New Orleans Magazine May 2025

NEW ORLEANS MAGAZINE MAY 2025

WOMEN’S ISSUE

TOP FEMALE ACHIEVERS

SHOP LOCAL

MYNEWORLEANS.COM

$9.95

MAY 2025

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Contents M AY 20 25 / VO LUME 5 9 / NUMBER 8

STANDARDS

FEATURE 32

Top Female Achievers Class of 2025

By Kelly Massicot, Misty Milioto,

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From the Editor

14

Book Club

16

Marquee

18

Bar Tab

20

The Dish

22

Style

24

Persona

26

Modine

28

The Beat

30

Vintage

86

Travel

88

Home Inspiration

90

Growing Pains

92

Table Talk

94

Nosh

96

Cheers

120

Insincerely Yours

Kim Singletary

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Retail Therapy Women owned boutiques, spas, shops and more

By Melanie Warner Spencer

Dial 12, D1

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Gary Sinise and Joe Mantegna co-host the 36th annual broadcast of the National Memorial Day Concert. Live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol, the concert honors the service of generations of men and women in uniform and military families, and pays tribute to all those who have given their lives for our country.

Watch it Sunday, May 25 at 7pm and 8:30pm on WYES-TV. Stream on wyes.org and on the WYES app and PBS app.

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On the cover:

Top Female Achievers, from left, Kaitin Guerin, Queen Tahj, Susannah Burley

Celebrating Women

Best Reads, Events and More Top Things to Do Best Bars, Drinks and More News from NOLA Kitchens Boho is Back Kati LeBreton Cooking with Gas

House Music is Black Music 1919

Healing Waters Fresh Catch

Finding Balance High Steaks

Slow and Steady Like Family Words Matter

Photographed by Theresa Cassagne

New Orleans Magazine, (ISSN 0897 8174) is published monthly by Renaissance Publishing, LLC., 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005; (504) 828-1380. Subscription rate: one year $24; no foreign subscriptions. An associate subscription to New Orleans Magazine is available by a contribution to WYES-TV/Channel 12. Periodicals postage paid at Metairie, LA, and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to New Orleans Magazine, 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005. Copyright © 2025 New Orleans Magazine, all rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. The trademark New Orleans and New Orleans Magazine are registered. New Orleans Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos, and artwork even if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. The opinions expressed in New Orleans Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the magazine managers or owners. Official digital reprint and framed content is only available from Renaissance Publishing, LLC by calling (504) 828-1380.

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FROM THE EDITOR

SUBSCRIPTION

Empowering Discounts for an Empowering Issue!

$10 OFF

New Subscription

E

*Must order online, new subscribers only expires May 31, 2025.

ach year we celebrate the women of New Orleans with a special issue highlighting top achievers, leaders across the area, business owners and influencers. We have

ONLINE

stories of success, good reads by female authors, recipes, news and more.

Our 2025 class of Top Female Achievers is always an inspiring look at some of the best and brightest working behind the scenes to make big changes in the

Editors’ Picks

Big Easy. This year’s group is exceptional, with women

This month, find out what our editors choose as their favorites places to dine out, hang out and enjoy and see if your picks are on the list. From best places for sno-balls to favorite cafés, indie bookstores and more, we list our go-to stops and shops.

leading the way in healthcare, nonprofits, business, the culinary and visual arts and more. It’s hard not to feel motivated to make one’s own impact on the city after reading their stories. We hope you are equally inspired.

We also offer a bit of retail therapy with our shop local feature. It highlights some of our favorite women-owned boutiques, spas and stores along with great places to stop for a coffee, glass of wine or refreshment.

It’s a great catalogue of places to go out with friends or family this spring.

Be sure to bookmark it.

Finally, our roster of regular columns highlight ways you can enjoy spring and champion women across the area. Writer Eve Crawford Peyton shares

Blogs

Love movies, cinema and big (and small) screen entertainment? Check out our latest blog from Renaissance Publishing contributing writer Jeremy Marshall.

Screen Time has all the latest buzz on local filming, shows and screenings, film festivals and much more.

her personal navigation of Carnival and Jazz Fest as first a teenager and then later as a mom. Bartender Victoria Pisarello details her transformation story from photographer to patron favorite behind the bar at Felipe’s Uptown, as well as her best classic margarita for spring sipping. And our Persona highlights the multifaceted work of Kati LeBreton, Fidelity Bank Power Program director, podcast host and more.

We raise our glass (margarita?) to the women of New Orleans. Cheers to your work, your leadership and style! Happy reading!

NOSH

This month’s NOSH Instagram exclusive visits the kitchen of Alfredo “Fredo” Nogueira of Cane & Table with his take on the Cuban classic Ropa Vieja, the perfect slow cooked meal for treating family and friends. @NewOrleansMag

Send us a line!

Have something you want to share with us? Email ashley@ myneworleans.com.

@neworleansmagazine

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@neworleansmag

@neworleansmag

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / MAY 2025

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B OOK C L UB

BY ASHLEY MCLELLAN

Associate Publisher Kate Henry Editorial Editor Ashley McLellan Creative Director Tiffani Reding Amedeo

Family-friendly story hours at some of our favorite places.

Digital Media Editor Kelly Massicot Style Editor Andy Myer Contributing Writers Jyl Benson, Cheré Coen, Lee Cutrone, Fritz Esker,

May 1

Fiction Night at Latter Library, 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Celebrate National Short Story Month with a reading from the library’s collection of New Orleans short story writers.

May 10

Neighborhood photo walk at Nix Library, 10:30 a.m. to Noon

Learn about photo techniques and composition with photographer Natasha Sanchez (registration required).

May 12

Book Debut

“Mothers and Other Fictional Characters” by Nicole Graev Lipson

Self-publishing workshop at East New Orleans Regional Library, 4:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Find out how to publish your own work with tips on design, layout and more.

May 17

Award-winning essayist Nicole Graev Lipson explores the world of being a woman with her debut memoir. From girlhood to womanhood, girlfriend to lover, teacher and leader, Lipson attempts to define her own identity through a series of essays from throughout her life and discovers the beautiful complexity of being a woman. The book has been touted as “An impressive book debut…. Deftly crafted essays likely to resonate with grateful readers,” by Kirkus Reviews. Lipson has been published in The Gettysburg Review, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe and more, and has received a Pushcart Prize and selected for “The Best American Essays.”

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Teatime Reading Nook at Hubbell Library, 3 to 4 p.m.

Discuss and learn about short stories with this special group designed for “busy folk.” Plus tea and cookies!

May 24

The History of New Orleans Chinatown at Main Library, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Historian Winston Ho delves into the history of Chinese American in New Orleans, in celebration of AAPI Heritage Month.

Nolalibrary.org

Scott Gold, John Kemp, Misty Milioto, Liz Scott Monaghan, Elizabeth Pearce, Eve Crawford Peyton, Mike Scott, Melanie Warner Spencer Advertising Vice President of Sales and Marketing Kate Henry, Kate@MyNewOrleans.com Account Director Meggie Schmidt Senior Account Executives Erin Chiartano, Brooke Genusa Account Executive Lauren McCanse Sponsored Content Coordinator Jeremy Marshall Marketing Marketing Manager Greer Stewart Video Media Producer Mallary Wolfe

Renaissance Publishing Production Manager Rosa Balaguer Arostegui Senior Designer Ashley Pemberton Designer Czarlyn Ria Trinidad Circulation Distribution John Holzer Administration Office Manager Emily Ruiz Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne

WYES DIAL 12 Staff (504) 486-5511 Executive Editor Aislinn Hinyup Associate Editor Dominic Massa Art Director Tiffani R. Amedeo New Orleans Magazine Printed in USA A Publication of Renaissance Publishing 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005 MyNewOrleans.com

Subscription information 504-830-7231

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / MAY 2025

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MARQ UEE

BY FRITZ ESKER

LPO Brahms Symphony No. 3

May 8 The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra performs Brahms’ second-to-last symphony at the Orpheum Theater, as well as music from the opera “Cold Mountain.” orpheumnola.net

“The Wiz”

May 13-18 The Tony Award-winning musical puts a unique spin on “The Wizard of Oz,” with soul, gospel, rock and 70's funk. saengernola.com

“Making It Home”

Now-Oct. 5 The Historic New Orleans Collection is hosting “Making It Home: From Vietnam to New Orleans.” The exhibit features oral history, photographs and family heirlooms of Vietnamese immigrants who relocated to New Orleans after the fall of Saigon 50 years ago. hnoc. org

“Doubt, A Parable”

May 1-18 Le Petit Theatre hosts a production of John Patrick Stanley’s play about a nun who investigates her suspicions of a priest’s improper relations with a student. lepetittheatre.com

Tom Jones

May 4 Singer Tom Jones is in his sixth decade of performing and has sold more than 100 million records. He hits the stage at the Saenger Theater for one night only. saengernola.com

Cinco de Mayo Fest

May 5 Cinco de Mayo Fest moves to its new home in Lafreniere Park with live music, a variety of food items and a taco eating contest. cincodemayofest. com

Master P

May 9 Legendary New Orleans rapper Master P brings his 4th annual “Birthday Bash” to the Smoothie King Center with a variety of special guests including 50 Cent, DaBaby and Trick Daddy. smoothiekingcenter.com

“Something Rotten”

May 9-25 Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts presents “Something Rotten”, a rollicking mashup of Shakespeare and Broadway as two brothers struggle to write the world’s first musical. rivertowntheaters. com

NOLA Gold Rugby

May 9 and May 24 New Orleans is in discussion as a candidate for a possible host site for a future Rugby World Cup. Familiarize yourself with the sport by going to The Gold Mine on Airline (formerly known as the Shrine on Airline when the Zephyrs/Baby Cakes played here). nolagoldrugby.com

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Sierra Ferrell

May 10 Roots music star Sierra Ferrell comes to the Saenger Theater as part of her “Shoot for the Moon” tour. A portion of ticket sales will go to charities supporting victims of the Los Angeles wildfires. saengernola.com

Leon Bridges

May 15-16 Grammy Award-winning rhythm and blues singer Leon Bridges performs at the Orpheum Theater for two nights. orpheumnola. net

“Giselle”

May 10 The New Orleans Ballet Theater presents “Giselle” at the Orpheum Theater. The ballet has been enthralling audiences since its premiere in France in 1841. orpheumnola.net

Bayou Boogaloo

May 16-18 Bayou Boogaloo returns to Bayou St. John in Mid-City. This year’s acts include Big Freedia’s Gospel Revival, 420 Funk Mob, Honey Island Swamp Band and Bo Dollis Jr. & the Wild Magnolias. There is also a kids pavilion and a comedy & cabaret tent. thebayouboogaloo.com

New Orleans Greek Festival

May 23-25 Celebrate Greek music, food and culture as part of the 50th anniversary of the New Orleans Greek Festival, hosted by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral. gfno.com

Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons

May 24 Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, famous for hits like “Walk Like a Man” and “Sherry,” hit the stage at the Saenger Theater as part of their “The Last Encores” tour. Valli received the 2025 Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. saengernola.com

Check all event websites for the most up-to-date information.

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / MAY 2025

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B AR T A B

BY ELIZABETH PEARCE

RANDY SCHMIDT PHOTO

Family Run Rum

Junebug Jig Junebug is a new bar, restaurant and private event space.

It occupies a beautiful, historic CBD building that once housed the iconic Jazz City Studio. There, legendary producers and artists—including Cosimo Matassa, Allen Toussaint and The Meters—shaped the sounds of funk music in the 1970s.

Junebug’s beverage program, led by Bar Manager and Assistant General Manager Sophie Burton, offers a cocktail menu divided into three categories: “House Cocktails” (with A-Side and B-Side riffs representing two drinks with similar flavors but different expressions), “Play the Samples” (single-shot cocktails) and “Classics” (from New Orleans and elsewhere). Guests may also enjoy brandy and eaux de vie featured flights from notable producers. The wine list prioritizes accessibility, sustainability and food-pairing potential, while a curated selection of small-batch beers blends local and international craft brews with a special focus on lambics from Brussels and unique lagers dispensed from side-pull faucets.

Extensive non-alcoholic and after-dinner drink offerings are also available. 744 Camp St., 504-326-1599, junebugnola.com

Cindo de Mayo

Oxbow Rum Distillery and Provost Farm have joined together to release a limited-edition Rhum Louisiane.

100% of proceeds from the collaboration will be donated to Provost Farm, a New Iberia-based nonprofit rooted in the legacy of Black sugarcane farmers in South Louisiana.

Crafted from Provost Farm-grown sugarcane, this exclusive release reflects both tradition and innovation. The cane was burned just before harvest, producing earthy flavors with subtle smokiness. After being crushed onsite, the fresh cane juice was transported to Oxbow’s Baton Rouge distillery for processing and distillation.

This collaboration highlights the sugar industry’s roots of racial injustice and the foundation of sugarcane as the product of the hard work and labor of enslaved Africans.

Through this collaboration, Oxbow hopes to tell this story and forge paths of reconciliation in ways that demonstrate truth, healing and racial injustice. provostfarm.org, oxbowrumdistillery.com

Alma Mid City

Bywater favorite Alma Cafe has a new Mid-City location. Their cocktail menu includes the refreshing Blood Orange Pisco Sour, a zesty blend of pisco, blood orange, lime juice, simple syrup, raw egg white and Angostura bitters and the bold Cold Carajillo, featuring tequila blanco, dry curaçao and a splash of Licor 43. Guests can also wind down the day at Alma Happy Hour with discounted sips ($6 - $10).

Specialty cocktails include Alma Rum Punch that uses white rum, dark rum, pineapple, pomegranate, orange juice and lime juice, as well as classics like the Bee’s Knees and a Spicy Margarita. Well-brand highballs and draft beer are also available. Happy Hour is available Monday through Saturday from 4-6 p.m. 301 N Carrollton Ave., 504 872-9975, eatalmanola.com

Beggars Banquet

Imbibers will love the new seasonal cocktail menu at Beggars Banquet in the Lower Garden District. Head Bartender Josa Lazashas has curated a cocktail program focused on fresh, seasonal produce and herbs. New libations include Heartbreak Hotel featuring peanut butter washed bourbon, cognac, banana and Bitter Queens chocolate and walnut bitters; I’m a Slav 4 U includes borscht syrup, beef fat washed vodka, crème fraiche and dill. Agave fans can enjoy their Jalisco Martini with reposado tequila, Cocchi Vermouth di Torino, Frangelico, orange bitters and sesame oil or the Cha Cha Now Y’all, starring La Luna mezcal, heirloom pineapple and genepy. An array of non-alcoholic cocktails are also available, including Carrot Dreamsicle with carrot, Earl Grey, cardamon, orange and oat milk. 1330 Prytania St., 504-766-6711, beggarsbanquetneworleans.com

Spring Sipping Local fans of Tujague’s now have another reason to visit the historic restaurant: enjoy the charm of Tujague’s outdoor balcony and patio while imbibing classic drinks. The Cucumber Mint Gimlet, a cool blend of cucumber, mint, gin and lime, is ideal for outdoor sipping during the last days of Spring.

429 Decatur St., 504-525-8676, tujaguesrestaurant.com

Felipe’s Taqueria will celebrate Cinco de Mayo on May 5 at its many locations across the city. The restaurant has hosted Cinco de Mayo for almost two decades. This year’s celebration falls on a Monday, and some might think that will mean lower attendance. Pike Howard, Felipe’s owner, disagrees. He notes that “Cinco de Mayo has evolved into one of those ‘rain or shine’ type events.

People just love it, no matter what day of the week, and we love this fact more than anyone.” This year’s Cinco will include live entertainment to enjoy with their hand squeezed key lime Margaritas and small batch made-from-scratch food. Howard says that “Despite it being the busiest day of the year for us, as with any Felipe’s you visit, you will leave thinking - ‘this isn’t their first rodeo.’”

Multiple locations, 504-288-8226, felipestaqueria.com

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TH E DI S H

JESS KEARNEY PHOTO

BY MELANIE WARNER SPENCER

Spring Convening

Since opening in 2018, The Elysian Bar at Hotel Peter & Paul continues to be a chic scene for cocktails, cuisine, seeing and being seen in the Marigny. Innovative seasonal menus keep fans coming back again and again. This spring’s offering is no exception with a focus on Mediterranean and European-inspired fare such as the delectable mushroom and burrata made with confit oyster mushrooms for brunch and dinner selections including salmon crudo. We are obsessed with the olive oil cake with blackberries and whipped cream for dessert. ash.world/dining/the-elysian-bar

Bakery Buyout

More is More Later this year Lakeview residents are getting a new Mediterranean cafe from Pomegranate Hospitality, helmed by Emily Shaya and James Beard Foundation Award-winning Chef-Partner Alon Shaya. Safta’s Table is a more casual sister eatery to the group’s Israeli eateries Saba (in Uptown, New Orleans) and MICHELIN-recognized Safta (in Denver, Colorado). Pomegranate is also the group behind the Four Seasons Hotel’s Chandelier Bar and Miss River, Silan at Atlantis Paradise Island in the Bahamas and Safta 1964, a culinary residency at Wynn Las Vegas. Safta’s Table will be located at 129 Allen Touissant Boulevard and is focusing on all-day counter service, grab-and-go meals and catering. In a press release, Alon Shaya said, “Safta’s Table is designed to capture the warmth and comfort of dining at your grandmother’s house, a place where comforting, healthful food keeps you coming back for more.” Look for another Denverbased restaurant this year, as well as the busy chef’s second cookbook, “Memories of a Good Meal,” in fall 2026. saftastable.com

Rollin on the River Calling all food truck fans: You can now get your fix at two hotspots on and near the Mississippi River. The Batture is a new mixed-use development on a former riverside maritime industrial site at 25 Walnut St. On weekends through Memorial Day, The Batture (batture.com) opens its gates to the public for access to its Great Lawn overlooking the river. Visitors can picnic, enjoy a regular schedule of events (like pilates with The Body Shoppe) and buy good eats from popular food trucks including The Nell Shell, Bootsy’s Chicken, Blue Oak BBQ and Imperial Woodpecker Sno-Balls.

The complex also includes a coworking space, The Rigs, and is available for private event rental. Check The Batture’s social media channels before visiting for food and event schedules and in case of private event closures. @the_batture In April, Abita Brewing Co. opened its long-awaited tap room in New Orleans at 2375 Tchoupitoulas St. Expect your favorite Abita brews on tap and packaged in the beer coolers, as well as the company’s root beer, vanilla cream soda and hop water (also pre-packaged and in the coolers). A rotating lineup of food trucks will be on site, but visitors can also bring their own food. Check the brewery’s events page at abita. com/events and its social media for food truck and event information.

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Die-hard artisan bread buffs are now redirecting their GPS’ to The Commissary Market By Dickie Brennan & Co for Bellegarde Bakery staples. The 2025 James Beard Foundation Semi-Finalist bakery and mill is known for its old-world techniques and quality ingredients and cwas bought by Dickie Brennan & Co. The group includes Palace Cafe, Dickie Brennan’s Steak House, Bourbon House and Tableau. The bakery will continue to supply breads wholesale, as well as retail at the new Commissary location. bellegardebakery.com

Michelin Southern Rock Tour

This year, chefs and restaurateurs across Louisiana and much of the South will be on high alert. In April, MICHELIN Guide, along with Travel South USA, announced a new MICHELIN Guide American South, covering Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee (as well as the preexisting Atlanta Guide). The Guide debuted in France at the turn of the 20th century as a promotional tool for the French tire company by the same name. It has grown to become one of the top ratings systems for culinary destinations across the globe due to the use of independent, anonymous inspectors and strict criteria. In a press release, MICHELIN said “anonymous Inspectors are already in the field, making dining reservations and scouting for culinary gems throughout the region.” Their selections are scheduled to be announced later in the year during a MICHELIN Guide ceremony for the American South.

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / MAY 2025

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Style

BY ANDY MYER

1. Martha Lapeyre has a keen eye for flattering, feminine silhouettes. Twirl to your favorite tunes at a fest or enjoy the breeze on a favorite swing in the tiered poplin Margaret dress featuring a hem with a delicate vintage inspired ribbon and floral scalloped lace.

Available at Lapeyre, shoplapeyre.com

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CHRIS SCHEURICH PHOTO

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Boho is Back

Not that the ethereal, eternally cool and effortless style ever left, but it’s everywhere this season and for good reason.

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2. Radica Studio’s slouchy Dragonfly Mini Nappa in Sunlight adds a warm and delightful pop of color to your look. Crafted in Italy, with a magnet and zip closure, securely store your essentials in this chic carryall. Available at Angelique Boutique, shopangeliqueboutique.com 3. Agua Bendita’s Otis Vest was made with a matching bikini bottom and top and also works as a striking solo number.

Intricate beadwork and embroidery paired with a playful fringe trim make this an ideal piece for layering. Available at Anthropologie, anthropologie.com 4. Get to steppin’ in the Lorette boot by AGL with a soft taupe suede and supportive, stacked heel. Pair with dresses, jeans or a skirt for a hip look that will work season to season. Available at Febe, febeclothing. com 5. Ramble on in TWP’s wide leg Ramblin’ Man jean with two-tone denim, a vintage stone wash and hand sanding.

Light weight enough for summer evenings and warm enough to layer for colder months. Available at Joseph, josephstores. com

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / MAY 2025

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PE RSO NA

BY KELLY MASSICOT / PHOTO BY ROBBY KLEIN

Q A my undergrad degree in broadcast journalism. So the first part of my professional career, I was a sideline reporter for ESPN all through grad school. I got my graduate degree in communications from Southeastern as well. During that time, I was traveling the country, sideline reporting for the Southland conference, and then the American Athletic Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, and I met Willie Fritz, who was then the new head coach of Tulane University’s football team. I met him on the sidelines one day, and the three or four days after he got hired at Tulane, he called me and he said, “Look, I want somebody to do our social media, but also to help us with recruiting and event planning, kind of like be the team mom, almost.” That was very smart on his part, because recruiting for Tulane is a very unique challenge. There’s the New Orleans element, there’s the academic element, and him not being from Louisiana, especially not from New Orleans, you need somebody in your corner that knows their way around. I took the job immediately over the phone, no questions asked, and it was some of the best years ever. Then, of course, in 2020 COVID hit, and football suddenly was not a thing anymore. I moved back to Tangipahoa Parish and started working for the city of Hammond and their

Kati LeBreton Fidelity Bank Power Program director, podcast host and more

Downtown Development department, and then bounced around, went back to Southeastern for a little while, and a couple of roles in their fundraising and alumni department, and then got a call from Fidelity Bank about two and a half years ago. Now I am

T

here’s a saying, especially in the

Fidelity Bank Power Program. She coaches others on the

at Fidelity Bank as the VP and the

marketing world, that “people follow

art of social media and recently found success on TikTok,

Director of the Power Program. That

people, not companies,” This is espe-

leading to a new podcast she now hosts with her brother.

has been such a godsend. Not only do I love my work at Fidelity Bank

cially true now, with the power of connections through social media

Q: How did you get to where you are today? I am from

and believe in it, and it just comes

becoming a vital part of both our

Ponchatoula, born and raised, and I was a scholarship

very easy to me, but I work for a

social and business lives. No one grasps this concept

student athlete at Southeastern. I was on the softball

boss and a company that lets me

quite like Kati LeBreton. LeBreton is the director of the

team and played softball there for four years, and I got

grow other areas of my life, which is

24 MAY 2025 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

really important to me. I don’t think

day, and being a business owner is

a lot of employers would let me be in

just one of the 15 hats women wear.

the public eye so much for different reasons, and they allow that, and

Q: Tell us more about The Redhead

it’s, I think it’s really helped my day

Method? The idea for it first started

job, so to speak with power, because

when I was a student athlete myself.

it’s allowed me to have that creative

It was a very different landscape,

outlet and be better at my day job.

and social media was kind of just starting. I’ve always had a pretty large

Q: What is the Fidelity Bank Power

following, and I always knew it was

Program? The easiest way to explain

important in some way. Fast forward,

what the Power Program is that it is

when I started working at Tulane and

a professional business development

I was now essentially a coach for 100

program through Fidelity Bank for

18- to 21-year old boys. I was noticing

for-profit, women-owned busi-

they had professional help in every

nesses. You can think of it as part

aspect of their life, except for being

Chamber of Commerce, part women’s

online. Part of my role with the team

professional development group,

was to monitor what they put out

part higher education professional

online because when you represent

development. The idea behind it is

a university or a job or a company,

that over the last 10 to 15 years, women

you can’t just say whatever the heck

have been opening businesses at

you want on the internet, right? I

double the rate of men, and almost

got this idea that, why is there not

three times as much since COVID.

an education for this? So it started

So about eight or nine years ago,

in the college athletic sphere, and at

Fidelity Bank recognized this trend

its very beginning, it was more about

and decided to dedicate an entire

reputation management. It was more

section of the bank’s financial prod-

about, ‘Hey, don’t do anything stupid,

ucts to female-owned businesses.

so you don’t get fired,’ kind of thing.

What I do is, first and foremost, go

But it has evolved over time, as I have

out into the wild, as I call it, and

evolved and matured, and realized it’s

recruit new businesses to come bank

so much more than that. It’s about

with us. I am the one designing and

mental health and conflict resolution

executing all of the programming.

and emotional intelligence and bad

Every month we have professional

digital habits. I came up with the

development events that are designed

term “digital habits” to encompass

to give female business owners the

all of those elements of life. If you

skills they need to do better at what

have bad digital habits, it’s going to

they do. It’s also designed to give them

bleed into every other aspect of your

financial support. We’ve introduced

life. I go into all of these different

a new piece of programming called

facets, and it’s really tailored to the

Power University, which has been

audience and the age that I’m talking

really cool, but the networking is

to. It’s really expanded into a holistic

also a huge part of it. It’s been a lot

approach to being online, and how

of fun, and I think I’m specifically

being on the internet can be a tool

poised for this position because I

to make our life easier if we have

own two businesses myself, the

good digital habits. But if we have

podcast and “The Redhead Method.”

bad habits, it’s not going to be a fun

I understand that women have to

place to be. I’m not anti-internet at

juggle 1,000 different things every

all. I know a lot of digital educators are very much “don’t let kids on the internet till they’re 18,” and our world’s not going that way. Unfortunately, part of me I wish we could just throw our

Want More?

To continue this conversation, visit our website for exclusive online content.

MyNewOrleans.com

phones out the window and never need them again. But our world is digital, and this is a crucial piece of education that our kids do not get.

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / MAY 2025

25

MODINE G UNC H

ART BY LORI OSIECKI

Cooking with Gas On a wing and a prayer

My son Gargoyle came home for the summer and right away he went out and got a job. I should be ecstatic.

Except we live in the French Quarter, and he could’ve maybe walked down the block to find a job. But nooo, he has to find one far enough away he can drive his new car to. New to him that is — he bought it from my brother-in-law Lurch, so God knows what kind of experiences this car has had. I know it’s seen a lot of potholes.

This job is at a McDonald’s 30 minutes away.

Which happens to be where his girlfriend Gilda works. And I am not going to say precisely which McDonald’s it is, because somebody might sue me for implying they got idiots for employees.

Not that Gargoyle actually is a idiot. He makes very good grades in law school, so he got to have some brains.

So what if he got some aggravating habits. I bet the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court don’t put the toilet seat down either.

Anyway, he comes home from work on the bus one night. He says his car broke down.

Next day he and Lurch go over to where he left the car, parked at a curb and check everything

26 MAY 2025 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

out. They even try to jump the battery. Nothing.

For two weeks, he rides past his own car on the bus every day on the way to work, and again on the way home.

It is putting a dent in his social life. He is too embarrassed to take Gilda out on the bus.

I tell my mother-in-law, Ms. Larda, about it and she borrows an old set of keys to this car from her son Lurch and she gets my gentleman friend Lust to drive her over to where it is and take a look at it. (If this car was going to make a death stop, it could have at least found a free parking slot in the Quarter. Then we could walk to it.) Anyway, they take a can of gas with them.

Now, Ms. Larda is a very good Catholic. She knows how to get her way with God. So after her trip to the car with Lust, she tells Gargoyle she done a novena — that’s nine days repeating special prayers— for the intention that his car gets fixed. And she says the next time he rides by there he needs to get off the bus and get in the car, say a sincere prayer for the state of the world and start it up.

Well, by now he got his schedule arranged so he catches the bus just exactly on time to get to work. If he gets off the bus and fools with

the car, he’ll be late. And at night it’s dark and he’s tired, and he don’t want to get off the bus.

After a week of this, Ms. Larda calls me up and says she’s going to put her foot down with that boy. She didn’t make that novena for nothing.

And the next morning she is over here at 6 a.m., rousting him out of bed.

She holds a doughnut out in front of his nose as she guides him to her car, and off they go.

Pretty soon she shows up back at my house, and we sit down and have coffee. Also doughnuts out of a bag in her purse. (Not beignets. Don’t ever carry beignets in your purse. You’ll never get the sugar out and the dog will always be trying to lick inside it.)

She tells me what happened. “Well, I made him pray, like I said. And then, the car started, and off he went.”

“Wow,” I say. “Your novena worked!”

“Sort of,” she says. “Now I actually have to do this novena. I don’t do novenas for nothing.

They take too long. But now that I have pointed out the gas gauge to him and told him prayers don’t work without gas, NOW I do the novena.”

Maybe also pray he’s got the brains to hire a chauffeur. Gargoyle and the Chief Justice.

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / MAY 2025

27

TH E B EA T

BY CYNTHEA CORFAH

House Music is Black Music

KILOBAUUD is redefining New Orleans music through electronic, house and dance sounds The New Orleans dance scene wouldn’t be what it is today without DJ and multifaceted artist KILOBAUUD, formerly known as Lil Jodeci.

Based on his established following in the local nightlife scene, you would never know he once was getting by selling life insurance and parking cars as a valet. After becoming ill from his day job, he started casually DJing in 2011.

He realized his DJ gigs paid more than parking cars and began his music career playing hip-hop music before pivoting into the genre that made him feel most alive: house music.

Year after year, he launched events that forever changed New Orleans’ dance culture. First, it was Lemon Head Sundays in 2011, a day party that established him as a DJ and event producer. Then, it was the Pink Room Project in 2016, a DJ collective-led underground dance event he describes as “chaos culture.”

A year later, he introduced Set De Flo in 2017, a liberating dance party with local and visiting DJs playing the most innovative and electrifying dance, house and electronic mixes until the wee hours of the morning.

Set De Flo is like a portal. As soon as you step into the space, you’re greeted by chest-thumping beats, smells of incense, palo santos and likely the sweat of people dancing full-out on a packed dance floor. It’s something like the modern-day Studio 54, where everyone is in their own world, dancing like nobody’s watching. In its earlier days, the events were emceed by Lord Chilla, a brutally honest and comical vibe controller who would recite empowering affirmations, shout out horoscopes and knew just what to say to charge your dancing batteries for another song.

For more than a decade, KILOBAUUD has curated sacred, underground

you-had-to-be-there experiences for New Orleaniens and visitors lucky enough to be in the know. Now, he is stepping into a new era. One that calls for archiving his sound with recorded albums, amplifying local talent with Set De Flo’s new role as a record label and a long-awaited name change from Lil Jodeci to KILOBAUUD. The name Lil Jodeci began as a joke on Twitter that just so happened to stick, he says. As he was experiencing a creative rebirth, he selected the name KILOBAUUD as an all-encompassing entity meant to capture all facets of his artistic creations with a nod to his love of technology.

“I would like the people to see my brain, the rawest form I can give them of my brain, unfiltered and without judging,” KILOBAUUD said. “Like, here’s what I have to offer. It’s like performance art.”

His March album, “Swamp Nighas from Under Space,” features seven layered dance and electronic songs with hints of New Orleans bounce, classic soundbites and groovy breakdowns. Its international, timeless, experimental and trippy sound brings the listener on a voyage through “under space” that only KILOBAUUD knows the destination.

With the evolution of Set De Flo as an event and Black-owned, independent and underground record label, KILOBAUUD plans to continue producing new projects, attract more financial investment for local talent and give local artists the infrastructure to create music and generate revenue.

“Bounce music is electronic music,” KILOBAUUD said. “It’s an art form that white people have bastardized. We need to take our shit back, make our money off it and tell our own stories.”

Follow on Instagram: @kilobauud

Must-see performances this month May 1

May 8

May 8

May 28

May 30

Julien Baker & TORRES “Send a Prayer My Way Tour + Big Benny Bailey” at Tipitina’s, 9

The October Nights: “Calling All Lovers” tour featuring October London, Tamar Braxton and special guest Ro James at the Saenger Theatre at

Soulja Boy at

Reverend Horton Heat + Nathan & The Zydeco Cha Chas at Tipitina’s at

Orion Sun at Joy

p.m. Doors open at 8 p.m. tipitinas.com

8 p.m. sangernola.com

28 MAY 2025 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

the Joy Theater at 8 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. thejoytheater.com

8:30 p.m. Doors open at 7:30 p.m. tipitinas.com

Theater at 8 p.m.

Doors open at 7 p.m. thejoytheater. com

VICK TROCHEZ PHOTO

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / MAY 2025

29

VINT A G E

BY JOHN R. KEMP

1919 or more than 150 years, the New Orleans lakefront, The city’s opera company often performed here and George Paoletti’s with its cooling breezes off Lake Pontchartrain, has band kept dancers gliding away on the park’s “highly polished dance been a haven for New Orleanians escaping the floor.” Most important, however, many of the city’s best jazz bands summer heat. In the 1950s and 60s, post-World and musicians played here, including Armand Piron, Papa Celestin and War II families enjoyed drives and picnics along Johnny Bayersdorffer. As Al Rose and Edmond Souchon noted in their the lake, watermelon stands, and most importantly 1967 history of New Orleans jazz, Old Spanish Fort and other lakefront Pontchartrain Beach and Lincoln Beach amusement parks. Times changed. resorts were “hallowed” ground in the history of jazz.

Both are gone.

Apparently, Pontchartrain Hotel was a must for visiting celebrities.

Pontchartrain Beach and Lincoln Beach, however, were not the first According to the WPA’s 1938 guide to New Orleans, the hotel entertained amusement parks along the city’s lakefront. Back in the late 19th and early dignitaries such as the Duke of Saxe-Weimar, William Makepeace 20th centuries, weekenders boarded steam trains and electric Thackeray, General Grant and Oscar Wilde. streetcars and headed out for thrills and entertainment at By early 1903 or 1904, however, Old Spanish Fort’s West End Park, Milneburg at the end of Elysian Fields, and popularity waned and shortly thereafter fire destroyed The Whip and Old Spanish Fort on Bayou St. John near what is now the most of its buildings. In 1909 the New Orleans Railway and Carousel at Old Spanish Fort, 1919, intersection of Wisner and Allen Toussaint Boulevard and Light Company purchased the property and revived the The Charles L. Franck Beauregard Avenue. Though long gone, their names are amusement park. By the 1920s, however, attendance once Studio Collection at The Historic New burned into the city’s history and culture. As seen in this again declined with the rise of the nearby West End Park.

Orleans Collection 1919 photograph, Old Spanish Fort was the Pontchartrain Spanish Fort finally closed in the early 1930s shortly Beach and Lincoln Beach of an earlier day. after the Orleans Parish Levee Board extended the lake’s Old Spanish Fort, then located at the mouth of Bayou St. John and shoreline out from approximately today’s Allen Toussaint Boulevard Lake Pontchartrain, began life as a recreational site in 1823 when the to the area’s current seawall at Lakeshore Drive. The park’s amusement Federal government decommissioned the Spanish colonial fort and sold rides were moved to the new Pontchartrain Beach, and the land around it to a local businessman who converted the fort into a hotel. Over the Spanish Fort found new life as a residential development now known next seven decades developers expanded the park to include a theater, as Lake Vista. restaurants, the German-styled beer garden “Over the Rhine,” a casino All that remains of the original 18th century Spanish fort are a few and dance hall, a roller coaster, carousel and other rides, and the popular brick ruins, an unmarked grave under the oaks, old photos and fading “Tokyo Gardens” and “The Frolics” cabarets. memories.

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30 MAY 2025 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / MAY 2025

31

TOP

In a city full of gifted, hardworking, smart women, it says a lot that these women stand out from the crowd.

Although they have very different missions, the common thread shared by these top achievers is doing the work, building consensus and believing in themselves along the way. Overnight success?

That’s not a thing. It’s getting up every day and making it happen.

Whether they are a force for environmental change, are passionate about social justice, provide education and career opportunities for young New Orleanians or lead the community as an entrepreneur with plenty of pluck, each of these women inspire.

By Kelly Massicot, Misty Milioto, Kim Singletary Photography by Theresa Cassagne

ACHIEVERS

Lila Palmer

General Director, New Orleans Opera Association

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MAY 2025 MYNEWORLEANS.COM

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hile widely recognized as the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans was also the first city in America to embrace another musical art form: opera.

The first city in the United States to support an opera company, operas have been held regularly since 1796, when New Orleans was still under Spanish rule. ¶ That rich history drew Lila Palmer, a producer and librettist (a person who creates the scripts for operas) to New Orleans. Her critically acclaimed work continues to appear throughout the U.S. and Europe (she grew up in Yorkshire). ¶ In her first year on the job with New Orleans Opera Association, Palmer’s strength in forming partnerships and connections to bring opera into new spaces for new audiences has already been demonstrated. ¶ Palmer has brokered local partnerships with The Southern Food and Beverage Museum, Museum of Southern Catholic Life, local universities and Jefferson Parish Libraries. She has also doubled the number of the association’s productions. ¶ “When I started, we were doing two operas and a concert,” she said. “We are now up to four operas and next year there will be six.” ¶ The biggest news is that New Orleans Opera will host its first-ever festival in 2026, marking the 230th anniversary of the arrival of opera in the city. ¶ “It will be a 10-day love letter to New Orleans,” explained Palmer. “We’ve purposefully partnered with and will be overlapping the Tennessee Williams festival.” ¶ The festival will include eight performances, as well as smaller conferences and lectures all within the French Quarter. ¶ “We’re partnering with the Old Ursuline Convent Museum and we’ll have things going on both inside St. Mary’s and inside the walled courtyard there.” ¶ Determined to break opera “out of its box” both literally and figuratively, Palmer is bringing the first opera performance to the Civic Theater, creating unique events like a Cajun Cowboy Fais Do-Do that pairs opera with a performance by local fiddler and vocalist Amanda Shaw, and brought local opera and vocal students together with principals for master classes. ¶ “We want to be accessible,” she said. “To pop up around the city and approach performing in a new way that is in dialog with the city.” ¶ The goal, of course, is to expose opera to new generations. ¶ “The general standard of artistic discernment here is wildly high,” she said. “You can’t fake it here. People here care about beauty, craft and excellence. So our job is to make sure the maximum amount of people have access to what we’re doing and let them decide.” KS

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Anne Collins Smith

Chief Curator, New Orleans Museum of Art

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native of Gentilly, Anne Collins Smith is quick to give credit for sparking her love in art history to the teacher she had for advanced placement history at Benjamin Franklin High School. ¶ “Michele Belman was such a great teacher,” she said. “She taught us to look at not only the art but at the context in which it was created.” ¶ Smith said one of the earliest pieces that drew her in was the famous 1884 painting by Georges Seurat called “A Sunday on La Grand Jatte.” ¶ “The painting depicts people of all different social classes hanging out at a big park by the water,” explained Smith. “It reminded me so much of City Park and reminded me of the times my mother and I would spend every Saturday there. That painting pulled me in, and I just kept taking art history classes.” ¶ Smith’s career led her to positions including curator of collections at the Spelman College Museum of Fine Art in Atlanta, Andrew W. Mellon curatorial fellow at the Davis Museum and Cultural Center at Wellesley College and Romare Bearden fellow at the Saint Louis Art Museum. Most recently she served for two years as director of the Xavier University of Louisiana Art Gallery. ¶ On Sept. 9, 2024, she stepped into her dream job as the chief curator at the New

Orleans Museum of Art, located within the park that she loves so much. ¶ “My goals are to ensure that our content, our exhibitions, collections and programming are relevant to as wide of an audience as possible and resonate with as wide an audience as possible,” she said. ¶ Smith is excited for the museum’s newest exhibition, New African Masquerades: Artistic Innovations and Collaborations, which debuted in April. ¶ “New Orleans has its own masquerade arts of course,” she said, “but this looks at the way these arts are celebrated especially in West Africa. It’s an opportunity for us to look in the mirror and see each other.” ¶ She will also serve as the institutional curator for upcoming retrospectives by artists Hayward Oubre and Willie Birch.

Oubre is a modernist painter, sculptor and printmaker educated at Dillard University known for his wire hanger sculptures, and Birch is known for his drawing, painting and papier mache sculpture. ¶ “A lot of his work is rooted in and depicts community,” said Smith. “Especially Uptown New Orleans.” ¶ Smith said her biggest hope for those who visit NOMA is simple. ¶ “I want them to see something which they can relate to and enjoy, and know that they belong in the museum.” KS

Founder and Executive Director, SOUL (Sustaining Our Urban Landscape)

SUSANNAH BURLEY

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any things came out of the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina — loss, despair… and even hope. The city, and its people, did what it does best in the face of tragedy — rebuild and try to make home a better place to live for everyone. ¶ After Katrina, Susannah Burley gained her degree in landscape architecture at Louisiana State University and, following her education, worked at Parkway Partners.

During that time, Burley notes that although the messaging around post-hurricane tree loss was consistent, she noticed there was no plan being put in place to help rectify the situation in the private sector. This lack of momentum made Burley want to take action. ¶ “I was fortunate enough to meet Andreas Merkl, who was then the CEO of the Ocean Conservancy, and living here part-time because of the BP Oil Spill,” Burley said.

“He mentored me in founding SOUL and taught me how to think about environmental issues using a different mindset.” ¶ SOUL’s (Sustaining Our Urban Landscape) main focus is to reforest New Orleans; and this does not mean planting trees here and there throughout the city. Burley and her team are working towards bringing the “wealth and health” brought by trees to communities all over the city at a larger scale with what she said needs a meaningful strategy. ¶ “Today, we are planting entire neighborhoods at a time,” she said. “We use this approach in low-income communities that continue to be under-resourced by the city.

So we're filling that gap. Once a neighborhood is canopied and the trees have matured a little, they will lower air temperatures and energy bills, mitigate air pollution, and decrease flooding, while of course bestowing the beauty and the solace that only trees can provide.” ¶ The work that Burley and SOUL are doing not only aids in the health of our low-income communities, but also in turn will benefit the city as a whole, with Burley noting that the lack of tree canopy is both an environmental issue,and a health issue. ¶ Like many of those trying to create change within our community, one of the biggest challenges Burley and her team face now is that of the lack of federal funding. ¶ “A $1 million grant we had already begun executing — one that had full Congressional approval and a signed contract — was abruptly terminated by the new administration,” Burley said. “Another grant was frozen for a while, and we’ve been waiting for months for three federal reimbursements. This funding bottleneck has brought us dangerously close to shutting our doors.” ¶ The organization that gives back to the community now relies on said community to help SOUL and others like it to continue their work.

“Your support could be the difference between stalling out and scaling up.” KM

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hile in high school, Takeisha Davis experienced an horrific event that would end up inspiring her life’s work. ¶ “In my senior year I was stabbed three times,” she said.

“I had to have lifesaving treatment at Charity Hospital. In addition to that stress on my family, however, there was a huge financial burden placed on them for me receiving that care. That really opened my eyes to a huge problem in this country.” ¶ Committed to being part of the solution, Davis cut her teeth in public health at Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, where she served as the director of the Center for Community and Preventive Health, presiding over the state’s public health clinics through challenges like Hurricane Katrina, the BP oil spill and H1N1. ¶ “After Katrina, we had the opportunity to reenvision the way we provide care, bringing healthcare back to neighborhoods,” she said. ¶ That work continued when she became the CEO of New Orleans East Hospital in 2016. At the time, the hospital had only been open for a little over a year after being forced to close after Katrina for nine years. ¶ “We had to reintroduce ourselves to the community,” she said. “When I started, we were only using three of the six floors, and we didn’t have our own physicians’ group or any primary care clinics.” ¶ Davis is proud to report the hospital is now not only using all

six floors, but it has also opened new units, including primary care and specialty care clinics, including an award-winning center of excellence for diabetes and an accredited primary stroke center. ¶ Davis said she is also working to bring behavioral health services back to New Orleans East this year. ¶ “Prior to Katrina, we had three centers in the area that provided care. Those did not come back,” she said. “Since we opened again, mental health issues have been the No. 1 reason patients come to our ER and we have had to transfer them out of the area.” ¶ She is also proud of the work the hospital has done beyond its walls. ¶ “After COVID, we partnered with the Ashe Cultural Arts Center of a program called ‘I Deserve It’ where we train culture bearers as community health workers,” she said. “This does two things: it takes people who are very trusted in the community, sometimes even more than doctors, and empowers them to provide education to the community and connect people to resources to help tackle the 25-year health gap between our Black and white residents. For the culture bearers, the program also provides them with a living wage-paying job and some economic stability so that they can continue to share their talents with all of us. I just came back from Washington D.C. where I learned we are starting to get national recognition for this program.” KS

Takeisha Charles Davis, MD, MPH President and CEO, New Orleans East Hospital

Amanda Toups Toups Family Meal

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he COVID-19 pandemic devastated so many people in so many ways and shined a spotlight on the city’s ongoing fight with food insecurity.And yet when New Orleans and its people are faced with tragedy, we are united.

We get to work. ¶ No one exhibits that spirit more than Amanda Toups, who sprang into action with the creation of nonprofit Toups Family Meal. ¶ Amanda and husband/business partner chef

Isaac Toups brought back the nonprofit post-COVID after Governor Jeff Landry said in early 2024 that the state would not be participating in the federal program that helped families with groceries over the summer months. As a mother, and someone who sees the vastness of our food insecure neighbors, a spark reignited with zero intentions of slowing down. ¶ This former aspiring artist met her food-obsessed husband at a young age

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Kaitlin Guerin Lagniappe Bakehouse, Owner and Executive Pastry Chef

and, for many years, she kept their lives going as his star rose. But now, Toups has taken center stage with their nonprofit.

She, along with Chef Shalika Sprowal and head of logistics Molly McGuire Cooke, are responsible for bringing tens of thousands of meals to the children of New Orleans and their families since summer 2024. Though times have been tough, and certain areas of life have been sacrificed in some capacity, the passion of the female-lead team to alleviate a little stress for the women and families of New Orleans is gratifying. ¶ “When I get a mom reaching out and going, ‘Look, thank you at Christmas time for making me not have to choose between a small

toy and a Christmas dinner,’ I think it’s all worth it, every bit of it. All of it,” she said. ¶ As more federal funding is cut to food banks and public schools buying from their local farmer’s markets, as well as with local grants and money the team was banking on to keep things afloat, it continues to be an uphill battle for Toups and her team. But, as she’s said, it’s all about the people. ¶ "This is my dream,” Toups said. “Now I get a chance to take something that I really – I get emotional thinking about it – really care about. The food insecurity and children are so important to me.” KM

aitlin Guerin, owner and executive pastry chef at Lagniappe Bakehouse, originally began her career in professional dance.

However, she always had an interest in food, and the desire for a unique creative outlet led her to pastry. She began working as a pastry chef eight years ago, and she started Lagniappe Bakehouse as a popup in May 2020 followed by a brickand-mortar location in September 2024. A local success story, Guerin was named a finalist in the Emerging Chef category for the 2025 James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards.¶ “Dance discipline falls akin to kitchen and industry demeanor, so I fell right into the part,” she said. “[I love] the creative freedom — getting to play with unique flavors and unexpected combinations. But even more than that, it’s the joy of watching people light up when they taste something they love and want to share.”¶ Finding inspiration in seasonal ingredients, podcasts, books and conversation, Guerin usually has about 10 to 14 items on the menu at one time. While some items rotate every couple of weeks (depending on what’s in season), the entire menu is always rooted in Southern culture with additional influences from West and Central Africa. “It’s a reflection of who we are — using pastry to explore history, identity and flavor in a way that feels both familiar and new,” she said. ¶ Currently, Guerin focuses on viennoiserie, pastries and coffee. Some of the most popular menu items include The Grains of Paradise Bun, the Vaucroissant, Pain au Chocolat, the Africano Latte and specialty sandwiches. She just introduced a new croissant called the Alligator Claw, and, this summer, she will bring back her staple cornmeal muffin with local honey butter and fresh corn. ¶ While Guerin is proud to have been named a James Beard Best Emerging Chef finalist 2025, she said that she didn’t get here alone. “This honor is a reflection of the people around me — my incredible staff, mentors and the Lagniappe community who show up every day,” she said. “Their dedication and belief in what we’re building made this possible. As a Black woman in this industry, moments like this don’t come around often. It’s not just about me — it’s about what it represents. Recognition like this helps open doors and shine a light on the value of different perspectives in hospitality.” ¶ Looking forward, Guerin plans to add more staple items after celebrating Lagniappe Bakehouse’s oneyear anniversary in September. “We're excited to keep growing — adding new things to the menu, staying true to our commitment to great hospitality and showing up for our Central City community,” she said. “Everything we do is about building something that feels good and real, both for us and for the people who come through our doors.” MM MYNEWORLEANS.COM / MAY 2025 37

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rowing up in Mexico, Alejandra Guzman began her career with a focus on supporting community growth. Early on she realized that to make a meaningful impact, she needed to deepen her business knowledge. “While working at CEMEX, a global construction company, I became passionate about promoting social responsibility programs within the firm,” she said. “This passion led me to pursue an MBA at Tulane University. It was during my time at Tulane that I met my husband, a proud New Orleanian. I’ve now called New Orleans home for over a decade, and it has truly become a part of who I am.” ¶ Guzman now serves as the chief business development officer at the LSU Health Foundation New Orleans. In her role, she develops, executes and manages business ventures that promote the advancement of the LSU Health Science Center community by securing unrestricted income and providing valuable infrastructure. “I also have the responsibility, and, most importantly, the accountability of leading the success of critical public/private partnerships,” she said. ¶ LSU Health Foundation produces healthcare professionals, conducts groundbreaking research and leads initiatives that transform the well-being of people in the city, state and region. ¶ One of Guzman’s most significant projects was bringing together city officials, private sector leaders, academic institutions and local communities to transform the urban district of Valle del Campestre District in Monterrey, Mexico, into a thriving, sustainable environment. ¶ More recently, she has contributed to the LSU Health Foundation Mission-Related Investments. A project exemplifying how strategic investments can drive local economic growth and innovation — and supported by a federal grant administered by Louisiana Economic Development — this initiative enables the Foundation to invest in Louisiana-based companies, particularly in the health, biotech and life sciences sectors. ¶ Meanwhile, Guzman also is a proud member of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Louisiana. “I’ve had the opportunity to mentor emerging professionals, share insights from my own experiences and advocate for programs that empower Hispanic businesses to thrive,” she said. ¶ Guzman also served as a director for the Sewerage & Water Board of New Orleans for six years until late 2024. “One of the accomplishments I’m most proud of is our work on the utilities power complex, which was a significant step toward ensuring the reliability and sustainability of the city’s drainage systems, particularly during severe weather events,” she said. ¶ Recently voted in as the Chapter Chair for the Urban Land Institute of Louisiana, Guzman will focus on creating a platform for meaningful programming and networking for the state’s real estate and development community. “One of our standout programs is the REDI initiative, which nurtures emerging real estate talent through mentorship, education and hands-on experiences,” she said. MM

Alejandra Guzman LSU Health Foundation, Chief Business Development Officer

Michelle Clarke Payne United Way SELA, Chief Strategy Officer

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riginally from Lafayette, Michelle Clarke Payne frequently visited her grandparents in the French Quarter, and she later attended Loyola University New Orleans. When Hurricane Katrina hit the city during her senior year of college, she decided to stay and help the city rebuild. Today, she serves as the chief strategy officer for United Way of Southeast Louisiana. In this role, she leads the marketing and resource development teams, collaborating across departments to drive strategic

growth, execute key initiatives and strengthen donor relationships across the seven-parish region. ¶ Payne is now leading the strategic planning process for United Way SELA, which recently celebrated its 100th anniversary. “We are currently developing our plans for the next 100 [years], but our mission is the same,” she said. “Our goal is and will continue to be to help families throughout Southeast Louisiana.” ¶ In times of crisis, Payne leads efforts to help the community recover. “Disaster work is the hardest and most rewarding

part of my job,” she said. “I show up when people are in their most vulnerable state and provide them with something that will hopefully help them. When someone has lost everything or even in the case of the January 1 attack [on Bourbon Street] — a loved one — the ability to mobilize a community to give hope to someone is one of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced.” ¶ Payne also volunteers as president-elect of the Junior League of New Orleans. “The JLNO Diaper Bank is the largest diaper bank in the Gulf South, and we recently reached a major milestone: 10 million diapers distributed,” she said. “This is just one of the ways in which the league continues to drive meaningful change in our community.” ¶ If all of this isn’t enough, Payne also serves as an

QUEEN TAHJ WILLIAMS

Artist and Entrepreneur

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hough 2025 isn’t even halfway over, New Orleans already basked in the glory of playing host its 11th National Football League Super Bowl and 2025 is still young by all accounts. ¶ Though still young herself, Tahj Williams - better known as Queen Tahj - stood at the forefront of the city’s celebration as a culture bearer in her own right. Williams is the first artist asked to partner with the NFL to design the Super Bowl logo and theme art. She took this moment and the opportunity to showcase the centuries-old, deeply rooted Black masking tradition, one of which she is heavily involved in. As the Big Queen of the Young Eagles Mardi Gras Indian Tribe, she used traditional beadwork to create the vibrant designs used not only in displays all around the city and beyond, but also throughout ticketing, programs, commercials and more.

(It was even featured in the light show displayed across the St. Louis Cathedral.) ¶ “I think it's super important to note that I am the first person outside of the NFL's creative team to design the Super Bowl logo and theme art, and I just so happen to not only be a woman but a Black woman,” said Williams. “It's important to acknowledge that because it's another barrier that has been cleared for the next generation of artists.” ¶ Queen Tahj has been a part of the culture and traditions of the Mardi Gras Indians since childhood. Known for her stunning suit designs, Williams masked all throughout high school, college and into her young-adult life. When it comes to the passion she displays in her beadwork Williams said, “My interest in pushing myself to become a designer when speaking of the artistry honestly came from how small in stature I always have been. So I would say my inspiration truly comes from within.” ¶ Though Queen Tahj is known worldwide for her artwork, the young queen shares multiple passions including being a woman in STEM with a job in technology at Microsoft and a lover of old school cars — with Corvettes, Camaros and fourth-generation Trans Ams being some of her favorites. ¶ Quen Tahj is a true Renaissance woman and an inspiration for the next generation. KM

adjunct professor in marketing at Tulane University. “My hope is that I’m not only educating [students] on specific concepts, but providing them with relevant expertise, critical thinking techniques and life skills,” she said. “Teaching is one way I am able to pay it forward, and hopefully provide support and guidance to the next generation.” ¶ In her free time, Payne enjoys spending time with her two children. “At home, I have a very supportive husband who allows me to show up and volunteer as I do,” she said.

“At work, I have an amazing boss and team that help me do it all. I am humbled by this honor, but I don’t want to take all of the credit.

I don’t do this alone, and this recognition is a reflection of the incredible family, friends and support I have in my life.” MM MYNEWORLEANS.COM / MAY 2025

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Shop, sip, spa, socialize and support womenowned businesses at these local boutiques, bars, eateries and wellness destinations.

I

n the age of internet hauls and subscription boxes, the notion of an in-person shopping date seems downright quaint. Shopping in real life (or IRL, as the kids say) where you can interact with other human beings (and shop dogs and cats), see, touch and try on potential purchases, take in the fragrance of scented candles and, if nothing else, just get out of the dang house, is a blissful antidote to screen time. Also, as the saying goes, it’s cheaper than therapy. (Just joking, don’t stop seeing your therapist.) You can’t go wrong if the destination is in one of New Orleans’ many shoppable neighborhoods. For this year's installment of New Orleans Magazine’s annual shopping feature, we’re highlighting women-owned businesses.

(Note: We couldn’t fit all of the women-owned businesses in New Orleans in this feature, so consider this a start.) This is your cue to hit a few boutiques, grab a mani, a bite and a beverage, or all of the above, with someone whose company you crave, that one friend who has an eye for the coolest finds or your favorite bargain hunter. We call that a great way to pass a few hours — no subscription (or prescription) required.

By Melanie Warner Spencer | Photography by Jess Kearney

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Lucy Rose 3312 Magazine St., shoplucyrose.com Lucy Rose, owned by sisters Kaitlyn Tufts and Lindsay Laws, is the place to go for the perfect dress for your friend’s wedding, cute shorts for a picnic or a chic ensemble in LSU, Saints or Mardi Gras colors.

Bonus: There’s another location on Magazine Street and you can shop online in advance. Gifts and accessories also abound.

METAIRIE MERRYMAKING Fuel up the car and bop around Metry for cute outfits and gifts, plus some spa time and a stop for breakfast, lunch or a snack.

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Fleurty Girl Multiple locations, fleurtygirl.com No one does New Orleans “spirit wear” better — especially for the ladies — than Fleurty Girl. Lauren Haydel’s empire includes two Metairie locations, as well as shops in the French Quarter, on Magazine, in Mandeville, Baton Rouge and Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. Find signature T-shirts, earrings, gameday flair, home decor, gifts and more.

Phina Multiple locations, phinashop.com Phina, owned by Jenni fer McGuinness, has two Metairie locations and a shop in Lakeview.

If you need a gift, you’ll find it at Phina. There’s always a wealth of New Orleans-centric merchandise, but you’ll also find stylish clothing, a huge selection of body products, jewelry, home decor and, well, pretty much everything.

Earthsavers Multiple locations, earthsaversonline.com Schedule an appointment at Earthsavers (also in Uptown on Magazine), co-owned by Karen Adjmiand Jackie Palumbo, for a little pre-, mid- or post-shopping pampering. From massages and facials to mani-pedis and waxing, you’ll be relaxed and ready after an hour (or a few). Bonus: Get beauty and body products, essential oils and more in the on-site shop.

Evolve Coffee + Matcha 400 Harrison Ave., evolvecoffeenola.com Whether you are in Metairie or Lakeview, a stop at Evolve Coffee + Matcha, owned by Yvonne Pichoff, is a must. Refuel with single origin coffee and ceremonial-grade matcha drinks, teas, delectable pastry, sandwiches and biscuits. You’ll want to come back often for the chicken salad croissant.

Bargeboard Mercantile & Millshop 530 Powder St., bargeboardnola. com, bounyfulgreenmarket.com At Bargeboard Mercantile & Millshop, owned by historic renovation professional Kristin Gisleson Palmer, is a vintageand antiques-lovers paradise.

What started as a millshop and architectural salvage business has grown into a shopping destination for all of the above, as well as locally made bath and body products, candles, ceramics and more. Located on a large lot across from the levee, Bargeboard also hosts weekend events (listed on social media), such as the Bounyful Green Market farmers market, neighborhood garage sales and more.

Faubourg Fresh Market

ALGIERS POINT INSIDERS You don’t have to take the ferry, but isn’t that half the fun? An afternoon in Algiers Point can start with a walk amid gingerbread Victorian houses and end in a charming wine garden.

Beatrixbell Handcrafted Jewelry 337 Morgan St., 831 Chartres St., beatrixbell.com Beatrix Bell followed her dreams to become a jewelry designer and open her own boutique.

Formerly Follow Your Dream, her eponymous boutique Beatrixbell Handcrafted Jewelry is a place to find not only Bell’s work, but also that of other artisans. One boutique also became two, so you can get your fix for fanciful and fine jewelry and gifts in Algiers Point or the French Quarter.

541 Bermuda St., faubourgfreshmarket.com Kelly Guerra opened Faubourg Fresh Market with her son Nick Guerra to bring local and regional gourmet goodies and convenience grocery items to Algiers Point.

French Truck Coffee, St. James Cheese, New Orleans Ice Cream, local craft beer and local produce are just a few of the items on offer. There’s also a deli with sandwiches and breakfast.

The Little House 640 Bouny St., @littlehousenola After shopping or ambling the neighborhood, sit outside and sip a glass of wine at The Little House, owned by Hillary Hanning. This charming wine garden also serves beer, and you can nosh on small plates and appetizers. (Opens at 4 p.m. and at 2 p.m. on Saturday).

UPTOWN GIRLS

Don your most casually chic attire (it is Uptown, after all), acquire the season’s musts, clock an infrared sauna sesh and fill up on cheese with your bestie. It literally doesn’t get any better.

Home Malone 629 N. Carrollton Ave., 4610 Magazine St., homemalonenola.com Artist Kristin Malone opened her first Home Malone shop in Mid-City in 2016. The space showcased her work alongside other Southern artists and makers. Later the Uptown shop opened on Magazine Street and has become a first stop for many when buying fun apparel, jewelry and gifts for the home.

Pilot & Powell 3901 Magazine St., pilotandpowell.com When Kathryn Bullock Joyner and Coeli Hilferty Boron opened Pilot & Powell in 2016, even Vogue took immediate notice. The two spent decades in retail fashion (Joyner was a buyer at Saks Fifth Avenue and Mimi, and Boron a publicist for Mignon Faget). With fashionforward brands like Marni, Proenza Schouler and Giambattista Valli, it’s like shopping in your coolest and most chic bestie’s closet.

West London Boutique 3952 Magazine St., westlondonboutique.com Fashion and retail pro Mariah Walton Bencik opened West London Boutique on Magazine Street in 2017 and expanded her fashion offerings in 2024 to include a Lower Garden District lingerie boutique La Marais (which focuses on Parisian brands). Bencik describes her botique’s wares as romantic, feminine and dramatic. This is the place to shop if you want to stand out from the crowd.

St. James Cheese Company 5004 Prytania St., 641 Tchoupitoulas St., stjamescheese.com Disenchanted with their careers in public relations and banking, respectively, Danielle Sutton and her husband Richard Sutton (who met while attending Tulane) moved to London.

While there, Richard worked at the more than 200-year-old Paxton & Whitfield cheese shop, known for supplying cheese to the royal household. After their stint in London, the couple returned to New Orleans and opened the cheese-lovers dreamscape, St. James Cheese Company (named after the neighborhood of the Paxton & Whitfield shop), which has locations on Prytania Street in Uptown and on Tchoupitoulas Downtown, and supplies cheese to some of the city’s best restaurants, gourmet markets and your belly.

GARDEN DISTRICT

Any shopping trip ending at Commander’s or Le Petit Bleu is a success. Full stop.

Sosusu Boutique 3427 Magazine St., sosusuboutique.com Susan “Susu” Stall opened Sosusu Boutique in 2016 to bring global style to New Orleans.

Chic and feminine, every item at Sosusu is curated by Stall. Many of the brands are exclusive to the boutique (in New Orleans), too, so you know you’ll stand out amid the stylish masses.

Uptown Wellness + Aesthetics

Azby’s

Judy at The Rink

4712 Magazine St., uptownwellnessneworleans.com Lawyer-turned-real estate agent Sasha Area started Uptown Wellness + Aesthetics with business partner Jacob Tramontin, whom she met when the duo worked together as insurance defense attorneys. Area says her interest in wellness took off when she had kids and realized she was no longer prioritizing herself and her health. The business is a way for her to get the services she wants and needs, while also providing them to the people in her community.

5531 Magazine st., azbys.com For decades Azby’s, owned by Kerry Morgan, has provided everyday-, resort- and special occasion-wear to New Orleans women. Effortless style is the vibe and shoes and accessories abound.

2727 Prytania St., judyattherink.com Mar tha Calire Breland became the fourth owner of the stalwart Garden District gift shop and gallery Judy at The Rink when she took over the lease in 2019. The shop is the go-to for many New Orleanians for wedding gifts, local art, loungewear, body products and home and fashion accessories.

Commander’s Palace and Le Petit Bleu 1427 Washington Ave., @lepetitbleu, commanderspalace.com Commander’s Palace and its bijou counter service bistro Le Petit Bleu, represent a powerhouse of women in the culinary space with owners Ti Martin and Lally Brennen and Executive Chef Meg Bickford delighting diners daily. The legacy of Restaurateur Grand Dame Ella Brennan is alive, well and lively as … heck.

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The Flower Shop 2036 Magazine St., theflowershopnola.com Rockstar floral designer Kim Starr Wise opened The Flower Shop in 2020 as an extension of Kim Starr Wise Floral Events, which she has helmed for over three decades. The gorgeous shop specializes in charming bouquets and sophisticated arrangements, but also offers floral subscriptions.

Peony 2240 Magazine St., peonynola.com Friends Jennifer Atkins and Cricket Lapeyre became business partners over 10 years ago when they opened Peony, a European-style clothing boutique for women and children. Expect one-of-akind finds at this charming shop, plus champagne! Ooh la la.

Lekha

LGD DREAMS

You can buy yourself flowers, sip champagne and trick out yourself and your home all without leaving Magazine Street. Don’t forget to save time for spring rolls.

2025 Magazine St., shoplekha.com Designer Trishala Bbansali founded Lekha in 2017, naming the business in honor of her grandmother. The lifestyle brand focuses on women and children’s clothing in breezy muslin and linen fabrics, accessories and home goods all handmade in India, working with groups that help empower women and girls.

Merchant House 1150 Magazine St., merchanthouse.co Merchant House, owned by Rosa Dunlap, isn’t your average vintage market. The expertly styled warehouse space features a host of (predominantly women) merchants, presenting each piece of furniture and accessories with curatorial panache. Ooh and ahhh your way through the goods and feel good about nabbing brilliant pieces for your home.

Lilly's Cafe 1813 Magazine St., @lillyscafenola Lilly's Cafe, owned by Thrinh Vuong, has a cult following.

Vuong opened the casual Vietnamese eatery known for its purple color palette and floral decor in 2011.

Get spring rolls, pho, banh mi and other traditional Vietnamese favorites in a welcoming, family atmosphere.

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Effervescence 1036 N. Rampart St., nolabubbles.com Effervescence, owned by Crystal Hinds, opened to much excitement among champagne lovers in 2017. The “ring for champagne” doorbell dominated Instagram feeds for years and happy hour, brunch and festive holidays continue to be but a few great excuses to belly up to the bar for bubbly and bites.

Forever New Orleans

FRENCH QUARTER FINDS

Ambling through shops and clinking glasses in the French Quarter is the most New Orleans thing you can do. Cap it off with a visit to the milliner.

700 Royal St., shopforeverneworleans.com Forever New Orleans, owned by Lisa Saladino, has locally made kitchen ware, home decor, fashion, accessories and gourmet gifts and lots of it. With three locations in the French Quarter (the first of which opened in 2007), this one-stop-shop is a treasure trove.

Trashy Diva Multiple locations, trashydiva.com Designer and owner Candice Gwinn opened Trashy Diva as a vintage boutique in the French Quarter in 1996. Gwinn has a knack for fulfilling the wishes and dreams of her devoted customers and soon began reproducing vintage looks. Known for catering to sizes 0 to 24, the company has continued to grow with multiple locations, including the original dress shop and lingerie shop in the French Quarter, as well as the flagship dress shop and lingerie shop on Magazine Street and, true to the brand’s vintage roots, a vintage shop in both the Quarter and on Magazine.

Fleur de Paris 523 Royal St., fleurdeparis.shop In 2021, Caroline Pies took over the iconic millinery and boutique Fleur de Paris, which was founded in the 1980s by Joe Parrino. Many Kentucky Derby attendees have donned (and continue to covet) Fleur de Paris chapeaus over the years and you can too. They also have you covered for dresses, gowns and accessories.

SPONSORED

Pictured from left: Bobbi Roquemore, Heather W. Angelico, Kathleen Krail Charvet and Francis A. Waguespack

THE FACE OF

Maritime & Admiralty Law Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr & Smith

Galloway Johnson Tompkins Burr & Smith provides result-driven representation with the trusted atmosphere of a small firm backed by the resources of a large firm. Kathleen Charvet, Heather Angelico, Francis Waguespack, and Bobbi Roquemore bring their collective experience to the Firm’s Longshore, offshore, and Defense Base Act representation.

In addition to their traditional maritime representation, all four have expertise in the national and international scope of Longshore and DBA matters that require adept logistical balancing. Representative clients include terminal operators, vessel manufacturers, group self-insurers, military contractors, and underwriters.

Kathleen, Heather, Francis, and Bobbi are part of a select group of Longshore attorneys who began their legal careers as clerks for the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Administrative Law Judges. This collegial and small network of judges and attorneys has roots in New Orleans, with the work expanding around the globe. Kathleen, Heather, and Francis now provide their insights to Tulane and Loyola maritime continuing education programs.

Galloway and their skilled attorneys are regionally positioned and readily available to go way above and way beyond for Longshore, DBA, and maritime clients. gallowaylawfirm.com • 504-525-6802 • 701 Poydras St, 40th Floor, New Orleans

Favorite Sports Team: Cleveland Browns (Bobbi) Favorite Vacation Destination: Maui (Heather) Favorite NOLA Food : Creole Creamery (Francis) Cats or Dogs: Both! (Kathleen)

TRAVEL

BY CHERÉ COEN

Beaux-Arts French Lick Springs Hotel

playing the Donald Ross Course that was built in 1917, used for the PGA Championship won by Walter Hagen. Today, the course maintains nearly all the classic elements of its original design.

Healing Waters

Small town that gives birth to big legends iscovering mineral springs in the 1800s resulted in resorts popping up nationwide to provide eager visitors with healing waters. Two resorts were built at the twin towns of French Lick and West Baden, Indiana, to accommodate the popularity of “taking the waters,” the French Lick Springs Hotel with its historical firsts and the West Baden Springs Hotel with its breath-taking dome. Today, both are AAA FourDiamond historic hotels with a host of amenities. But that’s not all this tiny Indiana town produced. Boxer Joe Lewis trained in town and NBA superstar Larry Bird, the Celtics star known as “the hick from French Lick,” both hailed from here.

Baden Springs Hotel will enjoy rooms with balconies overlooking the atrium beneath a stunning 200-foot domed ceiling, at once time the largest free-spanning dome in the world. Along with their host of amenities within the resorts’ hundreds of acres, some springs still exist within the resort gardens.

Stay Both resorts offer stunning architecture and a host of amenities. The Beaux-Arts French Lick Springs Hotel showcases the history of the resorts with historic memorabilia plus gaming at the French Lick Casino.

It was long a favorite among celebrities, athletes and politicians — even presidents. Visitors to the West

Get sporting Amenities at the resorts include clay shooting, horseback riding, archery, hiking and birdwatching, with classes in most to get visitors started in the sport.

Golfers will revel in the fact that only here can you play courses designed by Pete Dye and Donald Ross together at one resort. Enjoy the rolling Indiana hills

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Indulge Both hotels offer numerous signature treatments in decadent spas, but don’t miss a chance to slip inside a Pluto Water Bath. Celebrities and presidents would arrive to enjoy Pluto Water, the bottled water produced from the Sulphur springs. Drinking Pluto Water was said to “cleanse even the hardiest GI track,” but now it’s only used to relax and enhance the skin.

Hit the Rails Board the historic French Lick Scenic Railway for a 25-mile ride to the town of Jasper and spot a waterfall, a cave spring, a cabin dating to the 1850s and the childhood home of Larry Bird. The train climbs to the highest destination of the area and back again with a fun excursion through a long, dark train tunnel.

Dine The elegant 1875: The Steakhouse at French Lick Springs Hotel commemorates the first Kentucky Derby run on May 17, 1875. Horses and gaming have a long history at the hotel. Every guest receives a glass of tomato juice, which was created here in 1917 by a chef who ran out of oranges at breakfast and squeezed tomatoes to fill the gap. The restaurant serves 100 percent aged Midwest, corn-fed Angus beef and a host of craft cocktails and fine wines.

For a casual meal that comes with a spectacular view, Hagen’s Club House Restaurant offers a diverse menu with views that overlook the Donald Ross Course. Be sure to visit at sunset and dine or enjoy cocktails on the back patio to watch the show only nature can provide.

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H OME I NS PI RAT IO N

BY AMY MARIE GABRIEL

Fresh Catch Splashy summer style

Incorporate a touch of glamour to your crustacean feast with a capiz shell chandelier, crafted from iron with an antique silver finish and natural iridescent capiz shells. Arhaus, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., 504-581-6684, arhaus.com.

Set the scene for a huître happy hour with stylish brushstrokes of smoked oyster paint from Behr. behr.com.

For a unique outdoor bar, center the cocktail conversation around a midcentury modern Russell Woodard spun fiberglass version.

With a shelf to hold glassware and liquor, it’s a chic way to present your spirits. chairish.com/ shop/perrierdesigns.

Kitschy and festive, accent your seafood set up with corn on the cob taper candles made of coconut wax. novelcandlesnola.com.

Handcrafted to resemble an oyster with a rare pearl, the Shelley pearl table lamp in maize is a playfully artistic way to add a pinch of light to the night. anthropologie.com.

The perfect al fresco table to host your boil fixins, an Abbott concrete and acacia chunky leg outdoor table combines thick sustainably harvested hardwood with a velvety smooth gray concrete top. Pottery Barn, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., 504-219-0168, potterybarn.com.

Add a splash of personality to your kitchen with crawfish themed wallpaper. The curling tentacles are elegantly arranged with bay leaves and bulbs of garlic on grey in this novelty pattern. anniemoran.com.

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GROW I NG PA I NS

BY EVE CRAWFORD PEYTON / ART BY JANE SANDERS

Finding Balance Traditions, tales and (inevitable) mistakes

Growing up and raising kids in New Orleans requires a good sense of balance.

Pizza or tacos? Late nights or early mornings? Coffee or tea? Ice cream or sno-balls? The beach or the pool? Jazz Fest or Mardi Gras?

“This or that” questions are so often used as icebreakers, but honestly, my usual answer to all of them is … both? I want pizza and tacos. I want coffee in the morning and herbal tea before bed. That’s especially true for Jazz Fest or Mardi Gras. Although many people do have a favorite signature New Orleans event, I honestly like (and dislike) so many things about both as a participant – and even more so as a parent.

I’ve been going to both since I was a toddler. I have a photo of me in a sundress, covered in sno-ball syrup, on my mom’s hip circa 1984. And another one of me,

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probably the same year, Mardi Gras beads ringing my neck. Throughout the years, I went to both with my parents and then, increasingly, with my friends.

I will never forget the Jazz Fest when I was 14 when I got in on a kid’s ticket — meaning I looked 12 — and then bought a beer — meaning I looked 21. (In reality, I definitely looked 12, but things were different in 1995.) That was the same Jazz Fest I attended with two friends who were dating.

They started making out on the blanket we had thrown down, so I hopped up on one of the recycling cans they had sitting around the Fairgrounds — they had a solid top with just a hole cut out for cans so that no one would throw trash in there. I was enjoying the music and sipping my questionably acquired aforementioned beer when a cute Tulane boy caught my eye across the crowd. He smiled at me.

I smiled back. We looked away. We

looked back and smiled again. He made a gesture to indicate that he was going to walk across the crowd to stand by me. I made a gesture to indicate that he should do this. We smiled again, and I waved my encouragement as he walked toward me. And then the lid of the can caved in, sending me plummeting into a hot, wet mass of mostly empty beer cans.

The guy didn’t even come over to try to help — I had to kick the side of the can until my friends came to their senses, pried themselves apart, and then stopped laughing long enough to drag me out.

The next year, I think, was the Mardi Gras that a much-older man on a float picked me up off of my friend’s shoulders and tried to kiss me while I dangled down the side of the float. I did at least get a big bag of beads out of the ordeal.

These stories are — all at once — funny to tell at parties, not really unusual for kids growing up in New

Orleans, and singularly horrifying as a parent of two daughters. I’ve managed to survive all of Rowan’s high school Carnival seasons, and Jazz Fest is not as laissez-faire as it used to be, but the way I spaced my kids out, I am basically sending one off to college and then bracing myself to do it all over again.

I want both of them to have fun and be careful at the same time, to make memories without making mistakes, to have stories but not regrets. It’s not a “this or that” type choice, or at least not a clear-cut one. It’s keeping them safe while also giving them independence.

Just like me, they’ll have their own stories to tell, and I’ll be here to listen (to as much as they want to tell me), laugh, and try not to gasp in shock. After all, life, especially in New Orleans, is about enjoying both – the chaos and the calm, the fun and the familiar – all at once.

And ice cream and sno-balls are both good all year-round.

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TAB LE TA L K

BY SCOTT GOLD / PHOTOS BY JEFFERY JOHNSTON

Bone Marrow with Escargot

High Steaks

The Husky brings the meat and a Deco vibe to Freret Street hen most people think of New Orleans cuisine, they often think of our bountiful seafood platters spilling over with shrimp, oysters and soft shell crabs, crawfish étouffée or backyard crawfish boils. But the Crescent City has always had a deep and abiding love and appreciation for carnivorous delights, as evidenced by our storied history of classic steakhouses.

Hence, a great steakhouse is nothing particularly novel in this town, so if you’re going to open one, locals and visitors alike know that it’s got to be something special.

John Michael Rowland and Winnie Rubin had exactly this in mind when they opened their second Freret St. restaurant, The Husky, last November. The pair made major waves with their homage to New England seafood with the lauded Pigeon and Whale, and their newest installation on the Freret corridor is no less impressive both in design and execution. Even though we have more than our fair share of beef palaces in this city, Rowland and Rubin still saw room in the market for something familiar and comforting, but also a little bit different.

“I think the main thing was to not be a steakhouse in the traditional sense of things,” says Rowland. “We’re not trying to have ‘The Old 96er’ or a lot of dry aged products. And there are a lot of items on the menu

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that you wouldn’t necessarily always find at a steakhouse.”

Rubin agrees. “It’s the kind of place where me and five of my girlfriends can come in after fitness class. We might not want a big old steak for dinner, but you can have six different appetizers from our ‘opportunities’ list and still feel completely satisfied and like you’re not missing out on something. But John Michael and his four buddies will come in at nine o’clock and drink old fashioneds and eat steaks all night. We can accommodate two drastically different views.”

That sense of culinary balance is clearly and thoughtfully reflected on the Husky’s menu. Appetizers – called ‘opportunities’ as with Pigeon and Whale – earn a well-deserved place next to the restaurant’s tidy list of steaks. Lighter starters like a crudo with ponzu and satsuma give way to heartier options like pistachio-crusted lamb lollipops with harissa yogurt, a gorgeous steak tartare inflected with Asian flavors and a soy-cured egg, and a platter of to-die-for fried oysters paired with a creamed spinach dip and parmesan and topped with crispy prosciutto.

And more adventurous carnivores would be daft to miss out on the roasted marrow bone topped with buttery escargot, which is exactly as decadent as it sounds.

When you’re ready to step up to the butcher’s block, The Husky has your needs covered, and then some. You’ll encounter a few options not

readily found in traditional chophouses, like a panéed pork tomahawk with caper bordelaise, or their bison short rib with sweet potato risotto, as well as much more familiar fare including a classic roasted half chicken, and a killer griddle-smashed hamburger garnished with Dijonaise and draped in American cheese.

Then, of course, are the steaks. As Rowland noted, you won’t encounter a phone book-sized list of cuts and chops, but rather a smartly cultivated selection of winners, cheekily on the menu under the heading “What You Really Want.” Those include both petite and standard-sized fillets, a strip, a ribeye, and the real showstopper ripped right out of culinary history and rarely seen on modern menus: a classic Beef Wellington. “No one else

sells a Wellington in the city, it’s kind of genius,” said chef Jeremy Latimer, who also leads the kitchen teams at Pigeon and Whale as well as Station 6.

“It still has all the classic components.

It’s still rubbed in mustard, it still has mushroom duxelles and is wrapped in prosciutto. It’s done very classically,” he said.

Naturally, you can pair your meat of choice with a variety of classic steakhouse sides like whipped potatoes, grilled asparagus, creamed spinach or mac and cheese, but don’t ignore the Husky’s pasta offerings, including pork cheek cannelloni with mushrooms, radiatore with Gulf shrimp, peas and prosciutto, and a deceptively simple rigatoni bathed in a creamy vodka sauce that has just the right amount of red pepper kick. Finishing out your

About the Chef

dinner, you’ll find Rubin’s creative touches on the dessert offerings, notably a delightful plating of cheesecake, candied nuts and fruit dressed up to mimic a meaty charcuterie board.

Once fully sated by the Husky’s hearty fare, you can sit back, sip on an option from their Old Fashioned or martini list and enjoy the handsome coziness of the beautifully appointed space, which embraces an aesthetic Rowland and Rubin are fond of calling “Gatsby’s mountain lodge.” Since opening, The Husky has been off to a rollicking start that befits its roaring 20s decor. I think we underestimated the need for something like this in this area. It sounds like a lot of new fun things are happening on [Freret Street.]

We’re excited to be a part of it!”

Originally hailing from Ohio, Chef Latimer began his culinary journey washing dishes in a local restaurant as a teenager, and soon knew that kitchen life was his calling. While attending the Culinary Institute in New York, Latimer completed his externship under Gary Danko at San Francisco’s acclaimed Waterfront Restaurant, and planned to return there after graduation, however a twist of fate led the young cook to New Orleans during the thick of Mardi Gras. A job at Emeril’s Delmonico led to Latimer to another opportunity in Antigua, where he cooked for a few years before New Orleans’ siren call led him back. He was later tapped to head the kitchen at Station 6, Pigeon and Whale, and now the Husky. Latimer’s love for the city and its cuisine shines through his work. “I love the diversity here,” he said. “I just love that you can just go to different parts of town and find Thai, Haitian and just anything that your heart desires. And the city is kind of small in a way, so everybody knows each other, and I just love being around the industry people and the vibe were everybody just wants to work together and make big, bold flavors. That’s what makes it fun!”

Charlie’s Steakhouse If the Final Jeopardy answer is “The oldest steakhouse in New Orleans,” you’d be best to answer, “What is Charlie’s Steak House, Ken?” An Uptown institution for generations, Charlie’s has long been a go-to destination for local meat lovers looking for great cuts and a lively environment with exactly zero modern twists or frills.

This is quintessential American steakhouse dining at its most fun and relaxed, with longtime patrons knowing full well that asking for a menu here means asking for a good natured ribbing from your server. Just order a nice strip or T-bone (medium rare, of course), pair it with a generous helping of potatoes au gratin, onion rings, and an uncomplicated bottle of red wine, and you’re good to go. Sure, there are vegetables available, but remember: You don’t win friends with salad!

Galatoire’s 33 Bar and Steak Remember all those times you thought, “Let’s go to Galatoire’s!” only to find yourself in an interminable wait on Bourbon Street that might not even result in a table? These days, you’re still in luck!

Just head next door to the restaurant’s 33 Bar, where you’ll get your old school Grande Dame French Quarter dining fix.

You’ll find plenty of carnivorous delights here, including classic ribeyes, fillets, lamb chops and even veal liver, which of course you’ll want to top with marchand du vin, béarnaise or sauce bonne-femme. But in even better news, 33 is now serving the full Galatoire’s menu, as well. So get those soufflé potatoes, crabmeat ravigote and maybe a cup of turtle soup while you’re at it. You deserve it!

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NOSH

BY JYL BENSON / PHOTO BY SAM HANNA

Slow and Steady A Cuban family favorite

Last year chef-partner Alfredo “Fredo” Nogueira of Cane & Table (now in its 12th year) started focusing on his family’s Cuban heritage with a series of monthly specialty dinners. This approach is one way he keeps Cane & Table fresh. The atmosphere remains consistent — if Ernest Hemingway were to visit the city, we would likely find him at this Lower French Quarter spot, which Nogueira co-owns with Neal Bodenheimer (CureCo) and Kirk Estopinal.

Nogueira’s rustic, seasonally-driven menus combine Caribbean flavors with Cuban influences and family culinary traditions like his family’s recipe for Ropa Vieja, a dish considered by some as Cuba’s national dish, with regional variations.

“My grandmother and mother would make this dish for special occasions,” Nogueira said. “I remember making it with both grandmothers, and they each had their own take. However, with a traditional ropa vieja, you boil the meat, but we braise it to develop a richer flavor.”

Ropa Vieja, meaning “old clothes” in Spanish, is a Cuban dish with origins in the Iberian Peninsula, where it was prepared by Sephardic Jews who created a slow-cooked stew called “handrajos” (similar to the Spanish word “andrajos”) to be eaten over the course of Shabbat. This dish eventually became a Cuban staple following its spread to North Africa and the Canary Islands of Spain, where it was brought to the Americas by immigrants from the Canary Islands.

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Cane & Table’s Ropa Vieja Makes 10-12 Servings Adapted from a Recipe by Alfredo “Fredo” Nogueira, Chef/Parter, Cane & Table 1-2 tablespoons vegetable oil 5 pounds boneless short ribs (See green note) 32 ounces San Marzano tomato purée 10 cloves garlic, sliced 3 yellow onions, julienned 1 red bell pepper, julienned 1 poblano pepper, julienned 1 bunch fresh thyme 1/2 cup white wine 3 bay leaves Salt and pepper Hot cooked white rice for serving 1. Preheat oven to 350ºF degrees.

2. Add the vegetable oil to a large pot or Dutch oven.

I could not find boneless short ribs, so I went with bone in. For this recipe you would need 10 pounds of bone in-short ribs. When the meat is falling from the bones remove the meat and bones from the pot and discard the bones and any tough cartilage before shredding the meat and returning it to the pot. I added 3/4 cup of beef broth to the pot to create additional braising liquid

3. Brown off all the short ribs, in batches if needed. Remove and set aside.

4. Toast the garlic in the rendered fat until fragrant, about 2 minutes.

5. Add the vegetables to release as much fond as possible. Once vegetables are soft, deglaze with white wine.

6. Add tomato puree, bay leaves, and thyme, and bring up to a boil.

Adjust seasoning.

7. Add the short ribs back to the pot, cover, and bake in the oven for 3 ½ hours or until very tender.

8. Remove the pot from the oven and allow to cool completely before removing the beef and shredding it with two forks.

9. Return shredded beef to the braising liquid and adjust the seasoning.

10. Serve with rice.

CH EER S

BY ELIZABETH PEARCE / PHOTO BY EUGENIA UHL

Like Family Service and a classic tradition

Eleven years ago, wedding photographer Victoria Pisarello was a regular patron at Felipe’s Uptown. Now she’s their lead bartender. Victoria had never bartended, but the manager reassured her.

“She said ‘If you can handle a bride, you can bartend,’” Victoria said. “It’s much more fun. The community I serve here is what keeps

Felipe’s Margarita

me happy and employed.”

2 ounces blanco Monte Alban tequila

Bartending has taught her how to deal with people, “whether they’re hungry, they’re sad or they’re celebrating.” Now her regulars are like family. She photographed one guest’s baby shower. “That child is now 11, and almost as tall as me.” she said. Victoria notes, “I denied kids fake IDs, then they graduated, and I served them. They got their masters; I served them. They got their PhDs; I served them. Now they’re starting a family and I’m still serving them. Eleven years is a long time to work somewhere, but I love it.

It’s been awesome.”

Podcast

Listen to Elizabeth’s podcast “Drink & Learn;” visit elizabeth-pearce.com

1/2 ounce key lime juice (about 1 key lime) 1/2 ounce homemade simple syrup (recipe below) 1/2 ounce triple sec Garnish: Lime wheel Add all ingredients to a shaker tin filled with ice and shake for 10-12 seconds. Pour the entire contents (including ice) into a rocks glass.

Garnish with lime wheel.

Simple syrup Mix equal parts sugar and water in a microwavable container and heat until all sugar is dissolved. Alternatively, heat on the stove. Syrup keeps 4-6 weeks in the refrigerator.

1

2

3

Victoria insists you use fresh key lime juice. Key limes are available at many Latino grocery stores.

Try a side-by-side comparison with regular lime juice to taste the difference.

To create a salt or Tajin rim, rub the outside of the glass with the lime half before you squeeze it.

Roll the outside of the glass on a plate of salt or Tajin. Use a straw to knock out any salt inside the glass to make it look tidier.

Some margarita recipes use aged reposado tequilas for a “higher end” drink, but Victoria says if you want the bright, citrusy flavor of a traditional margarita, stick with 100% agave blanco tequila.

96 MAY 2025 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

SPONSORED

DINING & ENTERTAINMENT Fine food is always in season. Ring in the Summer sun and fun at these incredible Restaurants!

Audubon Clubhouse by Dickie Brennan & Co. audubonclubhouse.com

Steak Night has arrived at Audubon Clubhouse! Join us every Sunday for a classic Steakhouse dinner featuring your choice of cut, complete with all the sides—all at a great price. The perfect way to end your weekend in the heart of Audubon Park.

Mother’s Restaurant

mothersrestaurant.net Mother’s offers a plethora of fried and grilled seafood options, including the popular Seafood Platter Extra Extra which includes buttery Crawfish Étouffée and the award-winning Jerry’s Jambalaya plus two side dishes of your choice. Or, choose Seafood Gumbo made with real crab stock.

Shrimp Creole is also available as a bowl or an omelet.

Briquette

Galatoire’s

La Petite Grocery

A historic gem tucked cozily among the historic warehouse district, Briquette offers the finest in modern tastes and design. Featuring a signature open kitchen and an 18foot seafood display, enjoy watching fresh fish being prepared before your eyes on red-hot briquettes while sampling an extensive wine list and beautifully crafted cocktails.

Join us on Mother’s Day for a special 3-course meal at $65 per person from 11am-7pm. And make reservations now for Jazz Fest Weekend!

What’s your tradition? From the world-famous New Orleans cuisine to impeccable service, every aspect of the dining experience at Galatoire’s reflects the traditions guests have enjoyed for generations. Open TuesdaySunday for lunch and dinner. Visit Galatoires.com or call 525-2021.

Charming guests for two decades on Magazine Street, La Petite Grocery is a beloved Uptown gem celebrating over 20 years of business. Menu favorites include Turtle Bolognese and Blue Crab Beignets, among other creative adaptations of New Orleans cuisine.

New Orleans Creole Cookery

Tacos del Cartel

Willa Jean

Tacos del Cartel’s slow-braised short ribs are steeped in rich tradition— cooked overnight in a bold, red wine-infused sauce until fall-apart tender. Served with warm tortillas, fresh cilantro, onions, and jalapeños, it’s a soulful, conversation-starting dish that honors the depth of Mexican flavor with every bite.

Willa Jean serves up the best biscuit in New Orleans, alongside a bakery counter full of irresistible Southern comfort treats. Enjoy a cocktail from our full-service bar, or host your next party or special event in our warm, inviting space.

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neworleanscreolecookery.com New Orleans Creole Cookery prides itself on offering the finest in Cajun and Creole cuisine in a stylish and innovative fashion that excites audiences and ignites appetites. With Carnival Season rapidly approaching, NOCC is your hub for families and friends to sit down for the finest in comfort dining. Join us on Mother’s Day for a 3-course meal at $65 per person!

Make reservations now for Jazz Fest Weekend in the French Quarter.

galatoires.com

tacosdelcartel.com

lapetitegrocery.com

willajean.com

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / MAY 2025

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SPONSORED

Mother’s Day Gift Guide Show Mom how much she means with something special from these New Orleans shops and boutiques.

Wellington & Co. store.wcjewelry.com 505 Royal St, New Orleans Malachite and Diamond Pendant in 18 kt Yellow Gold, $2,450.

PERLIS Clothing perlis.com, 800-725-6070 6070 Magazine Street, New Orleans 1281 N Causeway Blvd, Mandeville 8366 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge Mom will love the colorful, woven, and versatile Maya Tote by Shiraleah for toting beach essentials, groceries, or daily must-haves. Roomy interior and lightweight design.

Aucoin Hart aucoinhart.com 1525 Metairie Rd, Metairie Elegant 14k Yellow Gold and Diamond Fashion Hoop Earrings Spring is here and Aucoin Hart Jewelers has sparkle for Mom! Annual Mother’s Day Spring Sale April 29 - May 10.

Earthsavers Spa + Store earthsaversonline.com 3301 Veterans Blvd. Metairie, 504-835-0225 5501 Magazine St., New Orleans, 504-899-8555 Make Mother’s Day unforgettable with the gift of relaxation from Earthsavers Spa + Store. Treat her to gift cards for soothing massages, glowing facials, and more, or choose beautifully wrapped custom gift boxes that bring the spa experience home.

Lakeside Shopping Center lakesideshopping.com 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd.

Metairie Mignon Faget at Lakeside Shopping Center.

Two Big Bows Freshwater Pearl Necklace - $526.

Banner Peach Biwa Freshwater Pearl Necklace - Silver $492, Bronze $250.

Scene by Rhys scenebyrhys.com 1036 Royal Street, New Orleans Spring has sprung, so c’mon down to 1036 Royal Street to pick yourself some fresh Rhys’s! Seen here are live music creations featuring Little Freddie King, Nayo Jones, and Julian Lee. Original art is all we offer, framed or unframed.

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Gulf Coast Travel Destinations

Summer is calling and these Gulf South travel locales are here to provide sun, sand, and fun for all.

Scarlet Pearl Casino Spring is in the air across the Gulf Coast, and at Scarlet Pearl Casino, the fun has just begun.

Enjoy the warm seaside air at the Lava Links Golf Club, 18 holes surrounded by lush gardens, refreshing waterfalls, and an erupting volcano! And when the sun is at its highest, cool off with a refreshing artisan ice pop from Pop Brothers, offering flavors the whole family will enjoy! The combination of vibrant elements and entertaining music offers a one-of-a-kind setting for a memorable day on the course. Please contact 888-752-9772 for details and pricing.

For the brunch and munch crowd, come on down for a swinging good time at Scarlet’s Steaks & Seafood’s Jazz Brunch. Indulge in a delightful brunch experience featuring classic dishes paired with bottomless mimosas and bellinis, all accompanied by the sounds of talented local musicians. For reservations, please call 888-PLAY-SPC or visit opentable.com.

Paradise Beach Homes For over 35 years, Paradise Beach Homes has been the trusted name in vacation rentals on Pensacola Beach and Navarre Beach, Florida.

Whether you’re seeking a cozy condo, a charming townhome, a classic beach cottage, or a luxurious gulf-front home, we offer the perfect getaway for every traveler.

Our carefully curated selection includes pet-friendly properties as well as homes suited for intimate events like weddings and family reunions. With a deep understanding of the Gulf Coast, our team is dedicated to providing exceptional service, local expertise, and a seamless rental experience—so you can focus on making lasting beachside memories.

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Big Bay Lake Big Bay Lake, a one-of-a-kind planned community on one of Mississippi’s largest private recreational lakes, is the perfect solution for those looking to live the “Lake Life” 24/7. Located only 90 minutes from New Orleans, Big Bay Lake’s waterfront and water-view homesites range in price, starting at $50,000, and include several resale homes available for immediate purchase. This is not a short-term rental property but a lasting community providing unique opportunities to create the perfect home or weekend getaway to relax and unplug. Whether you are a boating aficionado, fishing enthusiast, or just a family who loves to make a big splash, come enjoy fun-filled days and star-kissed nights at Big Bay Lake, where the little things make life…“Big!” Call for a boat tour today at 877-4BIG-BAY or visit bigbaylake.com.

The Lodge at Gulf State Park, A Hilton Hotel Here at the Lodge at Gulf State Park, you can reunite with nature.

Enjoy relaxing views of the sugar white sand beaches and emerald waters of the Alabama Gulf Coast or walk or bike our 28 miles of trails through 6,150 acres covering nine ecosystems.

The Lodge is highlighted by 350 guest rooms and suites; 4 dining outlets overlooking the Gulf, live music, a beachside infinity pool, and 40,000 sq ft of event space.

The Lodge is a resilient environmentally friendly coastal development where sustainability and connectivity to the outdoors are a central focus.

To learn more, please call 251-540-4000 or visit Lodgeatgulfstatepark.com.• MYNEWORLEANS.COM / MAY 2025

99

SPONSORED

Women’s Health

These New Orleans healthcare professionals know the importance of state-of-the-art, compassionate care for every phase of a woman’s life.

Saige Birth Center At Saige Birth Center, the only accredited free-standing birth center in New Orleans, local families can choose a natural birth with licensed midwives in a serene and nurturing environment. Midwifery care is rooted in the belief that birth is a normal, natural process. At Saige, they are working to improve the poor maternal and fetal outcomes in the State by advocating for a midwife for every mother. Offering natural birth, water birth, and insurance coverage including Medicaid, they are excited to be a part of your growing family.

Looking for ways to relieve stress, rejuvenate your skin and improve your overall health? Schedule a visit at The Grotteaux, Saige Birth Center’s new salt therapy room. Lean back in the zero gravity chairs with the soothing pink glow of the Himalayan salt bricks as microscopic particles of dry salt fill the air. A session lasts 40 minutes and will leave you as relaxed and uplifted as a day (or three) at the beach. Great for all ages including athletes, pregnant women, and children.

To learn more about Saige Birth Center, please visit saigebirthcenter.com and The Grotteaux at thegrotteaux.com.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana (Louisiana Blue) is devoted to its mission to improve the health and lives of Louisianians. It’s important for women ages 18 and older to have an annual wellness visit with a primary care provider or OB-GYN. This yearly checkup should include a Pap smear to screen for cervical cancer. Depending on your age and

100 MAY 2025 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

health history, your provider may recommend you have a mammogram to screen for breast cancer. Let your healthcare provider know about your menstrual cycle and any changes or unusual symptoms you’ve noticed.

You know your body better than anyone else, so speak up about any concerns and ask any questions you have. Talk about your family and personal medical history. If you have not had a woman’s wellness exam in more than a year, schedule one today at lablue.com.

Tulane Doctors Women’s Services- Lakeside The expert team at Tulane Doctors Women’s Services provides comprehensive care for the challenges faced in every phase of a woman’s life. Specializing in the areas of general obstetrics and gynecology, maternal-fetal medicine, menopause care, reproductive endocrinology and fertility, minimally invasive surgery, female pelvic and reconstructive surgery, and gynecologic oncology, our Tulane Doctors operate on the belief that every woman not only has the right to good obstetric and gynecologic care but that she is an active partner in her care.

Tulane OB/GYN specialists provide routine gynecological care, including annual well visits, and treatment as needed for conditions that cause pelvic or vaginal pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, and other conditions that can affect your health, all in our new, state-of-the-art Lakeside facility. Additionally, our OB/GYN specialists provide care before, during, and after pregnancy. For more information, or to make an appointment, visit tulanewomenshealth.com or call 504-988-4213. •

MAY 2025 A Special Section of New Orleans Magazine WYES-TV/Channel 12 Program & Events Guide

Tune in to the 36th annual broadcast of America’s national night of remembrance to honor the service of generations of our men and women in uniform, our military families, and to pay tribute to all those who have given their lives for our country.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Capital Concerts

Sunday, May 25 at 7pm & 8:30pm

PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS WYES-TV/CHANNEL 12 PROGRAM GUIDE | MAY 2025

Watch all WYES programs on WYES-TV and stream on wyes.org/live and on the free WYES and PBS Apps

MASTERPIECE “Miss Austen” Sunday, May 4 at 8pm Miss Austen takes an historic literary mystery – the notorious burning of Jane Austen’s letters by her sister Cassandra – and reimagines it as a fascinating, witty, and heart-breaking story of sisterly love, while creating in Cassandra a character as captivating as any Austen heroine. Keeley Hawes (The Durrells in Corfu, Bodyguard, Line of Duty) stars as the loyal and loving Cassandra, leading an ensemble cast, in the four-part series. Pictured: Rose Leslie as Isabella, Keeley Hawes as Cassandra Austen, Mirren Mack as Dinah and Jessica Hynes as Mary Austen Photo Credit: Robert Viglasky Photography

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE “Mr. Polaroid” Monday, May 19 at 8pm Explore the life of the inventor of the Polaroid camera, Edwin Land, and one of the most visionary and prolific inventors of the 20th century. At the time of his death in 1991, Land held 535 patents (a number only surpassed

by Thomas Edison and Elihu Thomson). He had also created a new kind of corporate culture that would come to be adopted by a veritable army of dot-com and technology companies who saw Land as their godfather — most notably Apple’s Steve Jobs, who sought Land’s counsel and spoke frequently of his influence. Pictured: Edwin Land demonstrating the Land Camera for the Optical Society of America. April 1947. Photo Credit: Harvard University, Baker Library GREAT PERFORMANCES “Girl from the North Country” Friday, May 23 at 9pm Experience 20 reimagined, legendary Bob Dylan songs including “Forever Young,” “Hurricane,” and “Like A Rolling Stone” in this musical set in 1934 Minnesota where a group of travelers’ lives intersect in a guesthouse filled with music, life and hope. Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy

MILES, MORALE AND MEMORIES: BOB HOPE AND WORLD WAR II Monday, May 26 at 9pm Legendary entertainer Bob Hope and his troupe of performers traveled more than 80,000 miles during World War II to entertain the troops. There were several close calls where Hope and his fellow entertainers were almost killed. The film examines Hope’s impact on World War II and why President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked some of Hollywood’s top radio and movie stars to hold a microphone instead of a gun in the war.

GREAT PERFORMANCES “Kiss Me, Kate” Friday, May 30 at 9pm Enjoy this Cole Porter classic musical featuring iconic songs like “Another Op’nin’, Another Show,” “So In Love” and more. Tony winner Stephanie J. Block and Adrian Dunbar co-star in a backstage romantic comedy directed

by Bartlett Sher. Photo Credit: Johan Persson D2

YEE-HAW! SADDLE UP AND RIDE ON OVER TO WYES FOR THE 2025 GALA!

Thursday, May 8 / 7-10pm WYES, 916 Navarre Avenue, New Orleans

Theme-Inspired or Cocktail Attire Live entertainment

by Parish County Line Entertainment Sponsor Erin and JP Hymel

Tickets and Sponsorships wyes.org/events

Thank you to our co-chairs and presenting sponsor representatives: Back row (l-r): Conor and Dreda Lutkewitte, Noel and Maria Johnson, and Vincent Giardina of the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust; On her horse Benny: Lisa Romano of the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust Front Row: Allie and Duncan Brown

Bid in the online auction May 1-8 at wyes.org PRESENTING SPONSOR PATRON PARTY SPONSOR

BOOTS and BOLOS SPONSOR G.R. McIlhenny Fund

INVITATION SPONSOR

ENTERTAINMENT SPONSOR Erin and JP Hymel

DANCE FLOOR SPONSOR: Paulette and Frank Stewart

LUCKY HORSESHOE SPONSOR Eileen and Joey Devall First Horizon Hancock Whitney IMTT

Auction Sponsor The Rink

AUCTION SPONSOR:

Participation in the gala is not required to bid online—join the excitement from anywhere.

Bidding closes at 10pm on Thursday, May 8th.

BID ONLINE MAY 1-8 AT WYES.ORG Bid on curated chef's dinners and gift certificates from New Orleans' acclaimed chefs and restaurants, collectible wine and spirits, extraordinary experiences, vacations and staycations, fine and fashion jewelry, sporting events and memorabilia, men’s and women's fashions, Carnival collectibles, gifts and home furnishings, original art, prints and artisanal creations, health and beauty, children's items, and more. There is something for everyone.

TUESDAY, MAY 6 Funds raised during Give NOLA Day help support WYES' awardwinning local documentaries, cooking shows, and other quality local programming, plus provide outreach into the community.

Support WYES at any amount during GiveNOLA Day at givenola.org/wyes or by scanning the QR Code.

THANK YOU!

Find out what your Art, Jewelry, Fine Books, Silver and more are worth during...

SATURDAY, JUNE 14 | 10AM-1PM WYES | 916 NAVARRE AVE. $45 — 2 items to be evaluated by an expert + seminars + wine/light bites $100 VIP —includes front of line with 2 evaluations + seminars + wine/light bites $20 Friend of ANTIQUES SHOWCASE—no item appraised + seminars + wine/light bites * Anyone who enters the building MUST have a ticket. No children allowed.

Tickets & more details at wyes.org

WYES has partnered with Collette Travel, a family-owned company.

When you book the below trip, a portion of the cost benefits WYES. Thank you!

Irish Splendor

November 6 — November 13, 2025 • 8 Days • 9 Meals Call: 1-800-581-8942 Refer to booking #: #1335467 Booking deadline: May 7, 2025 Starting at $3,000pp

Included in Price: Round Trip Air from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport

HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE:

Dublin, Blarney Castle, Dingle Peninsula, Farm Visit, Cliffs of Moher, Whiskey Distillery and Castle Stay

PHOTOS BY ABBY PHOTO

CELEBRATING

32 YEARS!

WEDNESDAY, MAY 7

THURSDAY, JUNE 5

TUESDAY, JUNE 10

$165

$165

$135

EXECUTIVE CHEF ARVINDER VILKHU

CHEF DE CUISINE DARREN CHABERT UNDER EXECUTIVE CHEF ERIC COOK

FIRST COURSE MASALA CRAB CAKE Mango-Dijon Dip Rousanne Chardonnay, Stolpman Vineyards Uni, Ballard Canyon, CA SECOND COURSE SPICE-CRUSTED GRILLED GULF FISH Arugula, Roasted Tomato, Fennel, Citrus Vinaigrette Vermentino, Marchesi Antinori, Tenuta Guado Al Tasso, Bolgheri, Tuscany, Italy

Reservations on sale now.

Seats sell out fast.

Grab yours today at wyes.org/events.

Dinner prices include tax and gratuity.

All dinners begin at 6:30pm.

Community Coffee will be provided at each dinner.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

THIRD COURSE PORK LOIN VINDALOO With Aachari Potatoes, PaneerStuffed Cabbage Rolls, Garlic Naan Grenache Blend, Res Fortes, Cotes Catalanes, Languedoc-Rousillon, France FOURTH COURSE UPSIDE-DOWN PINEAPPLE CHUTNEY GATEAUX Warm Vanilla Custard

CIBO DI BENVENUTO BACCALA MENTECATO Whipped Salt Cod on Focaccia, Fried Green Tomato with Burrata & Basil, Stuffed Pepperdew Peppers, Confit Pork & Anchovies, Zucchini Alla Scapece Prosecco ANTIPASTO FRITTELLE di ZUCCHINE Louisiana Blue Crab, Charred Corn, Spring Onion Aioli Pinot Grigio IL PRIMO GNOCCHI e TARTUFI Spring Truffles, Brown Butter, Parmigiano Reggiano Nebbiolo D'Alba IL SECONDO INVOLTINI di PESCE SPADA Grilled Eggplant, Fennel, Caponata Sauce Occhipinti Siccagno Nero d' Avola LA CENA GUANCE di VITELLO BRASATE al VINO BIANCO Braised Veal Cheeks, Mascarpone Polenta, Sumac-Jalapeno Gremolata Barolo/Sangiovese DOLCE ESPRESSO PANNA COTTA Dark Chocolate, Toasted Hazelnut, Zabaione Grassotti Marmirra Amaro

CHEF DE CUISINE JOHN TRINH & EXECUTIVE CHEF PETER ISAAC FIRST COURSE PAN-SEARED SCALLOP Served over Goat Cheese Grit Cake topped with Chardonnay Butter Avissi Prosecco SECOND COURSE BURRATA & HEIRLOOM TOMATO SALAD Burrata, Heirloom Tomatoes, Grilled Peach Slices, Fresh Basil, Drizzled with Extra Virgin Olive Oil Torresella Pinot Grigio THIRD COURSE CHEF JOHN’S OSSO BUCCO Served over Sun-Dried Tomato Polenta Chianti Classico FOURTH COURSE NONNA’S ITALIAN LEMON CAKE Briquette’s Italian Coffee Cocktail Community Coffee, Amaretto & Fresh Whipped Cream

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 11

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18

SUNDAY, JUNE 22

WEDNESDAY, JULY 16

$200

$135

$165

$105

CHEF DE CUISINE JOSEPH MAYNARD

CHEF BOBBI MILLER

EXECUTIVE CHEF SUE ZEMANICK

CHEFS WATARU SAEKI, DANA HONN & CHRISTINA HONN

Enjoy an animation dining experience with TableMotion Studios.

Your tabletop will come magically alive.

FIRST COURSE BURRATA Arugula, Cherry Heirloom Tomatoes, Watermelon Radish, Cucumber, Lemon Dijon Vinaigrette, Basil Pesto, Aged Balsamic, Sea Salt Flakes, Micro Greens Trimbach Gewurztraminer Alsace SECOND COURSE BOUILLABAISSE Shellfish Tomato Broth, PEI Mussels, Littleneck Clams, Jumbo Shrimp, Braised Octopus, Snapper with Saffron-Garlic Rouille Crostini Le Garenne Sancerre THIRD COURSE MAINE LOBSTER TAIL Sous Vide Lobster Tail, Pea Tendrils, Citrus Beurre Blanc, Truffle Oil Bravium Russian River Valley Chardonnay FOURTH COURSE BEEF SHORT RIBS Red Wine-Braised Short Ribs, Creamy Celeriac Mash, Charred Broccolini, Gremolata Flambeaux Zinfandel Dry Creek Valley FIFTH COURSE WARM VALRHONA CHOCOLATE BROWNIE Semifreddo, Cherry Compote, Cashew Nougatine Pierre Ferrand Pineau des Charentes

FIRST COURSE WATERMELON & CRAB GAZPACHO Served with Jumbo Lump Crabmeat Primaterra, Pinot Grigio, Delle Venezie SECOND COURSE CREOLE TOMATO CAPRESE Served with Pesto-Filled Mozzarella Highway 12, Sauvignon Blanc, Sonoma County THIRD COURSE PORK BELLY PORCHETTA Served over Creamy Goat Cheese Grits Line 39 Pinot Noir, California FOURTH COURSE CRISPY SEARED DUCK BREAST Served with Beet Purée, Tri-Colored Carrots, Au Poivre Sauce Juggernaut, Cabernet Sauvignon, California FIFTH COURSE FLOURLESS CHOCOLATE LOAF CAKE Served with Raspberry Coulis Palace Café Coffee Cocktail

FIRST COURSE LITTLE GEM LETTUCES Tomato Confit, Cucumbers, Kalamata Olives, Feta, Champagne-Dijon Vinaigrette Bernard Defaix Sauvignon Blanc, Saint Bris, France SECOND COURSE SAUTEED AMERICAN RED SNAPPER Roasted Sweet Potatoes, Haricots Verts, Spicy Beurre Blanc Ferrari Brut Chardonnay, Trentino, Italy THIRD COURSE BRAISED BEEF SHORT RIB Oyster Mushrooms, Asparagus, Pomme Puree, Truffle DemiGlace Col d’Orcia Sangiovese, Brunello di Montalcino, Italy FOURTH COURSE CHOCOLATE MALT SEMIFREDDO Toasted Marshmallow, Peanut Butter Fudge & Peanuts Rare Wine Co. Historic Series "New York", Malmsey Madiera

FIRST COURSE NIKKEI CEVICHE Gulf fish, Ginger, Tamari, Leche de Tigre, Red Pnion, Aji Amarillo, Aji Limon, Gulf Shrimp Chicharron Poema Cava Brut - Spain SECOND COURSE BUKKAKE UDON Chilled Udon Noodles in a Tamari Aii Broth with Ginger, Scallions & Other Seasonal Toppings Portal da Calçada Rose - Portugal THIRD COURSE CHOICE OF CHASHU PORK OR GULF FISH MISONI Heritage Pork Belly and Shoulder Braised in Soy Sauce and Mirin, Served with Rice or the Day’s Local Catch Simmered in a Ginger Miso Sauce Served with Rice & Roasted Baby Turnips Montebuena Rioja – Spain FOURTH COURSE COCONUT MATCHA ICE CREAM Served with Sesame Brittle

WEEKDAYS ON

1 THURSDAY

3 SATURDAY

6pm PBS NEWS HOUR

3pm GOING BACK TO NEW ORLEANS: THE DEACON JOHN FILM

WYES-TV/CHANNEL 12 PROGRAM GUIDE | MAY 2025

7pm STEPPIN’ OUT 7:30pm BRITISH ANTIQUES ROADSHOW 8pm FATHER BROWN “The Eye of Apollo” (Pt. 5/10) 9pm MISS FISHER’S MURDER MYSTERIES “Death by Miss Adventure” (Pt. 10/13)

May 7 at 10:30am, May 23 at 10am & May 27 at Noon ACOUSTIC ROOSTER AND HIS BARNYARD BAND Based on the book by Emmy award-winning and Newbery award-winning writer Kwame Alexander, the Acoustic Rooster universe includes the one-hour special Acoustic Rooster special on WYES.

5am ARTHUR

10am DONKEY HODIE

5:30am ODD SQUAD

10:30am PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC

6am WILD KRATTS 6:30am ALMA’S WAY 7am LYLA IN THE LOOP 7:30am CARL THE COLLECTOR

11:30am NATURE CAT NOON MOLLY OF DENALI

11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

2 FRIDAY 6pm PBS NEWS HOUR 7pm INFORMED SOURCES 7:30pm LOUISIANA: THE STATE WE’RE IN 8pm WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC

8pm LEGENDS OF NEW ORLEANS: THE MUSIC OF FATS DOMINO

8:30pm FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER 9pm GREAT PERFORMANCES “Now Hear This: Barrios: Chopin of the Guitar” (Pt. 4/4) Explore Agustin Barrios’ rise from rural Paraguay to becoming a pioneering guitar composer.

8:30am ROSIE’S RULES

1pm DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD

9am SESAME STREET

1:30pm ARTHUR

11pm STEPPIN’ OUT

9:30am WORK IT OUT WOMBATS!

12:30pm XAVIER RIDDLE AND THE SECRET MUSEUM

6pm THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW “1939 Music in the Skies” 7pm LEGENDS OF NEW ORLEANS MUSIC: THE MUSIC OF ALLEN TOUSSAINT, DR. JOHN & THE NEVILLE BROTHERS

10pm WES BOUND: THE GENIUS OF WES MONTGOMERY Discover the story of the legendary jazz guitarist and composer Wes Montgomery, told through the eyes of his youngest child, Robert Montgomery.

8am DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD

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11am ELINOR WONDERS WHY

10pm THE PARIS MURDERS, SEASON 2 “Predators” (Pt. 11/12) In French with English subtitles.

4:30pm IRMA: MY LIFE IN MUSIC spotlights the GRAMMY Award-winning artist’s amazing 60-year career. The documentary includes interviews with Irma Thomas herself, as well as archival and new interviews from many of her colleagues. Archival performance footage is also included. The program is produced by Michael Murphy Productions with the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation. Photo Credit: Owen Murphy, Jr.

11:30pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

9pm INDEPENDENT LENS “We Want the Funk” Some of the best funk artists in history—like James Brown, George Clinton, Labelle and Afrofunk star Fela Kuti—are featured in this musical voyage showing funk’s early roots to the explosion of ‘70s urban funk and beyond. *Join WYES for a free community screening on May 17 at 4pm at the Andre Cailloux Center for Performing Arts and Cultural Justice.

Details at wyes.org/events. Pictured: Musician and lead of ParliamentFunkadelic, George Clinton. Photo Credit: Firelight Films

7pm ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Celebrating Asian-Pacific Heritage” 8pm ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Santa Clara” (Hour 3/3)

7pm NATURE “Hummingbirds of Hollywood” A woman finds herself on a journey as she nurtures wounded hummingbirds, unraveling a tale of love, fragility, healing and beauty in acts of kindness. Photo Credit: Zachary Ruddell / © WildBear Entertainment Pty Ltd and Dogwoof Ltd

4 SUNDAY 7pm CALL THE MIDWIFE, SEASON 14 (Pt. 6/8) It’s September 1970 and the local dustbin strike leads to a refuse site established outside Nonnatus House. With Rosalind unwell, Joyce takes over her rounds, including a visit to a rude patient who resents being examined by her.

HIGHLIGHT 8pm MASTERPIECE “Miss Austen” (Pt. 1/4) Based on Gill Hornby’s best-selling novel, this period drama brings a fresh and intimate perspective to the Austen sisters’ lives — their joys, heartaches and the passions that would shape Jane’s iconic novels. In the first episode, why is Cassandra Austen determined to find the letters her sister Jane wrote to her friend Eliza? Pictured: Keeley Hawes as Cassandra Austen Photo Credit: Robert Viglasky Photography 9pm MARIE ANTOINETTE, SEASON 2 “Madame Deficit” (Pt. 7/8) Marie Antoinette deals with personal grief.

Political turmoil, a struggling economy, and personal attacks push Louis toward a nervous breakdown.

10pm VELVET “The Remains of the Shipwreck” (Pt. 11/16) In Spanish with English subtitles.

11:30pm BRITISH ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

5 MONDAY 6pm PBS NEWS HOUR

9pm INDEPENDENT LENS “Matter of Mind: My Alzheimer’s” is an intimate portrayal of three families confronting the unique challenges of Alzheimer’s and reveals how roles evolve when one life partner or adult child becomes a caregiver. Photo Credit: Vanessa Carr 10pm THE NIGHTLIFE THAT WAS 11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

6 TUESDAY 6pm PBS NEWS HOUR 7pm FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. “Children of Exile” 8pm PATI JINICH EXPLORES PANAMERICANA “Juneau & Whitehorse – Sister Cities” (Pt. 2/3) Chef Pati finds a pioneering culture of artistry and entrepreneurship thriving alongside the unforgiving wilderness.

8pm NOVA “Ultimate Crash Test: Countdown” (Pt. 1/2) In this two-part special, a first-of-its-kind staged pileup sheds new light on car safety. See what the scientists, engineers and accident investigators find about driver behavior and vehicle design that could save lives.

9pm BUGS THAT RULE THE WORLD “Insect Apocalypse” (Pt. 1/4) Scientists and enthusiasts investigate the global insect “apocalypse,” revealing the crucial roles bugs play on our planet and the bleak picture future without them.

WYES-TV/CHANNEL 12 PROGRAM GUIDE | MAY 2025

11pm ACL 10TH ANNUAL HALL OF FAME HONORS GARTH BROOKS Austin City Limits Hall of Fame honoree Garth Brooks shares classics and the stories behind the songs in an epic, singalong hour for the series’ 50th. The country superstar performs career highlights including “The Dance” and “Friends in Low Places.”

10pm STAY TUNED: NEW ORLEANS’ CLASSIC TV COMMERCIALS Revisit memorable commercials that help tell the story of TV advertising in New Orleans. Narrated by Ronnie Virgets.

11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

8 THURSDAY 6pm PBS NEWS HOUR

9pm FRONTLINE “Antidote” 10:30pm HISTORY WITH DAVID RUBENSTEIN 11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

7 WEDNESDAY 6pm PBS NEWS HOUR

7pm STEPPIN’ OUT Host and producer Peggy Scott Laborde welcomes regular guests Poppy Tooker, Alan Smason, plus new roundtable visitors every week to discuss New Orleans restaurants, arts

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WYES-TV/CHANNEL 12 PROGRAM GUIDE | MAY 2025

SATURDAYS ON

9am LOUISIANA COASTAL COOKING The new cooking series explores the foodways of the Louisiana Gulf Coast through a 13-part road trip to restaurants, small communities and remote places to showcase the regional cuisine of the state’s bayous and waterways. Pictured: Gulf Shrimp and Vegetable Tacos from Chef Dana Honn of Carmo

5am MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD 5:30am ARTHUR 6am WILD KRATTS 6:30am ALMA’S WAY 7am J. SCHWANKE’S LIFE IN BLOOM

10:30am CHEF PAUL PRUDHOMME'S ALWAYS COOKING 11am LIDIA’S KITCHEN 11:30am AMERICA’S TEST KITCHEN FROM COOK’S ILLUSTRATED NOON COOK’S COUNTRY

7:30am 12:30pm WOODSMITH SHOP CHRISTOPHER KIMBALL'S MILK 8am STREET TELEVISION THIS OLD HOUSE 1pm 8:30am GREAT CHEFS ASK THIS OLD 1:30pm HOUSE AMERICA THE BOUNTIFUL 9am LOUISIANA COASTAL COOKING 2pm LIFE OF LOI: MEDITERRANEAN 9:30am SECRETS KEVIN BELTON’S COOKIN’ LOUISIANA 2:30pm HOMEMADE LIVE 10am THE DOOKY CHASE 3pm KITCHEN: LEAH’S VARIOUS LEGACY PROGRAMMING 4pm NOVA

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DIAL 12 | January 2019

and entertainment. All episodes are archived on WYES’ YouTube channel.

Pictured: Peggy Scott Laborde talks with one of the founding members of the Meters, guitarist Leo Nocentelli, and his band.

10 SATURDAY 6pm THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW “Salute to the Ladies”

7:30pm BRITISH ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

7pm ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Celebrating Asian-Pacific Heritage”

8pm FATHER BROWN “The Bride of Christ” (Pt. 6/10)

8pm FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. “Children of Exile”

9pm MISS FISHER’S MURDER MYSTERIES “Blood and Circuses” (Pt. 11/13)

9pm THE VIETNAM WAR “This is What We Do” (Pt. 5/10)

10pm THE PARIS MURDERS, SEASON 2 “For Always” (Pt. 12/12) In French with English subtitles.

10:30pm LIFE OF A MUSICIAN “Kristy Cox: House Concert”

11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

9 FRIDAY 6pm PBS NEWS HOUR 7pm INFORMED SOURCES 7:30pm LOUISIANA: THE STATE WE’RE IN 8pm WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC 8:30pm FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER

9pm GREAT PERFORMANCES “Next to Normal” Experience this Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway musical directed by Michael Longhurst from London’s Donmar Warehouse.

Grammy nominee Caissie Levy stars in the story of a suburban family struggling with the effects of mental illness. Photo Credit: Marc Brenner 11:30pm STEPPIN’ OUT

11pm AUSTIN CITY LIMITS “Maren Morris”

11 SUNDAY 7pm CALL THE MIDWIFE, SEASON 14 (Pt. 7/8) Joyce faces a disciplinary hearing over a recent complaint. Dr. Turner volunteers at a methadone clinic to treat heroin addiction. Meanwhile, the Turners get news of May’s adoption hearing, and Sister Catherine is invited to take her first vows.

8pm MASTERPIECE “Miss Austen” (Pt. 2/4) Cassandra’s determination to keep Jane’s letters private is joined by a second objective: securing a home for Isabella. After a trip to town, Cassandra falls ill, and the past comes crashing in with her recollections of the difficult years.

9pm MARIE ANTOINETTE, SEASON 2 “The End of the Beginning” (Pt. 8/8) Amid the revolution’s advance, Marie Antoinette struggles to support Louis’s rule. When he succumbs to depression, she bravely steps up to rule in his place, proving she is the last man standing—ready for whatever comes next. Photo Credit: Caroline Dubois / Capa Drama / Canal Plus

10pm VELVET “The Visitor” (Pt. 12/16) In Spanish with English subtitles.

11:30pm BRITISH ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

6pm PBS NEWS HOUR

16 FRIDAY

6pm PBS NEWS HOUR

6pm PBS NEWS HOUR

7pm NATURE “My Garden of a Thousand Bees”

7pm INFORMED SOURCES

8pm NOVA “Ultimate Crash Test: Impact” (Pt. 2/2)

7pm ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Never Seen That Before”

7:30pm LOUISIANA: THE STATE WE’RE IN 8pm WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC 8:30pm FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER

8pm ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Charleston” (Hour 1/3) 9pm A WORLD’S FAIR TO REMEMBER 10pm INDEPENDENT LENS “And So It Begins” See how the Philippines’ tense presidential race became the nation’s fight for its soul.

9pm BUGS THAT RULE THE WORLD “Lifegivers” (Pt. 2/4) Dive into the colorful world of Earth’s essential pollinators – bees, moths, and butterflies.

Photo Credit: Ann Johnson Prum

11:30pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

10pm STREETCAR STORIES

13 TUESDAY 6pm PBS NEWS HOUR 7pm FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. “Far from Home” 8pm PATI JINICH EXPLORES PANAMERICANA “Alberta—Canada’s Changing Heartland” (Pt. 3/3)

11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

15 THURSDAY 6pm PBS NEWS HOUR 7pm STEPPIN’ OUT 7:30pm BRITISH ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

9pm EPIC TRAIN JOURNEYS FROM ABOVE “Canada’s Wilderness Railroad”

8pm FATHER BROWN “The Devil’s Dust” (Pt. 7/10)

10pm MY ASCENSION A 16-year-old varsity cheerleader from Louisiana who attempts suicide and is left paralyzed shares her experience to help other young people find hope and stay alive.

9pm MISS FISHER’S MURDER MYSTERIES “Murder in the Dark” (Pt. 12/13)

11pm AMACHE: AN AMERICAN INJUSTICE tells the story of the unjust incarceration of 120,000 innocent Japanese Americans during World War II after the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

11:30pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

10pm MASTERPIECE “Unforgotten, Season 4” (Pt. 1/6) This crime-drama stars Nicola Walker and Sanjeev Bhaskar as lead characters DCI Cassie Stuart and DS Sunil “Sunny” Khan.

11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

9pm GREAT PERFORMANCES “Yellow Face” Enjoy Tony Award-winner David Henry Hwang’s comedy starring Daniel Dae Kim as an Asian American playwright who protests “yellowface” casting in the musical “Miss Saigon” only to mistakenly cast a white actor as the Asian lead in his own play. Photo Credit: Joan Marcus

WYES-TV/CHANNEL 12 PROGRAM GUIDE | MAY 2025

12 MONDAY

14 WEDNESDAY

11pm STEPPIN’ OUT 11:30pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

17 SATURDAY 6pm THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW “America the Beautiful” 7pm ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Never Seen That Before” 8pm FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. “Far from Home” 9pm THE VIETNAM WAR “Things Fall Apart” (Pt. 6/10) 10:30pm LIFE OF A MUSICIAN “Sammy Shelor” 11pm AUSTIN CITY LIMITS “Pavement”

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SUNDAYS ON

18 SUNDAY

Polaroid camera. Introduced in 1948, it revolutionized amateur photography, making it instant and accessible to all.

Photo Credit: Harvard University, Baker Library

WYES-TV/CHANNEL 12 PROGRAM GUIDE | MAY 2025

9pm NEW ORLEANS FOOD MEMORIES

11am LOUISIANA COASTAL COOKING Each episode in the new cooking series celebrates the bounty of Southeast Louisiana and raises awareness about coastal restoration through the lens of food. Restaurants include Pêche, GW Fins, Drago’s, Carmo, Spahr’s, Restaurant R’evolution, Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House, Pascal’s Manale and more. Pictured: Chef Nicole Cabrera Mills of Pêche

5am MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD

9:30am INFORMED SOURCES

5:30am ARTHUR

10am VARIOUS PROGRAMMING

6am WILD KRATTS 6:30am ALMA’S WAY 7am LYLA IN THE LOOP 7:30am CARL THE COLLECTOR 8am WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC 8:30am LOUISIANA: THE STATE WE’RE IN 9am FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER

D16

11am LOUISIANA COASTAL COOKING 11:30am THE DOOKY CHASE KITCHEN: LEAH’S LEGACY NOON ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

7pm CALL THE MIDWIFE, SEASON 14 (Pt. 8/8) The challenges of midwifery hit close to home when a Mother and Baby Home is evacuated. Meanwhile, Nancy’s wedding plans take a surprising turn, and Sister Catherine takes her First Vows. Pictured: Fred Buckle (Cliff Parisi) Sister Catherine (Molly Vevers) Photo Credit: BBC Studios 8pm MASTERPIECE “Miss Austen” (Pt. 3-4/4) In the third episode, through her fevered delirium, Cassandra guards Jane’s letters from her sisterin-law Mary Austen. In the final episode, Cassandra uncovers the truth about Isabella and Lidderdale’s past. Dinah makes a reckless decision.

Upon arriving back at Chawton, Cassandra takes a final step to protect Jane’s legacy.

10pm VELVET “Blue Velvet” (Pt. 13/16) In Spanish with English subtitles.

11:30pm BRITISH ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

19 MONDAY 6pm PBS NEWS HOUR 7pm ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Junk in the Trunk 14”

11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

20 TUESDAY 6pm PBS NEWS HOUR 7pm FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. “Larger Than Life” Research into the ancestry of singer Lea Salonga and actress Amanda Seyfried reveals relatives who survived heart-wrenching ordeals.

8pm DEADLOCK (Pt. 1/4) 9pm FRONTLINE “Hurricane Helen’s Deadly Warning” 10pm SANIBEL ISLAND’S STORE 11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

21 WEDNESDAY 6pm PBS NEWS HOUR 7pm NATURE “Equus: Story of the Horse: Origins” (Pt. 1/2)

1pm RICK STEVES’ EUROPE 1:30pm SAMANTHA BROWN'S PLACES TO LOVE

10pm INDEPENDENT LENS “Who is Michael Jang?” During the pandemic, San Francisco photographer Michael Jang sets out to share his hidden treasure of candid celebrity shots and a downto-earth cross-section of Chinese American family life.

HIGHLIGHT

8pm AMERICAN EXPERIENCE “Mr. Polaroid” Meet Edwin Land, a pioneering tech disruptor and inventor of the midcentury icon, the

8pm NOVA “Decoding the Universe: Cosmos” 9pm BUGS THAT RULE THE WORLD “Eat or Be Eaten” (Pt. 3/4) explores the ruthless world of insects, focusing on their survival strategies and predatorprey relationships, including stealth, cleverness and weapons

9pm THE VIETNAM WAR “The Veneer of Civilization” (Pt. 7/10) 11pm AUSTIN CITY LIMITS “Adrian Quesada: Boleros Psicodelicos”

10pm GREEKS IN NEW ORLEANS: 150 YEARS OF HOLY TRINITY honors the birth of the oldest church in the western hemisphere, Holy Trinity. *Greek Festival New Orleans marks its 50th anniversary this year.

Share the milestone at Holy Trinity on May 23-25. Pictured: Greek Fest 1974

7:30pm LOUISIANA: THE STATE WE’RE IN 8pm WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC 8:30pm FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER

11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

22 THURSDAY 6pm PBS NEWSHOUR 7pm STEPPIN’ OUT 7:30pm BRITISH ANTIQUES ROADSHOW 8pm FATHER BROWN “The Face of Death” (Pt. 8/10) 9pm MISS FISHER’S MURDER MYSTERIES “King Memses’ Curse” (Pt. 13/13) With all her friends in mortal danger, Phryne finds herself in a race to understand Murdoch Foyle’s objective in toying with her.

10pm MASTERPIECE “Unforgotten, Season 4” (Pt. 2/6) 11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

23 FRIDAY 6pm PBS NEWS HOUR

25 SUNDAY

HIGHLIGHT 9pm GREAT PERFORMANCES “Girl from the North Country” Experience 20 reimagined, legendary Bob Dylan songs including “Forever Young,” “Hurricane,” and “Like A Rolling Stone” in this musical set in 1934 Minnesota where a group of travelers’ lives intersect in a guesthouse filled with music, life and hope. Photo Credit: Matthew Murphy 11:30pm STEPPIN’ OUT

24 SATURDAY 6pm THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW “The Songs of Cole Porter”

HIGHLIGHT 7pm NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT America’s national night of remembrance live from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol brings us together as one family of Americans to honor the service of generations of our men and women in uniform, our military families, and to pay tribute to all those who have given their lives for our country. The 2025 concert features personal stories and tributes interwoven with musical performances by world-renowned artists and the National Symphony Orchestra to commemorate the real meaning of the holiday. Photo Credit: Capital Concerts

WYES-TV/CHANNEL 12 PROGRAM GUIDE | MAY 2025

7pm INFORMED SOURCES WYES’ longest running series, now in its 41st year, continues to share the top news stories in our area. Marcia Kavanaugh is host.

Errol Laborde is producer and panelist.

8:30pm NATIONAL MEMORIAL DAY CONCERT 10pm VELVET “Compassionate Lies” (Pt. 14/16) In Spanish with English subtitles.

11:30pm BRITISH ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

26 MONDAY

7pm ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Junk in the Trunk 14”

6pm PBS NEWS HOUR

8pm FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. “Larger Than Life”

7pm ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Charleston” (Hour 2-3/3)

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HIGHLIGHT

28 WEDNESDAY 6pm PBS NEWS HOUR

8:30pm FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER

WYES-TV/CHANNEL 12 PROGRAM GUIDE | MAY 2025

7pm NATURE “Equus: Story of the Horse: Chasing the Wind” (Pt. 2/2) 9pm MILES, MORALE AND MEMORIES: BOB HOPE AND WORLD WAR II examines Hope’s impact on World War II and why President Franklin D. Roosevelt asked some of Hollywood’s top radio and movie stars to hold a microphone instead of a gun in the war.

10pm FOUNDED ON FRIENDSHIP & FREEDOM: THE NATIONAL WORLD WAR II MUSEUM focuses on the legacy of two friends: Dr. Gordon “Nick” Mueller, the National WWII Museum Founding President and CEO Emeritus, and Dr. Stephen Ambrose, the best-selling author and historian who died in 2002.

11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

9pm BUGS THAT RULE THE WORLD “Beatlemania” (Pt. 4/4) Are beetles truly ‘the most important species on the planet’?

10pm THE NIGHTLIFE THAT WAS 11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

29 THURSDAY 6pm PBS NEWS HOUR

27 TUESDAY

7pm STEPPIN’ OUT

6pm PBS NEWS HOUR

7:30pm BRITISH ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

7pm FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR. “Stranger than Fiction”

8pm FATHER BROWN “The Mayor and the Magician” (Pt. 9/10)

8pm AMERICAN MASTERS “Tyrus Wong” Learn more about the artist who inspired the look of Disney’s “Bambi.”

9:30pm INDEPENDENT LENS “Free for All: The Public Library” tells the story of the quiet revolutionaries who made a simple idea happen. The film is director by New Orleans native Dawn Logsdon.

10:30pm THE 89TH ANNUAL ANISFIELD-WOLF BOOK AWARD Pulitzer Prize Winner, United States Poet Laureate and bestselling author Natasha Trethewey hosts the documentary that looks at the only national juried prize recognizing literature that has made important contributions to our understanding of racism and human diversity.

11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

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8pm NOVA “Decoding the Universe: Quantum” Dive into the universe at the tiniest – and weirdest – of scales.

HIGHLIGHT 9pm GREAT PERFORMANCES “Kiss Me, Kate” Enjoy this Cole Porter classic musical featuring iconic songs like “Another Op’nin’, Another Show,” “So in Love” and more. Tony Award-winner Stephanie J. Block and Adrian Dunbar co-star in a backstage romantic comedy directed by Bartlett Sher. Photo Credit: Johan Persson

31 SATURDAY 6pm THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW

9pm MISS FISHER’S MURDER MYSTERIES, SEASON 2 “Murder Most Scandalous” (Pt. 1/13) 10pm MASTERPIECE “Unforgotten, Season 4” (Pt. 3/6) 11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

30 FRIDAY 6pm PBS NEWS HOUR 7pm INFORMED SOURCES 7:30pm LOUISIANA: THE STATE WE’RE IN 8pm WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC

7pm JOE BONAMASSA: MUDDY WOLF AT RED ROCKS See the 2014 tribute to Chicago blues legends Muddy Waters and Howlin’ Wolf at the gorgeous Red Rocks Amphitheatre in Colorado. Photo Credit: Christie Goodwin 8:30pm BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN & THE E STREET BAND: NO NUKES See the band perform at the Musicians United for Safe Energy (MUSE) benefit concert in 1979.

10:30pm STEVIE RAY VAUGHAN AND DOUBLE TROUBLE LIVE AT THE EL MOCAMBO Watch an intense, high-powered performance from Stevie Ray’s early days, featuring “Testify,” “Texas Flood,” “Wham!” and more.

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D19

Insincerely Yours

BY MIKE SCOTT/ ART BY BONNIE WONG

Dear New Orleans, When this series of missives begun two Mardis Gras ago, faithful readers may remember, the stated goal was to attempt to explain New Orleans and its myriad cultural eccentricities to cities with the unfortunate distinction of not being New Orleans.

That eternal mission continues. But sometimes, it would appear, a little selfreflection is called for. Sometimes, one must look at the man in the backbar mirror.

This is one of those times. Consider the musings that follow an epistolary note to self – because, New Orleans, we need to have a word.

My current dyspepsia is rooted in the unveiling earlier this year of the 50 names constituting the inaugural class of inductees into the New Orleans Walk of Fame.

For those unfamiliar with this admittedly derivative but nonetheless wonderful project – the brainchild of music mogul Percy “Master P” Miller – these First 50 were selected by an eight-member selection committee and will be honored with fleur-de-lis plaques designed by local artist Brandan “BMIKE” Odoms. Said plaques will be inset into the sidewalk of Canal Street for all to appreciate.

The lone qualification for inclusion: Inductees must have made a significant contribution to New Orleans and/or Louisiana culture.

Admirably, the inaugural list represents a wide range of disciplines. There are musicians. There are chefs. There are thespians. There are athletes, entrepreneurs and civic activists.

Now, I would never be so ill-mannered as to take issue with any specific name on

Ask Mike

Have a question or a thought to share about New Orleans etiquette or tradition? I’d love to hear it. Email it to mike@ myneworleans.com

120 MAY 2025 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

Words Matter Where are the writers?

said list. Yes, there are those whose inclusion one might question. In a way, that is the point of such lists. The resulting conversations are good things, especially with as diverse a list as the First 50.

What I will take issue with, however, is one glaring and inexcusable omission. In short: Where are the writers?

Granted, there are those among the First 50 whose jobs have involved writing in some capacity – including songwriters (Allen Toussaint), screenwriters (Tyler Perry), a broadcaster (Bryant Gumbel) – but for each of those, writing was merely one facet of a separate legacy. Despite the city’s rich literary traditions, however, nowhere on the list appears a single full-time literarist.

That is a disappointment. Excluding those people of letters whose pens have served such a crucial role in exporting the city’s culture to audiences far and wide is to overlook New Orleans’ status as one of America’s great literary cities.

Simply put, New Orleans would not be the place it is were it not for the work of its writers.

Perhaps no scribe is more deserving of recognition than Lafcadio Hearn. He was not so blessed as to be a New Orleans native, but his writings – circulated widely among periodicals of the late 1800s – are credited with creating the

moss-draped mystique by which much of the world defines South Louisiana.

His work was so highly regarded in his day that The New York Times enlisted Hearn to pen its 1881 obituary for Marie Laveau (who also did not make the First 50, by the way).

Similarly, where is Anne Rice, whose works further defined New Orleans to the world a century after Hearn?

William Faulkner penned his first novel, “Soldier’s Pay,” in a house on Pirate Alley.

Tennessee Williams – who is honored with an eponymous local literary festival every spring – wrote the Pulitzer-winning “A Streetcar Named Desire” while ensconced at 632½ St. Peter St. And if there is not already a spot reserved for Williams’ fellow Pulitzer winner John Kennedy Toole’s plaque beneath the clock at Holmses, my pyloric valve just might explode.

The list of ink-stained New Orleanians deserving of recognition goes on.

Consequently, so shall I: Peter Finney. Ernest Gaines. Dorothy Dix. George Washington Cable. Mona Lisa Saloy. Frances Parkinson Keyes. Lyle Saxon. Stephen Ambrose. Alcée Fortier. Jim Henderson. Kate Chopin. Chris Rose. Walker Percy. Kalamu ya Salaam.

I will stipulate that not all should have been included on the list of inaugural inductees. But on a list that includes three Mannings and a pair each of Bensons and Morials, room certainly could have been made to honor New Orleans’ literary tradition by including some of them. One of them, at least.

And people wonder why writers drink.

Fortunately, this First 50 oversight can easily be remedied. Whether because of all that booze or because writers are inherently needy, all will be mostly forgotten should their lot be represented on next year’s list of inductees.

And, ideally, the one after that – and the one after that and after that and …

Insincerely yours, New Orleans