grew. Video, though, has been a key part of the brand, and Newtral
to talk to, and certainly not afraid to chat up a stranger.
As someone who’s lived in the East throughout his life, Johnson says he hopes to challenge perceptions of the area as “horrible” and “scary.”
While there’s still not a ton do there, he likes to bike around the neighborhood and visit the new Goodwill. He also loved going to Lincoln Beach before it was closed for redevelopment, calling it his “own little secret garden.”
“It looks like a little old forest out of ‘The Jungle Book’ for a second, but then you come out on the other side, and it’s this big open beach, with sand and everything,” he says.
Though his videos are often fun, as his platform has grown, Johnson has started to delve into more serious topics, like the conditions at the Willow Apartments as well as Q&As with politicians like mayoral candidate and City Council Vice President Helena Moreno and former Council Member Cyndi Nguyen, who is running for her old seat.
“I don’t want to just be a happy blinder sort of page,” he says. “It’s also good to go to a page where you could see happy things but then also know that things are going on through the city without being too grim about it.”
Groundz has produced documentaries about the history of the Magnolia Projects, the 7th Ward and Lincoln Beach.
Over the years, Craige has tested a lot of ideas, from making playing cards based around New Orleans wards to focusing more on TikTok content and experimenting with AI tools. Craige has been especially focused on developing AI-powered tools for use by other creatives in the last few years. He also co-founded the virtual music collaboration platform JammAround, which is in development.
Recently, Newtral Groundz launched Backatown Comics and the Ground Zereaux podcast, which is specifically focused on this year’s mayoral race.
“We’re really strategic on how we deliver content,” Craige says, “because we don’t want to be known for anything but being supportive in the community.”
PHOTOS PROVIDED BY BRENT CRAIGE
TikTok: @chipokandake
IN THE HEIGHT OF THE PANDEMIC, Chipo Kandake took a leap of faith and temporarily moved to Mexico to study Indigenous dance practices for her ongoing dance ethnography documentary. She fully embraced her research and immersed herself as a street performer, documenting her travel experience and tracing dance origins on social media.
Kandake cultivated her audience through these videos along with her virtual and in-person dance courses called “Shake with Chipo,” which focused on movement and energetic work. She also created the digital archive “Femme Funk” to explore the historical influence of Black women throughout popular culture.
These social media videos led her to host dance workshops abroad, particularly in countries whose dance culture she was researching, ranging from Colombia to Egypt. It also allowed her to bring a wider audience to these often forgotten or lesser known traditions and styles.
“I translate that into my social media platform by telling the lesser known histories of dance and music that basically links us with other diasporic cultures around the world,” Kandake says.
When it comes to performance, Kandake says, “It’s a very spiritual
experience for me. I don’t know what I’m about to do, the band never knows what I’m about to do. That’s part of the reason why I go viral, because I have all these moments where I’m like crashing somebody’s set, and we’re all just living in the moment.”
Last year, a post of her reacting to jazz percussionist Herlin Riley and taking over the dancefloor went viral, racking up more than 4.8 million views.
“It’s liberating because believe it or not, I used to hold myself back a lot from dance in public spaces,” she says. “All that is in the past now, I’m listening to my body and doing what brings me freedom.”
She and Riley hit it off and, as a result of their viral video, decided to organize a live show together. After a year of planning, she debuted her live performance, the Chipo Kandake Revue: Black Magic Woman with Herlin Riley on July 7 at the Toulouse Theatre.
The show paid homage to “not only to my grandmothers who were dancers, but also to the Black feminine figure,” she says.
For Kandake, all of her work is interconnected. “Whether it’s what I’m doing on social media, posting about music history, doing the actual revue or working on my documentary, it’s all a part of my ecosystem,” she says.
Pursuant to La.R.S.33:4071,the Sewerage and WaterBoard of New Orleans hereby announces avacancy, efectiveMay 21,2025, and gives noticethatitisaccepting applications from personsinterestedinser ving on the BoardofDirectors forCouncilDistrictE .
TheSewerage and WaterBoard of New Orleans is comprisedofeleven members, sevenofwhich arecitizens appointed by the mayorwiththe adviceand consentofthe City Council from alistofnominees submitted by the Sewerage andWaterBoard Selection Committee.
ELIGIBILIT Y, PROFES SIONALQUALIFICATIONS ANDE XPERIENCEREQUIREMENTS
Thetermfor appointed membersisfouryears and amembershall ser ve no more than two consecutiveterms .Each nomineeshall be aregisteredvoter in Orleans Parish andshall have been adomiciliar yofOrleans Parish fort wo yearsprior to appointment .Nominees foraCouncil Distric t vacancymustreside in the Council Distric tfor which he or sheapplied. Consumer/Communit y Advocacy nominees mayresideanywhereinOrleans Parish.
Each nomineeshall have experienceineither architecture, environmental quality,f inance, accounting, business administration,engineering,law,public health,urban planning,facilitiesmanagement, public administration,science,construc tion,businessmanagement ,community or consumer advocacy, or other pertinent disciplines.
Allmembersofthe BoardofDirec tors of the Sewerage and WaterBoard of New Orleans mustcomply with all ethical requirement sofLouisianalaw,including butnot limitedtothe filing of financial statement spursuant to La.R .S.4 2:1124,et. seq.
APPLIC ATION PROCES S
More information and the application documents forthe Council Distric tEseatcan be foundathttps:// www.swbno.org/Notices/VacancyDistric tE .Applicant sshouldsubmit acompleted application, resume or curriculumvitae, and notarized af idavit to ProspectiveBoardMemberApplications@swbno.org.
Thedeadline to apply is 5pmonThursday, September11, 2025.Contac tthe BoardRelations Of iceat 504-585-2190 or ProspectiveBoardMemberApplications@swbno.org with anyquestions .
Follow along: @batterabaker y / @batterabaker y_nola
ONE OF THE BEST PARTS of the internet is that sometimes going viral and finding yourself with an influential online platform can catch even professionals off guard.
You don’t have to look any further than Royal Street in the French Quarter to see it. Over the last year, Chris Olsen has become one of the most influential online voices in the Quarter, where he owns two small businesses, lives and is raising children with his wife Megan.
Olsen walked away from the online work world, where he’d been a digital marketing professional, during the COVID-19 pandemic. He pivoted to the past with Megan, who worked through much of the pandemic as an assistant vice president of nursing at Ochsner’s West Bank campus, opening first Swamp Rags and then Vice & Graft, two vintage clothing shops in the Quarter.
Olsen only really used his social media skills to support this business — until last year when the city announced it was closing the only school in the Quarter, Homer Plessy, where his kids were students.
Olsen posted a video about the move and the negative consequences closing the school would have. The video got a fair amount of attention — and significantly more than Olsen had expected.
It was then he realized “Oh, we can actually do something and get some community support” using the platform, Olsen says. He wanted to “use the platform I have to do something good,” he says.
In the months since, he’s built a substantial online following in the city. He’s weighed in on a “cascade” of issues, ranging from the Super Bowl and rising French Quarter rents to the Bubble Kerfuffle and potential closures of The Dungeon and Mona Lisa.
His first truly viral video came when the Motwani family — one of the most influential families in the city that owns huge swaths of the Quarter — trashed the iconic Tujague’s sign. The video got a lot traction, including the attention of local and national media, and Olsen began building off the style and momentum to highlight the difficulties small businesses in the Quarter are facing.
Since then, he’s had a number of French Quarter-centric videos go viral, including pieces on the collapse of St. Louis Street’s businesses and a post breaking the news that The Dungeon was changing hands, which got more than 4 million views in less than 24 hours.
“I finally figured out what kind of video content I was comfortable with and kind of cracked what would work,” Olsen says.
Chris Olsen @olsenventures on Instagram and TikTok
PROVIDED PHOTO BY CHRIS OLSEN
Aubrey Allison
Instagram and TikTok: @AubreyAvocado
AUBREY ALLISON REALIZED she had a knack for using social media when she was in college and a local smoothie bar got her to handle its social media accounts for cash under the table and free smoothies.
But she had largely stayed away from social media since a cyber bullying ordeal in high school in Baton Rouge. She attended an all-girls school, and boys at a nearby school created a fake Facebook page using her name and photo, which became the anchor of a Facebook group that shared raunchy content.
After that she still used various platforms, but all her accounts were strictly private.
But Allison used her social media skills to start her own marketing company.
“I was always talking to my clients [about the] need to be brave and the need to put themselves out there,” Allison says. “They need to be on camera because that’s what people respond to. Then one of my clients was like, ‘Why don’t you do that?’ ” So she turned her Aubrey Avocado moniker on TikTok and Instagram public. At first, she didn’t have a plan for it.
“I didn’t think New Orleans content would be the thing I would be posting about,” she says. “I thought it would be stuff around fashion because I love clothes, or cooking or my house because I love interior design, or social justice because I really care about a lot of causes.”
Then she posted a video of herself talking about a man who went fishing in Bayou St. John and pulled out a severed head. It drew 60,000 viewers.
Since then, she has touched on local life, from a love letter to one of her favorite restaurants, Maypop, closing to a snippet from the bubble protests at MRB’s in the French Quarter in May. A post ostensibly for Super Bowl visitors explained preoccupations with Scrim and the Sewerage & Water Board Sex Room. She has 22,000 followers on TikTok, where she posts most often, and about 8,000 on Instagram. None of the posts on her personal pages are paid promotions, she says.
A more recent post involving her family attracted more than 424,000 views on TikTok.
Her father Don Allison was shot during a robbery in 1996 and long opposed parole for his assailant, Marcus Cheffen. But after 20 years, he reconsidered, and through the
Louisiana Parole Project, he eventually met and forgave Cheffen. Allison also requested a new parole hearing for him, and Cheffen was released in 2020. The two have remained in touch. After that story made TV news, Aubrey Allison posted about it.
“A lot of the people are reaching out and commenting that it helped them be more forgiving in life,” she says. “Even on that video, I have had to block people who were saying heinous things. 99% is nice stuff, and you get people who say, ‘You helped me forgive someone who hurt me.’ ” That’s cool. Then someone is like, ‘You’re ugly.’ ”
She’s now accustomed to the positive and negative sides of social media, and she’s optimistic.
“I am more inspired and hopeful for the future than I have been in a long time,” Allison says. “I think it is because I am seeing so many people using their voices and their platform to make the city better and the state better and the world better. It’s been meaningful to be part of something that’s bigger than myself.”
Votedyearafter year oneofthe best fitness studios.
EARLIER THIS YEAR, Joshua Starkman, decked out in tuxedo, top hat and purple, gold and green bowtie, announced his campaign for New Orleans mayor with a rally outside of Tipitina’s. And it’s tough to argue against the planks in his platform: drain the (literal) swamps to build Starkies, a combination gas station and theme park; legalize the sale of weed at all local gas stations; open up the Sewerage & Water Board secret sex room for tourists; and fund the Pothole Preservation Society.
“LaToya flew so I could run,” Starkman said at the rally. The campaign, of course, has been a running satire to poke at the chaos of New Orleans politics — Starkman didn’t actually qualify for the race — but that didn’t stop the musician from trying to buy Gambit’s endorsement during a recent interview. Hey, Starkman, we can’t be bought!
Dropping the satire for a minute, though, Starkman admits, he’s surprised how many people have taken his satirical campaign seriously “in a city that’s supposed to be culturally satirical.”
“But I hope I’m adding to the discourse,” he adds. “I’m just mirroring the absurdity of town and the characters.”
Over the last few years, Starkman and his giant smile have grown a large social media following through his Have A Great Day brand. A Florida native, Starkman moved to New Orleans to pursue his master’s degree at the University of New Orleans while also playing guitar on jazz gigs around the city. He’s now a frequent performer with Preservation Hall musicians, including Charlie Gabriel, who Starkman has become close with.
In 2018, amid a difficult time, Starkman began posting short videos of him playing a few notes on guitar and saying with a smile, “Have a great day.” The concept took off, especially during the pandemic, and now, Starkman posts regular videos of him on guitar accompanying tons of other New Orleans musicians and occasionally comedians.
Starkman has done interviews with people like Big Freedia and hosted live Have a Great Day shows. And his PSA videos — simple shots of Starkman dancing and pointing to text — regularly take off around town.
Starkman doesn’t have a background in marketing but quickly learned how to navigate social media through the help of friends and seeing what resonated with audiences. He has refined his focus as he goes, and now has a business offering creative services to companies and people.
“I was just taking whatever creative energies I had,” Starkman says, “and focused them toward not only content creation but thinking of possible ways to make a living [by] making that content and also linking it to businesses.”
Joshua Starkman
PROVIDED PHOTO BY STEVE RAPPAPORT
NicolasFloc’h: Fleuves-Océan, Mississippi Watershed is organizedby theNew OrleansMuseumofArt andissponsored by Villa Albertine andAlbertine FoundationthankstoArdian’ssupport.Additional support is provided by theDel andGingerHallPhotography Fund,the A. CharlotteMannand Joshua Mann PailetEndowment,Georgeand Milly Denegre, Harvey andMarie Orth,and Jamesand Cherye Pierce
REGGIE FORD shouldn’t be as successful at moving the levers of government as he is. A professional artist, Ford didn’t come up in New Orleans’ insular political world. And yet over the last several years, Ford has used social media platforms to become an enormously influential voice on politics and policy in the city.
Whether it’s helping to elevate the voices of second line vendors targeted by the Cantrell administration or pushing the city council to finally begin the redevelopment of Lincoln Beach, Ford has used his online presence to actually move politicians and city government. Ford, 45, was an early adopter of the internet and did time in the rough and tumble world of the early ’90s online culture. It helped shape how he communicates online and makes dealing with armies of trolls easier. Still, it wasn’t until 2009 that he began using the internet to comment on social and political issues. Even then, he wasn’t as prolific as he is now, in part because of how text-heavy the internet was at the time.
“Typing wasn’t the best way for me to express myself because I’m dyslexic,” Ford says. “But once you can communicate with people with video, it made it much easier for me.”
When Instagram began allowing long-form videos, it made things even easier.
Ford’s platform first began drawing serious attention after the collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel in 2019. He had worked in construction and used that knowledge and an intuitive understanding of the failings of the city’s inspection office to highlight issues with both the collapse itself and Mayor Cantrell’s handling of the aftermath.
Part of Ford’s success is rooted in the fact that he often uses his large platform to elevate and recognize others. His videos often are credited re-posts of things other New Orleanians have published, which can bring attention not only from citizens but civic leaders as well.
“I like to highlight people’s efforts... some people like to take credit for things. I don’t like that. Everybody has superpowers” that should be recognized, he says. That notion can be seen in his work on Lincoln Beach. Ford first started posting about it in the summer of 2020, using his large following to draw attention to the work of activist Sage Michael and others to revitalize the area.
Those efforts got the attention of the city council, including Vice President Helena Moreno who helped secure millions of dollars in funding and finally kickstart work at the historic Black beach after decades of delays and neglect.
August 15-17
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STEAKNIGHT EVERYWEDNESDAY $35 3COURSES+MARTINI
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3701 iberville st •504.488.6582 katiesi nmidcity.com
Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri&Sat 11am-10pm Sun10am-5pm
Reggie Ford
@reggieart on Instagram
PHOTO PROVIDED BY REGGIE FORD
For the of the
CLove Croffeeawl
From August 11 to September 12, join us for a citywide celebration of cofee! The Cofee Crawl is your chance to explore local shops, step outside your usual order, and discover something new—for your chance to win!
HOW TO PARTICIPATE:
1. Visit participating cofee shops featured in our guide. We encourage you to explore new cofee options and try something new at each stop!
2. Take a photo while you’re there—whether it’s a selfe with your cup or a creative shot of your drink with the shop in the background.
3. Submit your photo by emailing it to vip@gambitweekly.com, or sharing it on Instagram and tagging @gambitneworleans by Friday, September 12, 2025.
ICED EVOLUTION
EVOLVE COFFEE + MATCHA
400 HARRISON AVE. GROUND FLOOR, NEW ORLEANS 3304 W. ESPLANADE AVE. N., SUITE B7, METAIRIE EVOLVECOFFEENOLA.COM
Start your Cofee Crawl strong! Stop by Evolve and try their signature Iced Evolution – ceremonial-grade matcha, bold espresso, and milk layered over ice for a perfectly balanced pick-me-up.
Participants who visit all or most stops on the crawl will be entered to win our Grand Prize:
• Free Cofee Beans for a Year from Orleans Cofee
• VIP passes for two to the NOLA Cofee Festival, October 3–4, 2025
Participants are also eligible for awesome giveaways like:
• GA tickets to NOLA Cofee Festival, October 3–4, 2025
• Gift cards from participating shops
And more surprise prizes!
OLD ROAD COFFEE
2024 BAYOU RD., NEW ORLEANS OLDROADCOFFEE.COM
Cool of with Old Road Cofee’s Coconut Cold Brew! It’s smooth, bold, and just the right amount of tropical. Make it your own specialty drink by customizing the cold foam with a variety of favors. Don’t miss this charming neighborhood spot during your Cofee Crawl! Open daily from 6:30am - 5:00pm.
Questions? Visit bestofneworleans.com/cofee for more information, or email vip@gambitweekly.com
ORLEANS COFFEE ESPRESSO BAR 3445 PRYTANIA ST., NEW ORLEANS ORLEANSCOFFEEESPRESSOBAR.COM
The Dirty Ginger is a dirty chai latte made with ginger candy–infused espresso and steamed milk.
COCONUT COLD BREW
DIRTY GINGER
MATCHA MAGIC
2000 TULANE AVE., SUITE A, NEW ORLEANS ITSMATCHAMAGIC.COM
Matcha Magic recently opened with a variety of authentic, hand-whisked matcha creations and health-forward bites. Try their Purple Rain, a top-seller that combines lavender, ube, and matcha sweet cream. Customize with your choice of plant milk or a variety of boosters.
LE PONCE
3133 PONCE DE LEON ST., NEW ORLEANS LEPONCENOLA.COM
Our afogato is made with homemade vanilla ice cream, espresso, and Chantilly cream. A sweet European Cafe, no passport needed!
FOR THE LOVE OF COFFEE CRAWL
CONGREGATION COFFEE
900 JEFFERSON AVE., NEW ORLEANS 240 PELICAN AVE., NEW ORLEANS CONGREGATIONCOFFEE.COM
House-made horchata, perfectly balanced with a double shot of espresso, over ice. The perfect cinnamon-y sweet treat to get you through the summer!
GOSPEL COFFEE AND BOOZY TREATS AT HOTEL FONTENOT
501 TCHOUPITOULAS ST., NEW ORLEANS GOSPELCOFFEENOLA.COM
From expertly crafted espresso drinks and house-made cold brews, your cup can always be flled with the spirit by spiking any of our hot or frozen drinks. Just let us know if you want to add a shot to your item of choice.
PJ’S
COFFEE CITYWIDE PJSCOFFEE.COM
Granita is our signature frozen beverage at PJ’s Cofee. Ofered in Mocha and Caramel. Rich chocolate added to our famous granita with a spiral of whipped cream and drizzles of more chocolate.
BEARCAT
845 CARONDELET ST., NEW ORLEANS 2521 JENA ST., NEW ORLEANS 726 JULIA ST., NEW ORLEANS BEARCATCAFE.COM
Here for all your caf eine needs. Join us at one of our 3 locations for breakfast, lunch, cofee or cocktails!
LAUREL STREET BAKERY
2701 S. BROAD ST., NEW ORLEANS LAURELSTREETBAKERY.COM
For two decades, Laurel Street Bakery has proudly served NOLA with a full line of cofee and espresso classics, freshly baked goods, bagels made in-house, breakfast, and lunch. Try their iced caramel cappuccino, a crowd favorite, or their newly added iced lavender latte!
CC’S COFFEE HOUSE CITY WIDE
CCSCOFFEE.COM
Get your morning started with the warm, sweet flavors of brown sugar cinnamon, maple, and white chocolate, blended with rich espresso and creamy Mochasippi® Mix, then topped with whipped cream and a sprinkle of cinnamon powder. The best fall days start at CC’s Cofee House®!
Our limited-time specialty lattes, Cookies & Cream and Cookie Butter, are here to make your summer latte dreams come true. These fun favors are only around for the month, so don’t miss out! Follow our socials to keep up with us @BATTERbakery!
MAGIÉ BLEUE
HORCHATA ICED LATTE
GRANITA
ICED CARAMEL CAPPUCCINO
AFFOGATO
MOCHA FREEZE
CAPPUCCINO
FRENCH TOAST MOCHASIPPI®
DRINKS
Best bar for a first date
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(opened September 2024 or later)
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Mediterranean restaurant
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Best place to get live crawfish
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Best pop-up vendor
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Best St. Bernard Parish restaurant
Best steakhouse
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Best butcher
ENTERTAINMENT
Best bounce artist
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GOODS
& SERVICES
Best AC repair company
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vintage/consignment furniture
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Best barbershop
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Best med spa
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Best nail salon
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LOCAL LIFE
Best art gallery
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Best pool
Best pothole (provide street name, intersection, etc)
Best real estate agent/team
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Best Jefferson Parish library
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Best future job for the mayor
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VISITOR RECCOMENDATIONS
Best 24 hour bar
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MEDIA
Best local food social media account
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NORTHSHORE
Best Northshore bar or brewery
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Best place to get seafood
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BEYOND BEYOND ClassroomTHE
Free after-school programs for kids of all ages and interests
BY MARGARET DUZANE
THERE ARE PLENTY of opportunities for New Orleans kids of all ages and interests for connection, community and enrichment after the school day ends and on weekends. Several local programs are absolutely free to attend, whether your kid is an aspiring musician, needs help with homework or is looking to play games and meet new friends.
SUPPORT FOR YOUNG MUSICIANS
THE TROMBONE SHORTY FOUNDATION, founded by the famous musician and New Orleans native, provides after-school music programs that connect young brass artists to mentors who help them at virtually all levels of their music careers.
There are three main branches of the foundation. The Trombone Shorty Academy is for kids ages 12 to 18.
Two programs are geared toward young adults ages 14 to 24: the Fredman Music Business Institute, for those who want to pursue careers in the industry; and Cultural Experiences, which is a music industry and leadership development program that often takes them on international trips.
Auditions for the fall semester academy are scheduled for Monday, Aug. 25 from 6 p.m to 8 p.m. If accepted, students will culminate the semester in December and showcase their skills at Tipitina’s for the annual Tunes for Toys concert, a toy drive and fundraiser.
Ashley Shabankareh, director of operations and programs, calls the concert a moment where kids’ “confidence on that stage is just radiating.”
Transportation from schools, meals and snacks are provided, and students are required to have at least one year of experience on their instrument to participate in this program.
The Foundation also teaches young people about the business side of the music industry.
Its Fredman Music Business Institute offers free courses for students from ages 14 to 24 who are interested in building their careers. Classes begin in September and are from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Meanwhile, its masterclasses are singular events on Mondays and Wednesdays, also geared toward students and young adults from 14 to 24. Topics range from songwriting to using social media, and are often taught by local musicians, including Tarriona “Tank” Ball of Tank and the Bangas and PJ Morton. These workshops are open to the public.
Registration and more information is found at tromboneshortyfoundation.org.
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation runs the Don “Moose” Jamison Heritage School of Music after-school program at its James and Joyce Wein Jazz and Heritage Center. The goal of the school is to “increase learners’ appreciation for community and to help them be more conscientious and compassionate about their culture,” says director Derek Douget.
HSM Beginners is for both total beginners and those with a little music experience, and is held Mondays or Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Intermediate students are required to attend classes on Thursdays and Saturdays. Sessions include Instrumen-
The Trombone Shorty Foundation offers several program for young, aspiring musicians.
PHOTO PROVIDED BY THE TROMBONE SHORTY FOUNDATION
APROVEN ONLINE SCHOOL EXPERIENCE FOR LOUISIANAFAMILIES.
University View Academy is aLouisiana-basedK-12tuition-free online public charter school availabletostudents statewidefromany parish. As one of themostinnovative virtual charter schools in Louisiana, we offer aunique online environment with certified teachers and proven curricula thatallow student families the flexibility and freedom to learn in away thatfits their lifestyle needs. University View Academy alsooffersan earlycollege high school program that allows our students to earn afreetwo-year associates degree from apartnercommunityortechnical college by either attending classes on campus or online via dual enrollment. This incredible program offers UVAstudentsthe opportunity toget ahead on their four-year degree while still qualifyingfor TOPS when they graduatefromhighschool.
4.7STARS
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tal or Voice Studio and Musicianship, Horn Sectional, or Rhythm Sectional. Advanced courses are on Saturdays with an optional Thursday class, where musicians learn about subjects like Music Theory, Instrumental Studio and either Combo or Choir.
For more information, visit jazzandheritage.org/heritageschool-of-music.
ACADEMIC ENRICHMENT AND MENTORSHIP
THE YOUTH EMPOWERMENT
PROJECT, based in New Orleans East and Central City, provides a structural and supportive environment for young people through its after-school program YEP Enriches.
YEP Enriches is geared toward students from age 7 to 16, and it connects them to mentors who help them with homework, arts and other recreational activities. The nonprofit is dedicated to helping kids build “a sense of belonging, confidence, friendship and resilience,” says Dean Howard, chief development officer.
Nearly one-third of the program directors, staff, and mentors are alumni of the YEP Enriches program, Howard says — a testament to its commitment to helping young people lead productive lives and learn healthy life skills. Both YEP locations are on the public city bus line. At YEP, Howard says, “mentors meet you where you’re at.” For more information, visit youthempowermentproject.org.
OTHER RESOURCES AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS
THE NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY connects families to free resources year-round. Pretty much anyone can drop-in, which is extra helpful for families with busy schedules and who can’t always commit too far ahead of time.
Every branch of the NOPL offers Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics (STEAM) Club programs.
These programs are for kids age 6 to 12, and two different technological programs are offered each month. There is at least one class at a branch daily, as an effort by the library to support families who need regular or frequent enrichment.
Opportunities for younger kids, ages 2 to 5, include a Music and Movement program, which helps with cognitive development, spatial awareness, bodily movement and how to interact with others. This program is held Mondays in September, October and November from 5 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the MidCity Library.
There’s also kids’ bingo, which takes place on Mondays in September from 4 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Library in the Lower 9th Ward.
To learn more about events at NOPL by age group, sign up for newsletters at nolalibrary.org/ events/subscribe.
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University View Academy
3113 Valley Creek Dr., Baton Rouge (225) 421-2900 | universityview.academy
University View Academy is a Louisianabased K-12 tuition-free online public charter school available to students statewide from any parish. As one of the most innovative virtual charter schools in Louisiana, we offer a unique online environment with certified teachers and proven curricula that allow student families the flexibility and freedom to learn in a way that fits their lifestyle needs. UVA also offers an early college high school program that allows our students to earn a free two-year associates degree from a partner community or technical college by either attending classes on campus or online via dual enrollment. www.universityview.academy
Nola Boo was created by a New Orleans girl who loves her city and loves her Louisiana sports teams! She also combined her love of both with fashion. Located on Metaire Road near the tracks, Nola Boo ofers gameday gear, the latest clothing trends, accessories, and home decor. To get you ready for the school year Nola Boo has just received shipment of gameday shirts and accessories to get you in the spirit. Follow them on Facebook and Instagram and download their app. Shop from home, online at nolaboo.com or come in and say hi boo!
Edward Hynes Schools
Lakeview: 990 Harrison Ave., New Orleans (Gifted PK, K-8)
UNO: 6101 Chatham Dr., New Orleans (Grades K-7, expanding to K-8) Coghill at Parkview: 4617 Mirabeau Ave., New Orleans(K-8) (504) 324-7160 | hynesschool.com
Hynes Charter Schools—serving Lakeview, Parkview, and UNO campuses— are among the highest-performing, open-enrollment schools in Orleans Parish. All three campuses showed strong growth in 2024 state scores: Hynes-Lakeview maintained its “A” rating for the 13th year; Hynes-Parkview rose two letter grades in three years; and Hynes-UNO gained 8.5 SPS points. Hynes was named a Cognia® System of Distinction and is also accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools/Council on Accreditation and School Improvement (SACS/CASI). Hynes-Lakeview and HynesUNO ofer French immersion programs and have been honored with the prestigious LabelFrancÉducation. Art and social-emotional learning are integrated throughout the curriculum. Rooted in equity, innovation, and enrichment, Hynes provides a student-centered, inclusive environment where all learners are empowered to succeed.
Mount Carmel Academy
7027 Milne Blvd., New Orleans (504) 288-7626 | mcacubs.com
The Mount Carmel Academy experience ofers each student opportunities to pursue her dreams, uncover new talents, grow spiritually, and discover the person God created her to be. With small classes (averaging 15), students collaborate, view failures as opportunities for growth, and approach a constantly changing world with curiosity. More than 50 extracurricular activities and a service learning program encourage students to develop their talents and interests while actively engaging in the community. Graduates leave MCA confident and well-prepared for college and beyond. Explore the campus, meet students and teachers, and learn more at Open House on Oct. 9, 3–7:30 p.m. RSVP at mcacubs.com.
NOMMA
425 O’Bannon St., New Orleans (504) 227-3810 | nomma.net
NOMMA is a top-rated, open-enrollment, 8-12 public charter high school serving all metro New Orleans parishes. Students participate in the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Program. NOMMA cadets study in a focused, college and career preparatory environment guided by a team of teachers and retired military instructors with unparalleled classroom experience. Cadets earn a TOPS University or TOPS Tech Career diploma. NOMMA ofers honors courses, AP courses, CLEP testing, dual enrollment courses, as well as after-school tutoring, support for diverse learners, and participation in Class 4A sports. Find out more at nomma.net.
Benjamin Franklin High School
2001 Leon C. Simon Dr., New Orleans (504) 286-2600 | bfsla.org
Benjamin Franklin High School has been fostering futures since 1957! Home to curious and creative high-achieving students from every ZIP code in New Orleans, the school revels in its diversity. A five-time Blue Ribbon school, Franklin leads the state in Ivy League admissions, with 90% of students earning college credit before graduation. Offering numerous electives, Advanced Placement classes, 20 sports teams, and over 50 clubs, Franklin challenges students while helping them discover their passions. Visit bfsla.org to learn more, and join us for Open House on Thursday, Oct. 30, from 5–7 p.m. to see excellence in action.
Art Camp 504
3113 Royal St., New Orleans (504) 913-2989 | artcamp504.org
In 2016 Art Camp 504 started as a summer art workshop for neighborhood kids. Almost a decade later, the non-profit serves over 700 New Orleans kids annually through yearround camps and classes. Throughout the years, Art Camp 504 has maintained its commitment to making arts accessible by granting needs-based scholarships to 30% of students. Located in the Bywater, Art Camp 504 gives kids joyful spaces for creative exploration - nurturing artistic skills, boosting self-confidence and building community. Its programming includes something for every kid ages 0 to 17 - from family music to improv comedy, creative writing, filmmaking, culinary arts and more.
City Park Movement and Art
4300 Dumaine St., New Orleans (504) 390-7482 cityparkmovementandart.com
We have hatched a unique creative community at City Park Movement and Art. We provide a warm welcoming environment where people of all ages and levels can come together to explore their self expression through the love of dance, movement, music, and art. We focus not only on improving technique but providing programs that promote self confidence, fun, kindness, community, and healthy living habits. Visit www.cityparkmovementandart.com
Join the Fun this Fall! Learn to PLAY, DANCE, SING, OR ACT! Take lessons with our exceptional teachers in a positive & fun environment. LAAPA works with brand new beginners to advanced students preparing for auditions, recording sessions, etc. All programs are structured with the opportunity to tailor their educational experience to their precise interests and goals. Classes are available in person at the New Orleans campus located in River Ridge/Harahan or on the Northshore at the Covington and Mandeville campuses.
Alice and Amelia
4432 Magazine St., New Orleans (504) 402-6206 | shopaliceandamelia.com
Alice and Amelia has an assortment of local collegiate gear to get you ready for gamedays! From tote bags, to face glitter, to dorm accessories we have all the clothing and gifts to get your school year started! Alice and Amelia strives to bring you a unique selection of eyepleasing and practical gifts originating from small women owned and family businesses. Stop by our store on Magazine Street to shop for your back-to-school needs.
EQA Schools is a forward-thinking network that integrates academic excellence with the development of Emotional Intelligence and Social-Emotional Learning skills. By o f ering a comprehensive curriculum that prioritizes both cognitive growth and emotional well-being, EQA Schools prepares students for a well-rounded and successful future. Through engaging courses, real-world learning, and valuable resources, our network ensures that students not only excel in traditional academic subjects but also cultivate essential life skills like selfawareness and efective communication. This approach equips students to navigate challenges with resilience, fostering holistic development. Notably, we provide additional support by ofering free childcare services to student parents, reinforcing our commitment to inclusivity and accessibility.
New Orleans Public Library
219 Loyola Ave., New Orleans (504) 596-2570 | nolalibrary.org
The New Orleans Public Library has everything students need to succeed in school with resources such as - Homework Louisiana tutoring: Live, online, one-onone tutoring, 7 days a week. The Britannica Library: Interactive Encyclopedia & Atlas with thousands of articles, images, videos, maps & other research tools. Freegal, Kanopy & Libby: Download and stream music, watch movies, and read e-books and magazines. Access these completely free resources and more with your Library card and PIN. Visit nolalibrary.org/ student-success to get started.
Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy
Dr. John Ochsner Discovery Health Sciences Academy is an open-enrollment public charter school located in Jeferson Parish, serving students from Pre-K through 8th grade. Our strong academic program, integrated with health sciences, enables students to discover their talents, explore new opportunities, and achieve success. Our innovative curriculum is enhanced by our new state-of-the-art campus, which includes a MakerSpace, Emeril’s Culinary Garden and Teaching Kitchen, a library, a computer lab, a gym, and a cafeteria. In addition to a strong academic curriculum, we ofer a wide variety of co-curricular classes, clubs, and athletic programs to enrich the student experience.
Arden Cahill Academy, voted the #1 Grammar School by Gambit Weekly readers, ofers an exceptional academic experience for students from six weeks old through 12th grade. Located along Bayou Fatma in Gretna, the school combines rigorous academics with a unique outdoor, country-style setting. From our nurturing Infant Center to our college-preparatory high school, we support every stage of student growth. Highlights include horse stables, a petting farm, STEAM Lab, art studios, music rooms, and a 300seat theater. Schedule a private tour to experience the Cahill Way. High school students can also be a Whale-for-a-Day. Join us October 15, 4–7pm.
NOLA Gifts & Decor
5101 W Esplanade Ave., #1, Metairie (504) 407-3532
nolagiftsanddecoronline.com
It’s Back to School time and Nola Gifts and Decor is the place to geaux to show your school spirit. Door hangers, garden flags, ornaments, socks, tumblers, wall decor from Clay Creations, and so much more. College care packages are filled with necessitates and surprised that every college student can use for their dorm or apartment. Check out our website at Nolagiftsanddecoronline.com. Custom orders welcome.
Ecole Bilingue De La Nouvelle-Orléans
821 General Pershing St., New Orleans (504) 896-4500 | ebnola.com
At Ecole Bilingue, our experienced, nurturing teachers use a project-based approach to help children explore problem solving and build self-awareness. Our program, rooted in creativity, ofers students a fun and enriching way to master the French language and expand the way they interact with the world. Each student receives personalized instruction, as our small class sizes allow teachers to understand each student’s learning style and develop students’ skills.
Founded in 1998, Ecole Bilingue is the only private, independent French immersion school in Louisiana and offers programs for students 18 months - 8th grade. Learn more at: ebnola.net/maternelle.
Giacobbe Academy of Dance
6925 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie (504) 889-0940 | giacobbeacademyofdance.com
Since 1943, Giacobbe Academy of Dance has dedicated itself to exceptional education in the art of dance. Owned and operated by generations of the Giacobbe family, and stafed with a faculty of professional teachers, the studio is internationally known and recognized for the quality of its instruction and the outstanding dancers it produces. Students train in ballet, tap, jazz, pointe and contemporary dance at the highest level in a professional environment dedicated to nurturing the talents of each student. Giacobbe Academy of Dance is proud to be the ofcial school of Delta Festival Ballet.
Kickback Eyewear
kickbackeyewear.com
Kickback Eyewear ofers a trendy selection of stylish sunglasses that combine comfort and fashion, perfect for students heading back to school. With a variety of colors and designs, these shades are not just accessories; they’re a statement of individuality and confidence. As you prepare for a new school year, remember that “the future’s so bright, you gotta wear shades!”
Whether you’re cheering from the stands at football games or hitting the books, Kickback Eyewear ensures you stand out in the crowd while protecting your eyes from the sun’s rays. Make every day feel sunny and carefree with the perfect finishing touch to any outfit.
Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy is an open-enrollment public charter school located in Jeferson Parish. It serves students from Pre-K through 12th grade and has received an “A” rating from the Louisiana Department of Education. The school emphasizes a strong academic program integrated with health sciences, helping students discover their talents and achieve success. In addition to our robust academic o ferings, we provide a wide selection of co-curricular classes, clubs, and athletic programs. Our positive school culture is grounded in our core values of HEART: Honor, Endurance, Academic Achievement, Responsibility, and Tolerance. We focus on data-driven planning to ensure high-quality instruction that prepares students for college and careers.
De La Salle High School
5300 St. Charles Ave., New Orleans (504) 895-5717 | delasallenola.com
Rooted in the Lasallian heritage and tradition of the Christian Brothers, De La Salle High School excels in guiding young men and women of varied backgrounds to develop spiritually, intellectually, physically, and socially. At De La Salle, we see our students as the unique individuals they are, and we challenge them to reach their full potential, both in the classroom and through extracurricular activities. Our aim is to wholly develop each child so that he or she will leave with the skills and knowledge necessary for collegiate success.
DiscoveryFlex
(504) 229-5289 | discoveryflex.org
Discovery Schools o fers a hybrid virtual program called DiscoveryFlex, enabling students to learn from anywhere at any time. It focuses on high-quality online instruction aligned with state standards, provided by trained Discovery teachers. Students can access optional in-person academic support on campus and benefit from a vibrant school culture with clubs and community events. DiscoveryFlex is part of the esteemed Discovery Schools network, known for its innovative curriculum and academic excellence. Currently serving Louisiana students in grades 4-10, the program will expand to include grades 1-12. More information can be found at discoveryflex.org.
EAT + DRINK
Next generation food
The Kingsway ofers pan-Asian prix fxe by Beth D’Addono |
CHEF ASHWIN VILKHU ADMITS TO BEING OBSESSED WITH THE SIX WOKS sizzling in his new kitchen in The Kingsway, the prix-fixe, panAsian restaurant he opened at 4201 Magazine St. in June.
The wok-fired second-course dishes — transformed quickly by hot oil and blazing temperatures — carry the greatest room for error, the chef says.
“Getting them perfect is a challenge, but then again, the wok makes everything so delicious,” he says. “Even a small piece of cabbage becomes something else.”
The ABC (“almond boneless chicken”) and the crispy Scallion Lamb are tied to his father’s early history as a chef in Taj Hotels in India in the early 1980s, where he learned the classics from veteran Chinese cooks.
“My dad used to cook at home on a wok outside, out back, because the oil was so messy,” Vilkhu says. “You have to have just the right touch to get the oil perfect, to get the mix of spices, garlic and ginger and vegetables just right. If the garlic goes in at the wrong time, it’s over. It’s all in the technique.”
Vilkhu is known for his father and family’s elegant modern Indian restaurant Saffron, opened nearby in Uptown in 2017. This year, Ashwin and his father Arvinder Vilkhu were nominated as semifinalists for the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef: South.
While Saffron will always be the mother ship, Vilkhu wanted a project of his own. After years of red tape and renovations, The Kingsway is that restaurant. It is named for the street where his parents settled and raised their family, Kingsway Drive in Gretna. Ashwin Vilkhu, 41, was born in India, but has lived in New Orleans since he was six months old.
“It was in that house that I really learned to love food, to cook with my father,” he says.
His parents entertained frequently, solidifying the hospitality for which the Vilkhu family name is known. Some of his favorite childhood dishes were from a long-gone Gretna
Chinese restaurant Kim Son, notably its salt baked shrimp.
“Obviously I didn’t want a Chinese take-out place,” Ashwin Vilkhu says. “That’s the cool thing about what we’re doing. We’re flipping the script on the wok items, taking everything to another level.”
The chef conjures the flavors and cuisines of his childhood, bold dishes of Malaysian, Chinese and Vietnamese cuisines. The menu is prix fixe ($92), but unlike most tasting menus, diners have options. Each course has a choice of three dishes, so a trio of diners could taste every dish.
For starters, there’s a rich crab and brie soup spiked with chili. The tuna solera, worth the $16 addition, is raw tuna pounded thin and dabbed with chili sauce. Hong Kong-style noodles with Gulf shrimp and black garlic gussy up the chef’s go-to, longtime favorite comfort food.
The menu also has Vietnameseinspired herbed snapper with a delicate dashi and a Japanese izakaya steak with a deeply umami mushroom sauce.
Kingsway will add lunch soon. The menu is still in the works, but Vilkhu sees it as a briefer, lighter version of the dinner menu.
Another way to sample the food is to grab a seat at the bar and order from the four-item bar menu. The changing list recently featured hamachi with an aged chili sauce, silky tuna tartar with egg yolk, Vietnamese style fried calamari and bites of tempura snapper served with maitake mushrooms, priced $22-$25.
Beverage director Colin Williams, a trained chef who swapped the kitchen out for the bar, creates a vibrant cocktail menu. The King’s Way is a gin martini variation with notes of Asian pear and herbaceous Cocchi Americano.
The younger chef Vilkhu is proud of the restaurant and excited it’s the second in his family’s portfolio.
“We have invested a lot into this city and the space,” he says. “These are my memories on the plate.”
Wine store reboot
TRADE WARS AND TARIFFS HAVE RATTLED THE WINE WORLD, but in the microcosm of New Orleans it was the surprise news that Elio’s Wine Warehouse would close after three decades that really riled the waters this year.
Now, though, about three months after the Uptown store closed its doors, Elio’s Wine Warehouse is coming back in the same location at 6205 S. Miro St. and with new owners.
Alexandra and Patrick Brady, the husband and wife owners of Brady’s Wine Warehouse on the edge of the Warehouse District, purchased the business and are preparing to officially reopen on Monday, Aug. 11.
“It’s a great spot, and they had great customers, so we want to keep it going,” Patrick Brady says.
Elio’s was first opened in 1993 by the late Elio Todaro, an immigrant from Sicily, whose family also started Vieux Carre Wine & Spirits in the 1980s. His son Tim Todaro later ran Elio’s.
The location was tucked away on a side street close to Tulane and Loyola universities, and it earned a following for its bargain finds. Earlier this year, Tim Todaro announced plans to close the store and began selling through its inventory.
flavors from Ashwin Vilkhu
Ashwin Vilkhu serves Asian dishes at The Kingsway.
PHOTO BY MADDIE SPINNER / GAMBIT
Patrick Brady is bringing back Elio’s Wine Warehouse.
PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
WHO’S READYWHO’SREAD FORSOME OME FOOTBALL?! BA
The Bradys have been working with Tim Todaro as they prepared to reopen, getting insight on what past customers wanted to guide their new inventory.
not immune from the travails of the slow summer, and that’s part of the point for organizers.
“We want to bring people back with what they’ve always loved here, and eventually we want to show them something new too,” Patrick Brady says.
Elio’s will no longer sell kegs, which had once been a big part of its business. But the business had changed, especially after the nearby universities banned kegs.
Hard seltzers, however, a drink category on the rise, will be well represented on the shelves, along with beer.
The Bradys have run their downtown wine shop since 2015.
— Ian McNulty / The Times-Picayune
Savor the date
IN THE GENTLER SEASONS IN NEW ORLEANS, chefs from around the culinary scene step out of their restaurants to cook together around the outdoor hearth at Paradigm Gardens, the urban farm and event space in Central City.
“I started with people that I’m connected to and have these relationships with, and I think people will be surprised by how much everybody struggles in the summer,” Hitchcock-Tilton says. “I hope this year’s lineup will make this first event a big success so we can expand it and bring in others.”
To make the event proceeds go further, the Broadside is donating the space, and supplier U S. Foods and Rouses Markets are donating ingredients for the chefs to use.
Tickets are $60 and include dishes from all the restaurants. Drinks are available for purchase from the Broadside bars.
The evening event is for ages 21 and up, with live music from the salsa band Muevelo and Americana tunes from Zac Maras & Cactus Thief.— Ian McNulty / The Times-Picayune
Mona Lisa to stay open
Through these and other events, farm founder Joel Hitchcock-Tilton has made many connections and friendships in the restaurant business. He knows what they’re up against in the slow summer. So he and Anthony Cruz, co-founder of the Southerns restaurant and food trucks, have together created a new event to lend support when it’s needed most.
On Aug. 28, Savor the City will gather a varied roster of a dozen local restaurants for a party and food fest with an impressively varied menu. Think chicken sliders from Southerns to doubles from Queen Trini Lisa.
It’s being held at the Broadside, a much larger venue than Paradigm Gardens, and a multifaceted space with its own restaurant, stage and indoor areas. Proceeds go to the restaurants for a summer boost.
“Summer in general, and this summer in particular, is just brutal,” Hitchcock-Tilton says. “We need to come together, like New Orleans does best, to raise awareness and support. We don’t want our local restaurants to go away.”
The lineup for this inaugural event includes Chi Chi’s, Chicken’s Kitchen, Compere Lapin, Coquette, Fritai, Here Today Rotisserie, Good Catch Thai Urban Bistro, Mister Mao, Nikkei Izakaya, Southerns and Queen Trini Lisa.
Some of these restaurants are established names in the dining scene, and some have recently collected national accolades too. But they are
THE ICONIC ITALIAN RESTAURANT KNOWN FOR HAND-DRAWN MUSINGS AND HANDWRITTEN NOTES to customers in the window isn’t being evicted after all, days after the owners learned from a text message they had 60 days to vacate their intimate Royal Street building.
Mona Lisa Restaurant, which has been serving pizza, pasta, and tongue-in-cheek service for nearly four decades in the French Quarter, will live on after owners Farrow Stephenson and Tom Moore met with the new owners of their building late last week.
Previously, a real estate agent had sent the couple a text message notifying them of a potential eviction. Stephenson broke the news to New Orleans diners with a hand-drawn sign on the front door, a tradition he started during the pandemic in 2020.
The outcry that followed prompted an event, Night of 1,000 Mona Lisas, to protest the eviction of the beloved local spot, also a safe haven for the LGBTQ+ community.
Hundreds RSVP’d to dress like the historical figure and invade the Royal Street block on Aug. 16. Coloring sheets, cocktails and light bites were promised.
But now, the “protest” has moved to a celebration, Stephenson wrote.
“I think it’s gonna be OK,” the weekend note said. “We’re astounded by the outpouring (of support).”— Justin
Donnell Brown
NOLA Rico founder by Will Coviello
DONNELL BROWN IS FROM A SOUTH Louisiana Creole family. He was born in California and lived in Los Angeles before moving to New Orleans. He’s worn a lot of hats, including serving in the U S. armed forces in Germany, having his own BMX bike shop in Long Beach and working on race cars for Porsche. In recent years, he converted his longtime Datsun pick-up (“Who Datsun”) into a stylized food truck with a grill in the back, tiki umbrellas over countertops, speakers and more. He and his partner Mari Alicea serve a mix of Creole and Puerto Rican food as NOLA Rico. They’re at J&J’s Sports Lounge on Tuesdays and many Fridays, and they pop-up elsewhere and do private events. For more information, visit @nola.rico on Instagram.
How
did you start a pop-up food truck?
DONNELL BROWN: I am from South Central Los Angeles. I moved here from Long Beach. My whole family is from here — from the Lower 9th Ward. I am a descendent of Oubres from Edgard. I was born in San Diego, but I grew up in South Central Los Angeles. I lived through the riots, all that. I am Creole. I was in the military. I lived off-base in Germany. I cooked for myself. I have three grown kids. I used to cook for them.
For the past 21 years, I had been a race car mechanic for Porsche. I have done everything from pit crewing to building Porsches, building motors. That was my main thing. I worked for Formula DRIFT, 24 Hours of Daytona, pretty much all the sports car racing series.
For the past six years, I blended in working for the American contractor that has the contract with Pirelli tires. When the cars came off the track, the teams would bring the wheels to us and we’d strip them off and put on new tires. Last year, I was at a race and this guy was dropping n-bombs. They weren’t doing anything about it. I didn’t want to feel like a complainer. I was the only Black guy on the team. I am Creole. I just finally told them where to stick it. The next week we started slinging tacos. We finally developed a good Taco Tuesday menu. My girl is Puerto Rican and I am Creole, so we’re NOLA Rican. We do Creole and Puerto Rican
What kind of food do you serve?
B: We started about three years ago. I started on New Year’s Day doing a hangover breakfast over at J&J’s. We were doing black-eyed pea bowls with a fried egg and maple sausage over smothered potatoes. We were just doing a little thing here and there and doing some pozole sometimes. For the past year, we’ve been solid doing Taco Tuesdays. During Lent, on Fridays I was doing fried catfish tacos, fried oyster tacos, fried shrimp tacos. When I used to come to New Orleans, I used to go get a boiled turkey neck. So I started cooking turkey necks a long time ago. I thought turkey necks would be perfect for a taco. So I boil them like crawfish. I have my own little recipe. Mari does empanadas as well. You have the picadillo, the Puerto Rican beef with olives in it. Sometimes we do chicken empanadas and potato empanadas. We’ve laid off on frying with all of the rain, but they’re going to be coming back in fall.
I make smothered potatoes that I’d bring to potlucks all the time. People fell in love with them. In L.A., potato tacos are a thing, so I’d do smothered potato tacos. All tacos have the same condiments on them.
Now we do the NOLA Rico burrito, which has everything in it: turkey, beef, potatoes, broccoli slaw, cabbage slaw, red onions, cilantro, crema, crack sauce and Cojita cheese. It’s a mixture of L.A., New Orleans and Puerto Rico. We keep everything reasonable. The tacos are $4. The burrito is $8.
WI NE OF THE WEEK
I have done bacon-wrapped L.A. hot dogs. Those are delicious. They have grilled onions and bell peppers, mustard and ketchup on a Hawaiian tortilla. It’s a little sweet.
We recently created gumbo mofongo. It’s mashed plantains with chicarrones. They put stewed pork or stewed shrimp over it. We shape it like a ball and pour the gumbo around it. We haven’t started to sell that one yet. I make a shrimp, sausage and chicken gumbo. We’ve also got a Puerto Rican beef cheese steak that’s coming out. It’s on a potato bread sausage bun with shredded lettuce, pico de gallo and grilled onions. We’re doing to start doing that on Fridays.
What have you done with the truck?
B: That truck has been a little hustle machine for me for quite a while. The truck is from California. I rolled around with BMX bikes on top. There’s a whole skater vibe. I used to have a beanie company called Bullseye Beanies. I was selling beanies out of it. That truck is my racehorse. I originally got it for my bicycle shop. It says bicycle repair on the side. I lowered it and painted it. It gradually became what it is. It has the SoCal Volkswagen Bug stance. The back says “Who Datsun.” It’s got its own Instagram. I made the tabletop boards for it. If I am set up on flat ground, it’s standing room on both sides (of the truck). If I set up by the curb, I bring the stools. We have tiki umbrellas. We’re rocking out with A Tribe Called Quest to Sublime to ending the evening with Sade. It’s a vibe. It’s a really good time.
Decoy Chardonnay
This Chardonnay is arefreshing retreat, evoking asummer stroll through orchards in bloom with aromas of sweetmandarin and white peach. Each sip brings juicyand vibrant tropical fruit flavors with just ahintofoak from its time spentinbarrel.
DISTRIBUTED BY
fusion with an L.A. vibe because we’re both from Cali.
Mari Alicea and Donnell Brown of NOLA Rico
PHOTO PROVIDED BY DONNELL BROWN
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.
$ — average dinner entrée under $10
$$ $11-$20
Angelo Brocato’s — 214 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-1465; angelobrocatoicecream. com — This Mid-City sweet shop serves its own gelato in flavors like praline, salted caramel and tiramisu, as well as Italian ices in flavors like lemon, strawberry and mango. There also are cannolis, biscotti, fig cookies, tiramisu, macaroons and coffee drinks. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. $
Annunciation — 1016 Annunciation St., (504) 568-0245; annunciationrestaurant. com — Gulf Drum Yvonne is served with brown butter sauce with mushrooms and artichoke hearts. There also are oysters, seafood pasta dishes, steaks, lamb chops and more. Reservations recommended. Dinner Thu.-Mon. $$$
Bamboula’s — 514 Frenchmen St.; bamboulasmusic.com — The live music venue’s kitchen offers a menu of traditional and creative Creole dishes, such as Creole crawfish crepes with goat cheese and chardonnay sauce. Reservations accepted. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. $$
$$$ — $20-up El Pavo Real (4401 S. Broad St., 504-266-2022; elpavorealnola.com) serves a seafood cocktail with house-made chips.
more. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Tue.-Sat. $$
The Blue Crab Restaurant and Oyster Bar — 118 Harbor View Court, Slidell, (985) 315-7001; 7900 Lakeshore Drive, (504) 284-2898; thebluecrabnola.com — Basin barbecue shrimp are served with rosemary garlic butter sauce over cheese grits with a cheese biscuit. The menu includes po-poys, fried seafood platters, raw and chargrilled oysters, boiled seafood in season, and more. Outdoor seating available. No reservations. Lakeview: Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Slidell: Lunch Wed.-Fri., dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$
Broussard’s — 819 Conti St., (504) 581-3866; broussards.com — The menu of contemporary Creole dishes includes bronzed redfish with jumbo lump crabmeat, lemon beurre blanc and vegetables. Brunch includes Benedicts, avocado toast, chicken and waffles, turtle soup and more. Reservations recommended. Outdoor seating available in the courtyard. Dinner Wed.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$$
Cafe Normandie — Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining — The menu combines classic French dishes and Louisiana items like crab beignets with herb aioli. Sandwiches include po-boys, a muffuletta on flatbread and a burger. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Mon.Sat., dinner Fri.-Mon. $$
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 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
Curio — 301 Royal St., (504) 717-4198; curionola.com — The creative Creole menu includes blackened Gulf shrimp served with chicken and andouille jambalaya. There also are crab cakes, shrimp and grits, crawfish etouffee, po-boys and more. Outdoor seating available on balcony. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. $$ Dahla — 611 O’Keefe Ave., (504) 7666602; dahlarestaurant.com — The menu includes popular Thai dishes like pad thai, drunken noodles, curries and fried rice. Crispy skinned duck basil is prepared with vegetables and Thai basil. Delivery available. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
Desire Oyster Bar — Royal Sonesta New Orleans, 300 Bourbon St., (504) 5860300; sonesta.com/desireoysterbar — A menu full of Gulf seafood includes oysters served raw on the half-shell or charbroiled with with Parmesan, garlic and herbs. The menu also includes po-boys, 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. $$$ El Pavo Real — 4401 S. Broad Ave., (504) 266-2022; elpavorealnola.com — The menu includes tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, ceviche. tamales and more. Pescado Vera Cruz features sauteed Gulf fish topped with tomatoes, olives, onion and capers, served with rice and string beans. Outdoor seating available. No reservations. Lunch and early dinner Tue.-Sat. $$
Juan’s Flying Burrito — 515 Baronne St., (504) 529-5825; 2018 Magazine St., (504) 569-0000; 4724 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-9950; 8140 Oak St., (504) 897-4800; juansflyingburrito.com — The Flying Burrito includes steak, shrimp, chicken, cheddar jack cheese, black beans, rice, guacamole and salsa. The menu also includes tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, fajitas, nachos, salads, rice and bean bowls with various toppings and more. Outdoor seating available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Thu.-Tue. $$
Katie’s Restaurant — 3701 Iberville St., (504) 488-6582; katiesinmidcity.com — The Cajun Cuban with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. The eclectic menu also includes char-grilled oysters, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, fried seafood platters, pasta, salads and more. Delivery available. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily. $$ Kilroy’s Bar — Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining — The all-day bar menu includes sandwiches, soups, salads, flatbreads and a couple entrees.
PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
A muffuletta flatbread is topped with salami, mortadella, capicola, mozzarella and olive salad. No reservations. Lunch Fri.-Mon., 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 steak and chops includes filet mignon, bone-in rib-eye, top sirloin and double pork chops and a la carte toppings include bernaise, 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. $$
Mikimoto — 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 488-1881; mikimotosushi.com — The menu of Japanese cuisine includes sushi, signature rolls, tempura items, udon noodle dishes, teriyaki, salads and more. The South Carrollton roll includes tuna tataki, avocado, snow crab, green onion and wasabi roe. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch Sun.-Fri., dinner daily. $$
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. $$$
Mother’s Restaurant — 401 Poydras St., (504) 523-9656; mothersrestaurant. net — This counter-service spot serves po-boys dressed with sliced cabbage like the Famous Ferdi filled with ham, roast beef and debris. Creole favorites include jambalaya, crawfish etouffee, red beans and rice and more. Breakfast is available all day. Delivery available. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$
Neyow’s Creole Cafe — 3332 Bienville St., (504) 827-5474; neyows.com — The menu includes red beans and rice with fried chicken or pork chops, as well as shrimp Creole, seafood platters, po-boys, chargrilled and raw oysters, salads and more. Side items include carrot souffle, mac and cheese, cornbread dressing, sweet potato tots and more. No reservations. Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. $$
Nice Guys Bar & Grill — 7910 Earhart Blvd., (504) 302-2404; niceguysbarandgrillnola. com — Char-grilled oysters are topped with cheese and garlic butter, and other options include oysters Rockefeller and loaded oysters. The creative menu also includes seafood bread, a Cajun-lobster potato, wings, quesadillas, burgers, salads, sandwiches, seafood pasta, loaded fries and more. No reservations. Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat. $$$
Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro — 720 Orleans Ave., (504) 523-1930; orleansgrapevine.com — The wine bar
offers cheese boards and appetizers to nosh with wines. The menu includes Creole pasta with shrimp and andouille in tomato cream sauce. Reservations accepted for large parties. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Thu.-Sun. $$
Parish Grill — 4650 W. Esplanade Ave., Suite 100, Metairie, (504) 345-2878; parishgrill.com — The menu includes a variety of burgers, sandwiches, wraps, pizza and salads. For an appetizer, sauteed andouille is served with fig preserves, blue cheese and toast points. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
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. $$
Rosie’s on the Roof — Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining — The rooftop bar has a menu of sandwiches, burgers and small plates. Crab beignets are made with Gulf crabmeat and mascarpone and served with herb aioli. No reservations. Dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
Tableau — 616 St. Peter St., (504) 9343463; tableaufrenchquarter.com — The menu features traditional and creative Creole dishes. Pasta bouillabaisse features squid ink mafaldine, littleneck clams, Gulf shrimp, squid, seafood broth, rouille and herbed breadcrumbs. Outdoor seating available on the balcony. Reservations recommended. Dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Thu.-Sun. $$$
Tacklebox — 817 Common St., (504) 827-1651; legacykitchen.com — The menu includes raw and char-broiled oysters, seafood platters, po-boys, fried chicken, crab and corn bisque and more. Redfish St. Charles is served with garlic-herb butter, asparagus, mushrooms and crawfish cornbread. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$
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 veggie sandwich with avocado, onions, arugula, red pepper and pepper jack cheese. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
WedsNearly
Big Chief Juan Pardo’s Tribal Gold
Big Chief Juan Pardo is the leader of the Golden Comanche Black Masking Indians. The Tribal Gold band is a collaboration with the New Orleans Suspects, fusing Indian sounds and local funk. They play a Free Fridays show at Tipitina’s. Daria and the Hip Drops open at 9 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22. There are no tickets, and admission is first come, first served. Visit tipitinas. com for information.
Dave Ross
Comedian Dave Ross has appeared on late-night TV and “Drunk History” and created sketches for Comedy Central. He also appears on many podcasts, including his own, “Billionaires Are Good.” He performs stand-up at 7 and 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Sports Drink. Tickets $32.36 via sportsdrink.org.
Worship: Sacrilege
Worship Burlesque, which has hosted events at the Hotel Saint Vincent’s Chapel Club, leans into sly irreverence through risqué performances. For its next production, “Sacrilege,” Worship moves to the church at the Hotel Peter & Paul and features New York-based company No Ring Circus, Rosalee Bloom and Ruby Lead of the Dallas Fetish Ball, New Orleans-based performers Kitten N’ Lou and Elle Dorado and more. Services begin at 8 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, and tickets are $20 general and $50 VIP via worshipburlesque.com.
Rob Magill & Chris Alford
California-based saxophonist Rob Magill is a prolific, experimental musician with nearly 50 albums in the works and performances with Don Preston, Tatsuya Nakatani and other avant-garde artists. Magill visits New Orleans for a performance with guitarist Chris Alford at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 24, at the Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge. Admission is a $10 suggested donation.
One Vision of Queen
This tribute band to British rock icons Queen is fronted by vocalist Marc Martel. They stop in New Orleans for a show at 8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 22, at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center. Tickets start at $55.30 via jeffersonpac.com.
Hustle! with DJ Soul Sister
DJ Soul Sister has been hosting her monthly Hustle! dance parties for more than 20 years, but in July the extraordinary “queen of the rare groove” announced she’s gonna ease back a bit. She isn’t retiring— Soul Sister said she just wants to do events more on her terms — but the new phase of her career and life doesn’t include monthly Hustle! parties. That means catch Hustle! one more time at 11 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at No Dice. Tickets are $13.60 via dice.fm.
Cristina Kaminis
Blue House Music, which teaches music to young kids, hosts a family-friendly concert on Friday, Aug. 22, at Music Box Village with vocalist Cristina Kaminis and her band The Mix. They’ll focus on Brazilian and Latin music during the show, and the Village’s musical architecture will be open to explore before and after the performance. The show is at 5 p.m., and admission is free for kids and $22.23 for adults. Find more info at musicboxvillage.com.
Matroda
Croatian DJ and producer Matroda has become known for a bass-heavy house style that includes some classical music influences. He plays New Orleans to kick off the school year at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19, at Republic NOLA. Tickets start at $37.83 via republicnola.com.
Kyle Roussel’s Church of New Orleans
Keyboardist Kyle Roussel mixes an array of New Orleans sounds, from gospel to jazz, in his Church project. For these shows, he’s joined by drummer Herlin Riley and vocalist Quiana Lynell. There are shows at 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at Snug Harbor. Tickets $35.65 via snugjazz.com.
Lavender Mirage
Dr. Romance, the DJ duo of Dr. Jax and Romancing the Stoned, have been throwing a series of colorful pool parties called The Mirage Series. Their next party, Lavender Mirage, will also feature DJs C-LaB, Sunnie (aka Jupiter Chann), and Airheadzz at 2 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23, at The Maidstone (formerly The Drifter). Tickets start at $28.49 via linktr.ee/pure_intentions.
MUSIC
FOR COMPLETE M US IC LI S TING S AND MORE EVENT S TAKING PLACE IN THE NEW ORLEAN S AREA, VI S IT CALENDAR.GAMBITWEEKLY.COM
To learn more about adding your event to the music calendar, please email listingsedit@gambitweekly.com
THE MAISON Russell Welch Gypsy Jazz, 4 pm; Jenavieve & The Winding Boys, 7 pm
MAPLE LEAF Joe Krown Trio Plus 1 ft. Papa Mali, 8 pm
NOLA BREWING — The Shanks with Struggle Bus, 1 pm
RABBIT HOLE Reggaeton ft. DJ Siisko, 9 pm
ROYAL FRENCHMEN HOTEL Chris Christy’s Quintet, 9 pm
SNUG HARBOR JAZZ BISTRO — Lawrence Sieberth & James Evans, 7:30 pm
FALLEvents
MUSIC
On solid ground
by Jake Clapp
AFTER HURRICANE KATRINA AND THE FEDERAL LEVEE FAILURES
threw New Orleanians to different parts of the country, musician Ellis Joseph found himself in Atlanta. A bass drummer and one of the founding members of the Stooges Brass Band, Joseph had in the years before the storm become a “free agent,” he says, gigging with older traditional bands and other brass bands in and around New Orleans.
So it didn’t take him long in the fall of 2005 to find other New Orleans brass band musicians staying in Atlanta, including Bennie Pete and Terrell “Burger” Batiste of the Hot 8 and two members of the Stooges, Ersel “Garfield” Bogan and Alfred Growe.
When a brass band was needed for the second line following the funeral for chef Austin Leslie, who had evacuated to Atlanta and died just a month after Katrina, Joseph brought together those musicians and called the group the Free Agents Brass Band in a nod to the makeup of players from sometimes rival bands.
“From that point on, I found myself calling the same musicians every weekend, and that name [ended] up sticking with us because we were all displaced,” Joseph says. “Displaced not only from our homes but from our bands.”
Joseph returned to New Orleans at the beginning of 2006 and found work with an environmental company in the cleanup efforts. Other members of the Free Agents soon followed, and the band began gigging as much as it could, playing funerals, parties, welcome home celebrations, churches, store re-openings and at clubs like the Green Room and Ray’s Boom Boom Room. Joseph also had a job in radio, cutting commercials to promote the Free Agents.
Between those gigs, the band began to write music together, and in 2007, Free Agents went into Piety Street Recording with Mark Bingham to record their album “Made It Through That Water.” Initially released on just 100 CDs, the Free Agents’ sole album has been difficult to find over the years, but now the band is re-releasing “Made It Through That Water” in recognition of the 20th anniversary of Katrina.
Free Agents release “Made It Through That Water” on Friday, Aug. 22, and the band plays the Broadside at 8 p.m. that
night with Da Truth Brass Band, Tidal Wave Brass Band and DJ Chicken.
The album will be available on digital platforms and on vinyl, which comes with extended liner notes by music scholar Kyle DeCoste and a ViewMaster reel featuring photos of that era’s band members and their reflections on Katrina and its lasting impacts.
“This was an opportunity to kind of write [context] into history,” DeCoste says, noting that streaming platforms regularly miss important musician credits. “So this is kind of an experimentation of doing a bit of that.”
Each song on the album originated from a different musician, but Joseph says the band worked together to craft the original songs.
Written in the early years after Katrina, it’s a natural reflection of their experiences and emotions in a city rebuilding and forever changed. There’s relief to be back playing in New Orleans streets on “Move Something,” a love for brass band culture on “Music is the Key” and “Feel Good Music” but also a call for peace in “Stop the Violence,” a song by Julian Gosin, who now plays with The Soul Rebels.
There’s also a vintage radio commercial with LeBron “LBJ” Joseph and Kelder Summers leading off the album’s title track. Viewers of the HBO show “Treme” will remember the song, which draws on the spiritual “Wade in the Water” and features the rapper Snoop.
“It means a lot to me to let everybody hear what it was that we were going through at that time and let them feel those emotions through songs,” Joseph says.
Find the album at freeagentsbrassband. bandcamp.com.
The Free Agents Brass Band PROVIDED PHOTO
GOING OUT
Vintage appeal
by Will Coviello
CHRIS OLSEN GREW UP AROUND ANTIQUES in upstate New York. His father liked to buy and restore them. But he got into the vintage business after he noticed a spike in interest during the pandemic.
“During Covid, there was a boom in vintage,” Olsen says. “People in their 20s and 30s were sitting home with a lot of cash. First sneakers got too expensive, so people moved on to T-shirts. The famous Grateful Dead Lithuania shirt from when they sponsored the Lithuanian basketball teams in the ’90s — they were going for $600. They became collectibles, like baseball cards or things like that.”
Olsen later opened the shops Swamp Rags and Vice & Grift for curated used goods in the French Quarter. And this week, he and his wife, Megan Olsen, kickoff the first Louisiana Vintage Festival on Saturday, Aug. 23, at the House of Blues.
The fest will feature more than 40 vendors, plus music highlighted by Joshua Starkman, and other attractions, like photo booths and portrait artists.
The Olsens have lived in the Quarter for most of the last dozen years. Originally, they opened Swamp Rags on St. Louis Street, and it focused on clothes from the ’80s and ’90s. Then they opened Vice & Grift on Royal Street, where they focus on curated vintage clothes, from the ’70s back to the Victorian era. Both shops are currently operating out of 927 Royal St. until they find a new location for Swamp Rags.
The shops are full of local finds, from T-shirts from the 1984 World’s Fair to pennants and carnival game prizes from Pontchartrain Beach. Vice & Grift draws fans of vintage wear as well as collectors and local film productions.
“For ‘Interview with the Vampire,’ they literally came and bought two full racks of Victorian clothing for costumes,” Olsen says.
As they’ve delved into the world of vintage, they’ve traveled to vintage shows, which can be quite large in some cities.
“There are huge vintage festivals all over the country,” Olsen says. “There’s one called ThriftCon, and that’s sort of a traveling one. There’s one in Massachusetts and a bunch in New York City. They always skip New Orleans. We have sold at festivals before in Houston and Atlanta. Those festivals will pull in 10,000 people, and everyone is traveling to them.”
They decided to create an event in New Orleans, but make it more like festivals here.
Instead of a massive convention center type of space, they wanted to hold it in the French Quarter. At House of Blues, they’re filling six rooms, from The Parish and main club room to the outdoor spaces. Starkman is the headliner, and there’s also music from Becky Lynn Blanca and Allay Earhart, as well as DJs. Burlesque dancer Bella Blue will perform as well.
Most of the 40 vendors are local, but some are coming from Baton Rouge, Lafayette and Pensacola. Many fill different niches of vintage clothes and collectibles, but there also will be some who rework pieces, like dyeing fabrics or creating new pieces. Photo opportunities at the fest include set-up backdrops and Polaroids, and a photography vendor will be on site.
The Olsens moved to New Orleans after getting both engaged here and married here. While living in the French Quarter, they’ve made friends with other shop owners and local musicians. They’re holding the festival in August to help participating shop owners and the district during a normally slow month. They also hope to help rebuild the district’s neighborhood appeal for locals and tourists alike.
Louisiana Vintage Fest is noon-6 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23. Early admission is 10:30 a.m.-noon. Find information at louisianavintagefestival.com. Advance tickets $10 at some local businesses, or $20.85 and up via ticketmaster.com
Vintage shop owner Chris Olsen founded Louisiana Vintage Fest. PHOTO PROVIDED BY CHRIS OLSEN
in an Ar tPiece!!! This Entertainer’s3BD,2.5BA Home is Cr
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PREMIER CROSSWORD PUZZLE
FUNNY MONEY
By Frank A. Longo
money
with lots of tiny stones?
medal imprinted with Korean money?
want a piece --?!”
from high emotion
Response to people who tell you they lost Brazilian money?
What “straight up” means at a bar
Quaint contraction of denial
Many a texter’s smiley
“There are -- ways about it”
Befuddle
“Beats me,” in
Excessively
Like much hunting garb
Quaint term for margarine
92 Tree anchor 93 Do a totally new thing
Excessively remunerated
Greeted with hospitality
Visionaries
Sang on a peak, maybe
Closest buds
Lends a hand
Apple music players
“Easy there!”
Hurts
“... but maybe I’m wrong”
Remove, as a ribbon
sibling’s
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