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December 29-January 4 2025-2026 Volume 46 Number 52

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HAPPY NEW YEAR! Make 2026 the Year of the Dive!

CONTENTS

DEC. 29 2025 — JAN. 4, 2026 VOLUME 46 || NUMBER 52

NEWS

CHEERS!

Opening Gambit ............... 7

MON - $1 OFF DRAFT PINTS TUES - $3 TITO’S TILL 7PM WED - $3.50 JAMESON TILL 7PM

Blake Pontchartrain.......... 11

EVERYDAY SPECIAL HIGHLIFE & JAMESON OR FIREBALL - $7

F E AT U R E S Arts & Entertainment ........ 5

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Eat & Drink .................... 25 Music Listings ................. 30

CHEERS

Music ............................ 33 Going Out ...................... 34

to a Wonderful 2026!

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

13

The Rise and Fall of Latoya Cantrell

Puzzles ......................... 35 C OV E R P H O TO BY G E T T Y I M AG E S 0 C OV E R D E S I G N BY D O R A S I S O N

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Free verse

New Orleans Eve

Skye Jackson’s ‘Libre’ selected by One Book One New Orleans | by Will Coviello SKYE JACKSON’S POETRY COLLECTION “LIBRE,” PUBLISHED EARLY THIS YEAR, is full of powerful images. A

wasp battles her father to claim their mailbox as its home in a pointed story of survival. Josephine Baker’s rapturous smile gleams from a canvas in an expo about Black models in Paris’ Musee d’Orsay. Skye recounts having to gift-wrap ceramic spoon rests in the shape of Black mammies with grossly exaggerated racial features at a French Quarter souvenir shop.

Many of the collection’s poems reflect on both family and New Orleans, from a dog waiting for a drop of praline batter to a former home in a now gentrified neighborhood.

Many poems address injustice, as in a poem inspired by the police shooting of unarmed motorist Philando Castile after he tried to show is ID. “Libre” was recently selected as the book for One Book One New Orleans (OBONO) for 2026.

“January sets off a chain of events,” Jackson says. “They select a book and then (Executive Director) Megan Holt builds a curriculum around the book. They take that curriculum around the city and give away copies.

They do book clubs. They visit jails and hospitals and different organizations to spread literacy. They do discussions and roundtables.

“I have to read my poems at an NBA game. The Pelicans have a poetry night on April 7, and I’ll be reading along with other people.”

OBONO chooses one book each year to be the focus of its community reading campaign. It encourages New Orleanians to read and engage with the book and the community, and there are many components to address barriers to literacy such as poverty, incarceration, visual impairments and more.

There are events online and in various neighborhoods and participation is free.

OBONO often focuses on a recent publication, and recent picks have included Maurice Carlos Ruffin’s “The Ones Who Don’t Say They Love You” and E.M. Tran’s “Daughters of the New Year.” In other years, the project also has focused on historian John Barry’s “Rising Tide,” Ernest J. Gaines’ “A Lesson Before Dying” and Louis Armstrong’s second autobiography, much of it about his young life in New Orleans.

Jackson says she was notified several months ago that her book made

© ELLIS ANDERSON / PROVIDED BY SKYE JACKSON

OBONO’s long list of 150 titles. OBONO announced its final selection on Dec. 15.

The book leads off with “can we touch your hair?” which was included by former U.S. Poet Laureate Billy Collins in his Poetry 180 project with the Library of Congress.

In the poem, amid the crowds at a Carnival parade, a trio of white women initiate an awkward conversation that gets more fraught when they all grab at Jackson’s hair. That presumptuous physical leap is what registers.

“Mardi Gras is such a nebulous time,” Jackson says. “The veil between the past and the present is so thin.

It’s things we have done for so many years. In that moment with those women — I had to think that 60 years ago, my grandmother would not have been in a position to tell those women to stop touching her.”

“Dear editors” is another poem reflecting on racial stigmatization in supposedly more enlightened transactions. It relates a response to the Black Lives Matter movement, when editors suddenly were looking for work about “Black pain” as if it were a commodity, Jackson says.

“You are not entitled to monetize my pain and suffering,” Jackson says. “But sometimes as a Black artist, you feel like that is what is expected of you.”

Some poems address very personal trauma, like “which one.” Though it

draws together disparate memories for her, in it Jackson learns the news that one of her brothers is dead, while the speaker, overcome with grief, inadvertently doesn’t share the whole story. Though the loss occurred years earlier, it wasn’t until she entered a writing program at UNO that Jackson tried to write about the loss and grief.

There also are more gleeful and breathless accounts of dating and relationships.

Other poems detail other odd encounters and moments, from confronting a shoplifter to the little revelations revealed when burying a family pet.

Most of the poems were written between 2019 and 2024.

Some were included in a chapbook published by Antenna Press.

Jackson is quick to note that her poetry career has not followed a conventional path.

She stepped away from a job in entertainment law in Los Angeles to come home to start the Creative Writing Workshop at the University of New Orleans in 2018. When the program went online during the pandemic, she ended up working remotely from Vermont. After she finished the program, she was recruited to work at Disney and pivoted back to the law, handling copyright and other matters for several TV shows. Then Xavier University hired her to teach English and writing, bringing her back to New Orleans in 2023, and she’s there through at least next year.

Through it all, she kept writing poetry, and her first collection, “Libre,” was published early this year

by Regalo Press and is distributed nationally by Simon & Schuster, a rare feat for a debut collection.

For more information, visit skyejackson. com and onebookonenola.org.

New Year’s Eve festivities at the Riverfront feature a concert at Woldenberg Park beginning at 9 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 31. Funk band Dumpstaphunk and indie pop band Sweet Crude will perform along with DJ Captain Charles spinning before and between sets. There will be a New Year’s countdown and the annual fireworks over the river at midnight. The displays include fireworks in the team colors of the Sugar Bowl opponents, Georgia and Old Miss, and there is a link to music for the show on wwl.com. Find more information at fqfi.org/holidays and crescentcitycountdown.com.

PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Allstate Sugar Bowl

The Georgia Bulldogs face the Ole Miss Rebels in the Sugar Bowl. The game is part of the College Football Playoff and the winner advances to a semifinal game. Events surrounding the game include a Carnival-style parade with floats, bands and more in the French Quarter starting at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31. There’s a Fan Fest at the Audubon Aquarium Plaza with a ferris wheel, live music, food, drinks and more at 3-6 p.m.

Wednesday (admission $25 for adults, $5 for kids). On New Year’s Day, Tailgate Town at Champions Square features interactive games, music, bands and cheerleaders from both schools and more at 3-6 p.m. The game is at 7 p.m. Thursday. Find more information at allstatesugarbowl.org.

‘Societe Anonyme’

New Orleans dance ensemble The Fenomenons stages an immersive burlesque and theatrical show for New Year’s Eve at Salon Salon inside the Maison Metier Hotel. The show, “Societe Anonyme,” is set in 1920s Paris and will feature the stories of artists, dancers, aristocrats and other Parisians unfolding during the night. There also will be burlesque, group performances, live music and a champagne toast at midnight.

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A R T S + E N T E R TA I N M E N T

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NEW ORLEANS NEWS + VIEWS

Happy New Year y’all!

# TC OH EU N T

T H U M B S U P/ THUMBS DOWN

2,087

New Orleanians are stepping up in different ways to support the area’s immigrant community during the Trump administration’s Catahoula Crunch crackdown.

Organizations like Familias Unidas en Accion, El Pueblo NOLA, Union Migrante, Touro Synagogue and more have been working to collect food and financial aid, help with legal services and organize Know Your Rights trainings at a time when many people, including citizens and those with work permits, are afraid to go out in public.

New Orleans Regional Transit Authority will begin offering free passes to unhoused residents.

The RTA board recently approved a plan to give 3,000 passes each year to the city’s Office of Homeless Services and Strategies, which will then distribute them to unhoused New Orleanians. Free transit will help make it easier for people to connect with housing and job opportunities.

Mayor LaToya Cantrell recently had banners celebrating Mayor-elect Helena Moreno’s upcoming inauguration removed from Gallier Hall. The banners were installed using private funds in early December, and a spokesperson for Moreno’s transition team told Gambit they originally had permission to keep the banners in place until Moreno’s Jan. 12 inauguration. But Cantrell called for them to be removed on Dec. 17, saying other events would be using the historic building.

THE NUMBER OF DAYS MAYOR LATOYA CANTRELL WILL HAVE SERVED AS MAYOR OF NEW ORLEANS WHEN SHE PASSES THE BATON TO HER SUCCESSOR, HELENA MORENO ON JAN 12.

Gov. Jeff Landry addresses the state legislature PHOTO BY HILARY SCHEINUK / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

Louisiana National Guard sending 350 troops to New Orleans through Mardi Gras ABOUT 350 MEMBERS OF THE LOUISIANA NATIONAL GUARD will

deploy to New Orleans for two months, helping to beef up security in the French Quarter for New Year’s Eve, the Sugar Bowl and Mardi Gras, according to a news release.

They will also more generally support law enforcement and “enhance capabilities, stabilize the environment, assist in reducing crime and restoring public trust,” according to a news release. The operation will last through February.

Gov. Jeff Landry announced the deployment on “The Will Cain Show” on Fox News.

“Look, we know how to make cities safe, and the National Guard complements cities that have high crime problems,” Landry said.

Landry cited President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops, including some from Louisiana, to Washington, D.C. The soldiers currently serving in the nation’s capital will return to Louisiana by the end of the month to join the New Orleans operation, the release said.

“They’re going to be here in New Orleans, it’s going to further help us crack down on the violence,” Landry said.

New Orleans Mayor-elect Helena Moreno said the deployment is welcome, since it comes at no cost to the city and “plays an important role in strengthening public safety.”

Moreno also called on the Trump administration to give strong consideration to the city’s request to give New Year’s Eve and the Sugar Bowl a “SEAR-1” threat rating — the highest security level, which would unlock federal tactical support, intelligence gathering, cyber risk assessment and other resources.

“I look forward to a coordinated effort among our local, state and federal agencies to ensure the height of our major event season is safe and enjoyable for the people of New Orleans and those in town visiting,” Moreno said in a statement.

In a statement, the New Orleans Police Department and the City of New Orleans said they welcome the National Guard to New Orleans and the ongoing partnership.

“These are the sons and daughters of Louisiana, and their presence is a force multiplier that supports local public safety efforts,” the statement said. “Alongside the dedicated men and women of the NOPD, this partnership will help us sustain progress and keep our neighborhoods safer.”

The deployment is under federal Title 32 status, which means the National Guard will continue to report to Landry and leader, Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, but the operation will be paid for by the federal government. Landry thanked Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for approving the plan.

PAGE 8

Cantrell was sworn in on May 7, 2018, and made history as New Orleans’ first woman mayor. She was lauded for her leadership during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, but leaves behind a legacy mired in controversy as she faces federal corruption charges — all while the city struggles to fix a budget crisis and a slew of other problems.

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The National Guard has previously deployed in New Orleans for major events, particularly at the beginning of this year after the Jan. 1 terrorist attack on Bourbon Street.

“We’ve mobilized multiple times this year to support efforts in New Orleans and are ready to do so again for the next two months,” said Friloux. “We will focus on a uniformed presence to enhance the quality of life of our residents and visitors in partnership with Troop Nola of the Louisiana State Police and the New Orleans Police Department.”

The deployment is smaller than the one Landry asked for in an October letter to Trump. Then, he requested 1,000 troops to “deploy throughout the state to urban centers, supplement law enforcement presence in high-crime areas, provide logistical and communication support, and secure critical infrastructure,” Landry’s letter said.

Guard deployments in other cities have drawn major controversy.

Officials in Memphis, Portland, Los Angeles and Chicago have sued the Trump administration for sending or planning to send troops into their jurisdictions, calling it an illegal abuse of federal power.

On Tuesday, the U.S. Supreme Court declined to grant the administration’s request to block a federal judge’s order barring a deployment of National Guard troops to the Chicago area.

“At this preliminary stage, the Government has failed to identify a source of authority that would allow the military to execute the laws in Illinois,” the high court majority wrote.

News of the deployment also comes as federal immigration authorities pursue a sweeping crackdown on illegal immigration in the New Orleans region. As of last week, “Operation Catahoula Crunch” had resulted in the detention of about 350 people, federal authorities said.

— Matthew Albright and Ben Myers / The Times-Picayune

MacKenzie Scott has given $26B to nonprofits since 2019.

Here’s what she supported in 2025.

THE BILLIONAIRE AND AUTHOR MACKENZIE SCOTT REVEALED $7.1

billion in donations to nonprofits earlier this month, bringing her overall giving since 2019 to $26.3 billion.

Scott first pledged to give away the majority of her wealth in 2019 after her divorce from Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. Since, she’s distributed large, unrestricted gifts to nonprofits without

asking for applications or progress reports. Largely, her giving has focused in the U.S., though not exclusively.

Scott doesn’t have a public foundation and so it’s not easy to independently track her giving. But she’s revealed her gifts in occasional blog posts and essays posted to her website, Yield Giving, which also now includes a database of her grants.

The amount of her annual giving has fluctuated, ranging from a reported $2.1 billion in 2023 to $7.1 billion in 2025.

This year, Scott’s gifts show a focus on supporting higher education and climate.

A new emphasis on climate organizations

When the list of 2025 recipients was published Tuesday, it included a number of significant gifts to climate groups, with the largest — $90 million — going to the collaborative Forests, People, Climate, which focuses on stopping tropical deforestation.

The nonprofit Panorama Global has analyzed Scott’s giving over the years and found that historically, giving to the environment has represented a small part of her overall donations. In 2024, only 9.4% of Scott’s gifts went to environmental groups, though on average the amount of those gifts was larger than to other areas, according to their research.

“What we’re now seeing is different years have different focus areas,” said Gabrielle Fitzgerald, founder and CEO of The Panorama Group. “So last year, there was a really big economic security focus. This year, I really see education and climate.”

The Global Methane Hub, which grants out about $100 million a year to projects that seek to reduce methane emissions, received its second gift from Scott, this time for $60 million. CEO Marcelo Mena called the flexible and generous funding “magical” and said it comes at a crucial time as the Trump administration has undermined collective government action on climate change.

“This is when the philanthropic funding is actually absolutely key,” said Mena. “Because it’s the bridge that we need because we can’t discontinue this fight to reduce emissions and keep the climate safe for everyone.”

Scott’s assets have grown even as she’s given away a fortune

When Scott started detailing her giving in 2020, her fortune was valued around $36 billion, according to Forbes. It’s fluctuated over the years, but today, Forbes estimates her net worth to be $33 billion, even as she’s given away more than $26 billion.

Initially, Scott told grantees not to expect or plan for a second gift, but over time, she has given additional gifts to some of the same organizations,

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often larger than her original grant.

“She clearly is getting comfortable with reinvesting in partners that she thinks are doing good work,” said Fitzgerald.

At least one organization, CAMFED, which supports girl’s education in African countries, has now received four gifts from Scott, including the largest so far, $60 million, in 2025, according to Scott’s website.

“In her essays, she’s always talking about other stakeholders and other people’s contributions,” Fitzgerald said. “So it’s very different than many other philanthropists who are often the center of the story of their gift.”

— Thalia Beaty / The AP

In addition to at least $783 million Scott gave to historically Black colleges and universities in 2025, her website details many gifts to tribal colleges, community colleges and scholarship funds.

While Scott has given to higher education since 2020, those gifts have historically been a smaller portion of her education funding. In a 2024 analysis, Panorama Global found nearly 30% of Scott’s education grantees were focused on youth development.

Marybeth Gasman, a professor at Rutgers University and expert on HBCUs, said she noticed that what sets many of the HBCUs who receive Scott’s funding apart from others is steady, consistent leadership and Gasman said, “She’s very interested in institutions that are rooted in community.”

A FORMER SEWERAGE & WATER BOARD AGENT AND NOPD reserve officer was

Many generous gifts to minority colleges and universities

The value of unrestricted grants

Scott does not put any conditions on her donations, allowing recipients to decide how and when to spend the funds. Unrestricted funding is rare from major donors and foundations, with many choosing to support very specific projects over specific timeframes.

However, research from the Center for Effective Philanthropy in 2023 found that concerns about nonprofits misusing Scott’s funds or growing unsustainably have largely not been born out. In part, that may be because Scott’s team researches and vets groups extensively before making donations.

Unrestricted gifts can help nonprofits weather disruptions, test new approaches or technologies or invest in the systems and infrastructure that underpin their work. For example, after the Trump administration cut funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development, the nonprofit Village Enterprise, which runs antipoverty programs, used a grant it received from Scott in 2023 to keep essential programs running.

Additionally, Scott allows groups the flexibility to decide whether to publicly share how much they’ve received, with more than a third of recipients in 2025 not disclosing the grant amounts in Scott’s grant database. Fitzgerald said altogether, she thinks Scott tries to not make her giving about herself.

begin anew sparkle & shine

Former S&WB agent, NOPD reserve officer gets house arrest for fraud

sentenced to six months of house arrest and ordered to pay nearly $95,000 in restitution after admitting to fraud, federal prosecutors said.

Leessa Augustine pleaded guilty to three counts of wire fraud and one count of making false statements and was sentenced Dec. 16, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Louisiana.

Augustine used her S&WB–issued tablet to carry out multiple scams during periods when she claimed to be on patrol in downtown New Orleans.

As a senior special agent with the S&WB from 2017 to 2021, Augustine was tasked with investigating S&WB employees for alleged misconduct.

Augustine falsely claimed security detail hours she did not work while assigned to patrol the Downtown Development District, from an unknown start date through 2021, the indictment states.

She also admitted to using fake pay stubs, W-2s and bank records she’d fabricated with her S&WB tablet to obtain an FHA loan, a soft second mortgage and $5,000 in closing-cost assistance for a $215,000 property, the indictment states.

In a separate scheme, prosecutors said, Augustine falsely claimed she lost her job during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 to collect unemployment benefits from the Louisiana Workforce Commission. She was employed fulltime by the S&WB at that time.

In 2021, Augustine also pocketed about $5,600 in rental assistance, telling the New Orleans Emergency Rental Assistance Program that “the holidays were very hard and the company I work for wasn’t able to let me work 40 hours a week,” prosecutors said.

She supported the claim with a fake termination letter, a fabricated lease and unemployment benefits she had fraudulently obtained.

Prosecutors dismissed one count of wire fraud and two counts of aggravated identity theft in exchange for Augustine’s guilty plea to one count of making false statements and three counts of wire fraud. — Missy Wilkinson / The Times-Picayune

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BL AKE PONTCHARTR AIN™

Hey Blake,

Whenever I’m driving on Highway 190 in the Covington area, I see a sign for Judge Tanner Boulevard. Not being from the North Shore, I’m curious about who he was?

What can you tell me?

FOUNDED IN 1997 IN THE BYWATER

Dear reader,

JUDGE THOMAS TANNER SERVED 18 YEARS on the 22nd Judicial District

state court for St. Tammany and Washington parishes, including as the court’s chief judge. After he retired from the district court bench in 1988, Tanner continued to be an ad hoc judge appointed by the state Supreme Court to handle cases throughout southeast Louisiana.

According to his 2008 obituary, the New Orleans native was a U.S. Army and 82nd Airborne Division veteran.

He graduated from Ponchatoula High School, Southeastern Louisiana University and LSU. He was past president of the LSU Law Center student body, past president of the Louisiana District Judges Association, former chairman of the Law Enforcement Commission and first president of the Slidell Chamber of Commerce.

Judge Thomas Tanner in 1989 PHOTO BY JOHN BOSS / THE ADVOCATE

Lawyers who practiced before Tanner in St. Tammany and Washington parishes recalled him as a conservative, no-nonsense judge.

“He’s hardworking, industrious and fair-minded,” Julian Rodrigue told The Times-Picayune in 2002. “He’s serious on the bench.”

Soon after Tanner died, the St. Tammany Parish Council voted to name an extension of Fairway Drive in Covington in Tanner’s honor.

BLAKEVIEW ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL and influential political leaders in Louisiana history, Congressman Hale Boggs, began his first term in the U.S. House of Representatives on January 3, 1941 — 85 years ago this week.

Boggs, born in Long Beach, Mississippi on Feb. 15, 1914, was a Tulane journalism and law school graduate. A onetime newspaper reporter, he also practiced law before entering politics. His wife Lindy — later a beloved and respected political figure in her own right — helped launch his political career in 1940 by organizing the first of his many campaigns for Congress.

Hale Boggs ran for Louisiana’s Second Congressional District seat, defeating incumbent Paul Maloney when he was just 26. This prompted the New Orleans Item to refer to him in a Sept. 1940 article as “the baby Congressman from Louisiana.” He was sworn into office the following January.

Boggs lost his re-election bid to Maloney in 1942, then served in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He returned to political office in 1946, winning the seat and returning to Congress. Boggs was re-elected 13 times, becoming a powerbroker in Congress, including being named House Majority Whip in 1962. The following year, he was appointed to the Warren Commission to investigate the assassination of President John F. Kennedy.

In 1971, Boggs was sworn in as House Majority Leader. In October 1972, while on a campaign fundraising trip flying from Anchorage to Juneau, Alaska, the private plane on which Boggs was traveling disappeared. Also on board were freshman Rep. Nick Begich and an aide. A massive 39-day search and rescue operation followed, but it found no sign of the wreckage or survivors.

Lindy Boggs was elected to succeed her husband in Congress, which she did for 18 years. In 1997, President Bill Clinton appointed Boggs, then 81, as U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, where she served until 2001. She died in 2013.

Hale and Lindy Boggs were the parents of three children, including noted journalist and political commentator Cokie Roberts, Washington, D.C., lobbyist Thomas Hale Boggs Jr. and Barbara Boggs Sigmund, who was mayor of Princeton, New Jersey.

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AND FALL OF LATOYA CANTRELL

BY JOHN STANTON | Gambit Editor ON JAN. 12, HELENA MORENO will take the oath of office as New Orleans’ next mayor, a moment that for most of the city can’t come soon enough.

Even for many of her most ardent fans, the last few years of Mayor LaToya Cantrell’s time in office have been a petty, chaotic mess.

By now, everyone is intimately familiar with all of the problems during Cantrell’s administration.

She’s basically been missing in action for the last several years, working as few hours a week while racking up tens of thousands of dollars a year in city-funded vacations and junkets around the globe. In fact, even after she was called out repeatedly for being an absentee mayor, Cantrell not only didn’t stop, she seemingly increased her travel and time off and convinced friendly judges to block any restrictions put on her – until, of course, a federal judge took her passport and literally barred her from leaving the city while she awaits her federal corruption trial next year.

The city’s financial situation, which was bright when she took office in 2018, is so bleak it could barely make payroll through the holidays. Despite billions in federal funding coming into the city over the last eight years, streets are a nightmare to navigate, traffic lights regularly fail, and buildings continue to randomly collapse. Utility bills have soared along with rents, forcing thousands of New Orleanians out of their homes – and

in many cases leaving the city itself in search of more affordable options.

Meanwhile, Cantrell has stood idly by as Gov. Jeff Landry and President Donald Trump have flooded the city with state and federal troops and law enforcement agents, terrorizing our citizens and suppressing our economy.

It hasn’t always been this way, of course. Before the Hard Rock Hotel collapse, before Covid, before the scandals and the pettiness and palpable resentment towards the city itself, Cantrell was for many the embodiment of the ever elusive American dream.

After Hurricane Katrina, Cantrell led the effort to rebuild Broadmoor and ensure it wasn’t left behind or ultimately caught up in the “clean slate” style plan backed by former Mayor Ray Nagin and developers who saw the storm’s devastation as a redevelopment opportunity to push out poor and working class Black residents.

It was the start of a meteoric and historic rise up the political ranks for Cantrell, culminating in her being sworn into office as the first Black woman mayor in May of 2018.

While her political leanings had always been of the pro-big business, moderate variety, when Cantrell was sworn into

Mayor LaToya Cantrell talks to the New Orleans City Council while presenting her budget at City Hall.

PHOTO BY CHRIS GR ANGER/ T H E T I M E S - P I C AY U N E

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THE RISE

LaToya Cantrell leads her inauguration parade from the stage after she was sworn in as the first female mayor of New Orleans at the Mahalia Jackson.

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office it felt like New Orleans was turning the page to something better and new.

And for much of her first year in office, it didn’t seem like that would change. Government seemed to be moving along as usual. While the streets were still a mess and trash wasn’t always picked up twice a week, things seemed normal. And while that may seem like a low bar, just keeping the proverbial trains running in an aging major city like New Orleans is an enormous task.

Plus, her first major win was an historic one, and came quickly in her first term. In 2019 Cantrell did what many people thought was impossible when she negotiated the “Fair Share” deal with the state to redirect tens of millions of dollars in tourism related tax dollars back to the city.

The deal came at a critical time.

Massive flooding from routine rain storms were becoming the norm because of the city’s antiquated drainage system. And while Landrieu had spent millions helping repair roads and other infrastructure as part of preparations for the city’s anniversary, for people living in parts of the city tourists don’t frequent it felt like they’d been left behind.

As the independent Bureau of Governmental Research noted last year, the deal successfully delivered “significant recurring revenue for essential infrastructure improvements

– all at little or no cost to local taxpayers and ratepayers.”

That win, however, would soon be overshadowed when COVID-19 came to town.

The mayor made one of the most important calls in her time in office when she listened to her Department of Health Director Jennifer Avegno and closed the city in March, just before the annual Saint Patrick’s Day, St. Joseph’s Night and Super Sunday celebrations.

It wasn’t an easy decision. Cantrell was under massive pressure to keep the city open, particularly from the tourism industry but also many culture bearers who wanted to celebrate Super Sunday.

It saved thousands of lives, and untold numbers of others who would have become sick and potentially face long-term health problems as a result of the virus. Indeed, for much of the pandemic, Cantrell was successful in balancing the economic needs of the city with its safety much better than many other major cities.

But even before the pandemic, it was obvious there were problems.

The most obvious sign was the collapse of the Hard Rock Hotel and the subsequent handling of its demolition.

For months, the bodies of victims literally hung on the side of the rubble. In her rush to clean it up, Cantrell botched demolition of the buildings’ remains.

Indeed, the city’s first attempt made things worse as a part of a construction crane literally impaled Rampart

15

Street, standing as a grim memorial to her failure.

Then in 2020, Cantrell tried, and failed, to force through significant cuts to the city’s public library budget. The changes, which would have redirected millions of dollars in taxes to the city, was a major priority for Cantrell. In the lead up to the fall vote, Cantrell, her top aides and allies on the City Council deceived the public about what they were doing, falsely claiming the cuts were not, in fact, cuts, and that the library would still have its full budget.

It was an aggressive campaign.

And it almost worked – so much so that Gambit’s editorial board initially endorsed her plan, only to retract it after it became clear the mayor had lied.

Thankfully, the voters weren’t buying it, and the plan failed.

It was a turning point for Cantrell, who it seems had grown accustomed to getting her way with relatively little opposition during her first term.

Still, when she came up for reelection in 2021, Cantrell drew no significant opposition, in part due to her successful efforts to contain Covid and the general inevitability of incumbent mayors in New Orleans.

In many ways it was during the lead up to the election after Hurricane Ida, however, that it became clear things were going to get worse for the mayor and the city.

From the collapse of the city’s trash collection system in 2021 and the lack of adequate preparations for that year’s hurricane season to the ongoing short-term rental crisis that gutted huge swaths of historically Black neighborhoods around the city, it was clear things were headed in the wrong direction.

Meanwhile, facing a new City Council which unlike its predecessor wasn’t stacked with allies, Cantrell leaned into her combative and dismissive reputation. Top aides began heading for the exits, while others were forced out for corruption, incompetence or both,

though almost always by the council and not Cantrell herself.

And her policy and political losses quickly stacked up. Some were badly embarrassing, including her ill-conceived plan for moving City Hall to Congo Square. As large public protests mounted, Cantrell openly lashed out at the residents of Treme for having the audacity to defy her – going so far as to threaten existing efforts to repair Municipal Auditorium.

The loss clearly stung Cantrell, who began retreating further from public view, outside of tightly scripted events, ribbon cuttings and other fun events.

At the same time, her travel schedule became packed as she flew around the globe to attend music festivals and junkets.

As Cantrell pulled away, her administration began going further off the rails.

STR enforcement essentially ended.

Contractors doing road projects, street light repairs, building maintenance and other critical functions weren’t getting paid. Meanwhile, her enforcement office was actively targeting small businesses and poor Black people on Bourbon Street and under the Clairborne Bridge busking and selling food and cold drinks – while essentially ignoring problems connected to wealthy interests.

The list goes on, of course, from Jeffery Vappie to a Superbowl that ended up costing residents more than they’ll ever see in returns to her lack of leadership during this year’s budget crisis. Indeed, one of her final acts as mayor will have been to veto next year’s budget for no obvious reason other than the city council refused to rubber stamp her clearly unworkable plan.

As a result of it all, Cantrell will leave office deeply unpopular, facing potential jail time and with no clear plan for her future, either here in New Orleans or elsewhere.

It’s a sad ending to a remarkable, historic career, and one neither Cantrell nor the city deserve.

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16

Poppet Theater Debuts Stanley and His Demon: A Two-Act Dark Comedy About Faith and Fraud

BY POPPET THEATER

This article is brought to you by Poppet Theater.

“Putting on a play about a demon in a venue that used to be a Catholic church wasn’t on my 2026 bingo card, but it’s going to be a great show,” mused Mariana Santiago, playwright and director of Stanley and His Demon, a play debuting at the New Marigny Theater this January.

Brimming with satire and supernatural chaos, the play explores what happens when a carefully constructed con collides with something genuinely infernal.

Stanley is a charismatic cult church leader who performs exorcisms for fun and profit (mostly profit, if he’s being honest, which he rarely is) on people he assumes are afflicted more with delusion than with actual demons. Stanley and his wife Esme might not believe in anything they preach, but the donations provided by their ever-faithful followers are certainly real.

The grift goes as planned until Stanley performs a legitimate exorcism on a truly possessed wom-

an. To Stanley and Esme’s surprise, the demon doesn’t disappear. Instead, it follows them home.

“Working on this show has been a hell of a lot of fun. The show’s turning out to be ferociously, wonderfully hilarious,” commented Mia Frost, who performs the role of Esme. Other cast members include Peat Wolf as Stanley, Lexi Pink as Tansanazel, Thugsy DaClown as God / Judge / Billy, Liz Johnston-Dupre as Shelly / Counselor, Julie Wakefield as Erin, Avery Johnston-Dupre as Thomas, and Rel Farrar as Agent Mendez / Christine.

Stanley and His Demon is more than a dark comedy: it’s a discussion on faith, fraud, and the existential horror of being a human. New Orleanian theatergoers are invited to experience what happens when a demon makes better company than most of humanity – and to watch two con artists finally meet their match from Hell.

Ticketing Tickets are available now at poppettheater.org/stanley and are $30 each.

Dates Friday, January 2nd – Saturday, January 3rd and Friday, January 9th – Monday, January 12th, 2026. All showtimes are doors at 7:30pm and performance at 8pm.

Venue The New Marigny Theater is located at the corner of Marais and Mandeville at 2301 Marais Street, New Orleans, LA 70117.

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Neighborhood charm

FORK + CENTER

Charmant is a new all-day bistro in Mid-City | by Beth D’Addono

Email dining@gambitweekly.com

CHARMANT IN MID-CITY IS NOT ONE, BUT TWO RESTAURANTS.

The restaurant is a passion project from husband-and-wife hospitality veterans chef Chris Borges and sommelier and general manager Bonnie Borges. They opened just before Thanksgiving in the space formerly home to MoPho. By day the spacious, 2,880-square-foot restaurant is a sunny cafe with walls colored a serene azure blue, wraparound windows inviting in plenty of natural light and a climate-controlled courtyard for al fresco nibbling.

In the evening, the copper pendant lights dim, the bar glows and soft music sets the scene for intimate conversations and the gathering of friends. This is not a noisy restaurant — that vibe lives elsewhere. At Charmant, which means “lovely” or “captivating” in French, the focus is on polished, European-influenced cuisine, picturesque cocktails and a concise list of carefully selected wines, including many by small producers, grower Champagnes and distinctive varietals that pair well with chef Borges’ menu. And the price point is sweet, with not-the-usual by-the-glass choices in the $10-$15 range, and bottles running around $40-$60.

“Our goal was to build the kind of place we’d want in our own neighborhood, where you can stop in for brunch, a glass of wine after work, or linger over dinner with friends,” says Chris Borges, who grew up on nearby Moss Street facing Bayou St. John and Cabrini High School. Bonnie Borges grew up in Old Metairie and Algiers Point.

Borges earned his chops at fine dining restaurants and hotels over the past three decades, most recently as executive chef at Virgin Hotels New Orleans.

“We had been looking for a while,” he says, adding that it’s all about “location, location, location” and parking — which is plentiful.

“Hard to believe it’s taken me 30 years to open my own place.”

North Rampart reboot

THE FRENCH QUARTER WINE BAR EFFERVESCENCE was known for a

Bonnie Borges and Chris Borges opened Charmant.

PHOTO BY MADDIE SPINNER / GAMBIT

The restaurant opens for brunch at 8 a.m. and stays open through 10 p.m. A happy hour menu bridges lunch and dinner.

There’s also sensible crossover between the lunch/brunch and dinner menus, with popular dishes like the fried Brussels sprouts salad with lima beans and cardamom yogurt, crab dip with everything pumpernickel toasts and a dressed wagyu burger with cave-aged cheddar on a brioche bun available all day.

At brunch there’s a massive croque Madame and house-made salmon gravlax on toast. There’s a small selection of pastries as well.

Borges puts fine emphasis on creative vegetable dishes, like roasted beets with horseradish panna cotta, rye and dill pollen. There’s a little gem salad, a kale salad available with or without chicken, fried sunchoke cakes and a crispy cauliflower main dish that also is a good shareable starter.

Pork-osso-buco-stuffed arancini is a winner, served with a zippy cherry pepper ragout.

A tender maple-glazed pork chop is on both menus, as is the Phomo, a dish that brings the flavors of star anise and cardamom to a short-rib powered rice grits and grillades. That dish is a shoutout to Michael Gulotta, who previously ran MoPho and is the chef at Tana.

“We loved Mike’s restaurant, and I wanted to feature something that paid tribute to what he did here,” Chris Borges says.

Menu prices are in the $15 to $29 range. There are dessert cocktails and creative desserts and pastries from sous/pastry chef Jillian Duran, including a nutty pine nut tart garnished with rich morello cherries. Duran is known for her Rahm Haus ice cream, a business she ran locally for years.

Bonnie and Chris Borges, who met while working together at the Ace Hotel, each brought two children into their three-year union, ages 6, 8, 11 and 16. The family lives nearby.

“The good thing is, we can’t talk about work when we get home,” says Bonnie Borges. “There’s too much to do.”

?

WHAT

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Charmant

514 City Park Ave., (504) 3814573; charmantnola.com

Lunch/Brunch and dinner

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European-inspired fare at a neighborhood spot

world-class collection of sparkling wine, but corks weren’t the only things that popped here. The small kitchen produced a menu of elegant and creative dishes, especially highlighting seafood.

Effervescence closed in August, but soon the chefs who ran its kitchen from the start will open a new upscale seafood restaurant in its place.

The Crustacean Club is now beginning to take shape at 1036 N. Rampart St., with a projected opening this spring.

At the helm are Brenna Sanders and Evan Ingram, the married couple who were Effervescence’s chefs since its opening in 2017.

Their aim is to showcase the variety and the potential of Gulf seafood, giving an elevated treatment to the local catch.

“There is so much wild-caught, sustainable seafood that we have here,” Ingram says. “We’re excited to highlight the things that are 30 minutes away and how special that is, rather than seafood that has traveled across the country or been flown here.

Chefs Brenna Sanders and Evan Ingram will open Crustacean Club on N. Rampart Street.

PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

In addition to the regular menu, the Crustacean Club will have a private dining room seating up to 20 people where the chefs will serve special tasting menus.

The general configuration of the restaurant will remain the same, with a prominent bar front and center. Now it will have an oyster bar, and also a chilled seafood display to let the feast begin with the eyes upon entrance.

Sanders, who is originally from Alabama, and Ingram, who is from California, met while cooking at

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Weekend S pecials

12-14 December 26-28 ——APPETIZER Brunch ——

dip Walnut StrawberryCrab and Candied French Toast — LUNCH — Brisket on bun Bagel Bacon Egg andsalad cheese with BBQ and potato with Grits on it with fries

— BRUNch —

— Lunch — Red Velvet Waffles Avacado Turkey w/ White Chocolate and Sandwich Candied walnuts w chipotle aoili and a Bacon, Egg and Cheese Bagel cup of Tomato Basil Soup w/ Cheese Grits

DINNER — —— DINNER

Cowboy Butter Steak PastA Jumbo Softshell toppedw/with Parmesan seafood penneCheese Lamb chops Marry me and Chicken with creamy mushroom orzo over spinach zucchini and squash Stuffed flounder Baked Zucchini Fries seafood cream and vegETABLES with Feta Diplasagna Appetizer Seafood

BRUNC

SaturdayH & Sunday!

3701 ibervillee st • 504.488.6582 katiesin katiesinmidcity.com nmidcity.com Mon-Thurs 11am-9pm Fri & Sat 11am-10pm • Sun 10am-5pm

FORK & CENTER

Restaurant August, and later worked at Michelin-rated restaurants in San Francisco, including Quince, Rich Table and Saison.

Crystal Hinds developed Effervescence, pouring her love of all things sparkling wine into the concept.

It debuted in a former Creole center hall house that had once been used as a studio for WWL-TV, which is headquartered next door. It was largely a blank slate when Hinds took over and began renovations.

As Effervescence it was a chic addition to a rising tide of new businesses bringing more life back to Rampart Street. When she announced Effervescence would close last summer, Hinds hinted that another restaurant would soon take its place.

The new restaurant will keep plenty of Champagne in rotation (it’s a great pairing with seafood, after all), alongside classic cocktails. And while the kitchen will focus on Gulf seafood, caviar from other waters will be on the menu too.

Ingram and Sanders inked the deal to open the Crustacean Club here just before Christmas, and they are excited for it to join the Rampart Street scene.

Just up the street, the soon-toopen Succotash (1041 Dumaine St.) is bringing back the historic restaurant space that was previously Marti’s and Peristyle, but was idle for a decade.

Succotash is slated to open Dec. 31. — Ian McNulty / The Times-Picayune

Latest scoop

FOR TWO YEARS, Briggs Barrios worked out of his small production shop in Harahan, scooping hand-crafted ice cream into pints layered with toppings like shortbread crumbles and toasted almond slivers.

Recently, that operation grew into something bigger: a permanent location for his brand, Super Witch Ice Cream, inside II Supremo Pizza in Old Metairie, where flavors are now swirled into cups and cones from an icy nozzle rather than sold as pre-ordered pints.

“This is hopefully going to allow people to experience Super Witch in a little bit of a different way,” Barrios said.

The brand offers rotating soft serve flavors — last week, vanilla, Oreo or a combination of the two. Barrios says he plans to eventually serve four flavors, along with pints like those sold at the Harahan shop, but for now the storefront is “trying to get its feet wet.”

Super Witch is currently serving two soft serve flavors and its popular Valrhona chocolate chip cookies, Wednesday through Sunday from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., with plans to expand hours after the holidays.

Briggs Barrios opened Super Witch Ice Cream.

PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

The expansion follows the brand’s rise on social media, where posts about the soft serve have circulated widely among food influencers based in the New Orleans area. The operation has been packing more than 1,000 pints a week for customers traveling from across the city.

Soft serve — super-whipped yet stiffer than traditional soft serve ice cream — has gained traction across the United States in recent years, with chefs reimagining the product while still leaning on familiar flavors like vanilla and chocolate.

The artisanal ice cream trend has taken hold in New Orleans, where ice cream makers like Laozi Ice Cream and 7th Ward Ice Cream Speakeasy keep customers updated on weekly flavors through social media. Others grew into brick-and-mortar shops, like Lucy Boone Ice Cream, which, like Super Witch, operates next to a pizzeria.

Super Witch draws on nostalgia, using its flavors as a window into the past. One called “Airline Skate Center” nods to the birthday parties many New Orleanians remember from the Kenner roller rink, combining vanilla ice cream with funfetti cake batter. Another, dubbed “Parent Trapped,” marries Oreos with peanut butter, referencing an iconic scene in the 1998 film remake starring Lindsay Lohan.

Inside the shop, the vintage theme continues with cartoons painted across the checkered walls — a whistling ice cream cone with spindly legs and a winking witch — near wooden booths and round tables.

Even the brand name is personal: Super Witch was a nickname for Barrios’ late grandmother, who he said had an uncanny ability to know what

the children were up to at all times.

“People tell us they build family traditions around our ice cream,” he says, “That’s a great feeling.” — Poet Wolfe / The Times-Picayune

Hubig’s on the route

IF YOU’RE PLANNING ON CELEBRATING VALENTINE’S DAY at the Krewe of Iris

parade this year, there’s a good chance you can catch a New Orleans-made Hubig’s Pie — but one like you’ve never seen before.

Hubig’s Pies is partnering with the all-female krewe, one of Carnival’s largest, which means the classic NOLA dessert will be an authorized throw during Iris’ trek on its Uptown parade route.

And there’s a special twist.

“These Hubig’s will sport wrappers entirely devoted to Iris — for the first time, ever!” the bakery said on Facebook recently.

The special packaging is adorned with a purple fleur-de-lis and blue crown with IRIS lettering at the bottom. It was not clear which Hubig’s flavors will be thrown, though the post suggests it will be more than one.

Hubig’s Pies returned to circulation in 2022 after a 10-year hiatus following a devastating fire. Since then, the flaky hand pies filled with classic flavors like apple, lemon and chocolate have been available at grocery stores and markets across the city and along the Gulf Coast.

Earlier this year, Hubig’s partnered with French Truck Coffee for a cafe au lait pie.

The Krewe of Iris rolls at 11 a.m. on Feb. 14, 2026, along Napoleon and St. Charles avenues. — Justin Mitchell / The Times-Picayune

27

WINE OF THE

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.

WEEK

$ — average dinner entrée under $10 $$ — $11-$20 $$$ — $20-up 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. $$$ Bamboula’s — 514 Frenchmen St.; bamboulasmusic.com — The live music venue’s kitchen offers a menu of traditional and creative Creole dishes, such as Creole crawfish crepes with goat cheese and chardonnay sauce. Reservations accepted. Lunch, dinner and latenight daily. $$ 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 char-grilled 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 more. No reservations. Outdoor seating available. Lunch Tue.-Sat. $$ 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) 766-6602; 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.

Juan’s Flying Burrito (citywide; juansflyingburrito. com) serves a variety of burritos and Mexican favorites.

PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY/ THE TIMES-PICAYUNE

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 chargrilled 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, PAGE 28

Taittinger Brut

This wine has a subtle, pale gold color with fine, persistent bubbles. It is delicate, with aromas of peach, white flowers, vanilla, and brioche on the nose and flavors of fresh fruit and honey on the palate.

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flatbreads and a couple entrees.

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. $$

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A R T S & E N T E R TA I N M E N T PAGE 5

The show starts at 10 p.m., and tickets are $65 general admission and $100 VIP via evetbrite.com.

‘Hell’s Kitchen’

The jukebox musical is based on the life of singer Alicia Keys and her young life growing up in New York. In the show, 17-year-old Ali is discovering her freedom and talents and when she finds a mentor, she starts pursing her dreams. The touring Broadway production comes to Saenger Theatre Dec. 30-Jan. 4. Showtimes vary. Tickets $39-$175.50 at saengernola.com.

‘The Holy Mountain’

It takes a while to try and explain Alejandro Jodorowsky’s 1973 surrealist film “The Holy Mountain.” A man who looks like Jesus meets an alchemist and embarks on a journey for enlightenment — basically? Anyway, it’s a visually stunning film. So why not watch it while a group of New Orleans doom bands perform a live score? The bands Mars, Fauns, Anareta, Guts Club and Burial Gift will take turns performing while “The Holy Mountain” is shown on loop at 8 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3, at Siberia. The show is free, and costumes are encouraged. Find more info on Instagram: @siberianeworleans.

Brookiecita’s CVLT of Disco

Hosted by musician and DJ Brooke Paulus (Brookiecita), CVLT of Disco brings in 2026 with DJ sets by the trio Solid Gold and Chore Boys, the DJ duo of Rusty Lazer and Messy. Doors open at 9 p.m. Dec. 31, at Saturn Bar, and tickets are $24.92 via dice.fm.

The Revivalists

The Revivalists ring in the New Year with two nights of events at the Orpheum Theater. The Revheads Ball is an intimate in-the-round performance at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 30.

The New Year’s Eve ball follows on Dec. 31, and doors open at 8 p.m.

Find tickets via orpheumnola.com.

Queen’s Balls

The Maple Leaf and funk rock band Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes throw their annual pre-Carnival Queen’s Balls a little early this year. They’ll party at 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2. Tickets are $20 in advance via mapleleafbar. com and $25 on the day of the show.

Desert Nudes

Desert Nudes, the country and folk band consisting of Andre Bohren and David Pomerleau of Johnny Sketch & the Dirty Notes and John Paul Carmody,

plays a New Year’s Day afternoon show at the indoor stage at the Broadside.

Admission is free, and there’s free black-eyed peas and cabbage. At 3-5 p.m. Thursday. RSVP and find information at broadsidenola.com.

Morning 40 Federation

New Orleans’ raucous funk, punk and brass band Morning 40 Federation headlines a New Year’s Eve show at Chickie Wah Wah. She Would and Sick Thoughts also perform. At 9:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Dec. 31. Tickets $51.62 and up via chickiewahwah.com.

Galactic

Galactic plays its annual New Year’s Eve show at its home at Tipitina’s.

Vocalist Jelly Joseph joins the band, and the Brass-A-Holics also perform. At 9 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31. VIP tickets include food, open bar and more.

Tickets $99.15 and up via tipitinas.com.

Neutral Snap

New Orleans pop punk band Neutral Snap released its latest, energetic EP, “I Hardly Know Her,” in August.

The band throws a New Year’s Eve show with New Orleans grunge trio She Might Be a Beast and DJ Blair Elise at Jimmy’s Music Club, which opened earlier this year. Doors open at 8 p.m., and tickets start at $25.50 via jimmysmusicclubnola.com.

‘The Kid’

Charlie Chaplin’s first feature film and a classic of the silent film era, “The Kid,” is a heartbreaking comedy of errors. An unwed mother tries to leave her baby in a rich family’s car, but thieves steal the car and abandon the baby, where he is found by a poor tramp, played by Chaplin.

The feature and Chaplin’s short film “One A.M.” screen with a live original score by pianist David Bradley. At 8 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 4, at Zeitgeist Theatre & Lounge. Admission $15 in advance, $20 at the door. Find information at zeitgeistnola.org.

BREAKFAST . BRUNCH . LUNCH

‘Stanley & His Demon’

Stanley and Esme gladly fleece their flock as they run their own personal church. When asked to perform an actual exorcism, Stanley rushes to provide but can’t escape the demon he accidentally unleashes. The new work from Poppet Theater stars Peat Wolf, Mia Frost, Thugsy Da Clown and more. At 8 p.m. Friday, Jan. 2, and Saturday, Jan. 3, and continues Jan. 9-10 at New Marigny Theater. Tickets $30 via poppettheater.com.

Bottomless Mimosas Monday - Friday: 8am - 2pm Saturday & Sunday: 8am - 3pm 1901 Sophie Wright Place • Crackdbrunch.com

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MUSIC FO R CO M P L E T E M U S I C L I ST I N G S A N D M O R E E V E N T S TA K I N G P L A C E IN THE NEW ORLEANS AREA, VISIT C A L E N D A R . G A M B I T W E E K LY. C O M

To learn more about adding your event to the music calendar, please email listingsedit@gambitweekly.com

MONDAY 29 30/90 — Margie Perez, 6 pm; Piano Man G, 9 pm ALLWAYS LOUNGE — Betsy Propane & The Accessories, 7 pm APPLE BARREL — Mark Appleford, 6 pm; Decaturadio, 10:30 pm BACCHANAL — Byron Asher, 6 pm BAMBOULA’S — The Rug Cutters, 12 pm; Jon Roniger & The Good for Nothing Band, 4:30 pm; Ted Hefko & The Thousandries, 9 pm BJ’S LOUNGE — Alex McMurray, 9 pm BUFFA’S — David Doucet, 7 pm CAFÉ NEGRIL — Lit Band, 7:30 pm CARROLLTON STATION — Biscuits n’ Jam with Meryl Zimmerman & Friends, 10 pm DBA — Secret Six Jazz Band, 6 pm; The Jump Hounds, 9 pm DOS JEFES — John Fohl, 8:30 pm HOLY DIVER — DJ Reverend Robert Sinewave, 10 pm MAHOGANY JAZZ HALL — Jenna McSwain, 6 pm; Original Tuxedo Jazz Band, 8 pm THE MAISON — New Orleans Rug Cutters, 5 pm; Gene’s Music Machine, 8:30 pm MAPLE LEAF BAR — Lemmler Does Sinatra - A Mike Lemmler Birthday Celebration, 8 pm MAYFIELD’S 208 BOURBON — Kermit Ruffins, 6 pm; Irvin Mayfield and Cyril Neville, 9 pm SANTOS BAR — Karaoke a Go Go with Alesondra, 10 pm SATURN BAR — BC Coogan, 8:30 pm SNUG HARBOR — Charmaine Neville Band, 7:30 pm; 9:30 pm SPOTTED CAT — Jenavieve Cooke & the Winding Boys, 2 pm; Dominick Grillo & The Frenchmen Street All Stars, 6 pm; Amber Rachelle & The Sweet Potatoes, 9 pm ST. ROCH TAVERN — Chicken Milk + Tamper Dan, 9 pm

TUESDAY 30 30/90 — Sugar & The Daddies, 6 pm; Higher Heights Reggae, 9 pm ALLWAYS LOUNGE — The Crossroads Cabaret ft. Johanna Rose, 11 pm APPLE BARREL — Bubbles Brown, 6 pm; Jackson & Friends, 10:30 pm

BACCHANAL — Tangiers Combo, 6 pm BAMBOULA’S — F. K-rera Music Group, 12 pm; Giselle Anguizola Quartet, 4:30 pm; Caitie B. & The Hand Me Downs, 9 pm BAR REDUX — Sam Tenhoff, 9 pm BUFFA’S — Alex McMurray, 7 pm CAFÉ NEGRIL — Super-Most-FantasticBlues-N-Such-Jam, 7 pm; 10 pm CHICKIE WAH WAH — Kermit Ruffins: A Crazy Cool Christmas, 8 pm DBA — T Marie and Bayou Juju, 6 pm; Kid Chocolate & The Free P.O.C, 9 pm DOS JEFES — Tom Hook, 8:30 pm HOLY DIVER — The Amazing Henrietta, 8 pm JAZZ PLAYHOUSE — Amber Rachelle & the Sweet Potatoes, 8 pm THE MAISON — Jacky Blair, 5 pm; Paradise Swing Band, 8:30 pm MAPLE LEAF BAR — A Very Good Band ft. Ari Teitel, 9 pm MAYFIELD’S 208 BOURBON — Irvin Mayfield ft. Kermit Ruffins, 6 pm THE RABBIT HOLE — Rebirth Brass Band, 10 pm SALON SALON — Leo Forde, 7 pm SATURN BAR — Making Space + Tidal Wave Brass Band, 9 pm SNUG HARBOR — Astral Project, 7:30 pm; 9:30 pm SPOTTED CAT — Chris Christy Band, 2 pm; Sweetie Pies of New Orleans, 6 pm; Smoking Time Jazz Club, 9:30 pm THREE MUSES — Slick Skillet Serenaders, 8 pm TIPITINA’S — Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, 8 pm VAUGHAN’S — Lil Prince and the Youngbloods, 10 pm

WEDNESDAY 31 30/90 — Andre Lovett Band, 4 pm; Zena Moses & Rue Fiya, 7 pm; Manic Mixtape, 10 pm APPLE BARREL — Hobo Gadget, 6 pm; Steve Mignano, 10:30 pm BACCHANAL — Pete Olynciw, 6 pm BAMBOULA’S — Jacky Blaire & The Hot Biscuits, 12 pm; John Saavedra, 4:30 pm; Boardwalker & The 3 Finger Swingers, 9 pm BJ’S LOUNGE — Gal Holiday New Years Bash + We Hate Lindsay, 9 pm BLUE NILE — Flow Tribe New Year’s Eve Party, 10 pm BLUE NILE BALCONY — Afrobeat NOLA, 10 pm BRATZ Y’ALL — Margie Perez & Dean Zucchero, 5 pm CAFÉ DEGAS — Gizinti Trio, 6 pm

CAFÉ NEGRIL — Jam-ilton, 12 pm; Big Mike and The R&B Kings, 4:30 pm; Sierra Green New Years Show, 9:30 pm THE CELESTINE — Slick Skillet Serenaders, 8 pm CHICKIE WAH WAH — Morning 40 Federation + She Would + Sick Thoughts, 8:30 pm CIVIC THEATER — DJ Soul Sister’s New Year’s Eve Soul Train, 10 pm DBA — Glen David Andrews, 10 pm GASA GASA — NYE with Where Y’acht, 10 pm HOLY DIVER — Diver-Aoke with KJ EJ, 10 pm JAZZ PLAYHOUSE — Bubbles & Brass: New Year’s Eve with Big Sam’s Funky Nation, 7:30 pm KERMIT’S TREMÉ MOTHER-IN-LAW LOUNGE — Keep It Rolling Brass Band, 8:30 pm THE MAISON — New Orleans Rug Cutters, 7 pm; Brass-A-Holics, 10 pm MAPLE LEAF BAR — Pocket Chocolate New Years Eve Party with Special Guests. 10 pm MRB — Lynn Drury, 6 pm; And Then Came Humans, 10 pm ORPHEUM THEATER — The Revivalists: New Years Eve Ball, 9 pm RABBIT HOLE — The Revivalists: New Years Eve Ball, 9 pm; Pure Intentions Official New Years Eve 2025, 12:30 am SALON SALON — Société Anonyme ~ A New Years Eve Experience, 10 pm SANTOS BAR — 1999 NYE Party with DJ Shane Love, 10 pm; Back to the 2000’s NYE Party with Sunnie & Friends, 10 pm

Jon Cleary and The Absolute Monster Gentlemen perform at Tipitina’s on Tuesday, Dec. 30 at 8 p.m.

PHOTO BY MADDIE SPINNER / GAMBIT

SATURN BAR — Brookiecita’s Cult of Disco, 10 pm SIBERIA — Techno Club Presents A New Years Eve Techno Affair, 9 pm THREE MUSES — Crybabies, 6 pm; Monty Banks, 9:30 pm TIPITINA’S — Galactic New Year’s Eve ft.

Jelly Joseph + Brass-A-Holics, 9 pm VAUGHAN’S LOUNGE — Robin Rapuzzi’s Glo Worm Trio, 8:30 pm VIRGIN HOTEL — The Soul Rebels, 8 pm

THURSDAY 1 30/90 — Tthe Dapper Dandies, 6 pm; Gumbo Funk, 9 pm BACCHANAL — Raphael Bas, 6 pm BJ’S LOUNGE — New Years Day Night featuring Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars, 9 pm BLUE NILE — Reggae Night with DJ T-Roy, 10 pm BUFFA’S — Tom McDermott & Susanne Ortner, 7 pm LE BON TEMPS ROULÉ — The Soul Rebels, 11 pm MAHOGANY JAZZ HALL — Jamil Sharif and his New Orleans Extravaganza, 8 pm THE MAISON — Single Malt Please, 8:30 pm MAPLE LEAF BAR — George Porter Jr.’s 78th Birthday Show, 9 pm

POOR BOYS — The Magic Mic, 8:30 pm

FRIDAY 2 30/90 — Orphaned in Storyville, 2 pm; Daphne Parker Powell, 5 pm; Ado Soul & The Tribe, 8 pm; Colin Davis & Night People, 11 pm ALLWAYS LOUNGE — Angie Z & Friends, 8 pm APPLE BARREL — Bubbles Brown, 6 pm; Andre Lovett, 10:30 pm BACCHANAL — David Sigler, 1 pm; Willie Green, 7 pm BAMBOULA’S — The Rug Cutters, 11 am; Felipe Antonio Quintet, 2 pm; Les Getrex & Creole Cooking, 6:30 pm; Bettis & 3rd Degree Brass Band, 10 pm BJ’S LOUNGE — Prey 4 Neighbors + Malevitus, 9 pm BLUE NILE — The Caesar Brothers’ Funk Box, 8 pm; Kermit Ruffins & The BBQ Swingers, 10 pm; Strange Roux, 10 pm BMC — Jazz Band Ballers, 5:30 pm; John Lisi Band, 9 pm BUFFA’S — Cole Williams, 8 pm CAFE NEGRIL — Blackdog, 2 pm; Jamey St Pierre and the THC, 6 pm; Jason Neville Funky Soul Band, 9 pm DBA — Jamey St. Pierre and THC, 6 pm; Higher Heights Reggae, 10 pm DOS JEFES —Sax and the City: Tom Fitzpatrick, 9 pm LE BON TEMPS ROULÉ — Nina Hungerland & Family, 11 pm MAPLE LEAF BAR — Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes, 9 pm SATURN BAR — Latin Night with La Tran-K, 10 pm

SATURDAY 3 30/90 — Jeff Chaz Blues Band, 2 pm; Decaturadio, 5 pm; Dana Abbott, 8 pm; Epic Funk Brass Band, 11 pm APPLE BARREL — Hobo Gadget, 6 pm; Smoky Greenwell Blues Band, 10:30 pm BACCHANAL — Miles Berry, 1 pm; Pete Olynciw, 7 pm BAMBOULA’S — James McClaskey & The Rhythm Band, 2:15 pm BJ’S LOUNGE — Brasinola, 9 pm BLUE NILE — George Brown Band, 7:30 pm; Afrobeat, 10 pm; The Next Level Band (Upstairs), 10 pm BMC — Rug Cutters, 5:30 pm; John Lisi & Delta Funk, 9 pm BROADSIDE — Creole String Beans, 2 pm BUFFA’S — Dead Magnolia String Band, 8 pm

CAFE NEGRIL — Sugar and The Daddies, 1:30 pm; Zena Moses and Rue Fiya, 6 pm; Higher Heights Reggae, 10 pm DBA — Tuba Skinny, 6 pm DOS JEFES — Harmonouche, 9 pm GASA GASA — YND ENT Presents: Reckless Resolutions, 7 pm HOUSE OF BLUES — Black Sabbath Experience, 9 pm JAZZ PLAYHOUSE — The Nayo Jones Experience, 7:30 pm; 9 pm JOY THEATER — Béla Fleck & The Flecktones, 8 pm LE BON TEMPS ROULÉ —The Snozberries, 11 pm THE MAISON — The Melatauns, 1 pm; Krewe Debauchery, 8 pm; DJ GQ, 11 pm MAPLE LEAF BAR — Electric Ramble, 11 pm NO DICE — Andrew Jobin, 8:30 pm RABBIT HOLE — PROMISCUOUS: 2000’s Nights, 10 pm SIBERIA — The Holy Mountain Live Score, 9 pm SATURN BAR — Female Trouble, 10 pm SNUG HARBOR — Phil Degruy & Sasha Elliahna Durta, 4:30 pm ST. ROCH TAVERN — Pressure Beat: Reggae, Ska & Rocksteady Rave-Up + DJ Ponytail, 9 pm

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SUNDAY 4 30/90 — The Vibe Tribe, 3 pm; The Andre Lovett Band, 6 pm; Manic Mixtape, 9 pm ALLWAYS LOUNGE — Van Ella Bordella, 7 pm; Edward Scissorhands Ballet, 10:30 pm BACCHANAL — Juan Tigre, 1 pm; Noah Young, 7 pm BJ’S LOUNGE — James McClaskey & The Rhythm Band, 9 pm BUFFA’S — Pfister Sisters , 4 pm; Johnny Sansone, 7 pm DOS JEFES — Peter Nu, 8 pm HOWLIN’ WOLF — Hot 8 Brass Band, 10:30 pm SATURN BAR — Helen Gillet and Fluttermite, 9 pm

SCAN FOR THE COMPLETE GAMBIT CALENDAR

Located on Bayou Bonfouca in Old Town Slidell, Palmettos on the Bayou is known for great food, spectacular ambiance, and Jazz Brunch every Saturday and Sunday!

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MUSIC

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M O C .

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R A D N E CAL

SEAFOOD FACTORY OUTLET

MUSIC

by Jake Clapp MELISSA WEBER CAN’T REMEMBER EXACTLY HOW she

discovered “Soul Train,” but on New Orleans TVs, the groove-filled music and dance show dedicated to R&B, soul, funk and Black empowerment aired at 11 a.m. Saturdays.

Weber fell in love with the show as a child, and later, when she started performing as DJ Soul Sister, she began to specialize in mid-’70s to mid-’80s R&B, funk, soul, disco and hip-hop — music matching her favorite era of “Soul Train.”

Dancers at Soul Sister’s Hustle! parties and listeners of her long-running WWOZ show, “Soul Power,” on Saturday nights know her vinyl-only, rare groove style. And over the years, Soul Sister has highlighted her love for “Soul Train” and its influence during her New Year’s Eve Soul Train events, which marked their 20th edition in 2022 at the Civic Theatre.

“I brought out two of the original ‘Soul Train’ dancers from Los Angeles to be part of the (2022) event and, you know, they’re in their late-60s, early-70s, and they were partying in the opera box with the then-Booty Patrol dancers, and it was great,” Weber says. “I’m just committed to keeping that ‘Soul Train’ energy alive, because it was about dancing and having fun.”

Soul Sister returns to the Civic Theatre — itself a former disco — for her 21st New Year’s Eve Soul Train party at 10 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 31.

Soul Sister will spin funk, disco, soul and R&B, and videos from the iconic show will be projected on the ceiling and walls. Soul Sister’s Groove Express Dancers (formerly called Booty Patrol) also will be participating.

“This is a very special party to me,” Weber says.

Weber, who was born in 1975 in New Orleans, remembers the New Year’s Eve parties her parents would throw in the late-’70s and early-’80s. They would invite family over “and have all the fun, finger foods and play all the music that I love,” she says.

When she got a little older as a preteen and didn’t necessarily want to be

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DJ Soul Sister PROVIDED PHOTO BY FERNANDO LOPEZ

hanging in the same room as the adults, she would invite the other young people into another part of the house where she could play the music she wanted on the turntable.

Weber started her New Year’s Eve party during her time DJing upstairs at Mimi’s in the Marigny, and after leaving Mimi’s in 2013, she moved the party to One Eyed Jacks, where it grew across several years. The Civic then approached Weber about throwing her Soul Train party at the venue.

“So this party really is a collaboration between me and the Civic Theatre, because they have designers or video mappers who edit the videos and they map them along the ceilings and wall,” Weber says.

Past New Year’s Eve parties have been filled with music by Con Funk Shun, The Bar-Kays, the Gap Band, Rick James, Teena Marie and artists from the Sound of Los Angeles Records label. Weber, though, could never commit to playing any special songs, she says — except for the period’s two “Soul Train” theme songs: “Up on Soul Train”

by The Whispers and O’Bryan’s “Soul Train’s a Comin’.”

“My parties, and especially this New Year’s party, is for everyone,” Weber says.

Tickets for DJ Soul Sister’s New Year’s Eve Soul Train are $35 in advance and $39.50 on the day of the show. Premium tickets, with an open bar, balcony access and champagne toast, are $135. Find more info at civicnola.com.

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Contact Sales and Marketing Manager Abigail Bordelon 504.636.7427 or abigail.bordelon@gambitweekly.com

School’s out

by Will Coviello

IN THE FX SERIES “ENGLISH TEACHER,” New Orleans native

and stand-up comic Sean Patton got his first big acting role as gym teacher Markie Hillridge. After two seasons, the show was canceled in November, but not before providing Patton a spotlight on his acting chops.

Patton’s Markie is a colorful, straight-talking gym teacher at a high school outside of Austin, Texas. He’s a friend and contrast to show creator and star Brian Jordan Alvarez’s Evan Marquez, a gay man who’s become an English teacher with the broad ambition of giving back and making the world a better place.

The show dives into the culture war issues of the day and finds humor in the people caught up in the crossfire — and teens caught up in their own chaotic mischief. In an early episode, one student puts Evan on the spot by asking what “nonbinary” means.

But he’s only asking in order to film the response with his smartphone and put it on social media, knowing a teacher caught talking about gender issues will attract attention.

In the second episode, “Powderpuff,” Evan and Markie find themselves on opposite sides of a school tradition, in which girls in the school play a flag football game, while the football team members become cheerleaders. Evan brings in a drag queen (played by “RuPaul’s Drag Race” veteran Trixie Mattel) to coach the male cheerleaders. A female teacher paired with Markie braces for condescending pointers on football. And the school principal wants the event cancelled before he gets another set of complaints from angry parents.

Nothing works out as planned, as the boys get competitive and decide they can outdo the drag queen, wigs, makeup, shoes and all. And Markie becomes convinced that what the girls really need is lessons in self-defense.

Neither Alvarez nor Patton wanted Markie to be a simple curmudgeon or jock. Instead, he’s got a libertarian streak, and a very practical, person-to-person way of handling everything.

In one of Patton’s favorite episodes from the second season, Markie confides in Evan that he no longer feels welcome in church, and Evan ends up going to church with him to support him.

PROVIDED PHOTO BY MINDY TUCKER

Patton describes him as “the openminded conservative. The guy who’s not going to go hang out at a Pride event, but he’s not mad that it exists. He knows people are on their own journey, but he don’t need details.”

If Markie seems a bit yatty, it may be because the role fit Patton naturally.

“They had troubles filling that role,” Patton says. “Markie is a complex guy.

But I grew up with a bunch of Markies. I have family that are Markies.”

Patton’s initial audition for the role came after a busy day in New York.

He got a text about an audition and read the script on his phone while on the subway.

“I had five spots that night,” he says. “I was bouncing back and forth between the Comedy Cellar and The Stand in New York. I think my spots were like 8:15 p.m., 9:45 p.m., 10:30 p.m. then I had a break and then a midnight set and at 1 a.m. I got home just after 2 a.m. and called my manager in LA. We ran it a bunch of times on Zoom, filmed it and sent it.”

A few weeks later, he opened for Bill Burr at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. The following morning, he got his callback audition, and that sealed it.

Going into 2026, he’s working on a new hour of comedy, which he may film later in the year. He’s currently co-writing a film script, and following “English Teacher,” he expects to be doing more auditions. “‘English Teacher’ helped draw the right set of eyes on me,” he says. “It got the attention of the right people who can see me as a performer.”

Looking forward to new beginnings and hopeful that this year will bring us Peace, Prosperity and Love!

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PREMIER CROSSWORD PUZZLE TAKING THINGS BADLY

By Frank A. Longo

ACROSS 1 Altima and Sentra 8 Fun party 12 Potentially offensive, for short 16 Lenovo or HP products 19 Kindle or Nook 20 Water, in Peru 21 Vinegar go-with on a dinner table 23 Steal players who are at bat?

25 Port in South Australia 26 Medvedev of tennis 27 Mole cousins 29 Removed surgically

30 Removes surgically, in a way 31 Marvel Comics’ Stan 32 Steal squad cars?

34 Actress Conn of “Grease” 36 Mall pizza chain 38 Anna of fashion 39 “Addams Family” cousin 42 Field mouse 44 Celsius of the Celsius scale 46 Whines like a baby 50 Steal aces and jacks?

53 Flower part 55 Buy goods

56 Branching-out point 57 Move like a snail 59 Strike sharply 61 “If -- told you once ...”

62 “-- no place like home” 65 Using Rx drugs, say 68 Like leopards 70 Steal musical scores?

73 Inability to smell 74 One taking potshots 75 Paid taxes online 77 Wedding vow 78 “-- well that ends well!”

80 “The Princess and the Frog” princess 82 “Gotta go!”

83 Lenovo or HP rival

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90 Spicy topping for wings 92 Book repository 94 Heavy-duty cleanser brand since 1936 98 Bully’s threat ender 100 Thanksgiving dinner staple 102 Like some jokes that are 12-Across 103 Ranch rope 104 Massey of old movies 105 Sooty ducts 106 Just right 108 -- -wee Herman 110 Lowest point 111 Act segment 112 Gave relief to 115 The Bruins of the Pac-12 116 Shrek, e.g.

118 Big name in fuel additives 120 Bar bill

ANSWERS LAST ISSUE’S PUZZLE: P2 ANSWERS FOR TO LAST WEEK’S PUZZLE ON P2

PUZZLES

35 ENT or OB 85 Wee 88 Steal bed linens?

37 Infield player 91 Classic Ford 39 Fails to be 93 Tainted, to Brits 40 Held doubly securely, 95 French coin in a way 96 Chicago-to-Miami dir. 41 Post-ebb collections 97 AFL- -of seawater 99 Buy CDs or stocks 43 Slip-up 101 Wee children 45 Fast Latin American 103 Steal river spanners? dance style 107 High times 47 Fibs 109 Smell, e.g.

48 Cozy sofas 113 Attracted powerfully 49 Hightailed it 114 Stitch up, as 51 Culprits, informally a wound 52 Leary of “The Ref” 116 Mexican state or 54 Minor slip-up its capital 58 Minor, legally 117 Brews with 60 Bouffant hairstyle acidic tastes 63 Humor writer 119 Steal users’ manuals?

Bombeck 121 Shows open 64 Makes dirty disdain for 66 Represents in a 122 Mahjong piece painting 123 Inverse trig function 67 Mascara flaw 124 Western treaty inits. 69 In a -- (very shortly) 125 Kennel cry 71 Florida trees 126 Brand of skin cream 72 Bert’s buddy 127 Very flushed 73 Gofer, e.g.

76 Prescription DOWN specification 1 Its capital is 79 Flavorful Kathmandu 2 Skater Slutskaya 3 Emails, e.g.

4 Holy 5 Tape or glue 6 Classic soda brand 7 -- Lanka 8 Soaks in a tub 9 Golden -- (retiree) 10 “I’m willing and able!”

11 Argues (with) 12 It’s between Can. and Mex. 13 Reformer Ralph 14 Solar -- (nerve network) 15 Element in bones 16 Composure 17 Apple drink 18 Inuit vehicles 22 Yellow-disked blooms 24 Mao -- -tung 28 Spending jag 31 Purple bloom 33 Military unit

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2026 Happy New Year!

35

Allstate Sugar Bowl New Year’s Parade • Dec. 31, 2 p.m.

The official Allstate Sugar Bowl New Year's Parade presented by Louisiana Tourism, a Mardi Gras-style parade with floats, bands and other participants, entertains fans of all ages prior to the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The parade, which is scheduled for the afternoon of December 31, 2025 (scheduled for a 2 p.m. start), will begin at the intersection of Elysian Fields Avenue and Decatur Street. It will travel through the French Quarter up Decatur Street along the Mississippi River, passing iconic landmarks such as The Old US Mint, the French Market, Cafe du Monde and Jackson Square. The Parade

will wrap up at Canal Street. Check www.AllstateSugarBowl.org for final route details and times.

The Allstate Sugar Bowl New Year’s Parade presented by Louisiana Tourism will be broadcast live on Nola38CW (WNOL-TV) in New Orleans. The official broadcast, presented by Sunshine Quality Solutions, will include a live online broadcast that can be found by visiting wgno.com. In addition, the parade will be rebroadcast on WGNO-TV ABC 26 on New Year’s Day starting at 9 a.m.