Latest Issue: February 2024 – Mardi Gras Manual by Where Y'at Magazine

February February 2024 2024

DINING • MUSIC • ENTERTAINMENT

MARDI GRAS MANUAL

WhereYat.com

• NIGHTLIFE

CARNIVA PARADEL MAPS WhereYat.com | February 2024

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

WhereYat.com | February 2024

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Crab Cake Benedict

2 poached eggs, 2 sautéed crab cakes, hollandaise on a toasted English muffin

Shrimp Po Boy Pork Chop Benedict Tomatoes Benedict Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

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steak, home fries, eggs, Cheddar cheese, tomatoes, bell peppers, onions, jalapeños, Chipotle Southwest sauce wrapped in a spinach tortilla

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WhereYat.com | February 2024

CONTENTS 8 28 32 34 38 40 42 54 58 60 64

Carnival Walking Parades Costume Culture Making Costumes OG Float Artists Mardi Gras Aftercare Love NOLA Style

68 72 74 76 82 86

Pressed Vermicelli

February 2024

$20 & Under Food News

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Josh Danzig

Dining Guide Instagrammable Bevys

Contributing Writers: Phil LaMancusa, Debbie Lindsey, Kim Ranjbar, Burke Bischoff, Julie Mitchell, Sabrina Stone, Kimmie Tubré, Emily Hingle, Celeste Turner, Joey Cirilo, Jeff Boudreaux, Cynthea Corfah, Brooke Adams, Frances Deese, Arielle Gonzales, Amy Kirk Duvoisin, Michelle Nicholson

Black Photographers Black Writers Rubensteins Sharp Dressed Man

Lakeside2Riverside Tet Fest Movie Reviews Where Y'Been

Cover: 610 Stompers on Canal Street by Gustavo Escanelle

Extras 12 22 24 26 90 92

Director of Sales: Jim Sylve

Mardi Gras Parade Maps Mardi Gras Marching Groups Northshore Mardi Gras Parades Mardi Gras Parade Calendar Tales From the Quarter Po-Boy Views

—Josh Danzig, Publisher

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

Photographers and Designers: Gus Escanelle, Kim Ranjbar, Emily Hingle, Robert Witkowski, Ashley Damron, Martha Wilson Interns: Ashley Damron, Martha Wilson, Lauren Walker, Eliana Sarfati-Magill, Janay Major Subscribe: Receive 1 year (14 issues) for $30. Subscribe today at WhereYat.com.

Letter from the Publisher Enjoy this issue full of parade maps, history, and party picks. There’s even a rundown of where to find your favorite marching groups, including the 610 Stompers. Carnival parades are not just about floats—some of the best are walking parades such as the Krewe of Cork and the Societe’ de Sainte Anne on Fat Tuesday. Sabrina Stone shares what makes each of these walking marches special. February is Black History Month. Kimmie Tubré explores the legacy of New Orleans’ free people of color, while Michelle Nicholson presents a shortlist of great local Black writers. Make reservations now for Valentine’s Day, which falls on Ash Wednesday. If you’re looking for gift ideas, don’t miss Frances Deese’s rundown of 10 local fine jewelers. Finally, if you’re hungry, head to the Vietnamese New Year celebration of Tết Fest. Arielle Gonzalez writes about the importance of the holiday, while Kim Ranjbar and Burke Bischoff share great Vietnamese fare to sample.

Executive Editor: Burke Bischoff Movie Editors: David Vicari, Fritz Esker

Free People of Color

Live Music Calendar

Creative Director: Robert Witkowski Copy Editor: Donald Rickert

Bar Guide

Family Jewels

Entertainment & Nightlife 44 50 66 88 94

Food & Drink

38 12 82

Where Y’at Magazine 5500 Prytania St., #133 New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 891-0144 info@whereyat.com WhereYat.com

CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: WELLINGTON & CO. FINE JEWELRY; GUSTAVO ESCANELLE; KIM RANJBAR; BOUTIQUE DU VAMPYRE; GUSTAVO ESCANELLE

Features

WhereYat.com | February 2024

Bosom Buddies

JOIN AN EPIC STROLL The Walking Parades of Mardi Gras (Part II) By Sabrina Stone

Though not as famous in lore, there’s a walking parade almost every day of Carnival in 2024. They even bookend the celebrations on the first and the last days. Here’s your guide to six NOLA walking parades in February:

Bosom Buddies 8

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

KREWE OF CORK Friday, February 2, thekreweofcork.com This parade started as a wine club, as many great ideas do. The 400+ members are known as “Corkians.” Check-in consists of getting Bloody Marys at the Court of Two Sisters and followed by a champagne toast, so everyone is in an excellent mood while marching. Their motto is the Euripides quote, “Without wine, there is no joy.” In that case, this parade has the most joy.

MYSTIC KREWE OF BARKUS Sunday, February 4, kreweofbarkus.org “Must love dogs” is chief among the rules here. The Mystic Krewe of Barkus is exactly what you would hope for—an all-dog krewe with crowned, canine royalty and many adoptables among the pack. Some of the humans are in costumes, but the fancy ones are reserved for the pups. Founded by a non-profit that has benefited local animal organizations for the past 30+ years, you can feel good about every part of this parade.

ALL PHOTOS GUSTAVO ESCANELLE

While images of massive floats covered in flowers, murals, and monsters and filled with double decks of masked riders tossing fistfuls of beads is often what comes to mind when we talk about Mardi Gras, there is a far more human-sized way of celebrating— walking parades.

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KREWE OF BOSOM BUDDIES Friday, February 9, bosombuddiesnola.org Woman-centric, this group of “bosom buddies and breast friends” is a colorful krewe that bounces through the Vieux Carré. Around for a whole decade, they pick punny themes like “Crescent Titty” back during New Orleans’ tricentennial. They are colorful and inclusive, and their goal is to make people happy. If you’re really lucky, you might catch a bedazzled bra. KREWE OF LAFCADIO Saturday, February 10, keweoflafcadio.org Lafcadio Hearn was a famous journalist in the late 1800s who wrote a lot about New Orleans culture. He penned not only the first Creole cookbook, but many articles and political cartoons. The parade starts at Antoine’s Restaurant, and this krewe’s king is always a chef, as its focus is on satire, the city, and the culinary arts. You can expect a sea of chef hats, lobster pots, pralines, and mixing spoon throws.

Daily happy hour, weekly Jazz brunch, monthly pasta-making & wine tasting classes.

Barkus

Cork

630 Carondelet Street, New Orleans,

RED BEANS, DEAD BEANS, & THE KREWE OF FEIJÃO + GREEN BEANS Monday, February 12, kreweofredbeans.org/parades The Krewe of Red Beans got famous for their philanthropic campaigns during the COVID pandemic. The majority of Mardi Gras krewes raised funds and volunteered around the city but Beans went above and beyond with “Feed the Frontline” and “Feed the Second Line.” They raised over two million dollars and created job opportunities for local artists and unemployed gig workers while seriously helping those who were the most at risk and stretched thin during the pandemic. For those reasons alone, it’s worth marching with the beans but also the costumes are one of a kind and hand made of many, many multi-colored beans. The artistry of the outfits is extraordinary, while the materials are extremely affordable and low-waste.

Daily happy hour with half off gulf oysters & wine by the glass, multi-coastal bivalves, courtyard dinning

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

THE SOCIETÉ DE SAINTE ANNE Tuesday, February 13 Also known as the Saint Ann Walking Parade, this is the day where people show off what they’ve been working on all year. If you wake up early enough to catch the North Side Skull and Bone Gang and the Mardi Gras Indians, this becomes a very full day on your feet. Hoops, wigs, ribbons, glitter, flowers, and fabric color the whole Quarter and surrounding neighborhoods. This was how Mardi Gras started—handmade and on foot. This is the most official and most unofficial of parades. If you’re there, you’re in it.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: GUSTAVO ESCANELLE (2); ROBERT WITKOWSKI

St. Anne

WhereYat.com | February 2024

Mardi Gras Parade Maps CLAIBORNE

MID-CITY

Cork

TREMÉ

JEFFERSON + MAGAZINE

N. RAMPART

French Quarter

ST. CHARLES + NAPOLEON

MAGAZINE + NAPOLEON

S. RAMPART

NAPOLEON + TCHOUPITOULAS

ST. CHARLES + LOUISIANA

BOURBON + ST. ANN

BOURBON + BIENVILLE CANAL

CBD

NAPOLEON + MAGAZINE

Fri., February 2, 6:00 p.m. Named after the Yoruba goddess, Oshun is led by a peacock float and includes 20 floats and the Baby Dolls.

CONTI ST. + BOURBON

FRENCH QUARTER

BOURBON

ST. CHARLES + JACKSON

ROYAL MAG

ROYAL

POYDRAS

JACKSON SQUARE

CANAL

A Z IN O TCH

IVER MISS R

OU L UPIT

Uptown

UPTOWN

ROYAL + TOULOUSE

CANAL + ST. CHARLES

HARMONY CIRCLE

ROYAL

ESPLANADE

ST. PETER + ROYAL

BOURBON

ROYAL + BIENVILLE CHARTRES + ST. PETER

JACKSON SQUARE

ST. ANN + CHARTRES

LAKE WAREHOUSE

12TH + SEVERN

W. ESPLANADE

ER V I SR S I M

IEW PK CLEARV

Parade schedules and routes are subject to change. Check WhereYat.com for updates.

TCHOUPITOULAS + POYDRAS

TCHOUPITOULAS + CANAL

VETERANS + WOODLAWN

Metairie LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER

NEY RAY PARK VETERANS BLVD

VETERANS BLVD

CLEARVIEW SHOPPING CENTER

Cleopatra 12

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

VETERANS + SEVERN

SEVERN AVE

CLEARVIEW CNTR

VETERANS + SEVERN

ROBERT WIRTTKOWSKI; MAP BY MARTHA WILSON

TOULAS TCHOUPI

UNION TERMINAL

Oshun

Fri., February 2, 3:00 p.m. This krewe is food and wine themed and parades through the French Quarter 11 days before Mardi Gras.

CAUSEWAY

MAGAZINE

AUDUBON PARK

2024 Cleopatra

Fri., February 2, 6:00 p.m., Follows Oshun The first all-female krewe from the Westbank, the Krewe of Cleopatra consists of 1,800 members and 21 floats.

ALLA

Fri., February 2, 7:00 p.m., Follows Cleopatra This co-ed krewe was founded in 1932 and is known for bright floats, generous throws, and multiple bands.

Excalibur (Metairie)

Fri., February 2, 7:00 p.m. Named after King Arthur’s sword, this medieval procession of armored knights on horses features numerous animated floats.

Choctaw

Sat. February 3, 11:300 p.m., Follows Legion of Mars This social club was founded in 1935, and the first parade rolled with decorated mail wagons from the U.S. government.

Freret

Sat. February 3, 12:30 p.m., Follows Choctaw This co-ed krewe is known for locally produced throws, including handmade masks that members create themselves.

Knights of Sparta

Sat., February 3, 1:00 p.m. This all-male krewe first paraded in 1981 and is still known for its traditional, yet innovative, street procession.

Pontchartrain

Sat., February 3, 9:30 a.m. This krewe is known for memorable floats including “Mr. Mudbug” and “The Super Grouper,” as well as celebrity grand marshals.

PONTCHARTRAIN

BONNABEL + NERO ST.

BONNABEL+ VETERANS

BONNABEL BLVD

GUSTAVO ESCANELLE

Legion of Mars

Sat., February 3, 10:30 p.m., Follows Pontchartrain This red, white, and blue procession honors active military, veterans, and first responders and tosses Marsthemed throws.

Cork WhereYat.com | February 2024

2024 Mardi Gras Parade Maps MID-CITY

Metairie

VETERANS + WOODLAWN

OULAS

BLVD

CBD

ST. CHARLES + LOUISIANA

CLEARVIEW CNTR

CANAL + BURGUNDY

FRENCH QUARTER

CLEARVIEW SHOPPING CENTER

VETERANS BLVD

VETERANS + SEVERN VETERANS + SEVERN

MAG

CANAL + ST. CHARLES

HARMONY CIRCLE

AZIN

French Quarter

BOURBON

ST. CHARLES + JACKSON

N. RAMPART

ROYAL

ARMSTRONG PARK AT ARMSTRONG PARK ORLEANS

DUMAINE + BURGUNDY

ST. ANN + DAUPHINE

DAUPHINE

DAUPHINE + DUMAINE

ITOU

L AS

Sun., February 4, 10:00 a.m., Founded by Carnival veterans, Pygmalion has focused on providing a high-quality parade since its inception in 2000.

Femme Fatale

Sun., February 4, 11:00 a.m. This all-woman krewe has signature bejeweled compact mirror throws.

Carrollton

Sun., February 4, 12:30 p.m. Follows Femme Fatale The Krewe of Carrollton contains more than 500 members and throws including decorated shrimp boots, doubloons, specialty beads, and cups.

King Arthur

Sun., February 4, 1:30 p.m., Follows Carrollton With over 2,400 co-ed riders, Krewe of King Arthur is the largest parade on Family Sunday.

TCHOUPITOULAS + POYDRAS TCHOUPITOULAS + ST. JOSEPH

DUMAINE + ROYAL

VER I R S MIS Barkus

Sun., February 4, 2:00 p.m. This parade is open to all dogs and runs through the streets of the French Quarter handled by their owners.

Atlas (Metairie)

Sun., February 4, 2:00 p.m. Founded on the idea of equality for all, Atlas invites everyone to celebrate Mardi Gras with 12 floats and 200 riders.

Mad Hatters (Metairie)

SUN., February 4, Follows Atlas Mad Hatters is loved for its magical entertainment, ornate costumes, spectacular floats, and well-known marching bands.

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

ROYAL

Barkus

CANAL

Pygmalion

WAREHOUSE

BOURBON

TCHOUPITOULAS + CANAL

CHARTRES + ST. PETER

Druids

Wed., February 7, 6:15 p.m. Named after the Celtic priest class, this parade-only krewe is led by the Archdruid and followed by 250 anonymous members.

Nyx

Wed., February 7, 6:45 p.m. Follows Druids This krewe embraces women of diverse backgrounds, and their signature throw is the hand-decorated Nyx purse.

Babylon

Thurs., February 8, 5:30 p.m. This parade keeps its theme secret until it runs and features 300 knights led by an anonymous Sargon king.

ROYAL

ROYAL + ST. ANN

JACKSON SQUARE

ST. ANN + CHARTRES

Chaos (+ | | | )

Thurs., February 8, 6:00 p.m., Follows Babylon This satirical all-male krewe parades on the Thursday before Fat Tuesday with 16 floats.

Muses (+ | | | )

Thurs., February 8, 6:45 p.m., Follows Chaos Named after the daughters of Zeus, this parade features 26 floats and signature decorated, high-heeled shoe throws.

Symphony (Metairie)

Thurs., February 8, 6:30 p.m. This all-male krewe was re-established in 2020 to host its first Mardi Gras parade in Jefferson Parish.

Parade schedules and routes are subject to change. Check WhereYat.com for updates.

GUSTAVO ESCANELLE; MAPS BY MARTHA WILSON

OU P

UPTOWN

ESPLANADE

TC H

IVER MISS R

POYDRAS

BURGUNDY + ST. ANN

DAUPHINE + ORLEANS

ST. PETER + DAUPHINE

Uptown

JACKSON SQUARE

BONNABEL+ VETERANS

SEVERN

NAPOLEON + TCHOUPITOULAS

BONNABEL + NERO ST.

VETERANS

S. RAMPART

NAPOLEON + MAGAZINE

LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER

NEY RAY PARK

ST. CHARLES + NAPOLEON

IEW PK

CANAL

TCHOUPIT

UNION TERMINAL

CLEARV

TREMÉ

JEFFERSON + MAGAZINE

MAGAZINE + NAPOLEON

12TH + SEVERN

W. ESPLANADE

BONNABEL BLVD

AUDUBON PARK

CAUSEWAY

MAGAZINE

CLAIBORNE

LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN

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WhereYat.com | February 2024

2024 Mardi Gras Parade Maps NOMTOC (Algiers)

Sat., February 10, 10:45 a.m. Founded in 1951, this krewe throws ceramic medallion beads, jug banks, and signature Jug Man dolls.

L B LANDRY MARDIGRAS GRASBLVD L B LANDRY AVE ++MARDI

LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN

LAKEVIEW

CANAL + ELK

L B LAN

HOWARD CARONDELET

BOURBON

POYDRAS

ST. CHARLES + JACKSON

MAG

CANAL + ST. CHARLES

AZIN

HARMONY CIRCLE

LA DR. N. LOYO

CANAL

Fri., February 9, 7:00 p.m., Follows Krewe d’Etat Named after the primordial Greek god of dreams, this coed, old-school parade features celebrity kings.

FRENCH QUARTER

Kenner W. ESPLANADE

RING ROAD + ESPLANADE

Isis (Kenner)

Sat., February 10, 6:00 p.m. This all-female krewe’s signature throws are decorated bras, in support of breast cancer charities and as tribute to Isis.

ROYAL

E TC H OU P L AS

ITOU

IVER MISS R Tucks

JACKSON SQUARE

POYDRAS + ST. CHARLES

UPTOWN

Parade schedules and routes are subject to change. Check WhereYat.com for updates.

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

WAREHOUSE TCHOUPITOULAS + CANAL

TCHOUPITOULAS + POYDRAS

MIS

R IVE R S

Endymion

ALL PHOTOS ROBERT WITKOWSKI; MAPS BY MARTHA WILSON

OULAS

CBD ST. CHARLES + LOUISIANA

W. ESPLANADE + N. LOYOLA

VINTAGE + CHATEAU

VINTAGE DR.

S. RAMPART

NAPOLEON + TCHOUPITOULAS

COCONUT BEACH

JOE YENNI + HORSESHOE

ST. CHARLES + NAPOLEON

NAPOLEON + MAGAZINE

PONTCHARTRAIN CENTER

BL VD .

N. LOYOLA + VINTAGE

TREMÉ

UNION TERMINAL LOYOLA + HOWARD

TCHOUPIT

Morpheus

MAGAZINE + NAPOLEON

MID-CITY

CHATEAU + JOE YENNI

ORLEANS + N. CARROLTON

NAPOLEON + S. SARATOGA

JEFFERSON + MAGAZINE

Krewe d'Etat

Fri., February 9, 6:30 p.m., Follows Hermes Voted as a “Best of Carnival,” this satirical krewe features 24 floats, including a special High Priest float.

AUDUBON PARK

S. CARROLLTON

CLAIBORNE

MAGAZINE

Fri., February 9, 5:30 p.m. The Krewe of Hermes was founded during the Great Depression and now contains over 800 members and 32 floats.

I LL

MS BLV

N. CARROLTON + CANAL

Hermes

JACKSON SQUARE

LAKETOWN

CITY PARK AVE + ORLEANS

WILLIA

Uptown

CHARTRES

HOLIDAY DR

BEHRMAN

Sat., February 10, 4:15 p.m. This parade has featured celebrity grand marshals such as Kelly Ripa, Maroon 5, Kelly Clarkson, Luke Bryan, and Carrie Underwood.

DRY AV

ST. ANN + ROYAL

Endymion

HOLIDAY + WALL

MARDI GRAS

MARDI GRAS + NUNEZ MARDI GRAS BLVD + NUNEZ

Sat., February 10, 12:00 p.m. Originally a nighttime parade of pickup trucks, this day parade now contains 36 supersized, irreverent floats.

NUNEZ

CANAL

ST. LOUIS

WHITNEY

SOCRATES + TECHE

MORRIS FX JEFF SR. PARK

SHIRLEY DR

BOURBON

ROYAL

IBERVILLE

NEWTON + L B LANDRY NUNEZ + SOCRATES

RY AVE

ST. LOUIS + BOURBON

ROYAL + IBERVILLE

GEN. MEYER + WALL

TECHE + NEWTON

BOURBON + ST. ANN

CONTI

CONTI + BOURBON

Tucks

FEDERAL CITY

GENERAL MEYER

NEWTON ST. \ GEN. MEYER

L B LAND

IBERVILLE + BOURBON

Algiers

MISSISSIPPI RIVER

DAUPHINE

ST. PETER

French Quarter

Iris

Sat., February 10, 11:00 a.m This parade now consists of over 3,600 members, 25 all-tandem floats, and throws a variety of Iristhemed objects.

. U BLVD CHATEA

Bosom Buddies

Fri., February 9, 11:30 a.m. This walking krewe dresses in colorful tutus, bras, and hats that reflect the year’s theme.

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WhereYat.com | February 2024

2024 Mardi Gras Parade Maps HENRY CLAY

CLAIBORNE

MAGAZINE

AUDUBON PARK

MID-CITY

CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL

TREMÉ

JEFFERSON + MAGAZINE

CANAL

ST. CHARLES + NAPOLEON

Orpheus

S. RAMPART

NAPOLEON + MAGAZINE NAPOLEON + TCHOUPITOULAS

CBD

ST. CHARLES + LOUISIANA

Okeanos

FRENCH QUARTER

MAG

CANAL + ST. CHARLES

A Z IN

HARMONY CIRCLE

Mid-City

Proteus

Mon., February 12, 5:15 p.m. The King of Proteus is never known to the public and rides on a giant shell float each year.

Orpheus (+ | | | )

Thoth (+ | | | )

ROYAL

POYDRAS

TCH OU

IVER MISS R

PIT OU

JACKSON SQUARE

Mon., February 12, 6:00 p.m., Follows Proteus The Krewe of Orpheus was the first super krewe to allow female and male riders and tosses sought after throws.

Sun., February 11, 12:00 p.m. Initially designed to be inclusive, this parade still passes by Children’s Hospital in honor of the patron saint of wisdom.

Bacchus

Centurion (Metairie)

Sun., February 11, 5:15 p.m. With many recognizable floats, Bacchus draws massive crowds from around the world on the Sunday before Mardi Gras.

WAREHOUSE

Parade schedules and routes are subject to change. Check WhereYat.com for updates.

TCHOUPITOULAS + POYDRAS HENDERSON + COVENTION CTR.

S MIS

LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN

ER RIV

12TH + SEVERN

W. ESPLANADE

CLEARV IEW PK

Thoth

Mon., February 12, 6:30 p.m. The Krewe of Centurion is known for hosting a family-friendly evening parade with 20 floats and 300 co-ed members.

TCHOUPITOULAS + CANAL

L AS

Uptown

UPTOWN

Sun., February 11, 5:30 p.m. Founded in 2014, this parade contains 22 floats and 475 female riders that throw signature hand decorated fedoras.

Sun., February 11, 11:45 a.m., Follows Okeanos Known as one of the best day parades, the Krewe of Mid-City contains bands from across the country.

BOURBON

ST. CHARLES + JACKSON

Athena (Metairie)

Sun., February 11, 11:00 a.m. The Krewe of Okeanos’ crest is included in the Mardi Gras Fountain and it now has more than 300 members.

Metairie

VETERANS + WOODLAWN

LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER

NEY RAY PARK

BONNABEL + NERO ST.

VETERANS BLVD

CLEARVIEW CNTR

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

SEVERN

CLEARVIEW SHOPPING CENTER

VETERANS + SEVERN VETERANS + SEVERN

BONNABEL+ VETERANS

BONNABEL BLVD

VETERANS BLVD

ALL PHOTOS ROBERT WITKOWSKI; MAPS BY MARTHA WILSON

NAPOLEON + PRYTANIA

CAUSEWAY

TCHOUPITOULAS

UNION TERMINAL

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2024 Mardi Gras Parade Maps CLAIBORNE

AUDUBON PARK

N. CARROLLTON

S. CARROLLTON

MID-CITY BROAD.

S. CLAIRBORNE+ NAPOLEON

CANAL + ELK

BROAD + ORLEANS

S. CLAIRBORNE+ JACKSON

TULANE + COMMON

CANAL

UNION TERMINAL

TREMÉ CANAL + TULANE

LOUIS ARMSTRONG PARK

ST. CHARLES + NAPOLEON

CBD POYDRAS

FRENCH QUARTER BOURBON

ST. CHARLES + JACKSON

L AS

W. ESPLANADE

VETERANS BLVD

CANAL + LAS TCHOUPITOULAS TCHOUPITOU

IEW PK

Tues., February 13, 10:30 a.m. This krewe is one of the oldest krewes in Mardi Gras and the monarch is titled “King of Mardi Gras.”

Elks-Orleans

Tues., February 13, 10:30 a.m., Follows Rex This parade contains the oldest and largest truck krewe, with families of riders on individually designed truck floats.

Crescent City

Tues., February 13, 11:00 a.m., Follows Elks-Orleans This krewe signals the beginning of the last parade of the Carnival season and represents multiple Mardi Gras themes

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

LAKESIDE SHOPPING CENTER

NEY RAY PARK VETERANS BLVD

HOUMA + CLEARVIEW CTR.

VETERANS + SEVERN

CLEARVIEW SHOPPING CENTER

Argus (Metairie)

Tues., February 13, 11:00 a.m. The Krewe of Argus is a child friendly day parade with spectacular floats and stuffed Blue Dog throws.

SEVERN

Rex

W. ESPLANADE

BONNABEL + NERO

SEVERN + 18TH

CLEARV

Zulu

Tues., February 13, 8:00 a.m. Inspired by a musical skit about the Zulu tribe, this famous krewe throws highly coveted coconut throws.

SEVERN

IEW PK

Uptown

Metairie

CLEARV

POYDRAS

ITOU

UPTOWN

WAREHOUSE

POYDRAS

LAKE PONTCHARTRAIN

VETERANS BLVD

VETERANS + ANDREWS VETERANS+ BONNABEL

Elks Jeffersonians (Metairie)

Tues., February 13, 11:00 a.m., Follows Argus The Krewe of Elks Jeffersonians and its sister krewe, the Krewe of Elks Orleanians, share an elk mascot named Elroy.

Parade schedules and routes are subject to change. Check WhereYat.com for updates.

ALL PHOTOS GUSTAVO ESCANELLE; MAPS BY MARTHA WILSON

OU P

Zulu

BONNABEL

A Z IN

ROYAL

CANAL + ST. CHARLES

CAUSEWAY

MAG TCH

VER MISS RI

HARMONY CIRCLE

BONNABEL

ST. CHARLES + LOUISIANA

Rex

ORLEANS + BASIN ST.

S. RAMPART

N I Y R A D N E G E

N A P JA

. S . HE U

T N I ED

FT A R C W O N

DISCOVER THE SECRET WhereYat.com | February 2024

610 STOMPERS 610stompers.com and Facebook St. Michael’s Parade.................. Friday, February 2 Raising Cane’s Block Party..... Saturday, February 3 Carrollton.............................. Sunday, February 4 Babylon.............................. Thursday, February 8 d’Etat..................................... Friday, February 9 Thoth...................................Sunday, February 11 Orpheus.............................. Monday, February 12 689 SWAMPERS Facebook Alla........................................ Friday, February 2 Choctaw.............................. Saturday, February 3 Carrollton.............................. Sunday, February 4 Morpheus................................ Friday, February 9 Rosethorne........................ Saturday, February 10 AMELIA EARHAWTS & CABIN KREWE aecabinkrewe.com and Facebook Cleopatra................................ Friday, February 2 King Arthur............................ Sunday, February 4 Druids.............................. Wednesday, February 7 Babylon.............................. Thursday, February 8 Iris................................... Saturday, February 10 BEARDED OYSTERS beardedoysters.org and Facebook Mad Hatters......................... Saturday, February 3 Muses................................. Thursday, February 8 BEYJORETTES Facebook Sparta................................ Saturday, February 3 Muses................................. Thursday, February 8 Zulu...................................Tuesday, February 13 BOSOM BUDDIES Bourbon Street ....................... Friday, February 9 CRESCENT CITY FAE crescentcityfae.com and Facebook Freret................................. Saturday, February 3 Druids.............................. Wednesday, February 7 Tucks................................ Saturday, February 10 DAMES DE PERLAGE Instagram Freret................................. Saturday, February 3 King Arthur............................ Sunday, February 4 Oak........................................ Friday, February 9 Tucks................................ Saturday, February 10 Dame Fine Second Line......... Monday, February 12 DISCO AMIGOS discoamigos.com and Facebook Cleopatra................................ Friday, February 2 King Arthur............................ Sunday, February 4 Babylon.............................. Thursday, February 8 Iris................................... Saturday, February 10 Parade schedules and routes are subject to change. Check WhereYat.com for updates.

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

Mande Milkshakers KREWE DES FLEURS krewedesfleurs.com and Facebook Cleopatra................................ Friday, February 2 Iris................................... Saturday, February 10 Orpheus.............................. Monday, February 12 KREWE OF KOLOSSOS kolossos.org and Facebook Mad Hatters......................... Saturday, February 3 Muses................................. Thursday, February 8 Tucks................................ Saturday, February 10 KREWE OF ROLLING ELVI rollingelvi.org and Facebook Cleopatra................................ Friday, February 2 King Arthur............................ Sunday, February 4 Muses................................. Thursday, February 8 Iris................................... Saturday, February 10 LUCHA KREWE luchakrewe.com and Facebook Freret................................. Saturday, February 3 Druids.............................. Wednesday, February 7 Iris................................... Saturday, February 10 Dead Beans......................... Monday, February 12 MANDE MILKSHAKERS mandemilkshakers.com and Facebook Eve......................................... Friday, February 2 Olympia.............................. Saturday, February 3 Carrollton.............................. Sunday, February 4 Tucks................................ Saturday, February 10 Argus..................................Tuesday, February 13 Covington............................Tuesday, February 13 Krewe du Pooch................. Saturday, February 17 MERRY ANTOINETTES themerryantoinettes.com and Facebook Sparta................................ Saturday, February 3 MUFF-A-LOTTAS muffalottas.com and Facebook Cleopatra................................ Friday, February 2 Pontchartrain....................... Saturday, February 3 Babylon.............................. Thursday, February 8 Tucks................................ Saturday, February 10 NOLA ANGELS nolaangels.com and Facebook Mad Hatters......................... Saturday, February 3 Okeanos...............................Sunday, February 11 Argus..................................Tuesday, February 13

2024 NOLA BOMBSHELLS Facebook Alla........................................ Friday, February 2 Choctaw.............................. Saturday, February 3 Pygmalion........................... Saturday, February 3 Carrollton.............................. Sunday, February 4 Druids.............................. Wednesday, February 7 Isis................................... Saturday, February 10 Thoth...................................Sunday, February 11 Hera................................... Monday, February 12 OUI DATS ouidats.com and Facebook Cleopatra................................ Friday, February 2 Morpheus................................ Friday, February 9 Mardi Paws...........................Sunday, February 18 PUSSYFOOTERS pussyfooters.org and Facebook Cleopatra................................ Friday, February 2 Nemesis.............................. Saturday, February 3 Carrollton.............................. Sunday, February 4 Muses................................. Thursday, February 8 Tucks................................ Saturday, February 10 ROUX LA LA Facebook Choctaw.............................. Saturday, February 3 King Arthur............................ Sunday, February 4 Morpheus................................ Friday, February 9 SIRENS OF NEW ORLEANS sirensofneworleans.com and Facebook Cleopatra................................ Friday, February 2 Morpheus................................ Friday, February 9 SKINZ N BONEZ skinznbonez.com and Facebook Muses................................. Thursday, February 8 STAR STEPPIN’ COSMONAUGHTIES cosmonaughties.com and Facebook Pygmalion........................... Saturday, February 3 STREETCAR STRUTTERS streetcarstrutters.com and Facebook Cleopatra................................ Friday, February 2 Mad Hatters......................... Saturday, February 3 Barkus.................................. Sunday, February 4 Morpheus................................ Friday, February 9 Tucks................................ Saturday, February 10

610 Stompers

FROM TOP: COURTESY MANDE MILKSKAERS; GUSTAVO ESCANELLE

Marching Group Parade Schedule

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WhereYat.com | February 2024

Northshore Parade Schedule

2024

Krewe of Eve (Mandeville) Friday, February 2 | 7:00 p.m.

Krewe de Paws of Olde Towne (Slidell) Saturday, February 3 | 10:00 a.m.

Krewe of Tchefuncte (Madisonville) Saturday, February 3 | 1:00 p.m.

Krewe of Olympia (Covington) Saturday, February 3 | 6:00 p.m.

CELEBRATE MARDI GRAS AT

Krewe of Dionysus (Slidell) 424 Girod Street @merilnola

Sunday, February 4 | 1:00 p.m.

Krewe of Push Mow (Abita Springs) Sunday, February 4 | 2:00 p.m.

Krewe of Selene (Slidell) Friday, February 9 | 6:30 p.m.

Krewe of Bush (Bush)

Friday, February 10 | 9:00 a.m.

Covington Lions Club (Covington) Tuesday, February 13 | 10:00 a.m.

Mystic Krewe of Covington (Covington)

Tuesday, February 13 | Follows Covington Lions Club

Krewe of Bogue Falaya (Covington) Tuesday, February 13 | Follows Covington

Krewe of Chahta (Lacombe) Tuesday, February 13 | 1:00 p.m.

Krewe of Folsom (Folsom)

Tuesday, February 13 | 2:00 p.m. A spirited sanctuary in the heart of New Orleans. You're invited. 544 Carondelet St barmarilou.com @barmarilou

Krewe Du Pooch (Covington) Saturday, February 17 | 12:00 p.m.

Krewe of Mardi Paws (Covington) Sunday, February 18 | 2:00 p.m. Parade schedules and routes are subject to change. Check WhereYat.com for updates.

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

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WhereYat.com | February 2024

Mardi Gras Parade Calendar 1

February THU

FRI. FEBRUARY 2 CORK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3:00 P.M. OSHUN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:00 P.M. CLEOPATRA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOLLOWS

2024 FRI. FEBRUARY 9

2 FRI | | | | | | |

BOSOM BUDDIES . . . . . . . . . 11:30 A.M. HERMES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:30 P.M. D’ETAT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 P.M.

ALLA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOLLOWS

SELENE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 P.M.

EXCALIBUR . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:00 P.M.

MORPHEUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:00 P.M.

EVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7:00 P.M.

3 SAT | | | | | | | | |

SAT. FEBRUARY 3 PAWS OF OLDE TOWNE . . . . 10:00 A.M. PONTCHARTRAIN . . . . . . . . . 9:30 A.M. LEGION OF MARS . . . . . . . . . FOLLOWS

4 SUN | | | | | | | | | | |

CHOCTAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOLLOWS

KNIGHTS OF SPARTA . . . . . . . 1:00 P.M. OLYMPIA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:00 P.M.

SUN. FEBRUARY 4

MON | |

6 TUE

CARROLLTON . . . . . . . . . . . . .12:30 P.M TCHEFUNCTE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:00 P.M.

IRIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:00 A.M. ENDYMION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4:15 P.M. ISIS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:00 P.M.

SUN. FEBRUARY 11 OKEANOS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:00 A.M. MID-CITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOLLOWS

PYGMALION . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:00 A.M FEMME FATALE . . . . . . . . . . 11:00 A.M.

NOMTOC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:45 A.M. TUCKS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:00 P.M.

FRERET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOLLOWS NEMESIS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:00 P.M.

SAT. FEBRUARY 10 BUSH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9:00 A.M.

THOTH. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12:00 P.M.

WED | | | |

BACCHUS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:15 P.M. ATHENA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:30 P.M.

DIONYSUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:00 P.M. KING ARTHUR . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:30 P.M. PUSH MOW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00 P.M. BARKUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00 P.M. ATLAS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00 P.M.

8 THU | | | | |

LUNDI GRAS

MON. FEBRUARY 12

MAD HATTERS. . . . . . . . . . . . FOLLOWS

PROTEUS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:15 P.M.

MON. FEBRUARY 5

9 FRI | | | | | |

ORPHEUS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:00 P.M. CENTURIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 P.M.

MUSIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:00 P.M.

10 SAT | | | | | | |

TUE. FEBRUARY 13

WED. FEBRUARY 7 NANDI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:00 P.M. DRUIDS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:15 P.M. NYX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:45 P.M.

FAT TUESDAY

11 SUN | | | | | |

ZULU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8:00 A.M. COVINGTON LIONS CLUB.

10:00 A.M.

COVINGTON . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOLLOWS BOUGE FALAYA . . . . . . . . . . . FOLLOWS REX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10:30 A.M.

ELKS JEFFERSONIANS . . . . . . FOLLOWS

CHAOS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOLLOWS SYMPHONY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6:30 P.M.

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

CRESCENT CITY . . . . . . . . . . . FOLLOWS ARGUS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11:00 A.M.

BABYLON. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5:30 P.M. MUSES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . FOLLOWS

ELKS ORLEANS. . . . . . . . . . . . FOLLOWS

CHAHTA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1:00 P.M.

FOLSOM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2:00 P.M.

Parade schedules and routes are subject to change. Please check WhereYat.com for updates.

CYNTHEA CORFAH

THU. FEBRUARY 8

MON | | | |

PUB TRIVIA ON HAPPY HOUR DAILY WEDNESDAY NIGHTS! UNTIL 7PM

Thank You for Voting Us Best of the big Easy 2023! Open Daily at 3 P.M.!

WhereYat.com | February 2024

CRAFTING CARNIVAL MAGIC

Labors of Love Behind New Orleans’ Extravagant Mardi Gras Costumes By Brooke Adams

The extravagant Mardi Gras costumes of New Orleans are not just pieces of clothing, they are expressions of love for the city, its culture, and the unique spirit that defines Mardi Gras. The labor of love involved in creating these costumes transforms the celebration into a deeply personal and enriching experience for those who choose to

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

COURTESY OF ROMERO

For many outside of New Orleans, Mardi Gras is a time for revelry, parades, and family get-togethers. However, beyond the beads and the parades in the Crescent City, there exists a unique tradition that truly captures the essence of Mardi Gras—the art of crafting one’s own Mardi Gras costume.

WhereYat.com | February 2024

embark on this creative journey. In the heart of the Crescent City, where creativity knows no bounds, residents take pride in transforming the ordinary into the extraordinary by dedicating hours, passion, and boundless creativity to fashioning elaborate ensembles that mirror the soul of the city itself. But why do people commit to such a laborintensive and expensive hobby? “New Orleans has a vibrant culture unlike any other. I think about other places where ritual and ceremonial costumes are part of people’s heritage, and outside of the Native peoples, that just doesn’t exist in America. And, yet, New Orleans’ culture is just as rich and complex,” said Basqo Bim, a ColombianAmerican multidisciplinary artist known for his intricate masks and fantastical costumes. Basqo is an ager/dyer/fabricator and costumer in the film industry. He is also a member of IATSE 478, the Front, and Colectiva Manos (a newly founded Latin collective). Bim’s work encapsulates and is an example of the essence of the Mardi Gras extravagance. Mardi Gras’ costume culture takes costumes and masks that usually hide our identity, and, instead, offers a new way to express ourselves. Seeing the extravagant costumes, Bim was reminded of his obsession with the idea of anonymity. The goal of a Mardi Gras costume isn’t to hide your identity, and, yet, the wearer is often still anonymous. “I love it when I walk down the street in one of my masks and people stop and take pictures,” said Bim. “But they are seeing the costume, the mask—not me. I love that anonymity. Every person out there gets to evolve into whatever they want to present as. And that presentation is accepted and celebrated.” His journey into the world of Mardi Gras began with a perception common to many outsiders—the notion that it was merely a day of parades on Bourbon Street. However, as Bim immersed himself in Mardi Gras day festivities, his eyes were opened to a world of creative expression that went far beyond the clichés. Bim recalls the awe-inspiring moments when friends would gather to “get ready,” armed with bags filled with costume pieces. The streets, once familiar, were now adorned with

people decked out in costumes so extravagant that they became unrecognizable. This transformation excited the artist in Bim, and he found himself particularly drawn to the masks worn in traditional costumes, with a special admiration for Big Chief Tootie Montana, whose influence elevated the masking culture to an art form focused on pageantry and aesthetics. Like many Mardi Gras masks, Bim’s masks are larger than life, intricately detailed, and fantastically whimsical. His creations feel playful and otherworldly. While his artwork belongs in museums, Bim truly believes in wearing these pieces in the real world. What reason do so many people dedicate hours to make these costumes? Why should they, or anyone for that matter, care about making their own costumes? “I care a lot about not just taking from the world, but finding ways to contribute as well,” Bim said. “The fun of Mardi Gras day is seeing everyone out there expressing themselves. Showing the world whatever version of themselves they want to be that day. When we also make our own costumes and participate, we are helping to contribute to what makes Mardi Gras special. We aren’t just taking and observing.” Don’t be worried if you are overwhelmed and feel like you don’t know where to start. Bim admits to having felt the same way. Everyone can feel out of their league when they look at the best of the best. Bim still encourages everyone to try. He commented, “A lot of people say, ‘I’m no artist, I can barely draw stick figures.’ But I explain that you don’t need to be an artist to start making your own costumes or masks. Take a good look at the costumes you admire, and you start to see the parts that make the whole. You don’t need to spend a bunch of money either. Go to Michaels, get yourself a glue gun and some craft supplies. Go to a thrift store and get some clothes to go with it. It doesn’t have to be difficult to get started. Even the simple costumes are still worth it.” As we witness the streets of New Orleans come alive with a riot of colors and a sea of fantastical creations, let us recognize and celebrate the immense passion and dedication that underlie each stitch, sequin, and feather, all of which make Mardi Gras in the Big Easy an unrivaled spectacle of artistic expression and communal celebration.

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Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: JUSTINE WOODS (2); MICHAEL SANTIAGO CINTRON; YASHI DAVALOS

Laissez les PAW Temps Roule!

WhereYat.com | February 2024

FROM CONCEPT TO CONSTRUCTION A Template for an Awesome Mardi Gras (Costume) By Michelle Nicholson

Mardi Gras may be promoted to tourists as the biggest party in the world, where revelers breezily toss back Hurricanes, plead for beads, and dance with brass bands on Bourbon and Frenchmen streets.

FROM SOPHISTICATED TO AUDACIOUS, HERE ARE SOME CLASSIC APPROACHES TO BEING A PART—AND NOT JUST A SPECTATOR—OF FAT TUESDAY Something Powerful, Something Divine, Something Out-of-This-World: In the early hours of Tuesday morning, a multitude of creatures (real or imagined) will begin to fill the streets of New Orleans’ neighborhoods. Without doubt, Mardi Gras is the perfect time for you to pay homage to your ancestors and their gods. Whether pulling from Greek, Hindu, Norse, African, or Indigenous American mythology, you can’t go wrong. Conduct a simple internet search or visit a few museums (most have their collections available online) for inspiration. You might choose to deck yourself out as a more modern embodiment of power. Superheroes and villains, space aliens, famous (and infamous) political figures, and criminals—all are excellent figures to personify (or satirize) on Mardi Gras. Plagiaries of Pop Culture: Any character is fair game for Mardi Gras. Embrace childishness or bawdiness and the risqué. Search through your personal catalog of cartoons, television series, movies, musicians and celebrities, and even the artwork that you love (and love to hate). While recreating a character in earnest is allowed, Carnival is a time not only for paying homage but also for play—and poking fun. Strawberry Shortcake could be sweet and charming, handing out cupcakes (because having personal throws is a huge Mardi Gras flex). Contrarily, she might be tatter-torn and recovering from a bender with her best friend Courtney Love. Perhaps you and your two besties will transform into Marilyn, Kennedy, and Fidel. Mona Lisa up top, Betty Boop below? Yes. Anything goes. Flora and Fauna: Connect with your wild side. Are you a tiger or a lamb? Perhaps a sheep? Maybe you feel more aligned with the leaf. Do you see yourself as the spirit of an exotic orchid? Is your body a blooming magnolia? Are wildflowers sprouting from your head? Take inspiration from the natural world. However literal or liberal in your interpretation, you are guaranteed to be like a vital part of Mardi Gras day.

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY OR TOO LATE TO CREATE A TOP-NOTCH ENSEMBLE FOR MASQUERADING. Mardi Gras is near: You have time for a more complicated costume and for experimentation (there are hundreds of tutorials on YouTube). Swing by JoAnn Fabric for a few yards of something fabulous and whatever sewing supplies you don’t already have. Head to Michael’s for some supplies: Styrofoam shapes, EVA foam and foam clay, acrylics and spray paint, mesh and wire, artificial flowers and vines, tassels, beads, fringe, garland, and so on. Browse the web and handpick items for your costuming toolbox. If necessary, you will be able to make a few trips. A week or two before the big day is time to get serious: If you have lots of experience in crafting, you still have time to whip up something fantastic—but you know you’re also going to be busy going to parades. Nevertheless, you still have time to create a glorious headdress, cap, or jacket. If you are going to order separate pieces to assemble (or even a complete costume online, which you can and should always customize), now is the time to do it. Always plan to have time to try on what you’ve ordered. If what you order at first doesn’t fit, work, or please you, you’ll want to return it and/or order different garments and accessories. If you are going in the direction of a creature or figure that requires elaborate face painting, you should do a few trial runs to perfect your look so that Tuesday morning’s preparations are smooth and easy—and you can hit the streets feeling cool and unflustered. So it is a day or two before the grand finale: No sweat; we’ve all been there. Thankfully, there are plenty of places around town to pick up an entire costume or last-minute items to complete your look. Several shops reliably offer a most excellent selection of masks, wigs, headdresses, and clothing for costumes, often handcrafted for a truly original look. Visit She Comes in Peace on St. Claude and Maskarade on St. Ann; scope out the inventory at Miette, Funky Monkey, and Miss Claudia’s Vintage Clothing and Costumes, all on Magazine Street. When in a pinch, all you need is a fun wig or hat and a combination of colorful, extravagant clothing. Satin and sequins, feathers and bangles—the more glitz and glamor, the better. Or you can choose to arrive wearing as little as your modesty approves. Men and women alike are invited to show up in their skivvies, accessorized, for example, by a cape or body paint. Douse yourself in glitter, mask up, strap on your dancing shoes, and laissez les bon temps rouler.

ALL PHOTOS MICHELLE NICHOLSON

Yet New Orleans’ version of Carnival has not always been so centrally focused on the French Quarter and the super-krewe parades that roll down Canal Street. Thankfully, the past decade has seen a revival of a more traditional Fat Tuesday ritual: foot krewes, both organized and impromptu, carousing in costume in our neighborhoods. You want to be in that number. So be sure to show out with a customized costume of your own.

NEW ORLEANS’ MARDI GRAS S TORE 2812 Toulouse St., New Orleans, LA 70119 Phone: (504) 482-0000

9 Years In A Row

MARDI GRAS TO EXTENDED STORE HOURS STARTING JANUARY 2ND

WhereYat.com | February 2024

BEST OF THE BEST

Veteran Float Artists from the ’70s & ’80s By Rene Pierre

At Mardi Gras parades, spectators take for granted the large colorful floats that pass by, not thinking that someone is responsible for creating it.

For many years, local float builders have hired artists that come and go and might do minimum work on some of the smaller Carnival parades, but there are a handful of veteran float artists that are still alive who began their careers during the ‘70s and ‘80s. Their work stands out among the rest and have set standards for younger artists to follow. Their impeccable illustrations on Carnival floats seem to be second to none and would even warrant them jobs at Disney, but all of them chose to stay here in New Orleans to cultivate their careers among an amazing tradition we know as Mardi Gras. Many of the great float artists, with some being transported from France, such as the Picou brothers, are deceased. However, the heavy influence on theatrical-style backdrop painting has remained resilient throughout many decades of float painting. The veteran artists have taken these influences and coined them into their own styles, which have been head turning pieces of art since their careers have become set in stone. These artists have different humble beginnings. Some of them were self-taught and others were highly educated amongst holding intrinsic natural talent. Most of their work would have appeared in just about all of the super krewes and some of the older-line krewes. Their works have been seen on floats in parades such as Bacchus, Rex, Hermes, Muses, Endymion, Orpheus, King Arthur, Caesar, Morpheus, Centurions, Mad Hatters, Orion of Baton Rouge, and Comogo of Plaquemine. Their works have even reached as far as Lafayette, Mobile, and Orlando.

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Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

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COURTESY RENE PIERRE

BOOK FOR VALENTINE’S DAY

e most popular question asked of our deputies during Mardi Gras season is “When is the parade going to get here?” e Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office recognizes that Mardi Gras is a great celebration enjoyed by all. We want everyone to have a good time and, most importantly, to be safe. Jefferson Parish has a history of successful Mardi Gras celebrations. Please follow these common sense rules and you too will help this year’s Mardi Gras be a very enjoyable and safe celebration. And remember, always watch out for our children!

Please do not park in anyone’s driveway or park in a way that impedes the flow of traffic. Also, you must obey the no parking signs along the parade routes. Violators will be ticketed and towed at the owner’s expense. Mardi Gras floats are great to watch, but they can be very dangerous if you get too close, especially when they are moving. To prevent injuries, we do not permit riders to toss throws upon entering the disbanding areas. For your own safety, please stay clear of all parade disbanding areas. Ambulances, first aid stations, and lost children stations are located along all parade routes for the betterment of all parade goers.

Please stand behind the barricades while the parade is passing, and keep in mind to not cross the roadway between members of any marching group. It is also very dangerous to run between ﬂoats and vehicles while the parade is in progress.

Please remember to provide a nametag with name and contact information for small children in the event you and your child become separated along the parade route.

Families who want to bring ladders for the kids may certainly do so; however, ladders cannot be placed in the street or in an intersection. All ladders must be placed behind the curb. e ladder must be one foot back behind the curb for every foot it is tall. For example, a six-foot ladder must be six feet back behind the curb while a three foot ladder must be three feet back behind the curb. Also, ladders cannot be tied together. No glass containers of any type are permitted within ﬁfty (50) feet of any parade route. As broken glass can pose a serious safety hazard, this ordinance will be strictly enforced.

e Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office and our 1,400 employees are avid supporters of Mardi Gras. In consideration of the additional responsibilities placed upon our officers during this time, please obey an officer’s order to stop any disruptive behavior. We hope you enjoy Mardi Gras in Jefferson Parish. e men and women of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office will do all they can to ensure that your Mardi Gras is a safe and pleasant one. Have a great time! — Sheriff Joseph Lopinto Jefferson Parish

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Joseph Lopinto Sheriff

WhereYat.com | February 2024

Raymond Bowie Mr. Bowie got his start with the Krewe of Comus through a local designer, namely Henri Schneider. He was commissioned by him to paint the floats for that parade during the late ‘70s. Bowie had a standard day job at the Coca-Cola Bottling Company as a driver during when he was discovered by the Barth Brothers, who designed and built the gates to the 1984 World’s Fair. While at the Barth Brothers company, he painted floats for several krewes. He then found himself working for Blaine Kern’s companies and was offered an artist position to paint the Endymion parade. After standing out as a keen illustrator amongst his peers, the Kerns offered him a lucrative position to paint the Krewe of Rex, which is the granddaddy of all of the Carnival krewes. His work became so impressive that he was well sought after by local float builders. But upon signing an exclusive contract, he was able to reap the benefits of a healthy pay and a recurring contract. Most of his best works were seen with Rex, the Krewe of Hermes, and the year the Krewe of Bacchus celebrated the “Wild Wild West.” Even though he’s of retirement age, he remains painting. His beautiful mixture of airbrushing and painting with artist brushes is in a class of its own. His natural talent and gift lend him the ability to portray illustrations on floats as you would see them in children’s story books, especially that of Disney.

Anthony Nguyen Mr. Anthony Nguyen got his career started at Blaine Kern’s companies during the late ‘70s as well. He started by laying floats out through drawing outlines and background colors. The lead artist who supervised him at the time gave him a chance to start detailing floats. When his talent was noticed, the company immediately offered him a position as a detail artist. His career took off. After working for more than a decade at the Kern companies, he was offered a lucrative position at Rizzuto & Company, where he designed and painted floats among building props. He then moved on to a larger contract with PFJ Floats, where he was able to sustain a lucrative long-term deal and has been painting beautiful floats there ever since. Amongst his best works are the krewes of King Arthur and Athena. His use of bright, bold colors and precision trim work brought him much notice. He became a household name amongst all of the local float builders. He even painted floats for Universal Studios in Orlando.

Caroline Thomas Miss Caroline Thomas came from humble beginnings in New Orleans. She was raised mostly in Baton Rouge, but after answering an ad put out by the late Randy Morrison, she jumped at the opportunity to work in Mardi Gras. Miss Thomas received her Bachelor of Arts from the Art Academy of Cincinnati in Ohio. When she returned home, she realized that Carnival was her thing. Royal Artist then hired her full-time when she began her career as a detail artist. Her claim to fame is her beautiful hand-painted floats for the Krewe of Rex. Upon Royal Artists winning this new contract, it put them in the spotlight as they are the sole designers for all of the old line krewes. Reportedly, she is the only female that is producing such beautiful work on this high level. Not only can she paint, but she can also sculpt papier-mâché figures to give that antique style of Mardi Gras floats an amazing appeal.

Rene Pierre The last veteran mentioned here is Mr. Rene Pierre. He is also a citizen of New Orleans and was formally educated at the University of Xavier and Delgado, where he studied the arts. He entered the Mardi Gras industry through the defunct Barth Brothers company as a lay-in background artist. While there, he also assisted in papier-mâché crafts to coat props that were built by Joseph Barth III. Pierre was introduced by Mr. Barth to Mr. McKinley Cantrell, Jr. of Kenner, who’s studio, Cantrell Studios, then won a contract with the Krewe of Babylon. Once his talent was noticed, the father of Mr. Cantrell was also interested in contracting him to detail floats for his business. This is where he got his first start as a detail artist. A decade later, he was offered a lead artist position at PFJ Artists Inc. in Westwego. He then began to make his way around to several companies, granting him more notice. The Krewe of Comogo of Plaquemine contracted him to design and paint floats for their parade in 2014. Shortly after, another Baton Rouge area krewe commissioned him and this prompted him to open his own mobile business. Mr. Pierre was trained by the great Raymond Bowie and learned several techniques from him that granted him his refined style of float painting. He also holds a contract with the Rizzuto & Company in St. Rose, Louisiana where he solely paints for the Krewe of Morpheus.

Tucks Faces the Music

56th Annual Parade Join the Krewe of Tucks this year for its 56th annual lively and irreverent Mardi Gras Parade, “Tucks Faces the Music” honoring King Kevin Heingarten & Queen Elizabeth Carter. What started as a small and humorous procession has evolved into one of the city's most beloved parading krewes, renowned for its quirky and satirical ﬂoats, as well as dozens of signature throws, including toilet paper. With 2300 members on 37 super floats, marching bands, equestrian teams + more, its a spectacle you won’t want to miss!

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY RENE PIERRE

Saturday, Feb. 10, Noon

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CARNIVAL AFTERCARE Tips on How to

Recover from Mardi Gras By Joey Cirilo

Mardi Gras attendees, fatigued from yet another year of prolonged celebrations, recall both their individual and shared experiences as they make their way home. Feet dragging, shoulders heavily weighed from the mélange of beads draped from their necks, arms resting lazily at their sides, the physical embodiment of a successful Mardi Gras coming to an end. The countdown for next year’s debaucherous festivities has already begun. Mardi Gras preparation is not for the timid or the weak. Folks begin making arrangements a year in advance, as soon as the physical and moral hangover has subsided. Costume design and decorating parties are held. King cake sharing and tastings are frequent. Float creation and krewe gatherings take place. One does not simply show up to a party of this magnitude and expect maximal return on fun. Carnival requires strategic parade route planning, a handful of trips to Michael’s and various thrift stores, dreaded yet necessary group texts, a well-prepared liver, and perhaps the naming rights to your unborn child. Not to be lost in the madness is the importance of a proper recovery period. Whether you attempted to play it safe or your last message to out-of-town loved ones was “I’ll see you on the other side,” Mardi Gras is notoriously known for taking a toll on all those who attend and participate. Rehabilitation is not only a must, it’s an essential component if you wish to return. Here are some recommended recovery methods to ensure you do just that.

CATCH SOME Z’S You know, that thing you haven’t done at minimum in the last week or so? According to important things like science and reality, sleep is a necessity for your body and mind to recharge. Not the drunken sleep where you can’t particularly pinpoint when you eventually passed out, face enveloped in glitter, only to wake up disoriented and sweating with your sheets on the floor. The sober kind, with: a sleep mask, lavender spray, white noise, a body pillow, and with the AC on full blast. Any and all means necessary are on the table. Melatonin? Get crazy and make it two. Fan on despite the weather? Always. Sheets and bedding? Freshly washed. Take a few days to yourself, continue to shirk all responsibilities (if possible), use that deserved PTO, and skip the alarm. You will thank yourself later.

REDUCE, REUSE, AND RECYCLE New Orleans has just given you so much, so it is only appropriate you give back to her in return. While the myriad of multi-colored beads hanging from centuries old oak trees, residential mailboxes, and fences lining the parade routes are an extraordinary sight to see, the reality behind it is a bit grim. Mardi Gras cleanup tends to leave a lot of non-biodegradable stragglers behind for an extended period of time. Companies including Arc of Greater New Orleans, a 67-year-old nonprofit dedicated to the advancement of individuals with disabilities, provides receptacles throughout the city for your unwanted beads, along with coordination of delivery and pickup for recycle bins for select organizations. The Department of Sanitation also offers a location for their Recycling Drop Off Center. Feeling creative? Repurpose your leftover items into one-ofa-kind household decorations and Carnival costumes for next year. Coasters, bedazzled jackets, beaded chandeliers—the list is endless. Ultimately, be somewhat of an adult and pick up after yourself.

TEXT YOUR MOM Your phone has been operating in two modes: about to die and/or “I have no service.” Sure some folks may have your location, but it’s most likely not your parents or legal guardian. Ironically enough, the ones cognizant of your whereabouts have been alongside you throughout. Re-sharing a Bigfoot-esque blurry image that your friend took of you via your Instagram story for the first time in seven days doesn’t count as updating your family on whether or not they should be including your photograph and information on the back of a milk carton. Do the right thing and text your mom. Hell, if you’re feeling extra froggy, give her a phone call. A FaceTime will assure her that you’re not being held hostage in someone’s basement getting waterboarded while your captors decide on an acceptable asking rate for ransom. Everyone who has ever properly attended a Mardi Gras is guilty of pulling a Houdini, only to resurface later. It’s the comeback that counts. Pick up your phone, cracked screen notwithstanding, and give your mom a quick text/call/video chat.

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

EAT SOMETHING HEALTHY No, nuking your leftover Popeye’s chicken and inhaling it with a side of coleslaw doesn’t count. Besides, that’s been the entirety of your food pyramid for as long as you can remember at this point. Greens are okay. Ramen cures (almost) everything. Yakamein, its properties widely known for ailing the severest of hangovers, will assuredly raise you from the dead. Perhaps help yourself to a glass of water or 10. For every Moon Pie you’ve discovered on the ground and digested, that’s one salad you must consume. It’s simple Mardi Gras mathematics. Your refrigerator, undoubtedly stockpiled with half-emptied seltzers, assorted beers, and mangled Styrofoam containers, storing who knows what, resembles that of a fraternity house. You’re long overdue for a grocery overhaul. Restock, eat some fruits and vegetables, and replenish.

FROM TOP: ADOBE STOCK / ANNA ; YMOISEEVA; STOCKGIU; YAEL WEISS(2)

The reverberation of snare drums and brass instruments throughout the littered streets begins to fade. A path is forged amongst the go-cups, makeshift coolers, discarded throws, plastic bags, and food remnants.

WhereYat.com | February 2024

WhereYat.com | January 2024

LOVE, NOLA STYLE Loving New Orleans is More About the Five Senses than the Five Love Languages

By Amy Kirk Duvoisin

It’s February, and St. Valentine and social media are pressuring you to take the online Five Love Languages test. You score highest on Words of Affirmation and Quality Time.

WHERE Y’AT (Words of Affirmation): Most New Orleanians, native or newly arrived, would have to admit that it’s easy to strike up a conversation with anyone. Whether you’re on a streetcar or at a corner store, a fine restaurant, or a street festival, you’ll be more than just interacting. You’ll be conversing and connecting. If you ask someone how they are, they will tell you, for real. Most of us would score high on this Where Y’at love language. When we ask, “Where y’at?” we mean where you are mentally, spiritually, emotionally. We know where you are. You’re here in NOLA, where we really and truly want to know how you are.

LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULER (Quality Time): Quality time in NOLA means enjoyment time, eating time, dancing time, relaxing time, and socializing time. We love parties and that doesn’t mean a party for just special occasions. It means a gathering of any sort, be it a cocktail hour with business associates or a Mardi Gras neutral ground party with family and all of your new best friends from around the world. It’s a crawfish boil with your neighbors or it’s dancing at a fest with a stranger. Many New Orleanians would test positive for this, but you don’t have to be a party animal to love it here. There are plenty of people out there having plenty of fun, so you don’t have to. So whether you score high on this NOLA love language or not, it’s fine. The good times will roll with or without you. We’re called the Big Easy for a reason. Do whatcha wanna.

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

WHEN THE SAINTS GO MARCHING IN (Acts of Service): This is one of the most culturally Catholic cities in the U.S., so even if you never set foot in church, chances are you are a member of the Saints tribe in one way or another. The generosity of spirit is significant and tangible here. It could be that enduring natural disasters once or more per generation makes us all a bit more giving, understanding, and empathetic. If your love language is giving or receiving help of any kind to make you feel loved, NOLA sees you. You should not go hungry here nor lack shelter. This is not to diminish real homelessness and hunger that exists. It is to say that, overall, New Orleanians are an extraordinarily giving bunch because most of us at one time or another have been temporarily homeless or have lost homes—some of us more than once—and we love food and the making and sharing of it more than most. We want to ensure you get fed. Hell, we even feed our dead here on St. Joseph’s Day.

JOI DE VIVRE (Physical Touch): If you scored high on getting a lot of physical attention from loved ones, you’ll expand your idea of touch in New Orleans. The air touches you, the music touches you, and the food is orgasmic. You might find that your entire body is satisfied in ways you never knew were possible. We’re not saying you don’t need a hug or more when you live here, nor that you will become celibate because you get what you need from a second line or a softshell crab. We’re just saying that you can’t always get what you want here, but you will get what you need.

LAGNIAPPE (Receiving Gifts): Love is given freely here in our music, food, architectural and artistic beauty, laughter, and appreciation of life, despite its many hardships and surprises. Despite everything, New Orleanians look for the rainbow and share their pot of gold with one another. Whether that’s literally throwing you something from a float or giving you the sound of music as you walk by, whether it’s adding an extra lump of crabmeat to your redfish or overflowing that po-boy with fried shrimp, you’re going to be given gifts again and again here.

FROM LEFT: ADOBE STOCK / CORYTHOMAN; ELLE ARDEN

This makes sense. You need to be told often and in various ways that you are loved and appreciated, and you consider time the best commodity to give and be given. This is true for you in all your relationships. Yet, still, something’s missing. A few hours later, the love percentages still swirling in your head, you try to assess why your top two categories and the other three (Acts of Service, Physical Touch, Receiving Gifts) still lack a certain je nais sais pas. As you stroll through City Park, enjoying the sharp Gulf Coast cold that hits NOLA for just a few weeks while much of the rest of the country is facing months of freezing, you smugly appreciate that all “they” have to look forward to is Valentine’s Day and a far off spring break, while we’ve got Mardi Gras and festival season unrolling before us like a magic carpet. As you smile to yourself and mentally plan your next 10 weekends (parade, parade, rest, travel, rest, fest, fest, fest, rest, spring break), you pause when the sweet smell of cypress hits your nose, and you realize why these languages are not exactly your language—because you’re a New Orleanian, and you speak NOLA. Your love for New Orleans is its own love language. New Orleans is your soulmate. If you know what it means to love New Orleans, you know that there’s no test for that—except maybe living through summertime and a hurricane or two. But if we had to put together five love languages of New Orleans, they are more likely to be expressed and defined by the five senses, which is our way of loving (and being loved by) NOLA.

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1/18/24 4:31 PM

❤

N LA'S FAMILY JEWELS 10 Local

Fine Jewelers

for Your Vanentine

308 North Rampart Street www.palmandpinenola.com 42

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

By Frances Deese

One facet of New Orleans’ rich culture is its artistic influence from jewelry businesses and designers. Still today, there are many local and numerous familyowned businesses in the city that still help to keep up these reputations. These businesses, that are at least 15 years old, provide options for all. New Orleans showcases how its artistic scene can shine in many small ways, one such being the many local and familyowned businesses that offer jewelry selections. Many modern-day businesses offer preservation of legacies to Mardi Gras and New Orleans as a whole, either through contributions to krewes, including favors and pins, or indirect ways of supporting local craftsmanship with city and state inspired designs. Yet to look at today, a reflection of the past is required, and a New Orleans’ origin story is not complete without a nod to the influence of its role as a major port city. According to Lydia Blackmore, the curator of small objects at the Historic New Orleans Collection, it wasn’t long after the French colony’s official founding that the port’s establishment grew. With it, so too did the excitement of European goods and designs reaching the area and particularly their impact on the city’s social scene. Her further insights share how when New Orleans first

began its more ritualistic Carnival and Mardi Gras celebrations, nearly all attire and goods were imported directly from Paris. As years passed and New Orleans established its own specialty traditions, a need grew to have more readily available items without as much time needed to import, such as favors, pins, and costume accessories. This shift of necessity allowed local artisans to showcase their craft and capabilities. It enabled them to work with local krewes to add to signature styles, aiding in developing the visuals that have so greatly influenced the look and feel of Mardi Gras. This work has raised awareness for more local artisans and businesses in the city and has helped them to be recognized for their contributions to creativity and culture. Jewelry is a visual that can easily be added to accessorize or embellish, or serve as a full statement look, for individuals or groups. It may be small, but preserving it today cements it as a piece of history in the future.

FROM TOP: MINON FAGET (3); WELLINGTON & CO. FINE JEWELERS (3)

At Palm&Pine We’ve Always Got Some Jazzy Events Up Our Sleeves, Check Out What’s Happening Now

international heritage and the many rich cultures which have impacted New Orleans. Both from Guatemala originally, they’ve grown from there and expanded upon the international influence by featuring many items from around the world in Sterling Silvia, as well as items reminiscent of classic New Orleans looks with modern sterling silver finishes. Symmetry Jewelers and Designers offers many stand out, contemporary takes on classic looks. Since opening in 1975, they have featured local, national, and even international designs and artists. Their collection of various artists helps further contribute to the local jewelry legacy by bringing in differing perspectives to add to the diversityLottery-WhereYat-Feb24 in this scene. ad.pdf 1 Friend and Company Fine Jewelers

first began from Patricia Friend’s love for jewelry and making it accessible to all. The family business grew as her son Ken joined the team and later his wife Nina. In addition to contemporary selections, their antique and estate options are another strong suit for reminiscing of past eras. Jack Sutton showcases how family operations can contribute to local histories and economies. Jack Sutton grew up among a full family of jewelry store owners with his uncles. After learning and working with one such uncle, he felt the call of the family trade and opened his own store, which now has two locations. Along with many options, the fleur de lis line brings a shimmer and personal touch as well with hand engravings. staple 1/3/24As a 2:16 PM in the French Quarter since 1985, Naghi’s Jewelry hopes to share in

all their customers’ life celebrations. They specialize in gemstones with a broad range of collections in numerous options. They help to bring a kaleidoscope of dazzling effects to this area of local businesses, with appeals to all tastes of jewelry. At Wellington and Company, the ambiance and products invoke feelings of the early days of New Orleans glamor. With a warm team of staff who are also trained by the Gemological Institute of America and the American Gem Society, they pride themselves in providing knowledge to customers. Having opened its doors in 1962, Fischer’s Jewelry is another family business that has been able to cater to modern design trends while still invoking nostalgic feelings with classic pieces.

ALL IMAGES MONON FAGET

Celebrate with this Krewe! 10 NOLA JEWELERS TO VISIT A family-owned business since opening in 1898, Adler’s has served as a constant of timeless elegance within the jewelry scene of the city, while contributing to the legacy of New Orleans craftsmanship. They are still creating custom designs for krewes’ pins and favors, retaining traditions from their early years. The charm of shopping here instantly greets you with beautifully designed window displays and a knowledgeable staff. A stop here ensures you know you’re supporting a long sustained local business. Fleur D’ Orleans has found an out of the box approach to honoring New Orleans and its rich surroundings. Through bringing in photography and architecture, they have crafted pieces honoring metalsmithing and iron work traditions found in the city. The results are eye catching yet versatile for everyday wear and invoke small touches of memories of the city. Their array of fleur de lis amongst other items showcases how this iconic symbol can still be made into surprising original renditions. Mignon Faget early on had an eye for design, dedication to quality, and staying true to her vision, all of which have remained true since her business’ founding. From her early days of designing a clothing fashion line, she has seen jewelry as wearable art. Today, all work, from ideas to craftsmanship, is completed in-house at Mignon Faget and contributes to its mission of “every wearer’s story.” As both business partners and a couple, Juan and Silvia Asturias have honored their

Scan for more Mardi Gras fun!

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WhereYat.com | February 2024

MUSIC CALENDAR For up-to-date listings visit WhereYat.com

TUESDAY, JANUARY 30 21st Amendment Dave Hammer Apple Barrel NOLA Groove Collective Buffa’s Alex McMurray Bamboula’s Giselle Anguizola Quartet, The Villains, Caitie B., Hand Me Downs Bayou Bar David Torkanowsky, Tony Dagradi Bourbon Orleans Dr. Zach, Ingrid Lucia D.B.A. Paradise Jazz Band Dos Jefes Javier Gutierrez Favela Chic John Krupa Fritzel’s Jamil Sharif, Richard “Piano” Scott Hi Ho Lounge Sweet Olive Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Irene’s Monty Banks Kermit’s Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge Irvin Mayfield, Kermit Ruffins, J Batiste Mahogany Jazz Hall Joe Kennedy, Leroy Jones Maple Leaf TBC Brass Band Old US Mint Arrowhead Polo Club Stefan Moll Rabbit Hole Rebirth Royal Frenchmen Trumpet Mafia Spotted Cat Chris Christy Sidney’s Saloon Amazing Henrietta Smoothie King Center Drake, J. Cole Snug Harbor Phil DeGruy St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian Church Musaica Chamber Ensemble The Maison Jelly Roll Stompers The Goat Messer Chups, Unnaturals, Quaalords Three Muses Excellos Treme Hideaway Juvenile Tropical Isle Original Dave Ferrato, Dave James, Cass Faulconer, Charles Brewer WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31 21st Amendment Dr. Sick Apple Barrel Big Soul Band BMC Next Level Bamboula’s Boardwalker & The 3 Finger Swingers, J.J. & The A-Ok’s, Queen & Friendz Bayou Bar Firm Roots Blue Nile New Breed Brass Bombay Club Harry Mayronne, Nanci Zee Bourbon Orleans Gary Brown, Serabee Buffa’s Wooton Wednesdays

Cafe Negril Colin Davis Café Degas Double Whisky Capulet Young Audiences Carousel Lounge James Martin Chickie Wah Wah Jon Cleary D.B.A. Tin Men DMACS Paul Faith Davenport Loungen Jeremy Davenport Dos Jefes Kris Tokarski Fritzel’s Jazz Pub Kevin Ray Clark, Richard “Piano” Scott Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Irene’s Monty Banks

Downs NOPSI Matt Lemmler New Orleans Jazz Museum Christien Bold Polo Club David Boeddinghaus, Stefan Moll Southport Hall The Molly Ringwalds Spotted Cat Paradise Jazz Band Tipitina’s Preservation Hall Jazz Band SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 3 Bamboula’s Johnny Mastro Blues Cafe Negril Jason Neville Funky Soul, John Lisi Delta Funk, The Sierra Green Show Civic Theatre LSD Clownsystem, People Museum

COWBOY MOUTH AT HOUSE OF BLUES

Cowboy Mouth will be performing the mix of rock, punk, and blues that the Louisiana-based band is known for. They will be playing many hit songs including “Jenny Says,” which launched them onto the rock charts.

Monday, February 12, 8 p.m., Tickets start at $20, houseofblues.com Lakefront Arena Dynamite/Rampage Mahogany Jazz Hall Paul Longstreth New Orleans Jazz National Historic Park Kyle Cripps Old US Mint Amina Figarova Palm Court Lars Edegran Polo Club Stefan Moll Pour House Huey C, Jerry Nucci Preservation Hall Preservation All-Stars, Branden Lewis Public Service Matt Lemmler Royal Frenchmen Gene Black, Miles Berry Siberia Hex Cassette with Missing, Cervix Couch Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Shotgun Jazz Band The Jazz Playhouse Gerald French, Original Tuxedo Jazz Band The Maison Leroy Marshall Three Muses Jacky Blaire Tropical Isle Bourbon Dave Ferrato, Dave James, Mike Lemmler, Becca Dowty THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 1 Apple Barrel Johnny Mastro, Blue Midnight Cafe Negril Piano Man ‘G’, Sierra Green DMACS Paggy Prine Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport House of Blues Troy Turner Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Marigny Brasserie Slick Skillet Serenaders Marigny Opera House Gaby and the Strawberry Moon, Sofia Mock Peacock Room Robin Barnes Polo Club John Royen Sidney’s Saloon Don Wayne Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 2 Cafe Negril Jamey St Pierre, The Villains DMACS Parallel Threads Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Deutsches Haus Damenchor, Saengerchor House of Blues Daphne Parker Powell Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Le Bon Temps Roule Isaac Eady, The Third Moon Maple Leaf J & The Causeways, Jon Cleary Mardi Gras Plaza Amanda Shaw, Zebra Marigny Brasserie Caitie B., The Hand Me

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

DMACS Pocket Chocolate Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Le Bon Temps Roule Reverend Rob B. Mortimer Maple Leaf Morning 40 Federation Mardi Gras Plaza Mad City, Creole String Beans, Cheap Trick, Amy Grant Mardi Gras World Nelly, Trombone Shorty, Dumpstaphunk, Soul Rebels, Juvenile Marigny Brasserie Caitie B., Hand Me Downs, Delta Revue Polo Club John Royen, Stefan Moll Southport Hall Veil of Maya Stained Glass Valerie Sassyfras The Broadside Marty Grasbins, Mike Doussan Tipitina’s Galactic, Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 4 Bacchanal Wine Noah Young, Tangiers Combo Cafe Negril VEGAS COLA Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Josephine Estelle Or Shovaly Plus Mardi Gras Plaza Revisiting Creedence, Oak Ridge Boys, Tyler Hubbard Marigny Brasserie Secret Bandwagons Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Tipitina’s Bruce Daigrepont MONDAY, FEBRUARY 5 AllWays Lounge Betsy Propane Cafe Negril Jelly Roll Stompers Da Jump Off Big 6 Brass DMACS Danny Alexander Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Polo Club Stefan Moll Silk Road No Quarter Shanty Krewe Spotted Cat Dominick Grillo, Frenchmen Street All-Stars TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 6 DMACS Steady Company Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band New Orleans Jazz Museum Arrowhead Jazz Polo Club Stefan Moll Spotted Cat Chris Christy WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 7 Banks Street Bar Degenerate Picnik Cafe Negril Colin Davis, Night People

DMACS Groove Collective, Sam Price Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Marigny Brasserie Jon Roniger New Orleans Jazz Museum Linda Aubert Polo Club Stefan Moll Public Service Matt Lemmler Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Shotgun Jazz Band THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 8 Apple Barrel Johnny Mastro Cafe Negril Piano Man ‘G’, Sierra Green DMACS Paggy Prine, Pizza Man’s Fam Jam Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Dos Jefes Cass Faulconer, Charlie Kohlmeyer House of Blues Matisyahu Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Joy Theater The Nine Layers Les Bon Temps Roule Soule Rebels Marigny Brasserie Slick Skillet Serenaders Peacock Room Robin Barnes Polo Club John Royen Southport Hall PHORA Spotted Chris Christy, Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band Tigermen Den Helen Gillet Tipitina’s Big Freedia FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 9 Cafe Negril Jamey St Pierre, The Villains Carrollton Station T Marie, Bayou Juju DMACS Aden Paul, Blue Widow Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Fillmore Treety Gras House of Blues Dr. Sick, Late Greats Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Le Bon Temps Roule Colin Davis, Night People Marigny Brasserie Caitie B., Hand Me Downs Monkey Hill Luther Kent, Trick Bag NOPSI Matt Lemmler’s New Orleans Jazz Museum Abe Thompson Polo Club David Boeddinghaus, Stefan Moll Spotted Cat Big Fun Brass Band, Paradise Jazz Band St. Roch Tavern Valerie Sassyfras The Howlin Wolf Rebirth, Brasshearts Tipitina’s Dumpstaphunk SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10 Cafe Negril Jason Neville, John Lisi Delta Funk, Sierra Green Show D.B.A. Fat Saturday Brass Band, Panorama Brass Band DMACS Dewdrops Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport House of Blues Taj Farrant M&G, Jazel Farrant, Nathan Bryce, Loaded Dice Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Le Bon Temps Roule Grits & Greens Marigny Brasserie Caitie B., Hand Me Downs, Delta Revue Metropolitan RL Grime Old Point Bar T Marie, Bayou Juju Polo Club John Royen, Stefan Moll Rabbit Hole Morning 40 Federation Santos Jared James Nichols, The Bites Spotted Cat Shake’em Up Jazz Band, Soul Brass Band Tipitina’s Galactic, Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 11 Bacchanal Wine Noah Young, Tangiers Combo Bombay Club Silver Lining Serenaders Cafe Negril VEGAS COLA House of Blues DESTIN CONRAD Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Josephine Estelle Or Shovaly Plus Les Bon Temps Roule Soule Rebels Marigny Brasserie Secret Bandwagons Metropolitan Mannie Fresh, Bag of Donuts, Topcats, Netral Snap, DJ Taf, Category 6, DJ Wixx Polo Club David Boeddinghaus St. Charles Avenue Baptist Church Dr. Michael White, Original Liberty Jazz Band

COURTESY COWBOY MOUTH

MONDAY, JANUARY 29 21st Amendment Jacky Blaire Duo AllWays Lounge Betsy Propane Bamboula’s Jon Roniger, New Orleans Rug Cutters BJ’s Red Beans & Blues Bourbon Orleans The Villains Buffa’s Doyle Coooper Capulet Bruno Elisabetsky Cafe Negril Jelly Roll Stompers, Overthinkers Carrollton Station Meryl Zimmerman Columns Hotel Stanton Moore Trio Da Jump Off Big 6 Brass D.B.A. Garden of Joy DMACS Danny Alexander Dos Jefes John Fohl Fritzel’s Matinee All Star, Richard Scott Hi Ho Lounge Tucker Baker, Silver Lining Serenaders Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Kermit’s Tremé Mother-in-Law Lounge Mike Jones MRB Ben Buchbinder Mahogany Jazz Hall Original Tuxedo Jazz, Tom Hook Polo Club Stefan Moll Preservation Hall Preservation Brass Royal Frenchmen Jazz Vipers Smoothie King Center Drake, J. Cole Snug Harbor Dwight Fitch Jr. Southport Hall Go Ahead and Die Spotted Cat Dominick Grillo, Frenchmen Street All-Stars St. Roch Tavern Lostines + Polly The Maison Snoballaz, Street Lyfe Three Muses Monty Banks, Robin Rapuzzi Tropical Isle Original Dave Ferrato, Dave James, Cass Faulconer, Charles Brewer

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Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

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MUSIC CALENDAR Voodoo Two Lounge Jason Neville Funky Soul Band MONDAY, FEBRUARY 12 AllWays Lounge Betsy Propane’s Smoke Show Cabaret Cafe Negril Jelly Roll Stompers Civic Theatre Portugal. The Man Convention Center Big Bad Voodoo Daddy, 12 South Band, Mixed Nuts Da Jump Off Big 6 Brass DMACS Danny Alexander Hi Ho Lounge T Marie, Bayou Juju House of Blues Cowboy Mouth Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Metropolitan Illenium Polo Club Stefan Moll Sidney’s Saloon TEENAGE BOTTLEROCKET Spotted Cat Dominick Grillo, Frenchmen Street All-Stars The Howlin Wolf Pennsylvania Wolfe Johns Tipitina’s CARNIVOID Toulouse Theatre Quintron & Mis Pussycat, MONGO Woldenberg Park Hot Boy Ronald, Indys Blu, N’Tune, Jason Neville, Rockin’ Dopsie, Topcats

MRB Silver Lining Serenaders Marigny Brasserie Caitie B., The Hand Me Downs Mid-City Lanes Rock n Bowl Topcats NOLA Brewing Johnny Sketch, Dirty Martini Happy Hour Orpheum LPO’s Tribute to the Beatles Polo Club John Royen, Stefan Mol Santos The Thing Smoothie King Center Eagles Toulouse Theatre Juice SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 18 Bacchanal Wine Noah Young, Tangiers Bombay Club T Marie, Bayou Juju Cafe Negril VEGAS COLA DMACS Midnight Shepherds Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Orpheum LPO’s Tribute to the Beatles Josephine Estelle Or Shovaly Plus Marigny Brasserie Secret Bandwagons Polo Club David Boeddinghaus

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 19 AllWays Lounge Betsy Propane’s Smoke Show Cabaret Cafe Negril Jelly Roll Stompers Capulet Crescent City Gents Da Jump Off Big 6 Brass TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 13 New Orleans Jazz Museum Arrowhead Jazz Band DMACS Danny Alexander House of Blues Twin Temple Polo Club Stefan Moll Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Spotted Cat Chris Christy Polo Club Stefan Moll Tipitina’s Big Chief Juan Pard, Billy Iuso Spotted Cat Dominick Grillo, Frenchmen St. AllStars WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14 Cafe Negril Colin Davis, Night People TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 20 DMACS Domenic Fusca Church at Hotel Peter & Paul Dominic Minix Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport DMACS Steady Company House of Blues Beartooth Deutsches Haus Kulturabend Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Marigny Brasserie Jon Roniger & The Good For New Orleans Jazz Museum Arrowhead Jazz Band Nothin’ Band Polo Club Stefan Moll Polo Club Stefan Moll Spotted Cat Chris Christy Public Service Restaurant Matt Lemmler Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Shotgun Jazz Band WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 21 Cafe Negril Colin Davis THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15 D.B.A. Lagniappe Brass Band Cafe Negril Piano Man ‘G’, Sierra Green DMACS Sam Price DMACS Paggy Prine, Pizza Man’s Fam Jam Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Les Bon Temps Roule Soule Rebels Marigny Brasserie Slick Skillet Serenaders Peacock Room Robin Barnes Portugal. The Man will be performing Polo Club John Royen Spotted Cat Chris Christy, their experimental rock combined Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band with electronic lo-fi. The group has

PORTUGAL. THE MAN AT THE CIVIC THEATRE

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 16 Cafe Negril Higher Heights, Jamey St Pierre, The Villains DMACS Stone Cold Hippies Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Deutsches Haus Damenchor, Saengerchor House of Blues Or Shovaly Plus, Treaty Oak Revival Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Le Bon Temps Roule Dale Dolese Marigny Brasserie Caitie B., The Hand Me Downs NOPSI Matt Lemmler’s New Orleans Jazz Museum Shea Pierre Polo Club David Boeddinghaus, Stefan Moll Spotted Cat James Martin, Paradise Jazz Band Toulouse Theatre Teenage Wrist, Soul Blind, GEL

a Grammy for “Feel it Still,” their hit single on their 2017 album Woodstock, which was inspired by protest music in the '60s.

Monday, February 12, 9 p.m., Tickets start at $49.50, civicnola.com

Marigny Brasserie Jon Roniger & The Good For Nothin’ Band Polo Club Stefan Moll Public Service Restaurant Matt Lemmler Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Shotgun Jazz Band Toulouse Theatre Donavon Frankenreiter

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 22 Bar Marilou Silver Lining Serenaders Cafe Negril Piano Man ‘G’ SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 17 Cafe Negril Jason Neville, John Lisi Delta Funk, The Cafe Negril Sierra Green DMACS Paggy Prine, Pizza Man’s Fam Jam Sierra Green Show Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport DMACS Folk Around & Find Out Dos Jefes Mark Coleman Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Marigny Brasserie Slick Skillet Serenaders Le Bon Temps Roule Lyla DiPaul, Magenta Peacock Room Robin Barnes Sunshine

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For up-to-date listings visit WhereYat.com Polo Club John Royen Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band Tipitina’s Hiss Golden Messenger, Color Green FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 23 Cafe Negril Jamey St Pierr, The Villains DMACS Apricot Jam Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Le Bon Temps Roule Brass Tyrannosaurus, Evan Oberla & the GROW Marigny Brasserie Caitie B., The Hand Me Downs NOPSI Matt Lemmler Polo Club David Boeddinghaus, Stefan Moll Southport Hall Still Standing Spotted Cat Paradise Jazz Band The Broadside Marcia Ball, Tinsley Ellis Victory Church Beyond the Grave SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 24 Cafe Negril John Lisi, Sierra Green DMACS Mad Dog Menagerie Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport House of Blues Jaime Wyatt, Or Shovaly Plus Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Jefferson Performing Arts Center Liverpool Legends Joy Theater Floozies Le Bon Temps Roule Read The Room Maple Leaf George Brown Marigny Brasserie Hand Me Downs, Delta Revue Polo Club John Royen, Stefan Moll Spotted Cat Shake’em Up Jazz Band Tipitina’s Tab Benoit SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25 Bacchanal Wine Noah Young, Tangiers Bombay Club Silver Lining Serenaders

Cafe Negril VEGAS COLA DMACS Atom Cat, Sari Jordan Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Josephine Estelle Or Shovaly Plus Marigny Brasserie Secret Bandwagons Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Santos SWAMPGRAVE, BAG & MUSCLE Tipitina’s Hurray For The Riff Raff MONDAY, FEBRUARY 26 AllWays Lounge Betsy Propane Cafe Negril Jelly Roll Stompers DMACS Danny Alexander Da Jump Off Big 6 Brass Fillmore New Orleans LANY Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Polo Club Stefan Moll Spotted Cat Dominick Grillo, Frenchmen St. AllStars Tulane University Brentano TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27 Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band New Orleans Jazz Museum Arrowhead Jazz Band Polo Club Stefan Moll Spotted Cat Chris Christy Tipitina’s Yo La Tengo WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28 Cafe Negril Colin Davis, Night People DMACS Chris Zonada Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Marigny Brasserie Jon Roniger, Good For Nothin’ Band Polo Club Stefan Moll Public Service Restaurant Matt Lemmler Smoothie King Center Stevie Nicks Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Shotgun Jazz Band

Tipitina’s Yo La Tengo THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 29 Cafe Negril Piano Man ‘G’, Sierra Green DMACS Paggy Prine, Pizza Man’s Fam Jam Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport House of Blues Bebop Bounty Big Band Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Joy Theater October Londo Marigny Brasserie Slick Skillet Serenaders Peacock Room Robin Barnes Polo Club John Royen Spotted Cat Chris Christy, Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band FRIDAY, MARCH 1 Cafe Negril Jamey St Pierre, The Villains DMACS Aden Paul Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Deutsches Haus Damenchor, Saengerchor Franklin Avenue Baptist Church CeCe Winans Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band Lakefront Arena Fan Love Tour Le Bon Temps Roule Apricot Jam Maple Leaf Erica Falls NOPSI Matt Lemmler New Orleans Jazz Museum Susanne Ortner Orpheum Theater HaASH Polo Club David Boeddinghaus, Stefan Moll

Spotted Cat Big Fun Brass Band, Paradise Jazz Band Tipitina’s Imagination Movers SATURDAY, MARCH 2 Cafe Negril Jason Neville, John Lisi Carrollton Station Parallel Threads DMACS Pocket Chocolate Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Houston’s Hansen’s Garden District Band LINK Rebirth Le Bon Temps Roule Parallel Threads Maple Leaf Flow Tribe, Polo Club John Royen, Stefan Moll Smoothie King Center Olivia Rodrigo Spotted Cat Soul Brass Band

STEVIE NICKS AT THE SMOOTHIE KING CENTER

World famous Stevie Nicks was part of Fleetwood Mac and has gone on to have an incredibly successful solo career with her sultry voice and emotional lyrics. Her performance in NOLA is not to be missed.

Wednesday, February 28, 7 p.m., $95-$500, smoothiekingcenter.com

A TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES

[WIKIMEDIACOMMONS,RALPH ARVESEN

SAT. FEB 17 7:30PM SUN. FEB 18 2:00PM

TICKETS & INFO LPOMUSIC.COM WhereYat.com | February 2024

LAKESIDE2RIVERSIDE FAMILY GRAS

February 2-4 | facebook.com/ FamilyGras

Come gather on Veterans Boulevard in Metairie for some family friendly Carnival fun. Get into the Mardi Gras spirit with fan favorite krewes such as Excalibur, the Mad Hatters, and Atlas. Savor Louisiana fare such as shrimp po-boys, chicken and andouille gumbo, and inspired cuisine including California sushi and spicy tuna tacos. There will be interactive games, local art, and concert performances. This year’s Family Gras will feature Amy Grant, Cheap Trick, Revisiting Creedence, Tyler Hubbard, the Oak Ridge Boys, and Amanda Shaw. Family Gras is where music meets majesty.

DIVINE COMEDY: FROM HELLTO PARADISE February 3 | jeffersonpac.com

The Italian No Gravity Theatre will be performing the Divine Comedy, directed by Emiliano Pellisari, on their first ever U.S. tour. The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be at the Jefferson Performing Arts Center in Metairie. No Gravity is known for creating multidisciplinary theatrical performances that combine Renaissance, Baroque, and Marvel styles. The show will also feature a unique mix of techno, classical, and contemporary music. The show will run for 75 minutes with no intermission and all ages are welcome. However, attendees should be made aware that some performance costumes will create the illusion of nudity.

ZOOLU 30 + BACCHUS BASH Zoolu 30 will be two days of Mardi Gras season fun, taking place at the Metropolitan on February 10 and 12. Headliners include RL Grime and Illenium to dance the night away with. Tickets start at a range from $35-45 with VIP options for more. Bacchus Bash is the wild Mardi Gras block party and Superbowl watch party taking place Sunday, February 11. The event will feature performances from Mannie Fresh, Bag of Donuts, the Topcats, and more. Generations Hall and the Metropolitan are hosting and admission is free to all, along with VIP open bar options.

ORPHEUSCAPADE

February 12 | kreweoforpheus.com/orpheuscapade

Spend Lundi Gras night in your finest formal attire celebrating the Krewe of Orpheus at the Morial Convention Center. The festivities will start at 7 p.m. and continue until 3 a.m., guaranteeing a festive transition into Fat Tuesday. Tuxedos and floor length gowns are required, and the event is 18+. Festivities will include live music performances, optional packages with food and drink, enjoying the Orpheus parade from inside the convention center, and crowning the Orpheus king of the year. The Orpheuscapade embodies the pomp, circumstance, and pizzazz that Mardi Gras is all about.

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: GUSTAVO ESCANELLE; JPAS; KREWE OF PRPHEUS;(2); GUSTAVO ESCANELLE

February 10-12 | eventbrite.com

Festive

SHORE TO BE

Visit The Northshore, where parades roll, the days sparkle with art, the nights are made for revelry and life is shore to be celebratory.

VisitTheNorthshore.com

LAKESIDE2RIVERSIDE TET FEST: VIETNAMESE NEW YEAR

THNOC EXHIBIT: MYSTERY AND BENEVOLENCE

February 16-18 | maryqueenvn.org

Celebrate the Vietnamese New Year at the Mary Queen of Vietnam Church in New Orleans East. The event is free to all and will include drumming performances, dragon dances, and live music for the community to enjoy. The festival will include classic Vietnamese dishes such as bánh mì, phở, iced tea, and other classics. This is a not to miss cultural celebration in the midst of Mardi Gras fanfare. The event will be a great place for kids, families, and food lovers to come together and celebrate an important part of the New Orleans community.

February 16-May 10 | hnoc.org/ mystery-and-benevolence

The Historic New Orleans Collection will be featuring a new exhibition this winter titled Mystery and Benevolence: Masonic and Odd Fellows Folk Art. The exhibit will display interesting and unique objects including ceremonial dress, textiles, a staff with a serpent head, and grave markers. The display will unpack the history of secret societies in America focusing on Freemasons and the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In conjunction with the exhibit, be sure to explore A Mystic Brotherhood: Fraternal Orders of New Orleans to understand the role that brotherhoods such as these played specifically in New Orleans history.

LPO’S TRIBUTE TO THE BEATLES February 17 & 18 | lpomusic.com

The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will be bringing life back to many Beatles favorites at the Orpheum Theatre this winter. The Classical Mystery Tour is a tribute to the Beatles and will be performing over two dozen Beatles tunes backed by a classical orchestra. The performance will feature Adam

Hastings, Tony Kishman, Tom Teeley, and Chris McBurney playing instruments and performing vocals. The night’s conductor will be Matthew Kraemer. The concert will run for around two hours, which will include an intermission, and the show begins at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday and 2 p.m. on Sunday.

PARSONS DANCE

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with The Allen Toussaint Orchestra

IN LAC (Swan Lake)

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WhereYat.com | February 2024

HONORING New Orleans’ Free THE LEGACY People of Color

By Kimmie Tubré

Before the Civil War, New Orleans held the South’s largest population of free people of color. The term “free people of color” refers to individuals of African or African-descendant heritage who were not enslaved and enjoyed a certain degree of freedom in societies where slavery was prevalent. These free people of color created thriving communities in areas such as the Tremé and the Marigny, along with several outlying parishes in Louisiana. In New Orleans, the history of free people of color is particularly significant because of the accomplishments and wealth many of them accumulated and the resilience they established that still exists in Black communities today. It wasn’t unheard of for free people of color to own property, gain the finest education, participate in the arts, own land, and have some say in politics. While there were privileges to being free, freedom wasn’t the same as equality. There were many laws that prevented free people of color from obtaining the full rights of the European population. Prior to the Louisiana Purchase and the Americans taking over, white Europeans, free people of color, and enslaved people often blended together in various locations around the city. The French Quarter and the historic Congo Square are examples of areas where people could come

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

LE MUSÉE DE F.P.C.: FREE PEOPLE OF COLOR MUSEUM Located on a stunning block of Esplanade Avenue in the Upper Tremé neighborhood of New Orleans is Le Musée de f.p.c., also known as the Free People of Color Museum. It was founded in 2008 by Dr. Dwight McKenna, a surgeon who grew up in the area, and his wife Beverly McKenna, publisher of The New Orleans Tribune newspaper. The two are not only advocates of the legacy of the free people of color, but also a part of its history. Dr. McKenna is a direct descendant of the Metoyer family, known as the famous Cane River Creoles who owned and inhabited the Melrose Plantation as free people of color. Beverly McKenna is also a descendant of free people of color on her mother’s side of the family, who left Virginia to settle in the Midwest. As avid collectors, the couple uses their knowledge and fortune to educate the

masses on Black history, culture, and art. Touring the museum is a magnificent experience in itself. The tour is given in a story telling format, guiding you through as you learn about the history, triumphs, and struggle of the free people of color at various moments throughout history. The museum is also a reminder of the resilience of the free people of color and enslaved citizens. It’s a sharing of art, portraits, freedom documents, published books, petitions, and so many more items that would possibly never see the light of day without the creation of Le Musée de f.p.c. Most importantly, Le Musée de f.p.c. is a place for everyone of all ethnic backgrounds and ages to educate themselves on a history that is not only a part of Black history but a major part of American history.

ALL PHOTOS KIMMIE TUBRÉ

The Harlem Renaissance is recognized as one of the more prominent eras of African American wealth, music, literature, art, and politics. Still, it was not the first era of Black excellence. In fact, New Orleans had a period of Black wealth and cultural freedom that occurred more than a century before.

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together, sell, trade, and congregate. While the slave trade in New Orleans was massive, and slavery was still equally as brutal as anywhere else in the South, the approach to race and slavery was unique compared to the British colonies in North America. There were two systems in place, the Code Noir during French colonization, and the later establishment of Coartación during the Spanish colonial period, that allowed enslaved people to earn their freedom in different ways. During the Code Noir period, plaçage was one of the typical ways that women would gain the freedom of themselves and their families. This would happen through creating heirs with wealthy white men, particularly their owners. Coartación was another way to obtain freedom through selfpaid manumission. This enabled slaves to make down payments and negotiate a price for their freedom. Many free people would also purchase the freedom of their family members and lovers. It was a common affair for a free person and an enslaved person to have long term relationships that generally created families and, hopefully, freedom. In some cases, wealthy free people of color would purchase their family members as slaves to protect them from the cruelty of European slavery. While none of these processes were easy, it did cause massive growth in New Orleans’ free people of color population. Free people of color thrived throughout the 18th and 19th centuries. The Americans were not pleased with this, nor were they pleased with the diversity and communal nature of New Orleans. Increases in prejudice and oppression began to push some free people of color out of the city, with many leaving the country, yet some stayed and made a heavy impact on the city that we know and love today.

FREE PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO INFLUENCED NEW ORLEANS There are many free people of color who had an impact prior to the Civil War and even today. Here are some key figures: Dr. Louis-Charles Roudanez: Physician, civil rights activist, and publisher of both L’Union and La Tribune de la Nouvelle Orleans. Marie Bernard Couvent: Philanthropist who provided a space for the education of free children of color and orphans of color. Jean Saint Malo: Leader of the Maroons—a group of runaway slaves who escaped to the marshland near St. Bernard Parish. Rose Nicaud: Purchased her freedom and began the tradition of coffee culture in New Orleans. Most famous for her cafe au lait. Henriette Díaz DeLille: Founded the Sisters of the Holy Family in 1836 and served as their first Mother Superior. Saint Mary’s School opened in 1867 under the Sisters of the Holy Family, five years after her death. Norbert Rillieux: Inventor, chemist, and engineer. Edmond Dédé: Composer of Quasimodo Symphony, Le Palmier Overture, Le Serment de L’Arabe, and Patriotisme. Armand Lanusse: Poet and editor of Les Cenelles, a collection of poems by fellow Creoles of color in New Orleans and widely considered to be the first African American poetry anthology published in the United States. Arnold Bertonneau and Jean Baptiste Roudanez: Civil rights activists during the Civil War. Traveled from New Orleans to D.C. during the war to bring a petition for voting rights to Abraham Lincoln.

Masonic and Odd Fellows Folk Art ON VIEW FEBRUARY 16–MAY 10, 2024 The 2024 Bienville Circle

from the Kendra and Allan Daniel Collection and is toured by International Arts & Artists, Washington, DC. Photo by José Andrés Ramírez.

A FREE MUSEUM hnoc.org | 520 Royal Street

THNOC-24-2-Where-Yat_Ad_10x5.28_r1.indd 1

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

1/8/24 6:34 PM

FROM LEFT: KIMMIE TUBRÉ (2); PUBLIC DOMAIN

Mystery & Benevolence: Masonic and Odd Fellows Folk Art was organized by the American Folk Art Museum, New York,

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WhereYat.com | February 2024

CAPTURING CRESCENT CITY

12 local Black photographers are telling New Orleans’ stories through their own lens By Cynthea Corfah

Today’s photographers capture tomorrow’s history. They materialize moments, capture a subject’s essence, and provide the visuals for timeless stories.

Andre’ Hubbard | @andresnapped on Instagram Camera(s): Canon T Rebel 6i Style: “My photography serves as a gumbo, blending how I perceive the world with how I present myself through photos, personal style, and music, all infused with nostalgic and contemporary elements.” Focus: “I’m drawn to encapsulating the essence of the Southern human experience, intertwining spirituality and the cultural significance within my community.” Britt Smith | brittphotosmith.com Camera(s): Canon R Style: “I like to create fine art and fashion style portraits for women—portraits that look like they should be in a magazine or artwork of themselves they can display in their homes.” Focus: “I specialize in women’s portraits including maternity, boudoir, branding, and headshot sessions.” Bruce (B.Q.) Williams | b.q.williamsphoto on Instagram Camera(s): Canon F-1N, 35mm film camera, Canon AE-1 35mm, and a Yashica-Mat 120mm film camera Style: “Stories told through my photography speak on experiences we collectively can relate to because they show the beauty of everything that makes up communities and the spaces we live in.” Focus: “Photographing architecture, communities, characters with character, landscapes, cityscapes, and street objects.”

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

Carlos Sanchez | @carlossanchez. img on Instagram Camera(s): Canon 5D MarkIV, point and shoot digital and film cameras Style: “Very bold and saturated colors, very dynamic lighting, and very eclectic subjects. The way I view the world is super animated, mainly based on the fact that I love anime so much, so I really feel like I blend my love for anime into my work.” Focus: “I like to consider what I shoot as creative conceptual photography.” Corey Anthony | iacastudios.com Camera(s): The Mamiya RB67 and a Sony with adaptable lenses Style: “My artistry lies in this harmonious blend, capturing the raw, spontaneous energy of the streets and elevating it with the elegance and precision of editorial photography.” Focus: “I specialize in a unique blend of editorial and street photography, where the unfiltered essence of the streets is artfully fused with the refined aesthetics of editorial styling.” Delaney George | delaneygeorge.com Camera(s): Canon 5D Mark 4 Style: “My work aims to extract feeling from the viewer by consistently portraying themes of nostalgia, femininity, and history re-imagined. It’s a side of fine art photography that is both a contemporary ode to the past and a safe space to display figures in spaces where they aren’t commonly represented or historically welcomed.” Focus: “People, women, culture-heavy moments/ events.” Khrystina Steib | khrystinasteib.com Camera(s): Fuji GFX 50R and Nikon D750.

FROM TOP: BRUCE WILLIAMS; KHRYSTINA STEIB; RITA HARPER; TAYLOR S. HUNTER

New Orleans is brimming with talented photographers, including the legendary Polo Silk. He is a Black New Orleans photographer that has captured vibrant and stylish Black locals for decades in front of his signature airbrushed backdrops, showcasing a unique edition of portraiture. Now, local Black photographers are creating in all areas of photography, from lifestyle and events to fashion and portraits. These multi-faceted Black artists have had their work exhibited in publications including Essence, The Fader, Southern Bride, and at galleries and museums such as New Orleans African American Museum, Jonathan Ferrara Gallery, and the Front. Get to know a bit about the artists behind the photos and read how they would describe their style and niche in their own words.

FROM LEFT: DELANEY GEORGE; REMY WILLIAMS; ANDRE HUBBARD; BRITT SMITH; RAYNO MALONE; TRENITY THOMAS; CARLOS SANCHEZ; COREY ANTHONY

Film cameras are the Nikon F5, Canon Ae 1, and the Mamiya 645 medium format Style: “My photography is a mix of journalistic storytelling, romance, and editorial flair wrapped into one. My work is artsy and is influenced by the surroundings that I am shooting in, as well as the light that I have.” Focus: “I love to do bridal fashion, fashion photography in general, branding photography, and dreamy weddings.” Rayno Malone | thegoodbred.com Camera(s): Sony A7iii, film and polaroid cameras such as the Nishika N8000, the Polaroid Big Shot, and the Mamiya RB67 medium format camera Style: “I like to take my subjects and create a collage canvas that highlights the coolest

things about them while creating pieces that make you stop and view every detail.” Focus: “I like to give my subjects new life and create out of the box worlds that coexist with their personalities.” Remy A. Williams | blessthefreaks.com Camera(s): 35mm film, a Nikon N60, which is an SLR, and a Canon A-1 Style: “My work tells the stories of everyday people, those often forgotten or overlooked. The people and places that are the foundations of us as a society.” Focus: “Documenting people of the African diaspora in a way in which they are celebrated not for what they can do but for who they are. I also enjoy photographing the changing landscape of places.”

Rita Harper | ritapharper.com Camera(s): Pentax 6X7 and Olympus OM1 Style: “I enjoy sharing my perspective of the times of peace, stillness, and nuanced narratives that come easy to find in my everyday life.” Focus: “Documentary photography and photojournalism. My passion lies in documenting the human experience and hearing the stories of those in the community and neighborhoods I inhabit.” Taylor S. Hunter | taylorshunter.com Camera(s): Canon 5D Mark IV, Canon Rebel Xs film camera, Fuji xt5, and multiple digital point-and-shoot cameras Style: “When I take photographs, I am searching to feel the ‘pulse’ and then transmute that into an image.”

Focus: “Commercially, I enjoy photographing intimate gatherings, events, and wellness and hospitality brands. For my portrait work, I enjoy magnifying themes of consciousness, duality, vulnerability, love, and self-care within my subjects. I also have a huge love for selfportraits.” Trinity Thomas | 504degrees.com Camera(s): Nikon D750 and Canon EOS ELLAIN IIE film camera Style: “Thinking outside of the box. Even though I’m based in New Orleans, I always have the mindset as if I’m photographing overseas for a magazine of some sort. I️ love challenging myself.” Focus: “Southern culture.”

WhereYat.com | February 2024

The Short List

New Orleans’ Black Writers Everyone Needs to Know By Michelle Nicholson

The current literary renaissance in New Orleans has already surpassed that of the Bohemian movement of the 1920s and is garnering national attention.

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THE MATRIARCH & PATRIARCH OF LITERARY NEW ORLEANS Hailing from the 7th Ward, Dillard University professor Dr. Mona Lisa Saloy has made significant contributions to the canon of New Orleans literature as a folklorist, educator, and Louisiana’s 2021-2023 poet laureate. Her 2005 Red Beans & Ricely Yours won the T.S. Eliot Prize and PEN/Oakland Josephine Miles Award, and her recently published Black Creole Chronicles made Southern Reviews’ list of “The Best Southern Books of April 2023.” Mona Lisa has dedicated her life to preserving Black Creole culture and making that experience knowable to an international audience: “I’m about how words / work up a gumbo of culture, / stamped and certified African, / delivered on southern American soil” (from her poem “Word Works”). Read her books but also be sure to see her perform live or via YouTube. Poet, memoirist, editor, publisher, musician, music producer, arts administrator, social critic, activist, photographer, filmmaker, playwright, educator, etc. Kalamu ya Salaam and his “pen of peace” have served the people and artists of New Orleans in every imaginable way. Rightfully, he is known by many around town as “Baba Kalamu.” In 2002, he was added to the HistoryMakers: The Digital Repository for the Black Experience. Kalamu published his first collection of poetry, The

Blues Merchant, in 1969. In 1972, he won the Richard Wright award for literary criticism, and his recent hybrid collection of poetry, essays, and speeches, Be About Beauty, received the 2019 PEN/Oakland award. Cosmic Deputy is an excellent introduction to his massive body of work. NEW ORLEANS’ HIGH PRIESTESS OF POETRY Featured in I Am New Orleans, edited by Kalamu ya Salaam, Sunni Patterson was for many years a strictly spoken-word poet. She is also a healer, cultural worker, activist, spiritual life coach, and initiated priestess, so it is no surprise that it took time for her to compile her 2022 debut poetry collection We Know This Place. Her 2007 performance of “We Made It” on HBO’s Def Poetry has over 693 thousand views, and her performance of “Wild Women” on TEDWomen in 2017 has accumulated over half a million as well. She is featured on Grammy award-winning hip hop albums and was a 2020/2021 John O’Neal Cultural Arts Fellow. Whether speaking before the U.N., teaching a workshop, or gracing mics at community events across the globe, Sunni is forever gifting others with her gifts: “Body made of stars / Goddess grandeur is all I know / Maat feathers golden flow / Just meet me at the river / Watch me work” (from her poem “Ancient Futuristic”). NOLA’S POWER COUPLE IN POETRY & PROSE Jarvis DeBerry, currently the opinions editor for MSNBC, spent 22 years as a reporter and then as a columnist and editorial writer for The Times Picayune. In a 2020 review of Jarvis’ first full-length book, I Feel to Believe, Dean Baquet, executive editor of The New York Times, claims, “Every city has its truth tellers, and Jarvis DeBerry is one of the finest that

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What makes the current movement so special is its truly New Orleans flavor—its authentic sense of community, lacking in competitiveness and abundant in creativity and mutual celebration. There are certain members of the community who have played, and continue to play, key roles in creating and promoting this movement. Here is a very abridged introduction to some of our most influential Black writers—ones you absolutely must know.

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New Orleanians—including those who claim her by sheer love—could hope to read.” Jarvis and his team won a Pulitzer Prize for their coverage of Hurricane Katrina, and he has collected numerous awards from press clubs in Louisiana and Mississippi and the National Association of Black Journalists. He is also a member of the NOMMO Literary Society, and his poetry has appeared in anthologies, including Step into a World: A Global Anthology of New Black Literature. In 2020, Kelly Harris-Deberry also celebrated the launch of her debut poetry collection Freedom Knows My Name, which critic Christopher Romaguera describes as “an outstretched hand to a conversation that can’t stop, to a chorus we all know, to a mantra so many of us need.” Combining her skills as both a former hip hop artist and a recipient of fellowships from the Fine Arts Work Center and Cave Canem, the poetry in the book carries music both deftly on the page and on its audio version, accessed via a QR on the back cover. Further, Kelly is an accomplished journalist and scholar who appears on podcasts and presents at national conferences. She spends most of her time, though, supporting other writers as a poetry mentor

Maurice Carlos Ruffin for the Breakthrough Writing Residency, as a literary coordinator for Poets & Writers, and as a national advisor to Literary Maps, an initiative of the Smithsonian and the National Endowment for the Arts. NEW ORLEANS’ LITERARY AMBASSADOR The list of New Orleans East-native Maurice Carlos Ruffin’s awards goes on and on. His first novel, We Cast a Shadow, was named one of the Best Books of the Year by NPR and The Washington Post. In 2023 alone, he was the recipient of the Louisiana Writer Award and the Black Rock Senegal Residency. The Ones Who Don’t Say They Love You, his collection of short stories set in New Orleans (a 2021 New York Times Editor’s choice), became the One Book One New Orleans selection and was chosen to represent Louisiana at the National Book Festival. Maurice has spent years supporting other writers, currently as a professor of Creative Writing at LSU and as a part of the Narrative 4 Artist Network. His newest novel, The American Daughters, about which Publishers Weekly claims, “Readers won’t be able to resist this stirring story of freedom by any means necessary,” is available for presale on Amazon.

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A CENTURY OF SHARP DRESSED MEN 100 Years of Rubensteins

Rubensteins began as a small shop on Canal Street founded by Morris Rubenstein, whose immigrant parents settled in New Orleans in the late 1800s and opened a sundries store on Rampart Street. “Morris wanted to get married, and he needed a job, so he opened a business. Our family members were all retailers of some sort. They did dry goods then just started selling shirts with collars and cuffs, and it turned into what it is today,” explained Kenny Rubenstein, the store’s third generation. The history of Rubensteins is proudly displayed along the walls of the store. A sheet from the first day of sale recorded a profit of 47 cents, and there are hand-forged nails displayed in shadow boxes. A photo shows the first iteration of the shop, which was a small room lined with racks of boxes holding inventory. “The best part about this picture is all those boxes

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which are empty. They believed in ‘fake it ‘til you make it.’ It looks like they have tons of inventory, but they didn’t.” As Rubensteins grew in popularity, they grew in size. The small store grew larger as Morris and his brothers Elkin and Sam slowly purchased the neighboring buildings over 10 years. Today, Rubensteins is a property consisting of six buildings, which allows the clothing store to evolve as needed to suit the changing taste of the consumer. “Starting from our first years, everybody dressed up. You didn’t go out of the house without a coat and tie. Today, it’s much more casual. Suits and sport coats are good business for us, but it’s more casual. It varies from having big pleats, big pants, big shoulders varying down to softer looks. Vests are coming back, but three-piece suits aren’t as strong. In the 1950s, everyone wore vests. I was looking at a picture of Louis

ALL PHOTOS COURTEST RUBENSTEINS

One century ago, you would be hard pressed to see a gentleman walking down the street dressed in less than a suit and tie, especially if you were strolling down Canal Street. Trends have changed vastly for men’s fashions over the last 100 years, but Rubensteins has excelled at dressing men, whether formally or casually, since April 12, 1924. By Emily Hingle

coming into their dad’s store and knew that it was a little bit different. We don’t have the Madison Shop anymore because it merged in. We had All American Jeans when younger people were buying a lot of jeans. That was separate and eventually merged into the store.” While you may see flashy shirts or socks with fun prints on the floor today that wouldn’t have been there some decades ago, Rubensteins is the place to go for custom-fitted classic suits that make you look and feel like a million bucks. “We feel that every man should have a suit. First of all, it’s easy to match, and you can wear it without a tie. But there’s nothing that gives you more confidence and makes a better first impression than a beautifully-tailored

suit. As much as you want to say that you can’t judge a book by the cover, the reality is that the human brain makes that determination. It’s just an instinct. If you’re dressed well, it makes a much better impression, it’s a good start for whatever you want to do,” Kenny stated. Rubensteins offers several amenities to make the process of suit shopping easy. It begins with the complimentary valet parking and continues with a Style Session. “You come in, we give you a drink and a tour of the store, and get a feel for you. We’ll even measure you up and give you a card with your sizes, so you’ll have that for your record. Then you’re free to go; there’s no commitment. There’s a lot of guys out there who don’t know their own style.

Bring in pictures of things you like, and we can help you out. It may be a little cliché, but we want you to feel like you’re coming into our home.” Rubensteins is entering a whole new chapter with the opening of the Rubenstein Hotel. The 40-room boutique hotel created by the owners of the store along with partner Joe Jaeger will allow unparalleled views of Canal Street and St. Charles Avenue as it pays homage to the 100-year history of the prestigious store. “The new hotel is going to have a bar called the Madison Shop Bar which is a throwback to what we had called the Madison Shop. That’s the key to being around for 100 years is being aware of these changes. You can’t stay the same, you have to keep adapting.”

Armstrong; he always wore a vest.” Kenny believes the staying power of Rubensteins is due to the spirit of changing with the times while also honoring classic styles. There have been three times in 100 years when Rubensteins dabbled in ladies clothing, for example. Kenny explained, “One of the times was during World War II. The men were all gone, so we adapted and sold ladies clothes. We still sold men’s clothing, but we had trouble getting white fabric because it was being used for the war, so going into women’s clothing worked well.” Other experimental brands created by Rubensteins eventually absorbed into the main floor. “Back in the 1970s, the generation was switching, and they built the Madison Shop. It was a little bit more fashionable clothes with a separate entrance so that the children of the dads who shopped with us could come in and shop at their own store. They weren’t

WhereYat.com | February 2024

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Celebrating Tet Fest in New Orleans

New Orleans is renowned for its vibrant Mardi Gras, soulful jazz music, and delectable Creole cuisine; however, amidst these well-known festivities, there is one event that truly showcases the city's diversity and spirit: Tết Fest, New Orleans East's Vietnamese New Year celebration from February 16-18 at Mary Queen of Vietnam Church. By Arielle Gonzales Tết Fest offers an immersive experience of Vietnamese traditions, mouthwatering cuisine, and captivating performances. From the mesmerizing dragon dances and the enticing aromas of traditional dishes to absolutely beautiful firework displays, this celebration seamlessly weaves together Vietnamese and New Orleans culture, making it an unmissable experience. Year after year, the Lunar New Year is celebrated across Vietnam, Japan, China, and other parts of East and Southeast Asia. Every year is dedicated to one of the 12 zodiac animals, which were derived from cycles of the Chinese calendar. 2024 is the year of the Dragon, which symbolizes prosperity and power and is regarded as the “emperor” in Vietnamese culture. This year’s official Lunar New Year is on February 10. People from different communities in New Orleans will come together to explore various food options and crafts during the Tết Fest, which is held every year at Mary Queen of Vietnam Church at 14001 Dwyer Blvd. in New Orleans East. This festival transforms the Emerald Gateway of New Orleans into a grand celebration, bridging the gap between the Vietnamese community and the city at large. The inclusivity and diversity in this cultural tapestry takes center stage, representing the essence of New Orleans. This festival is a free admission celebration of the Vietnamese Lunar New Year, which is considered the most important holiday in Vietnamese culture. Tết generally takes place in late January or early February and signifies the onset of spring. It is a time when families come together, exchange good wishes, and pay homage to their ancestors. During the New Year celebrations, religious ceremonies, quality family time, and purification rituals are carried out to cleanse away the old year’s bad luck and welcome the new year afresh. The Vietnamese American community in New Orleans, along with the church, primarily organize and host the festival. Different members of the community, such as local Vietnamese organizations, also lend their support to the festival. The Vietnamese community has a significant presence in New Orleans, with a history that dates back several decades. Many Vietnamese immigrants settled in New Orleans after the Vietnam War in the 1970s, seeking refuge and a new start. Over time, the community grew and established its cultural institutions, including churches, temples, businesses, and community centers. Tết Fest is an opportunity for the Vietnamese community in New Orleans to come together and showcase their rich heritage and traditions. One of the festival’s most captivating highlights is

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

the dragon dance, a traditional performance where skilled dancers maneuver an intricately designed dragon puppet. The sinuous movements of the puppet symbolize the expulsion of evil spirits and the arrival of good fortune. The rhythmic beats of accompanying drums and cymbals electrify the atmosphere, spreading excitement throughout the festival grounds. Beyond the dragon dance, Tết Fest showcases a diverse range of Vietnamese performances, including music, martial arts, and theater. These artistic displays captivate the audience, transporting them to the distant lands of Vietnam. Local Vietnamese artists demonstrate their talents, fostering unity and appreciation for Vietnam’s cultural heritage. Of course, no Tết Fest would be incomplete without the tantalizing aromas and flavors of traditional Vietnamese cuisine. The festival features vibrant food vendors offering a myriad of dishes that tempt visitors and introduce them to Vietnam’s unique flavors. From the fragrant phở and crispy bánh mì sandwiches to delicate spring rolls and savory rice cakes, the culinary delights at Tết Fest are an unforgettable feast for the senses. For those eager to explore Vietnamese cuisine further, cooking demonstrations and workshops provide valuable insights into the art of Vietnamese cooking. Tết Fest goes beyond performances and food, providing a range of interactive activities suitable for festival-goers of all ages. Traditional arts and crafts workshops, games, and competitions offer entertainment and educational opportunities. Participants can try their hand at calligraphy, learn the ancient art of origami, or engage in a friendly game of shuttlecock kicking. These interactive experiences foster a sense of community and active participation in the celebration of Tết Fest. As the Emerald Gateway between cultures, Tết Fest in New Orleans amplifies the city’s welcoming and inclusive nature. The festival creates a space for cultural dialogue and exchange through vibrant displays of Vietnamese traditions and customs. It is an occasion that unites individuals from diverse backgrounds, transcending barriers and embracing the joy and unity of celebration. Join in at Tết Fest in New Orleans and experience the Emerald Gateway between cultures. This festival celebrates the city’s inclusive and warm-hearted nature by bringing people from all walks of life together to immerse themselves in a kaleidoscope of Vietnamese traditions and customs. It provides a unique opportunity for cultural dialogue, exchange, and shared experiences of celebration and unity. Whether you are a resident of the Big Easy or just passing through the city, go experience and have a great time at this year’s Tết Fest. Happy New Year!

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PRESSED FOR SUCCESS Where to Enjoy Bánh Hòi in Greater New Orleans By Burke Bischoff

Local restaurants that offer a traditional and great taste of Vietnam. The Greater New Orleans area has seen a multitude of amazing Vietnamese restaurants establish themselves here since the 1970s. More often than not, when patrons visit these establishments, they’ll usually find four staple dishes on the menus: phở (a noodle soup), bún (a noodle salad bowl), bánh mì (basically a Vietnamese po-boy), and gỏi cuốn (spring rolls). These dishes are perhaps the most widely familiar plates associated with Vietnam, but there a number of GNO restaurants that incorporate lesser-known dishes such as, for example, bánh hỏi. Originating from Vietnam’s Bình Định Province, according to Tuổi Trẻ Online, bánh hỏi can also be called woven or pressed vermicelli, patties, or squares. As the name implies, the dish involves rice vermicelli noodles that are either woven into rolled bundles or pressed into squares. These noodles are served with a choice of protein, along with typically scallions, roasted onions, and/or peanuts on top, and comes with a side dish of, usually, lettuce, cilantro, mint leaves, pickled carrots and daikon, sliced cucumbers, and nước chấm (fish sauce). An appropriate way to eat the dish involves wrapping the noodles, protein, and desired toppings in the lettuce and dipping it into the fish sauce.

August Moon Despite seeming like a straightforward dish, bánh hỏi is surprisingly not as wide spread like phở and bánh mì and can be only really be found in New Orleans East and Jefferson Parish. So to ease the burden of trying to hunt around for it, here are eight local restaurants that serve bánh hỏi in the GNO. 9 ROSES 1100 Stephens St., Gretna, 504-366-7665, ninerosesrestaurant.com 9 Roses, first stated by Mama Tu and currently owned by Jeff and Lang Nguyen, is a popular Westbank establishment that has been serving Vietnamese and Chinese cuisine for around 25 years. The restaurant’s pressed vermicelli squares can be ordered with chargrilled pork, ground pork, chargrilled beef, or chargrilled chicken for $15 or chargrilled shrimp or shrimp paste and wrapped sugarcane for $17. For an extra $2, customers can also add bánh tráng (rice paper) to their order so that they can make their own spring rolls. For anyone with a big appetite or looking to share with others, larger bánh hỏi orders can be made for an extra $5.

9 Roses 68

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BA MIEN RESTAURANT 13235 Chef Menteur Hwy. Suite C, 504-255-0500, bamien.com Located in New Orleans East, Ba Mien was founded by Mai Nguyen in 2001 and incorporates dishes from Vietnam’s three main regions: Northern, Central, and Southern Vietnam. In fact, ba mien, according to the restaurant’s website, means “three regions” in Vietnamese. Customers can order pressed vermicelli there with either grilled pork or grilled pork paste for $13.50. Consider pairing the noodles with cà phê sữa đá (Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk) or one of Ba Mien’s different flavored boba drinks.

ALL PHOTOS BURKE BISCHOFF

AUGUST MOON 875 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey, 504-302-7997, augustmoonharvey.com Another tasty Vietnamese/Chinese establishment is August Moon, which has locations in both New Orleans and Harvey. In order to try their bánh hỏi, interested eaters will need to cross the Crescent City Connection and visit the Manhattan Boulevard location. For $19, patrons at August Moon can get their pressed vermicelli with chargrilled pork, beef, chicken, shrimp, or nem nướng, which is grilled pork sausage. The restaurant can also provide rice paper, if desired.

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PHO ORCHID Multiple Locations, pho-orchid.getbento.com Pho Orchid, with two locations in Metairie, has a tasty and varied menu of Vietnamese and other Asian classics. In addition to phở, bún, and bánh mì, customers can also find dumplings, crab Rangoon, shrimp tempura, and more. Choose from tofu, grilled pork, pork patties, chicken, shrimp, or lemongrass beef bánh hỏi for $12.95. Shrimp wrapped in sugar cane is available for $13.95, Korean beef is available for $14.95, and all dishes can have rice paper added for $2 extra.

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PHO SUNRISE VIETNAMESE CUISINE 2305 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Kenner, 504- 469-0468, facebook.com/ phosunrise Located right by the Louis Armstrong International Airport, Pho Sunrise is the perfect place to visit either before heading out of state or when arriving in New Orleans. The restaurant offers good quality Vietnamese dishes at affordable prices. Order Pho Sunrise’s pressed vermicelli with grilled pork, grilled pork paste, or grilled chicken for $12.95 or shrimp or beef for $13.95. Consider ordering some iced, sweet, or hot jasmine tea to go with the dish. TAN DINH 1705 Lafayette St., Gretna, 504-361-8008, tandinhnola.com A really popular spot to visit on the Westbank for Vietnamese cuisine is Tan Dinh. This bistro prepares as much of its menu from scratch as possible and the difference in taste is very noticeable. For $19, Tan Dinh’s bánh hỏi can come with egg rolls, charbroiled pork, grilled chicken, charbroiled shrimp, and/or lemongrass pork skewers. Charbroiled Korean beef short ribs are also available for $25. DONG PHUONG BAKERY & RESTAURANT 14207 Chef Menteur Hwy., 504-254-0214, dpbakery.com Another New Orleans East staple is James Beard Award-winning Dong Phuong Bakery & Restaurant. New Orleanians are all too familiar with the bakery’s delicious bánh mìs and incredible king cake, but the restaurant portion of the business offers all kinds of other treats to enjoy. Dong Phuong’s vermicelli rolls can come with Vietnamese sausage or grilled tofu for $12.50, grilled pork, chicken, or beef for $14, or grilled shrimp or Korean short ribs for $15. The restaurant also allows customers to choose up to two items for their bánh hỏi if they want to mix and match.

THREE HAPPINESS 1900 Lafayette St., Gretna, 504-368-1355, threehappiness.com Started in 1993, Three Happiness is a great restaurant with a comfortable, unassuming atmosphere. With a six-paged menu filled to the brim with Vietnamese and Chinese specialties, customers are bound to find something they’ll really enjoy while there. Three Happiness’ bánh hỏi are listed in the menu under "Sides" and can come with charbroiled pork, grilled pork meatballs, and shrimp balls with sugar cane for around $10.95. Patrons can even get their pressed vermicelli with all three proteins for an upcharge. E ST.

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Bearcat CBD

“This is the place you'll come back to when nothing else seems to fit your mood.” — Trip Advisor

2521 Jena St

845 Carondelet St Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

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Tickets available at buffas.eventbrite.com 1001 Esplanade • www.buffasbar.com • Dine In or Take Out

BURKE BISCHOFF

726 Julia St

Post-Parade

2101 N. Rampart St. 504-944-7068 1100 N. Peters, Farmers Market Stall #9 lap@lorettaspralines.com lorettaspralines.com

@lorettaspralines

The egacy Continues!

open wed–thurs 11am–8pm fri–sat • 11am–9pm sunday 11am–5pm catering available event space 4842 TchoupiToulas sTreeT (504) 766-6520 | eaTaTwonderland.com followus

@eatwonderlandnola WhereYat.com | February 2024

$20 & UNDER Ready to Roll By Kim Ranjbar

Vietnamese food has so much to offer, from piping-hot bowls of soul-satisfying phở, to grilled pork with rice noodles (bún thịt nướng), washing it all down with a strong, yet sweet cà phê sữa đá. It’s a cuisine that never fails to inspire long sighs and contented smiles. Perhaps it might seem almost unfair, then, to wax poetic about what is possibly the least hearth-full (or healthful?) dish in Vietnamese cuisine, but there aren’t many able to resist the pull of those magically-crisp egg rolls. There are two main characteristics that set Vietnamese-style egg rolls apart from the pack. The first, and most obvious, is the crisp, bubbly texture of the wrap. This singularly chewy crunch is achieved by using moistened rice paper wrappers (the same used for spring rolls) and by deep-frying the rolls twice—once during preparation and then again right before serving. The second defining aspect of these ravishing rolls is the sauce. Isn’t it always about the sauce? Not all dipping sauces are equal, and some might say nước mắm, also called nước chấm, rises above the pack. A delicate balance of sweet, spice, and tang elevating every bite to new heights, the sauce makes a delightful match with so much more than egg rolls. Fish sauce is the key to its savory flavor, and, depending upon where you go, it’s also accented with citrus such as lime or lemon, rice wine vinegar, and garnished with thinly-sliced red chilis, pickled carrots, and white radish. Luckily for us, there is no shortage of stellar Vietnamese food in New Orleans. If you ask any local for their favorite spot, you’ll likely

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get a short list depending upon which part of town you might be in. Now, quite a few spots make their egg rolls with wheat flourbased wrappers. We can’t blame them as the preparation process is less onerous, the roll stays crispy for longer, and it still produces a gobble-worthy egg roll, but we’re looking for those crisp, bubbly rice wrappers—right? Right. Pho Bang is one such spot to find these bubbly beauties and there’s five locations across the Greater New Orleans area to choose from. The restaurant was originally founded in New Orleans East by Yen Vu in the mid-80s, but the family business has spread far beyond the confines of Louisiana to Texas, New York, and Montréal. Since each location is run by different branches of the family, the flavors and recipes tend to vary. At the shop along the Westbank Expressway in Gretna, however, the egg rolls alone are worth a return trip. Packed with sweet and savory ground pork and fried crisp right before serving, these are always hot when they come to the table and they always disappear within minutes. Pho Bang (at this location) also professed to make their own fish sauce, one that’s loaded with a flurry of carrot and sprinkled with just enough chili to warm your tongue. Only a few blocks away, Tan Dinh is a restaurant oft-brought to local lips when discussing the merits of Vietnamese cuisine. Beloved by Westbank denizens and beyond, the restaurant’s atmosphere is delightfully “oldschool,” and the menu features a few dishes not generally found in fast-casual, lunchtimeoriented eateries: lemongrass pork skewers and battered, deep-fried pork spare ribs. Most

COURTESY ELIZABETH STREET CAFE

If you want some of New Orleans’ most-coveted Vietnamese egg rolls, you’ll have to be willing to travel.

ALL PHOTOS KIM RANJBAR

Elizabeth Street Cafe important to this discussion are their lovely, crisp rolls, stuffed with a combination of ground pork, carrots, wood ear mushrooms, and rice noodles. A lot of things have changed at Tan Dinh over the years, but that particular dish has not. Like so many New Orleans restaurants, it’s all in the family, which brings us to Ba Chi Canteen. Literally a sibling restaurant to Tan Dinh, Ba Chi Canteen opened on Maple Street in the Riverbend nearly a decade ago but has recently moved its digs to a larger space on 8th Street in Metairie, near Lakeside Mall. Owner and chef Phát Vũ has, from the beginning, liked to play riffs on traditional Vietnamese cuisine. Case in point is his signature “Bacos” featuring a soft, bao-like “shell” stuffed with everything from chargrilled pork to fried catfish. Like Tan Dinh, Ba Chi Canteen also serves large, crispy, rice paper egg rolls. When those rolls are loaded into a vermicelli bowl with pink-edged slices of pork, it’s a match made in heaven. We’ll wrap it up with a recent newcomer to the New Orleans Vietnamese-food scene—Elizabeth Street Cafe. Launched inside the newly renovated Hotel Saint Vincent on Magazine Street in spring 2021, the French/Vietnamese cafe and bakery offers breakfast, lunch, and dinner whether you’re dining in or taking out, featuring dishes including fried egg bánh mì with pork belly and avocado, beignets with guava and strawberry jam, a sticky fried shrimp rice bowl, or chicken meatball phở (a.k.a. phở ga vien). Though Elizabeth Street Cafe’s fried spring rolls are priced at a whopping $15 for two, they are crisp, rice paper-wrapped, stuffed with ginger pork sausage and Napa cabbage, and served with a bright nước mắm sauce for dipping. How far are you willing to travel for rice paperwrapped fried egg rolls?

Ba Chi Canteen

Tan Dinh WhereYat.com | February 2024

FOOD NEWS

By Kim Ranjbar

LRAEF grants from Emeril Lagasse Foundation

Tartine King Cakes

Available for local pick up & delivery, and nationwide shipping.

Ta r t i n e N e w O r l e a n s . c o m

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Gambling on the classics … Celebrity chef and restaurateur Emeril Lagasse recently opened his very first French restaurant. Emeril’s Brasserie opened inside New Orleans’ Harrah’s (soon-to-be Caesar’s) Casino downtown, a change of pace for both the chef and the casino. The brasserie’s kitchen is led by Chef Eric Ivy, and though the property will still be under construction through 2024, the high-end restaurant is open for dinner, with plans in the works to include breakfast and lunch. The menu features a mix of French dishes and (of course) a few New Orleans favorites such as Gulf oyster artichoke soup, sweet onion tart with lardons (aka bacon) and crème fraîche, pan-fried Trout Meuniere, and roasted ratatouille. 228 Poydras St., caesars.com/harrahsnew-orleans/restaurants/emerilsbrasserie Pump up the BAM! … Speaking of Emeril, the celebrity chef’s eponymous charitable organization recently granted nearly $200,000 spread out among four local programs that support the Foundation’s vision. “We support programs that provide mentorship to the most vulnerable youth in our communities. We help them to achieve life skills necessary to gain and sustain employment,” said Emeril Lagasse. “Teaching through food is at the core of what we do.” Based on their shared mission to support youth through “culinary, nutrition, and arts education,” the Emeril Lagasse Foundation awarded grants to the Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation ProStart (LRAEF), New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI), Reconcile New Orleans (RNO), and Youth Empowerment Project (YEP). Also, the Aarón Sánchez Impact Fund (ASIF), a program of the Emeril Lagasse Foundation, will enable four Latino youth to

receive culinary education in New Orleans through the Aarón Sánchez Scholarship. The students will gain hands-on industry experience, as the program works to diversify future kitchen leadership. emeril.org Down on da bayou … The Broad Street end of Bayou Road has been growing lately and it just got a little bigger with the recent opening of Nonno’s Cajun Cuisine & Pastries. Formerly located in the Marigny, the eatery made the move to the bayou when the owners saw the opportunity to have a larger space. Nonno’s offers lots of local comfort foods such as Southern shrimp and grits with eggs and toast, breakfast burritos, po-boys, and Rockafella oysters with cheese, crabmeat, shrimp, and crawfish tails—just to name a few. 2517 Bayou Rd., nonnoscajuncuisineandpastries.com So pretty! … What is a “loungerie,” you ask? Find out for yourself at Jolie, a cocktail lounge/restaurant that recently opened up in the Warehouse District. Located in the space that briefly held the World of Beer back in 2019, the new concept is an upscale cocktail lounge that’s trying not to take itself too seriously with a large array of cocktails, plus a menu of shared small plates for those who might be feeling peckish. Visitors can expect dishes such as shrimp beignets, tempurafried frog legs, and tuna crudo, but the mixed drinks are really where it’s at. 324 Julia St., jolie-nola.com Who? … Porgy, that’s who. Porgy’s Seafood Market, part restaurant, part seafood market, opened recently in the space that formerly housed Bevi Seafood on N. Carrollton Avenue. The new market is a partnership between Christina and Dana Honn (the chefs who operate Carmo and Café Cour) and Caitlin Carney and her husband Chef Marcus Jacobs (Seafood Sally’s and the recently shuttered Marjie’s Grill). Like many New Orleans chefs and restaurateurs, the partners see a major disconnect between the massive seafood bounty in the Gulf and what is actually offered in local restaurants and retail markets. Along with gumbo, poboys, and other seafood favorites, Porgy’s has established connections with local fisheries to offer more goodies from the Gulf than ever before. 236 N. Carrollton Ave., porgysseafood.com

COURTESY EMERIL LAGASSE FOUNDATION

Hot off the press! … Before she graduated from the Nunez Community College culinary program, Chalmatian-born Aritza Garcia jumped right in and opened a Cuban food stall at St. Roch Market called Aritza Kitchen. She’s brought her skills as her family’s cook to the Marigny food hall, regaling all of us with signature Cuban cuisine from an El Cubanito sandwich with pork, ham, Swiss, pickles, and mustard to empanadas, yucca with chicharrón, and tres leches cake. 2381 St. Claude Ave., strochmarket.com, @aritzaskitchen

Come visit any of our 7 locations: Daisy Dukes 121 Chartres St. French Quarter

Daisy Mae’s 902 Poydras St. Warehouse District

Daisy Dukes Cafe 308 St. Charles Ave. CBD

Daisy Dukes 1200 W. Approach Mandeville

Daisy Dukes 2244 Veterans Blvd. Kenner

Daisy Dukes 5209 W. Napoleon Ave. Metairie

Reopening Soon Daisy Dukes’s Express | 123 Carondelet St. | CBD

DaisyDukesRestaurant.com

WhereYat.com | February 2024

RESTAURANT GUIDE

Bearcat Café is a great place to visit in either Uptown or the CBD for high-quality breakfast and lunch items. Choose from “Good Cat” options or go for a “Bad Cat” dish such as the seared scallops. Bearcat even has signature cocktails. Multiple Locations, bearcatcafe.com Boulevard American Bistro serves wood-fired dishes and provides exceptional quality with friendly service. It’s the perfect spot to have dinner or enjoy a martini. Their Boulevard oysters are served with cream spinach and crystal aioli. Multiple Locations, boulevardbistro.com Brewery Saint X is perfect for drinking beer with friends while watching Saints games. Enjoy lots of sandwiches and small plates like hot green tomatoes and boudin balls. The brewery also has a late-night happy hour from 9-11 p.m. 734 Loyola Ave., (504) 788-0093, brewerysaintx.com

Café Normandie form. A staple on the menu is the Morning Joy Biscuit Sandwich. 481 Girod St., (504) 2651972, luziannecafe.com

Broussard’s Restaurant & Courtyard is a classic restaurant that has been serving New Orleans New Orleans Vampire Cafe offers a dining since 1920. The restaurant has French Quarter experience that is as unique as its name. They architecture, elegant dining rooms, and a courtyard. serve vampire-themed breakfast and brunch in a Dig into amazing dishes such as the pan-seared hauntingly beautiful setting. Try their steak tartare duck breast. 819 Conti St., (504) 581-3866, for a bit of vampire cuisine. 801 Royal St., (504) broussards.com 581-0801, nolavampirecafe.com Crescent City Steakhouse sizzles steaks in butter and cooks them to perfection. This family-owned steakhouse was established in 1934 and has served up tradition for 90 years. Their filet mignon is a juicy and flavorful delight. 1001 N. Broad St., (504) 821-3271, crescentcitysteaks.com Daisy Dukes operates in several different locations, making it a popular go-to among locals and tourists. It is a casual spot for authentic Southern cooking. Their shrimp po-boy with crispy seasoned shrimp is a fan favorite. Multiple Locations, daisydukesrestaurant.com Devil Moon Barbecue combines American barbecue with Cajun smokehouse traditions. Mouthwatering meats such as prime beef brisket and turkey breast are available. Pair your meat with all kinds of sides including coleslaw, collard greens, or potato salad. 1188 Girod St., (504) 788-0093, devilmoonbbq.com Gattuso’s serves delicious comfort food with a touch of Southern inspiration. You can catch the big game on their TVs while sitting at their comfortable bar. For something with a kick, try the Firecracker shrimp salad. 435 Huey P Long Ave., Gretna, (504) 368-1114, gattusos.net

NOLA Steak is Boomtown Casino’s finest dining spot, serving up steaks and American entrees. Local musicians elevate the experience with weekly live performances. Try the signature dish—a 16 oz. ribeye with a loaded baked potato. 4132 Peters Rd., Harvey, (855) 805-5596, boomtownneworleans.com Palm & Pine is a charming French Quarter restaurant that combines the flavors of Louisiana, the South, and Latin America. Dig into plates such as the beef fat grilled Wagyu. Their cocktails tend to incorporate cane spirits and agave. 308 N. Rampart St., (504) 814-6200, palmandpinenola.com Sala NOLA is a charming spot right by the Orleans Marina. The restaurant and bar were founded by Joseph Riccobono. They have a variety of small plates and entrees including honey BBQ chicken and filet mignon. 124 Lake Marina Ave., (504) 513-2670, salanola.com Spudly’s Super Spuds has a menu like no other, with everything from gourmet baked potatoes to juicy burgers. A must-try is their Shrimply Put—a freshly baked potato with cheese sauce, cheddar, chives, and shrimp. 2609 Harvard Ave., Metairie, (504) 455-3250, spudlys.com

either on a plate or in a sandwich. and a large space for dancing with your friends. Sides include rice fritters and The Cajun gumbo is a local favorite and never sweet potato biscuits. 4842 disappoints. 810 Conti St., thegaragemusicclub. Tchoupitoulas St., 504-766com 6520, eatatwonderland.com The Jimani is an all-time favorite sports bar where you can watch the game, jam out to the jukebox, or grab a bite. The Hang Ova Burger is tasty and ASIAN will cure you of any hangover. 141 Chartres St., Asia offers traditional Asian flavors in an inviting setting. They (504) 524-0493, thejimani.com offer classics including shaking beef and lo mein noodles. Keep those crab rangoons coming and CAFÉS opt to order shareable appetizers Carmo offers vegan and vegetarian dishes alongside live music in an inviting atmosphere with for your entree. 4132 Peters Rd., Harvey, (504) 364-8812, an open kitchen. The tiradito Peruvian-style sashimi combines the tenderness of fish with the fiery zest boomtownneworleans.com of yellow chili peppers. 527 Julia St., (504) 8754132, cafecarmo.com Mikimoto is the place to go for

fresh sushi and fast, friendly service. They offer an assortment of sushi that is sweet and spicy, presented to you in colorful arrangements. Try the delicious Uptown Sushi Roll. 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 488-1881, mikimotosushi.com TD Seafood and Pho House offers authentic Vietnamese food in a cozy environment. Along with dishes such as phở and bánh mì, they also serve boiled seafood. Order the Combination Phở for seafood, veggies, and meat. 1028 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey, (504) 302-1727, tdseafoodphohouse.com

The Larder Eatery is a gourmet meat deli that is owned by BRG Hospitality. The restaurant has a large selection of sandwiches to choose from including the Larder burger. They even have king cakes. 3005 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 766-6157, lardereatery.com The Vintage is a stylish café serving small plates, cocktails, coffee, and fresh beignets. If you want something different from the tried-and-true traditional beignets, order a flight with your choice of three fancy beignets. 3121 Magazine St., (504) 324-7144, thevintagenola.com

Willa Jean is known for their classic NOLA dishes. The chic atmosphere makes Willa Jean a nice spot Bamboula’s exemplifies all the best parts of NOLA to have a great brunch or lunch. Their BBQ shrimp toast on grilled sourdough makes for a great with Caribbean-Creole cuisine and live music. This casual spot is the perfect place to end the day. Their breakfast. 611 O’Keefe Ave., (504) 509-7334, willajean.com signature dish is blue crab cakes with baby greens salad. 514 Frenchmen St., (504) 206-8057, bamboulasmusic.com

BARSWITH GREAT FOOD

FRENCH

Bar Marilou is best known for its stylish setting and delicious signature cocktails. Velvet seating, bookshelves, and patterned carpet make the bar unique. A notable dish is their pommes Marilou with crème fraîche, caviar, and chives. 544 Carondelet St., (504) 814-7711, barmarilou.com Buffa’s has been a local staple since 1939. With great food and live music, Buffa’s has everything someone would want from a bar. Enjoy their classic Avenger Sandwich with deli meats, pepper jack, and spicy sauce. 1001 Esplanade Ave., (504) 949-0038, buffasbar.com

King Brasserie and Bar brings fresh ingredients to their French and Louisianian dishes. The walls, adorned with pop culture legends, make the space both unique and welcoming. Taste the restaurant’s exotic grilled octopus with vadouvan curry. 521 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 324-3000, kingbrasserieandbar.com

ITALIAN

A Tavola is a family-friendly restaurant with modern Italian cuisine. Enjoy wood-fired pizzas, pasta, or their house-made limoncello to make your visit reminiscent of a vacation in Italy. Try their meatballs with fontina and Sunday gravy. 3413 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 5772235, atavo.la

JB’s Fuel Dock’s open bar and kitchen make its setting even more inviting. The restaurant is located in Lakeview along Lake Pontchartrain. Try the supreme pizza with pepperoni, sausage, onion, Alto Rooftop Bar serves up succulent Italian small Jimmy J’s Cafe is a vibrant spot for breakfast green peppers, black olives, and mushrooms. plates. Their choice of drinks makes for a delicious and lunch. The ambiance is complete with tasty, 126 S. Roadway St., (504) 510-2260, Houmas House and Gardens is a historic day at the pool. The snacks portion of the menu comforting meals that taste like home-cooking. The jbsfueldock.com plantation estate offering three restaurants: Latil’s features chicken wings with a Calabrian vinaigrette. cochon panini has slow-roasted pork, bacon jam, Landing, the Carriage House, and Dixie Café. A 600 Carondelet St., (504) 900-1180, acehotel. and a fried egg. 115 Chartres St., (504) 309signature dish at the Carriage House is the Eggplant Le Bon Temps Roule is a neighborhood bar open com/new-orleans 9360, jimmyjscafe.com 24/7 and is known for its Bloody Marys, billiards, Napoleon with jumbo-lump crab meat. 40136 live music, and juicy burgers. Le Bon Temps Roule’s Domenica will transport you to Italy with its Hwy. 942, Darrow, houmashouse.com Legacy Kitchen’s Steak + Chop is on everyone’s burger with pimento cheese is very delicious. 4801 authentic menu. Set in a refined dining room, list of go-to restaurants on the Westbank. They Magazine St., (504) 897-3448, lbtrnola.com Vampire Apothecary Restaurant & Bar offers Domenica is a great place to share some pizza deliver their steaks cooked to perfection, along with guests the unique experience of having their tarot with friends. Be sure to try their wood fire-roasted traditional American fare. Their cowboy bone-in Peacock Room is the Kimpton Hotel Fontenot’s cards read or getting an astrology reading at their Delicata Squash. 123 Baronne St., (504) 648ribeye has 22 oz. of flavor. 91 Westbank Expy. elegant bar that serves cocktails and savory small table. They even offer tea blends such as the 6020, domenicarestaurant.com #51, Gretna, (504) 513-2606, legacykitchen. plates. Visit for brunch and sip on spirits while Strawberry Pain Killer. 725 St. Peter St., (504) com listening to live tunes. A noteworthy menu option is Josephine Estelle specializes in Italian-Southern 766-8179, vampireapothecary.com the smash burger. 501 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) fusion for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Located Luke honors Franco-German brasseries while Voodoo Chicken and Daiquiris serves just that— 324-3073, peacockroomnola.com in the Ace Hotel, the elegance of the beautifully adding Creole inspiration to the mix. One of delicious chicken and refreshing daiquiris. Enjoy appointed dining room evokes comfort and Luke’s signature dishes is a delicious speckled mouth-watering eats in a bright, lively environment. Stumpy’s Hatchet House lets you get your sophistication. Try their rigatoni or their tortellini en trout amandine served with wild mushrooms, frustrations out and have the time of your life Get the best of both worlds with their four-piece brodo. 600 Carondelet St., (504) 930-3070, Gulf shrimp, toasted almonds, and haricots with friends by throwing hatchets. Their bar and combo of both white and dark meat. Multiple josephineestelle.com verts. 333 St. Charles Ave., (504) 378-2840, traditional pub fares make this cathartic experience Locations, voodoochickenanddaiquirisnola. lukeneworleans.com even more enjoyable. 1200 Poydras St. Suite C, Pizza Domenica serves classic and inventive com (504) 577-2937, stumpyshh.com/neworleans pies in a chic setting. Their Italian dishes are Luzianne Café serves up breakfast in the same Wonderland + Sea specializes in simple, but modernized so you can enjoy classic meals with a building where Luzianne Coffee was first roasted. The Garage is a happening spot just steps away high-quality dishes. Pick from Gulf drum fish, fried twist. Mushroom lovers should try their decadent Their menu elevates breakfast classics to an art from Bourbon Street with delicious food, live music, boneless chicken, or chick-pea tenders, served

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ROBERT WITKOWSKI

AMERICAN

LEBANON’S CAFE

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RESTAURANT GUIDE artichoke, and a lemon butter sauce. 134 N. Carrollton Ave., (504)-488-7991, venezianeworleans.com

sizzle to perfection. You can’t go to Felipe’s without getting the Nachos Classico. Multiple Locations, felipestaqueria.com

herbs. Try the grilled lamb rack with a nice bottle of wine. 4729 Magazine St., (504) 894-8881, apollinerestaurant.com

LATIN

Tacos Del Cartel has healthy, hearty options for Mexican food lovers. The pink decor offers a glimpse of the vibrant flavors you’ll taste. Their famous birria tacos are stuffed with chile adobo stewed beef short ribs. 2901 David Dr., Metairie, (504) 381-5063, tacosdelcartel.com

Cafe Normandie, located in the Higgins Hotel, pays homage to the spread of French culture and cuisine during World War II. The welcoming environment and appetizing breakfast and lunch menus make Cafe Normandie a musttry. 1000 Magazine St., (504) 528-1941, higginshotelnola.com/new-orleans

Alma Cafe is the perfect spot for a trendy breakfast or lunch. The restaurant serves Honduran flavors with a modern twist. A signature dish, the pescado ceibeño, comes with deep fried red snapper, tostones, and encurtido. 800 Louisa St., (504) 381-5877, eatalmanola.com

Chef Ron's Gumbo Stop funghi e salsiccia pizza. Multiple Locations, pizzadomenica.com The Original Italian Pie specializes in freshlyserved, budget-friendly pizza. This spot has a varied menu that serves up delectable pasta, wraps, and sandwiches. The Italian Pie combo features pepperoni, Italian sausage, ground beef, vegetables, and mozzarella. Multiple Locations, italianpie.com U Pizza is a go-to for pizza and plenty of other options, including dietary-restriction-friendly ones. Enjoy dining in a comfortable atmosphere, suitable for any sized party. For dessert, opt for strawberry, chocolate, turtle, or plain cheesecake. 1513 St. Charles Ave., (504) 381-4232, upizzanola.com Venezia Restaurant is the place to go in Mid-City for old-school Italian dishes. Enjoy pasta, pizza, and more in a cozy environment. Venezia’s Veal Pontchartrain comes with crab meat, mushrooms,

Empanola is a fusion restaurant blending South American and New Orleans flavors. They have been serving up creative and hand-crafted cuisine since 2017. Take advantage of their cost-efficient deals and try out multiple flavors of empanadas. Multiple Locations, empanolaempanadas.com Tapas e Vino is a cozy spot located within Bamboula’s music club. Split small plates with your group while sipping on paired wines. Enjoy crawfish beignets that are savory and spicy—perfect with a glass of Merlot. 514 Frenchmen St., (504) 2068057, bamboulasmusic.com Tito’s Ceviche & Pisco is a picturesque bistro offering Peruvian cuisine. Take a seat on the terrace with a tart and tasty pisco sour. The ceviche limeño combines tender seafood marinated with chili peppers, onions, and cilantro. Multiple Locations, titoscevichepisco.com

MEXICAN

Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria is a go-to for fans of chips and salsa, tacos, margaritas, and more. Pick your favorite fillings and watch your meal

MIDDLE EASTERN

Lebanon’s Cafe serves some of the most delicious Middle Eastern dishes in New Orleans. Colorful murals and friendly service set the mood for your dining experience. Try their rosemary lamb chops served over grilled vegetables. 1500 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 862-6200, lebanonscafe.com

Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop is an unassuming hotspot serving up classic New Orleans dishes. They specialize in hot bowls of gumbo and all things seafood. Their Mumbo Gumbo is a medley of meat, seafood, and vegetables. 230 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, (504) 835-2022, gumbostop.com

Shaya is an Uptown spot that combines Southern flavors with Israeli staples. They offer upscale dishes in a warm, sophisticated setting on Magazine Street. The entire menu is spectacular, but consider opting for their crispy halloumi. 4213 Magazine St., (504) 891-4213, shayarestaurant.com

Crescent City Brewhouse is a microbrewery serving flavorful modern Louisiana dishes. Enjoy the view from their balcony and visit for dinner to hear live jazz music on the weekends. A star attraction is the redfish Acadiana. 527 Decatur St., (504) 522-0571, crescentcitybrewhouse.com

NEWORLEANS CUISINE

Curio is the perfect spot to enjoy Creoleinfluenced cuisine and cocktails. It’s in a renovated historic French Quarter building and serves up vibrant meals on their balcony overlooking Royal Street. Enjoy the pan-roasted salmon and Gulf shrimp. 301 Royal St., (504) 717-4198, curionola.com

Annunciation brings out the best of New Orleans cuisine with classic and contemporary takes on Cajun/Creole cooking. The relaxed atmosphere makes it the ideal getaway. Annunciation’s escargot appetizer comes with mushrooms and moutarde beurre blanc. 1016 Annunciation St., (504) 568-0245, annunciationrestaurant.com Apolline is a cozy spot for traditional Louisiana cooking with a modern flair. Each dish is freshly cooked with local ingredients and kitchen-grown

Evangeline serves up Cajun and Creole flavors, offering a flavorful taste of top New Orleans cooking. Enjoy fresh Louisiana cooking, featured craft beer, and courtyard dining at this hidden gem

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RESTAURANT GUIDE

in New Orleans. 329 Decatur St., (504) 3734852, evangelineneworleans.com

House of Blues is a classic rock ‘n’ roll-themed restaurant, bar, and venue that you need to add to your list. Enjoy Southern favorites from their scratch kitchen and sip on a unique cocktail. 225 Decatur St., (504) 310-4961, houseofblues. com/neworleans Kingfish honors traditional New Orleans cuisine with a twist. Located in the French Quarter, it’s the perfect spot to enjoy tasty dishes, including Gulf shrimp fettuccine. Order from the happy hour menu or visit for daily brunch. 337 Chartres St., (504) 598-5005, kingfishneworleans.com Lakeview Harbor brings both land and sea to your plate, along with specialty burgers and tasty po-boys in their locations around the city. This nautical-themed joint is great for a meal and excellent service. Multiple Locations, lakeviewharbor.us Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe offers Creole lunch dishes in a casual environment. The daily specials include gumbo, fried chicken, and shrimp po-boys. Try the catfish Jourdain, topped with crabmeat and shrimp in a lemon butter sauce. 1500 Esplanade Ave., (504) 766-8687, lildizzyscafe.net Loretta’s Authentic Pralines offers sweets and eats during breakfast and lunch. Loretta’s beloved pralines can also be found in the historic French Market. They serve traditional beignets, unconventional beignets, and praline shoe soles. 2101 N. Rampart St., (504) 944-7068, lorettaspralines.com Mandina’s is a classic NOLA restaurant and has been a Mid-City staple since 1932. This familyowned seafood joint serves Creole-Italian dishes. Their Gulf fish almondine adds the perfect amount of nutty sweetness to a classic dish. 3800 Canal St., (504) 4829179, mandinasrestaurant.com

perfect for socializing, or watching the big game, while sipping on specialty drinks and craft beers. 7910 Earhthart Blvd., (504) 302-2404, niceguysnola.com

Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar and Bistro is a great French Quarter date spot. Try wines by the glass, bottle, or flight while seated in the courtyard. The Grapevine black angus house filet is simply the best. 720 Orleans Ave., (504) 523-1930, orleansgrapevine.com Restaurant August serves contemporary Creole dishes made with Louisiana ingredients. Here, wine lovers can enjoy one of NOLA’s best wine lists. This restaurant is housed in a 19th-century building with hardwood floors, antique mirrors, and chandeliers. 301 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 299-9777, restaurantaugust.com Short Stop Po-Boys is perfect for a quick bite. Order your po-boy and side at the counter or call for pickup from the drive-thru. Short Stop’s menu features po-boys and bowls of gumbo of different sizes. 119 Transcontinental Dr., Metairie, (504) 885-4572, shortstoppoboysno.com

SEAFOOD

Briquette displays fresh fish before it’s served on the plate. With 240 seats available for dinner, Briquette is perfect for events. The Louisiana redfish can be paired with a delicious white wine from the wine list. 701 S. Peters St., (504) 3027496, briquette-nola.com Drago’s Seafood Restaurant has offered delicious bites at their family-run restaurants since 1969. Enjoy their signature and original charbroiled oysters, served either as a half dozen or a full dozen. Shrimp and alligator are also available. Multiple Locations, dragosrestaurant.com

Meril serves up New American dining in the Warehouse District and is a local goto for its signature dishes and cocktails. Through the open kitchen, you can watch your meal take shape before it’s served. 424 Girod St., (504) 526-3745, emerilsrestaurants.com

New Orleans Creole Cookery serves Cajun and Creole cuisine and hosts oyster happy hour in their oyster bar. The menu’s star attraction is the pecan-crusted redfish, which can be paired with a wine from the wine list. 508 Toulouse St., (504) 524-9632, neworleanscreolecookery.com Neyow’s Creole Cafe serves soul food in a New Orleans-decorated setting. Try the delicious gumbo or crab claws, which received accolades from Crescent City locals. Also try the chargrilled oysters topped with parmesan and butter sauce. 3332 Bienville St., (504) 827-5474, neyows.com Neyow’s XL, next door to Neyow’s Creole Café, elevates the Neyow’s Creole Cafe experience. Enjoy steaks and Creole cuisine in a white tablecloth setting. Try the red snapper, which is sweet with a hint of nuttiness. 3336 Bienville St., (504) 5031081, xl.neyows.com Nice Guys Nola offers classics with a Creole twist in an outdoor bar setting. Nice Guys is

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

Drago's Legacy Kitchen’s Tacklebox’s bar is the perfect place to enjoy craft cocktails. The main menus feature seafood including raw and chargrilled oysters. Order coffee and beignets for breakfast or oysters and beer during happy hour. 817 Common St., (504) 827-1651, legacykitchen.com Middendorf’s in Manchac and Slidell provides a fin-tastic seafood experience. They offer some of the best fried seafood while providing a beach vacation experience. Come for the catfish and stay for live music and happy hour. Multiple Locations, middendorfsrestaurant.com Seaworthy serves the best catches, including wild-caught oysters, for the best flavor. Enjoy seafood in their sleek interior or in the courtyard. Try the seasonal drink menu with artisanal cocktails and more during late-night happy hour. 630 Carondelet St., (504) 930-3071, seaworthynola.com

ROBERT WITKOWSKI

Mother’s has been serving Creole dishes since 1938. The fried chicken comes with two pieces of dark or white meat and either a leg, thigh, breast, or wing. Mother’s is also known to serve the “world’s best” ham. 401 Poydras St., (504) 5239656, mothersrestaurant.net

WhereYat.com | February 2024

READY FOR THEIR CLOSE UP

PhotoWorthy, EnvyInducing Cocktails in NOLA By Emily Hingle

Jack Rose

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

Far too often, however, the drinks people pose with don’t appear that impressive: plastic cups, no garnish, and general lackluster looks. Don’t let your drink drag you down next time. Instead, head to one of these bars for a perfectly picturesque cocktail that will make your friends and followers jealous of your night out. Vampire Apothecary is a restaurant and bar that carries several bewitching drinks. One of those drinks may actually be magical. The Alchemist’s Elixir is a floral-tasting gin cocktail that comes to your table as a beautiful shade of blue. The glass holds pea flower-infused gin made by a local distiller and another vial holds elderflower liqueur. When the two are combined, the blue liquid transforms into a purple drink. It is advised to film the transformation, because now you see it, now you don’t. Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar has a couple of options for picturesque cocktails, each with a different vibe. The Shark Attack and Da’ Killer Blue Whale are fruity, but surprisingly strong drinks that feature a large toy shark and

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whale, respectively, that you get to take home with you. The frightening scorpion that lies inside the Infamous Scorpion Shot, however, is not a toy. The real deal scorpion swims in a shot of tequila, and you get a free t-shirt if you’re able to down it. For something less frightening, the Flamingo Punch is a coconut rum-based cocktail that comes sitting in its own little flamingo float. Tiki bars are always a good bet for beautiful drinks, whether it be an elaborate garnish or a cool tiki glass. Beachbum Berry’s Latitude 29 only serves gorgeous traditional and innovative tiki drinks in tropical surroundings. If you really want to get likes on your post, go for a communal drink that you can share with a few friends. The Beachbum Bowl, Lapu Lapu, and Deep Six are complex cocktails made for two. The Jet Pilot is a strong, spicy rum and orgeat drink for four people. There’s no better place to get the classic Ramos Gin Fizz than Bar Tonique on Rampart Street because the drink’s namesake and creator Henry C. Ramos once

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

lived near this watering hole. The towering drink dates back to 1887 when Henry Ramos made it up in his Imperial Cabinet Saloon. Bar Tonique does state that the Ramos Gin Fizz may not be available during peak hours, however. This is due to the fact that the drink, made up of citrus juices, gin, triple sec, demerara syrup, heavy cream, and egg white, requires a lot of shaking. While the original recipe requires 12 minutes or so of shaking, Bar Tonique may go as long as five minutes. The result is a creamy, tasty drink that rises above the rim of the glass. You won’t just want to take a photo of the Café Brûlot Diabolique at Antoine’s Restaurant. Video is the best medium to capture the spectacle of this fiery concoction. Upon ordering Café Brûlot Diabolique, a special cart is wheeled out to your table, which will immediately cause stares from other diners. The server combines spices, brandy, and other ingredients together in a bowl before igniting the liquid, which burns blue. Now this is where it gets exciting. Keep your limbs off of the table because the

FROM TOP: COURTESY LATITUDE 29; BOUTIQUE DU VAMPYRE

Vampire Apothecary

Antoine's

FROM TOP: COURTESY ANTOINE'S; ROBERT WITKWOSKKI

Lucy's Retired Surfers Bar server will artfully pour some of the flaming drink right onto the tablecloth. Have no fear because the tablecloth will not catch fire. Hot coffee is then added to complete the drink. There are several bars in the city serving that green, licorice-tasting drink that New Orleans and Paris are known for, but Pirate’s Alley Cafe is the coolest place to enjoy some absinthe. If you haven’t been to this haunt yet, just take a turn at St. Louis Cathedral into Pirate’s Alley. The cobblestone pedestrian street will lead you to the cozy little bar in the middle of the alley. The Disco Punch is a drink found at Jack Rose that you’re going to have to share with eight of your closest friends. The massive cocktail comes out in a shimmering disco ball, which opens to reveal the sweet concoction of vodka, orange liqueur, cranberry bitters, lemon, and sparkling wine. A ladle is provided to serve individual portions of Disco Punch to the entire table. Don’t be caught with another mundane gocup picture. These drinks are show stoppers, and they are guaranteed to get you looks.

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SPARKLING WINE OF MARDI GRAS

WhereYat.com | February 2024

Bar Guide

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Alto (Ace Hotel) 600 Carondelet St. 504-900-1180

Atop the Ace Hotel, Alto is a chic pool bar with excellent views and cocktails. Stop by for a dip in the pool or for an elevated happy hour with pizzas, paninis, and beer buckets.

Babylon Sports Bar 2917 Harvard Ave., Suite A 504-324-9961

Babylon Sports Bar is a homy neighborhood dive bar with endless drinks and entertainment including live music, karaoke night, happy hour, big sports game viewing, and more.

Bar Marilou 544 Carondelet St. 504-814-7711 Boot Scootin’ Rodeo 522 Bourbon St. 504-552-2510

Located inside an old library, Bar Marilou is a French bar bursting with character. Funky furniture and creative cocktails such as the Bungalow Mystery and Little Birds transport you to another world. Boot Scootin’ Rodeo brings honky-tonk fun to the French Quarter. Square dance on one of the largest oak dancefloors on Bourbon Street and order a 27-oz. mug of spiked sweet tea.

Bourbon “O” Bar 730 Bourbon St. 504-523-2222

The Bourbon “O” Bar is the perfect French Quarter spot, right on Bourbon Street, offering great live music options every night as well as an excellent menu of fresh cocktails.

Buffa’s 1001 Esplanade Av. 504-949-0038

High Grace NOLA 733 St. Peter 504-218-5649

Since 1939, Buffa’s has served authentic New Orleans fare, spirits, and live music. Feast on Buffa’s award-winning bratwurst jambalaya. Open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. every day, with local music Wednesday through Monday. Club 38 provides VIP treatment upon entry as part of their “Owners Club” to guests and elite members. Gamblers can relax with complimentary food and wine with the bar while in Boomtown Casino. Enjoy live jazz performances, signature craft brews, and traditional Louisiana bites in the only microbrewery in the French Quarter. Crescent City Brewhouse offers courtyard and balcony dining. Evangeline specializes in Cajun cuisine including fried alligator. They have craft beers by local breweries and fantastic cocktails, and their outdoor courtyard is the perfect place to sit back and relax. The Fillmore is a 22,000 square foot space above Harrah’s Casino. The area hosts artists from all over the world, full-service productions, customizable menus, and creative cocktail packages. High Grace NOLA is an upscale dive bar located in the heart of the French Quarter. The bar is open 24/7 and stocked with beers, wines, and seltzers. You can even enjoy beer/cocktail towers.

House of Blues 225 Decatur St. 504-310-4999

The House of Blues is a great hangout spot that hosts a variety of live music. The bar is rock and blues-themed and serves up delicious Southern dishes such as jambalaya and po-boys.

Lots a Luck Tavern 203 Homedale St. 504-483-0978

Lots a Luck is a laid-back neighborhood dive bar with bar games galore. They also often have special offers and events such as crawfish boils and trivia nights.

Martine’s Lounge 2347 Metairie Rd. 504-831-8637

Fiendly service, fun vibes, and, of course, great drinks—there’s always something going on from trivia night to holiday celebrations. Enjoy a Bloody Mary, Irish coffee, and more out on their patio..

Pal’s Lounge 949 N. Rendon St. 504-488-7257

Pal’s Lounge is a Mid-City dive bar that has been taken care of by the neighborhood since 2002. Pal’s is perfect for late nights as they stay open until 3 a.m. serving drinks and bites from food trucks.

Rosie’s on the Roof 1000 Magazine St. 504-528-1941

Located atop the Higgins Hotel, Rosie’s on the Roof offers a full service bar, small bites, and an unmatched view of the city. Elegance meets comfort in this WWII Americana-themed rooftop lounge.

Saddle Bar 715 Bienville St. 504-313-1113

504-910-0100

Saddle Bar is a country bar that has two stories, premium whiskies, a dance floor, and much more. Instead of a mechanical bull, guests can take a ride on Ride Randy, the biggest "cock" in NOLA. The Sazerac House is the quintessential place to experience one of New Orleans’ most famous cocktails—the Sazerac. This museum offers tours that educate guests about the cocktail’s history.

Stumpy’s Hatchet House 1200 Poydras St., Suite C 504-577-2937.

Stumpy’s is not your average bar. It’s the perfect place to gather with friends, family, or to go out for a date and enjoy taking part in a unique activity—hatchet throwing.

The Garage 810 Conti St.

Located just steps off Bourbon Street, the Garage has live music, food, a funky atmosphere, and a dance floor. Play a game of shuffleboard or pool or show off your best dance moves.

The Jimani 141 Chartres 504-524-0493

The Jimani is a great late-night spot for food, drinks, and hanging out during a big sports event. In addition to many different beers, the kitchen is open till 4 a.m.

The Metropolitan 310 Andrew Higgins Blvd. 504-568-1702

The Metro is the spot for premier nightlife in New Orleans. This two-story nightclub offers great DJ performances, multiple bars, and convenient VIP service. Escape the stress of reality and dance the night away. Indulge in the best of New Orleans’ bubbles and bites at The Vintage with a menu of gourmet beignets, bar bites, coffee, wine, and signature cocktails, Try a mix of sips with a Bitter Good Morning, a boozy cold brew, or Espresso Yourself. Tropical Isle is a bar chain beloved by locals and tourists alike. They have a fun atmosphere and great music, but their drinks are incredible too. Try a famous Hand Grenade or a Shark Attack.

Club 38 4132 Peters Rd. 504-366-7711 Crescent City Brewhouse 527 Decatur St. 504-522-0571 Evangeline 329 Decatur St. 504-373-4852 Fillmore New Orleans 6 Canal St. 504-881-1555

Sazerac House 101 Magazine St.

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The Vintage 3121 Magazine St. 504-324-7144 Tropical Isle Multiple Locations 504-523-1927

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WhereYat.com | February 2024

FILM REVIEWS

By David Vicari & Fritz Esker

Mean Girls

t’s surprising how enjoyable the new musical version of Mean Girls is since the original 2004 film is one of the best comedies of its year. The new movie is based on the Broadway musical of Mean Girls, which, in turn, is based on the 2004 movie. Both movies and the play are written by Tina Fey, which are based on Rosalind Wiseman’s 2002 book Queen Bees and Wannabes. As the setup goes, previously homeschooled Cady Heron (Angourie Rice) is the new student at North Shore High School and makes friends with two outsiders, Janis (Auli’i Cravalho) and Damian (Jaquel Spivey). Eventually, Cady falls in with the “Plastics,” an elite clique led by the egomaniacal Regina George (Reneé Rapp). It becomes a battle of wits when Cady falls for Regina’s ex-boyfriend (Christopher Briney). This is not a lazy cut and paste job. Sure, the characters and story are the same and there are some familiar

The Beekeeper

moments, but it’s not a scene for scene remake with just musical numbers thrown in. Fey has revamped her original script with different gags and situations. Some songs are goofy, Grease 2 caliber numbers, and that’s not a good thing, but there are some memorable showstoppers such as “Revenge Party” and “I’d Rather Be Me.” Rice is charming as Cady, and while singer/actress Rapp can totally belt out a song, the script should have allowed her character to be a bit more venomous like Rachel McAdams’ original Regina George. That can also be said about the new film in general—it needs a little more satirical bite. Still, this musical version of Mean Girls is clever and a lot of fun. —David Vicari

hile many crimes are loathsome, there’s something truly odious about online scammers who prey on the elderly’s lack of internet savvy to empty their bank accounts. So there is something viscerally satisfying about seeing Jason Statham terrorize these scumbags in David Ayer’s new action film The Beekeeper. Statham plays Adam Clay, a laconic man serving as a beekeeper on the farm of an elderly widow (Phylicia Rashad). When she commits suicide after her bank account, and the account of the charity she helps run, is emptied The Beekeeper is at its best in its by online scammers, Clay leaps into early going. But as fun as it can be action. He’s of course not an ordinary watching Statham deliver comeuppance beekeeper, but a retired government operative (think a more violent version of to the odious, some of the scenes do get repetitive. The best revenge scene in Tom Cruise’s Mission: Impossible crew). the film is the first one. A late plot twist Clay makes enough of a mess breathes a little life into the proceedings, that he soon attracts the attention of but it’s all a little too repetitive for a full the scammers’ wealthy young chief recommendation. But that said, it’s not a (Josh Hutcherson) who has political connections, including the ear of a former bad action movie to pass the time. —Fritz Esker head of the CIA (Jeremy Irons).

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TALES FROM THE QUARTER By Debbie Lindsey

Try a Little Dose of Community

JOIN THE KREWE OF

COLOR BECOME A B.FOS COLLECTOR GALLERY B.FOS 2138 MAGAZINE ST • BECKYFOS.COM

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

“I am convinced that men hate each other because they fear each other. They fear each other because they don’t know each other, and they don’t know each other because they don’t communicate with each other, and they don’t communicate with each other because they are separated from each other.”

n recent years, I in greeting everyone have found that without being intrusive. community, or just In the meantime, I a random tourist or decided to enlarge my customer, can lift my new neighborhood to spirits beyond words. include my old one Perhaps it was COVID and all of Tremé. Now and its potential to my stomping ground isolate that made me is about one a half more aware of how miles long and one mile a simple interaction wide. I just took for my with another can work territory all the things magic. Isolation due I love that are within to the lockdown and easy walking distance. health risks because of Determined to make the virus proved hard to neighbors (friendships —Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. overcome for many. But might take longer) thanks to food drives within my new blocks, that enlisted lots of volunteers, I stumbled I gave friendly, but not pushy, greetings to upon an opportunity to participate in such everyone: the homeless guy, the mailman, work and be safely surrounded by so many dog-walkers, the cleanup guy at the tech wonderful folks. I was lucky to be able to school across the street, the rough and avail myself of this community of volunteers tumble dudes around the block, and offered and was rewarded with new friends and fun cold drinks to anyone cutting grass or acquaintances. I was on the receiving end. delivering packages. I introduced myself to I may have handed bags of food to people those who seemed receptive and memorized but being a part of this gathering of people their names and their dogs’ names. Next, I was priceless. took on the Circle Grocery Store. Soon they I guess I have always been a people were remembering me and greeting me person, but, for some reason or many like a real neighborhood person. These little reasons, I now truly acknowledge the things, I highly recommend. Feeling like you importance of communication and are a part of your community will enrich your community. I occasionally struggle, like most life. Don’t waste those sidewalks—walk ‘em everyone does, with stress and bouts of the and absorb your surroundings. blues, but now I have discovered that one And take that sense of community to the thing that lifts the fog of minor depression, streets. Go beyond your neighborhood or the blahs, or anxiety is to be around people. workplace. I meet tourists all the time who Just like volunteer work made me feel useful delight in the friendliness of New Orleanians and social, so does my job. I absolutely love and tell me that their town isn’t like that. talking to customers, and I find that a simple Well, that’s crazy. They are “their town,” and observation can open up dialogue. if they respond to congeniality here, why not “Love that tattoo of the cat. Are you a cat back home? I suggest they “pay it forward.” lover too?” The next thing we are swapping Ya don’t have to slow up a stranger walking cat tales and sharing phone photos of our the streets of, say, NYC; just give a nod, a feline critters, just as crazy cat ladies are smile, a “Hello,” and move along so they feel inclined to do. You simply need to observe no impending hustle. No strings attached. something about a person and, usually, a Maybe I sound kinda kumbaya, corny, like compliment or light hearted comment will a saccharine Hallmark greeting card. Well, create a conversation. so be it. I enjoy ranting and will go negative We had the good fortune to have lived as quick as a wink. And I can piss, moan, in a neighborhood filled with locally owned and complain. Just ask Husband (he sees grocery stores, washaterias, cafés, and and hears the unfiltered me). But when I bars that attracted very social and peoplepass someone on the street and say, “Good friendly neighbors. So I was a lonely soul Morning,” and they return with the New when Husband and I first moved away to Orleans classic, “All right,” or “Hey, Baby,” that purchase our house. I was now merely down brief exchange lifts my spirits beyond words. the road from folks who were quick to say And right now I am going to take my own hello and engage. But that apparently wasn’t advice and walk over to my neighborhood the norm in my new hood. I was told to grocery store and be extra nice to the keep my head down—criticized for being too cashier, who often puts up with too much friendly. It was suggested by one person to hassle and attitude. Say hi to Sam who “just give it time but tone it down for now.” I works the lottery counter and buy both of was devastated. I got that this was a slightly us a lottery ticket (he bought me one out of edgy area and that low key interaction was the blue last time). Then I will walk my dog the standard mode of behavior, but, shit, all Scout and give a nod to Steve and his dog I wanted were neighbors—community. Well, Honey. Yep, my seemingly unwelcoming new that “keep a low personality profile” lasted neighborhood has surprised me, and I will do about a minute. Husband and I persisted my best to earn its respect.

WhereYat.com | February 2024

PO-BOY VIEWS By Phil LaMancusa

Party On! or Not

You Can’t See Mardi Gras Without…

MASKS-BEADS-COSTUMES

Mardi Gras Manual | Where Y'at Magazine

Stopping at Mardi Gras Zone!

ello, my name is Phil, and I’m an philosophical, and, at extremes, I get alcoholic and a binge drinker.” maudlin. I am not loud, aggressive, or And I should add, “Carnival, mean—unless provoked. I generally just and especially Mardi Gras Day, is my want to be left alone in a semi-comatose time to shine. I’m in my element. It’s my revelry. I feel the quiet of finally being able jam, and I’m right at home with all the to shut the world out and not have the drunks: amateur or professional, newbie or awareness of daily life and responsibilities; seasoned. I’m there. I drink, and I love to the world’s problems drop away and I am drink.” Unfortunately, I’m not really good at peace in my cocoon of alcoholic miasma. at it. Comfortably numb. I’ve gotten better in recent years, I’ve been to Carnival and Mardi Gras and I am now allowed the freedom of for decades and although I have refined my behavior, the result is overwhelmingly venturing out unsupervised and the expectations of moderate behavior are constant: I get drunk, plastered, met and appreciated. I find it better to inebriated, snockered, intoxicated, be appreciated for my sense of control and tipsier than tipsy, so much so than to be subjected to the ire, anger, and that I frighten the neighbors, traffic, sometimes pity by losing it. I’ve learned pedestrians, and wind up pissing off that because of my weak personality, those close to me. I’m not a gentleman in drinking, once I begin, be it 7 in the drunk. I used to vomit but not in recent years. Sometimes I used to pass out and morning or 7 at night, I don’t want to wet myself, but not in recent years. I am stop, and usually don’t, until bedtime. Overcoming temptation has never been a neither proud nor ashamed. strong suit of mine. Two drinks and I’m off Two conditions that contribute to the and running, and there is no such thing as perpetuation of my affliction: I enjoy one drink. the feeling, and I don’t have hangovers. I generally go out without credit cards Sometimes I run into things, trip, and maybe fall. Those times are rarer and rarer and a limited amount of cash, say $20. I go out on foot and that makes me aware because I hope to control my drinking so that any trip out will have to be followed by that I may continue into my older years that same amount covered back, upright bent but not broken. and ambulatory. I like to believe that I can I come from a family of drinkers. get a contact high being out and, in recent It was common among my elders to consider a night at a bar drinking as family years, have come to be more reflective entertainment, and, in my days, it was not of Carnivals past. These days, the high spirits of those around me make me smile uncommon for adults to spend four or five hours at a local tavern drinking, gossiping, in their simple and naïve interpretation of celebrations that include childlike behavior communing, and even singing (en masse) and puppy-like antics. I reflect that, in my favorite songs. True. And I grew up with day, there were big dogs on the loose and that as role models of behavior. The only tenets were that, in public, it was bad form now, out there, it seems so civilized that to converse (especially in pubs) about sex, my self control has become a reward rather than an affliction. politics, or religion. Behavior that I hold I save myself for home to toast the day sacrosanct to this day. New Orleans, and the French Quarter in and know that on Wednesday I will start a particular, felt immediately like home when period of complete sobriety. Debbie says that it’s to give our livers a break and that’s I first arrived many years ago. Drinking good enough for me. in public, 24 hours a day, at more than Growing up in the projects with five reasonable prices for strong libations suited me fine. My first Carnivals had me toting a children from four fathers (that we know gallon jug of heady concoctions as I joined of), a strapping 180 pound, nearly 6-foot tall, redheaded mother that drank a case of the fray on Bourbon Street nightly. And beer a day, and adults that ruled by violent still making it back to work the next day eruptions rather than abstemious reasoning like all the rest of the slow burning trash I is a reflection sobering enough. It gives me caroused with. pause when I wake up in the morning with Mardi Gras, the day, has always been the realization that I probably didn’t need extra special to me. I don’t enjoy parades that last drink. but that doesn’t stop me from becoming My other challenges are that my damn one, much to the chagrin of those around doctors consistently reassure me of my me. Me, in costume, weaving my way great health conditions, although they on the streets cluttered with the detritus would like me to cut down on my juicing. of bodies, boobs, and beads is a sight to My great inspiration is my partner who behold, and I don’t recommend anyone keeps reminding me that if, in fact, I believe following in my footsteps. Not only am I a hard act to follow, but you really don’t want in my immortality that I shouldn’t mess with the fate of all drinkers: stupid behavior, to live the lush life that I have. There’s no bad liver, and broken hearts. Fun fact: You future in it. alienate more good people with drinking Three things happen to me under than you attract. the influence: I get happily quiet, I get

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AMY RUSSO

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