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CHOKE HOLE HAS TV DREAMS. The queer New Orleans-based wrestling show stages irreverent spectacles, full of drag, campy drama and knockouts delivered from the top rope. And over the years, people have approached the group about spinning the “no-holes-barred” display into some kind of filmed series, says co-producer and wrestler Jassy.
A documentary was made about Choke Hole’s 2021 adventures in Germany, and the group appeared in an episode of Peacock’s “Queer as Folk” reboot. But attempts to get their own show off the ground have stuttered over bad pitches, unfair contracts and a writers’ strike.
The dream remained, though, and Choke Hole has recently been writing and working on a TV pilot. So when the group started thinking about their next live show, Jassy says, they decided to adapt and expand the pilot concept.
Choke Hole takes things back to the beginning on Thursday, Feb. 12, and Friday, Feb. 13, at The Joy Theater with its new show, “TV: The Origin Story.” Featuring performers RAID, Jocelyn Change, Miss Toto, Laveau Contraire, Candy Pain and more, there will be plenty of “XXXtreme drag pro wrestling” and a chance to catch up on the lore of the pulsing Choke Hole universe. Yes, there have been storylines this whole time.
“It’s similar to our other show, but it’ll be less formulaic,” Jassy says. “It is a little bit like a stage show where all the matches help to develop the story. … It’s a much bigger production, but I think everything we’ve accomplished over the last few years have kind of been leading to this.”
Co-produced by drag performers Jassy and Visqueen and street artist Hugo Gyrl, who portrays the fierce, green-skinned, six-nostriled Choke Hole tyrant Gorleenyah, Choke Hole began hosting shows in 2018, packing warehouses and a shuttered dollar store with crowds coming to see the wild mixture of queer performance art and wrestling.
The show has exploded outside of the city, with several tours of Germany, performances in Las Vegas, New York City and Los Angeles and features at events in Times Square and at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Each edition — “Choke Hole of Love,” “Armageddon,” “Qasino” and more — has steadily introduced new
The Origin Story
by Jake Clapp |
threads and cheeky elements to the world. During “Portal” in 2023 at Zony Mash, the former brewery concocted a new drink, Squelsh, that Choke Hole incorporated into the event. Now, “TV: The Origin Story” pulls together a more coherent in-universe background.
“This is kind of like an amalgamation of a bunch of different versions of those shows. It takes pieces from ‘Choke Hole: Portal.’ It even takes pieces from our very first German tour, ‘Choke Hole: Euro-Fist,’ ” Jassy says. “It takes elements and story bits from all of those and refines it.”
Previously on Choke Hole: On her home planet Qunt, Gorleenyah was queen of nightlife and the owner of Intergalactic Broadcasting Services (IBS) alongside her AI sex-bot sidekick Visqueen. But when she threw a rave on the bio-mech spaceship The PinkStar, Gorleenyah awakens the evil Qashir, who turns the party violent — creating the battle royal Choke Hole, which quickly becomes the universe’s most popular reality TV show.
Qunt, though, explodes during a Choke Hole season finale, forcing Gorleenyah and Visqueen to flee in The PinkStar along with Qashir. Still, Qashir demands Choke Hole continue, and Gorleenyah and Visqueen reboot the show on Earth. Now, Choke Hole contestants are pursuing their own agendas. There’s Jassy, a billionaire who owns 99.9% of Earth’s land and is using her busty assets — tattooed “free” and “market” — to bring down Gorleenyah’s empire.
The outcast RAID is a mutated sixlimbed bug-boy born from a Squelsh experiment by Gorleenyah, and no one knows whose side they’re on.
Spiritual guru Laveau Contraire and conspiracy theorist Jocelyn Change are being manipulated by Jassy. Garlic Junior has entered rehab and is now the pop star Nicole. And more wrestlers are developing their own plotlines. Meanwhile, Qashir keeps the wrestlers addicted to Squelsh — while siphoning their “IT Factor” to build a muscley, veiny new body. A lot of the backstory will only be hinted at during the live shows, Jassy says, but Choke Hole will expand the stories through video elements. The group has recently been working with a local film crew at a soundstage in Elmwood to shoot video for the live show and portions of the future TV pilot.
After “TV: The Origin Story” premieres at The Joy Theater, Choke Hole is scheduled to head to Germany, where the group will continue to develop and perform the show. When they’re back, they plan to return to the Elmwood soundstage and shoot the rest of the scenes to cut together the pilot episode.
Jassy says the group is focused on first making the product, and then it’ll “be our job to try and sell it.”
“We’ve made a lot of TV contacts over the years, and I think everyone has had their own vision of what Choke Hole could or should be. We’ve had people who wanted us to do reality TV or a WWE-style, live wrestling events that are streamed,” Jassy says. “And we’ve always had this idea that’s more hybrid with scripted elements, with live wrestling matches, with sketch comedy. It’s something that showcases our talents but also leans into the fantasy that I think is inherent in drag.”
Choke Hole starts at 9 p.m. each night. Tickets are $41 via thejoytheater.com. Find more at chokehole.com.
Zulu Lundi Gras
The Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club introduces its royalty and elected figures at a festival in Woldenberg Park on Lundi Gras. There are two music stages and a kids’ stage, and the lineup includes Brass-A-Holics, Tonya Boyd-Cannon, DJ Jubilee, Zulu Ensemble, Big Frank & Lil Frank and more. There also are more than 20 food vendors and a market. Elected figures like the Witch Doctor, the Ambassador and Mr. Big Stuff are presented every hour. From 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16. Visit lundigrasfestival.com for information.
Lundi Gras at Spanish Plaza
There’s live music and the meeting of the monarchs of Rex and Zulu at the festival at Spanish Plaza. The music lineup includes Treme Brass Band, Big Sam’s Funky Nation, Brass-A-Holics, Flow Tribe and Retro Punkz. Festivities begin at 11 a.m. Visit riverwalkneworleans.com/events for information.
Harmonia Rosales & CCH Pounder
Fine artist Harmonia Rosales’ work regularly challenges the history of Western art by centering Black women and people of the African diaspora in grand Baroque- and Renaissance-style paintings. And the Orishas, deities in the West African Yoruba religion, often appear in her pieces. Rosales recently released her debut book, “Chronicles of Ori: An African Epic,” which retells African myths in a time-spanning epic. Rosales will visit the New Orleans Museum of Art on Wednesday, Feb. 11, for a book signing and moderated conversation with actor and art collect CCH Pounder. The signing begins at 5:30 p.m., and the conversation is at 6:30 p.m. Admission is free, but registration is encouraged at noma.org.
Drag wrestling show Choke Hole hosts ‘TV:
PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
Choke Hole wrestlers Candy Pain and Laveau Contraire
PROVIDED PHOTO BY AMANDA ALTMAN PHOTO
OPENING GAMBIT
Manifesting Mardi Gras weather that doesn’t make it feel like your toes are going to fall of
THUMBS UP/ THUMBS DOWN
Krewe de Velorevolte gave out around 20 free bicycles to kids during its debut in this year’s Krewe Boheme parade. The new bicycle Carnival krewe, whose slogan is “Ride! Revel! Rally!,” is focused on making New Orleans a better place for cyclists. They partnered with Trek Bicycle, which has locations in Mandeville and Elmwood, for the refurbished bikes.
Humana, the health insurance company, has donated $3 million to the Xavier Ochsner College of Medicine (XOCOM) to create a scholarship fund at the New Orleans medical school. Launched in 2024 by Xavier University of Louisiana, XOCOM is working toward accreditation as the only HBCU medical school in the Gulf South.
New Orleans leaders announce $2.8M for street light repairs along I-10
NEW ORLEANS MAYOR HELENA
MORENO AND THE CITY COUNCIL
announced Feb. 3 that they’ll be putting $2.8 million in fines from Entergy New Orleans toward repairing street lights across the city.
Deputy CAO for Infrastructure
Louisiana’s rollbacks on criminal justice reforms have caused a steep increase in state incarceration expenses, the Louisiana Illuminator reported. The Landry administration recently presented a budget proposal with an $82 million year-over-year increase in funding for the corrections system. Gov. Jeff Landry in 2024 called a special session on crime with lawmakers enacting a number of harsh changes. The state is incarcerating more people, and people with convictions are spending more time in prison.
Steve Nelson said the effort will focus on the 4,500 lights along I-10, where about 650 or roughly 14% are currently out. They’ll start with the High Rise Bridge and expect to have repairs completed there over the next three to four weeks, he added.
Nelson said he believes the money will be enough to light up the interstate within parish lines, but that the timeline will depend on the scope of the repairs.
Council President JP Morrell said he frequently drives from Gentilly to New Orleans East and was grateful to see the area prioritized to make it safer to drive in at night.
“It is dangerous and depressing to drive through this area, especially when you’re going toward the High Rise and (having) it be completely dark except
for headlights,” he said. “It is not something that you should see in any major city in the United States.”
The announcement was the latest in Moreno’s Lights On initiative, which she launched on her second day in office to start making good on her campaign promise to fix the city’s street lights.
Over the last three weeks, she said they’ve repaired more than 600 lights, starting in New Orleans East, then moving toward Central City and the Irish Channel.
Nelson said the city manages between 51,000 and 53,000 street lights. That number does not include the traffic lights at the city’s 450 signalized intersections.
Officials also said they’re switching from copper to aluminum wires to discourage theft as well as hardening infrastructure, moving panels up and adding concrete to certain areas. They’re also exploring using solar lights, including piloting a program in District A, especially
THE DOLLAR AMOUNT CHARGED BY THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS FOR TOWING ILLEGALLY PARKED CARS.
Parking enforcement is ramping up this Carnival season as the city tries to generate revenue from people breaking the rules, particularly near parade routes. People who want their cars back also must pay all associated parking violations, including any outstanding tickets more than 90 days old — plus a $19 per diem storage fee.
How is your Mardi Gras costume going?
33.3%
Traffic makes its way over the I-10 High Rise Bridge.
PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
OPENING GAMBIT
in areas without power sources to provide additional lighting.
Moreno said she believed this was the best approach given the city’s limited enforcement resources.
“Instead of trying to play the Whack-a-Mole, catching this person when there’s 100 others right behind them, let’s just no longer deal with copper,” she said. As part of the effort to bring work in-house, Nelson said the city is hiring full-time lighting inspectors to help assess work.
Council Member Jason Hughes, who represents most of New Orleans East and the Lower Ninth Ward, said he was excited the city was hiring electricians, noting that City Hall was also having electrical issues.
“Many of the outlets in my office don’t work. Consistent power surges over the past four weeks — something that a simple, highly trained, highly skilled electrician can solve,” he said.
Though money is tight as officials try to dig the city out of a major budget crisis, the city had $2.8 million leftover from when it fined Entergy New Orleans $5 million in 2018 for hiring actors to come to a council meeting and testify in support of building a power plant in New Orleans East.
Council members voted unanimously Feb. 4 to put the remainder toward the street light initiative.
Council Member Eugene Green said getting street lights fixed was “symbolically important but also practically important” for New Orleans.
“Not having lights is one of the most visible symbols of neglect or lack of public safety that the public sees, especially at night,” he said. “We want our city to be well lit because every light is important to enhancing public safety in our city.”
—
Kaylee Poche
Orleans Parish School
Board rejects city’s latest settlement offer
FACING PRESSURE FROM SCHOOLS TO PROTECT THEIR FUNDING, the Orleans Parish School Board on Feb.3 voted to reject a settlement offer from the city of New Orleans to end a legal dispute over a fee the city charges that costs the district millions of dollars annually.
Under the terms of the deal, the city would have paid the district a lump sum to settle the lawsuit, but the district would continue paying an annual tax-collection fee to the city. The proposed 7.5% annual fee would
cost the school system more than $11 million per year, which school leaders said would come out of their budgets.
Dozens of teachers and school leaders attended the Tuesday evening board meeting to voice their opposition to the city’s latest offer and urge the board to fight for a better deal.
“The board cannot support a proposal that places too large a burden on our schools and, most importantly, on our students,” the school board said in a statement after the vote, adding that “a fairer, more balanced solution exists” that “recognizes the financial needs of our district while respecting the City’s constraints.”
The decision to turn down the offer means settlement negotiations will continue.
The dispute stems from a 2019 lawsuit in which the school district accused the city of illegally taking excessive fees from sales and property taxes it collects on behalf of the school board.
The two sides reached a settlement in 2024 that would have done away with the fees entirely, but the agreement was nixed by former Mayor LaToya Cantrell last year, who said the city could not afford to lose that funding stream. In the latest negotiations, the city has sought to keep a fee in place, even though city council members and Mayor Helena Moreno previously said they wanted to end the practice.
Bill Aaron, an attorney for the school board, said the latest offer from the city included the 7.5% fee on sales tax but eliminated a property tax fee. However, because the proposed sales tax fee is higher than the current rate, the school system would end up paying the city about what it pays now: roughly $11 million per year.
The city’s proposal also included a lump sum payment and a commitment to fund education initiatives. Aaron did not share the amount of the proposed payments.
The possibility of an ongoing fee has alarmed school leaders, who have not been part of the negotiations.
Sabrina Pence, CEO of Firstline Schools, told the school board Feb. 3 that the 7.5% fee would translate into $850,000 in cuts at each of the network’s four schools.
“There’s just no trimming around the edges at this level,” she said.
The rejection means negotiations will continue in court. — Marie Fazio / The Times-Picayune
@GambitBlake | askblake@gambitweekly.com
Hey Blake, I’ve seen many historic photographs of Carnival parades and balls credited to J.N. Teunisson. Who was he and what can you tell me about him and his work?
Dear reader,
John Norris Teunisson was a prolific commercial photographer in New Orleans beginning in the late 1890s and continuing through the 1940s. Carnival balls and parades were not his only focus, but he is well-known for providing an important photographic record of Mardi Gras in the early 20th century.
According to his 1959 TimesPicayune obituary, Teunisson was born in Summit, Mississippi, in 1869 and came to New Orleans as a youngster. A Louisiana State Museum article mentions that Teunisson worked as an insurance inspector from 1892 until at least 1900. He then went to work as a commercial photographer, documenting a wide range of subjects for various clients.
“Johnny-on-the-spot could well have applied to John N. Teunisson, one of the early commercial photographers in New Orleans,” wrote the New Orleans Item in 1934. “To get business, he wanted his pictures printed with a credit line in newspapers. So he went out of his way to
find scenes newspapers would want to print. The lasting result is photographs that capture and reflect a historic, growing city in a bygone era.”
In addition to buildings and street scenes, he took photos of Presidents William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt and William Howard Taft during their visits to New Orleans.
According to the state museum, Teunisson first advertised his photographic services in 1901. His studios were on St. Charles Avenue until he moved to 8th Street in 1923. “He became known principally for his work in photographing the Carnival balls,” reported his Times-Picayune obituary.
Teunisson retired in 1950 and moved to Washington, D.C., where his son lived. He donated a large collection of photographs to the Louisiana State Museum. According to his obituary, other photos and negatives, as well as some of his photographic equipment, were donated to the Library of Congress and Smithsonian Institution.
THIS WEEK’S SPOTLIGHT ON SOME OF OUR LOCAL MARDI GRAS MUSIC ICONS focuses on two groups with Neville brothers as members: The Hawketts and The Meters. The Hawketts, whose only recorded single was “Mardi Gras Mambo” in 1954, were a popular New Orleans high school rhythm and blues band of the 1950s. Led by trombonist Carroll Joseph and featuring several Walter S. Cohen High School classmates, the band included Art Neville on piano and vocals. According to writer Jeff Hannusch, on “Mambo,” the distinctive saxophone intro comes from Moe Bachemin. The song became a hit on the Chess record label.
In the 1970s, “Mardi Gras Mambo” was re-recorded by The Meters, the legendary group Neville founded in the 1960s with Leo Nocentelli on guitar, George Porter Jr. on bass and Joseph “Zigaboo” Modeliste on drums. Art’s brother Cyril later joined on percussions and vocals. The Meters became the house band for Allen Toussaint’s recording studio. In 1969 and 1970, four of their songs produced by Toussaint — “Sophisticated Cissy,” “Cissy Strut,” “Look-Ka Py Py” and “Chicken Strut” — charted nationally.
The Meters’ 1974 recording of “Hey Pocky A-Way” and the 1976 Wild Tchoupitoulas album also helped document the music of the Black Masking Indian tradition.
The Meters broke up in 1977, but its members have played in various incarnations since then and will stage two reunion shows this spring. The Meters play April 24 at The Fillmore and May 2 at The Saenger Theatre. It will be their first performances since Art Neville’s death in 2019.
BLAKE VIEW
A photo of the 1908 Rex parade on St. Charles Avenue taken by J.N. Teunisson
PHOTO BY J.N. TEUNISSON VIA WIKIMEDIA COMMONS
GREATTASTE FROM SIDEWALK TO NEU TRAL GROUND
Carnival parades in New Orleans and Jefferson Parish
THE FINAL WEEK OF CARNIVAL is full of big parades, complete with celebrity monarchs, marching bands, dance groups, hand-made throws and more.
Among the celebrity monarchs riding this year are Patrick Warburton as Bacchus and Noah Wyle ruling over the Krewe of Orpheus. Wyle’s joined by his wife, actress Sara Wells Wyle, and several past Orpheus monarchs, including Joey Fatone, Will Forte and Jennifer Finnigan. And Phaedra Parks of “The Real Housewives of Atlanta” and “The Traitors” is the grand marshal of the Krewe of Athena parade.
Parades take place across the area, including the Uptown, Mid-City and Algiers routes in New Orleans, Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie, Isis in Kenner, and the krewes of Music and Nandi in Marrero.
This year’s Carnival schedule has a few adjustments. The Knights of Chaos will now lead off Thursday night in Uptown and have an earlier start time at 4:30 p.m. In Metairie, the Krewe of Symphony moves to Tuesday, Feb. 10, and the Krewe of Atlas moves to Lundi Gras and follows the Krewe of Centurions.
There also are walking parades this week, including the Krewe of O.A.K., Krewe of Red Beans and Krewe of Bosom Buddies. See pages 37-41.
The following pages include parade previews, schedules and maps, and there’s information on royalty, throws, themes, bands and more.
CONTENTS
PARADE PREVIEWS 17
PARADE SCHEDULE & MAPS 31
REX BULLETIN 32
KREWE OF O.A.K. 37
KREWE OF RED BEANS 39
KREWE OF BOSOM BUDDIES 41
DAD’S BALL 62
The Krewe of Muses parades in Uptown. PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
PARADE PREVIEWS
MONDAY, FEB. 9
Music
6 P.M. MARRERO
Theme: Healing Through Music Floats: 20
Queen: Dr. Shondra Williams
King: E. Adrian Adams
Throws: krewe pillows, tambourines, lighted beads and more
The men and women of the Krewe of Music always celebrate music, and this year it’s through the prism of healing. Float titles include “Melodies of the Heart,” “Sounds of Strength” and “Rhythms of Renewal.” Singer Rechell Cook is the grand marshal.
TUESDAY, FEB. 10
Symphony
6:30 P.M. METAIRIE
Theme: Symphony Plays the ’90s Hits Floats: 15
Queen: Lauren Nicole McClain
King: Dazmine Whitney Allen
Throws: lighted tambourines, chocolate bars, socks and more
The krewe celebrates music, and this year’s theme is a throwback to sounds and stars of the ’90s. Floats depict Michael Jackson, Mariah Carey and more.
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11
Nandi
6 P.M. MARRERO
Theme: Nandi Takes Hollywood Floats: 16
Queen: Zeta Lyn Gabriel
Throws: teacups, dolls, footballs, beads and more
The all-women Krewe of Nandi takes its name from the Zulu Queen Nandi kaBhebhe, the mother of warrior and king Shaka Zulu. Talk show host Kiana Dancie is the grand marshal.
N.O.M.T.O.C.
Druids
6:15 P.M. UPTOWN
Theme: announced day of parade Floats: 20
Archdruid: secret
Throws: wizard hats, wands, fanny packs, lighted beads and doubloons
The secretive krewe is a parading organization that has no royal court and doesn’t have a ball. It often uses witty themes, and sometimes there are satirical floats.
Alla
7 P.M. UPTOWN
Theme: Alla Shoots for the Stars! Floats: 18
Queen: Debbie Kerr-Leathem King: Les Leathem
Throws: genie lamps, neck pillows, stainless steel cups, plush toys, doubloons, koozies, glass beads, beignet mix, soap and more
The krewe’s theme offers different spins on stars, with floats representing Star Trek and “Shooting Stars.” The krewe also is working in references to a past space-themed parade. Writer Landon Bryant and wife Kate Bryant are the grand marshals.
The Krewe of
rolls in Algiers.
PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
The Salmen High Spartan Band marches in the Krewe of Orpheus parade.
PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
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CARNIVAL
THURSDAY, FEB. 12
Chaos
4:30 P.M. UPTOWN
Theme: announced day of parade Floats: 16
Number One: secret
Throws: deck of float-themed cards, helmets, shields, doubloons and cups
The Knights of Chaos are known for satirical parades about current local and national issues. The krewe uses the former Knights of Momus floats, and the old style of floats and flambeaux give the procession its traditional look. The procession has moved to an earlier slot, making it the first parade of the night.
Babylon
5:30 P.M. UPTOWN
Theme: announced day of parade Floats: 27
Queen: announced at krewe ball
Sargon: secret
Throws: krewe jester hats, insulated wine totes, socks, koozies, sweatbands, various krewe icon beads, doubloons, cups and more
The Knights of Babylon announce their theme on the day of the parade, but clues to the pageant include the float titles “Mephistopheles” and “Don Giovanni.” The 86-year-old krewe’s signature floats include the Hanging Gardens of Babylon, Gates of Ishtar, Royal Barge and Jester float.
Muses
6:30 P.M. UPTOWN
Theme: announced day of parade Floats: 30
Honorary Muse: Soledad O’Brien
Throws: decorated shoes, “reMusable” bags, rubber duck night lights, socks, linen towels, fans, wooden spoons, coasters, shoe bracelets, cups and more
Muses presents satirical themes that are a mystery until parade time. The procession features the Dead Rock Stars, who are teasing a salute to Ozzy Osbourne this year, the Beyonce-inspired Beyjorettes, and numerous local marching groups. Signature floats include the Bathing Muses, Sirens, Goddessey and multi-trailer giant rubber ducks.
FRIDAY, FEB. 13
Hermes
5:30 P.M. UPTOWN
Theme: Fabled Lands of Myth and Legend Floats: 35
Queen: announced at the krewe ball
King: secret
Throws: lighted Hermes capes, winged headbands and gloves, wands, stainless steel cups, plush bears, soccer balls, beads and more
The theme presents fictional and mythical places with floats depicting Atlantis,
The Krewe of Hermes parades in Uptown.
PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
CARNIVAL
Xanadu, The Emerald City and Dr. Moreau’s Island. The procession includes the marching bands of Talladega College and Mississippi Valley State University.
Inspired by dictator-led banana republics, the krewe presents satirical parades with topical humor in its float themes and male and female dancing troupes. Signature floats include the Dictator’s Royal Navy, the Banana Wagon and Candy Wagon.
Morpheus
7:30 P.M. UPTOWN
Theme: Morpheus Dreams of Literary Classics Floats: 24
Queen: Michele Sanders
King: Robert Grisham
Throws: plush moons and sheep, krewe logo bucket hats, trucker hats, doubloons and more
The krewe theme’s collection of popular books includes epic journeys and tales of adventure, with floats depicting Harry Potter, “Lord of the Rings” and “Around the World in 80 Days.” The grand marshal is “Tiger Tuba Kent” Broussard, the retired accountant who went to LSU to play in the marching band. The parade always has a good lineup of
marching bands, and this year’s roster includes college bands and a U.S. Marine Corps band.
SATURDAY, FEB. 14
N.O.M.T.O.C.
10:45 A.M. ALGIERS
Theme: Cooking with N.O.M.T.O.C. Floats: 32
Queen: Hollister Macayla Davis
King: Barry Aubert Sr.
Throws: Jugman-themed items, backpacks, sunglasses, spoons, sequined hearts, beads and more
Chef and restaurateur Edgar “Dook”
Chase IV of the Chase family is a fitting grand marshal for a parade with a food theme. Also serving as a grand marshal for the parade is rapper and chef Mia X. Theme floats depict crawfish, chicken and Philly cheesesteaks. The procession includes 20 bands, with several from out-of-state colleges.
Iris
11 A.M. UPTOWN
Theme: What an Iris Wants Floats: 34
Queen: Kimberly Richelle Williams
King: Warren Bruce Astler
Throws: hand-decorated sunglasses, streetcar pillows, fanny packs, festival blankets, T-shirts, baseball caps, socks, wine glasses, bracelets, doubloons and cups
The ever-growing, all-women krewe has more than 3,500 members. The theme celebrates everything a member
The St. Augustine Marching 100 lead 2025 Zulu King Rodney P. Mason Jr. on parade.
PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
CARNIVAL
could want with floats depicting love, travel and diamonds. The krewe also has its own group of members riding on horseback, the Iris Cavaliers.
Tucks
12:30 P.M. UPTOWN
Theme: Tucks Finally Cracks Floats: 40
Queen: Virginia Helton Casey
King: Adam Lambert
Throws: hand-decorated toilet plungers and brushes, toilet seat glasses, cups and doubloons
Tucks likes to let it all hang out and is known for its potty humor and giant toilet throne float. This year plays on the word crack, with floats titled “Crack the Bat” and “Crack the Case.”
Endymion
4 P.M. MID-CITY
Theme: American Songbook Floats: 38
Queen: Lily Joyce Bruneau
King: selected at krewe ball
Throws: Endymion horse throws, kitchen towels, numerous lighted items, doubloons and more
The theme celebrates popular music across the decades, including patriotic songs like “God Bless America” and locally produced hits like Fats Domino’s “Walking to New Orleans.” There’s also plenty of pop hits, like Prince’s “Purple Rain” and Taylor Swift’s “I Can Do It
With a Broken Heart.” Carnival authority and historian Arthur Hardy is a co-grand marshal. The massive procession features more than 30 bands and multitrailer signature floats including the Pontchartrain Beach and Then and Now
floats, and E-TV, which is equipped with a massive LED screen TV. The parade ends at the Caesars Superdome, and Gwen Stefani and Blake Shelton perform at the Endymion Extravaganza following the parade.
Isis
6 P.M. KENNER
Theme: Galentine’s Gras Floats: 20
Queen: Elizabeth Hauck Mercer
King: David Allen Mercer
Throws: hand-decorated bras, doubloons and more
The all-women krewe parades on Valentine’s Day, but its theme is a nod to Galentine’s Day, the unofficial day for women to celebrate friendship and fun. Float titles include “Girls’ Trip to the Beach,” “Casino Night” and “Wine Tasting.”
SUNDAY, FEB. 15
Okeanos
11 A.M. UPTOWN
Theme: I Wish Floats: 22
Queen: Simone Michelle Miller
King: Jason Villar Paguio
Throws: krewe logo crawfish trays, plush toys, neck pillows, socks, doubloons, theme cups, jambalaya mix and more
The Krewe of Okeanos introduces the SS Okeanos float, a double decker depiction of a riverboat. The krewe’s signature float is the double-decker Hippocampus float.
The 610 Stompers march in an Uptown parade.
PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
Feb12th
Feb15th
CARNIVAL
Mid-City
NOON UPTOWN
Theme: Lands Far and Beyond Floats: 15
Queen: Amy Freese Carter
King: Frank Anthony Milanese
Throws: crawfish trays, sunglasses, flipflops, foam bobble heads, headbands, chips, cups, doubloons and more
The theme is about fantastical places, including “Wonderland,” “Candyland” and “Neverland.” The krewe is known for its foil-decorated floats and throwing snacks such as bags of potato chips.
Throws: fedoras, sequined baseball caps, purses, scarves, bracelets, bar towels, T-shirts, many types of doubloons and more
The Egyptian mythology-inspired krewe celebrates popular cartoon characters, including the Flintstones, Superman, the Pink Panther, Yogi Bear, Mickey Mouse and more. Riptide, the Tulane mascot, is the grand marshal.
Bacchus
5:15 P.M. UPTOWN
Theme: Bacchus Celebrates America 250 Floats: 32
Bacchus: Patrick Warburton Throws: crawfish trays, flip-flops, hats, socks, kitchen items, barware, re-usable grocery bags, doubloons, beads and more
Bacchus’ theme is a patriotic nod to the nation’s 250th birthday. Floats celebrate the Declaration of Independence, the American Revolution, the Louisiana Purchase and immigration. Bacchus introduces Baby Whoppa this year, and the baby whale float joins the krewe’s numerous signature floats, including Bacchawhoppa, Bacchasaurus and the Bacchagator.
Athena
6:30 P.M. METAIRIE
Theme: It’s About Time Floats: 26
Queen: Christina Kalisha Long King: Dr. Maurice G. Sholas Throws: hand-decorated fedoras, umbrellas, plush toys, headbands, cups and more
The all-women krewe celebrates good times with floats titled “It’s Carnival
The Krewe of Proteus rolls in Uptown.
PHOTO BY SCOTT THRELKELD / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
ON THEGULFCOAST
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CARNIVAL
Time,” “Recipes for a Good Time,” “Frozen in Time,” and “Funny How Time Flies.” Phaedra Parks of “Real Housewives of Atlanta” and “The Traitors” is the grand marshal.
The old-line krewe’s theme follows the Chinese literary character Sun Wukong, aka the Monkey King, a figure born from stone and who acquires supernatural powers. Float titles include “The Birthplace of Sun Wukong,” “Peaches of Immortality” and “The Sacred Sutras.” The krewe’s floats highlight
traditional float designs using paper flowers and ornamentation.
Orpheus
6 P.M. UPTOWN
Theme: All the World’s a Stage Floats: 35
Monarch: Noah Wyle Throws: tambourines, cups, doubloons, beads and more
With a theme title taken from Shakespeare’s “As You Like It,” the parade celebrates drama. There also are float titles taken from Shakespeare, including “And All the Men and Women Merely Players” and “Lord, What Fools These Mortals Be.” Past Orpheus monarchs Joey Fatone, Will Forte, Jennifer Finnigan and others will ride in the parade. The procession also includes many marching bands and signature multi-trailer floats such as Leviathan and Smokey Mary. The Monarch is actor Noah Wyle, and he’ll be joined by spouse and actress Sara Wells Wyle.
The St. Mary’s Academy band marches on the Uptown route.
PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
Wegot the
It ’s Carnival 2026,and Hear tBeat is taking the pulseofMardi Gras back to the streets! Nowinits second season, Hear tBeatis acolorfuldancekrewe of healthcareworkersfromLCMC Health’s hospitalsand clinics acrossthe metroarea.
CatchHeart Beat moving to an 80sbeatinthe followingparades:
Krewe of Freret Februar y7
Krewe d’Etat Februar y13
Krewe of Okeanos Februar y15
CARNIVAL
Centurions
6 P.M. METAIRIE
Theme: Once Upon a Time Floats: 18
Queen: Gabrielle Fisher
King: Keith A. Conley
Throws: throwing discs, bracelets, koozies, footballs, cups, doubloons and more
The theme celebrates fairy tales with floats depicting Little Red Riding Hood, Hansel and Gretel and the Frog Prince.
Atlas
7 P.M. METAIRIE
Theme: Atlas is Hollywood Bound Floats: 14
Queen: Carolyn Deanna Abadie King: Adam Sartelle
Throws: lighted medallions, socks and more
The theme celebrates the movies with floats for “Alice in Wonderland,” “Wizard of Oz” and “A Night at the Museum.”
TUESDAY, FEB. 17
Zulu
8 A.M. UPTOWN
Theme: Zulu’s World of Entertainment Floats: 44
Queen: Sharell Monique Chatman
King: Dr. Ronald Tassin
Throws: hand-decorated coconuts and various krewe emblem beads
The theme is illustrated in a variety of ways, with floats depicting African creatures such as elephants, lions and leopards, as well as local landmarks like the historic Pythian Theater. There are many floats carrying royalty and Zulu’s characters, including the Witch Doctor, Mr. Big Stuff, the Ambassador and more.
Rex
10:30 A.M. UPTOWN
Theme: Rebirth and Renewal Floats: 28
Queen: announced weekend before parade King: announced weekend before parade
Throws: sports towels, oven mitts, stainless steel cups, tote bags, doubloons, beads representing individual floats and more
The theme of transformation and rebirth is illustrated with floats depicting the Phoenix, Quetzalcoatl, the Rainbow Serpent, Persephone, and a butterfly’s metamorphosis. New this year, Rex will greet the Queen and Court at the very beginning of the route on Napoleon Avenue at The Josephine.
Argus
11 A.M. METAIRIE
Theme: Argus Gets Animated Floats: 25
Queen: Callie Anne Langhetee King: David Haydel Jr. Throws: Gus the peacock pillows, sunglasses, jambalaya mix and more
The theme is about cartoons, and floats will depict popular cartoon characters.
The Mystic Krewe of Music parades in Marrero.
PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / |THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
PARADE SCHEDULE & MAPS
MONDAY, FEB. 9
MUSIC 6 P.M. Marrero
TUESDAY, FEB. 10
SYMPHONY 6:30 P.M. Metairie
WEDNESDAY, FEB. 11
NANDI 6 P.M. Marrero
DRUIDS 6:15 P.M. Uptown 1
ALLA 7 P.M. Uptown 1
THURSDAY, FEB. 12
CHAOS 4:30 P.M. Uptown 2
BABYLON 5:30 P.M. Uptown 3
MUSES 6:30 P.M. Uptown 1
FRID AY, FEB. 13
HERMES 5:30 P.M. Uptown 4
D’ETAT 6:30 P.M. Uptown 5
MORPHEUS 7:30 P.M. Uptown 1
SATURDAY, FEB. 14
N.O.M.T.O.C. 10:45 A.M Algiers
IRIS 11 A.M. Uptown 6
TUCKS NOON Uptown 7
ENDYMION 4 P.M. Mid-City
ISIS 6 P.M. Kenner
SUNDAY, FEB. 15
OKEANOS 11 A.M. Uptown 1
MID-CITY NOON Uptown 5
THOTH NOON Uptown 8
BACCHUS 5:15 P.M Uptown 9
ATHENA 6:30 P.M. Metairie
MONDAY, FEB. 16
PROTEUS 5:15 P.M. Uptown 3
ORPHEUS 6 P.M. Uptown 9
CENTURIONS 6 P.M. Metairie
ATLAS 7 P.M. Metairie
TUESDAY, FEB. 17
ZULU 8 A.M. Uptown 10
REX 10:30 A.M. Uptown 11
ARGUS 11 A.M. Metairie
MORE MAPS ON P. 35
Rebirth and Renewal Rex Bulletin
BY DR. STEPHEN HALES
REX HISTORIAN AND ARCHIVIST, EMERITUS
AMONG THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER REMINDERS of the “Golden Age of Carnival” are parade bulletins — beautiful presentations of each year’s themes and float designs. “Parade papers” or bulletins, with images of each float and notes describing the parade theme and float titles, helped the public anticipate and enjoy each parade, and preserved memories of those parades long after their brief time on the parade route and their return to the den. Much of what we know of early Rex parades, themes, and float designs we learn from parade bulletins.
Early versions of “parade papers” consisted of black and white engravings of float designs printed in newspapers along with descriptions of each parade, but these quickly evolved into more elaborate presentations. According to Carnival historian Henri Schindler, larger “broadside” sheets soon appeared with float sketches on one side and advertisements and float descriptions on the reverse. By 1886, these large-scale masterpieces of chromolithography were popular keepsakes of Carnival parades.
Newspapers competed for contracts to print each organization’s parade bulletin. According to Schindler, “These ten-cent bulletins have assumed an importance that could not have been imagined when they were produced. Because so few collections of original float and costume designs have survived, these lithographs became the visual record of the great processions, picturing every float from 1877 until the bulletins were discontinued in 1941.”
For all of those reasons, the Rex Organization brought back the parade bulletin beginning with its 2003 Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial parade. The project combined contemporary artwork — float sketches and drawings prepared each year to illustrate a new theme — with elements of bulletins printed more than a century ago. The final product relied on the latest computer technology to bring the old and the new together.
That work was done by Matthew Hales, a computer artist and the School of Design’s “Royal Lithographer.” For more than two decades, Rex parade bulletins have been a popular souvenir of modern Rex parades. They have also played an important role in the Rex in the Classroom program, allowing students to explore the theme of each Rex parade during the weeks before Mardi Gras.
This year’s bulletin illustrates the 2026 Rex Parade, “Rebirth and Renewal.” Every culture since ancient times has told stories of rebirth, renewal and resurrection — from the great flood myths of almost all known civilizations to the narrative of Christian resurrection central to our own Carnival traditions. The 2026 Rex procession features a beautiful array of symbolically and artistically rich examples of revival stories and legends. These lovely designs illustrate the universality of mankind’s hopes for renewal and his focus on the eternal.
While today’s parade bulletins do not match the heroic size of the old broadside versions, they accomplish the same goal, preserving in a unique art form images of beautiful parades that are on public display for just one day.
Krewe of O.A.K.
7 P.M. FRIDAY, FEB. 13
CARROLLTON
Though the Krewe of O.A.K. starts its parades on Oak Street, the O.A.K. stands for Outrageous And Kinky. Its de facto home is the Maple Leaf Bar, so it should come as no surprise that the krewe is full of music lovers. This year’s parade theme is Get Weir’d, and while it’s weirdo friendly, it’s also a nod to Bob Weir, the recently deceased guitarist for the Grateful Dead.
For its 40th parade, the krewe is honoring drummer Johnny Vidacovich, who has a standing Thursday night gig at the Maple Leaf. He serves as King Robustus XL. His queen is Alison Young, the singer for the Song Dogs. The royalty will salute the crowd of revelers and marchers from the balcony above the Maple Leaf before the parade.
The krewe’s parade follows its traditional bar crawl format, circling the Carrollton and Riverbend neighborhoods with stops at Snake & Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge, Carrollton Station and other spots. The procession includes the Tap Dat dance group and the Refried Confuzion Brass Band. Anyone can don a costume and march in the parade.
Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes performs at the krewe ball after the parade. Admission is restricted to members and their guests.
For information about the krewe, visit facebook.com/koak69.
The Krewe of O.A.K. gathers in front of the Maple Leaf Bar.
PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
Krewe of Red Beans
2 P.M., MONDAY, FEB. 16 BYWATER & MARIGNY
The loosely structured Bywater-based marching group has become one of New Orleans’ most easily identifiable modern Carnival traditions, as hundreds of revelers decorate their costumes with red beans, black beans, lentils and other legumes.
Using the versatile legume for costume purposes is a tribute to the city and its Monday tradition of red beans and rice, and the annual event always takes place on Lundi Gras. Throughout the year, the organization is also involved in mutual aid and other community-related events.
What brings the group together during Carnival, founder Devin DeWulf says, is “a love of crafting, beans and New Orleans.”
Members pay a $25 fee to join the parade, but no one is turned away for lack of funds, and there are always plenty of revelers that show up the day-of and jump into the procession.
There’s no official theme other than red beans, and there’s always plenty of creativity, puns and social commentary incorporated into parade looks. Other roving groups, like the Krewe Dité also join in, dressed as vegetables, once the parade gets moving.
The parade starts at the group’s headquarters, Beanlandia (3300 Royal St.), and winds through the Bywater and Marigny neighborhoods. The procession includes the Treme Brass Band, Tamojunto, Bon Bon Vivant and Haruka Kiuchi and others. Some members give out handmade tokens. Visit kreweofredbeans.org for more information. — Sarah Ravits
KREWE OF RED BEANS subject to change
PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES - PICAYUNE
Krewe of Bosom Buddies and Breast Friends
11:30 A.M., FRIDAY, FEB. 13 FRENCH QUARTER
The Krewe of Bosom Buddies and Breast Friends celebrates friendship and boob jokes. Look no further than its motto: “Laissez les BRA temps rouler.”
A group of coworkers at Second Harvest Food Bank started the irreverent group back in 2013. Captain Paige Vance had drawn some sketches of ladies in bras and tutus and took them to work to show her colleagues. By the end of the day, they’d formed a krewe with 42 members. Today that number has doubled, consisting of “fun, fabulous, fearless women and the men who support them.”
The walking group’s most sought-after throws are hand-decorated bras, but members also hand out items like cups, chip clips, ice cream scoops and tote bags, as well as glitter, poker chips and squishy, hand-held sensory “stress boobs.”
The parade’s theme is SupersTITious, and the group will be led by New Orleans Carnival historian Professor Carl Nivale and Marshal Marty Gras with Big Fun Brass Band. The Krewe of Dolly, a dancing group honoring Dolly Parton, also joins in on the fun.
At 11:15 a.m., shortly before the parade begins, there will be toasts and a short ceremony, where members will reveal their costumes — and cleavage — before taking a loop that starts at Bourbon and Conti streets and heads down Toulouse, Royal and Bienville streets.
An afterparty takes place above Prohibition at 333 Bourbon St., where revelers can catch beads from members below.
For more information, visit bosombuddiesnola.org. — Sarah Ravits
PHOTO PROVIDED BY PAIGE VANCE
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BUBBLES & BUBBLY is the New Orleans Women & Children’s Shelter’s annual family-friendly fundraising event. With bubbles, fun, music, and food for children and adults alike, BUBBLES & BUBBLY OFFERS A MEMORABLE EVENING FOR ALL WHILE RAISING CRITICAL FUNDING FOR THE MISSION OF NOWCS.
EAT + DRINK
Crunch time
Bonafried food truck owners open a spot in Mid-City by Beth D’Addono |
ANY
DAY NOW, BONAFRIED CHEF/ CO-OWNER STEPHEN MAHER AND HIS PARTNER Rebecca Elizabeth Hollingsworth will serve their 80,000th fried chicken sandwich.
They’ll mark that milestone from their newly opened brick-and-mortar restaurant near the Fair Grounds at the former site of their friend’s Splish Splash Washateria just off Esplanade Avenue.
The pair hadn’t intended to become fried chicken mini moguls when they started doing pop-ups in 2014. Back then, their menu included sliders, fries and wings, with the occasional fried chicken sandwich.
“We called it elevated greasy food,” Hollingsworth says.
When they launched their food truck in 2016, orders for the Southern sandwich, dressed with a seasoned honey drizzle, dominated. So, they leaned hard into making the chicken sandwich their calling card.
“This was years before Popeyes launched theirs,” Maher says. “But that’s what people were buying.”
The couple both grew up locally — Hollingsworth around Metairie and Kenner, and Maher’s family in Old Jefferson, where they now live. She was a theater major at Loyola University. He earned a degree in print making at UNO.
Maher had kitchen jobs while he was going to school and credits a woman everybody called “Mama” at Acme Oyster House with teaching him to cook. His partner put her exceptional people skills to work in the front of the house. It’s a dynamic that still works well for both of them.
The restaurant radiates a funky ’70s vibe, with a color palette of avocado and harvest gold and the ceiling painted “Bonafried blue,” inspired by the food truck’s paint job. Bright orange diner booths line one wall, and a scattering of tables and chairs and a bar area round out the space. It’s decorated with kitschy finds, Jazz Fest posters and the couple’s own art. They plan to stick with the food
Upperline is sold
UPPERLINE RESTAURANT WAS AMONG THE MOST CONSEQUENTIAL CLOSURES for the New Orleans dining scene during the pandemic. In the years since, the future of the historic Uptown property has stirred much speculation among local restaurant aficionados.
Now, the wheels are in motion for what’s next.
Chef Justin Devillier and Mia Devillier, owners of the Uptown restaurant La Petite Grocery, have purchased the property at 1413 Upperline St. from JoAnn Clevenger and her husband Alan Greenacre.
They will develop a new restaurant here, with an opening date slated for late 2026.
truck menu for as long as they can. The restaurant will also have a full bar as soon as their liquor license is approved.
Maher figures they’ll be ready for their official grand opening at the end of May, as well as crowds during Jazz Fest.
They’ve taken a measured approach thanks to their business mentor of the past eight years, Dianne Sclafani from the Louisiana Small Business Development Center. “She’s been so much help to us, just wonderful,” Hollingsworth says.
That means the focus stays mainly on the $13 overnight-marinated and twice-fried chicken thigh sandwich, served with pickles on a potato bun with a choice of sauces, such as honey mustard, garlic chili oil and sweet heat. Crispy twice-fried frites complete the offerings, along with the occasional special.
The kitchen team opens up each thigh and hand squeezes the meat to flatten it out. This delivers an irregularly shaped piece of chicken, with lots of craggy crevices and texture and tons of juicy crunch without the grease.
Their soft opening began on Jan. 10. According to Maher, they bought six cases of chicken for the weekend, assuming that’d be enough with each case making 70 to 80 sandwiches.
“We did all six cases on the first day,” Hollingsworth says. “We really had to scramble. But we had time to marinate, so we were back ready the next day.”
The plan is to expand the menu gradually, adding in salads, a gluten-free option, maybe a fried green tomato vegetarian sandwich and brunch service. But they’ll keep that chicken front and center.
“We know to stay in our lanes,” Hollingsworth says. “We know what we do well. We’re not trying to be anybody else but ourselves.”
Joel Dondis, a founder of La Petite Grocery and the couple’s longtime business partner in that restaurant, also is a partner in the new restaurant. The new owners declined to discuss details of the restaurant concept, including its name.
But Mia Devillier confirms it will be a new restaurant and not a continuation of Upperline. The Devilliers intend to open a new charter for a space with a long history.
“The building and the location feel like a dream to us,” Mia Devillier says. “We’re so excited to be carrying on the legacy and start something new.”
Upperline was nothing if not an original. Through four decades, Clevenger ran it as something more than a restaurant. It was the distillation of her ideas of hospitality, and the place where her love of cuisine, art and community came together.
It first opened in 1983, taking over the one-time Uptown house that had
Rebecca Hollingsworth and Stephen Maher opened Bonafried.
PHOTO BY MADDIE SPINNER / GAMBIT
PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE Upperline Restaurant founder JoAnn Clevenger
previously been a neighborhood joint called Martin’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar.
Upperline was a change of pace, emerging when interest in American regional cuisine was growing. It developed its own unique lens on Louisiana cooking — a lot Creole, a little Southern, a touch of Cajun, with a sprinkling of other things. Its touchstone dishes included duck etouffee, grillades and grits, and fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade, a dish created here and now a regional standard.
Over the years, it evolved from a trendsetting new bistro to a New Orleans institution with a devoted local following and a place on bucket lists for travelers in the know.
Upperline never reopened for regular service after the initial pandemic shutdowns in 2020, and as the months stretched on, Clevenger came to terms with closing the doors for good. In late 2021, at age 82, she confirmed she would retire and put the restaurant up for sale.
Clevenger said then that she would take her time and wanted more than just a transaction. She wanted to find the right people to take on the place. Today, she says the Devilliers proved the perfect fit.
“I’m thrilled,” Clevenger says. “What more could I ask for than someone like them to be in this building that gave so many people such joy, including me?”
Justin Devillier worked his way up through New Orleans restaurants in the pre-Katrina era, including Bacco, Stella! and Peristyle. In 2007, he became executive chef at La Petite Grocery, and three years later, he and Mia became owners.
They remade the restaurant in their own style and have steered it to become among the most consistent and satisfying of the city’s contemporary Creole bistros.
Renovations are slated to start in the weeks ahead. Mia Devillier says their aim is to honor the space while making it their own.
The property comprises two buildings long ago joined together. The ground floor, with its progression of intimate rooms, will keep much the same layout, Mia Devillier says. One of the biggest changes will be restoring the building’s second floor. Previously used mainly for storage, it will become a space for private dining.
Upperline was known for Clevenger’s art collection, a mosaic of different styles and artists sharing a New Orleans association, and enough of them to make the dining rooms feel like a neighborhood museum. That collection is not part of the restaurant
FORK & CENTER
sale and is now in storage. Clevenger said she is contemplating an auction for the art at some point in the future.
While she misses Upperline, she’s eager to see what the new owners do here next.
“It’s bittersweet, but the sweetness, that part comes from them,” Clevenger says. — Ian McNulty / The Times-Picayune
Cooking krewe
WHEN THE KREWE OF LAFCADIO HITS THE STREETS of the French Quarter on Feb. 13, the prized throws aren’t beads but wooden kitchen spoons.
The monarchs honored for the day are drawn not from high society or celebrity circles but from the kitchens of New Orleans.
This year’s king is Michael Nelson, executive chef at GW Fins, joined by his wife, Carol. GW Fins’ fish butcher Michael Perkins is this year’s duke.
The marching parade has two brass bands, a contingent of opera singers and 100 or so costumed members. Some don food-themed costumes, from the vegetables of the Creole “trinity” to Zapp’s potato chip wrappers, and others are organized in groups like the sous chef brigade or Hostess Cupcake Brigade.
The Krewe of Lafcadio begins at 2 p.m. at Antoine’s Restaurant, winds through the French Quarter and disbands near the restaurant.
The parade is named for Lafcadio Hearn, a writer who documented New Orleans culture in the 19th century and published a seminal Creole cookbook in 1885.
GW Fins’s founding chef Tenney Flynn was the krewe’s monarch in 2013. Others through the years have ranged from the late Leah Chase to Susan Spicer of Rosedale, Alon Shaya of Saba, and Sue Zemanick of Michelin-star rated Zasu.
The parade also is a fundraiser, using membership dues and other contributions to support a Navy League program that sends New Orleans chefs to
for the
Mardi Gras Specials
the
PHOTO BY DAVID GRUNFELD / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
Ari Ballard
Spirits and events consultant by
Will Coviello
ARI BALLARD IS AN EVENT PRODUCER FOR PRESERVATION HALL and a has a background in spirits and distillation. After growing up in New Orleans East, she attended LSU and got interested in bartending. While in Turning Tables, a mentorship program for people of color in the spirits and hospitality industry, she started working with Preservation Hall. She also started her own consulting company, Collective Vibration, with a couple Turning Tables veterans, and she recently competed in the national bartending competition, The Great Shakeup, held in New Orleans in January. For more about Ballard, see @ariballard504 or @the. collectivevibration on Instagram.
How did you get interested in cocktails and spirits?
ARI BALLARD: I went to LSU for sociology. To pay for college, I was working at a daiquiri shop. One of my friends and I were always coming up with these new cocktails. We were making Long Islands and liquid marijuana cocktails and adding to things that were pre-batched. A lot of mixers in daiquiri shops are really sweet, and it was like, there has to be more than sweet and sour. There must be more going on beyond the bottle.
A friend of mine, Kendrick Allen, started a job at Oxbow Rum Distillery in Baton Rouge, and he was like, “Hey, if you want to get beyond working at the daiquiri shop, you should come check out the distillery.” I went there and met Olivia (Stewart), who is the owner of the distillery, and her husband Revel (Griffith). They hired me as a tasting room associate. I started by juicing for four hours. It was like you have to learn about fresh ingredients. Then I got some books — “Liquid Intelligence” and “Death & Co.” and other books — and started understanding about bitters, fresh juice, how to make my own syrups and access to quality ingredients.
Working at Oxbow was very niche, because you can only use their products. I couldn’t make a French 75 because they don’t make Champagne. We didn’t have a Cognac. But I was making old fashioneds and elevating classic cocktails.
Then I met Toure (Folkes) and I applied to his program, Turning Tables. I started working at Preservation Hall
through Turning Tables on a consulting basis. Then they wanted to hire me. My externship was actually at Porchjam (Distillery). I wanted to get dirty, I wanted to be behind the stills. Jason Zeno was the tough-love dad I needed in the industry. He said you already have the odds stacked against you being a woman and on top of that being a Black woman. It’s rough to get in this industry, because it’s a big boys club.
He gave me a production assistant job. I was helping out cleaning stills and starting fermentations. I did one of my first runs on a tiny five-gallon still. I came up with a rhum aperitif. I wanted to make something like a botanical gin, but it was a rhum blanc expression. That was my final project.
Oxbow gave me a start of understanding things beyond the bottle. Porchjam gave me a foundation in distilling.
How did you pivot to events and consulting?
B: Toure was like, “I have a lot going on. Do you think you can manage the partnership (with Preservation Hall) and nurture it?”
So I managed the bar program, and when they had Midnight Preserves during Jazz Fest, I worked with Bacardi as a partnership, and I helped curate all the cocktails for the late-night concerts. We helped source sponsorships. We had to work with the bands. After working the special events, they gave me a spot on their talk tours. We did steamboat tours. There were groups from Great Britain
and Australia and I get to tell the story of Preservation Hall. With Collective Vibrations, We help with private events. We’re in partnership with the Southern Food & Beverage Museum. We help manage their private events and bar services. We tell stories about some of their exhibits. We tell the New Orleans classic cocktail story. We elevate the experience and tie in the culture and what the museum represents.
We’re booked for February twice and March. We’ll have happy hour events in spring. And hopefully some pre-Tales of the Cocktail things.
We’re launching Collaborative Table, which is redefining food insecurity across hospitality professionals and marginalized communities.
I also am part of another program, Raise the Bar, a mentorship program. I am all about community. Community means the world to me. My grandfather was the chief of the fire department. My family is active with Zulu. My mom is a nurse, my dad is an engineer. I am living the definition of community and being a culture bearer in the hospitality industry. I tell my story as a distiller, as a Black woman, as a mom.
What did you do at the Great Shakeup?
B: When the Great Shakeup came around, I was like let me see what it’s like on the other side — competing instead of (event) production.
My cocktail style is very much about historical representation, and I like to use as my secret ingredients the things I find in New Orleans history. One of my favorite things is using chicory.
I did a chicory-infused Campari with a recipe from Tales of the Cocktail. I like making Manhattans, I love rum. I respect rum because Louisiana is a huge sugarcane farming state.
I had a gold rum to use, so my cocktail was a gold rum with a chicory-infused Campari, so it was almost like a riff on a Manhattan. I cut it with a chicory syrup I made, and then some chocolate bitters.
I liked that I was able to tell my story. I was like, every ingredient I make has a tie to New Orleans or Louisiana.
Sous Vide Double CutPorkChop w/ RoastedRedskin Potatoes &Asparagus
Seared Scallops w/ ThaiChili Sauce
PHOTO PROVIDED BY ARI BALLARD
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OUT TO EAT
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.
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. $$$
Bamboula’s — 514 Frenchmen St.; bamboulasmusic.com — The live music venue’s kitchen offers a menu of traditional and creative Creole dishes, such as Creole crawfish crepes with goat cheese and chardonnay sauce. Reservations accepted. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. $$
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. $$
$ — average dinner entrée under $10
$$ $11-$20 $$$ — $20-up
Dahla — 611 O’Keefe Ave., (504) 766-6602; dahlarestaurant.com — The menu includes popular Thai dishes like pad thai, drunken noodles, curries and fried rice. Crispy skinned duck basil is prepared with vegetables and Thai basil. Delivery available. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
Desire Oyster Bar — Royal Sonesta New Orleans, 300 Bourbon St., (504) 586-0300; sonesta.com/desireoysterbar — A menu full of Gulf seafood includes oysters served raw on the half-shell or char-broiled with with Parmesan, garlic and herbs. The menu also includes po-boys, 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. $$
The Cajun Cuban with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. The eclectic menu also includes chargrilled oysters, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, fried seafood platters, pasta, salads and more. Delivery available. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Kilroy’s Bar — Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining — The all-day bar menu includes sandwiches, soups,
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O: 504-327-5303
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salads, 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) 5132606; 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. $$
K
In-house Baked Pastries, Sandwiches, Fresh Hot or Iced Cofeeand King Cakes!
The Royal Sonesta Hotel greases its support poles along Bourbon Street to keep revelers from climbing onto the balconies. And over the decades, the tradition has evolved into a competition and unofficial Mardi Gras weekend kickoff in the French Quarter. The Royal Sonesta hosts its 56th Greasing of the Poles at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 13, with contestants Caleb Morse, Bella Blue, Amanda Shaw and Ron Orleans greasing up the poles for the crowd and a panel of judges. WGNO anchor Kenny Lopez will emcee the event, and Leroy Jones and the Original Hurricane Brass Band, the 610 Stompers and Black Masking Indians led by Queen Cherice also participate. Free to attend. Find more info on Instagram: @royalsonestano.
Luke Null
Comedian Luke Null performs almost all of his stand-up while strumming a guitar, essentially singing through most of his jokes in song. While he was on the cast of “Saturday Night Live,” he wrote and pitched a lot of musical bits, but he was best known for sketches like the reality TV parody “Florabama Shore.” His most recent album is 2024’s “Pretty Songs, Dirty Words.” He performs at 9 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, through Sunday, Feb. 15, at Sports Drink. Tickets $29 via sportsdrink.org.
Hotel Burgundy
New Orleans indie rock band Hotel Burgundy released its new EP, “AMOR,” early this year. They now throw a Valentine Masquerade show at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at Gasa Gasa. Dallas Wax and Across Phoenix also are on the bill. Carnival masks are encouraged. Tickets are $13.63 via gasagasanola.com.
Valgur
As Valgur, Mexican siblings Elizabeth and Hugo Valdivieso incorporate a unique blend of pop sounds, rolling in ’80s synthpop, prog rock and even anime references, along with poetry in Zapotec and other avant-garde influences. The duo also tends to turn their live shows into compelling performance art. They are in town for a show at 9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at Siberia with D. Sablu. Tickets are $18.70 via dice.fm.
Lundi Gras in Gretna
The Wise Guys perform at the Lundi Gras celebration at the Gretna Marketplace. At 6-10 p.m. Monday, Feb. 16, on Huey P. Long Avenue
between 3rd and 4th streets. Visit gretnala.com for information.
Redrawblak
New Orleans standout players Brad Walker, Aurora Nealand, Matt Booth, Sam Shahin and Pedro Segundo join forces for a concert of collective improvisation at 7 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 16, at Saturn Bar. Admission is $12.47 via dice.fm.
Punk Black Mardi Gras Party
Punk Black, a platform promoting Black and Brown musicians in punk and performance arts, throws a Mardi Gras Party at Siberia on Thursday, Feb. 12, with performances by Twin Sugar, Chalant, Sailem from Hell and Code Black. Music starts at 9 p.m., and tickets are $12.47 via dice.fm.
Almost Valentine’s Day
Vocalist John Boutte hosts an early Valentine’s Day concert of romantic songs and stories at 7 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13, at the Broadside. The Mid-City venue also will have bubbly cocktail specials and deals on wine by the bottle. Tickets are $22.20 standing, $27.47 for row seats and $64.34 for a two-person table via broadsidenola.com.
Jon Cleary & The Abso-
lute
Monster Gentlemen
On his latest album, last year’s “The Bywater Sessions,” keys player Jon Cleary turned his sights back home to the funk, R&B and sounds of New Orleans. There’s also a track made for Carnival season, the fun “Zulu Coconuts.” Catch Cleary and his band, The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, next at 8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14, at Maple Leaf. Tickets are $20 advance via mapleleafbar. com and $25 day of the show.
Endymion Azzstravaganza
HaSizzle aka the king of bounce, DJ Rusty Lazer and the Levee One Sound System throw an Endymion day party along the parade route at Chickie Wah Wah. The music starts at 1 p.m. and tickets are $20 via ticketweb.com.
Gabrielle Cavassa
Locally based singer Gabrielle Cavassa has collaborated with Joshua Redman and Jamison Ross in recent years. She’s due to release an album on Blue Note records this spring. She performs a couple of Valentine’s Day shows at Snug Harbor. At 7:30 & 9:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14. Tickets are $41.30 via snugjazz.com.
Mardi Gras,inthe hear tofLouisiana’s Cajunand Creole Countr y, is thefamily-friendly waytohave fun. Enjoynineparades, afestivalwith live music, fairground rides,and the traditional courir de Mardi Gras.There’s something foreveryone in your krewe.
COMPL
LISTINGS AND MO RE E V E NTS TAKING PLAC E IN TH E N E W O R L E ANS A RE A, VISIT CALENDAR.GAMBITWEEKLY.COM
To learn more about adding your event to the music calendar, please email listingsedit@gambitweekly.com
MONDAY 9
30/90 Margie Perez, 6 pm; Piano Man G, 9 pm
ALLWAYS LOUNGE Betsy Propane & The Accessories, 7 pm
APPLE BARREL — Decaturadio, 10:30 pm
BACCHANAL — Byron Asher, 6 pm
BAMBOULA’S The New Orleans Rug Cutters, 12 pm; Jon Roniger & The Good For Nothin’ Band, 4:30 pm; Ted Hefko & The Thousandries, 9 pm
BJ’S LOUNGE Red Beans & Blues with Washboard Chaz & Jonathan Freilich, 9 pm
BUFFA’S David Doucet, 8 pm
CAFÉ NEGRIL — Lit Band, 7:30 pm
CAPULET — Belinda Moody, 6 pm
CARROLLTON STATION Meryl Zimmerman & Friends, 10 pm
DBA — Secret Six Jazz Band, 6 pm; Corey Henry & The Treme Funktet, 9:30 pm
DOS JEFES — John Fohl, 8:30 pm
HOWLIN’ WOLF Mojohand + Quinn Pilgrim + Giovanni Ventello, 8 pm
THE MAISON — Aurora Nealand, 5 pm; Gene’s Music Machine, 8:30 pm
MAPLE LEAF BAR — Who’s On Bass?, 8 pm
MAYFIELD’S 208 Red Bean Mondays: Kermit Rufns and Irvin Mayfeld, 6 pm
SNUG HARBOR Blues Legend Chris Thomas King, 7:30 pm; 9:30 pm
THREE MARIES JAZZ CLUB, OMNI
HOTEL Or Shovaly Plus, 9 pm
TIPITINA’S — Dumpstaphunk, 11 pm
VAUGHAN’S — Valparaiso Men’s Chorus, 10 pm
SATURDAY 14
30/90 Jef Chaz Blues Band, 2 pm; Megan Martinez & The Love Muscles, 5 pm; Zena Moses & Rue Fiya, 8 pm; DJ London (upstairs), 10 pm; T. Cherrelle & Lou’s Bayou, 11 pm
ALLWAYS LOUNGE Ficheraz: Live Latin Band & Burlesque, 8 pm; Panorama Brass Band + Magnetic Ear + Mission Delirium, 10:30 pm
ANNA’S For The Lovers: DJs Heelturn, Madspinnz and Soft Serve, 10 pm
APPLE BARREL — Smoky Greenwell Blues Band, 10:30 pm
BACCHANAL Miles Berry, 1 pm; Raphael Bas, 7 pm
BAMBOULA’S Aaron Levinson & Friends, 11 am; James McClaskey & The Rhythm Band, 1:30 pm; Johnny Mastro Blues, 6:30 pm; Paggy Prine & Southern Soul, 10 pm
SuM mEr CaMpS
BJ’S — Hot for Singles with Sabine McCalla & Anna Moss, 9 pm
BLUE NILE — Gumbo Funk, 7 pm; Afrobeat NOLA, 10 pm; The Next Level Band (Upstairs), 10 pm
BMC The New Orleans Rug Cutters, 5:30 pm; Sierra Green, 9 pm
BUFFA’S Abolish Victory, 5 pm; Cara Von Thorne, 8 pm
HOUSE OF BLUES DAD’S BALL VI: Forbidden Fruits ft. BAAB, Tasche & The Psychedelic Roses + More!, 9 pm
HOWLIN’ WOLF — Rebirth Brass Band, 10 pm
JAZZ PLAYHOUSE — Audrey LeCrone, 8 pm
LE BON TEMPS ROULÉ — Robo Go-Go 11 pm
MAPLE LEAF BAR Jon Cleary & The Absolute Monster Gentlemen, 8 pm
NO DICE — Sweet Crude, 8 pm
PUBLIC BELT AT HILTON NEW ORLEANS RIVERSIDE — Phil Melancon, 8 pm
THE PRESS ROOM AT THE ELIZA JANE — YaDonna West, 5 pm
RABBIT HOLE — The Pure Way Ball: VVictorian Voodoo, 10 pm
THE REPUBLIC — Daily Bread, 11 pm
SANTOS BAR — Femmes, Thems & EDM ft. DJs SPZM, Phoenix Phantasma & Warm Advice, 10 pm; Carnival of Love with DJs Lucid Dreams & Mike Natale (Upstairs), 10 pm
It’s all here. All in the Get Down from It’s our new show on everything food, music, fashion, politics and culture in New Orleans.
GOING OUT
Kaylee Poche
WHEN COMING UP WITH THE THEME FOR THIS YEAR’S QUEER CARNIVAL PARTY, Dad’s Ball organizers took divine inspiration from the larger venue they moved to last year.
The House of Blues New Orleans has three levels, like heaven, hell and purgatory, they thought.
“Then we were like, how do we make that gay?” says Mark Louque, one of the organizers or “Dads” as they like to call themselves. They landed on “Forbidden Fruits.”
You also could say they were called to do this theme by the angels of heaven — or possessed if you prefer, they joke.
The sixth Dad’s Ball is Saturday, Feb. 14, coinciding with Valentine’s Day. Love will definitely be in the air. So will lust and temptation.
Drag duo Kitten N’ Lou will write and direct the ball’s unorthodox tableau, or presentation of royalty, for the second year in a row. Each year their tableau is a series of dramatic scenes that center around a search for that year’s queen.
The court is full of drag, burlesque and other performers, including Fatsy Cline, Puddin Taine, Victoria DeVille, Eddie Lockwood, Colin Self, Apostrophe, Lady Lucerne and Qween Quan.
Kitten N’ Lou creating the tableau has elevated the production substantially. Dad Jose Guadarrama says there’s now an added level of polish and pageantry that makes it feel like an actual coronation ceremony.
Dad Nathaniel Howell agrees, noting that in years prior, there were some people in the back who wanted the tableau to hurry up and end so they could get back to dancing. But not last year.
Last year was “the first year I remember being on the side stairs and looking at everybody in the crowd during the tableau, and it was like story time in grade school,” Howell says. “Everyone’s just totally transfixed on this story.”
The Dads say Valentine’s will be a big part of the tableau. But they’re keeping further details under wraps.
“Maybe someone jumps out of an apple, maybe Virgil takes us to the ninth circle of hell,” Louque teases.
Guadarrama is coordinating the immersive art installations, which will be the collective effort of around 250 volunteers this year, more than double
the number they had last year. The installations will include references to Valentine’s Day, including cherubs shooting arrows with hearts.
“We’re very much telling a story of forbidden fruits of, like classic tropes of heaven and hell, viper pits, seduction, intrigue, all through an interactive sense exploration across House of Blues,” he says.
Guadarrama’s costume will feature a heart, though he declined to elaborate for Gambit. “Not for the newspaper!” he says.
The night will feature music by BAAB, New Orleans’ Satanic ABBA cover band, which will follow a number by Nicki Nicoli. Historian Quinn Bishop will be doing triple duty as a performer, storyteller and actress.
Tasche De La Rocha also will take the stage with counterparts from her various bands in the House of Blues’ Foundation Room, which will double as heaven for the night. It will be soft and airy with blue clouds, Louque says.
Last year the space was at capacity with about 1,500 to 1,600 attendees, and organizers say they enjoyed the extra leg room, which lent itself better to exploring the installations.
“Last year, we really found our groove at the House of Blues. For the first time ever, everything kind of went the way that we wanted to,” Dad Ross Ransom says. “So we’re just building on that, building new performers in, building new bands into this, building new experiences all throughout the venue just to one up ourselves.”
Dad’s Ball runs from 9 p.m. to 3 a.m. Tickets are available at dadsball.com.
The 2025 Dad’s Ball PHOTO BY ROLAND FITZ
CROSSWORD PUZZLE
THE BEE GEES
By Frank A. Longo
“My mama done -me ...”
Ending for schnozz
80 “Night Court” network
Model Bündchen
Plain to see
Tolkien beast
Cloister sister
Student transcript no.
Minute div.
-- facto 95 Closed with a knot 96 Tiny sacs in the lungs
Guy in a brain trust 99 Back out 100 Like the firstborn child
Apple debut of 2013
Isn’t a no-show
Kojak or Huxtable
common
Soccer icon 75 “-- mud in your eye!”
78 Words of a language, informally
“You -- big-time!”
Operated
Tots’ batting game
Cosmic path
Breathes in quickly
Aspire PC producer
City in Oklahoma
-- Reader (digest)
Hitters’ stats 114 Big ice sheet
New Rochelle university
Burglarizes 117 Store goods: Abbr.
Sigh of relief 121 Abbr. for those with just one given name
We’re alwayscloseby.
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