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The gang’s all here
Project returns to a seedy clown underworld in ‘Clown Bar 2’
IN A CLOWN BAR, there’s an offer you can’t refuse.
It’s actually more of an instruction: “Make it funny.”
That’s what the wildly violent Popo tells the clowns working around her in “Clown Bar 2,” and it’s a warning, not a suggestion.
That’s the thug life in playwright Adam Szymkowicz’s seedy mobster clown underworld. The NOLA Project presented the original “Clown Bar” in 2015, and it returns with the immersive “Clown Bar 2” at AllWays Lounge & Theatre on May 13-June 6.
It’s not necessary to know the original to enjoy the sequel, but some of the same clown mobsters are still on the loose, and some big, silly shoes have been filled by new wise guys after other clowns’ unfortunate ends.
Not everyone at the Clown Bar is in a good mood, despite the red noses, face makeup and brightly colored wigs. Happy Mahoney has been offed. That kind of event brings cops sniffing around, and a bunch of Western clowns led by Brigham Bill might want in on the Clown Bar turf. Musty, who looks like Dusty, who didn’t survive “Clown Bar,” opens the show singing on the bar’s tiny stage. “When the clowns finish clowning / At night they do their drowning / The clown bar is their own / All the clowns have come home.”
The mashup is straightforward. The clowns mostly have circus looks, except for Cliteau, a mime. And they are gangsters, at times sounding like New York crime families, and at times sounding like Hollywood gangsters of the 1930s and ’40s.
“I think of ‘Goodfellas,’ ” Szymkowicz says. “There’s one scene where Joe Pesci is like, ‘What am I some sort of clown to you?’ I was like, did I just take this one scene literally? I thought that would be funny, a bar full of clowns.”
The show “The Sopranos” also was at the height of its popularity when he wrote the first scenes of what would become “Clown Bar.”
A few years later, Daniel Talbott, then the artistic director of Rising Phoenix Rep in New York, put out a call for hour long to 90-minute plays to produce.
“I wanted to write this huge clown bar thing, and I thought no one will ever do this play,’ ” Szymkowicz says. “But he said if you write it, I’ll produce it. So I was like, I am just going to write it. It had two performances on one day, and it was super fun.”
by Will Coviello |
time at a retail job in video rental stores. Taking home free videos everyday may have exposed him to a lot of things he never otherwise would have watched, he notes. His plays have hit a wide array of subjects, settings and tones.
Some of his more edgy works get a lot of attention. A decade ago, he wrote “Fat Cat Killers,” about two disgruntled workers who kidnap the CEO after getting laid off. In the wake of the murder of a health care executive, that show is getting a production in New York this year.
‘Debbie with a D’s Tennessee with the Tea’ Debbie with a D leads a drag queen story hour that’s not for children. Debbie will be joined by Laveau Contraire, Sonika Boom, Tara Shay Montgomery, Vantasia Divine and Muffy Vanderbilt III in a show of Tennessee Williams’ work. The drag queens will read from some of Williams’ best-known works and interpret and offer their own commentary on the stories. The show is directed by Augustin J. Correro of the Tennessee Williams Theatre Company of New Orleans, which is co-presenting the show. At 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 15-17 at New Marigny Theatre, and May 22-24 at Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts. Tickets $30-$40 at twtheatrenola.com.
Rising Phoenix produced a bunch of plays in the back of a bar, which was perfect for “Clown Bar.” They covered one wall with balloons, and let the mobsters run amok.
It turned out not to be a novelty, and the show was produced elsewhere. The NOLA Project did it in the upstairs bar and music club space at the Little Gem Saloon. The company had Jack Craft and Skyler Stroup of Sweet Crude write music for the show.
That went well for NOLA Project, and they later commissioned Szymkowicz to write a play for the company to premiere. The show also was a violent comedy set in a restaurant, again using the Little Gem Saloon for a venue.
“Stockholm Syndrome: Or, Remember the Time Jimmy’s All American Beefsteak Place Was Taken Over by that Group of Radicals” was set in a chain restaurant. Amid the daily grind of line cooks hitting on waitresses, a group of terrorists show up, and the manager is not sure how to keep them and the customers happy.
Szymkowicz had never worked at a restaurant, but he notes he served his
Meanwhile, “Clown Bar” is becoming a franchise for him. Majestic Repertory Theatre in Las Vegas has produced the original several times, and it commissioned and premiered “Clown Bar 2.”
Szykmowicz has since written “Clown Bar Christmas,” and he turned the original story into a graphic novel, released early this year. He says writing a graphic novel felt like screenplay writing, essentially turning the story into storyboards and letting the artist handle representing the action.
The NOLA Project also is revisiting its original production, referring to some actors who were in the first production as repeat offenders. Keith Claverie stars as Musty, having played Dusty in the first. Jessica Lozano is the violent Popo, and Natalie Boyd is the clown hooker Petunia. Alex Martinez Wallace returns as Happy. Khiry Armstead is the director or ringmaster for the immersive show. There also are elements of burlesque, which suits the usual lineup at the AllWays Lounge’s Twilight Room. The show is crime family friendly, not kid friendly. Tickets for “Clown Bar 2” are $20-$55 via nolaproject.com.
‘The Wiz’
In 1975, the ’The Wiz’ debuted on Broadway, presenting a version of “The Wizard of Oz” with a Black cast and a score incorporating soul, rock, gospel and funk. Dorothy still was whisked away from Kansas by a tornado, but the story moved to tunes like “Ease on Down the Road.” A film version, with a slightly different setting, starred Michael Jackson, Diana Ross and Richard Pryor. Five decades after the show’s debut, a Broadway revival incorporated jazz, ballet and a number echoing a New Orleans second line. The touring Broadway production comes to Saenger Theatre May 13-18. Tickets $59-$177 via saengernola.com.
Liza Treyger
Comedian Liza Treyger has a blase delivery, whether she’s recounting tales of sloth or roasting her audience in crowd work. She debuted on TV a decade ago on “Last Comic Standing,” and earlier this year she released her
The NOLA
PHOTO BY JEREMY DANIEL / PROVIDED BY BROADWAY IN NEW ORLEANS
Alex Martinez Wallace is Happy in ‘Clown Bar 2.’ PROVIDED PHOTO BY MEGAN WHITTLE
“It’s frankly not a good look for your clients to be up here,” Wyble said. “And my very friendly advice on this bill is I wouldn’t repeat this mistake. We have to protect children.”
Consumable hemp
HB 36 is a bit more confusing, adding consumable hemp to the list of products under the Drug Dealer Liability Act alongside cocaine and meth, while still keeping in place the rules the legislature passed last year regulating the legal sale of such products.
Schlegel said under the bill, if someone was harmed by an illegal sale of consumable hemp products, they could sue the seller for compensation.
An illegal sale would be any sale that does not follow state laws surrounding the products, including the sale of them to anyone younger than 21 or by someone who isnot licensed to sell them. Products made out of state would still need to follow Louisiana rules if being sold in state, Schlegel said.
Consumable hemp products include the popular THC seltzers, which are sold in many grocery stores in the state.
Blaine Jennings, owner of Virgin Hemp Farms, was the only one to speak
out against the bill in committee.
“It just makes it hard to continue to do business in this state,” he said.“That’s why I moved part of my business to Texas last year. That’s why I’m growing in Mississippi for medical this year.”
Donated medical supplies
The House also easily passed HB 16, which would keep nonprofits from being sued if they donate medical supplies that ends up leading to injury, death, loss of any other damages — unless the person suing can prove the damages or injury were “caused by gross negligence or willful or wanton misconduct of the nonprofit organization.”
Schlegel said she brought the bill at the request of Tom Kennedy, an OB-GYN and director of New Orleans Medical Mission Services. The nonprofit donates unused medical supplies and equipment to people who need them.
Jennifer Esler, with the nonprofit, said the bulk of their donations come from hospitals, outpatient surgical centers and physicians’ offices, while others are from families who have lost someone and have medical equipment and supplies left over that they need to get rid of.
“There’s so much waste in the medical field, and what better way to put to use these items than to give them to people who cannot afford to buy them,” Esler said. — Kaylee Poche
Onramp to South Broad St. overpass in Gert Town area closes after failed inspection
A HIGH-TRAFFIC ONRAMP TO THE SOUTH BROAD STREET overpass at Earhart Boulevard was closed after it failed an annual state inspection earlier this year, city officials announced Wednesday.
The city will need to complete corrective repairs to the Gert Town ramp before it can reopen. City officials said they plan to finish the repairs later this year, according to the statement.
The city statement did not disclose why the entrance ramp to the busy bridge failed the Department of Transportation and Development inspection and did not provide a projected timeline for repairs.
The city’s Department of Public Works is working to hire an engineering firm to design a corrective plan for the ramp. — Marco Cartolano / The Times-Picayune
Bills to raise Louisiana teacher pay advance, despite teachers union concerns
LOUISIANA LAWMAKERS ADVANCED
TWO MEASURES Tuesday that would revise the state constitution to pay for educator raises in later years, despite some concerns from teachers union leaders — including about a potential pay cut for teachers this coming school year.
The bills would eliminate three constitutionally protected education trust funds, use the money to pay off retirement debt and put the savings toward higher salaries for teachers and school support staff. The House Appropriations Committee voted in favor of both bills, which repackage part of a constitutional amendment that voters rejected this year.
If the Legislature passes the bills, the public still must vote to amend the state’s constitution. That vote would likely not happen until April 2026, lawmakers say, leaving at least one school year where teachers and staff could see their current pay decrease.
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During the committee meeting, the president of the state’s largest teachers union told representatives that he could not support the bills in their current form because they do not guarantee that all eligible educators would receive the pay increases.
Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter also expressed worry that the raises would not be included in the state’s school-funding formula, which would prevent the money from being reallocated for other uses in the future.
“We cannot rely on good intentions alone when it comes to educator paychecks,” he said. “We support the spirit of both bills, we really do, but we want to get some guarantees.”
Carter raised similar concerns about the teacher-pay portion of Amendment 2, which voters shot down in the March 29 election. The union ultimately backed the amendment after working with lawmakers on revisions — something it might try to do again with the new bills.
The bill does not mention charter schools that don’t pay into the retirement system, but Emerson said their educators will also get raises.
Emerson estimated that the cost to the state to pay for charter raises would likely be between $15-20 million.
On Tuesday, Appropriations Committee chair Jack McFarland, R-Jonesboro, said he disagreed with Carter that the wording of one bill could leave out some eligible educators. He pointed to a line in the proposal that states each public school system “shall” provide a permanent salary increase.
Carter said it’s unacceptable that, even if the amendment to raise teacher pay in the future is approved, teachers could lose their stipends next school year.
“Our educators deserve a genuine increase that acknowledges their contributions and the rising costs of living in this country,” he told the committee.
“It doesn’t give an option to the public school system” on what to do with the funds, he said.
House Bill 579, by Rep. Julie Emerson, R-Carencro, eliminates three education trust funds in order to pay off debts related to the state’s teachers retirement system, for which individual school districts pay interest. House Bill 466 by Rep. Josh Carlson, R-Lafayette, requires school systems to give teachers raises using the debt-payment savings.
Carter, however, pointed out that educators would technically not receive raises if the bills pass. Instead, the resulting constitutional amendment would make the one-time stipends that educators have received the past two years — $2,000 for teachers and $1,000 for support staff — a recurring part of their annual salaries.
Emerson noted that Carlson’s bill requires the state to step in to subsidize any school districts that are unable to cover the cost of the raises through their savings alone. She also said Tuesday that the state will pay for raises for educators and support staff who work in charter schools, many of which don’t pay into the state’s teachers retirement system.
Rep.Jason DeWitt, R-Tioga, told Carter that if the bills advance, the Louisiana Federation of Teachers must do more to inform its members of their intent.
He said he fielded “a lot of phone calls” ahead of the March vote from constituents who didn’t understand what Amendment 2 would do, noting that many were under the impression that the money for the raises would come from teachers’ retirement funds, which is not the case.
“We need to do a better job next time of selling this with your group,” DeWitt said.
Carter said his organization had done its best to let its members know the union supported the amendment. He also urged lawmakers to consider additional ways to raise teacher pay.
“The choice before this committee is to extend beyond simply preventing a pay reduction,” he said. “It’s about whether Louisiana will continue to allow its educators’ compensation to stagnate while celebrating the remarkable academic progress they’ve helped our students achieve.”
Both bills now head to the House floor for debate. — Elyse Carmosino / The Times-Picayune
Louisiana Federation of Teachers President Larry Carter, left, gives a hug to Shane Riddle, right, legislative and political director of the Louisiana Association of Educators.
PHOTO BY TRAVIS SPRADLING / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
Bayou Bash
by Jake Clapp and John Stanton
THE MID-CITY BAYOU BOOGALOO IS EXPECTED TO RETURN
Friday, May 16, through Sunday, May 18, to its traditional spot on Bayou St. John between Lafitte and Orleans avenues. But complaints from neighborhood groups and pressure from a New Orleans City Council member are raising questions about the future of the music festival.
Bayou Boogaloo brings out thousands of people each May for local music and performances on as many as three stages spread along the bayou, from Laffite Avenue to Dumaine Street. And many people take advantage of the waterway, hanging out in canoes, kayaks and homemade rafts.
It’s popular with folks looking for another outdoor festival before the start of summer, but some neighborhood residents have long complained about the event.
In particular, people living near the site have had issues with fencing off public space to charge festival attendees, parking problems, traffic issues, noise and trash.
Those complaints and opposition from groups like the City Park Neighborhood Association ultimately led District A Council Member Joe Giarrusso to withhold a permit from The Friends of Bayou St. John, which organizes the festival, until they agreed to either move the three-day fest in 2026 or show they have support from the people who live close by.
In a May 7 letter signed by Friends of Bayou St. John Executive Director Jared Zeller, the festival agreed to those terms, which sets an Aug. 1 deadline to demonstrate Bayou Boogaloo has “overwhelming support by nearby residents.”
Zeller notes in the letter he is signing it “under duress and in an effort to save the economic impact of our partners and stakeholders.” he agreement meant Zeller could finish getting permit sign-offs from not only Giarrusso but the New Orleans Police Department, the city’s property management division and other authorities.
Zeller started Bayou Boogaloo in 2005 in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and organized the first, single-day event in May 2006. The festival steadily grew
over the year with a focus on local music and arts, and the Friends of Bayou St. John was created to bring more attention to the historic waterway and organize beautification projects.
Giarrusso and Boogaloo organizers have met over the years to try and address residents’ complaints which, the council member said, outnumber those he hears about the much larger New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
“I just have a bunch of neighbors who are fed up,” Giarrusso told Gambit, adding that “we’ve had these conversations repeatedly for years.”
The City Park Neighborhood Association has come out in opposition to the festival this year. Additionally, other residents have raised new concerns about parking and traffic in light of the aggressive “safety” tactics used by NOPD during Jazz Fest which snarled roads and made neighbors’ lives difficult.
The festival, though, is trying to work with residents, Zeller told Gambit. “We met with [the City Park group] extensively last year,” he said. “We’ve been doing this 18 years, and any big special event in a neighborhood, you’re going to have parking and traffic issues … We’re always addressing those things.”
Zeller said organizers have tried to keep safety of fest-goers and residents a priority, which has led to things like street closures and erecting fencing around the festival area.
“Over the years, we’ve gotten a bigger control over the footprint, in terms of safety, to control chaos,” he said.
In 2016, Bayou Boogaloo initially erected fencing around the festival
Festival-goers float on a homemade raft during the 2024 Bayou Boogaloo.
PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
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GOING AGAINST
GRAIN TRAIN
BY SARAH RAVITS
IT’S TAKEN 20 YEARS for many residents of Holy Cross and the surrounding areas of the Lower 9th Ward to rebuild their homes after Hurricane Katrina and the levee failures destroyed them.
The area struggled with a slower recovery than other neighborhoods, with much of the population displaced for years, if not permanently.
But as the area has been continuing to bounce back, residents are worried about a new potential threat bearing down on them: an industrial project taking shape at the Alabo Street Wharf that involves revitalizing old railway lines to transport grain out of the neighborhood on a 10-car train.
“This throws a wrench in a whole lot of things,” says resident Jeffrey Wittenbrink Jr, who is on the board of the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association and is leading opposition efforts against the project.
“It throws off our public transit lines, it makes us unable to cross St. Claude Avenue to get out of the Lower Ninth Ward. It puts strain on our grocery stores and businesses, and if people feel strain, they’ll leave.”
Proponents of the plan say it would provide 17 permanent jobs and are hailing it as the nation’s first “organic transloading facility,” claiming it also has potential to create infrastructure that would encourage domestic organic farming.
Residents, however, are pushing back, citing public health and safety concerns, noise and other general disturbances to nearby St. Claude Avenue, a busy highway.
In some spots along Alabo Street, the rail tracks winding through the neighborhood are just a few steps away from people’s houses.
“The community is right there,” says Bette Perez, president of the Holy Cross Neighborhood Association. “There is just no safe way to have this kind of industrial activity. They can unload their grain somewhere else. They don’t need to do it in Holy Cross. We don’t want them.”
THE PREDOMINANTLY BLACK HOLY CROSS NEIGHBOR-
HOOD has historically been a working-class subdistrict of the Lower 9th Ward, bound by St. Claude Avenue, the river, the Industrial Canal and the St. Bernard Parish line.
When the Alabo Street Wharf began operation more than a century ago, many Holy Cross residents worked along the river.
Since Katrina, the demographics and workforce have shifted somewhat. But the Alabo Street Wharf is often used for storage and shipping, usually out of the neighborhood by trucks.
While many of the residents there have familial roots going back generations, there’s also plenty of relative newcomers who have moved there, finding it to be a quiet, safe place to settle down and raise their families.
One resident who spoke to Gambit under conditions of anonymity, said she lives near
the wharf and initially traveled to New Orleans to help with recovery efforts a few years after Katrina.
She didn’t initially plan on staying forever, but she found herself thoroughly inspired by the sense of community and the way neighbors looked out for each other.
“I saw women rolling up their shirt sleeves,” she says. “I thought it would be nice to stay. These are productive people who fight for their future.”
Perez, the neighborhood association president who has lived in the area for a decade, says it’s a close-knit neighborhood, where everyone knows each other’s names and waves from their porches.
Rattling off the names of her neighbors on Dauphine Street, she lists a collection of artists, musicians, teachers, librarians and retirees.
“This is a wonderful community,” she says. “It’s full of passion-
ate activists who are fighting for their families.”
THE PORT AND THE SUNRISE INTERNATIONAL FOODS first began exploring negotiations on the facility in 2023.
Sunrise, which is part of an international company with operations in Chicago, Nebraska, Texas, Canada and Europe, plans to store and transport products, including organic grain, out of the Alabo Street Wharf.
In order to get to the rest of the U.S., supplies would need to be transported through the residential neighborhood of Holy Cross through a train operated by Norfolk Southern.
The state-controlled Port hails the Sunrise project as an expansion and improvement of infrastructure “to support increased business activity and to attract businesses that bring
Holy Cross resident Jeffrey Wittenbrink Jr. holds up a protest sign during a Port of New Orleans board meeting
PHOTO BY BRETT DUKE / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
Lower 9th Ward residents fight against industrializing their neighborhood
The TEP Center opened in 2022 as a mixed-use facility and community center dedicated to antiracism and civil rights education and frequently hosts field trips for kids.
Tate worries that industrial traffic from the river will disrupt access to the historic site.
“There are plenty of other areas this could have been done,” she says. “Why in the Lower Ninth Ward? Everything that’s just thrown away is put here. So what’s the real reason?”
PORT
OFFICIALS WROTE IN AN EMAIL TO GAMBIT that residents should not be concerned over safety issues and that the Port is “evaluating several opportunities to reduce impacts and enhance the area surrounding our facility.”
“Those considerations range from noise reduction technology to park and green space improvements to additional safety measures, and we plan to work with the community to ensure their input is incorporated,” they said.
Additionally, they said they are planning to keep the train movements within daylight hours and “aligned with times when most residents are at work and children are in school.”
They say they are looking into measures to further minimize train whistles while remaining in compliance with the Federal Railroad Administration regulations.
Sunrise International Foods officials, meanwhile, wrote in a statement that they are “working to ensure our presence enhances, rather than compromises, quality of life in the area. To that end, we have complied with, and will continue to meet, all applicable regulatory requirements related to our operations.”
But residents are quick to point out that Louisiana is notoriously lax on regulations, and they worry that the proposed plans are just a starting point.
After all, Sunrise also has potential plans to build a vegetable oil refinery near the facility and could increase the number of train cars once operations are underway.
Wittenbrink also slammed the company for using “deceptive language that is meant to calm communities so they can do whatever they want.”
ularly the impacts and risks of grain dust, noise and other safety hazards.
Then in March, Stop the Grain Train activists circulated a petition, calling on the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality to be more transparent about their permitting process.
“We implore the LDEQ to consider the profound and cumulative impacts this project has on the neighbors quite literally next door to this terminal,” the letter stated. “We are not simply opposed to development; we are fighting to protect our health, our homes, and our future.”
They were backed by City Council Vice President Helena Moreno, who also asked for a public hearing.
Council Member Oliver Thomas, who represents much of the 9th Ward, also called on the agency for greater transparency.
“It is critical that our voices be considered and our concerns are addressed prior to the approval of any permits,” he said.
In a follow-up with Gambit in May, Thomas said he was troubled by the lack of response from officials involved.
“Yeah, I’m frustrated, no doubt about it,” he said. “We’re just asking for what any community would want, like how folks can live?”
Thomas stopped short of saying he opposes the project outright, but did say he doesn’t want anything to go into the neighborhood that would harm its residents.
“No one can tell (the Port) how to use their property,” he says. “But do you want to force something on the community? Do you want to be a good neighbor? ... At the end of the day, you might have the right in court, but that doesn’t make you a good partner or create good outcomes when you talk about being a part of the community, especially a community that’s trying to rebound like the Lower Nine.”
As of press time, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality did not respond to request for comment.
in Avondale, which is already poised for industrial projects and isn’t close to people’s houses.
“We are going to fight this every step of the way,” Perez says. “We have people who think we’re wasting our time. Having spent time with Port commissioners, I think they are learning stuff they didn’t know. I’m optimistic they’re going to see the value in a move.”
The neighborhood movement seems to be gaining momentum.
A diverse group of activists and residents are continuing to hold meetings, fundraisers and public awareness campaigns to keep going.
They’ve also received moral and financial support from The Descendents Project, a nonprofit in St. James Parish that opposes industrialization near people’s homes and works to heal communities that have been impacted by it.
the Port, 25, 30 years later, is they don’t need to bring those trains back into the Lower 9th Ward. Some of them are running so close to people’s houses, it would be dangerous,” he says.
EVEN THOUGH THE CITY OF NEW ORLEANS has little jurisdiction over the area, some city council members are getting involved in the issue.
In January, the council approved a symbolic resolution calling on state lawmakers to study the plans, partic-
MANY OF THE HOMES ALONG
ALABO STREET are just 10 or 15 steps away from the meandering rail line, and nearly every single yard or house in the vicinity has some sort of signage protesting the “Grain Train.”
Perez and Wittenbrink say that despite the odds of going against powerful corporate and state entities, they remain determined to get the facility relocated.
They are urging Sunrise to consider locating its operations across the river
If the residents succeed in getting the Sunrise project relocated, it wouldn’t be the first time the Lower 9th Ward has won an uphill battle.
Jon Johnson, a former state lawmaker who represented the area, previously led efforts in the neighborhood to resist further industrialization and long-term projects involving rail transport through the neighborhood.
Now, he serves on the New Orleans City Planning Commission and is ramping up the fight once again.
“We were able to work with the Port back then ... What I’m saying to
He is also preparing to take legal action if necessary.
“If the Port insists on disrespecting the city’s position and the (City Planning Commission), then we’ll have no alternative than to fight them along with the residents and in court,” he says.
“None of us who consider ourselves to be community leaders should be allowing this to happen,” he adds.
“I’m going to be fighting it every inch of the way ... The residents were there first, and the residents are there now.”
A sign protesting the industrial project sits in the neutral ground on Alabo Street
PHOTO BY SARAH RAVITS
Tremaine Knighten-Riley and Leona Tate at the TEP Center on St. Claude Avenue
PHOTO BY SARAH RAVITS
BR OC AT OL AW FIRM, PL C
EAT + DRINK
Nighttime haunt
Junebug opens in the Warehouse District by
JUNEBUG’S SHADOW MAN must be appeased.
In a city full of ghost and haunting stories, it’s no surprise there is some strange account at a building from 1840. That’s the case at Junebug, a new bar and restaurant at 744 Camp St. in the Warehouse District.
“We definitely have felt a presence that we call Shadow Man,” says Sophie Burton, the restaurant’s bar manager and assistant general manager. “This building has so many quirks, so many seams and different bricks. It’s a Frankenstein’s monster of a space. It wouldn’t be a surprise if there were multiple entities here.”
They placed a cigarette and a glass of overproof gin by the restaurant’s host stand just in case. “We thought we’d try to appease our ghost,” she says. Junebug is the 19th concept from the Virginia-based Neighborhood Restaurant Group and its third restaurant in New Orleans, joining nearby Brewery Saint X and Devil Moon Barbecue.
The team opened the spectacular space on March 20, with 3,700 square feet of event space. There’s the high style bar and restaurant on one side and the pretty Secret Spot flower shop on the other.
Even without the ghost tales, the space has a notable history of its own — a bridge to New Orleans R&B and funk. Between 1967 and 1978, the building housed the upstairs headquarters of legendary producer Cosimo Matassa’s Jazz City recording studio. Allen Toussaint produced and recorded hits there, and it’s also where The Meters recorded their funk classic “Cissy Strut” and other tunes. A music theme is woven through the restaurant, including etched musical note tributes to local artists, the bar’s two turntables and 600-album collection and the horns of vintage Victrola record players used in light fixtures. Cypress and exposed brick add to the bar and dining room’s appeal.
It’s a stunning setting for executive chef Shannon Bingham’s Southernmeets-French menu. Composed of
Beth D’Addono |
mostly small plates, the menu starts with dishes beyond the typical bar snacks, like warm, house-made potato chips and cashews tossed with rosemary, miso and brown butter.
There are croquettes monsieur, a crispy ham and oozing cheese take on the popular bistro sandwich, as well as candied pecan pimiento cheese and crackers, a ruby red yellowfin crudo with sweet potato vinaigrette, and spicy fried oysters atop an Escoffierworthy celeriac remoulade.
The duck and bacon crepinettes feature a creative, coarsely ground meatball with pomme puree and bordelaise on the side. There’s a “pick three” option in each menu section, perfect for sharing.
The chef also is aware not everybody likes the lazy Susan approach to dining.
“When Sophie and I go to a restaurant, we like to try as many things
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as we can and sample a bunch of cocktails,” Bingham says. “But I didn’t want to lose sight of the fact that some people want a steak for dinner, regardless of the restaurant.”
So, there is also a hanger steak served with beer battered onion rings.
A pate melt is a high-brow grilled cheese with a griddled slab of rustic pate de campagne, Gruyere, confit onions and Pommery mustard between slices of rye bread. Pescatarians will find a pan-roasted drum with crawfish. There’s also a brilliant twist on traditional gnocchi, swapping cornbread for potatoes, and the dumplings are topped with a lamb neck ragu.
A late-night menu is available until midnight Tuesday through Sunday. Besides many of the same snacks offered at dinner, it also has a fried chicken sandwich, a brisket cheeseburger and a duck Reuben, all $16 and under.
“We want locals to come in and feel like they don’t have to break their food budget for the week,” Bingham says.
Burton’s bar includes classic and house cocktails, with a section of the menu that offers drinks either full-strength or lighter on the alcohol content. Burton focuses on eau de vie and fruit brandies mixed into cocktails or served on the rocks. There also are a dozen beers on draft and a bottle list that goes beyond the usual suspects. Add in a spacious outdoor patio for al fresco dining and a soundtrack of R&B and funk, and Junebug adds up to an intriguing new haunt. Surely, the Shadow Man agrees.
Top shelf
TWO NEW ORLEANS CRAFT COCKTAIL DESTINATIONS HAVE PICKED UP international accolades with the release of the North America’s 50 Best Bars list for 2025.
Jewel of the South in the French Quarter was ranked No. 4 on the list, netting the title of “Best Bar in the South USA” for the third consecutive year. It’s a rise in the rankings for Jewel of the South, which was at No. 5 on the list last year.
The Uptown lounge Cure rounded out the top 50 for the continent at No. 50. Both have been magnets for national and international accolades of late, and each marks its third appearance on this ranking.
Jewel of the South opened in 2019 in a Creole townhouse dating to the 1830s, giving a glimpse into history and a taste of the contemporary.
The bar is the domain of Chris Hannah, who made his name giving great cocktails their due, often delving into the archives to resurrect lost classics.
Jewel of the South is also as much a restaurant as a bar. Chef Phil Whitmarsh serves a highly contemporary menu informed in large part by modern British styles, with its emphasis on seasonal freshness and the reinvention of familiar flavors.
Cure opened in 2009 as an early adopter of the renewed Freret Street,
Owner Chris Hannah at Jewel of the South
PHOTO BY CHRIS GRANGER /THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
Chef Shannon Bingham and beverage director Sophie Burton at Junebug
PHOTO BY CHERYL GERBER / GAMBIT
The Pearl is amonthly magazineshowcasing the bestofNew Orleans FASHION, LIFE,and DESIGN.From curated trend storiestoprofles on localleaders and creatives, residents and visitorsalikewill beneft from this stylishguide.
THE PEARL’S REACH:
232,000
readers , in Ga mbit +T imes-P icay une —moret ha na ny li fest yle maga zi ne in NewO rlea ns .
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which was then only beginning its rise to become a booming restaurant row. Many at the time openly wondered how an upscale bar would fare along what had become a hardscrabble stretch of Uptown.
As craft cocktails went mainstream, and in many cases were dumbed down, Cure remained a showplace for the style — unapologetically upscale, professional and ambitious. It’s become both a magnet and an incubator for people serious about pursuing a craft cocktail career.
Earlier this year, Cure also made the 2025 Global Tastemakers awards from Food & Wine, which named it the best bar in the country.
North America’s 50 Best Bars rankings came through an assessment by a panel of anonymous North American bar industry experts, including bartenders, bar owners, drinks media and cocktail connoisseurs.
The U.S. had 26 bars on the list, with 14 for Mexico, eight for Canada and two from the Caribbean.
Bars completing the top five were the Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City (No. 1), Superbeuno in New York City (No. 2), Tlecān in Mexico City (No. 3) and Sip and Guzzle in New York (No. 5), in addition to Jewel of the South at No. 4.
Earlier in April, the group announced its inaugural list of bars 51-100. It places French Quarter tiki bar Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 at No. 80.
The North America’s 50 Best Bars awards were launched in 2022 by the same group that produces The World’s 50 Best Bars, The World’s 50 Best Restaurants and other international rankings. — Ian McNulty / The Times-Picayune
Joint temporarily closed
A MORNING GREASE FIRE ON MAY 5 CAUSED DAMAGE to the The Joint, a popular barbecue restaurant in Bywater.
Pete Breen, who owns the spot at 701 Mazant St., said a grease fire in the smoker cause damage to the roof of the outdoor shed area where much of the meat is cooked.
The fire began just after 8:30 a.m. and the New Orleans Fire Department responded quickly, Breen said. It took firefighters about 10 to 15 minutes to extinguish the flames, with Breen quickly calling 911 after an employee couldn’t contain the blaze with a fire extinguisher.
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Breen said the restaurant will be closed for a few days so that repairs can be made.
“These happen occasionally,” Breen said. “This one was more severe.”
There were no injuries reported.
The Joint serves no-frills barbecue and classic sides and has made several best New Orleans barbecue lists over the years. — Marco Cartolano / The Times-Picayune
Market watch
THE CRESCENT CITY FARMERS
MARKET IS TEMPORARILY MOVING its Uptown market to a new spot closer to the Mississippi River. The weekly event open on Tuesday mornings is moving to The Batture at 25 Walnut St., beginning on May 13.
The market has operated at Uptown Square, at 200 Broadway, for years, but is moving while construction is underway at the original location. The new spot will have all the same offerings: fruits, vegetables, meats, food from local vendors and more.
This addition will expand the offerings at the controversial riverfront development. Since its inception, neighbors have opposed The Batture, citing concerns over traffic and noise.
The owners said it would slowly introduce new facets of the project in a way that felt natural to neighbors. In October, it opened a coworking space and started a weekend market where vendors offer lobster rolls, sno-balls and chicken sandwiches. The property also offers a wide view of the river.
There is no set date as to when the farmers market will return to Uptown Square. It will still run every Tuesday from 8 a.m. to noon. — Chelsea Shannon / The Times-Picayune
afresh cocktail, wine or dinner!
A vendor sells goods at the Crescent City Farmers Market.
PHOTO BY IAN MCNULTY / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
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. $
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
$ — average dinner entrée under $10
$$ $11-$20
$$$ — $20-up
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) 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. $$
Katie’s Restaurant — 3701 Iberville St., (504) 488-6582; katiesinmidcity.com — The Cajun Cuban with roasted pork, ham, Swiss cheese, pickles and mustard. The eclectic menu also includes char-grilled oysters, sandwiches, burgers, pizza, fried seafood platters, pasta, salads and more. Delivery available. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner daily. $$
Kilroy’s Bar — Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining — The all-day bar menu includes sandwiches, soups, salads, flatbreads and a couple entrees. A muffuletta
flatbread is topped with salami, mortadella, capicola, mozzarella and olive salad. No reservations. Lunch Fri.-Mon., dinner daily. $$
Legacy Kitchen’s Craft Tavern — 700 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 613-2350; legacykitchen.com — The menu includes oysters, flatbreads, burgers, sandwiches, salads and sharables plates like NOLA Tot Debris. A slow-cooked pulled pork barbecue sandwich is served with coleslaw on a brioche bun. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$
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. There also are burgers, salads, pasta, seafood entrees, char-broiled oysters and more. Reservations accepted. Outdoor seating available. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
Luzianne Cafe — 481 Girod St., (504) 2651972; luziannecafe.com — Boudin Benedict features two poached eggs over boudin and an English muffin, served with green tomato chow chow and hollandaise. No reservations. Delivery available. Breakfast and lunch Wed.-Sun. $$
Mikimoto — 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 488-1881; mikimotosushi.com — The South Carrollton roll includes tuna tataki, avocado and snow crab. The menu also has noodle dishes, teriyaki and more. Reservations accepted. Delivery available. Lunch Sun.Fri., dinner daily. $$
Mosca’s — 4137 Highway 90 West, Westwego, (504) 436-8950; moscasrestaurant.com — This family-style eatery serves Italian dishes and specialties including chicken a la grande, shrimp Mosca, baked oysters Mosca and chicken cacciatore. Reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.-Sat. Cash only. $$$
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. $$$
Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro — 720 Orleans Ave., (504) 523-1930; orleansgrapevine.com — The wine bar offers cheese boards and appetizers to nosh with wines. The menu includes Creole pasta
with shrimp and andouille in tomato cream sauce. Reservations accepted for large parties. Outdoor seating available. Dinner Thu.-Sun. $$
Palace Cafe — 605 Canal St., (504) 5231661; palacecafe.com — The contemporary Creole menu includes signature dishes like crabmeat cheesecake with mushrooms and Creole meuniere sauce. There also are steaks, pasta, a burger and Gulf seafood dishes. Outdoor seating available. Reservations recommended. Breakfast and lunch Wed.-Fri., dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sat.-Sun. $$$
Parish Grill — 4650 W. Esplanade Ave., Suite 100, Metairie, (504) 345-2878; parishgrill.com — The menu includes burgers, sandwiches, pizza and sauteed andouille with fig dip, blue cheese and toast points. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
Peacock Room — Kimpton Hotel Fontenot, 501 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 324-3073; peacockroomnola.com — At brunch, braised short rib grillades are served over grits with mushrooms, a poached egg and shaved truffle. The dinner menu has oysters, salads, pasta, shrimp and grits, a burger, cheese plates and more. Reservations accepted. Dinner Wed.-Mon., brunch Sun. $$
Rosie’s on the Roof — Higgins Hotel, 480 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 528-1941; higginshotelnola.com/dining — The rooftop bar has a menu of sandwiches, burgers and small plates. Crab beignets are made with Gulf crabmeat and mascarpone and served with herb aioli. No reservations. Dinner Mon.-Sat. $$
Tableau — 616 St. Peter St., (504) 9343463; tableaufrenchquarter.com — The menu features traditional and creative Creole dishes. Pasta bouillabaisse features squid ink mafaldine, littleneck clams, Gulf shrimp, squid, seafood broth, rouille and herbed breadcrumbs. Outdoor seating available on the balcony. Reservations recommended. Dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Thu.-Sun. $$$
Tacklebox — 817 Common St., (504) 827-1651; legacykitchen.com — The menu includes raw and char-broiled oysters, seafood platters, po-boys, fried chicken, crab and corn bisque and more. Redfish St. Charles is served with garlic-herb butter, asparagus, mushrooms and crawfish cornbread. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$
Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 1212 S. Clearview Parkway, Elmwood, (504) 733-3803; 2125 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 510-4282; 4024 Canal St., (504) 302-1133; 4218 Magazine St., (504) 894-8554; 70488 Highway 21, Covington, (985) 234-9420; theospizza.com — A Marilynn Pota Supreme pie is topped with mozzarella, pepperoni, sausage, hamburger, mushrooms, bell peppers and onions. There also are salads, sandwiches, wings, breadsticks and more. Delivery available. Lunch and dinner daily. $
The Vintage — 3121 Magazine St., (504) 324-7144; thevintagenola.com — There’s a full coffee drinks menu and baked goods and beignets, as well as a full bar. The menu has flatbreads, cheese boards, small plates and a pressed veggie sandwich with avocado, onions, arugula, red pepper and pepper jack cheese. No reservations. Delivery and outdoor seating available. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. $$
ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT
special “Night Owl” on Netflix. She performs standup at 7 & 9 p.m. Friday, May 16, and Saturday, May 17, at Sports Drink. Tickets $25 at sportsdrink.org.
Leon Bridges
The soul and R&B singer made a splash with his first few albums, climbing the Billboard charts and drawing Grammy nominations, and a trophy for Best R&B Performance for “Bet Ain’t Worth the Hand.” He’s only 35 years old, but he’s channeling the star soul singers of the 1960s and ’70s. His latest album is last year’s “Leon.” At 8 p.m. Thursday, May 15, and Friday, May 16, at Orpheum Theater. Find tickets at ticketmaster.com.
Check Out These Shorts
Organized by Hey! Cafe co-owner and visual artist Tommy LeBlanc, Check Out These Shorts celebrates independent, animated short films collected through an open call. This year’s fest screens 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at Zony Mash. It’s free to attend. Find more info on Instagram, @check_out_these_shorts.
‘Carrie’
It’s prom season, so what better way to celebrate than enjoying the 4K restoration of “Carrie,” the 1976 horror classic starring Sissy Spacek, John Travolta and Piper Laurie? Bullied by her religious mother and cruel classmates, Carrie is pushed to her breaking point at the school dance. It was Stephen King’s first successful novel, and a smashing success in its film adaptation. There’s horror trivia and prizes at a screening at The Broad Theater. At 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 12. Tickets $8-$12 via thebroadtheater.com.
BlerdFest
BlerdFest is all about Black nerds (or Blerds) celebrating sci-fi, fantasy, comics, anime, table-top gaming, movies, cosplay and other areas of nerdom. The convention takes place Saturday, May 17, at McDonogh 35, and there will be a guest panels and content creator interviews, a panel about the new movie “Sinners” with cast and crew, a cosplay competition, arcade games, arts and comics vendors and more. There also is a burlesque show Friday at the AllWays, an after party and events on Sunday. Tickets for BlerdFest are $20 for ages 6-17 and $30 for adults. Find more information at linktr.ee/blerdfestnola.
Sex Scenes
Milwaukee hardcore punk band Sex Scenes combines catchy hooks and vocals from Sarah Turbo. The group just released the album “Everything Makes Me Sick” last week. She Would also performs on May 16 at Poor Boys.
Loucey
Loucey, the indie pop project by Cherie McCabe, Ben Lorio, Jeremy Phipps and Sam McCabe, releases its new full-length album, “Participation Trophy Wife,” this week. The band celebrates the release with a show at 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 13, at Gasa Gasa. Amelia Neville also will perform, and Phipps will play a DJ set. Tickets are $13.63 via gasagasanola.com.
The Damned
In the 1970s, British punks The Damned helped forge the hardcore scene. Over the years, various founders left the band and returned, and over the decades it’s veered into gothic rock and psychedelic sounds. They play the Civic Theatre at 8 p.m. Friday, May 16. TV Smith also performs. Tickets $55.90 at ticketmaster.com.
‘The Sleeping Beauty’
The Grand Kyiv Ballet presents Charles Perrault’s classic ballet, in which a King and Queen’s daughter is cursed by an evil fairy to sleep for 100 years and is eventually awoken by a prince in this full telling of the story. At 7 p.m. Thursday, May 15, at Jefferson Performing Arts Center. Tickets $50.15-$96.45 via ticketmaster.com.
Music for Shakespeare
The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra presents a program of compositions inspired by Shakespeare, including Mendelssohn’s “Overture to a Midsummer Night’s Dream” and selections from Shostakovich’s “Hamlet.” At 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 14, at New Marigny Theatre. Tickets $40-$50 via lpomusic.com.
‘Wish’
In Disney’s “Wish,” a young woman makes a wish upon a star, only for the mischievous star to show up and try to help. The New Orleans Recreation Development Commission ends its spring Movies in the Park series with a screening of the 2023 movie on Friday, May 16, at The Station along the Lafitte Greenway (600 N. Norman C. Francis Parkway). The movie starts at dusk, and admission is free. Find more info at nordc.org.
MUSIC
BOURBON STREET HONKY TONK —
The Bad Sandys, 8 pm
BUFFA’S — Ragtime Hour with Adam Rogers, 6 pm
CAFÉ NEGRIL — Sam Price & Friends, 2 pm; Jamey St. Pierre & The Honeycreepers, 6 pm; Higher Heights, 10 pm
CARROLLTON STATION
Whit It + Sweet Magnolia + The Brasshearts, 9 pm
CHICKIE WAH WAH Jenn Howard Band, 8:30 pm
CIVIC THEATRE The Damned + TV Smith, 8 pm
FRITZEL'S EUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB
Richard “Piano” Scott , 12:30 pm; Sam Friend Jazz Band, 2:30 pm; Sam Lobley Band, 6 pm; Fritzels All Star Band w/Kevin Ray Clark, 9 pm
HOUSE OF BLUES Jon B, 8 pm
HOLY DIVER — Dio’s Death Day
Celebration With Pyrate, 8 pm
LE BON TEMPS ROULÉ — Caleb Tokarska, 11 pm
ORPHEUM THEATRE — Leon Bridges, 8 pm
THE PRESS ROOM AT THE ELIZA
JANE — Or Shovaly Plus, 3 pm
ROCK 'N' BOWL
The Topcats, 8:30 pm
SEAWITCH OYSTER BAR & RESTAURANT — Silver Line Sereneders, 5 pm
Museum Preview
THE JOY THEATER
The Bar-Kays, 8 pm
SATURDAY 17
30/90 Anne Elise & The Swamp Circus, 2 pm; Decaturadio, 5 pm; Soul Tribe, 8 pm; Street Lyfe, 11 pm
ARORA — Deeper ft. OTR + Muller, 10 pm
BAMBOULA’S The Jaywalkers, 11 am; James McClaskey & The Rhythm Band, 2:15 pm; Ed Wills Blues 4 Sale, 6:30 pm; Paggy Prine & Southern Soul, 10 pm
BLUE NILE The Soul Rebels, 11 pm
BMC — French Quarter Pounders, 5 pm; John Lisi & Delta Funk, 9 pm
BOURBON O BAR — Brian Wingard, 4 pm; The Blues Masters, 8 pm
CHICKIE WAH WAH — An Evening with Layla Musselwhite, 7 pm
FRITZEL'S EUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB
— Steve Detroy Band, 1 pm; Brian Wingard, 4 pm; Bourbon Matinee All Star Band w/Chuck Brackman, 5 pm; Fritzels All Star Band w/Jamil Sharif, 9 pm
GASA GASA A Tribute to Fleetwood Mac, 9 pm
HOLY DIVER — Filth Abyss with DJs Mange & Scythe, 10 pm
JOY THEATER — Buckethead, 8 pm
MRB Silver Lining Serenaders, 7 pm
POOR BOYS BAR House Vs. Hip Hop ft. DJs Legatron Prime, Carmine P. Filthy, Glassy Eye & Sean Straynge, 10 pm
FRITZEL'S EUROPEAN JAZZ CLUB Jack Pritchett Band, 1 pm; Sazerac Jazz Band, 5 pm; Fritzels All Star Band w/Mike Fulton, 8 pm
HOUSE OF BLUES The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus, 7 pm
HOWLIN’ WOLF — Hot 8 Brass Band, 10:30 pm
JAZZ PLAYHOUSE Richard “Piano” Scott, 7:30 pm
THE MAISON — Kimchisoop, 3 pm; Jenavieve Cooke & The Winding Boys, 6 pm; Higher Heights, 9 pm
ROYAL FRENCHMEN — Chris Christy, 9 pm
SAENGER THEATRE — The Wiz, 1 & 6:30 pm
TIPITINA’S Fais Do-Do With Bruce Daigrepont Cajun Band, 5 pm
area, and a couple years later began charging an admission fee. Both moves received criticism at the time from the festival’s audience. But Zeller said those actions have helped keep the festival footprint contained. Charging admission also helps cover the costs of producing the event, organizers have said.
The festival had grown over the years to stretch from Lafitte Avenue to Dumaine Street. This year, though, Bayou Boogaloo is downsizing by making Orleans Avenue its top boundary. The main stage will stay at Orleans Avenue and the south end will host a variety stage with comedy, storytelling events and singer-songwriters. The arts market will now stretch between the two stages, and there will be more shade structures.
Zeller said organizers had started planning last year to reduce the size of the festival. He said he thinks the smaller event also will help alleviate some of the issues around street closures and traffic.
“We had to make some changes financially. It wasn’t sustainable to continue with that footprint,” he said. Costs to produce the festival have gone up over the years, and it isn’t easy getting permits from the city and state entities that have a stake in Bayou St. John, Zeller said. The festival has considered alternative sites in recent years, but they also don’t want to lose the unique waterway aspect of the festival.
Now, though, Bayou Boogaloo is on the clock. It has to either find a new site for 2026 or appeal to the area’s residents. Zeller said organizers are seeking more guidance from Giarrusso about how to prove “overwhelming support.”
“Is it 51%? Is it 80%? Is it legal?” Zeller said. “So [we’re] just asking for more transparency and fairness in terms of what’s the goal.”
Boogaloo Details
The main stage at Orleans Avenue will host music each day while a tent on the south-end of the festival will have a variety stage featuring comedy, story-telling events and singer-songwriters. There also is a kids’ area with activities, a crawfish-eating competition and information booths from environmental and conservation groups.
The Americana group Honey Island Swamp Band headlines the Orleans Stage on Friday with their Pink Floyd tribute show, “Dark Side of the Bayou.” The first day’s music starts up at 5 p.m., and the lineup also includes Leo Nocentelli, vocalist
Joseph and rock guitarist-vocalist Billy Iuso.
The Variety Tent on Friday will have a performance by Inferno Burlesque, the Happy Time Healing Sheaux — which features Nick Rutherford, Karl Hess and the You’re Invited improv troupe — and a set by singer-songwriter Renee Gros. Bayou Boogaloo expands to a full day of music and events on Saturday. Big Freedia will headline the Orleans Stage. The bounce artist has been working on a gospel record — which should be out this year — and will be presenting her “Gospel Revival” during her Boogaloo show.
The day’s lineup also includes New Orleans hip-hop collective glbl wrmng, alt-country band the Crowe Boys, pop duo Alexis & The Sanity, blues rocker Ghalia Volt, trumpeter James Andrews & The Crescent City Allstars and alternative R&B singer-songwriter Kirkland Green.
Singer-songwriters Joy Clark and Shawan Rice also will perform Saturday in the Variety Tent, and that stage will be headlined by the Asylum Variety Show, with Dori Dimplez, Trombone Squirty, Samantha Bednarz and more. There also will be a comedy show hosted by Greetings, from Queer Mountain and a round of the NOLA Roast Battle League.
On Sunday, the 420 Funk Mob will perform with members of Parliament Funkadelic, and Alexis Marceaux (of Sweet Crude and Alexis & The Sanity) will be the vocalist for Jagged Little Pill, a tribute to Alanis Morissette. LSD Clownsystem, The Desert Nudes, The Asylum Choir and Bo Dollis Jr. & The Wild Magnolias — who have a new album coming in June — also perform.
Keyboardist John “Papa” Gros will have a solo performance to headline the Variety Tent on Sunday, and there also will be a set by Mikayla Braun. Performer and podcaster JQ Palms will host the Banks St. Comedy Brunch to kick off the day’s lineup, and there is drag bingo with Katrina Waters, Comedy Gumbeaux featuring Red Bean, Carey B and more, and the interactive comedy show Work the Crowd , hosted by Ryan Rogers and Marcus Bond.
Kayaks, canoes, homemade rafts and innertubes are a common sight on the bayou during the Boogaloo, and all tickets for the event include water access. The festival, though, does say you have to have a flotation device designed for outdoor water activities, and leave the trolling motor at home. There are some rules if you want to launch a homemade raft, like registering the barge with the festival and making sure it’s removed from the area. More info is on the festival’s website. The festival is cashless, and attendees are encouraged to use bikes and public transportation to get to and from the fest. The Lafitte Greenway runs along the south-end of the festival.
Bayou Boogaloo opens at 4:30 p.m. Friday and at 11:30 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $29.80 per day or $45.25 for the weekend, and there are VIP options available, which offer access to a VIP area, private bathrooms and food and drinks.
Find tickets and information at thebayouboogaloo.com.
Anjelika “Jelly”
Festival-goers watch contestants during Bayou Boogaloo’s crawfish eating contest.
PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER / THE TIMES- PICAYUNE
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