New Orleans Magazine April 2024 by Renaissance Publishing

APRIL 2024 NEW ORLEANS MAGAZINE APRIL 2024 SPRING FASHION FESTIVAL GUIDE NOLA NEIGHBORHOODS MYNEWORLEANS.COM

watch the true story of the British Post Office's

prosecution of

of its own local managers for theft and fraud after money seemed to disappear from branches. Starring BAFTA-winner Toby Jones, the four-part series airs on Sundays, April 7 – 28 at 8pm on WYES-TV and will stream on wyes.org/live and on the WYES and PBS Apps.

On the cover:

Dancing to the blues Bandana printed linen tulle set from Zimmermann makes us want to fest the day away. We love it layered with a bikini top and crystal necklaces for a more boho look. Zimmermann top

Bikini

Photograph

6 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM Contents

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APRIL 20 24 / VOLUME 5 8 / NUMBER 7 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 of $40 or more to WYES-TV/Channel 12, $10.00 of which is used to offset the cost of publication. 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 © 2024 New Orleans Magazine. 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. FEATURES 28 Fest Dressed Spring fashion and accessories Melissa Coleman 32 Best Fests 2024 Food, fun and artistic flair Amy Kirk Duvoisin

Won't You Be My Neighbor? What's in a name? Mike Scott STANDARDS 8 From the Editor Festing Season 10 Julia Street Poor Boys and Women in Bronze 12 Marquee Top Things to Do 14 Bar Tab Best Bars, Drinks & More 16 The Dish News from NOLA Kitchens 18 Style Fringe Benefits 20 Persona Rene Louapre and Becker Hall 22 Modine Business Matters 24 New Orleans Playbook On Track 26 Vintage 1882 42 Travel Total Eclipse of the Sun 44 Home Advice Benton Williams 46 Growing Pains The Penultimate 48 Table Talk Decadent Delights 50 Cheers Gin Up! 52 Nosh Cooking with Love 80 Streetcar Ponchartrain Beach

the new

series “Mr Bates vs The Post Office” viewers

unjust

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and skirt at Joseph Stores

top,

Crystal necklaces,

Marysia.

Peony Nola. Model: Emma Burg

by Theresa Cassagne 48 14 18 44

FROM THE EDITOR

Aside from the festivities of Carnival, spring festival season may be the best time of the year to celebrate the city in all of its glory. From Jazz Fest at the Fairgrounds to French Quarter Fest and the Creole Tomato Festivals in the Vieux Carré to the Bayou Boogaloo along Bayou St. John, there’s something for everyone.

Our April issue gives readers a handy guide to our favorite spring fests, as well as some destination road trips nearby. We also give you a style guide to make sure your festival 'fit is ready to go (and ready to navigate both sunny and rainy weather).

We also celebrate New Orleans neighborhoods. Ever wonder, “Why is Gert Town called Gert Town?” Or, “What is the Black Pearl?” From the Bywater to Uptown and around, we take a deep dive into what’s behind the names and places that make out NOLA neighborhoods so distinct.

As always, we have our usual round-up of news, information, personalities, recipes and much more to help with your own spring celebration.

It’s a great time to get out, soak up some food, music, art and New Orleans culture. Get out there and have fun! And don’t forget your umbrella… and sunscreen!

Send us a line!

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

@neworleansmag

This month only new subscribers get their first year for only $5.

*Must order online, new subscribers only – not good for renewals, expires April 30, 2024.

ONLINE

New blog! Renaissance Publishing digital columnist Jeremy Marshall recently debuted “Screen Time,” our latest lifestyle blog. Get inside information, news and reviews about movies, film festivals, local productions and more. Check it out!

Best of Dining

Looking for your new favorite spring lunch spot, neighborhood café or dining with family and friends? MyNewOrleans.com is your one-stop for all of our latest picks for top dining spots, best eats and more across New Orleans and beyond.

NOSH

Check out our Instagram for an inside-the-kitchen look and how-to tips from the chef for each month’s NOSH recipe. This month, we feature the classic crawfish bisque from legendary chef John Folse’s kitchen.

Editors' Picks

This month, our editors chime in on their favorite snoball spots, festival tips and tricks and more. See if your favorites made the list!

8 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

SUBSCRIPTION

Poor Boys and Women in Bronze

Hi Julia,

Which is it, “poor boy” or “po-boy”?

- Fred St. Claire, New Orleans

It depends if you’re a purist concerned about the historic integrity of the language or if you are content with the devolution of words. The terms “poor boy” originated from Martin Brothers Coffee Stand which opened in the French Quarter in 1922. The bothers, Benny and Clovis, had previously been streetcar conductors a fact that would be critical to the story to follow. In 1929 there was a contentious strike by streetcar workers. The brothers were sympathetic and began offered sandwiches, served on a loaf, for free to the strikers. Why? Because they were “poor boys.” Hence the name was applied to the sandwich.

Overtime, however, the bastardized version of the name began to dominate. One theory was because that was how the name sounded when spoken in the local dialect. Poydras thinks it was because the blackboard type menu signs did not have much space, so “po-boys” became the shortened version. Unfortunately, overtime the wrong term began to dominate. That’s a shame because the true term is much more applicable to the sandwich’s history.

several orphanages in New Orleans by the late 19th century. She too had been orphaned at an early age. A blessing for her would be a failing bakery that she took over and made into a success. That gave her income; much was donated to charities. She also provided bread for the orphanages. Margret died on February 3, 1882. Her life was deemed to be so remarkable that she was given a state funeral. The bishop, the mayor and the Lt. Governor led the procession. Children from the orphan asylums were also in the procession. Eventually a movement was started to create a statue of her. A site was located at the intersections of Clio, Prytania and Clio streets.

Send us your questions!

Poydras is looking for something to do. Send your questions to julia@ myneworleans. com and be sure to include your name and information. For the subject line use: Julia and Poydras Question.

To its credit Parkway Bakery (located at 538 Hagan Street at the corner of Toulouse near Bayou St. John) still uses the term “poor boy.” The place also makes a damn good sandwich, perhaps the city’s best. Bless them. Preserving historic accuracy can be a lonely vigil. While waiting, a shrimp poor boy can be good for nourishment—also the roast beef.

Hi Julia,

Other than saints or other religious figures what would you say are the most important local statues of women?

- Greta O'Keefe, Metairie

Ahem!!! I am too modest to suggest that I should be, but I am sure my day will come. There are two statues that come to mind; one that is most famous for the sculptor the other Is best know for the person.

The latter would be Margaret Gaffney Haughery (1813-1882) who was known as the” bread woman of the orphans.” The Irish immigrant would open

The statue shows Margaret seated with children around her. IT was unveiled July 9, 1884. This year is the 140th anniversary. Margaret’s monument is recognized as the first publicly erected statue of a woman in the United States, and also the first monument to an American female philanthropist and is, of course, and the only known statue to a baker.

The other statue is that of a composite character, Molly Marine. The statue was sculpted by Enrique Alferez, the great Mexican artist who was responsible for much of the city’s outdoor deco outdoor art, especially in City Park. Molly is out of character with Alferez’s other work but is nevertheless a fine piece of art saluting members of the Marine Corp’s women Reserve. The statue, which has been located on Canal Street at Elk’s Place, was the first sculpture in the nation of a woman in a military uniform. It was dedicated in November 1943. Because of war time restrictions it was made from concrete. Later a bronze replica was made of the original.

An inscription on the base says: “Dedicated To The Women Who Have Earned The Title, Marine.” Molly’s influence would spread, replicas of the New Orleans statue were made and now stand at the Marine base in Quantico, Virginia and at the Marine base in Parris Island, S.C.

Molly’s influence would spread.

She would be a classic. So was Alferez. He did his work on Molly for free.

Associate Publisher Kate Henry

Editorial

Editor Ashley McLellan

Creative Director Tiffani Reding Amedeo

Digital Media Editor Kelly Massicot

Style Editor Andy Myer

Executive Editor Errol Laborde

Contributing Writers Jyl Benson, Cheré Coen, Lee Cutrone, Fritz Esker, Scott Gold, John Kemp, Misty Milioto, Liz Scott Monaghan, Elizabeth Pearce, Eve Crawford Peyton

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

Classic Twists

Napoleon House, famous for introducing the traditional British drink—the Pimm’s Cup—to its bar menu in the 1940s, has added a sister version to its menu. The Louie Louie Pimm’s Cup is a non-alcoholic version that instead features locally crafted Louie Louie Good Time Seltzers made with 5mg of THC and 5mg of CBD. The drink also includes Dhōs Gin Free, house-made lemonade, a splash of lemon-lime soda and cucumber. Meanwhile, Brennan’s has reintroduced its original brunch cocktail, the Bloody Bull, created by Owen Brennan in the 1950s when he substituted house-made beef broth for the bouillon cube. 500 Chartres St., 504-524-9752, napoleonhouse.com; 417 Royal St., 504-525-9711, brennansneworleans.com

Going for the Gold

The third annual New Orleans Spirits Competition is now accepting submissions for the 2024 awards program celebrated at Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans July 21-26. Open to all classes of spirits (both domestic and international) and judged by a panel of esteemed industry experts and luminaries, the international competition aims to bring wider recognition to fine spirits from top-flight producers across the globe. Final deadlines for submissions is April 26 for entries within the U.S., and categories include whisky, rum, brandy, gin, baijiu, liqueurs, specialty spirits, no-and-low alcohol and ready-to-drink cocktails. Following last year’s successful live judging, TOTC will once again allow the audience to witness the discussions and debates that go into choosing a winning spirit through blind tastings. NOSC also will double its presence at TOTC this year and increase the number of spirits being judged. nolaspiritscomp.com

Suds Expansion

Across the lake, Chafunkta Brewing Company - a nano brewery with 12 brews on tap - has expanded its reach beyond its tap room to local bars and restaurants. Popular options include the 985 (Meyer Lemon Wheat), the Kingfish Ale and the Bayou Blaze. 69123 Sky Brook Road, Mandeville, 985-869-0716, chafunkta.square.site

Cheers to That!

Matt Horney, brewer and co-founder of Ecology Beer Creative found inspiration for this new Central City brewery from a college textbook, “The Ecology of Place.” Ecology - the study of organisms and how they interact in their natural world - offered a perfect segue into beer and how it fits into the culture, conversations, music and traditions of New Orleans. In addition to craft brews, Ecology Beer Creative features a lush patio, music, sports, board games, food pop-ups and events like trivia. 1401 Baronne St., 504-299-3472, ecologybeer.com

14 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM BAR TAB BY MISTY MILIOTO

COREY FONTENOT PHOTO

Southern Flavors

Seven-time James Beard Foundation Award-nominated chef/owner Michael Stoltzfus, along with chef de cuisine Bret Macris, have opened Wild South in the Lower Garden District. The new restaurant offers a south Louisiana tasting experience that reimagines the food traditions of the region, showcasing some of Stoltzfus’s favorite Louisiana products (think cane syrup and andouille, plus seasonal ingredients from across the South). In addition to the six-course blind tasting menu experience, Wild South offers a three-course prix-fixe menu and an à la carte bar menu. 1245 Constance St. 504-655-1338, wildsouthrestaurant.com

Made for Mom

Ayu Bakehouse co-owners Kelly Jacques and Samantha Weiss are hosting a hands-on Mother’s Day baking class May 11 from 3:30-5:30 p.m. During the class, attendees will use croissant dough to fill and shape a variety of sweet and savory pastries. Jacques and Weiss also will teach how to proof and bake the treats the next morning for a perfect Mother’s Day spread. Attendees also will laminate their own croissant dough to freeze and take home for future baking. 801 Frenchmen St., 504-302-7985, ayubakehouse.com

Ooh La La!

Commander’s Palace has opened Le Petit Bleu adjacent to the iconic restaurant in the Lower Garden District. Co-proprietors Ti Adelaide Martin and Lally Brennan found inspiration for the crêperie, café and marché through their travels to Paris with Ella Brennan (the famed matriarch of the Commander’s family of restaurants). In addition to its own signature cuisine, Le Petit Bleu offers favorite dishes from Commander’s Palace, plus a full coffee bar, cocktails, wine and gifts. Anurag Nema, principal of Nema Workshop - who also designed Commander’s Palace’s recently renovated Patio Roommodeled the café after traditional Parisian crêperies while paying homage to Commander’s Palace’s iconic design. 1427 Washington Ave., 504-207-1343, commanderspalace.com

A Warm Welcome

Seafood Season

Porgy’s Seafood Market, which opened last December in Mid-City, is launching special orders (dubbed Dockside at Porgy’s) this month. The new offering allows customers to order specific items - such as sacks of oysters for roasts, shrimp or crawfish for boils and different varieties of locally caught Gulf fish - with the ease of a chef. Orders will be filled within 24 hours, with pickup available at the market’s rear Bienville dock. 236 N. Carrollton Ave., 504-429-3474, porgysseafood.com

Tunes & Tibbles

Bayou Bar, which hosts live performances five nights per week on the ground floor of the Pontchartrain Hotel, recently revamped the space with a Steinway baby grand piano, new sound and lighting systems, and new menu items for spring. Latest dishes include house-smoked sausage, hot honey wings, rabbit sauce piquante and a fried catfish sandwich. 2031 St. Charles Ave., 504-323-1456, bayoubarneworleans.com

Youth-Focused Hospitality

The Emeril Lagasse Foundation

Kitchen at Café Hope has opened in Gretna with a state-of-the-art teaching kitchen, catering facility, restaurant and bar, classroom, computer lab and event venue. At Cafe Hope, young adults enrolled in the program learn cooking and hospitality skills - all while making meals for the restaurant’s guests. ELF received naming rights after awarding Cafe Hope with a $225,000 grant in 2022. 1 Timberlane Drive, 504-309-2065, cafehope.org

Chef Nina Compton and her husband/business partner Larry Miller have rebranded Bywater American Bistro as BABs with new menu items and an aesthetic overhaul. BABs features a rustic ambiance and coastal Italian cuisine such as burrata with marinated tomatoes, sopressata and grilled bread; arancini with paddlefish caviar; wagyu beef lasagna with fontina fonduta; branzino with puttanesca and soft herbs; and eggplant parmesan with garlic breadcrumbs and basil. Be sure to stay for dessert and try the olive oil cake with whipped mascarpone and Louisiana citrus. A newly-added wine cellar houses the restaurant’s award-winning list of Old and New World wines. 2900 Chartres St., 504-605-3827, babs-nola.com

16 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM THE DISH BY MISTY MILIOTO

RANDY SCHMIDT PHOTO L. KASIMU HARRIS PHOTO SAM HANNA PHOTO JAMES COLLIER PHOTO

Style

BY ANDY MYER

Fringe Benefits

Fringe is in (always). We’re seeing the flowy design detail pop up everywhere from décor to fashion and happily embrace its enduring impact.

at Free People, freepeople. com.

2. Handwoven in Morocco of 100% raffia with a sturdy leather sole, Ocelot Market’s fringed wedges are the ultimate spring/ summer footwear. With a neutral color that can easily be dressed up or down, don these to everything from a garden party to a s'more roast on the beach. Available at Ocelot Market, ocelotmarket.com.

3. These swingy, retro-vibe Asymmetrical Fringe Drop Earrings are crafted from gold-plated brass work with so many different outfit options. What New Orleanian doesn’t need a touch more gold to add to their wardrobe? Available at Anthropologie, anthropologie.com.

4. Shown here in a blush mohair performance velvet, the Betty Sofa by Cisco Home is a perfectly proper perch. With its bullion fringe skirt, this endlessly chic piece will ground a room and provide miles of style. Available in a range of fabric options at Sunday Shop, sundayshop.co.

5. Plants deserve festive accessories too! This charming bowl with fringed trim is handmade in Italy and glazed in a beautiful emerald green hue. Keep your flora happy and pot them in this lovely container or the taller vase version. Available at Tyler + Tate, tylerandtate.com.

18 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

1. Channel your inner Daisy Jones, hit the living room dance floor and twirl your cares away in FP x Mauritius’ Crissy Floral Jacket. This is the kind of item you can pass down generation after generation and the cool factor will just keep on keepin’ on. Available

4 3 2 1 5

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / APRIL 2024 19

Rene Louapre & Becker Hall

Hogs for the Cause

What started as a way to help a local family in need has now turned into the biggest fundraising effort in the country for pediatric brain cancer, the nation’s deadliest cancer in children. Since its inception in 2009, Hogs for

the Cause has raised millions for families impacted by the deadly disease and the hospitals trying to help them. At the heart of the festival is Rene Louapre and Becker Hall, who continue the fight and the expansion of Hogs each yearwhich sees more teams, more food and more fun all in the name of a worthy cause. Louapre and Hall share just what the impact of the festival looks like, as well as some of their favorite parts of the fun each year.

Want More?

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

MyNewOrleans.com

Q: For those who may not know, how was Hogs for the Cause born?

HALL: Rene and I grew up on the same street together, and after college, came back to New Orleans. Rene

was writing a food blog and was introduced to a chef’s son who had an inoperable brain tumor. We had already had plans to do a pig roast. I went to school at University of South Carolina, where we did pig roasts before every football game, and [we] thought it was crazy that in New Orleans, arguably the greatest food city in the world, [we] didn’t really do much barbecue or pig roast outside of southwest Louisiana. So we thought, let’s have some fun and do this. And then we kind of put two and two together. That might be a good opportunity to raise money for this child, the son of somebody that also went to the same high school as us. It turned out that was a

pretty good idea. We had about 100 to 200 of our friends show up that first Hogs for the Cause. We raised about $7,500 (which we thought was an immense amount of money at the time) and got a lot of good positive feedback and decided, look, we’re ego megalomaniacs, let’s build this bigger and better than ever. But other than that, we got to meet the child – his name was Ben – a couple months after the fest. And it was really that experience that drove us to really build this charity into what it is today.

LOUAPRE: Everyone who has asked us why it’s called Hogs for the Cause, and not something like hogs for cancer. We really did think that we would,

20 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

PERSONA Q

BY KELLY MASSICOT / PHOTO BY ADRIENNE BATTISTELLA

you know, in our naivete thought, ‘Oh, well, we’ll just raise money for this family this year, and then we’ll next year, it’ll be like, for dogs that don’t have four paws or whatever.’ We would find some other charity. And it just kind of shows the power of a connection that we had, and also educating ourselves on the need for these families. That’s what’s really driven so much of our growth, whether it be on the festival side, and, you know, growing this event to where it is, or on the on the charitable side and reaching out and making partnerships with hospitals around the country, to just try and do more for families battling these diseases.

Q: What keeps you motivated/ passionate to grow each year? HALL: I’m happy to because it’s the demand for what we do - pediatric brain cancer is the number one terminal cancer in children. I can’t tell you how many hospitals tell me every single day, “I wish there were more charities like you. I wish there were more Hogs for the Cause.” And we’re getting hit from all 50 states. There’s nobody who does what we do for the number one terminal cancer in children. That’s pretty motivating. I hate telling people this, but every day I’m dealing with somebody having the worst day of their life. So that’s motivating. We have three healthy kids of our own. We’re very fortunate. I think what Hogs does, it gives all these people involved on teams, make some go look in the mirror and realize how fortunate they really are. And, you know, we’re out here to help people. That’s what we do.

event. You can tell that it’s an important thing to her to do this. And it’s an important thing for us to do this. And it’s important thing for our teams to come in from all across the country and raise money. And it’s important for the city. And it’s important for our hospital partners. So that feeling of have a really great unified team helping out and as Becker said, you know, realize that hey, even when it’s rainy, or things don’t go your way or something goes wrong, you know, we’re still the lucky ones, right? Like, we’re still the people who are going to get to go home, and our kids are safe, and our kids are healthy. That’s a big driver for everybody at Hogs. [You] also have to throw the most kick ass party. Look, we’re getting older, but we still like to have a good time, somebody’s got to throw that party.

Q: Did you expect the festival – and your giving back efforts – to ever reach the level y’all are at now?

Hogs for the Cause

April 5 & 6

UNO Lakefront Visit HogsFest.org for tickets or to donate

LOUAPRE: It’s a lot like a kid, like, you know, to us is still like a baby, this is still a little kid. I mean, I think we knew where we could go with it. The tough part is after the event wraps, we’ve got all these ideas, and we’ve got all these ways to improve for the next year. And then you’ve kind of got to wait a whole year to do it. We keep growing and the event keeps evolving. We know what we want to be and we know what we are, which is the nation’s premier pediatric brain cancer outreach charity. And I think as long as we keep that as our North Star, I think we’re going to continue to evolve and get better.

LOUAPRE: I echo that and would say, we have built with our partners and our teams and everybody a really good strong sense of community. We have people who have been helping out at our event who lost their child, like the mother of the first child we ever did this for. She helps out; the mother of little Ben helps out in our

HALL: It was fortunate timing too you know, there was a lot of luck. It wasn’t a very saturated festival time 16 years ago. But yeah, the first couple years no, we didn’t see it being like this. Year Three, we started going okay, maybe we got something here. Now in year 16. We go What the hell do we do? What do We get ourselves into?

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / APRIL 2024 21

I should have known something was up when I started getting apologetic emails from a toilet paper company.

I never think about toilet paper much, except if it’s not there when I expect it and I got to duck walk into the next room and grab a Kleenex.

I know my sister-in-law Gloriosa got a strict rule about how to hang it. The part you pull HAS to be away from the wall. So it won’t get wall dirt on it, I guess.

But there are other people - like my mother-in-law, who say just as strongly that the part you pull has to be AGAINST the wall. That way it won’t be easy to put one end in the toilet and just keep flushing, like certain little kids she personally gave birth to have done.

Me, I can see both sides.

But these emails are from a actual toilet paper company that seems to think it’s offended me. For purposes of not getting sued, I will not give its real name. I will call it “the business.”

First “the business” asks what I like about its toilet paper. What can I say? It performs a necessary job without complaining? I ignore it. I got Wordle to play.

But then “the business” acts like

Business Matters

Flush with information

I answered, and it says it’s sorry I think it uses too much glue on the ends of the rolls, but its research says it is necessary. Do I have any other problems? I remember one time, when I was raising my kids, I was on the toilet and desperate and I remembered somebody had T-P’ed our house the night before. So I yelled for somebody to go out and pull some out of a tree. It was nice and damp and soft. I can’t hardly complain about THAT.

Next, “the business” emails me it has a special on roll-holder extenders if I want to invest in an Andre the Giant-size roll of toilet paper. It promises this extender is easy to install with only basic tools. “No need to get a sophisticated installer.”

I never met a sophisticated installer for toilet paper holder extenders, but I am glad my son

ain’t in that profession. I’d probably lie and say he was a dentist.

By now I am getting suspicious. Somebody put “the business” onto me. And who do I know that cares that much about toilet paper?

Somebody who cares which way her toilet paper roll is hung, that’s who. My sister-in-law Gloriosa or my mother-in-law, who don’t use email.

The next day I drop by Gloriosa’s house for coffee and happen to use the bathroom, and look under the sink and YES, she got rolls and rolls of toilet paper from “the business.”

So I ask her what all this is about. Wellll, she blusters around a little and finally admits she had a grievance with “the business” - they use too much glue at the end of each roll to make you use extra squares, she says, in a very

angry voice - and when you think of the thousands - no millions - of extra squares everybody uses, “the business” makes A LOT of money.

So she wrote them - but she told them to write back at her “work” email, which was mine, so they wouldn’t figure out who she was.

“I am working under cover,” Modine, she says.

“You didn’t want their emails,” I say.

I tell her to write them people and tell them not to use her “work address” no more or I will blow her cover.

I must have sounded like I meant it, because she says she will.

“I am thinking about buying a bidet anyway,” she says.

Well. I act like I know all about bidets, even though I never personally been squirted by one.

I tell her my advice is, before she pays a lot of money to a bidet company, to first of all buy one of them “super squirt” guns and put it near the toilet—check out how it works.

When I leave, she thanks me and says that sounds like a good idea.

Hah! I hope she gets one that blasts 30 feet. Serve her right.

22 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

MODINE GUNCH ART BY LORI OSIECKI

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / APRIL 2024 23

On Track A Jazz Fest appreciation

Dear Louisville,

As I was having my liver serviced recently, I overheard two gentlemen engaged in a conversation I thought would be of interest, and perhaps amusement, to you.

At least, I must assume they were gentlemen. They were wearing Steve Gleason jerseys, which is evidence enough for me.

Their slightly slurred exchange centered on horse tracks, and, specifically, on the following thought experiment:

If, for the rest of your life, you could visit only one horse track on the first weekend of May, which would it be: Louisville’s Churchill Downs or New Orleans’ Fairgrounds?

Or, to cut to the chase: Kentucky Derby or New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival?

That thought struck me as a one-question New Orleans personality test at least as revealing as “Dooky’s or Willie Mae’s?,” “LSU or Tulane?” and “Sidewalk side or neutral ground side?”

Such matters, I should explain, are of vital importance in New Orleans. Every true local has a strong opinion on each – and an equally strong opinion about the reasoning behind everyone else’s opinion.

And make no mistake: Although such questions are ostensibly matters of opinion, there are most assuredly correct and incorrect answers.

If you are inclined to test that assertion, try declaring to those lined up outside Napoleon House at lunchtime on any given Saturday that muffulettas should never be served warm. They will help you understand.

More importantly, the cultural calculus involved

in arriving at one’s opinion on matters of such import reveals much about how the New Orleans mind works.

No less is true of our horse track hypothetical.

So, while the correct answer is obvious – it is Jazz Fest, of course – the more telling question boils down to a single word: Why?

To be sure, there is nothing inherently wrong with the Kentucky Derby, that iconic display of pageantry and privilege culminating every year with what is described as “the fastest two minutes in sports.”

There is something regal about it, in a “Falcon Crest” sort of way. There is style. There are thrills. There are mint julips.

That last point in particular makes it worth pausing to ask: Why doesn’t Jazz Fest have a signature cocktail?

Your average festgoer can buy beer and wine. If one wants anything with a kick, however, they must get creative. I know a fellow who annually smuggles in something he calls “sock vodka” – which is a whole other story.

The point is, why in the name of Pat O’Brien has no one come up with an official Jazz Fest companion quaff?

But I digress.

In every other aspect, Jazz Fest is undeniably superior.

On the subject of food, for example, it is nothing short of a grooveable feast: cochon du lait po-boys, crawfish Monica, gumbo, Vaucresson’s hot sausage po-boys, trout Baquet, beignets ...

The Derby’s signature dish, on the other hand, is burgoo, a regional stew traditionally made with squirrel brains or roadkill (although beef

or pork is the protein of choice on Derby day).

Advantage: New Orleans. By a mile.

Style wise, Derby-goers acquit themselves well, modeling all manner of haute headwear, including highly adorned bonnets and fancy fascinators.

Many Jazzfest-goers, too, are habitual hatwearers. Others prefer those festival-branded camp shirts favored by dads. The high-fashion galoshes on display when it rains are truly something to behold.

Advantage: Tie.

Ultimately, the deciding factor is that whole “fastest two minutes” thing.

That, you see, is because New Orleans is incapable of doing anything with such speed. It is simply not in our cultural DNA.

Maybe it has something to do with the heat. Maybe it’s the sock vodka. Whatever the reason, enjoyability here is something to be savored, preferably with good company.

That is true of meals. It is true of music. It is true of April weather, new hats, streetcar rides, conversations with old friends, conversations with total strangers, trips to the hardware store, wedding cake snowballs, strolls down Royal Street, watching a sunrise from Algiers Point ...

Here, if something is worth doing, it is worth doing slowly.

With that in mind, it does not take a squirrel brain to pick the winner of our Derby debate.

See you at the Fairgrounds in May.

We will save you some sock vodka.

Sincerely,

New Orleans

24 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

NEW ORLEANS PLAYBOOK BY MIKE SCOTT / ART BY BONNIE WONG

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 NewOrleansPlaybook@ gmail.com.

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / APRIL 2024 25

1882

The best way to see the essence of a city is with an erudite local who knows the city’s history, culture and idiosyncrasies. That was especially true for Mark Twain when he visited New Orleans in 1882 while gathering stories for his book, “Life on the Mississippi.” For a grand tour of the French Quarter, Twain called upon his friend, the popular novelist and New Orleans native George Washington Cable, the author of “Old Creole Stories, The Grandissimes: A Story of Creole Life” and later “Dr. Sevier.” In “Life on the Mississippi”, Twain described Cable as the “South’s finest literary genius.”

Twain and Cable first met in 1881 during a speaking engagement in Hartford, Conn. Two years after their meeting in the Crescent City, Twain invited his New Orleans friend to join him on a joint book-promoting tour in cities east of the Mississippi and in Canada. Cable’s new book “Dr. Sevier” had just been published and Twain’s “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” would be released the following year. Billing themselves the “Twins of Genius,” the tour began on Nov. 5 in Hartford, and ended in Washington, D.C., on Feb. 28, 1885. This 1884 autographed photograph of the two was sent out in advance to promote their upcoming lectures. During those three months, the “Twins of Genius” gave 103 performances in 80 cities, drawing large crowds almost everywhere. In Cable’s own account, up to 3,000 attended the Philadelphia performance.

One eyewitness described the scene on stage in Philadelphia the night of Feb. 26, 1885: “After Mr. Cable had opened the entertainment, Mark Twain appeared. He dragged himself to the front of the stage with that inimitable and characteristic laziness of his which always provokes a roar of laughter.”

Although the two got along well, Twain complained privately about Cable “padding expenses and costing more than his contribution was worth.” He also said his New Orleans friend was “long-winded” and hogged the podium, which seemed a bit amusing considering Twain’s reputation. Cable, however, thought everything was going swimmingly well. In letters to his wife, he praised his own performances. In one, he wrote: “It’s a great thing to be able to hold my own with so wonderful a platform figure.”

Twain also chaffed at Cable’s religious fervor. Twain refused to pray with Cable or attend Sunday Mass. That is, until their last performance in Washington, D.C., when much to his chagrin Twain relented and accompanied Cable to church. In a letter to a friend, Twain vented his frustrations.

company; I rage and swear at him sometimes, but we do not quarrel; we get along might happily together; but in him and his person I have learned to hate all religions.”

When the tour ended in February 1885, “The Twins of Genius” parted amicably and went their separate ways.

Mark Twain and George Washington

Cable, 1884, The Historic New Orleans Collection

“It has taught me that Cable’s gifts of mind are greater and higher than I had suspected,” Twain wrote. “But – That But is pointing toward his religion. You will never, never know, never divining, guess, imagine, how loathsome a thing the Christian religion can be made until you come to and study Cable daily and hourly. Mind you, I like him; he is pleasant

Then on May 7, 1885, an unsigned article appeared in The Boston Globe that gave a scathing account of Twain’s complaints about Cable’s “parsimony” and unreasonable expenses. Cable, outraged, demanded the paper retract the story, which it did. Believing the comments came from Twain himself, Cable also asked Twain to refute the article publicly. Twain dismissed the request, but in a letter to Cable suggested he pay no mind to “the slander of a professional newspaper liar” and that the article “did not distress” him one bit. Twain closed the letter, telling his “dear friend” to “flirt it out of your mind, straight off.”

Later that same year, Cable, under constant attack from fellow Southerners for his anti-Jim Crow writings, left New Orleans with his family and settled in Northampton, Mass. He died in 1925.

26 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

VINTAGE BY JOHN R. KEMP

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / APRIL 2024 27

WHETHER YOU’RE ROCKING OUT TO THE ROLLING STONES AT JAZZ FEST OR GOING OUT AFTER, THESE LOOKS WILL GET YOU THROUGH SPRING FESTIVAL SEASON WITH A LOT OF STYLE.

BY MELISSA COLEMAN PHOTOGRAPHY BY THERESA CASSAGNE

MAKEUP BY MEGGAN ORY HAIR BY MONIQUE MUNOZ MODEL EMMA BURG WITH IMAGES MODEL&TALENT AGENCY

Everyone knows the iconic Rolling Stones logo. We love this People of Leisure Stones tee. Raining? Grab a swimsuit and some wellies and keep on dancing. Tee, peony. Nola Bikini, Basics Underneath. Rain boots, Hunter Boots US

Brb. Running to mix some prints together because all the cool girls do it. Top, Antik Batik. Pants, Mirto. Both available at Peony Nola

The day doesn’t end at the fairgrounds. Hitting famed Preservation Hall is always part of the plan. Get ready to move and groove in the prettiest linen set we’ve seen. . Top and pants, All that Remains, Pied Nu. Hat 2Chic, Peony Nola

Crochet is synonymous with Festival fashion. This set from PatBo is going to be a must have for the season. Add a hat, some slouchy boots (and a strawberry lemonade) and make your way to the stage Crochet top and short, PatBo, Sosusu Boutique. Hat, Janessa Leone, Pied Nu. Boots, Pedro Garcia, Joseph Stores

Locals Thursday is one of our favorite ways to spend a day at the Fest and we want to be chic and comfy while we induce in all the music and bites at Jazz Fest. This look tics all the boxes. Hat,

Janessa Leone. Top, Dorothee Schumacher. Shorts, Agolde. All at Pied Nu. Sandals, Veronica Beard, Joseph Stores

Heading to the Quarter for a post fest bite? We are too and we’re grabbing the perfect dress and bag for it. Perlis delivers with a basket/blanket combo for a day stretched out watching The Killers. Grab this Berenice dress from Peony for dinner after. Dress, Berenice, Peony Nola. Earrings, Peony Nola. Bag, Mersea, Perlis

,FEST REST AND REFEST

Something for everyone this festival season

By Amy Kirk Duvoisin

Just as every Mardi Gras season is not the same, so goes our festival season. We have tried-and-true longtime festivals, smaller and newer festivals, paused and restarted festivals, and festivals further afield that take a bit more planning. It’s a fun challenge each year to try something new, especially if you are ritualistic about your fest-going. Whatever your approach is, mark your calendars now for the ones that you want to experience.

April here is not the cruelest month by far, but it is one of the most hectic—and the perfect month for kicking off a long season of food, music, and community revelry that lasts through summertime. Festivals are a good way to reinforce your love of NOLA, and there are plenty to choose from to suit your own joie de vivre style, tastes, and timing. Below is a sampling and starting point for the many festival offerings April through August. Do your research, then go forth and fest, rest and re-fest!

Hogs for the Cause

April 5-6

This year-round fundraising effort’s flagship event is one of the largest barbecue and music festivals in the country, with more than 90 competing barbecue teams helping to raise funds to fight pediatric brain cancer, making it the “World’s Most Delicious Fundraiser” according to Forbes Magazine. Come for the saucy feast and music (which includes the likes of Eggy, Briscoe, and Shane Smith & The Saints this year), knowing that you’re partying for a great cause. UNO Lakefront, Hogsfest.org

French Quarter Festival

April 11-14

More than 20 stages throughout the French Quarter featuring local musicians and local restaurants serving food and beverages in Jackson Square, JAX Brewery, the Jazz Museum at the Mint, and Woldenberg Park, create a hyperlocal event within a setting like no other. More than 1,500 community volunteers bring this historic (since 1984) festival alive, adding to the local vibe. French Quarter Frenchquarterfest.org

The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival

April 25-May 5

Aptly called a “10-day cultural feast” by organizers, this 54-year-old celebration features the indigenous music and culture of New Orleans and Louisiana, with music of every genre all day, every day. The food experience is equal to the music experience, so your festing should include plenty of feasting as well. A reminder that JazzFest is now cash-

less, but all major credit cards and debit cards are accepted, as well as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay. Fair Grounds Race Course, Nojazzfest.com

Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo

May 17-19

This is the only festival in New Orleans where visitors can enjoy the event from land or their own personal canoe, kayak, paddleboard, or homemade barge. Children 12 and under are free, with special stages and activities for kids. This year, thanks to a grant from Keep Louisiana Beautiful, the festival will have additional funds for litter, waste, and recycling efforts. Historic Bayou St. John, Thebayouboogaloo.com

New Orleans Wine and Food Experience

June 6-9

This 32-year-old premier wine and cuisine event benefits the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation, Delgado Community Culinary Arts Program, and FirstLine School’s Edible Schoolyard program. Thursday’s opening event, the “Vinola” VIP tasting is at the Orpheum Theater from 6-8 p.m.; Friday’s Tournament of Rosés is held at Generations Hall from 7-10 p.m., Saturday’s Grand Tasting is from 3-6 p.m. at the Convention Center, and the Burlesque, Bubbly & Brunch is Sunday from 11 a.m.- 1 p.m. at the Omni Royal. Nowfe.com

Creole Tomato Festival

June 8-9

Enjoy tomato-themed food and drinks (including a variety of bloody Marys) and fresh Creole tomatoes, plus live music and family activities, all within the

French Market District which offers plenty of shopping, river views, and food options in addition to the festival activities. The event kicks off with a “Ripe & Ready” second line at 10:30 a.m.

Saturday, June 8. French Market District, French Quarter, frenchmarket.org

Essence Festival of Culture

July 4-7

It’s Essence’s 30th birthday this year and the 50th anniversary of Hip-Hip. For the first time in Essence history, they will have a lineup of all Hip-Hop headliners at their Superdome concert series as they “pay homage to one of the biggest creations of Black Culture.” A glimpse at the schedule includes concerts by everyone from Lauryn Hill to Ice Cube, Juvenile to Lucadris, Salt-N-Pepa to Missy Elliot. Other highlights include the Global Black Economic Forum, Essence Film Festival, and Essence Food & Wine Festival.

Essence.com

Tales of the Cocktail

July 21-26

What began as a walking tour of historic New Orleans cocktail bars has become the world’s leading cocktail conference. This year’s event theme is “Inspire,” focusing on challenging the global drinks industry to “embrace future thinking.” Tickets go on sale on World Cocktail Day, May 13. French Quarter, Talesofthecocktail.org

Satchmo Summer Festival

Aug. 3 - 4

Presented by the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Fund, the fest returns to offering free admission this year. Scheduled to coincide with native son Louis Armstrong’s birthday, it is one of the few festivals in the world

dedicated to his legend and legacy. The indoor lecture series is the hidden gem of this trad jazz music festival, with scholars, authors, and musicians presenting on everything from Armstrong’s African experiences to his influences on jazz, civil rights and New Orleans culture. New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Old U.S. Mint. Satchmosummerfest.org

DOWN THE ROAD

Sandestin Wine Festival

April 11-14

Now in its 37th year, this festival offers a “come as you are” ambiance for the wine aficionado or novice alike. Set at the Village of Baytowne Wharf with a variety of nearby beach and bay accommodations and shopping experiences, you can immerse yourself in food and wine experiences and enjoy an Emerald Coast getaway at the same time. Sandestin, Florida, Sandestinwinefestival.com

Pontchatoula Strawberry Festival

April 12-14

Celebrating local farmers in the “Strawberry Capital of the World” since 1972, this is proudly called the state’s largest free festival. This moniker means crowds, so parking can pose a challenge if you don’t allot additional time to scout for free parking or arrive early to get a spot in parking lots hosted by local non-profits. Entry is free but food and drink booths are cash only so bring your own or be prepared to use on-site ATM’s. Pontchatoula Memorial Park, Ponchatoula, Lastrawberryfestival.com

South Walton Beaches Wine and Food Festival

April 25-28

This is the 10th anniversary of the four-day festival that features dozens of celebrity winemakers, distillers, chefs, and mixologists and more than 600 wines to sample. Their charity wine auction benefits organizations like Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center and many others supporting youth in Northwest Florida. Grand Boulevard, Miramar Beach, Florida.

Pirate Day in the Bay

May 17 – 18

Presented by Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse, a non-profit in Mississippi’s Hancock County named for the U.S.S. Seahorse that contributed to the victory at the Battle of New Orleans. Most events are free and family friendly, like the fireworks, buccaneer costume contests, and cardboard boat races, but there are entry fees for events like the Pub Crawl and Treasure Hunt and the Pirate Invasion Parade. Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, mkotsh. com/pirate-day-in-the-bay

WON’T YOU BE MY NEIGHBOR?

A TOUR OF NEW ORLEANS NAMES AND PLACES (AND WHAT THEY MEAN)

BY MIKE SCOTT ILLUSTRATIONS BY MICHELLE KONDRICH

It’s just a map, when you get down to it, right? There are lines of longitude. There are lines of latitude. There is the orderly network of colorful threads following the contours of the Mississippi River with deceiving grace in representation of the city’s potholepocked streets, boulevards and avenues. ¶ But maps have stories to tell if you look closely enough, and New Orleans maps are no exception. ¶ How, for example, did the Black Pearl become the Black Pearl? Who is Gert and why do they get a neighborhood – “Gert Town” – named after them? And what in the world is a “Bywater”? ¶ The answers to each are firmly rooted in the city’s past. In that regard, a map of New Orleans isn’t really just a map. It is, in its own way, a history of the city. ¶ On one level, of course, neighborhood names are practical things, a shorthand to help people navigate the city – and to help answer that most common of New Orleans questions, “Where y’at?” ¶ But once you know the stories behind them, they become something else, something more dynamic, something alive. ¶ So, come along, neighbor. Let’s explore the city.

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / APRIL 2024 37

THE BIRTH OF THE BYWATER

This one’s easy. It’s by the water – so “Bywater,” right? ¶ In truth, this shotgun-rich neighborhood just downriver from Faubourg Marigny went by a number of names before ever earning that particular appellation. ¶ Located on the site of what was a plantation early in the city’s history, Bywater – or “the” Bywater, as some refer to it for reasons unclear – started out as Faubourg Washington. It was originally settled by free people of color, working-class Creoles and newly arrived European immigrants, according to the city’s Historic District Landmarks Commission. ¶ By the mid-19th century, it had earned the nickname “Little Saxony,” a reference to the influx of German newcomers to the area at the time. Later, it became known as simply part of the 9th Ward ¶ Then, in the mid-20th century, “Bywater” came into being. Why, you ask? ¶ There are three theories. The most prominent is that it came from the telephone exchange assigned to the neighborhood back in the rotary-dialing days, making “BY” the first two digits of phone numbers there. (Later, it would be changed to “WH,” for Whitehall.) ¶ Alternate theories suggest “Bywater” came from the name of a local post office or a contest among schoolchildren. ¶ Which came first in this particular chickenand-egg scenario is unclear – but the name stuck, and it’s been known as Bywater ever since.

OUT OF AFRICA

Algiers, the French Quarter’s across-the-river neighbor, started life as a plantation with origins dating to 1719, just a year after New Orleans was founded. Back then, though, Algiers was a whole separate place, not becoming part of the city proper until shortly after the Civil War. ¶ In those years, it seems, nobody thought to record exactly how the place got its name. Consequently, we’re left with mere speculation. ¶ We can safely assume it is borrowed from the capital of the North African country of Algeria. The question is: Why, exactly? ¶ Some point to the fact that Algeria was an epicenter of subSaharan Africa’s slave trade and that New Orleans’ Algiers was, early in its history, a holding place for slaves newly arrived in the New World. ¶ Others suggest the name was imported from Spanish soldiers who fought in Algeria before being dispatched to New Orleans while it was under the rule of Spain starting in 1763. ¶ In truth, nobody really knows. ¶ But we do know this: Our Algiers is today one heck of a place to watch a sunset.

GERT TOWN

Turns out, you’ve been pronouncing “Gert Town” wrong all these years. ¶ Don’t feel bad, though. So has the rest of the city. ¶ Located in the Carrollton area near the geographical center of modern-day New Orleans, Gert Town wasn’t named after someone named Gert. It was named after Alfred Gehrke, the son of Polish immigrants who in 1893 bought a general store at the corner of South Carrollton Avenue and Colapissa Street. ¶ Business was good, and Gehrke purchased an adjacent property, then another and another. Soon, his little street corner became as much a gathering place as a retail outlet. ¶ Over the years, “Gehrke town” would evolve into “Gert Town,” and New Orleans would gain a new neighborhood.

38 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

BLACK PEARL

Sometimes, neighborhood names happen organically, born on its very streets and borrowed from the mouths of those who lived there. That’s not the case with Black Pearl, the Uptown neighborhood with arguably the most poetic-sounding name on this list. ¶ Rather, it was born of bureaucracy – and, for the record, has absolutely nothing to do with Capt. Jack Sparrow. ¶ Located on a wedge of land carved out of a part of the former town of Carrollton, it is roughly bounded by the river, St. Charles Avenue, Lowerline Street and the northernmost beer cooler at Cooter Brown’s. ¶ It came into being as part of the city’s 1974 effort to name and define each of New Orleans’ neighborhoods on an “official” map. They came up with 73 in all – the boundaries of which have been debated ever since. ¶ Many of the 73 existed previously in some form or another. Black Pearl, on the other hand, was invented by city planners who borrowed “Pearl” from the name of a street that runs through it, preceded by “Black” in acknowledgment of the neighborhood historically Black population. ¶ And the rest, as they say, is history.

BIENVILLE’S BLUFF

Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville could be excused for being irritated. ¶ It was summer 1699, so it would have been hot and mosquitoey as the French explorer made his way with members of his crew down the Mississippi just downriver of the spot in which he would establish the settlement that would become New Orleans some 19 years later. ¶ For months, Bienville and his men had encountered only indigenous Americans in what was then an expansive, alligator-infested frontier. Then, rounding a bend, they got a shock. ¶ Moored along the river was an English corvette, the Carolina Galley, loaded with 10 cannons and dozens of would-be settlers. ¶ Jumping into a pair of bark canoes, Bienville and five of his men – including ship’s carpenter and early chronicler André Pénicaut, who recorded the encounter in his memoirs – paddled over to the Carolina Galley with a warning: The area already had been claimed for France, which was ready to defend its new territory with well-stocked fortifications established upstream. ¶ It was total and absolute balderdash, but it worked. The Carolina Galley turned around and sailed away. ¶ From that moment, that bend in the river – some 25 leagues from its mouth – became known as “English Turn.” ¶ Near that spot some 289 years later – in 1988, to be precise – developers christened a swanky new Algiers-area suburb around a PGA-caliber golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus. ¶ They would call it English Turn, borrowing from one of the region’s first European place names – and referencing the big, fat foundational lie upon which the entire city of New Orleans was so fittingly built.

THE ORIGINAL SWAMP PEOPLE

Before New Orleans East became known as New Orleans East, it was a wild and swampy expanse bisected by a narrow ridge of land – a remnant of a former tributary of the Mississippi – along which Chef Menteur Highway runs today. ¶ To one side of that ridge was a vast, wild cypress swamp named after nearby Bayou Bienvenue that would become home to communities of so-called Maroons, liberated slaves who lived alongside the area’s native people well into the late 1700s. ¶ As untamed and inhospitable as it was, the area’s European settlers wanted little to do with it, which was just fine by the area’s Maroon population. In fact, it was kind of the point. ¶ To the other side of the ridge was a less-imposing expanse of scrubby trees and brush. The area’s early French inhabitants named it “Petit Bois,” which translates to “Little Woods,” the name by which the neighborhood stretching along the shore of Lake Pontchartrain – roughly from Lakefront Airport to Lincoln Beach – is known today.

CARROLL WHO?

Now a part of the city’s Uptown section, Carrollton wasn’t just once its own town. Before being annexed into the city of New Orleans in 1874, it was the seat of Jefferson Parish. ¶ But after whom was it named? ¶ There are a couple of candidates, but the most likely was William Carroll, a future six-term governor of Tennessee who led a militia of 2,500 men in the Battle of New Orleans. ¶ Before beating up on the Brits, Carroll’s men pitched their tents at a makeshift encampment – a temporary “town,” if you will – on the old Macarty Plantation. ¶ With the New Orleans and Carrollton Railroad providing convenient access, private developers later purchased the former Macarty land and in 1833 hired Charles F. Zimpel – the guy after whom the Uptown street is named – to lay out what would become the town of Carrollton. It would officially be incorporated in 1845. ¶ Hints of the old town can still be found, most notably in the form of the Neoclassical 1855 former Carrollton Courthouse at 701 S. Carrollton Ave.–which is today an assisted living facility.

THE FIRST FAUBOURG

It started not long after lunch, at about 1:30 p.m., in the Chartres Street home of a Spanish bureaucrat, Don Vincente Jose Nuñez. Five hours later, fed by a brisk wind, and the Good Friday Fire of 1788 had turned New Orleans into a smoldering wasteland. ¶ With some 850 of the city’s 1,100 buildings rendered uninhabitable, Spanish Gov. Esteban Miró gave the OK to transform Jackson Square into a tent city to house the hundreds of citizens rendered homeless by the blaze. They would need a more permanent place to stay, though. ¶ Enter Faubourg St. Mary, the city’s first neighborhood outside the French Quarter – and, notably, its first faubourg, period. ¶ Borrowed from the French for suburb, the word “faubourg” translates literally to “false town.” Its usage would gain traction in the New Orleans, just as it would in other French colonies, notably Montreal and Québec City. ¶ As recounted by Tulane geographer Richard Campanella in his book “Cityscapes,” after Faubourg St. Mary was added to the map, others followed suit, often borrowing their names from the plantations from which they were carved. ¶ These include Faubourg Tremé, Faubourg Marigny, Faubourg Livaudais, Faubourg Montreuil and others that have since fallen out of favor as place names.

A STREETCAR NAMED … DESIREE?

Desire: It’s at once among the city’s most evocative neighborhood names and among its most ironic. ¶ The word “desire” alone does a lot of lifting, summoning ephemeral images of wants and dreams. At the same time, the Upper 9th Ward neighborhood to which it is attached – named after a street running through its heart – was from the start anything but desirous, a dead-end limbo located hard against the Industrial Canal. ¶ That would make it a convenient place to plop the city’s less fortunate, where they could eke out an existence tastefully out of sight of the city’s

SOMEWHERE THAT’S GREEN

By the 1840s, old New Orleans – that is, the Vieux Carré – wasn’t the place many of its more well-heeled residents remembered. ¶ It had become crowded. Many buildings had fallen into disrepair. Waves of immigration had turned into a true polyglot city. ¶ So, they did what wellheeled people have historically done in such situations: They picked up and moved, in this case to land upriver from the Quarter, between the city’s edge and the new settlement of Carrollton. ¶ Subdivided from the Livaudais plantation in 1832, in the beginning the area would officially go by the name Faubourg Livaudais, according to the Historic District Landmarks Commission. A year later, it was renamed the city of Lafayette – in honor of the Revolutionary War hero – and was eventually incorporated into the city in 1852. ¶ By that time, however, travel writers had already bestowed upon this new neighborhood the evocative albeit unimaginative nickname “the Garden District,” owing to its grand homes situated on enormous lots surrounded by well-manicured gardens. ¶ The name took root, although the old city of Lafayette is still remembered by Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, which still rests in peace in the heart of the neighborhood – and which, for pop culture fans, is home to the fictional tomb of Anne Rice’s Mayfair witches.

LET THEM EAT GENTILLY CAKE

In the city’s early days, the neighborhood we now know as Gentilly was just a swampy stretch separating the Vieux Carré from the lake – and through which the city’s residents would eventually travel on the famous Smokey Mary rail line when visiting the entertainment district established on the lake’s southern shore. ¶ It was also home to the plantation of brothers Mathurin and Pierre Dreux – incidentally, the namesakes of Dreux Avenue – who, according to the Preservation Resource Center, named it after the French community from which they originated. Once ensconced in their new home, they became known for hosting elaborate soirees for the more well-connected of New Orleans society. ¶ It has also been suggested the area was named by Henri d’Orleans after the French community of Chantilly, where his family estate was located, with the name eventually being Americanized to “Gentilly.” ¶ (Supporting the former theory is the fact that we are not the only place in the hemisphere with a place named Gentilly. Quebec has one, too, formerly named Saint-Edouard-de-Gentilly. Minnesota also has a Gentilly, named after Quebec’s.) ¶ Either way, by the 20th century and the advent of technology allowing for the draining of the swampland surrounding the Dreuxs’ former estate, the area would be subdivided into such suburbs as Gentilly Terrace, Gentilly Woods and Gentilly Ridge. ¶ Perhaps most importantly, it’s also why we get Gentilly cake while the rest of the world must settle for Chantilly cake.

uppercrust. ¶ That name wasn’t a cruel joke played by a city planner on those marginalized souls who would live there, though. Rather, it was the result of a misspelling. ¶ Soon after the area’s European settlement, the land on which today’s Desire area is situated became part of the extensive land holdings of the Montreuil family, a member of which had accompanied Bienville on his initial explorations of the area. ¶ As so often was the case, the Montreuil land would be eventually subdivided and sold off, becoming Faubourg Montreuil. ¶ According to John Churchill Chase in his book

“Frenchmen, Desire, Good Children … and Other Streets of New Orleans,” the property’s owner at the time, Robert François de Montreuil, decided to name two of them after his daughters, Desiree and Elmire. ¶ Because there was already another street named Elmire in the city, Montreuil’s Elmire Street was later changed to Gallier, in honor of the famed father-son architects James Gallier and James Gallier Jr. ¶ For its part, Desiree Street would become Americanized to “Desire.” ¶ Decades later, a local streetcar would carry that name. Tennessee Williams would do the rest.

Total Eclipse of the Sun

A celestial experience

On Monday, April 8, some lucky folks throughout the heart of North America will witness a rare total solar eclipse. Weather permitting, of course. As the moon moves between us and the sun, a total eclipse will begin along Mexico’s Pacific coast, then move northeast through Texas, Arkansas, Missouri and Kentucky and on up toward Canada. It concludes - at least for us on this continent - in Newfoundland, Canada.

Here are a few cities where visitors will experience totality. Remember, don’t stare directly into the sun. Use safe solar viewing glasses or a handheld solar viewer, not sunglasses, binoculars or cameras without special solar filters.

Texas

It’s a good bet you’ll have clear weather in Texas and several major cities lie within the path of totality. But if you’d rather a smaller town and less crowds, try Waco (228 sunny days per year), where on eclipse day the Lowell Observatory, Discovery Channel, Baylor University and the city of Waco will host Eclipse Over Texas: Live from Waco with telescopes, educational

activities, astronomers and programs.

Every visit to the sweet little town of Granbury southwest of Dallas is a joy, but especially so on April 8 when visitors may gather in the historic square and watch the sun disappear. The Historic Granbury Merchants Association will be hosting a Black Lunch on the Square where, for a price, visitors receive lunch, a bottle of wine with a commemorative label and special wine glass and solar viewing glasses. Other cities in the path: Dallas, Fort Worth, Kerrville and Fredericksburg with Austin and San Antonio being closest to New Orleans.

Arkansas

Accommodations will be scarce by the time you read this, but one thing Arkansas has going for it is lots of outdoors space and plenty of camping opportunities. One such spot is Morrilton and the Petit Jean River Valley near Interstate 40 where totality will be 4 minutes and 17 seconds! The area will be hosting concerts, a food truck festival, hot air balloons, family activities and more. Petit Jean State Park atop the mountain features various accommodations, from campsites and cabins to a lodge dating to the 1930s. Arkansas cities to consider in the path are Hot

Springs (Hot Springs National Park is one of only two national parks located inside the path of totality), Little Rock, North Little Rock, Jonesboro and Paragould with the longest totality happening in the town of Gillham.

The town closest to Louisiana: Texarkana.

Missouri

The eclipse path travels through Arkansas toward its northeast corner and into southeast Missouri where it’ll pass over the cities of Doniphon, Poplar Bluff, Cape Girardeau and Perryville. All locations offer good highway access which will come in handy should inclement weather arrive and folks need to move to better viewing locations. For those who prefer to camp, the Deer Creek Campground in Lesterville not only lies within the path but along some lovely natural settings. Choose from tents, cabins or RV sites.

One town to consider, right on the Mississippi River and Interstate 55, is Perryville, where visitors may enjoy its numerous historic sites, museums and unlimited chances to enjoy the outdoors, not to mention lots of accommodations and dining venues.

And since it’s April, why not drive up the road to St. Louis for some early season baseball?

The town closest to Louisiana: Pine Bluff and Paducah in nearby Kentucky.

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TRAVEL BY CHERÉ COEN

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / APRIL 2024 43

Benton Williams

Spring garden inspiration

Spring is considered the most exciting of the gardening seasons with new greenery and colorful blooms bursting forth. Inspiration for the gardener is provided by Mother Nature herself. Knowing how to bring your vision to life on the other hand requires planning and work. Benton Williams, senior landscape architect at Mullin, a full-service landscape company, offers expert advice.

To ready your outdoor space for spring, Williams advises first thinking about the details and making a plan by writing or drawing out your ideas.

“When you go to the garden center, a sketch is a communication tool that can help guide you,” he said.

A concrete plan will also help when determining quantities and sizes of plants. He also recommends do-it-yourselfers invest in basic garden equipment such as gloves,

a hand trowel, a hand spade and a rake. Knee pads, available at home improvement stores, are one of his favorite supplies.

Next, Williams suggests taking inventory of the existing garden or garden space by clearing away dead foliage and debris and then tilling in compost or organic matter to provide nutrients. With the groundwork literally done, he advises talking to your garden center about a good preemergent (weed killer) and a fertilizer.

When choosing plants, Williams recommends shrubbery in various shades of green, and in different heights and textures and prefers introducing colors and annuals in a controlled manner.

“Introduce white to start,” he said, “and go for fewer types of plants but in larger massings.”

Beds should be built up in a semicircular shape that is higher in the center and lower on the sides for drainage, and trunks of shrubs and trees should not be covered.

Instead of grass that requires cutting, use #8 crushed limestone. It has a nice gray tone and is pedestrian friendly,

2 Use simple ground covers such as liriope, mondo grass.

Use raised containers and pots for annuals.

Once plants are in the soil, add preemergent, extended release fertilizer and water plants well to get them off to a good start. Water once or twice a week, ideally in the morning, and increase as needed as the season warms. Mulching is also important to keep in moisture. Williams recommends pine straw as the budget friendly and most eco-friendly mulch option. A micro-irrigation system on a timer provides easy maintenance and extra assurance that plants will be regularly watered and well established before summer. Micro irrigation systems can even be used to water pots.

Other top tips: refer to the reliable resources available through the LSU AgCenter for information on gardening questions including pests and diseases.

“They are a great overall resource,” Williams said. “Thinking about the required maintenance on the front can be very helpful,” he said.

About the Expert Landscape Architect Benton Williams loves the collaborative process that happens when landscapers and clients are working “together to create a space everyone is proud of.” His designs are intended to capture the sense of place and “Southern vernacular” that are particular to New Orleans.

44 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

HOME ADVICE BY LEE CUTRONE / PHOTO BY ADRIENNE BATTISTELLA

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / APRIL 2024 45

The Penultimate High school year passages

Junior year was definitely my favorite year of high school: I was finally settled in enough to be able to help freshmen open their lockers and give wisesounding advice to sophomores about how their grades didn’t define them, plus I no longer had to take PE, but I didn’t yet have the stress of college applications or the looming bittersweet sadness of graduation.

I figured the same would be true of my kid, who is now a junior in high school. She’d survived her awkward freshman year, battled through a tough sophomore year,

Blog

For more Eve, check out her blog “Joie d’Eve” on Tuesday mornings at myneworleans.com

and emerged on the other side as a confident student who had found her niche … and yet didn’t have to start thinking about leaving home just yet.

What I didn’t count on was that for me, anticipation is actually almost always worse than whatever it is I’m anxious about. So while my daughter is enjoying her junior year, I’m quietly wiping my eyes in the background and trying to put on a brave face because I’ve realized that this year is the last of everything not being the actual last

This was the last Halloween that I didn’t have to think of as the last Halloween. The last Thanksgiving that won’t be the last Thanksgiving The last summer that won’t be the last summer.

Am I overthinking this? Oh, absolutely. But what do I not overthink?

I’m realizing now, too, that some lasts really are happening this year. Her last round of course selections.

Her last “Important Dates for Next Year” page. Her last re-registration.

I have visceral memories of her infancy. Of being so tired I fell asleep at a red light. Of being at the grocery store soaked in baby vomit. Of beaming when the doctor said she’d gained 2 pounds. Of mastitis and colic and pacing the floor at 3 a.m.

I have visceral memories of her toddlerhood. Of her chubby hands. Of her chasing bubbles and laughing. Of ruining more than one pair of my pants by skidding across the ground to yank her back from whatever dangerous thing she was trying to do. Of tantrums and mischief and endless rounds of, “But why, Mommy? But why? But why?”

I have visceral memories of her early grade school years. Of class snacks. Of birthday parties. Of reading logs. Of dance classes and school assemblies and weeping with pride when she said her lines perfectly

in the school play.

I have visceral memories of her middle school years. Of best friends … who then weren’t best friends. Of making honor roll. Of not making Student Council. Of school dances and sleepovers and crushes.

And then … COVID. Who doesn’t have visceral memories of that? Of wiping down groceries. Of masking everywhere. Of Zoom baby showers and bar mitzvahs. Of long walks and jars of sourdough starter and socially distant porch visits.

So now here we are … 17 years from her birth, 15 years from her toddler years, 7 years since she graduated elementary school, 4 years since COVID, 3 years since she moved on to high school after a weird virtual eighth grade year.

It all feels like yesterday. All of it. She’s going to prom this month. We’re visiting colleges. Over the summer – her last not last summer –she is going to leadership camp and doing a service trip to Costa Rica. She is no longer the baby I carried in a sling, just under my chin, and tried to soothe with whispers and badly sung lullabies.

And yet she still is. She always will be.

“Oh, honey, cherish every moment,” an older woman told me at the Target checkout line back in 2007 when I was holding my daughter on my hip and had to keep bouncing up and down because if I stopped bouncing for even a second, she would start wailing again. “It goes so fast.”

I smiled thinly at her. I hadn’t slept more than two unbroken hours in months and I was so tired of bouncing and singing and pretending to be a vaguely functional person instead of a sleep-deprived shell of my former self.

All I could think was, “Oh, please, God, let that be true. Let it go so fast.”

And we all know what they say about answered prayers, right?

46 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

GROWING PAINS BY EVE CRAWFORD PEYTON / ART BY JANE SANDERS

Decadent Delights

Tana goes all out with modern Creole Italian

It’s always exciting when a lauded local chef opens a new restaurant, especially for New Orleans gastronomes, and especially when that chef is Michael Gulotta. It was a bold move when Gulotta stepped down from his position as executive chef at Restaurant August to open a hip fusion spot in Mid-City that melded the cuisines of the Mekong and the Mississippi Deltas. That gambit paid off in spades, and MoPho became a favorite of local diners. That success eventually led to another, more elevated fusion restaurant, downtown’s Maypop, which similarly delighted local gourmands, and continued to make a name for Gulotta on the national culinary stage. For his next project, the chef decided to steer away from the fusion concept to something a bit more personal. Hence the recently opened Tana in Old Metairie, an upscale Creole Italian eatery that not only pays homage to the his Italian roots, but also has exciting gastronomical tricks.

Like many new eateries in the Big Easy, Tana got its start as a pop-up, and the concept quickly blossomed from there. “We did the pop-up at Treo years ago on Tulane,” Guolotta said. “My great grandmother was named Gaetana, and a lot of my family recipes are from her and her four sisters. Three of them were born in New Orleans and one of them was born in Sicily, so I always wanted to do that restaurant. My training was in Italy, and I used to be absolutely obsessed with pasta. And when we opened MoPho, it was supposed to be this funky little joint and then later on we’d open the high-end Italian place. But then Mopho blew up so much and then I was like ‘Man, I love this fusion thing,’ so then we did Maypop. I didn’t want to do Tana until I had the real space to do it. We talked a lot about finding a space for it, but we didn’t want to do it unless it was going to be like the Tana it is now, a sort of over-the-top beautiful restaurant.”

And that’s exactly what Tana became. Upon entering, it’s difficult not to be impressed by the space’s thoughtful, handsome design, which feels

both elegant and cozy. But of course, the star of the show there is the cuisine, which one might describe most basically as “elevated Creole Italian,” and although Tana shares similarities with that quintessential style of New Orleans Italian fare, Gulotta and his team pull in ingredients and techniques that diners might find unique, with roots in both the chef’s Sicilian heritage as well as his experience cooking on the Italian Riviera.

“In Liguria, everything was light,” Gulotta said. “Seafood, fresh pasta, a little squeeze of lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, lots of sea salt and bottarga…it was all very simple preparations. I try to take the things we usually see in south Louisiana and just try to lighten them and bring that real Italian lens to it, while still keeping it rooted in New Orleans cuisine...it’s sort of a lighter, brighter version of what they’re used to.”

The menu at Tana will seem happily familiar to any fan of NOLA-style Creole Italian, but when the dishes hit your table, Gulotta’s idea to make things “over-the-top” becomes immediately apparent. Take a simple appetizer of foie gras mousse, for

48 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

TABLE TALK BY SCOTT GOLD / PHOTOS BY

JOHNSTON

JEFFERY

Stuffed Focaccia

About the Chef

A born and bred son of the Crescent City, chef Michael Gulotta made his bones – both literally and figuratively – under the tutelage of local culinary luminaries including John Folse, Emeril Lagasse and John Besh. His culinary journey took him all the way to a position as executive chef at Restaurant August (with a detour of several years cooking in Germany and the Italian Riviera), after which he struck out on his own, and in 2014 opened the funky-cool Mid-City fusion joint Mopho, which became an overnight sensation with local diners. A more luxe downtown eatery, Maypop, followed with similar success in 2016, and in late 2023, Gulotta returned to his Italian roots with Tana, which he opened with longtime business partner Jeffrey Bybee as well as local restaurateurs Gabe Corchiani (Fat Boys Pizza) and Christopher Keene (Rivershack Tavern). “We want to tell a story,” Gulotta said. “We want people to see something that they’re both comfortable with but also kind of shows them a little something new.”

instance, a starter which, traditionally, is a small but lavish way to warm up the palate for more substantial fare. Instead, you’ll find a portion of mousse piped onto a toasted brioche bun, topped with dollops of mostarda and Averna syrup, that’s so generous it would make your cardiologist blush. According to Gulotta, this spirit of generosity harks back to a lesson he learned from his mentors in the kitchen. “Too many restaurants say, ‘It’s a foie gras this,’ and there’s like the tiniest bit of foie gras folded in. And I’m like, ‘Naw, man.’

If you’re going to order foie gras, I’m gonna give you foie gras. If you order caviar, I’m going to give you a big spoonful of caviar.”

That caviar, by the way, arrives heaped atop a scoop of herbed butter that Tana serves with house-made zeppole.

Larger plates at Tana are similarly gratifying. The pasta program – all freshly made, of course – includes riffs on classics that all bear the hallmark of Gulotta’s culinary creativity: radiatori with “red gravy” features both stracciatella and Calabrian chili crisp; pasta con vongole incorporates saffron tomatoes with squid ink trenette (a distinctly Ligurian pasta) as well as Patton’s hot sausage, giving it an unmistakably Louisiana twist; and the smoked pork cappelletti sports spicy tomatoes and peppers and a blue crab crema that instantly reminds you that you’re in south Louisiana and not exactly northern Italy.

Even a rustic chicken dish, the “Chicken alla Tana, pulls from Gulotta’s personal history.

“It’s the exact chicken that my grandmother used to make,” says the chef. “It’s this very

simple chicken with lots of olive oil and butter, black pepper, oregano, and garlic, peppers, onions and potatoes. You just put the whole thing in the oven and roast it, and it makes its own sauce in the bottom of the roasting pan, and that’s the only chicken dish she ever made. I still make that dish for my kids, because it’s so delicious.” And if you want a true show-stopper, look no further than the selection of steaks and chops, all available with the option to top them with jumbo lump crab, gorgonzola butter, fresh truffles or smoked bone marrow to make your night even more unapologetically decadent.

Tana’s current menu is packed so deep with stellar offerings, there’s no way anyone outside of a professional eater could enjoy every stand-out dish in one or even three trips there, which so far has been keeping diners from across the city coming out to Metairie Road for repeat visits. Still, Chef Gulotta feels that he’s only getting warmed up. “With every one of my restaurants, I’m always sort of showing people I think a little something that they weren’t expecting,” he said. “It’s still reflective of a New Orleans palate, and it’s still reflective of someone who was trained in New Orleans, but I’m bringing in the training that I had from other places. And I think that people are becoming more and more pleasantly surprised that it’s not just old school New Orleans Italian. It’s bringing in a lot of other cultures and a lot of other flavors. And I think, no matter what, it’s going to be great.”

Gianna

While “new school” Italian restaurants in New Orleans tend to scoop up the cool factor, we still adore our old world-style Italian, and to that end, Donald Link hit the sweet spot when he and partner Stephen Strejewski opened Gianna in 2019. The menu is an all-star roster of heralded Italian classics, from antipasti like lovingly fried calamari, spicy meatballs and grilled octopus to a rock-solid pasta program, wood-fired pizzas, and killer large plates including lamb lasagna and a pitch-perfect veal saltimbocca. If you’re carbo-loading for a marathon (or just hungry on a Thursday), starch-tastic sides like a classic pasta bordelaise and rustic, herb-roasted potatoes will make sure your fuel tank is full. But save room for dessert; you definitely won’t want to miss out on a couple of scoops of house-made gelato!

Avo

Avo has been a favorite on Magazine St. since 2016. Chef Nick Lama’s fare has been consistently killing it for nearly a decade now, and a trip there will instantly show you why. Lama delved into his Sicilian heritage with takes on classical southern Italian fare. Yes, there’s calamari and fried eggplant, but also a Japaneseinspired tuna crudo and pasta faves like a perfect buccatini, caccio e pepe or squid ink malfada with lobster and lemon garlic cream. For mains, you’ll find classic veal parm and chicken piccata and inventive offerings like short rib marsala with mushroom risotto.

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / APRIL 2024 49

Gin Up!

Shaking things up

Mason Richel, bartender at Herbsaint, wants gin haters to reconsider that spirit. “People hear ‘gin’ and they get scared.. they think PINE. ” In fact, Mason has served gin haters gin cocktails and to their surprise, they like them. “People don’t realize the gin is there - it’s nice to convert them.” His “Self Starter” is inspired by the classic gin martini, replacing vermouth with slightly bitter Cocchi Americano. Mason notes that Cocchi “plays nicely with tree fruit,” in this case, apricot liqueur. As a transplant from Wisconsin, Mason appreciates how New Orleans encourages people to leave their comfort zone and try something new. “New Orleans has its own vibe. I thought it was a joke when I heard that in Wisconsin, but New Orleans is its own world, a little treasure inside the US, and people only see it when they travel here.”

Self Starter

2 ounces Heyman’s gin

3/4 ounce Cocchi Americano

1/4 ounce apricot liqueur (Rothman and Winter, Mathilde or Giffard are all good brands)

Herbsaint or absinthe rinse

Garnish: lemon twist

Coat the inside of a coupe glass with Herbsaint using an atomizer or by swirling a small amount and shaking out the excess. Add gin, Cocchi and apricot liqueur to a mixing glass with ice. Stir and strain into the Herbsaint-coated coupe. Garnish with a lemon twist

Podcast

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

While the recipe calls for a lemon twist, Mason also likes using an orange twist, which pairs well with the Cocchi and apricot.

Feel free to play around with proportions or even try some swaps using this basic recipe. Increase the apricot for a sweeter drink or replace the Cocchi with another aromatized wine like Lillet Rose.

Apricot liqueur pairs well with bourbon or cognac and can be used as a replacement for simple syrup in drinks like a Sidecar or Old Fashioned.

CHEERS

50 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

BY ELIZABETH PEARCE / PHOTO BY EUGENIA UHL

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / APRIL 2024 51

NOSH

BY JYL BENSON / PHOTO BY SAM HANNA

Cooking with Love

A Louisiana tradition

Tragedy struck chef John Folse’s family when he was only 7 years old. His mother, Therese Folse, died leaving eight children under the age of 10 to be reared by their father, who was then only 36 years old. “My father was committed to keeping the family together, no matter what,” Folse said. Like many South Louisianans, he grew up in a small town and a large family where most of the food was something the family grew, hunted, or fished from nearby swamps and bayous. “We even got rice from an uncle and sugar from the mill my father managed,” Folse said.

As is often the case in challenging times, members of the family’s community, in this case, St. James Parish just outside of Donaldsonville, stepped in to help. Two weeks after his wife’s death, a neighbor, Mary Ferchaud, knocked on the door and offered to help the grieving widower and his family. She stayed with the Folse family for decades and she, along with two resolute grandmothers and a host of aunts and uncles, made sure the Folse children were nurtured, guided and loved.

It was in Ferchaud’s kitchen, and those of maternal grandmother, Mamere Zeringue, and uncle, Paul Zeringue, that Folse honed his skills as a cook.

“Crawfish bisque is a tradition in Louisiana,” Folse said. “This dish is normally made in May or June, toward the end of crawfish season. Usually, an entire family gets together to make enough bisque at one time for everyone’s freezer.”

Chef’s John Folse’s Crawfish

Bisque, Restaurant R’evolution

Makes 10 Servings

Stuffing

2 pounds cleaned crawfish tails

1 1/2 cups minced onions

1 cup minced celery

1/2 cup minced bell pepper

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1/3 cup chopped parsley

3 eggs, beaten

2 cups seasoned Italian breadcrumbs

salt and pepper to taste granulated garlic to taste 60 cleaned crawfish heads, soaked overnight in cold soda water, then drained

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.

2. In the bowl of a food processor or a home-style meat grinder grind the crawfish tails, onions, celery, bell peppers, minced garlic, and parsley for 30 seconds.

3. Transfer the ingredients to a mixing bowl.

4. Use a rubber spatula to blend in the eggs.

5. Add breadcrumbs, a little at a time (start with 1 cup), using just enough to hold the mixture together.

6. Season to taste with salt, pepper, and granulated garlic.

7. Stuff equal amounts of stuffing into the prepared crawfish heads.

8. Place the crawfish heads on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper and bake until lightly browned, about 20 minutes. Remove and set aside until ready to use.

Cleaned, frozen crawfish heads are available at Lefort’s Seafood (6720 Lapalco Blvd Ste A, Marrero, 504-348-3510, lefortsseafood.com)

Sauce

1pound cleaned crawfish tails

1 1/2 cups vegetable oil

1 1/2cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups diced onion

1 cup diced celery

1/2 cup diced bell pepper

2 tablespoons minced garlic

1/4 cup tomato sauce

3 quarts crawfish stock or seafood stock

1 cup chopped green onions

1/2 cup chopped parsley

salt and black pepper to taste hot cooked white rice and hot French bread, for serving

1. Heat the oil in a heavy-bottomed Dutch oven over medium-high heat.

2. Add the flour and, using a wire whisk, stir constantly until deep brown roux is achieved, about 15 minutes.

3. Add the onions, celery, bell pepper, and garlic and sauté until vegetables are wilted, about 5 minutes.

4. Add the crawfish tails and the tomato sauce, blending well into vegetable mixture.

5. Slowly add crawfish or seafood stock a little at a time until a sauce-like consistency is achieved.

6. Bring the mixture to a rolling boil, reduce to simmer, and add stuffed crawfish heads. Stir well.

7. Simmer the mixture for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally. It is important to stir the dish since the crawfish will settle to the bottom of the pot and may scorch.

8. Add the green onions and parsley and season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve in a soup bowl over hot cooked white rice with hot French bread.

Cook With us!

Join us each third Tuesday of the month and cook along with New Orleans Magazine and our featured chef on Instagram.

@neworleansmagazine

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / APRIL 2024 53

Sensational Springtime Happenings

Bring the family, call up your friends, and find some fun in the springtime sun at these exciting Gulf Coast Springtime Happenings!

Pirate Day in the Bay

Be sure to catch the 9th annual Pirate Day in the Bay, a weekend celebration in Old Town Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, set for May 17-18. Organized by Mystic Krewe of the Seahorse, the event starts Friday at Pirate Central, where adult pirates gather for a light-hearted pirate invasion, pub-crawl, and scavenger hunt in the local eateries and bars. Saturday is family-friendly with a kids walking parade, a pirate costume contest for all ages, a play zone, craft vendors, a pirate invasion golf cart parade, live music, and a fireworks finale at 9 pm. Pirate Day in the Bay was named a “Top 20 Event” by the Southeast Tourism Society, Mississippi Magazine’s 2021 Spring Festival

“M-List,” and 2022 Best of Travel Awards, #27 on “Travel Lemming’s “150 Best Things to Do This Summer” Most activities are free! See the full schedule at MKOTSH.COM

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.

Briquette

Located right in the night light hotbed of the Warehouse District, Briquette features some of the finest contemporary seafood in New Orleans, with fresh fish prepared over red-hot briquettes bestrewed in the finest flavored oil. This Spring, Briquette is offering unique and flavorful menus for some added spice to your night out on the town.

On April 19, enjoy the Bubbles & Vino Dinner, five carefully curated courses with a specific wine or champagne pairing for each. This allinclusive dining experience is $150 per diner.

On May 10th, Briquette is proud to partner with the Prisoner Wine Company for Prisoner Dinner. The meal features five special courses, each of which will include a unique wine pairing courtesy of Prisoner Wine Company. The pricing for this event is also $150 per diner.

Learn more at briquette-nola.com or reserve now via Open Table.

New Orleans Creole Cookery:

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. Created by A.J. and Anna Tusa, this French Quarter staple and a local favorite is a delicious repository and cultivator of traditional Creole recipes and cooking techniques going back generations.

As the sunshine of springtime returns, NOCC is your hub for families and friends to sit down for the finest in comfort dining, offering Saturday and Sunday Brunch as well as weekday happy hours with special pricing on raw and char-grilled oysters. For families, visitors, or longtime residents, there is nowhere better to find an authentic Creole culinary experience than the New Orleans Creole Cookery.

Located at 508 Toulouse Street. For more information, reservations, or to book a private event, call the restaurant at 504-524-9632 or visit neworleanscreolecookery.com

Luzianne Café

Your favorite casual breakfast and lunch spot in downtown New Orleans, Luzianne Cafe, is expanding its offerings to add even more flavors to its incredible selection of southern comfort foods. With a newly acquired liquor license, Luzianne Cafe has begun serving alcoholic beverages, including classic cocktails and local Abita beer, for when breakfast wants to turn into a fun-filled, boozy brunch. The rest of their menu has also expanded, with Boudin Benedict and Chicken and Waffles added for some added hometown flavor and spice.

Some come down to Luizanne Cafe for your New Orleans favorites, whether those be beignets, shrimp poboys, creole grits, and so much more. We aren’t just any neighborhood diner, but an always delicious celebration of all the culinary joys of New Orleans and the South has to offer.

To learn more, please visit luziannecafe.com.

Nolavore- to-Go

Keep the festivities rolling through festival season with Nolavore-to-Go!

Enjoy specially crafted hors d’oeuvres, snacks, and dips, boxed meals, party platters, Louisiana favorites, sides, & sweets for pick up or delivery. While long known for our full-service catering, our a la Carte Market storefront and Convertible Coffee Bar are brand new and making a splash! Offerings include ready-to-heat meals to go, housemade snacks and preserves, uniquely local and regional grocery items, and local beers & boutique wines, as well as hot or iced coffees, teas, & matchas for your morning walk, on the way to work, or before a fun-filled day of sightseeing throughout beautiful Uptown New Orleans.

Located on the corner of Baronne and Jackson in Historic Central City, swing by early and visit our coffee bar & storefront or order online 24/7 at nolavore.net. Open 7 am-5 pm weekdays. •

54 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM SPONSORED

NOLA Specialty Medicine Providers

Ever at the ready for when medical maladies strike, these New Orleans Area Healthcare Providers remain steadfastly dedicated to the health of their, and your, community.

Tulane Doctors – One Call Center

As Tulane Doctors expand across New Orleans, Jefferson Parish and the Northshore, the same trusted providers you know are now available at more convenient locations. To help patients navigate these changes, the Tulane Doctors- One Call Center is now open, making your healthcare experience smoother and more personalized. The One Call Center gives current and potential Tulane patients and referring physicians direct access to schedule an appointment with any Tulane provider.

When a patient or referring physician calls 504-988-5000, they will be directed to a Tulane-employed team member, who will schedule patients with Tulane providers whenever possible. The One Call Center will be able to quickly identify the accessibility of providers, improve the ease by which appointments are made, and support callers in navigating new clinic locations.

Call 504-988-5000 to schedule a meeting with ANY Tulane doctor, or visit tulanedoctors.com to find your physician today.

Thibodaux Regional Health System

Thibodaux Regional Health System, located in adjacent Lafourche

Parish, recently earned Advanced Certification as a Primary Stroke Center by The Joint Commission. Thibodaux Regional is the first and only hospital in Region 3 to achieve this designation, meeting the highest standards for the treatment of stroke patients.

“Thibodaux Regional has worked diligently to establish comprehensive neurosciences services to meet the needs of the region,” said Greg Stock, CEO of Thibodaux Regional. “We have recruited four neurologists and two neurosurgeons to complement existing clinical services and support staff; constructed a 30-bed acuity adaptable Critical Care Unit featuring state-of-the-art technology; and acquired advanced technology to provide minimally invasive image-guided procedures in our Interventional Radiology Suite.”

“We understand the critical nature of a rapid and precise diagnosis and prompt treatment during a stroke event,” said Dr. Tashfin Huq, Board Certified Neurologist and Stroke Medical Director with Thibodaux Regional. “The Primary Stroke Center designation not only benefits patients but also the region as a whole, as it promotes accessibility to superior stroke care, leading to improved outcomes and a higher quality of life for individuals impacted by stroke.”

For more information visit thibodaux.com.•

MYNEWORLEANS.COM / APRIL 2024 55 SPONSORED

Excellence in Senior Living

New Orleans Senior Living facilities are some of the finest in the world, full of vibrant communities, loving caregivers, and fulfilling experiences to last a lifetime.

The Carrollton

Live life to the fullest at The Carrollton; the premiere assisted living and memory care community in New Orleans. Offering a warm and welcoming environment for seniors seeking comfort, care, and companionship as they grow older, The Carrollton provides a safe and nurturing community where residents can find joy and fulfillment in every moment.

With a focus on daily living, The Carrollton offers a range of amenities and services tailored to meet the unique needs of each individual. From chef-prepared meals to fitness classes and social activities, residents are encouraged to maintain active and fulfilling lifestyles while our dedicated staff members are committed to providing personalized care and support.

At The Carrollton, we believe that aging should be embraced with dignity and grace, and we strive to create an environment where seniors can live a life of purpose, luxury, and tranquility.

To learn more, please visit thecarrollton.com

Lambeth House

Perfectly situated with stunning views of Audubon Park and the Mississippi River is Lambeth House, a premier provider of active retirement living in New Orleans. For over twenty-five years, Lambeth House has been committed to redefining the traditional concept of retirement, fostering an environment that nurtures the mind, body, and spirit. From an indoor saltwater pool and a cutting-edge fitness center to an art studio, meditation room, and an onsite interfaith chapel, Lambeth House provides a truly holistic experience.

Lambeth House, a not-for-profit Life Plan Community, offers a maintenance-free lifestyle with the added assurance that more support such as assisted living and 24-hour nursing care are available onsite should the need arise.

Currently, Lambeth House is amid an expansion project featuring exquisite independent living residences with sunlit floorplans and breathtaking views. Anticipated for completion by fall 2025, this expansion marks another chapter in Lambeth House’s commitment to providing the ultimate retirement experience.

Peristyle Residence

Peristyle Residences has offered the finest residential assisted living communities to the New Orleans area for over 12 years. Priding itself on the feel of a true family home, Peristyle Residences focuses on resident-centered care, offering the finest memory care services with a warm personal touch.

Always exploring new and exciting offerings for their senior neighbors, Peristyle Residences is proud to announce the opening of their new Memory Care Assisted Living center called The Jefferson. Featuring 16 private rooms, this massive expansion of the Peristyle Residences’ Campus will have a grand opening celebration from 4 - 7pm on April 4 and is currently taking priority reservations.

If you require assisted living services, take comfort in knowing that Peristyle Residences is continuing to pioneer the most effective and compassionate care in the Greater New Orleans area.

For more information, please peristyleresidences.com or call 504-874-6872.

The Laurel

Voted #1 Senior Living! Discover a life of comfort, security, and expert care at The Laurel Senior Living on Magazine Street. This brand-new community caters to active seniors, providing Independent and Assisted Living, along with a distinctive offering: New Orleans’ only All-Female Memory Care. The community boasts a 3-story sunlit atrium with lush gardens, restaurant-style dining, 24-hour nursing care, a resident gardening area, putting green, and more.

Our secure Memory Care floor is designed to meet the needs of our female residents with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Led by a full-time Memory Care Activities Director, we curate engaging activities, from therapeutic art to serene gardening. Each day brings opportunities for residents to thrive and rediscover their passions.

Embracing a heart-centered approach, the dedicated team provides expert care, connecting on a personal level to make every day an opportunity for residents to live life to the fullest.

For more information, call (504) 350-2244, or visit LaurelNOLA.com. •

SPONSORED 56 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM

A Special Section of New Orleans Magazine WYES-TV/Channel 12 Program & Events Guide APRIL 2024 SUNDAYS, APRIL 7 – 28 AT 8PM Watch it on WYES-TV and stream it on wyes.org/live and on the WYES & PBS Apps. WYES CELEBRATES 67 YEARS OF SERVICE TO THE COMMUNITY ON APRIL 1ST!

PROGRAMMING HIGHLIGHTS

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

JULIUS CAESAR: THE MAKING OF A DICTATOR “High Priest”

Tuesdays, April 2-16 at 8pm

The three-part series explores Julius Caesar’s rise to power and the destruction of Roman democracy. The first episode traces Caesar’s ambitious rise to become Consul, the highest political position in Rome. He forms dangerous alliances and bends the rules of the Republic, courting the popular vote, exploiting division, and using bribery and intimidation to get his own way. But his unconventional approach to politics and disregard for established customs sets him at odds with the conservative elite within the Senate. And one man — Cato — is determined to bring him down.

Photo Credit: Richard Pearson, BBC Studios

MASTERPIECE “Mr Bates vs The Post Office”

Sundays, April 7 – 28 at 8pm

When money started to seemingly disappear from Great Britain’s local postal branches, the government-owned Post Office wrongly blamed their own managers for its apparent loss. For more than a decade, hundreds were accused of theft and fraud, and many were even sent to prison — leaving lives, marriages and reputations in ruins. But the issue was actually caused by errors in the Post Office’s own computer system - something it denied for years. This is the story of the decent ordinary people who were relentlessly pursued, coerced and controlled by a powerful corporation, and their ongoing battle. Pictured: Toby Jones as Alan Bates Photo Credit: ITV Studios and MASTERPIECE

ELTON JOHN & BERNIE TAUPIN: THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG

Monday, April 8 at 8pm

Elton John and Bernie Taupin, one of the great songwriting duos of all time, will be the 2024 recipients of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song—named for another legendary songwriting team, George and Ira Gershwin. “Your Song,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” are just a few songs they wrote together that became timeless standards. Photo Credit: Barrie Wentzell

THE EXPRESS WAY WITH DULE HILL

Tuesdays, April 23-May 14 at 8pm

The documentary series that explores the power of the arts. Led by renowned actor, dancer, and singer, Dulé Hill, the series captures diverse artists’ stories from across America, celebrating community, humanity, and the transformative potential of creative expression.

Photo Credit: Riker Brothers

UP FROM THE STREETS: NEW ORLEANS: THE CITY OF MUSIC

Monday, April 29 at 9pm

This feature-length documentary, hosted by executive producer Terence Blanchard, shares how the music of New Orleans reflects the culture of the city. In interviews and performances from past and present musical greats, see how the music has the power to change lives and how, even in the darkest of times, can lift and unite. Produced by Michael Murphy, Cilista Eberle and Robin Burgess. Pictured: Herlin Riley, Terence Blanchard & Ben Jaffe at a recording session at Esplanade Studios in New Orleans

12 PROGRAM GUIDE | APRIL 2024 D2

Premieres on Monday, April 15 at 9pm

Watch it on: WYES-TV | Stream it on: wyes.org/live, WYES App & PBS App

Available for a limited time on WYES’ YouTube channel

Repeats on Wed., April 17 at 10pm, Sat., April 20 at 5pm; Wed., April 24 at 3pm

by Achille Peretti depicts Bishop William duBourg celebrating Mass at the Ursuline Convent during the Battle of New Orleans. Photos: Ursuline Academy students carry the statue affectionately called “Sweetheart” during a 1960 pilgrimage to the shrine. Courtesy: The Times-Picayune; A painting depicting the arrival of Ursuline nuns in New Orleans in 1727 by Paul Poincy. Courtesy: Ursuline Convent New Orleans Archive

Ever since its founding more than three centuries ago, New Orleans has needed prayers. Just nine years after the city’s founding, 16 Ursuline nuns arrived to help see the city through its toughest times. They have been teaching, serving and inspiring people here ever since.

In 1924, they also dedicated a place for New Orleanians and visitors from around the world to pray: the National Votive Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. As this sacred space on State Street in Uptown New Orleans commemorates its centennial, a new WYES documentary airing on Monday, April 15 at 9pm will explore its history and the devotion to this place that

Made possible by:

is shared by so many from all faiths and all walks of life.

This shrine to the patron saint of New Orleans and Louisiana has a history intertwined with the city and its faithful. A powerful symbol of that faith rests inside: the statue of Our Lady of Prompt Succor to whom New Orleans, and the nuns, prayed for quick relief as the British threatened to overtake the city during the Battle of New Orleans. Their prayers were answered and since then, thousands of people have sought hope, comfort, consolation and peace, by repeating the words from centuries ago: “Our Lady of Prompt Succor, hasten to help us!”

CRAIG JAMES MUNDIE IN LOVING MEMORY OF HIS WIFE OF 52 YEARS, MARIE CARR MUNDIE

THE VALENTINO FAMILY IN MEMORY OF MARY ANN GLORIOSO VALENTINO

Painting Producer and narrator is Karen Swensen. Photographer and editor is Lenny Delbert Sr.

Thank you!

Special thank you to:

Homeowners Jen & Seth Smiley

Co-Chairs: Paula Kelly Meiners and Phoebe Whealdon

Honorary Co-Chairs: Sue & Jack McGuire and Cathy & Mike Saucier

Thank you to our generous event sponsors:

Thru-Tubing Systems

The Paretti Family of Dealerships:

Jaguar-Land Rover-Mazda

CJ Ladner, State Farm Insurance Agent

Club Pilates Mandeville

Coastal Environmental Services

Blue Harbor Pointe Car Wash

Additional Thanks to:

Audubon Society of Baton Rouge

Ballet Apetrei

Kaleb's Catering

Patrick Cullen, pianist

Northshore Young Professionals / St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce

Queen Bee Honey Emporium

Sweet Olive Market & Bakery

Villere's Florist

Wild Bush Farms & Vineyard

All photos captured by Abby Photo

CELEBRATING

31 YEARS!

This June and July WYES continues its community seating wine pairing dinners.

We have a few seats remaining at each restaurant. Be sure to grab your seat before the dinners sells out.

Dinner prices vary from $110-$275 and include tax and gratuity. All dinners begin at 6:30pm.

Thank you to this season’s participating restaurants.

THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 12

$115

CHEF BRIAN LANDRY

FIRST COURSE

PICKLED SHRIMP AND CORN FLAKES

Grilled Corn Flakes, Grape Tomatoes, Jalapeño, Cilantro

2018 Trimbach

Gewurztraminer Alsace, France

SECOND COURSE

SUMMER SQUASH SALAD

Lemon Vinaigrette, Red Onions, Parmesan, Herbs

2020 Château de Ségriès, Côtes du Rhônes Rouge

Rhône Valley, France

THIRD COURSE

BONE-IN SHORT RIB

Potato Galette, Blue Cheese

2019 Blason d’Issan Margaux Bordeaux, France

FOURTH COURSE

STRAWBERRY FIELD

Fresh Strawberry Ice Cream, Strawberry Balsamic Compote, Candied Basil

June’s Rosé (Zweigelt) Austria

Community Coffee Breakfast Blend

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19

$135

CHEF BOBBI MILLER

FIRST COURSE

GARLIC BUTTER POACHED SHRIMP AND GRITS

Les Glories, Crémant de Loire Rose

SECOND COURSE

SCALLOP CRUDO Citrus and Chili

J de Villebois Sauvignon

Blanc, Vin de Loire 2021

THIRD COURSE

CRISPY FRIED DUCK LEG

Cauliflower Puree, Frisée Salad, Blackberry Gastrique

Copain Tous Ensemble

Pinot Noir, Sonoma Coast 2021

FOURTH COURSE

LAMB LOLLIPOPS

Pomegranate Tabbouleh, Goat Cheese Crema

Jean Luc Colombo

“Les Fees Brunes”

Croze-Hermitage 2019

FIFTH COURSE

FRESH FRUIT AND PASTRY CREAM TARTLET

Chateau Laribotte

Sauternes 2019

Community Coffee Breakfast Blend

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26

$125

CHEF KNUT MJELDE

FIRST COURSE

CREOLE TOMATO SOUP

Anne Amie ‘Amrita’

Sparkling Yamhill-Carlton NV

SECOND COURSE

CITY PARK SALAD

Baby Red Oak, Romaine, Granny Smith Apples, Stilton Blue Cheese, Applewood Smoked Bacon, Creamy Vinaigrette

Melanie Pfister ‘Tradition’ Pinot Gris Alsace 2015

THIRD COURSE

BRAISED SHORT RIB

Chive Whipped Potatoes, Sautéed Spring Peppers and Onions

K Vintner’s ’The Hidden’ Syrah Walla Walla 2014

FOURTH COURSE

BLACKOUT DOBERGE

Devil’s Sponge Cake and Chocolate Filling, Rich Chocolate Ganache, Vanilla Creme Anglaise

Quinta do Noval LBV Port 2016

Community Coffee

D&B Espresso Roast

THURSDAY, JULY 18

$150

CHEF ARVINDER VILKHU

FIRST COURSE

MASALA FISH CROQUETTES

Ginger Tomato

Remoulade Dip

SECOND COURSE

SERVED BUTTERNUT

SQUASH

Spiced Hung Yogurt, Tamarind Pepper Chimi Churi

NV Brut, Haute Cabrière, “Pierre Jourdan,” Méthode Cap Classique, Franschhoek, South Africa

THIRD COURSE

TRUDY CARLSON

AMRITSARI SHRIMP

Malabar Tomato Chutney

2021 Grüner Veltliner, Nastl, “Klassik,” Niederösterreich, Austria

FOURTH COURSE

ARRANGEMENTS BEEF

BRISKET CURRY

Served with Upma Eggplant Hyderabad

Saag Paneer (Spinach and Housemade Cheese) Plain Naan, Garlic Naan, Chili Cheese Naan

2019 Malbec, Vista Flores Estate, Reserve, La Consulta, Uco Valley, Argentina

FIFTH COURSE

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING CAKE AND BERRIES

Community Coffee Café Special

TUESDAY, JULY 30

$275

CHEF RICHARD HUGHES

WELCOME COCKTAIL

FIRST COURSE

GAZPACHO WITH SCALLOP CEVICHE

Piper Sonoma Brut Rose NV

SECOND COURSE

YELLOWFIN TUNA & FOIE GRAS

TORCHON & PADDLEFISH CAVIAR

Banquette, Chives, Balsamic Reduction

Schlosskellerei Gruner Veltliner Gobelsburger 2022

THIRD COURSE

AVOCADO & LOBSTER SALAD

Green Goddess Dressing, Chives, Little Gem, Radicchio

Far Niente Chardonnay, Napa Valley 2022

FOURTH COURSE

SEARED GULF SWORDFISH

Pineapple Crab Chimichurri, Shoe Peg Corn

Maque Choux, Fingerling Potatoes, Swiss Chard

Henri Bourgeois Sancerre Rouge

‘Les Baronnes’ 2019

INTERMEZZO

FROZEN WATERMELON AND COCONUT RUM SHOT

FIFTH COURSE

SEARED USDA PRIME TENDERLOIN

Creamed Spinach Stuffed Heirloom Tomato, Mache, Fried Onion Rings, Truffle Bordelaise

Chateau Saint Georges, Saint Georges Saint Emilion 2018

SIXTH COURSE

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

Lavender Ice Cream, Hazelnut Tuille

Terrassous Rivesaltes, Hors d’Age 12 Year

Wines provided by: Wines Unlimited

Community Coffee Café Special

Ochsner Health

Patron Party

7pm-11pm

Patron $500

Jr. Patron (ages 21-40) $225 Gala 8pm-11pm

Gala $200

Junior Gala (ages 21-40) $100

Thursday, May 9 WYES Studios

916 Navarre Avenue, New Orleans

Cuisine by The Windsor Court

Open Bar Online Auction

Live Music by Entertainment

Sponsor: Erin and JP Hymel

Presented by Gala Co-Chairs & Sponsor Executives (back row l-r): Douglas & Alicia Higginbotham; Lisa Romano & Vincent Giardina, Vice-President and President respectively of the Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust; Alison Toussaint-LeBeaux; (front row l-r): JP & Erin Hymel

on sale now wyes.org/events

Tickets

ONLINE AUCTION COMING SOON!

Those unable to attend the Gala can still support WYES by bidding online during the Gala auction beginning Thursday, May 2, and closing on the night of the Gala, Thursday, May 9, at 10pm. Thank you to the Gala Auction Committee Chairs: Dreda & Conor Lutkewitte.

Bid on jewelry, sporting events, art, outdoor excursions, private dinners, domestic and international trips, beauty and spa treatments, bourbon tastings, family outings, home furnishings, theater and concert events, gift cards to restaurants and boutiques and more.

Presenting Sponsor: Oscar J. Tolmas Charitable Trust

Patron Party Sponsor:

Entertainment Sponsor: Erin & JP Hymel

"Changes in Latitudes Changes in Attitudes" Sponsors

First Horizon Hancock Whitney IMTT

WYES is pleased to partner with Collette. The highly-trained, knowledgeable travel experts have planned two vacations with a portion of the proceeds benefiting WYES! Head to wyes.org/travel for all trip details.

Free Presentation at WYES

Thursday, May 2, 5:30pm Register: wyes.org/events

France Magnifique

October 3 — October 14, 2024

12 Days • 16 Meals

Call: 1-800-581-8942

Refer to booking #: 1204755

Booking deadline: April 4, 2024

Tropical Costa Rica

December 9 — December 17, 2024

9 Days • 14 Meals

Call: 1-800-581-8942

Refer to booking #: 1204749

Booking deadline: June 9, 2024

1 MONDAY

6pm PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “North Carolina Museum of Art” (Hour 1/3)

8pm

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Santa Clara” (Hour 1/3)

9pm

A TALL ORDER: THE LOUISIANA STATE CAPITOL From the architects that designed the soaring tower, to the commissioned artists who provided the sculptures, reliefs, and other adornments, this documentary will show you the iconic Capitol building in a way that you have likely never seen before. Produced by LPB.

10pm

INDEPENDENT LENS “A Thousand Pines”

A crew of 12 Mexican tree planters travel the United States regrowing America’s forests.

11pm

AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

2 TUESDAY

6pm PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 10 “In the Blood” Actor Michael Douglas and writer/ director Lena Dunham explore their family roots.

HIGHLIGHT

8pm

JULIUS CAESAR: THE MAKING OF A DICTATOR “High Priest” (Pt. 1/3) The three-part series explores Julius Caesar’s rise to power and the destruction of Roman democracy. The first episode traces Caesar’s ambitious rise to become Consul, the highest political position in Rome. He forms dangerous alliances and bends the rules of the Republic, courting the popular vote, exploiting division, and using bribery and intimidation to get his own way. But his unconventional approach to politics and disregard for established customs sets him at odds with the conservative elite within the Senate. And one man — Cato — is determined to bring him down. Photo Credit: Laurence Cendrowicz, BBC Studios

9pm FRONTLINE

10pm

To Be Announced

11pm

AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

3 WEDNESDAY

6pm

PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

NOVA “Great American Eclipse” On April 8, 2024, the Moon’s shadow is sweeping from Texas to Maine, as the U.S. witnesses its last total solar eclipse until 2044. This extraordinary astronomical event is plunging locations in the path of totality into darkness for more than four minutes – nearly twice as long as the last American eclipse in 2017. Learn how to watch an eclipse safely and follow scientists as they work to unlock secrets of our Sun – from why its atmosphere is hundreds of times hotter than its surface, to what causes solar storms and how we might one day predict them.

8pm

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FUTURE

“Beyond the Now” (Pt. 1/6) The series widens our perspective of time beyond our lifetimes and joins Ari Wallach as he embarks on a journey to seek the individuals and ideas that can shape a better, more sustainable future that each generation can build upon. Pictured: Neil Degrasse Tyson, Astrophysicist Photo Credit: BetterTomorrows

9pm

NOVA “Secrets of the Forbidden City”

10pm

NEW ORLEANS RESTAURANTS WITH A PAST

11pm

AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

4 THURSDAY

6pm

PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm STEPPIN’ OUT

7:30pm

BRITISH ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

8pm

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S POIROT, SEASON

4 “The ABC Murders” (Pt. 1/3) Poirot receives taunting letters from a serial killer who appears to choose his victims and crime scenes alphabetically.

10pm

CALL THE MIDWIFE, SEASON 13 (Pt. 3/8)

11pm

MARYON STEWART’S MENOPAUSE

MAKEOVER “The Whys” (Pt. 1/4) Viewers will learn sage advice based on medical research and take home Maryon’s top tried and true tips and tricks to help with the debilitating symptoms of menopause.

11:30pm

AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

WYES-TV/CHANNEL 12 PROGRAM GUIDE | APRIL 2024 D11

WEEKDAYS ON

5am & 1:30pm ARTHUR

A six-time Emmy Award-winner, this daily half-hour animated series, based on Marc Brown's best-selling Arthur adventure books, shows how Arthur and his friends use effective, age-appropriate problem-solving skills. Photo Credit: Courtesy of © 2020 WGBH Educational Foundation. All rights reserved. "Arthur" & the other Marc Brown ARTHUR characters and underlying materials (including artwork) ™ and © Marc Brown.

5am ARTHUR

5:30am ODD SQUAD

6am MOLLY OF DENALI

6:30am ALMA’S WAY

7am LYLA IN THE LOOP

7:30am WILD KRATTS

8am DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD

8:30am ROSIE’S RULES

9am SESAME STREET

9:30am WORK IT OUT WOMBATS!

5 FRIDAY

6pm PBS NEWSHOUR

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

AMERICAN MASTERS “The Incomparable Mr. Buckley” Follow the personal and political journey of conservative writer, strategist, candidate and provocateur William F. Buckley, Jr.

11pm STEPPIN’ OUT

11:30pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

PREMIERE

8pm

10am

DONKEY HODIE

10:30am PINKALICIOUS & PETERRIFIC

11am ELINOR WONDERS WHY

11:30am NATURE CAT NOON CURIOUS GEORGE

12:30pm XAVIER RIDDLE AND THE SECRET MUSEUM

1pm DANIEL TIGER’S NEIGHBORHOOD

1:30pm ARTHUR

6 SATURDAY

6pm

THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW “1934”

7pm

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “North Carolina Museum of Art” (Hour 1/3)

8pm

FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 10 “In the Blood”

9pm

U.S. AND THE HOLOCAUST “The Golden Door” (Beginnings -1938) (Pt. 1/3)

11:30pm

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS “Allison Russell/ The Weather Station”

7 SUNDAY

7pm

CALL THE MIDWIFE, SEASON 13 (Pt. 4/8)

MASTERPIECE “Mr Bates vs The Post Office” (Pt. 1/4) When money started to seemingly disappear from Great Britain’s local postal branches, the government-owned Post Office wrongly blamed their own managers for its apparent loss. For more than a decade, hundreds were accused of theft and fraud, and many were even sent to prison — leaving lives, marriages and reputations in ruins. But the issue was actually caused by errors in the Post Office’s own computer systemsomething it denied for years. This is the story of the decent ordinary people who were relentlessly pursued, coerced and controlled by a powerful corporation, and their ongoing battle. Pictured: Toby Jones as Alan Bates Photo Credit: ITV Studios and MASTERPIECE

9pm

MASTERPIECE “Alice & Jack” (Pt. 4/6) Alice disappears from Jack’s life until years later Celia seeks her out to get some answers about Jack.

10pm

NINA “Solitude” (Pt. 7/8) In French with English subtitles.

11pm

LUNA AND SOPHIE “Paradise Lost” (Pt. 9/10) In German with English subtitles.

8 MONDAY

6pm

PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Santa Clara” (Hour 1/3)

WYES-TV/CHANNEL 12 PROGRAM GUIDE | APRIL 2024 D12

HIGHLIGHT

8pm

ELTON JOHN & BERNIE TAUPIN: THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS GERSHWIN PRIZE FOR POPULAR SONG Elton John and Bernie Taupin, one of the great songwriting duos of all time, will be the 2024 recipients of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song—named for another legendary songwriting team, George and Ira Gershwin. “Your Song,” “Tiny Dancer,” “Rocket Man,” “Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Me,” and “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” are just a few songs they wrote together that became timeless standards.

Photo Credit: Gavin Bond

9:30pm

NOLA UNCOVERED explores the uniqueness of New Orleans’ architecture, food and music through the experiences of locals.

10pm

INDEPENDENT LENS “Matter of Mind: My Parkinson’s”

11pm

AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

9 TUESDAY

6pm

PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 10 “Viewers Like You”

8pm

JULIUS CAESAR: THE MAKING OF A DICTATOR “Veni Vidi Vici” (Pt. 2/3) Caesar has brokered an uneasy alliance with the two other most powerful men in the Republic, Pompey and Crassus, and the trio dominate the political system. Backed in a corner, Caesar makes a decision that will change the course of the Republic — and Western history — forever.

9pm

THE INVISIBLE SHIELD “Follow the Data” (Pt. 2/4) Explore how public health has increased life spans and saved countless lives from disease, but underfunding,

disinformation, and skepticism of science and government place human health at risk.

10pm

EXTRA LIFE: A SHORT HISTORY OF LIVING LONGER “Data” (Pt. 3/4) Track the importance of data mapping and analysis in the quest to improve public health.

11pm

AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

10 WEDNESDAY

6pm

PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

NATURE “Raptors: A Fistful of Daggers” ‘Meet the Raptors’ (Pt. 1/2)

8pm

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FUTURE “Chaos & Complexity” (Pt. 2/6) Why are many of us feeling overwhelmed and afraid in this historically transformational moment in time? Ari Wallach explores how it offers unprecedented possibilities for new and needed futures we can create together.

9pm

NOVA “Ancient Maya Metropolis”

10pm

FRENCH QUARTER THAT WAS

11pm

AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

11 THURSDAY

6pm

PBS NEWSHOUR

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 and entertainment. All episodes available on WYES’ YouTube channel.

7:30pm

BRITISH ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

8pm

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S POIROT, SEASON 4 “Death in the Clouds” (Pt. 2/3)

10pm CALL THE MIDWIFE, SEASON 13 (Pt. 4/8)

11pm

MARYON STEWART’S MENOPAUSE MAKEOVER “Hot Flashes” (Pt. 2/4) Delve into the challenges of hot flashes and other menopause-related symptoms, offering holistic solutions and expert advice.

11:30pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

12 FRIDAY

6pm PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

INFORMED SOURCES All episodes available on WYES’ YouTube channel.

7:30

LOUISIANA THE STATE WE’RE IN

8pm

WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC

8:30pm

FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER

9pm

GREAT PERFORMANCES “Now Hear This: Rising Stars” (Pt. 1/4) Meet rising star,Chloe Chua, who reminds Scott Yoo of the dedication and passion required to prepare for a professional career.

10pm

NEXT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER “Ben Folds Presents DECLASSIFIED®”

The National Symphony Orchestra’s DECLASSIFIED® series goes beyond the traditional orchestra concert by offering great live music—both classical and contemporary—in a laid-back, casual setting.

11pm STEPPIN’ OUT

11:30pm

AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

WYES-TV/CHANNEL 12 PROGRAM GUIDE | APRIL 2024 D13

SATURDAYS ON

10:30am

CHEF PAUL PRUDHOMME'S ALWAYS COOKING!

One of the country's most beloved chefs goes back to basics to present a compendium of time-honored cooking methods. In each episode, Chef Paul fuses exciting flavors and ingredients with traditional cooking processes to create authentic yet modern side dishes, entrees and desserts.

5am MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD

5:30am ARTHUR

6am MOLLY OF DENALI

6:30am ALMA’S WAY

7am

J. SCHWANKE’S LIFE IN BLOOM

7:30am AMERICAN WOODSHOP

8am THIS OLD HOUSE

8:30am ASK THIS OLD HOUSE

9am KITCHEN QUEENS: NEW ORLEANS

9:30am

KEVIN BELTON’S COOKIN’ LOUISIANA

10am THE DOOKY CHASE KITCHEN: LEAH’S LEGACY

13 SATURDAY

6pm

THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW “Songs of the Sun, Moon, and Stars”

7pm

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Vintage Museum 2019”

8pm

FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 10 “Viewers Like You”

9pm U.S. AND THE HOLOCAUST “Yearning to Breathe Free” (1938-1942) (Pt. 2/3)

11:30pm

AUSTIN CITY LIMITS “Lil Yachty/Sudan Archives”

14 SUNDAY

7pm

CALL THE MIDWIFE, SEASON 13 (Pt. 5/8)

8pm

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

12:30pm

CHRISTOPHER KIMBALL'S MILK STREET TELEVISION

1pm GREAT CHEFS

1:30pm HOMEMADE LIVE!

2pm

PATI'S MEXICAN TABLE

2:30pm

SARA'S WEEKNIGHT MEALS

MASTERPIECE “Mr Bates vs The Post Office” (Pt. 2/4) Alan Bates and the Subpostmasters begin their fight for the truth and justice with new allies in Parliament, but first they must convince an independent investigator of their honesty.

9pm

MASTERPIECE “Alice & Jack” (Pt. 5/6) Jack and Alice meet again. Their joy is cut short by devastating news that forces Alice and Jack to re-evaluate what they’re doing with their lives.

10pm

NINA “The Final Test” (Pt. 8/8) In French with English subtitles.

11pm

LUNA AND SOPHIE “Lost Sons” (Pt. 10/10) In German with English subtitles.

15 MONDAY

6pm PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “North Carolina Museum of Art” (Hour 2/3)

8pm

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Santa Clara” (Hour 2/3)

HIGHLIGHT

9pm

A PLACE OF HOPE: THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR In 1924, Ursuline nuns dedicated a place for New Orleanians and visitors from around the world to pray: the National Votive Shrine of Our Lady of Prompt Succor. As this sacred space on State Street in Uptown New Orleans commemorates its centennial, this new documentary will explore its history and the devotion to this place that is shared by so many. The film features archival photos and interviews with Ursuline nuns who have served this community and preserved the shrine’s place in the city, along with some of the many people who have found solace, inspiration and hope there. Karen Swensen is producer and narrator.

9:30pm

BURIED HISTORY: FINDING OUR PAST 10pm REPAIRING THE WORLD: STORIES FROM THE TREE OF LIFE

11:30pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

16 TUESDAY

6pm

PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 10 “Born to Sing”

8pm

JULIUS CAESAR: THE MAKING OF A DICTATOR “Ides of March” (Pt. 3/3) As Caesar takes control of Rome and consolidates his grip over the Republic, he awards himself ever-greater powers. Appointed dictator for one year to restore peace, he soon extends this to ten years and then becomes “Dictator

WYES-TV/CHANNEL 12 PROGRAM GUIDE | APRIL 2024 D14 DIAL 12 | January 2019

for Life.” His ambition turned to tyranny, Caesar has become untouchable, and Rome is now essentially a dictatorship. A handful of senators, including some of his closest allies, plot to end his rule in the only way they can: by taking his life. But will that be enough to save the Republic?

9pm SECRETS OF THE DEAD “Nero’s Sunken City”

10pm

SECRETS OF THE DEAD “Last Days of Pompeii”

11pm

AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

17 WEDNESDAY

6pm

PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

NATURE “Raptors: A Fistful of Daggers” ‘Extreme Lives’ (Pt. 2/2)

8pm

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FUTURE “Once Upon a Time” (Pt. 3/6)

9pm

NOVA “Making North America: Origins” (Pt. 1/3)

10pm

A PLACE OF HOPE: THE NATIONAL SHRINE OF OUR LADY OF PROMPT SUCCOR is a new documentary produced and narrated by Karen Swensen.

10:30pm

BURIED HISTORY: FINDING OUR PAST takes viewers on a journey with veteran journalist Warren Bell as he discovers unknown parts of his own family history and aspects of New Orleans’ unique multicultural history, after taking over a neglected family tomb at the historic St. Louis Cemetery No. 2.

11pm

AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

18 THURSDAY

6pm

PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

STEPPIN’ OUT

7:30pm

BRITISH ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

8pm

AGATHA CHRISTIE’S POIROT, SEASON 4 “One, Two, Buckle My Shoe” (Pt. 3/3)

10pm

CALL THE MIDWIFE, SEASON 13 (Pt. 5/8)

11pm

MARYON STEWART’S MENOPAUSE MAKEOVER “Insomnia” (Pt. 3/4) Dive into the world of natural, holistic solutions for a restful night.

11:30pm

AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

19 FRIDAY

6pm

PBS NEWSHOUR

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 “Now Hear This: Virtuosos” (Pt. 2/4)

10pm

NEXT AT THE KENNEDY CENTER “Joshua Redman, Where Are We” Jazz saxophonist and composer Joshua Redman joins vocalist Gabrielle Cavassa to perform songs from his album, “where are we,” and explores the myths and realities of life in America.

11pm

STEPPIN’ OUT

11:30pm

AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

20 SATURDAY

6pm

THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW “Springtime in the Rockies”

7pm

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “North Carolina Museum of Art” (Hour 2/3)

8pm

FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 10 “Born to Sing”

9pm U.S. AND THE HOLOCAUST “The Homeless, The Tempest-Tossed” (1942-) (Pt. 3/3)

11:30pm AUSTIN CITY LIMITS “St. Vincent/Joy Oladokun”

21 SUNDAY

7pm

CALL THE MIDWIFE, SEASON 13 (Pt. 6/8)

8pm

MASTERPIECE “Mr Bates vs The Post Office” (Pt. 3/4) Alan allies with the Post Office in the hope his friends can get justice at last, but can he trust the people who have let them down so badly?

9pm

MASTERPIECE “Alice & Jack” (Pt. 6/6) Jack and Alice’s relationship has survived everything thrown their way but with the greatest battle ahead, is it possible that love can overcome anything? Photo Credit: Fremantle

10pm

THE PARIS MURDERS “The Shooting Star” (Pt. 1/12) A woman whose stage name is Julie Garland is found dead at the back of a jazz club. Chloe must find her true identity in order to solve her murder. In French with English subtitles.

11pm

OUR HOUSE (Pt. 1/4) Fi Lawson arrives home to find strangers moving into her house, but she insists that it isn’t for sale.

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SUNDAYS ON

11:30AM

THE DOOKY CHASE KITCHEN: LEAH’S LEGACY

Filmed on location at Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, the cooking series shares family recipes prepared by younger generations of the Chase family who have led the restaurant since Chef Leah Chase’s death in 2019. Pictured: Chase’s great-granddaughter Zoe Chase.

5am MISTER ROGERS’ NEIGHBORHOOD

5:30am ARTHUR

6am MOLLY OF DENALI

6:30am ALMA’S WAY

7am

LYLA IN THE LOOP 7:30am WILD KRATTS

8am WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC

8:30am LOUISIANA THE STATE WE’RE IN

9am

FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER

With events spiraling beyond her control, her panic rises as she can’t reach estranged husband Bram or locate her missing children.

22 MONDAY

6pm

PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “North Carolina Museum of Art” (Hour 3/3)

8pm

AMERICAN EXPERIENCE “Poisoned Ground: The Tragedy at Love Canal” A piercing look back at an environmental disaster and the women who spoke up and fought for accountability.

10pm

DEACON JOHN’S JUMP BLUES

11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

23 TUESDAY

6pm

PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

9:30am INFORMED SOURCES

10am VARIOUS PROGRAMMING

11am KEVIN BELTON’S COOKIN’ LOUISIANA

11:30am

THE DOOKY CHASE KITCHEN: LEAH’S LEGACY

NOON ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

1pm RICK STEVES' EUROPE

1:30pm IRELAND WITH MICHAEL

9pm

INDEPENDENT LENS “One with the Whale” An Alaskan family faces online attacks around their ancestral practices when animal activists target their son, the youngest person to ever harpoon a whale for his village.

10:30pm

RETURN: NATIVE AMERICAN WOMEN RECLAIM FOODWAYS FOR HEALTH & SPIRIT

11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

24 WEDNESDAY

6pm

PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

CHANGING PLANET: CORAL SPECIAL In the third year of this 7-year project examining the issues facing the planet’s most threatened ecosystems, Dr. M. Sanjayan visits the Maldives to take an in-depth look at coral reefs and the urgent efforts to help them survive climate change.

8pm

A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE FUTURE “The Future” (Pt. 4/6)

9pm

FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 10 “Forever Young”

HIGHLIGHT

8pm

THE EXPRESS WAY WITH DULÉ HILL “California” (Pt. 1/4) The series captures diverse artists’ stories from across America, celebrating community, humanity and the transformative potential of creative expression In the first episode, Hill connects with three brave artists: a deaf dancer, a gay mariachi and a senior citizen cabaret troupe. Photo Credit: Larkin Donley/ Joe Bressler; CALICO

NOVA “Making North America: Life” (Pt. 2/3)

10pm JEWISH NEW ORLEANS

11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

25 THURSDAY

6pm

PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

STEPPIN’ OUT

7:30pm BRITISH ANTIQUES ROADSHOW

8pm AGATHA CHRISTIE’S POIROT, SEASON 5 “The Adventure of the Egyptian Tomb” (Pt. 1/8)

WYES-TV/CHANNEL 12 PROGRAM GUIDE | APRIL 2024 D16

9pm

MISS FISHER’S MURDER MYSTERIES “Cocaine Blues” (Pt. 1/13) The series is based on the novels of Australian author Kerry Greenwood. Miss Fisher sashays through the back lanes and jazz clubs of late 1920's Melbourne, fighting injustice with her pearl handled pistol and her dagger sharp wit.

10pm

CALL THE MIDWIFE, SEASON 13 (Pt. 6/8)

11pm

MARYON STEWART’S MENOPAUSE

MAKEOVER “Weight Gain” (Pt. 4/4) provides in-depth explanations of the biological reasons for slowed metabolism during menopause, the importance of anti-inflammatory foods, the role of the gut microbiome, and techniques for mindful eating.

11:30pm

AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

26 FRIDAY

6pm

PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm

INFORMED SOURCES WYES’ longest running series, now in its 40th year, continues to share the top news stories in our area. Marcia Kavanaugh is host. Errol Laborde is longtime producer and panelist.

7:30pm

LOUISIANA: THE STATE WE’RE IN

8pm

WASHINGTON WEEK WITH THE ATLANTIC

8:30pm

FIRING LINE WITH MARGARET HOOVER

9pm

GREAT PERFORMANCES “Now Hear This: Old Friends” (Pt. 3/4)

10pm

ART HAPPENS HERE NOW WITH JOHN LITHGOW Actor John Lithgow goes back to school to demonstrate the transformative power of arts education. He explores four art disciplines: dance, ceramics, silk-screen printing and vocal jazz ensemble.

11pm

STEPPIN’ OUT

11:30pm

AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

27 SATURDAY

6pm

THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW "Musical History Makers"

7pm

LEGENDS OF NEW ORLEANS: THE MUSIC OF FATS DOMINO

8pm

IRMA: MY LIFE IN MUSIC

9:30pm

LOVE LETTERS: SAMANTHA FISH LIVE IN NEW ORLEANS

10pm

DEACON JOHN'S JUMP BLUES

11pm AUSTIN CITY LIMITS “Sarah Jarosz/Billy Strings”

28 SUNDAY

7pm

CALL THE MIDWIFE, SEASON 13 (Pt. 7/8)

8pm

MASTERPIECE “Mr Bates vs The Post Office” (Pt. 4/4) Alan and his friends finally get the chance to embark on the epic challenge of battling the Post Office in court.

9pm MASTERPIECE “Guilt, Season 3” (Pt. 1/4) Max and Jake find themselves back in Edinburgh where they soon face a familiar danger. Kenny tries to help a family member, while dramatic action plays out at a farm. Photo Credit: Courtesy of Expectation, Happy Tramp North, BBC, and MASTERPIECE

10pm

THE PARIS MURDERS “Panic” (Pt. 2/12) In French with English subtitles.

11pm

OUR HOUSE (Pt. 2/4)

29 MONDAY

6pm PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Stan Hywet Hall & Gardens” (Hour 1/3)

8pm

ANTIQUES ROADSHOW “Santa Clara” (Hour 3/3)

HIGHLIGHT

9pm

UP FROM THE STREETS: NEW ORLEANS: THE CITY OF MUSIC shares how the music of New Orleans reflects the culture of the city. In interviews and performances from past and present musical greats, see how the music has the power to change lives and how, even in the darkest of times, can lift and unite. Hosted by executive producer Terence Blanchard. Produced by Michael Murphy, Cilista Eberle and Robin Burgess. Pictured: Kinfolk Brass Band performs on the streets of New Orleans.

11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

30 TUESDAY

6pm PBS NEWSHOUR

7pm FINDING YOUR ROOTS WITH HENRY LOUIS GATES, JR., SEASON 10 “Fathers and Sons”

8pm THE EXPRESS WAY WITH DULÉ HILL “Appalachia” (Pt. 2/4)

9pm

FRONTLINE “Crisis on Campus” explores the firestorm raging on America’s most prestigious college campuses, ignited by the Israel-Hamas conflict.

10pm To Be Announced 11pm AMANPOUR AND COMPANY

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Streetcar

BY ERROL LABORDE / ART BY ARTHUR NEAD

Pontchartrain Beach

The final thrills

When a roller-coaster reaches the end of its run, it is usually with a screeching halt climaxed by a jolt, like when an airplane touches ground. When an amusement park reaches the end of its run it usually closes quietly though with a jolt to public sentiment.

Forty seasons have now passed since Pontchartrain Beach, the full-fledged amusement park located on a lakefront site now occupied by the University of New Orleans’ Technology Park was enlivened each evening by the echoed yells of thrill-seekers daring the rides that were whizzing by and above.

Having closed for good in 1983, soon after Labor Day, the run had been a good one since opening day June 30, 1928, at a nearby site before moving to the location that would define it.

Though by ’83 the run was sputtering; nationwide old-style Coney Island type amusement parks were in their decline. There was a new term in the boardwalk vernacular; “theme parks” launched by Disneyland and followed by many. In New Orleans there was an extra challenge. The Batt family, which operated “The Beach,” was bracing itself for the following year when the World’s Fair would open in New Orleans and draw attention away.

Left to the future would just be memories.

There was the Zephyr, by far the amusement park’s best-known landmark - its tracks, built on a spiraling lattice of white wood was the pathway for a rumbling roller-coaster that climbed and dived along its way. The highpoint, and I do mean high, was when the ride slowly climbed to the apex and then, to the screams and flailing arms of everyone on board, plunged with a mighty rush that raced furiously before braking to reach the end.

Many times, I stared at the Zephyr vowing to take the ride one daythough that day was slow in coming.

Then there was the Wild Maus - a German made roller coaster known for its abrupt turns. From the north end of the track speeding south, the city’s skyline could be seen in the distance. Trusting ourselves to something named after an insane rodent, it looked like our ride was going to leap across town crashing into the Hibernia Bank building, but then there was the gut wrenching, lifesaving turn saving us for more scares ahead.

I never rode on the Ragin’ Cajun, being committed to a lifelong pledge to never be a passenger on anything that rotated its riders upside down while ragin’.

There were gentler rides, such as the bumper cars which, despite the terror suggested in their names, were rather slow-moving padded vehicles that even a head-on collision provoked nothing more than laughter.

My favorites was The Bug, a low level roller coaster with each unit shaped like a love bug. Passengers sat in the round clutching to a stationary wheel. Each time the bug made a turn in would send the passengers pushing into each other, hence a love bug.

Of all living creatures the most daring might have been at the stage where circus-type acts were featured twice a night. Occasionally there was a guy who sat on a horse who stood on a platform way above a water tank. The drama followed as the steed, carrying his jockey, took a leap into the deep. The crowd loved it, though there was no reaction from the horse who nevertheless always survived.

My favorite sensory experience at the Beach happened when walking along the midway past the burger place. The aroma of the patties being fried with onions was overwhelming, even overcoming the salty sea breeze.

There comes a moment when a person cannot be distracted by the senses but challenged by reality. One night, during the Beach’s final days, I had to face the issue of riding the Zephyr. I could not avoid it any longer, risking an eternity of never rolling nor coasting. So, there I was with the safety bar locked over my lap. In the foreground was the tower to which we were slowly climbing. Feeling a little frightened I looked back to the lake where, in another decade, landing boats had been tested to carry troops to the Normandy Invasion. Now that was real courage. I tried to maintain mine as the ride reached the top and seemed to pause before furiously racing into the unknown. We travelled undoubtably faster than any human had ever moved, certainly with more speed than the Apollo astronauts on their way to the moon. And then there was a sudden stop. Fellow passengers gasped as the ride reached the unloading area and we were freed of our shackles. The moon reflected peacefully over the lake.

I was momentarily stunned, but then collected my thoughts: “That was fun,” I concluded. “I wonder if there is time to do it again.”

80 APRIL 2024 / MYNEWORLEANS.COM