August 2026
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Saints Preview // August 2026
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Saints Preview // August 2026
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INSIDE
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AUGUST 2026 SAINTS PREVIEW
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FEATURES 08 WHO DAT HOPE 10 SAINTS SCHEDULE 12 SAINTS CHEER KREWE 14 SATCHMO SUMMERFEST 16 HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SATCHMO 18 WHITE LINEN NIGHT 22 LIFE OF A TOUR GUIDE 30 MISSISSIPPI GULF COAST TIES 45 GLOBAL NEW ORLEANS
ENTERTAINMENT 24 LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR 28 LAKESIDE2RIVERSIDE 42 MOVIE REVIEWS
BEVYS + BITES 32 FOOD NEWS 34 DINING GUIDE 38 BITES AND BACKSTORIES 40 COCKTAIL CONSTRUCTION 41 BAR GUIDE
LAGNIAPPE
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44 PO-BOY VIEWS 46 WHERE Y'BEEN
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44 FRENCH QUARTER VIEWS
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Photos from top: courtesy of New Orleans Saints, Lucas Barrio, Wikimedia Commons, Randy Schmidt, Amanda Hodges
20 N.O. HORSE STABLES
INSIDE
// AUGUST 2026 // SAINTS PREVIEW
— Desserts / Tea / Coffee / Wine / Brunch —
927 Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Josh Danzig Creative Director: Christopher Grim Executive Editor: Burke Bischoff Assistant Editor: Donald Rickert Movie Editors: David Vicari, Fritz Esker
LETTER
from the PUBLISHER Photo: courtesy of Michael C. Hebert/New Orleans Saints
E
very Saints season begins the same way every year—with a 0-0 record and a 17-0 attitude. Black and gold isn’t just a color scheme. It’s a state of mind, especially before the first snap. Enjoy this Saints Preview and see why we predict that the Saints will be returning to the playoffs. Even if the Saints are losing, it’s still a pleasure to watch the Saints Cheer Krewe. Celeste Turner takes us on a behind-thescenes look at what it takes to become a member of this decorated group. August kicks off with a bang as we celebrate Louis Armstrong’s 125th birthday with Satchmo SummerFest. Don’t miss our festival preview, as well as Matt Hanson’s exploration of Louis Armstrong’s early years in New Orleans. August 1st also brings the return of White Linen Night to the Arts District. Arielle Gonzales chats with the Arts District's copresidents and explains the importance of this special evening. Other highlights in this edition include Emily Hingle’s look back at the Mississippi Gulf Coast, Violet Bucaro’s profile of a day in the life of a New Orleans tour guide, and Kim Ranjbar’s celebration of Restaurant August’s 25th anniversary. —Josh Danzig, Publisher
Contributing Writers: Andrew Alexander, Violet Bucaro, Arielle Gonzales, Matt Hanson, Emily Hingle, Phil LaMancusa, Debbie Lindsey, Tim McNally, Kim Ranjbar, Celeste Turner
Cover: Original Photography by Peter G. Forest Director of Sales: Jim Sylve Photographers and Designers: Burke Bischoff, Gustavo Escanelle, Emily Hingle, Kim Ranjbar, Christopher Grim Interns: Brogan Burns, Geordon Collins, Kallie Bourgeois, Margeaux Pierson, Miles Evans, Ness Newsom, Vivian Bravo
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Can Kellen Moore & Tyler Shough End the Saints' Playoff Drought?
W
hat started as another dismal season for the New Orleans Saints in 2025 ended with a glimmer of hope as the franchise found a potential answer to its quarterback woes, en route to winning four of its final five games. Yet, as Morgan Freeman’s character Red explains to Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption, “Hope is a dangerous thing. Hope can drive a man insane.” Second year head coach Kellen Moore is the keeper of hope for the Who Dat Nation. The Saints faced countless adversity throughout the season, and Moore could have steered his team to less wins and a better draft position. Instead, Moore pivoted, found a prospective franchise cornerstone quarterback, and began to cultivate hope by instilling a refreshing winning culture, even if the wins seemed meaningless at the time. Moore’s navigation of the second half of the 2025 season is the type of turning point a team, and its fanbase, looks back on down the road after the team has achieved success following years of bruises, battles, and heartbreak.
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It’s too early to anoint Moore and quarterback Tyler Shough as franchise saviors, but after the last five seasons, the Black & Gold Nation is willing to take the risk of insanity for the hope of a football resurrection in New Orleans.
Offense After starting 1-7 to open the year, the Saints turned to rookie quarterback Tyler Shough. The former Louisville product led New Orleans to a 5-4 record during his starts, including four straight wins in December. In 11 appearances, Shough threw for over 2,300 yards, 10 touchdowns, six interceptions, and added three rushing touchdowns. As an older rookie—26 years old during his first start—Shough possessed much more poise than the typical first year player. Combine that poise with natural arm talent and an ability to operate Moore’s offense, and New Orleans may have found a special, or at least above average, player under center. He’s joined by both returning playmakers and fresh faces alike, including running back Travis
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Etienne Jr., who rushed for over 1,000 yards in three Rounding out the receiving threats is veteran of his first four seasons with Jacksonville, while also tight end Juwan Johnson. Moore’s propensity to averaging 334 receiving yards and is a Jennings, LA, feature a two tight end package in his offensive native. After a subpar 2024, Etienne stormed back scheme propelled Johnson to a career year in 2025. to relevance, amassing a combined 1,399 rushing Johnson was second, only to Olave, in receptions at and receiving yards and 13 total touchdowns for 77, yards at 889, the Jaguars. Etienne’s younger, presumably fresher, and receiving legs should provide a potent one-two punch touchdowns alongside franchise legend Alvin Kamara in the at three. backfield. Kamara, entering his 10th NFL season, will look to bounce back after an injury-shortened season that limited him to a career-low 11 games. Chris Olave continues to lead the wide receiving corps after posting career highs in receptions, receiving yards, and touchdowns last season. The Saints drafted a trio of wide receivers, highlighted by first round pick Jordyn Tyson. Though durability concerns linger, Tyson excelled at Arizona State, amassing 1,812 yards, 136 receptions, and 18 touchdowns during his final two seasons in Tempe. If the Saints can strike gold with Tyson, or one of the other two rookie receivers—Bryce Lance, North Dakota Jordyn State, and Barion Brown, LSU—the offense Tyson can make a serious leap.
Photos from top: courtesy of Peter G. Forest, New Orleans Saints
Who Dat Hope
// ANDREW ALEXANDER
Photos: courtesy of Peter G. Forest, New Orleans Saints, Michael C. Hebert
Defense
Oscar Delp
The Saints’ defense made a dramatic improvement in 2025 under first year defensive coordinator Brandon Staley, vaulting from ranking 30th to ninth in total defense, 27th to fourth in passing defense, and 31st to 19th in rushing defense. Defensive end Cam Jordan is back for a 16th season after leading the Saints with 10.5 sacks last year, and edge rusher Chase Young’s 10 sacks were a career best. New Orleans, however, will need more players to consistently generate pressure to be heralded as an elite defense. The Saints traded for Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Tyree Wilson, the former seventh overall pick in 2023, to try and bolster the defensive front. Staley hopes to capitalize on Wilson’s potential upside, despite only seven career starts and 12 sacks during his three-year stint in Vegas. Seven-year veteran Carl
Granderson and the newly acquired Anfernee Jennings will also be counted on to elevate the pressure on opposing offenses this season. In the secondary, cornerback Kool-Aid McKinstry is poised for a breakout season. McKinstry led the Saints with three interceptions and tied for sixth in the NFL with 17 passes defended. New Orleans is expecting second year cornerback Quincy Riley to make a leap opposite McKinstry. Safeties Justin Reid, Julian Blackmon, and Jonas Sanker will play key roles at the safety positions.
Prediction Last season, Moore laid the foundation for a new era of Saints football. There were growing pains, but the hope is that the difficult times of the past will pay dividends this year. Although the Saints may not be the most proven, or talented, team on paper, they have the second-easiest strength of schedule in the NFL this season. The schedule, in theory, could help lead to a reversal of fortune, along with the development of several young players. As Andy Dufresne wrote to Red at the end of The Shawshank Redemption, “Hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.” For now, the Who Dat Nation is holding out hope the Saints can break the half decade playoff drought.
NEW ORLEANS: 9-8, Wild Card Berth
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Inside the World of the Saints Cheer Krewe // CELESTE TURNER
A behindthe-scenes look at two members balancing performance, work, and everyday life.
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ong before she stepped onto the field, Kennedy Trahan was captivated by the dazzling performances of the Saintsations, the former New Orleans Saints cheerleading team. From the sidelines, she watched their energy, confidence, and connection with the crowd, never imagining she would one day join them. Today, Trahan is living that dream as a member of the 2026 Saints Cheer Krewe, the team’s cheerleading and dance squad. Renamed in 2021, the Krewe combines dancers, cheerleaders, and stunters, with both male and female members. “I grew up going to Saints games. My family had season tickets,” said Trahan, who had danced from the age of 4 through her high school years. “I never watched football. I always watched the Saintsations.” As a second-year medical student at LSU Health New
Orleans School of Medicine, Trahan juggles an intense academic schedule with Saints Cheer Krewe practices and performances. “This definitely requires discipline and time management,” said Trahan, who also teaches Pilates once a week. “My days consist of class and studying, so I use my lunch and study breaks to rehearse material and work out. Sometimes, I may even be in the locker room studying before kickoff.” For Trahan, the Saints Cheer Krewe offers a unique opportunity to combine her love of dance and the Saints. One of only three NFL squads to blend dance, cheer, and stunts, the Krewe draws members from a wide range of professions. Trahan performs as a dancer, while Nathaniel “Nate” Batiste III serves on the cheer side and also teaches sixth and seventh graders full time at Jefferson Terrace Academy in Baton Rouge. “I teach 13, 14, and 15-year-olds. It is truly a challenge,” said Batiste, who travels from Baton Rouge to New Orleans for Krewe practice and game days. “Being an authoritative figure at school, I have to take that hat off and come in as an athlete. I am here to do a job that I love to do.” As members of the 46-person Saints Cheer Krewe, Trahan, 24, and Batiste, 27, are among 24 dancers and 22 cheerleaders in a group composed of 38 women and eight men. Beyond game-day responsibilities, the Krewe serves as ambassadors for the Saints through fan engagement, community outreach, charitable initiatives, and public appearances. “We are not just a cheer and dance team,” said Bekah Spansel, entertainment teams manager for the New Orleans Saints and Pelicans organization. “We are so much more. Our mission as representatives of the game experience is to help the team win the game not just on gameday but in the community.” According to Spansel, four pillars define an ideal Saints Cheer Krewe member: polish, performance, professionalism, and personality. “The athletic and ambassador functions go hand in hand,” Spansel said. In addition to performing at games, Krewe members participate in over 100 community appearances across the Gulf South region. “The entire Gulf South region is our responsibility to serve,” Spansel said. ”We are trying to make sure that people know who we are and can connect to the Saints brand.” Spansel also highlighted the return of the Jr. Saints Cheer Krewe, where boys and girls ages 11 to 17 will learn a routine and perform alongside the team at the halftime of the preseason game on August 15.
The Krewe’s high-energy routines are backed by a year-round commitment to training. During the season, members practice twice a week to refine their skills while building strength and stamina. “We begin each practice with a cardio warm up, and we end with a cardio burn-out on top of drills to skills and reps of routines and stunts,” said Tara Brewer, Saints Krewe head coach and owner of The Dance Project in Slidell. As routines evolve throughout the season, the squad continually learns new material while polishing previously mastered choreography. “There’s constantly something to work on. At the end of the year, we’re looking at a catalogue of 30 routines,” Brewer said. That preparation comes to life on game days. Brewer explained that the Krewe performs three different routines each game: a morning performance at Champion Square, a pregame routine on the field, and an end zone routine following the second or last quarter. Throughout the game, the Saints Cheer Krewe also performs shorter sideline routines to keep fans engaged and energized. Brewer noted that, this year, the Krewe introduced all-girl stunt groups for the first time, expanding a program traditionally built around co-ed stunt teams. For team stunter Batiste, success in the air begins with trust on the ground. He emphasized that strong relationships among teammates are essential when executing complex routines. “Trust is everything on the cheer side,” Batiste said. “When you’re stunting, timing, technique, and skill all have to come together in a matter of seconds.” The work continues long after football season ends. To remain on the Saints Cheer Krewe, all members, including veterans, must audition each year. “Everyone auditioning has a clean slate,” Brewer said. “Veterans audition alongside rookie hopefuls every season.” To support that year-round commitment, the Saints Cheer Krewe provides members
with resources to sharpen their skills, including access to all Ochsner Fitness Center locations and Finish Strong Academy in Metairie, which features tumbling floors, dance studios, and specialized training equipment. Despite the demanding schedule and the challenge of balancing careers and personal lives, Trahan and Batiste say being part of the Saints Cheer Krewe is a privilege. “Our job is to bring excitement and joy to the fans,” said Trahan, now in her second year with the Krewe. For Trahan, Batiste, and their fellow members, those connections with fans make every practice, performance, and sacrifice worthwhile.
All photos: courtesy of Lucas Barrios
What does it take to be a Saints Cheer Krewe member?
Saints Preview // August 2026
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” s r u o Y ly e ic R & s n a e “Red B Satchmo SummerFest Celebrates its 2026 Edition
Docusign Envelope ID: 3B56EEB2-54CC-8E7E-8321-8C781020E86B
// ARIELLE GONZALES
H
eld every year at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, the festival is scheduled to take place on August 1 and 2, coinciding with Louis Armstrong’s birthday on August 4. He became the sound of the city, and the city, in turn, gathers to make a statement itself on what New Orleanians choose to remember and who to celebrate. The very first festival took place on what would have been Armstrong’s 100th birthday, which was the same year the city renamed its airport after him in his honor and for his legacy on the city of New Orleans. Armstrong grew up in a poor area known as Jane Alley and went on to entertain heads of state, royalty, and neighborhoods alike, widely becoming known as the father of jazz. The nickname “Satchmo” allegedly came from a chance encounter abroad with an editor from the British music magazine Melody Maker, who greeted him with “Hello, Satchmo,” in London in 1932 after mishearing his previous nickname “Satchel Mouth.” The name has stuck since. Now in its 26th year, Satchmo SummerFest features two full days of music across multiple stages, conversations, and a full food lineup for guests, which are all free and open to the public, at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. Sunday morning opens
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with a Jazz Mass at St. Augustine Church in the Tremé, returning to the sanctuary for the first time since Hurricane Ida. That service is followed by the Satchmo Salute, which is a second line parade through Tremé and the French Quarter. It is the kind of parade that feels less like an event and more like a celebration. This year’s music lineup reflects the wide variety of New Orleans’ sound. Debut performances this year include Sir Chantz Powell & the Sound of Funk, Jenna McSwain, and Linda Aubert. Returning festival favorites include Kermit Ruffins, John Boutté, the Original Pinettes Brass Band, and the Preservation Brass. Saturday highlights feature Charmaine Neville, Roots of Music, TBC Brass Band, and a special tribute to Ma Rainey led by Lars Edgran and Thais Clarke. Sunday brings Kermit Ruffins’ tribute to Armstrong, John Boutté, the Tremé Brass Band, and the Original Pinettes Brass Band. From brass to funk and R&B to traditional jazz, the festival is designed to showcase the city’s musical heartbeat. The Satchmo Legacy Stage showcases cultural programs that explore Louis Armstrong’s life and impact in detail for everyone. The lectures and discussions
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feature a variety of topics, including Dr. Robert Mikell discussing Armstrong’s global influence and Ricky Riccardi leading sessions on the Hot Five recordings and Armstrong’s 1956 visit to Ghana. Other highlights include Charanya Ramakrishan sharing stories from Armstrong’s neighbors in Queens, Jon Pult examining his radio career, Lisa La Touche connecting tap dance to Armstrong’s artistry, and James Karst presenting new research on Buddy Bolden. Together, these presentations remind audiences that Armstrong was not just a performer—he was also a cultural ambassador with a reach that spanned continents and various art forms. The festival also benefits from significant renovations at the New Orleans Jazz Museum. With the renovation of the performance hall, in addition to outdoor spaces and other amenities provided for the visitors, this venue has become far more enjoyable. In addition, with the help of the festival taking place at the museum—which provides information about Louis Armstrong, as well as the history of jazz in New Orleans—participation in Satchmo SummerFest becomes an opportunity to both celebrate and learn more about Louis Armstrong. Local vendors line the festival grounds, offering everything from fried seafood to sno-balls and Abita beer. This year will feature Rizzuto’s Ristorante & Chop House making its debut at the festival, as well as returning favorites Nori Guys, Mrs. Wheat’s Pies, Cafe Dauphine, 14 Parishes, and more. The event has an atmosphere that is familyfriendly, with children running and dancing in front of brass bands and elders nodding along to songs they grew up with. Adults nod and groove to the classics that they most likely heard from their childhood. Volunteers and guests are reminders
that having the community brings life and energy that powers the event as much as the performers on stage do. Volunteers keep the festival running, and sign-ups open each summer for those who want to join the team. Food and community are central elements of Satchmo SummerFest. That blend of food, family, and neighborhood spirit makes this fest feel less like a festival and more like New Orleans itself. The sponsors and parent companies, from the New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation to local breweries and banks, make the events possible, ensuring that admission remains free and accessible. Satchmo SummerFest is not just a festival. It is a vibrant tribute. It honors Louis Armstrong’s journey from Jane Alley to global stages and reminds New Orleans of music’s power to connect neighborhoods, generations, and cultures. Each August, the city comes together to celebrate a legend while affirming its identity as a place where jazz represents not just sound but also memory, community, and joy.
Photos: Courtesy of French Quarter Fest Inc.
Satchmo SummerFest belongs to the ears and souls and feet that move when the brass hits just right.
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Happy 125 Birthday,
th
Louis Armstrong was never sure when his real birthday was.
H
e always claimed it was the Fourth of July, a little too symbolic for one of jazz’s founding fathers. It was probably a convenient fiction for an ambitious young musician trying to get into age-restricted clubs. Research suggests that he was really born on August 4, 1901, which means that this summer would have been the great man’s 125th birthday. Considering how rough his early life was, it’s a wonder he even survived it, let alone was able to gleefully tell the tale. His lively memoir Satchmo: My Life in New Orleans should be taken with a certain amount of salt. It isn’t necessarily a historical document. Armstrong wrote it as a much older man looking back, and who isn’t prone to exaggerating stories, let alone a lifelong improviser? Nevertheless, it’s a vivid, engaging, authentic tale of what it was like to make your way through bustling New Orleans at the turn of the 20th century. Armstrong grew up in what was then referred to as “back o’ town,” AKA the Black red-light district where City Hall now stands. As compared to Storyville’s genteel, white-dominated location not far away on the other side of the Quarter, there were less tacit legal protections available to Black patrons or sex workers. A telling contrast for those who also made their living through serving illicit pleasures, especially in the racially volatile Reconstruction era. Plenty was stacked against Armstrong from the start. The son of an impoverished family with an absent playboy father and raised by his
o m h c t Sa
proud, capable, supportive mother and grandmother, Armstrong was a Black boy from the wrong side of town in the Jim Crow South. Spunky Louis grew up walking barefoot through the putrid streets, with violence and chaos all around him, listening closely to the vital but anarchic music scene. However tough the going got, Armstong and his mother still made do with style. Dickensian doesn’t even begin to describe it. The young man was working his ass off from virtually the time he could stand. He hauled coal carts like a Victorian urchin. His toe was almost torn off after slipping off a cart rolling down a rudimentary road strewn with discarded oyster shells. At one point, he was happily, but briefly, a gofer for sex workers. He explained that he had a lifelong fear of bananas due to a massive spider leaping out of a crate he was carrying. Despite all the hardship, his account admirably contains no hint of self-pity. It’s clear the deepest expression of his blues is saved for the music, as in the unfathomably moving “West End Blues.” It’s strange to think that if young Armstrong hadn’t been celebrating New Year’s Eve in the traditional way by shooting a gun in the air, he never would have been arrested and sent to the “home for colored waifs,” a combination orphanage and juvie hall, and thus had a chance to learn how to play the instrument he would soon master. Club owners became a combination of patron, bartender, and surrogate fathers. It’s still hairraising to hear him tell stories about being present for spontaneous mafia shootouts over territory and god knows what else. Some of the biggest names in early jazz appear, such as the boisterous Sidney Bechet, who Armstrong was properly awed by. Trombonist Kid Ory gets an appreciative tribute as a gifted and kind man. Daylong second lines stretching for miles across the city are a treasured tradition where Armstrong honed his skills as part of a marching band. He even remembered hearing Buddy Bolden play as a small child, which is a tantalizing glimpse of an early jazz star whose recordings unfortunately don’t survive. We learn plenty of fun slang. “Satchmo” comes from being affectionately called “Satchel
Mouth.” One peer saluted his ability to “play that quail,” and when something’s excited, it “gasses” him. To “chew the rag” is to hang out and talk, and having amorous intentions means to “have a mash on you.” At one point, he “cuts in on” a working girl who proved to be more trouble than she’s worth. Sometimes the language provides a blithe way to describe a brutal scene—two drunk toughs squaring off in a club “fight like circle saws.” It’s been suggested that Armstrong contributed to defining the term “cat” as a term of endearment for a hip music fan. People then and now sometimes mistake Armstrong as a mere lightweight goofball or, worse, an Uncle Tom. This is bunk. Ebullient Louis certainly wanted to please the audience, but entertainment doesn’t preclude artistry. His account of his upbringing sets the record straight on how deeply Armstrong understood and experienced life’s rougher edges. It took a lot to get through the streets of New Orleans, which he never fully left behind. By the end of the story, he’s gassed to join Joe “King” Oliver’s band and head up towards Chicago on a train in a new suit with a fish sandwich his mother gave him. His glorious future— success, fame, immortality—is still glimmering on the horizon.
Photos: courtesy of the New Orleans Jazz Club Collection of the Louisiana State Museum, Wikimedia Commons
// MATT HANSON
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New Orleans Summer Tradition The Cultural Significance of White Linen Night
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W
hen the rest of the country retreats indoors from the heat, this city leans into the summertime air, which turns into something worth
remembering. New Orleans summers have been just about surviving the heat. Not every night has to be loud or crowded. Sometimes it looks like a slow stroll past a gallery window, a brass band drifting through the air, or a painting that stops you as you’re walking because your eyes caught something you didn’t have words for. For example, White Linen Night on Julia Street, taking place August 1 this year, is not simply a regular night out. It is a living tradition that started from community need and is rooted in history that only the Big Easy can provide so effortlessly. In August 1994, gallery owners in the Arts/ Warehouse District along Julia Street were watching business slow as the summer heat kept tourists away. So they did what New Orleanians do best in times of need—threw a block party. The dress code was both poetic and practical, dressing in a sea of white. It was an ode to days before air conditioning was a huge thing, when locals wore light colors to reflect the summer sun. That very first gathering planted something for the community, which, 32 years later, has grown into one of the city’s most beloved late summer traditions. Julia Street’s story is one of the most dramatic reinventions in the city. Back in the day, riverfront blocks held some of the largest slave auction houses in American history, especially in the South. By the 20th century, the area had become a
decaying warehouse district. Then, beginning in the 1980s, artists and gallerists began converting those same buildings into studios, galleries, and living spaces that slowly turned Julia Street into a special contemporary art scene. White Linen Night is more than just a party. It’s a declaration for a community choosing beauty where it was once not shown. Today’s Arts District New Orleans opens galleries across the 300-600 blocks of Julia Street on the first Saturday of August, alongside places such as the Contemporary Arts Center, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, and more, with new exhibitions and art-centered street activities. The Big Easy has always known that culture isn’t a luxury—it’s what holds the city together. Making these events free is intentional. Culture in New Orleans has never been just for those who can afford it but for everyone to spill into the streets, friends and strangers alike. The art, the white linen, the wine, the paint, and the brass all show how alive this city is. ADNO's co-presidents Matthew Weldon Showman, owner and director of Ferrara Showman Gallery, and Christy Wood, owner of LeMieux Galleries WYA: White Linen Night started in 1994 to bring people to Julia Street during the slow summer season. How has the event’s purpose evolved since then? Wood: Fidelity Bank White Linen Night has evolved into the largest arts party in New Orleans, welcoming over 30,000 people to Julia Street and
Photos: Courtesy of Gustavo Escanelle
There is a particular kind of cultural magic that settles over the Big Easy during the month of August.
influx of galleries over the past 30+ years has resulted in a reinvigorated sense of community in this area, which continues to grow and thrive today. The Arts District New Orleans is an incredibly important pillar of the economic fabric of downtown New Orleans and the success of this event, founded by the Arts District 32 years ago, is a testament to the strength, sustainability, and culture of the city. WYA: The event is free and open to the public. How important is that accessibility to the mission of Arts District New Orleans?
the surrounding area each first Saturday of August. Fidelity Bank returns for the fifth-consecutive year as the title sponsor. New for 2026 is a partnership with French Quarter Festival Inc., who will be supporting and expanding the production of the event in an effort to create a more immersive and artful experience for attendees. WYA: What does White Linen Night mean to the participating artists and gallery owners beyond foot traffic and visibility? Wood: This event is the busiest day of the year for galleries, culminating months of work for gallery owners and artists as we produce and unveil some of our most important exhibitions of the year. WYA: Julia Street has a complex history, from its Antebellum past to becoming the heart of New Orleans’ contemporary art scene. How does White Linen Night connect to that larger story of transformation?
Photos: Courtesy of Gustavo Escanelle
Showman: White Linen Night offers both a reflection and celebration of the adaptive reuse of the historic architecture in our neighborhood. From the former Warehouse and Julia Street row of mid-19th century townhouses, “13 Sisters,” the
Wood: Accessibility and access is everything to the Arts District New Orleans. Fidelity Bank White Linen Night is about inviting everyone to Julia Street to celebrate the arts in New Orleans. Our hope is to make meaningful connections with visitors in hopes that they will continue to attend and support our monthly events, the original first Saturday gallery openings, year-round. WYA: For first-time attendees, what do you hope they walk away feeling or understanding about the city and its art community?
LITTLE MISS MUFFIN
Showman: I hope they understand that New Orleans is about the art and supporting our artists and cultural bearers. What says you love art more than coming to an outside event in [the] hottest month of the year? WYA: How does an event like this contribute to preserving New Orleans’ cultural identity as the city continues to change? Showman: Julia Street will continue to grow and change, but it will always be a place for New Orleans artists to show their work. Art is but one of the three components of the “holy trinity” of New Orleans culture—food, music, and visual art—the latter of which is precisely what the Arts District New Orleans and our events are here to offer, honor, and disseminate.
766 Harrison Ave. // 504-482-8200 ShopLittleMissMuffin.com Saints Preview // August 2026
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Fair Grounds Race Course
Horses in NOLA? Horses, Stables, & Facilities in Greater New Orleans // VIOLET BUCARO
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Cascade Stables
Saddle Up and Ride
700 East Dr., New Orleans, LA 70118 cascadestables.net
10201 Lapalco Blvd., Avondale, LA 70094 saddleupandride.com
Cascade Stables in Audubon Park was founded in 1981, claiming to be the oldest running stable in New Orleans and specializing in saddle seat riding, trail riding, and performance riding. If you ever wonder where those horses are from when you’re in Audubon, it’s there. The stable provides private, semi-private, and group lessons. Many professional equestrians practice for national competitions in the arena.
This horse riding school is used for school fairs, weddings, Girl and Boy Scout activities, and summer camps for kids. They also put on local horse shows and day events for the public. Bobbi Jo is the famous face of Saddle Up and Ride and trains kids from 3 years old and up to ride. The local horse shows and contests are on Sundays in the fall, winter, and spring seasons.
River Bend Stables
13112 Hayne Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70128 @ponchatrain.stables
1125 General Ogden St., New Orleans, LA 70118 riverbendstables.com Fitting its name, River Bend Stables is right on the levee off of Leake Avenue, where horses gallop along the Mississippi and are boarded in a quaint farmhouse. This facility does not offer horse rides to the public as they serve only to board horses monthly. When you pass by the farmhouse, you will probably see a horse grazing or walking about. If you want to buy a horse and live in New Orleans, think about visiting River Bend Stables.
New Branch Ranch
536 Seven Oaks Blvd., Bridge City, LA 70094 newbranchranch.com This 115-acre ranch is a nonprofit rescue that offers trail rides, lessons, or plain ranch visits for affordable options. They are also developing horse rehabilitation and wellness facilities. Whether you want a private party, a romantic date night, or a picturesque retreat, New Branch Ranch can be a great place for an all-inclusive equestrian experience, about a 20-minute drive from New Orleans.
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Pontchartrain Oak Stables These stables are more than a place for horseback riding—they’re emotional. Pontchartrain Oak Stables offers horse boarding, equineassisted wellness programs, and community-centered partnerships in New Orleans. Rooted in horsemanship and emotional connection, the stable hosts collaborative workshops with local artists, foundations, and community organizations, where wellness practices are explored alongside intimate time spent with the horses.
New Branch Ranch
Photos from top: courtesy of Amanda Hodges, New Branch Ranch, Pontchartrain Oak Stables
T
here may be more horse stables and facilities in New Orleans than you think. Ponies and horses are in New Orleans beyond the French Quarters’ carriage tours, which are typically mules, but all are a part of the Equidae family. For all the horse girls and cowboys out there, here are some places you can put on your radar and what they offer in New Orleans. If you’re interested in buying, boarding is covered, too. First, here are some tips you should know before getting on a horse’s back for the first time. Wear close-toed shoes—cowboy boots are the best choice. Also, wear long pants, not shorts, as jeans work well to protect against brush burn. Avoid dangling or loose objects in case the ride gets rowdy, and helmets are an obvious requirement for new riders and seasoned riders alike. There are two types of horse riding: English and Western styles. The Pontchartrain differences lie in the saddle Oak Stables seats and the rider’s objectives. Western style uses a large, wide saddle with a long horn handle for easier reining. Traditionally, the horn was designed for ranch work, such as wrapping rope for herding cattle. The Western style is used for rodeos, trail riding, long-distance treks, or utility runs. This style is the classic cowboy riding you see in Western movies. The English style, originating from European cavalry, can be described as “horse-ballet.” It’s pretty fancy. Englishstyle horses are trained for competitions, precise galloping, and tricks. The English saddle is flat, light, and has long stirrups to secure a close contact between rider and horse. Essentially, the seat is more comfortable and practical for jumping and racing than a Western saddle.
Sugar Roots Farm
10701 Willow Dr., New Orleans, LA 70131 sugarrootsfarm.org Pigs, ponies, goats, ducklings, and fresh, raw honey and eggs are waiting for you at this farm. Interestingly, this farm allows you to rent out specific animals at any time of the year. You can rent the ponies named Cheddar or Chiquito, bunnies, chickens, and even goats. Workshops and festival events are also available. Sugar Roots is located in New Aurora, Algiers on the Westbank.
Fair Grounds Race Course 1751 Gentilly Blvd., New Orleans, LA 70119 fairgroundsracecourse.com
The Fair Grounds are an integral part of New Orleans’ history. This 145-acre arena in Gentilly is a horse racing ground known for its Thanksgiving celebrations, the Louisiana Derby, and for being the home of the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. The track is one of the oldest thoroughbred racetracks in the country, running
since 1872. Betting on horses is an antiquated practice and the Fair Grounds keeps the tradition rolling, along with several slot machines and offtrack betting parlors.
Equine Reflections Therapeutic Center
81120 Chenel Rd., Folsom, LA 70437 heartslandingranch.com Have you heard of horse therapy? Healing begins with the presence of a horse at Equine Reflection Therapeutic Center. They work with community members seeking mental health benefits. The equine-assisted psychotherapy sessions involve licensed mental health professionals, horses, and psychologists, and no writing is involved. The center’s retreats, coaching, and volunteer programs work with people to heal
from traumas and find rehabilitation at the ranch. There are also confidence-building programs that assist in building partnerships with horses. Horses help individuals with ADD/ADHD focus, neuro-muscular disorders, and building confidence in children. They can also visit patients in hospitals and care centers, according to Mayo Clinic. If you’ve dreamed of a horse, but said, “Oh well, I’m in New Orleans,” think again. Grab your cowboy boots and a saddle of your choosing and get riding.
Fair Grounds Race Course
USDA PRIME USDA PRIME STEAKS STEAKS Photos from top: courtesy of Amanda Hodges
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“The City of the Dead” Life of a NOLA Tour Guide
// VIOLET BUCARO
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he word “buried” is discouraged, for “entombed” is the correct term. Those on his tours are visitors, not tourists. Also, please respect the space. There’s a cemetery just outside of the French Quarter, where over 33,000 of New Orleans’ deceased lie to rest, called St. Louis Cemetery No.1. It is New Orleans’ oldest and, what many people believe, the most famous active graveyard in the city. Visitors are guided through the 18th and 19th centuries as they meander through narrow pathways, avoiding stepping onto brick burial beds or decrepit headstones. As Raphael educates those on the remembered, the crowd listens carefully to his nonchalant yet alluring descriptions. Raphael gathers people from across the globe through the gates into what he calls “the city of the dead” due to the tombs’ stark resemblance to houses. There in the cemetery, Raphael tells the tales of historical figures such as the 19th century Voodoo queen Marie Laveau, civil rights activist Homer Plessy, and “society tombs” such as the New Orleans Musicians and Italian Mutual Benevolent Societies. Nicolas Cage has already reserved a spot in a pyramid tomb when his day comes. Laveau’s tomb is the last stop on Raphael’s tour. You are brought to a seemingly plain white house-shaped tomb and stand under a tent with water misters to relieve you from the beating sun. Raphael points out three faint engravings marked “XXX” on the side of her tomb. Decades of myth and lore have led people to the cemetery to tamper with Laveau’s tomb, including teenagers, bartenders, drunk celebrators, and other mischievous folks looking for “magic.” It is believed by some that if you draw three X-marks, spin in three circles, and—well, you must find out the rest on your own to see what might happen. Over time, Laveau’s grave has been vandalized and repainted over and over, Raphael said, and is never left alone, no matter how hard the cemetery tries. Unlike many French Quarter ghost tours, Raphael sticks to documented history and is careful not to veer away from the factual memory of those resting around him. “I’ll do just about any kind of tour except the ghost tour. I refuse to do those. I don’t believe in any of that stuff. The two stories that are true, the Axe Murderer and Madame
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Wallery, are factual.” Raphael is careful not to use, or hear, the word “buried” on his tours, for the “city of the dead” has no bodies underground. New Orleans is known for its distinctive above-ground entombments due to the city’s subjection to high water levels and swampy climate. The tallest tomb in the cemetery could be the marble Italian Mutual Benevolent Society Tomb, with space for nearly 1,000 corpses—one tomb houses 1,000 Italians. Built in 1857, the tomb served Italian immigrants as an affordable option for their loved ones, Raphael said. This tomb has two large white marble statues of angel figures. One is embedded in the front and the other on the very pointed top, holding up a cross. Raphael said he treats the tours as if they were at a fine art museum. “No touching of anything inside the museum—inside the cemetery—which I sometimes mistakenly call a museum, as I just did,” he said jokingly. On the tour, he dives into the deep historical significance and lore of the irreplaceable relics in the cemetery. One example is the history of the New Orleans caveau, which are found at the bottom of the above-ground, mudless tombs. Cavues are vaults where the remains of a body go to cook down, “ashes to ashes, dust to dust,” Raphael said in a voice of a narrator from a macabre story-tale. After a year and one day, the tomb can be unsealed for another member of the family to rest—and not a day earlier, he said. Four or five times a week, Raphael leads a group through the cemetery. “I prefer the word visitors rather than tourists,” he said, speaking with the quiet reverence he reserved for the dead. Though Raphael may have encyclopedic knowledge on the sacred grounds, he has received questions that surprise him on tours. “One of the interesting questions that I got [was] from probably
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a 12-year-old boy who wanted to know what happens if you have a hip replacement,” to decay properly inside the vault. The child had asked him, “‘What does the sexton do with that appliance when it’s down in the caveau?’ And I really didn’t know what to tell him, but I thought that was a pretty deep question.” Raphael is from a small town in North Louisiana called Bastrop and came to the big city to pursue his education at Tulane University. After decades of working at TV stations, in marketing, and in public relations, he found himself wanting to do something a little different and fun. He landed in a class at Delgado to get his tour license and has since walked around the French Quarter, bestowing knowledge upon the masses. Raphael has also taken an interest in Garden District tours, where ornate mansions and iron-laced balconies tell a different story of New Orleans
history—another tour that talks about New Orleans’ distinctive architecture. After finishing his hot cup of French Market coffee, he ends the tour right on time and pulls out his business card to all the visitors, sending them back to 501 Bason St.’s front desk into the living world. Raphael does not humor in hauntings or horror. Instead, he guides visitors through the practical realities of death in New Orleans—a city where memory is stacked carefully above ground, waiting for someone willing to stop and listen.
All photos: courtesy of Violet Bucaro
“Please, no leaning on the tombs,” said tour guide Alan Raphael to a young man resting against a wall crypt. No straying from the path either.
UPCOMING SHOWS
WHERE NOLA GATHERS Three blocks from the Superdome. Rooftop pool. Lobby bar. Five dining experiences. Watch parties for every home game on the big screen. Your Saints season starts here.
AUGUST 25
OCTOBER 10
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JUNE 10, 2027
600 Carondelet, Warehouse District.
Tickets at S a engerNol a .com
SEPTEMBER 25
OCTOBER 29
Tickets at M a h a l i a Ja cksonTh eat er.com Saints Preview // August 2026
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SUNDAY, JULY 26 21st Amendment The Coyote Anderson Organ Trio 30/90 Organami, Jeff Chaz Blues Band Apple Barrel bar T Marie Duo Bacchanal Wine Juan Tigre BJ’s Lounge James McClaskey & the Rhythm Band Blue Nile Street Legends Brass Band BMC Balcony Maurice Cade & ESS Bourbon O Bar Giselle Anguizola, Shawan Rice Buffa’s Bar Some Like It Hot!, Pfister Sisters, Charlie Wooton Cafe Negril Ashley Paige & the Social Club, John Lisi & Delta Funk Celebration Hall Big 6 Brass Band D.B.A. The Jump Hounds, Paradise Jazz Band French Market Jeff Greenburg Fritzel’s Fritzel’s All Star Band w/ Mike Fulton, Sazerac Jazz Band Good Measure Smoker’s World Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band Jazz Playhouse Richard Scott & the Twisty River Band Mahogany Jazz Hall Mahogany Hall Swingsters, Smoking Time Jazz Club Okay Bar Irish Folk Jam Old Arabi Lighthouse Records Adam Escue Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Southport Hall Reelin’ in the Years - Tribute to Yacht Rock Spotted Cat Pat Casey & the New Sound, Tremé Brass Band Steamboat NATCHEZ Steamboat Stompers The Maison Jenavieve & the Winding Boys, Naomie April MONDAY, JULY 27 21st Amendment Jerry Dugger 30/90 Margie Perez, Piano Man G Bacchanal David Sigler BJ’s Lounge Red Beans & Blues Bourbon O Bar Giselle Anguizola Cajun Boil House Les Getrex Carrollton Station Biscuits ‘n’ Jam with Meryl Zimmerman & Friends Da Jump Off Lounge Sporty’s Brass Band D.B.A. Secret Six Jazz Band Dos Jefes John Fohl Fritzel’s Richard Scott and Friends, Tin Men Mahogany Jazz Hall Tom Hook NOLA Brewing NOLA Pickin’ Party Bluegrass Jam NO DICE Petit Choux, Theft Polo Club John Royen Saturn Bar BC Coogan Siberia Holy Wave with Burnt Sugar Spotted Cat Aurora Nealand, Jenavieve Cooke Steamboat NATCHEZ Steamboat Stompers Tropical Isle Original Dave Ferrato TUESDAY, JULY 28 30/90 Higher Heights Bacchanal Tangiers Combo Bayou Bar The OG’s ft. Peter Harris, Tony Dagradi, Stanton Moore, and BC Coogan BJ’s Lounge Bruisey’s Bottoms Up Open Mic Bourbon O Bar Shawan Rice Buffa’s Bar Wilson-Weber Project Cajun Boil House Les Getrex Carousel Bar & Lounge Jenna McSwain Crypt The Wax Wizard D.B.A. T Marie & Bayou Juju Dos Jefes TOM HOOK Fritzel’s Jazz Club Colin Myers Orchestra, Richard Scott
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Jazz Playhouse The Sam Lobley Trio Mahogany Jazz Hall Joe Lasties New Orleans Sound Milton H. Latter Memorial Library Paper Airplane Launchers New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Arrowhead Jazz Band Polo Club John Royen Rock ‘n’ Bowl DJ Nayo Saturn Bar Tirra Lirra, Vinny’s Mirror, Chalant, Urq Spotted Cat Smoking Time Jazz Club, Chris Christy Band Steamboat NATCHEZ Steamboat Stompers The Rabbit Hole Rebirth Brass Band The Maison Jacky Blaire, Paradise Jazz Band WEDNESDAY, JULY 29 30/90 Sciryn Bacchanal Jesse Morrow Bayou Bar Peter Harris, Derek Douget Blue Nile New Breed Brass Band Bourbon O Bar Nina Hungerland Buffa’s Bar Hex Windham, Natasha Sanchez, Joe Adregna Café Degas Gizinti Trio Cajun Boil House Les Getrex Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport D.B.A. The Next Level Band Dos Jefes Jenna McSwain Fritzel’s Bourbon Street Stars, Kevin Ray Clark Holy Diver The Amazing Henrietta Jazz Playhouse Funkin’ It Up with Big Sam Lobby Lounge Raphael Bas Mahogany Jazz Hall Mahogany Hall All Stars, Tom Fischer, Paul Longstreth New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market John Rankin New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Victor Atkins Picnic Provisions & Whiskey Mikayla Braun Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Santos Bar Chambre Noir Southport Hall Jeffrey Nothing Spotted Cat Margie Perez, Marty Peters & the Party Meters, Chris Christy Band Steamboat NATCHEZ Steamboat Stompers The Maison Gene’s Music Machine Tropical Isle Bourbon Dave Ferrato, Dave James, Mike Lemmler, Mike Barras THURSDAY, JULY 30 21st Amendment Marty Peters & the Party Meters 30/90 The Dapper Dandies, Where Ya At Brass Band 4141 NOLA John Fohl Bacchanal Pete Olynciw Bayou Bar Peter Harris, Ashlin Parker BMC Balcony Kat Kiley Experience Blue Nile Reggae Night with DJ T-Roy Bourbon Orleans Hotel Big Mike and the R&B Kings Cafe Negril Armani Smith & Soul Ties, Maurice Cade & the E.S.S. Band Carousel Bar & Lounge Lena Prima, Leslie Martin Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport D.B.A. Palmetto Bug Stompers, Vegas Cola Band Fritzel’s Doyle Cooper Band, Fritzel’s All Star Band Good Measure Benjamin Cousins Trio Jazz Playhouse Brass-A-Holics Kerry Irish Pub David Connick Le Bon Temps Roule The Soul Rebels Livin Swell 4211 Stooges Brass Band, DJ 2Ready Mahogany Jazz Hall Jamil Sharif May Baily’s Place John Lisi, Delta Funk New Orleans Jazz National Historical Park Belinda Moody, Molly Reeves NO DICE Smokey Mirror, Fen Magus
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Orpheum Theater Tiffany Pollack Peacock Room Da Lovebirds Polo Club John Royen Saturn Bar James McClaskey & the Rhythm Band + Friends Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band Steamboat NATCHEZ Steamboat Stompers The Maison The Champagniacs The Rabbit Hole DJ Zack Weiss Tropical Isle Bourbon Mark Barrett & the First Calls Vaughan’s Lounge Corey Henry & the Tremé Funktet FRIDAY, JULY 31 21st Amendment John Lisi & Delta Funk, Dr. Sick & the Late Greats 30/90 Ado Soul & the Tribe, Street Lyfe Bacchanal Wine Willie Green Bamboula’s Mark Appleford Bayou Bar Peter Harris, Ed Perkins Blue Nile DJ WestBankRed, Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers BMC Balcony Big Mike & the R&B Kings Bourbon O Bar Kid Merv & All That Jazz Cafe Negril Dottie Kelly, Higher Heights Candlelight Lounge Big 6 Brass Band Carousel Bar & Lounge Royal Street Brass Band Crypt Vacillator, Pale Shelter Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Favela Chic Jass Hysteria Fritzel’s Sam Friend Jazz Band, Fritzel’s All Star Band Good Measure Mahmoud Chouki Holy Diver Skullbasher & Cries of Agony House of Blues Lyfe Jennings Howlin Wolf Millie Grace Band, Shelby Kemp Le Bon Temps Roule Tri-Fi Le Cabaret The I Love Lefty Lucy Cabaret Lobby Lounge at JW Marriott Raphael Bas Mahogany Jazz Hall Khris Royal Trio, The New Orleans Catahoulas May Baily’s Place Bayou Manouche NOLA ‘Nacular Art Gallery Eleni Mandell, Willem McCormick NO DICE Johnny Manchild and the Poor Bastards Orpheum Theater Wolfe Johns Polo Club Bean ‘n’ the Boys, David Boeddinghaus Rock ‘n’ Bowl Groovy 7 Santos Bar Juke Train, Maximo Spotted Cat New Orleans Cottonmouth Kings, Paradise Jazz Band Steamboat NATCHEZ Steamboat Stompers The Maison Jenavieve & the Winding Boys, The Docusign Envelope ID: 9F158DC1-F843-8CF3-80FE-7A803A0D2307 Kazzettes
SATURDAY, AUGUST 1 Bamboula’s Mark Appleford BMC Balcony T Marie & Bayou Juju Carousel Bar & Lounge Lena Prima & Her Band Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport D.B.A. Margie Perez EIFFEL BLANCO Favela Chic Dead Men Don’t Play Jazz French Market Big Chief Montana Good Measure Mahmoud Chouki, Erica Falls House of Blues Diggy Graves Howlin Wolf Scally Le Bon Temps Roule Smoker’s World May Baily’s Place Ellis Dyson & the Current Five Mount Hermon Baptist Church Nu Nation Choir NO DICE Johnny Manchild & the Poor Bastards N.O. Jazz Museum HaSizzle, Charmaine Neville Orpheum Theater Shawn Williams Polo Club Bean N’ The Boys, John Royen Rock ‘n’ Bowl Few Blue Southport Hall New Wave Sports Drink Fumi Abe Tipitina’s IKO Allstars Tropical Isle Bourbon Mark Barrett & The First Calls SUNDAY, AUGUST 2 BJs James McClaskey & the Rhythm Band French Market Jeff Greenburg Gasa Gasa The Body + Big, Brave + MJ Guider Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band Maison The Leroy Marshall Band N.O. Jazz Museum Kermit Ruffins, Nayo Jones Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Siberia Greg Mendez, Maria BC Spotted Cat Pat Casey & the New Sound Tchefuncte’s Don Vappie, Dr. Ben Redwine MONDAY, AUGUST 3 BJs Washboard Chaz Da Jump Off Lounge Sporty’s Brass Band Maison Danny Rubio Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Siberia Trhä, Saidan Spotted Cat Aurora Nealand & the Inquiry Quartet, The Winding Boys TUESDAY, AUGUST 4 Audubon Clubhouse Blake Amos BJs Tuba Skinny Maison Danny Rubio Polo Club John Royen Siberia Tommy Oeffling & the B-Team Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band The Rabbit Hole Rebirth Brass Band
HaSizzle w/ TBC Brass Band at Satchmo SummerFest
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5 Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Lobby Lounge Raphael Bas Picnic Provisions & Whiskey Scott Perro Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Head out Satchmo Santos Barto Chambre Noir SummerFest as Siberia Wakai “King of Bounce” HaSizzle and the TBC Spotted Catput Christogether Christy Band, Marty Peters Brass Band another one& the Party Meters of their legendarily fun festival sets. Tropical Isle Bourbon Dave Ferrato, Dave James, Mike Lemmler, Mike Barras
Saturday, THURSDAY, August AUGUST 61, Free Admission, frenchquarterfest.org/satchmo Carousel Bar & Lounge Lena Prima & Her Band Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Le Bon Temps Roule The Soul Rebels Peacock Room Da Lovebirds Polo Club John Royen
Photos: Courtesy of French Quarter Fest Inc.
LIVE MUSICCALENDAR MUSIC CALENDAR
Saints Preview // August 2026
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LIVE MUSICCALENDAR WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 5 Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Lobby Lounge Raphael Bas Picnic Provisions &
Whiskey Scott Perro Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Santos Bar Chambre Noir Siberia Wakai Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Marty Peters & the Party Meters Tropical Isle Bourbon Dave Ferrato, Dave James, Mike Lemmler, Mike Barras Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Santos Bar Chambre Noir Siberia Wakai Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Marty Peters & the Party Meters Tropical Isle Bourbon Dave Ferrato, Dave James, Mike Lemmler, Mike Barras THURSDAY, AUGUST 6 Carousel Bar & Lounge Lena Prima & Her Band Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Le Bon Temps Roule The Soul Rebels Peacock Room Da Lovebirds Polo Club John Royen Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band Vaughan’s Lounge Corey Henry & the Tremé Funktet
Fillmore Masego House of Blues Eagles Of Death Metal Polo Club John Royen Spotted Cat Aurora Nealand & the Inquiry Quartet, Jenavieve Cooke & the Winding Boys
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8 Bamboula’s Mark Appleford Carousel Bar & Lounge Lena Prima & Her Band Chickie Wah Wah Patty Griffin Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport D.B.A. Tuba Skinny French Market Big Chief Montana Gasa Gasa Donny’s Demeanor, Coworkers Joy Theater 42 Dugg, Babyface Ray Le Bon Temps Roule James Jordan & the Situation Polo Club Bean ‘n’ the Boys, John Royen Siberia The Constellations
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12 Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Lobby Lounge at JW Marriott Raphael Bas Picnic Provisions & Whiskey Mikayla Braun Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Santos Bar Chambre Noir
SUNDAY, AUGUST 9 BJs James McClaskey & the Rhythm Band French Market Jeff Greenburg Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Siberia Cairo Jag, She Would Spotted Cat Pat Casey & the New Sound MONDAY, AUGUST 10 Da Jump Off Lounge Sporty’s Brass Band
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11 Audubon Clubhouse Mikayla Braun, Stephen Bohnstengel Polo Club John Royen Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band
Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Marty Peters & the Party Meters Tropical Isle Bourbon Dave Ferrato, Dave James, Mike Lemmler, Mike Barras THURSDAY, AUGUST 13 Carousel Bar & Lounge Lena Prima & Her Band Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Kerry Irish Pub David Connick Peacock Room Da Lovebirds Polo Club John Royen Santos Bar Reptilia Indie Vinyl Dance Night Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band Vaughan’s Lounge Corey Henry & the Tremé Funktet
Eagles of Death Metal at House of Blues
SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 Avenue Pub Tiago Guy Bamboula’s Mark Appleford Carousel Bar & Lounge Lena Prima & Her Band The Eagles of Death Metal will put on Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport a truly infectious rock show in NOLA. D.B.A. Tuba Skinny Dos Jefes Basch Jernigan They have four charting studio albums Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar Freddie the and survived a mass shooting atBlue one& of Friendship Circle Band their shows in 2015. Le Bon Temps Roule Smoker’s World Polo Club Bean ‘n’ the Boys, John Royen Monday, August 10, 6:30 p.m., $37 to $102.65, Santos Bar Hickoids, Mongo, STMBLR, Gacked neworleans.houseofblues.com Southport Hall Burnin’ Sky The Rabbit Hole Lee Foss
Photo: courtesy of Live Nation
FRIDAY, AUGUST 7 Bacchanal Wine Willie Green Bamboula’s Mark Appleford
Blue Nile DJ FTK Candlelight Lounge Big 6 Brass Band Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Deutsches Haus Saengerchor Lobby Lounge Raphael Bas Polo Club Bean ‘n’ the Boys, David Boeddinghaus Rock ‘n’ Bowl Bucktown Allstars & the Funky Beans Saenger Theatre Ella Mai Siberia Abby & the Arsonists, Molly’s Lips Spotted Cat New Orleans Cottonmouth Kings, Paradise Jazz Band
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LIVE MUSICCALENDAR Buddy Guy at Saenger Theatre Chicago blues legend and guitar icon Buddy Guy brings his powerful chops back home to Louisiana as he celebrates his 90th birthday with the “Buddy Guy 90” tour.
Tuesday, August 25, 7:30 p.m., $60.39 to $268.10, saengertheatreneworleans.com FRIDAY, AUGUST 14 Anna’s Lady Li, Karo Avenue Pub Tiago Guy Bacchanal Wine Willie Green Bamboula’s Mark Appleford Blue Nile Mikey Offline Buffa’s Bar Tuba Skinny Candlelight Lounge Big 6 Brass Band Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Howlin Wolf Bloom After Fall Le Bon Temps Roule Caleb Tokarska
Lobby Lounge at JW Marriott Raphael Bass Polo Club David Boeddinghaus, Bean ‘n’ the Boys Spotted Cat New Orleans Cottonmouth Kings, Paradise Jazz Band SATURDAY, AUGUST 15 Avenue Pub Tiago Guy Bamboula’s Mark Appleford Carousel Bar & Lounge Lena Prima & Her Band Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport D.B.A. Tuba Skinny Dos Jefes Basch Jernigan Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar Freddie Blue & the Friendship Circle Band French Market Big Chief Montana Le Bon Temps Roule Smoker’s World Polo Club Bean ‘n’ the Boys, John Royen Santos Bar Hickoids, Mongo, STMBLR, Gacked Southport Hall Burnin’ Sky The Rabbit Hole Lee Foss SUNDAY, AUGUST 16 BJ's James McClaskey & the Rhythm Band French Market Jeff Greenburg Gasa Gasa Fudge House of Blues slayr Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Spotted Cat Pat Casey & the New Sound Siberia Soft Palms MONDAY, AUGUST 17 Da Jump Off Lounge Sporty’s Brass Band Gasa Gasa Fudge Polo Club David Boeddinghaus
Spotted Cat Aurora Nealand & the Inquiry Quartet, Jenavieve Cooke & the Winding Boys TUESDAY, AUGUST 18 Audubon Clubhouse Blake Amos Ellis Marsalis Center Booker & Beyond: Shout Young Maison Bourbon Jazz Club Danny Rubio & the Catahoula Music Company Polo Club John Royen Siberia Giant Colors, Poose Prod LLC Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band The Maison Danny Rubio WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19 Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Deutsches Haus John Rankin, Paul Sanchez Lobby Lounge at JW Marriott Raphael Bas New Orleans Jazz Museum The New Orleans Catahoulas Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Provisions & Whiskey Nina Hungerland Santos Bar Chambre Noir Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Marty Peters & the Party Meters Tropical Isle Bourbon Dave Ferrato, Dave James, Mike Lemmler, Mike Barras THURSDAY, AUGUST 20 Carousel Bar & Lounge Lena Prima & Her Band Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Gasa Gasa THEBROSFRESH Peacock Room Da Lovebirds Polo Club John Royen Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band
Vaughan’s Lounge Corey Henry & the Tremé Funktet FRIDAY, AUGUST 21 Bacchanal Wine Willie Green Bamboula’s Mark Appleford Blue Nile DJ FTK Candlelight Lounge Big 6 Brass Band Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Deutsches Haus Saengerchor Gasa Gasa WOORMS, Abusements Le Bon Temps Roule Personal Space Lobby Lounge at JW Marriott Raphael Bas Polo Club Bean ‘n’ the Boys, David Boeddinghaus Siberia Jim E. Brown, Andy Burns Spotted Cat New Orleans Cottonmouth Kings, Paradise Jazz Band SATURDAY, AUGUST 22 Bamboula’s Mark Appleford Carousel Bar & Lounge Lena Prima & Her Band Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport French Market Big Chief Montana House of Blues Louisiana Vintage Festival Gasa Gasa Woorms, Abusements Good Measure Brasinola Kermit’s Tremé Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers Maison The Leroy Marshall Band, Danny Rubio & the Catahoula Music Company Ohm Lounge Morgan Page Polo Club Bean ‘n’ the Boys, John Royen The Rabbit Hole Hairitage, Dr. Jax
We drive. You cheer. Photo: courtesy of Lyndon French
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Saints Preview // August 2026
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LAKESIDE2RIVERSIDE COOLinary
White Linen Night August 1 | artsdistrictneworleans.com Arts District New Orleans and Fidelity Bank will turn New Orleans’ Historic Warehouse Arts District into a giant outdoor art gallery on Saturday, August 1 for White Linen Night. This free celebration brings attention to the city’s contemporary art scene and the many artists who contribute to it. Wear your clean white linen, walk the historic neighborhood, and view new exhibitions and special programming from more than 20 museums, galleries, and cultural institutions. The now highly anticipated night has grown to host over 30,000 attendees annually, so make sure to get there early.
Red Dress Run August 8 | noh3.com/RDR/registration
Crescent City Farmers Market presents National Farmers Market Week August 2-8 | crescentcityfarmersmarket.org The Crescent City Farmers Market is gearing up to put together a special set of markets for National Farmers Market Week. This annual celebration highlights the role of farmers in America’s food system. The organization holds three markets weekly, in Uptown at the Batture on Wednesdays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m., in Mid-City at Lafitte Greenway Plaza from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., and in City Park on Sundays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. Check the organization’s website for more information on the markets and National Farmers Market Week.
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WhereYat.com // @WhereYatNOLA // #WhereYatNOLA
The annual Red Dress Run will be filling the French Quarter with a sea of red on Saturday, August 8. Participants in the charity run, hosted by the New Orleans Hash House Harriers, must be 21 or older and are required to wear a red dress. Following the run, which starts at 10 a.m., attendees will be treated to food from local institutions and beer at Armstrong Park from the keg tap at 9 a.m. to the end at 4 p.m. Registration is $89 per person, and all proceeds from registration go to local charities.
Photos from top clockwise: courtesy of Larry Everage/New Orleans & Company, Gustavo Escanelle, Market Umbrella
August 1-31 | neworleans.com/coolinary Get your fix of what New Orleans’ food scene has to offer during the annual COOLinary celebration. Some of New Orleans’ fine dining establishments will be offering lower-priced, specialty prixfixe meals. Restaurants from all over New Orleans, as well as in Jefferson Parish and the Northshore, will be participating in this year's COOLinary, giving people plenty of options to choose from. Over 80 restaurants including Café Degas, Commander's Palace, New Orleans Creole Cookery, and more will be taking part and offereing special meals. Visit COOLinary's website for a full list of restaurants and menus.
live live at the french french market market at the
Weekly in August shopping shopping
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dianne honore dianne honore thursday & friday friday thursday & 12pm 12pm
Dianne Honore Dianne Honore & & Big Chief Big Chief Montana Montana Saturday 12pm Saturday 12pm
live music live music Jeff Greenberg
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french market french market new new orleans orleans Learn More Learn More @FrenchMarket.org @FrenchMarket.org
Saints Preview // August 2026
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The Beach Ties That Bond
// EMILY HINGLE
New Orleans and the Mississippi Gulf Coast New Orleans and the cities of the Mississippi Gulf Coast have an intertwined history.
T
he first capital in French Louisiana was Fort Maurepas—present day Ocean Springs, MS—made under the leadership of Pierre Le Moyne d’Iberville in 1699. The capital moved to present day Mobile, AL, before finally moving to New Orleans in 1722. People visited the Gulf Coast for recreation and wellness as early as the Antebellum period. The Civil War only briefly paused such activity before it boomed in the Postbellum period. New Orleans newspaper ads in the late 1800s touted hotels and treatment centers of the Coast where city dwellers could escape yellow fever and other ailments. A notice in the November 11, 1869, edition of The Picayune stated, “Water Cure Establishment at Biloxi under the direction of Dr. H. Ranoe. Dr. Ranoe respectfully informs the public that this Establishment will be opened on Tuesday next, 19th inst., and ready to receive sick persons,
invalids, or any one wishing to recuperate by the use of Sea or Spring Bathing.” Mary Cracchiolo Spain, regional director of PR for Beau Rivage Resort & Casino, stated, “People come over for the Gulf breezes and medicinal water. It’s always had this beautiful, small town charm.” The Louisville and Nashville Railroad was extended in 1870 to include lines stretching from New Orleans through Mississippi to Mobile, AL, and beyond. Rail services came and went throughout the 20th century, with a long pause after Hurricane Katrina. The renaissance of Gulf Coast train travel with the introduction of Amtrak’s Mardi Gras Service in August 2025 surpassed ridership expectations within less than a year. The beachfront along the coast of Harrison County was created by Section 2 of the River and Harbor Act of July 3, 1930, and completed in 1952.
The Gulf was dredged for over 6 million cubic yards of sand, which was pulled up to the Highway 90 seawall, creating a protective beach barrier. Opulent resorts promised fun on the new sunny shores. Great Southern Hotel, White House Hotel, and Buena Vista Hotel were popular options. A Times-Picayune article from Monday, January 25, 1937, explains that the area’s enchantment has not been lost in its modernization. The article reads, “In place of the former white shell roads which by moonlight seemed to be ‘ribbons of silver beside a shimmering sea,’ there are now such incomparable drives as that along the Ocean Springs seawall when, at night, the seascape and the islands and the channel lights become a backdrop for romance.” The Gulf Hills Hotel, which opened in Ocean Springs in 1927 attracted high-end guests including celebrities such as Judy Garland, Marilyn
Monroe, and Jayne Mansfield. By 1950, the land around the hotel became a working ranch where guests were invited on horseback rides and other outdoor activities. Elvis Presley found refuge in Waterfront Villa #9 early in his fame as he performed at the Slavonian Lodge and Keesler Airman’s Club in 1955. He met his local love interest June Juanico at the latter performance. Gulf Hills Hotel was nearly lost to demolition in 2018 until a new owner revived it. A grand-scale renovation was launched and breathed new life into the retro hotel where former guests Jayne Mansfield, Marilyn Monroe, and Elvis Presley are honored with themed suites. This titillating time period drew droves of tourists from Louisiana and neighboring states. The Times-Picayune Sunday morning edition May 8, 1966, reads, “The Mississippi Gulf Coast is one of the world’s most exciting vacationlands and it
2101 N. Rampart St. 504-944-7068 lorettaspralines.com @lorettaspralines
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1100 N. Peters, Farmers Market Stall #9 lap@lorettaspralines.com
The egacy Continues!
WhereYat.com // @WhereYatNOLA // #WhereYatNOLA
All photos: courtesy of Times-Picayune
Home of the Crabmeat Beignet
is right at our very own doorstep. Once again this year the world’s longest man made beach will be host to thousands of vacationers. From Bay St. Louis and Ocean Springs the hotels, motels and tourist attractions are preparing for what is believed will be the best season ever.” Gus Stevens Seafood Restaurant & Buccaneer Lounge, which opened in 1947 in Biloxi, was a hot spot for stars that attracted the likes of Jerry Van Dyke, Andy Griffith, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Actress Jayne Mansfield performed there in 1967 before departing for New Orleans to appear on WDSU’s Midday Show. She was in a fatal car crash before reaching the city. The restaurant and lounge shuttered in 1975. Biloxi was well known for being an underground gambling and vessel casino mecca long before it became legal in 1990 under the Gaming Control Act. More than a dozen casinos opened in Mississippi by the end of the ‘90s. “Mississippi was the third state in the Union to get gaming. My mentor, Bruce Norris, was the first director of the Mississippi Gaming Commission. He was a Biloxi boy in those back rooms dealing cards. Bruce brought back an exact copy of Nevada’s gaming laws, and that became our legislation. I think it’s neat to tell our story in what makes us unique, despite gaming proliferating all over the country,” Cracchiolo Spain explained. Beau Rivage Resort & Casino was the largest hotel/casino outside of Nevada when it opened in 1999 with 1,740 rooms, several restaurants, pool, spa, theater, and an exciting gaming floor. She continued, “Steve Wynn, who changed the face of Las
Vegas, watched the market and decided to build here. Twenty-seven years in, and we’re doing better today than we did in the beginning. That says a lot about the destination. We’ve got top flight entertainment. We change it up because we have so much repeat business. People will come here five, six times a year, so we have to do different things.” The Mississippi Gulf Coast has been a beachy haven for New Orleanians for nearly 200 years, and the bond seems to only strengthen with each passing year.
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All photos: courtesy of Times-Picayune
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CERTIFICATION Saints Preview // August 2026
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s w e N d o Fo // KIM RANJBAR
Virtually delicious . . . Still pining for the delicate croissants created by Jeff Becnel at the nowdefunct La Petite Sophie Patisserie? Though he isn’t reopening anytime soon, now you can enjoy his work digitally. While it isn’t quite as fabulous as sinking your teeth into a slice of a flaky galette des rois during Carnival, reading Becnel’s cooking blog Apron Indigo is its own reward. So far, he’s shared his own recipes for turkey bolognese, syrniki (Eastern European pancakes made with farmers cheese), strawberry pie, and more. Just keep following, and perhaps he’ll finally reveal the magic behind his buttery, caramelized kouign-amann. apronindigo.com, @apronindigo
There’s also three kinds of sides: curly fries, crinkle cut sweet potato fries, and onion rings. Mostly, though, we’re eyeing a boozy whiskey peanut butter shake for dessert. 805 Magazine St., (504) 527-5872, pattysburgerbar.com
Burn one for me . . . Because they’re everywhere you go, Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts has launched yet another restaurant, this time in the Warehouse District. Attached to Boulevard American Bistro—another CCRC spot—Patty’s Burger Bar is a simple diner concept focusing solely on, can you guess it, burgers. Truthfully, there are variations on their smash-style burgers served on Martin’s Famous Potato Rolls—a Chambersburg, Pennsylvania-born bakery—including a patty melt loaded with caramelized onions, a lamb burger slathered in curry aioli, and the NOLA hot double with both beef and Patton’s hot sausage patties.
Land of milk (bread) and katsu sauce . . . Alabama-born, self-trained cook Zac Hill has taken what he’s learned from voraciously studying cookbooks and working at Union Ramen and turned it into Gaijin Sandos, a Bywater popup now turned brick and mortar. Located in the space that formerly housed restaurants including Rosalita’s Tacos and the short-lived boudin shop Frissons, Gaijin is all about Japanese sandos, with a Southern slant, of course. His menu features sandos such as a bourbon-buttermilk fried chicken with pimento cheese, miso-roasted cabbage with pickled red onions and Swiss, and yuzu-chantilly cream with fresh seasonal fruit, all served on Hill’s house made milk bread. Japanese milk bread, or shokupan, is basically white bread made using a milk and flour roux called tangzhong that gives the bread its signature fluffy tenderness. Gaijin, an apt moniker for Hill’s eatery meaning “foreigner,” also offers sides such as triple-cooked fries with house togarashi and mayo, as well as soy-marinated chicken nuggets or karaage. 3304 St. Claude Ave., @gaijnsandos
Patty's Burger Bar
Howling for a lift . . . Vinh and Courtney Le are making their pop-up legend come to life with the opening of their first brick and mortar coffee shop in Metairie. Rougabrew, a play on the Cajun mythological creature the rougarou, is now located inside the former Ash & Ollie’s Snowballs & Soft Serve on Veterans Memorial Boulevard. Serving mostly iced coffees, as is apropos in our local
// KIM RANJBAR
Patty's Burger Bar
climate, the café offers frothy creations such as a Holy Trinity with Nutella cold foam and a vanilla protein shake and a Creole Coconut layered with coconut syrup and cookies and Gaijin cream foam. Sandos 1645 Veterans Memorial Blvd., @rougabrewcoffee Wow! It’s not ugly . . . After being in business for more than a quarter of a century, the well-known Ugly Dog Saloon closed up shop last year. Now, a new spot dubbed WOW Turkey has come to take its place. NOLA native Lance Domino is the proud owner, a Ninth Ward denizen who has moved his pandemic-born, backyard business into the Saloon's space, and everything’s coming up turkey. Specializing in stuffed turkey legs, you can get these mammoths filled with items such as seafood pasta—the leg anointed in a spicy, citrusy mojo glaze—macaroni & cheese, crawfish étouffée, and tomato-based jambalaya. The menu is massive with seafood platters, chargrilled oysters, and burgers, but turkey keeps coming back such as with the BBQ turkey burnt end sliders and Caribbean-style turkey necks. Gobble, gobble. 401 Andrew Higgins Blvd., (504) 299-3443, @thewowturkey Southern style . . . Formerly the Delta Blues Club and DMac’s, the Mid-City bar and music venue has been born again, this time as True South. Located on Norman C. Francis Parkway, the spot is now owned by brothers Jason and George DeCastro, Erin Clark, and Michael Shelow, the team who relaunched Liuzza’s Restaurant & Bar and French Quarter bar Finnegan’s Easy on St. Peter Street. At True South, they’ve brought back the bar and the music, along with a menu of sandwiches, each based on dishes popular throughout
the South. Think fried bologna with American cheese, chicken fried steak served on Texas toast with white gravy, and an homage to Elvis called “The Memphis King,” a griddled peanut butter, caramelized banana, and bacon sandwich on white bread. 542 S. Norman C. Francis Pkwy., @truesouthnola Around the bend … James Beard-award winning restaurant Dakar NOLA has moved to the Riverbend, taking over the space once haunted by beloved local spot Matt & Naddies on Leonides Street. Chef Serigne Mbaye and Effie Richardson, co-owners in the Michelin-starred Senegalese restaurant, have changed up more than just the location. Dakar NOLA still offers the tasting menu in a private dining room, but they’ve opened it up with another, more casual à la carte menu available on the covered patio outside. The tapaslike, Senegalese street food offerings widen their clientele, making the high end restaurant more approachable for everyone to enjoy. 937 Leonidas St., dakarnola.com
Dakar NOLA
Photos from top: courtesy of Randy Schmidt, Ness Newsom, Jeremy Tauriac
FOODNEWS
Travel like an MVP Score big before you board with game-day grub and fan-favorite finds at airport shops and restaurants!
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Saints Preview // 2025 August 2026 WhereYat.com | August
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DININGGUIDE Anita’s Grill brings American flavors and a lively atmosphere to the Warehouse District. The menu is packed with Southern flavors. Menu highlights include steak & eggs, a biscuit breakfast sandwich, the hamburger po-boy, and the liver & onion po-boy. 833 Howard Ave., (504) 354-8979, anitasgrillnola.com Bearcat Cafe is a popular destination known for health-conscious options and comfort dishes. The menu offers “good cat” and “bad cat” options, differentiating from healthier to heavier dishes. Options include the “good cat” vegan ranchero and “bad cat” shrimp & grits. Multiple Locations, bearcatcafe.com Commons Club offers a contemporary dining experience inside the Virgin Hotels New Orleans. The menu highlights modern American cuisine with options including Wagyu steak fries and truffle campanelle pasta. It is an ideal spot for brunch or dinner. 550 Baronne St., (833) 791-7700, virginhotels.com Crescent City Steaks is a historic Mid-City steakhouse that’s been around since 1934. Family-owned for generations, it delivers classic steakhouse fare in a nostalgic setting. The menu offers traditional cuts, as well as a bacon-wrapped filet and cowboy rib eye. 1001 N. Broad St., (504) 821‑3271, crescentcitysteaks.com Daisy Dukes Restaurant is known for filling breakfasts, New Orleans favorites, and big portions in an authentic Southern atmosphere. Specific menu options include French toast, breakfast sandwiches, and country fried steak with gravy served with eggs. Multiple Locations, daisydukesrestaurant.com Desi Vega’s Steakhouse is a spot for classic, highquality steaks served in an upscale setting. The restaurant serves traditionally Southern flavors with a modern touch. Be sure to try the rib eye & fries served with whipped bearnaise. 628 St. Charles Ave., (504) 523-7600, desivegasteaks. com Jack Rose offers a vibrant dining experience inside the historic Pontchartrain Hotel. The menu features international-inspired dishes alongside New Orleans classics. Enjoy the fried chicken parmesan, banana leaf wrapped speckled trout, and fettuccine nero. The restaurant also offers brunch options. 2031 St. Charles Ave. Fl. 1, (504) 608-7112, jackroserestaurant.com Legacy Kitchen’s Craft Tavern blends elevated American comfort food with an industrial tavern atmosphere. The menu offers favorites including crawfish & egg beignets, the Bananas Foster waffle with whipped cream and honey butter, and the redfish St. Charles. 700 Tchoupitoulas St. #3612, (504) 613-2350, legacykitchen.com Legacy Kitchen’s Steak + Chop offers delicious steakhouse and plenty of craft cocktails on the Westbank. The restaurant offers hot plate specials from Monday to Friday and menu favorites including chicken & waffle, a “build your own burger,” and trout amandine. 91 Westbank Expy., Gretna, (504) 513-2606, legacykitchen.com
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Luke is known for a refined take on French and German-inspired cuisine in a relaxed setting. Known for oysters and classic seafood dishes, menu options include the LA crawfish omelette and the flammenkuchen with Alsatian onion tarte, bacon, and cheese. 333 St. Charles Ave., (504) 378-2840, lukeneworleans.com Moe’s Original BBQ, named in the “Top 10 BBQ Chains in America” by USA Today and the Daily Meal, serves Alabama-style barbecue in a casual setting. It is popular for its catering packages, hearty quality, and Southern favorites. 1101 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, (504) 407-3533, moesoriginalbbq.com
ASIAN Aroma Indian Cuisine offers traditional Indian dishes with a focus on bold spices and authentic preparation, featuring favorites such as curries, biryani, and tandoori specialties. Its welcoming atmosphere and quality make it a reliable choice for casual meals. 401 S. Claiborne Ave., (504) 766-6916, aromanolaindiancuisine.com
Luke
New Orleans Vampire Café brings a theatrical approach to dining with a gothic, vampire-inspired setting and menu. They offer drinks with sangria, vodka pomegranate lemonade, and more prepared in ghastly blood bag packaging. Try the alligator po-boy. 801 Royal St., (504) 581-0801, nolavampirecafe.com
Spudly’s Super Spuds specializes in loaded baked potatoes packed with toppings. Options include the traditional spud with cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, and chives and the Super Duper MKT with crabmeat, shrimp, and crawfish topped with cheese sauce, cheddar, and chives. 2609 Harvard Ave., Metairie, (504) 455-3250, spudlys.com Vacca Steakhouse brings a modern, upscale approach to the steakhouse experience in Metairie. Their dish presentation exhibits attention to detail with steak entrees including the NY strip, rib eye, and center cut filet, served Pittsburgh-style on a sizzling plate. 3524 Severn Ave., Metairie, (504) 318-3808, accasteakhouse.com Vampire Apothecary offers cocktails and cuisine inspired by gothic themes and a rustic atmosphere. Located in the French Quarter, their food options are fresh and health-oriented, including baked salmon, baked oysters, and a poached pear dessert. 725 St. Peter St., (504) 766-8179, vampireapothecary.com
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Le Bon Temps Roule is an Uptown bar offering live music, drinks, and NOLA bar food. The establishment is open late and is always lively. Be sure to order their smash burgers including the mushroom Swiss or Oklahoma fried onion. 4801 Magazine St., (504) 897-3448, lbtrnola.com Rivershack Tavern is a restaurant known for its rustic decor, tacky ash trays, and famous “bar legs.” Menu options include the “leaf me alone” house salad, the “double R” sandwich with bacon and ham, and their alligator sausage po-boy. 3449 River Rd., Jefferson, (504) 834-4938, rivershacktavern.com Swamp Room Bar & Grill is a great bar and restaurant to hang out at in Metairie. Not only is it home to the “swamp burger,” the restaurant also offers plenty of creative bites such as red beans & rice balls. 5400 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 888-5242, theswamproom.com
Rib Room is a classic steakhouse known for its prime rib and elegant atmosphere. Located inside the Omni Royal Orleans, it blends traditional fine dining with a relaxed environment. Dinner options include prime steaks, mustard-fried flounder, and Cajun corn ribs. 621 St. Louis St., (504) 529-7045, ribroomneworleans.com Sala NOLA offers a savory dining experience with coastal Italian cuisine and fresh seafood. Specific menu options include the house-cured salmon board, veal parmesan, and blackened catfish topped with crab meat. The restaurant also offers breakfast and weekend brunch. 124 Lake Marina Dr., (504) 5132670, salanola.com
JB’s Fuel Dock offers waterfront dining with views of Lake Pontchartrain, making it a great choice for sunset views with close friends and family members. The menu leans into seafood favorites, po-boys, and casual Italian dishes. 128 S. Roadway St., (504) 510-2260, jbsfueldock.com
The Channel features American cuisine with a focus on seasonal ingredients. Its traditional feel enhances a menu featuring seafood and shareable plates. Menu highlights include the Irish club sandwich, fried green tomatoes, and shrimp, fish, chicken, and oyster baskets. 2604 Magazine St., (504) 381-4680, thechannelneworleans.com
CAFÉ Mantra Original Indian Cuisine offers Punjabi flavors and hospitality with curries, tandoori flavors, and recipes passed through generations. Some of their menu options include chicken entrees, baked breads, lamb and goat entrees, seafood entrees, and vegetarian options. 3116 S I-10 Service Rd. W. E., Metairie, (504) 354-8349, mantraoriginalindiancuisine.com Mikimoto Restaurant offers a menu full of Japanese cuisine including sushi, hibachi, and more. The restaurant is known for its quality ingredients, fresh food, and welcoming environment. As well as sushi, the menu offers sashimi, rice dishes, and udon noodles. 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 488-1881, mikimotosushi. com Thai’d Up brings Thai flavors to the Gentilly neighborhood. The menu features classic items such as pad Thai, curries, and more prepared with Thai spices. Highlights include the Thai beef jerky, butter Thai shrimp, and the papaya salad. 1839 Gentilly Blvd., (504) 644-5790, thaidup.co
BARS WITH GREAT FOOD Bamboula’s is a classic spot that combines New Orleans cuisine with live music. Known for its Cajun/Creole cuisine, cocktails, and lively atmosphere, menu options include the Creole jambalaya, Hawaiian burger, and seafood po-boys. The restaurant hosts daily music performances. 514 Frenchmen St., (504) 451-7306, bamboulasmusic.com
Kitchen Table Café is a neighborhood spot in Arabi where classic Southern meals meet a homestyle cooking dynamic. The atmosphere is friendly and relaxed, with live music nightly to go along with some of the area’s best gumbo. 7005 St. Claude Ave., Arabi, (504) 301-2285, facebook. com/kitchentablearabi Prince Tea House offers an elegant, Parisianinspired café experience with a focus on premium teas, brunch, and housemade desserts. Blending Asian and European influences, the menu features tea service and mille crêpe cakes. They also offer an afternoon tea service. 3012 N. Arnoult Rd. Ste. B, Metairie, (504) 330-0360, princeteahousenola. com The Vintage is a cozy wine bar and café known for a relaxed atmosphere, curated wine list, and tapas-style dishes. The menu offers beignets, pastries, flatbreads, and charcuterie. They also offer espresso martinis, beer and wine, and Prohibitionera cocktails. 3121 Magazine St., (504) 324-7144, thevintagenola.com Willa Jean combines freshly baked goods with Southern comfort food in a casual setting. The restaurant offers a range of breakfast and brunch options, along with the city’s best chocolate cookies. Try the fried chicken and tabasco honey biscuit. 611 O’Keefe Ave., (504) 509-7334, willajean.com
Photos: courtesy of Where Y'at Staff
AMERICAN
CARIBBEAN Jamaican Jerk House brings Caribbean flavors to New Orleans and Metairie with a menu centered on traditional Jamaican dishes. From jerk chicken and curry goat to oxtail pasta, each plate is rich in authentic flavors. Multiple Locations, jamaicanjerkhouse.com
ITALIAN Domenica, located in the Roosevelt Hotel, brings Italian flavors to downtown New Orleans with a focus on handmade pastas, wood-fired pizzas, and seasonal ingredients. Options include tutto carne & clam pizza and chicken al mattone with field peas and escarole. 123 Baronne St., (504) 336-6541, domenicarestaurant.com Mosca’s Restaurant is a Westbank institution known for its classic feel, Creole-Italian cuisine, and family-friendly dining experience. It has a longstanding history and unique menu that is for sharing, including the oysters Mosca, baked and topped with breadcrumbs. 4137 US-90, Westwego, (504) 436-8950, moscasrestaurant. com Pizza Domenica serves wood-fired pizzas and Italian-inspired dishes made with fresh, quality ingredients in a casual yet modern setting. The restaurant is known for their creative toppings and shareable small plates with pizza options including the margherita and chicken pesto. Multiple Locations, pizzadomenica.com
Mona’s Cafe brings Middle Eastern food to MidCity with a menu focused on fresh, flavorful, and affordable dishes. The menu serves a gyro plate, a chicken shawarma sandwich, hummus dip with peppers, and so much more. 3901 Banks St., (504) 482-7743, facebook.com/monasnola
LATIN
Photos: courtesy of Tacos & Beer
Empanola specializes in handcrafted empanadas filled with savory and sweet options. Its casual setting and to-go offerings make it a convenient and satisfying choice for quick bites and relaxed meals. The menu highlights empanada options including the beef Argentina. Multiple Locations, empanolaempanadas.com Tacos & Beer offers great tasting Mexican dishes, margaritas, and more in New Orleans, Slidell, and Hammond. Get some friends together and enjoy lots of tacos and mouthwatering fusion dishes such as the Mexican burger and the LA street dog. Multiple Locations, facebook.com/tacosneworleans
MIDDLE EASTERN Lebanon’s Cafe brings authentic Lebanese cuisine to Uptown with a menu full of Mediterranean dishes. It has a casual, welcoming atmosphere, making it a favorite for healthy, satisfying dining. The menu features hummus, falafel, and the safeheh mini pizza. 1500 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 862-6200, lebanonscafe.com
Daily Happy Hour 4:30 PM- 6 PM
Shaya offers modern Levantine cuisine with a focus on fresh flavors and creative presentation. Highlights include their housemade pita, hummus, and variety of small plates. It has a stylish atmosphere that makes it one of Uptown’s most acclaimed dining spots. 4213 Magazine St., (504) 943-7231, shayarestaurant.com
Coolinary Is Here! 3 Courses for $58 thru September
NEW ORLEANS CUISINE 3rd Block Depot offers an upscale, modern take on Creole cuisine in the French Quarter. The menu spans from options such as the morning quesadilla and buttermilk pancakes to refined dinner entrées including the chicken & sausage gumbo and blackened redfish. 310 Chartres St., (504) 5524095, 3rdblockdepot.com
Tacos & Beer
857 Fulton Street 504- 522-6863 •
U Pizza, located in the Lower Garden District, serves creative, New York-style pizzas, sandwiches, wraps, pastas, and more. Pizza options include the BBQ chicken and the Garden District pizza with spinach zucchini and yellow squash. 1513 St. Charles Ave., (504) 381-4232, upizzanola.com Venezia is a long-running Italian restaurant known for its extensive menu of pizzas, pastas, and comfort dishes. The atmosphere is casual and family-friendly, making it an ideal spot for relaxed meals in New Orleans and Gretna. Multiple Locations, venezianeworleans.com
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Charlie’s Restaurant is a neighborhood-style restaurant serving classic American and Southern comfort food in a casual setting. Its friendly service and New Orleans-inspired menu with po-boys and more makes it a local spot for everyday dining. 6129 E. St. Bernard Hwy., Violet, (504) 682-9057 Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop is a Metairie favorite celebrated for its gumbo and seafood dishes. Their generous portions, absolutely delicious gumbo options, and authentic flavors make it a go to spot for comfort food lovers. 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, (504) 835-2022, gumbostop.com Crescent City Brewhouse pairs classic New Orleans flavors with house-brewed beers in a scenic French Quarter setting. The menu features Creole favorites alongside pub-style fare. For drinks, customers can order beer flights, fine wine, and a range of cocktails. 527 Decatur St., (504) 522‑0571, crescentcitybrewhouse.com Desire Oyster Bar, located in the Royal Sonesta Hotel, offers a Bourbon Street experience with Gulf oysters and Creole dishes. Desire Oyster Bar features raw oysters, chargrilled oysters, and boiled shrimp in Cajun spices, as well as New Orleans specialties. 300 Bourbon St., (504) 553-2281, sonesta.com
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St. a i l u 200 J .5753 18 540.2 w us Follo
Daily Happy Hour 4:30 pm–6 pm Featuring $1 Raw Oysters $2 Baked Oysters All Appetizers for $15 Beer and Wine Specials
Saints Preview // August 2026
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Galliano puts a focus on southern Louisiana and Cajun cuisine in an upscale and casual environment. House specialties include the Alligator Creole and Pork Chop LaPlace. They also offer an extensive list of craft cocktails. 200 Julia St., (504) 218-5753, gallianorestaurant.com Lakeview Harbor is a neighborhood restaurant home to Lakeview’s original burger. They offer large portions and consistent quality, making it a good spot for casual dining. Menu options include deepfried potato skins with cheese, catfish po-boys, and chili cheese dogs. 8550 Pontchartrain Blvd., (504) 486‑4887, lakeviewharbor.us Li'l Dizzy’s Cafe is a Tremé institution serving classic Creole food in a warm, family-run setting. Known for their fried chicken, Creole gumbo, and other Baquet family recipes, they offer daily specials including red beans & rice on Monday. 1500 Esplanade Ave., (504) 766-8687, lildizzyscafe.net Loretta’s Authentic Pralines is a destination for classic New Orleans sweets and Creole-inspired desserts. The business is known for its sweet praline beignets, crabmeat beignets, and burger beignets, as well as pralines, king cakes, and other sweet treats. Multiple Locations, lorettaspralines.com
GOLDB3LLYIT
401 Poydras St. MothersRestaurant.net (504) 523-9656
Charlie’s
Restaurant and Catering since 1992
All Your Catering Needs!
Lyons Corner offers American classics with modern New Orleans energy. Menu selections include the lamb lollipops with chermoula sauce and the chicken BLT flatbread. For a pick-me-up, enjoy their iced chai latte or a cappuccino. 537 Gravier St., (504) 527-0006, lyonscornernola.com Mandina’s Restaurant is a Mid-City institution serving Creole-Italian dishes in a familyfriendly setting. Known for its red gravy, seafood options, and large portions, their menu is comforting and traditional. Specific dishes include the Gulf fish meunière, poboys, and Italian specials. 3800 Canal St., (504) 482-9179, mandinasrestaurant.com
6129 E. St. Bernard Hwy. Violet, LA · (504)682-9057 Only 20 Minutes from the French Quarter 36
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Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar and Bistro combines a romantic ambiance with a menu of American and Creole dishes. The restaurant features a vast wine selection. Menu options include the Cajun surf & turf, roasted duck breast, and blackened crawfish caprese. 720 Orleans Ave., (504) 523-1930, orleansgrapevine.com Parasol’s is a neighborhood staple famous for their roast beef po-boys and Irish pub-like atmosphere. Menu options include the firecracker shrimp po-boy, crawfish bites, and the oyster BLT. The restaurant is an option for casual dining and St. Patrick’s Day. 2533 Constance St., (504) 354-9079, facebook.com/ParasolsNOLA Parkway Bakery and Tavern is a famous destination for hearty po-boys and old school New Orleans vibes. The menu offers overstuffed sandwiches with classic flavors that consistently draw in crowds. Desserts include their poor boy ice cream sandwich. 538 Hagan Ave., (504) 4823047, parkwaypoorboys.com
Meril
Meril offers contemporary New Orleans cuisine in the Warehouse District. The menu offers plates such as Gulf yellowfin tuna bundles, candied pork ribs, and fettuccine with truffle butter. Meril’s new brunch menu includes creative breakfast cocktails. 424 Girod St., (504) 526-3745, bemeril.com Melba’s offers a 24-hour dining experience featuring New Orleans comfort food and other favorites. Known for its po-boys, breakfast plates, and daiquiris, it also delivers classic flavors, a great catering menu, and is devoted to helping the community. Multiple Locations, melbas.com Mother’s Restaurant is a classic eatery known for its hearty, filling Creole cooking and famous po-boys. Visitors can expect a casual, lively setting where there is often a line to get in. The eatery also has fantastic homemade desserts. 401 Poydras St., (504) 523-9656, facebook.com/mothersrestaurant
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Neyow’s XL expands on Neyow’s success with a larger space and a more fine dining menu. Guests can look forward to seafood specialities and craft cocktails. It offers a variety of dishes including steak, classic soups, and the XL burger. 3336 Bienville St., (504) 503‑1081, xl.neyows.com
New Orleans Creole Cookery offers local cooking traditions in a beautiful French Quarter setting. Menu highlights include jambalaya, raw and chargrilled oysters, red beans & rice, catfish Decatur, and crawfish étouffée. 510 Toulouse St., (504) 524-9632, neworleanscreolecookery.com
Please U Restaurant is a local diner serving classic New Orleans breakfast and comfort food. The menu consists of hot plates including red beans & rice, gumbo, and seafood platters, as well as hot cakes, chicken & waffles, and much more. 1751 St. Charles Ave., (504) 525-9131, pleaseunola.com Restaurant Rebirth is the Warehouse District’s only spot for farm-to-table Cajun and Creole cuisine. Their atmosphere is rustic but also elevated, offering Louisiana inspired plates, including a chicken & mirliton rochambeau, paired with wine or craft cocktails. 857 Fulton St., (504) 522-6863, restaurantrebirth.com
Photos: courtesy of Geise lman Milone
OPEN DAILY 7AM-10PM
HERE’S $20 TO SHIP YOUR FIRST ORDER
Neyow’s Creole Café is a lively spot known for its Creole flavors and warm, neighborhood vibe. Signature dishes such as chargrilled oysters, Southern fried chicken, and hearty seafood plates that draw customers seeking authentic tastes. 3332 Bienville St., (504) 827‑5474, neyows.com
Short Stop Poboys is a Metairie staple known for overstuffed po-boys served on local French bread. The atmosphere is casual and laid-back, with quick service and generous portions. The menu also includes tasty, must-try gumbo. 119 Transcontinental Dr., Metairie, (504) 885-4572, shortstoppoboysno.com
Delacroix, located next to Spanish Plaza, features a view of the Mississippi River and an emphasis on fresh Gulf seafood. Specialties include the osetra caviar with housemade ranch dressing and jumbo Louisiana stone crab claws when available. 1 Poydras St. Spc. 1005, (504) 655-9002, delacroixrestaurant.com
Willie Mae’s NOLA offers famous, hearty Southern flavors and some of the best fried chicken in the country. The menu also includes the Creole butter rotisserie chicken. Visitors can also enjoy an extensive wine and cocktail list. Reservations are recommended. 898 Baronne St., (504) 354-8194, williemaesnola.com
Drago’s Seafood Restaurant is known for originating chargrilled oysters and for seafood dishes that exemplify Louisiana flavors in a lively, welcoming setting. Specific menu options include their original charbroiled oysters, grilled shrimp tacos, and fresh lobster. Multiple Locations, dragosrestaurant.com
SEAFOOD Briquette offers a polished and inviting dining experience in the Warehouse District, specializing in contemporary and coastal dishes such as blackened redfish. The open kitchen and 18inch seafood display highlight the day’s freshest seafood offerings. 701 S. Peters St., (504) 547‑6330, briquette-nola.com
The Galley Seafood is a neighborhood favorite that offers fresh seafood and classic Louisiana dishes in Old Metairie. Menu highlights include the cheese and crab meat jalapenos, fresh grouper, and their famous soft shell crab po-boy. 2535 Metairie Rd., Metairie, (504) 832-0955
Delacroix
Felix’s Restaurant and Oyster Bar is a staple known for its fresh oysters and classic Creole dishes. Its vibrant atmosphere adds to its charm, while its menu delivers on the fried seafood and oysters Louisiana is famous for. Multiple Locations, felixs.com Jack Dempsey’s Restaurant is a neighborhood spot in the Bywater known for Creole and seafood dishes including the redfish Pontchartrain. It is family-owned and is a local favorite with recipes that have been passed down for generations. 738 Poland Ave., (504) 943-9914, jackdempseys.net Legacy Kitchen’s Tacklebox offers a New Orleans and Louisiana inspired menu in a refined yet casual locale. Shareable options include seafood gumbo, crawfish bread, and oysters, and main dishes include the soft shell crab BLT and the Maine-style shrimp roll. 817 Common St., (504) 827-1651, legacykitchen.com
Photos: courtesy of Delacroix
Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant is a favorite for fresh Gulf seafood served in large, filling portions. From boiled crawfish to fried seafood platters and other signature dishes, the menu celebrates Louisiana flavors. Try the stuffed crab and broiled stuffed flounder. Multiple Locations, deanies.com
The Blue Crab Restaurant & Bar combines New Orleans seafood with views of Lake Pontchartrain. Known for its crab dishes and chargrilled oysters, it offers a comfortable atmosphere. The restaurant offers live entertainment, as well as an outdoor patio. 7900 Lakeshore Dr., (504) 284-2898, thebluecrabnola.com
Saints Preview // August 2026
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s e i r o t s k c a B & s Bite // KIM RANJBAR
Executive Chef Corey Thomas Writes His Own Chapter at Restaurant August
C
“A lot of people who eat here have a shared story of Louisiana cuisine. How do we elevate it to feel like something different, while still being a nod to our childhood?” New Orleans loves its BBQ shrimp, a dish originally created at Uptown restaurant Pascale’s Manale in the mid-50s. For locals, a lot of nostalgia is involved when diving into a plate of Gulf beauties served shell-on, swimming in pepper, garlic, and butter, and tearing off pieces of French bread to sop up the sauce. Imagine, for a moment, a different take on this ubiquitous dish. One part of Restaurant August’s initial fruits de mer course includes an interesting riff with Binchotan-grilled shrimp tossed in a BBQ sauce reduction transformed into a creamy mousse croustade with rosemary and lemon zest. “I like to reinterpret dishes that are the backbone of New Orleans cuisine,” August’s Executive Chef Corey Thomas explained. “The BBQ shrimp croustade is different than any bite you’ll have in town. Yet, at the same time, you’ll have familiar flavors.”
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Farmed and raised Murder Point oysters are another familiar-but-different component of the fruits de mer course. Delivered fresh from Alabama’s Gulf waters, these buttery mollusks are sprinkled with an exo salt, made with dehydrated local tomatoes and Szechuan peppercorns, and drizzled in Steen’s cane vinegar. “It’s waves of different flavors and experiences. What I’m trying to do is inject intrigue, fun, and new experiences in every bite.” Another current element of the fruits de mer course evolves with the seasons, a crudo using spear-caught cobia provided by local fisherman Chris Ricouard of Wicked Seafood. “He brings those in a cooler the day they’re caught and we butcher them and serve it to our guests that same day,” Thomas explained. “We’re really proud of that partnership with him.” The mildly sweet and buttery flavors characteristic of wild-caught cobia are punched up with a house made kosho, a fermented Japanese condiment house made using local blood orange zest, serrano peppers, and salt. Thomas finishes the crudo with cucumber, fennel, and blood orange vinaigrette. It’s a bit of a shocker to see the humble cornbread on a chef’s tasting menu, but Thomas’ preparation of the Southern staple is anything but. A soufflé-like spoonbread, made with cornmeal from Alabama’s Bayou Cora Farms, is served with Rodolphe Le Meunier artisanal beurre de baratte crafted in Normandy, France—arguably one of the finest butters in the world—and is topped off with Tsar Nicoulai Osetra caviar produced in California. “[The cornbread] is based on my grandmother’s recipe. It’s what I grew up eating, often with Country Crock,” Thomas laughed. “I feel like there aren’t any parameters around what we
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do. We want to be local, but we also have the obligation to seek out the best ingredients in the world, and when you put those two things together, you can really have some fun and create some truly exciting dishes.” Although Thomas has always possessed a love of Louisiana cuisine, he began his career in professional kitchens later in life. Born in Shreveport and raised in Monroe, LA, Thomas studied biology in college and afterwards worked in Alzheimer research. While the work was gratifying, he discovered he didn’t “really love” being in the laboratory. “I moved to Denver, and it would be snowing outside, and I would be making gumbo for my friends. They kept telling me I made really great food and that I should be a chef.” He relented and finally sent in an application to Commander’s Palace, the origin story of so many great Louisiana chefs, and received a call back the next day. Then, Executive Chef Tory McPhail was obviously encouraged by Thomas’ enthusiasm. “I remember talking about how passionate I was about Louisiana culture and cuisine, and how I wanted to be a steward and to help preserve it,” Thomas said. “I [also] knew I loved working around other people—figuring them out, what drives them, what they’re passionate about—and giving them the tools they need to grow.” While excitedly discussing his tasting menu, Thomas frequently uses the word “we,” as one fully cognizant of the invaluable contributions from his team. There’s zero hesitation as he touts the blue crab tartlet, a bite created by Sous Chef Hunter Wilkinson, made with jumbo lump crab meat and served atop a grilled grouper custard in a pastry shell. “A lot of people say that’s one of their favorite bites,” Thomas admitted.
A parade of plates follow the first two courses, from a springtime agnolini stuffed with lactosefermented ramp and creamy ricotta served with crispy cured lamb belly, sauteed morels, and fava beans to a decadent slice of plum syrup-glazed, A5 Wagyu shipped all the way from the Kogoshima prefecture in Japan. “It is a heavily-marbled small cut because it’s so intense. It’s all about the char, marbling, flavor, and quality of the beef.” Before dessert, a palate cleanser reinterpretation of a French 75 is served: lemon sorbet with champagne granita and gelée. “It’s a fun, playful break from all of the intense savory flavors to get you ready for dessert,” Thomas said. The feast finishes off with a trio of Louisianainspired desserts: a pecan and cane syrup profiterole, a cane syrup crème brûlée, and pecan butter ice cream dipped in chocolate magic shell. “It’s easy to take yourself too seriously, and it’s fun to be playful with the guests and be like, ‘Okay, you’ve eaten the best beef in the world and now you’re having a popsicle,’” Thomas laughed. “The best dishes remind you of your childhood.” This year marks Restaurant August’s 25th Anniversary. The BRG Hospitality flagship has hosted a yearlong series of culinary and cultural activities on the 25th of every month in 2026. Please see restaurantaugust.com for more details.
All photos: courtesy of Teg Folks
hef Corey Thomas is proud of the ever-evolving tasting menu at Restaurant August, one inspired by local cuisine yet presented from a different point of view.
Saints Preview // August 2026
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Cocktail Construction Let’s have some cocktails. We should enjoy something delicious, pleasing, fun, and do it all in good company.
I
f that sounds appealing to you, but things don’t turn out as you hoped for, where did it all go wrong? How come cocktails made in bars and restaurants are so much better than anything you have done at home? Where does the entire “do-it-yourself” project get off the track and the result does not measure up to what you hoped? Let’s start with the fact that do-it-yourself projects of any type hardly ever measure up to what you can buy at stores or online. We’ve all experienced the sad reality that where we end up with a DIY project is not what our mind conjured before the project started.
When it comes to making cocktails, maybe that is all-too-frequently the case. Maybe we have struggled to make the perfect Sazerac or Ramos Gin Fizz and the end result has fallen short of our goals. If you have tried on any number of occasions to complete the task to your satisfaction and never have, the frustration starts to stack up and you abandon this effort and move on to something else; however, you still want the cocktail and you want it to taste right. There are a number of ways a homemade cocktail can go wrong and darn few ways the outcome can come up to what you set out to accomplish. Let’s agree that there are some matters outside your control, but, mostly, there are also matters within your control. If you focus on those issues over which you have control, the quality of your outcomes will improve. Let’s look at some controllable variables that will make a big difference.
Define a Good Recipe It makes sense that we all have different palates; therefore, what each of us tastes from the same ingredients is different. If you are the chef, the final product has to be to your standards and your taste. Never mind that some in your audience would prefer sweeter or spicier, the key component is what are your tastes telling you? Find a good recipe that you like and follow it. Follow it slavishly.
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// TIM McNALLY
Be Creative Someplace Else Often, the bar chef will substitute ingredients or mess with the quantities. That screws up everything. The most dreaded words to hear from someone making a drink or a food dish are, “This is my version of….” When a drink or a dish is called by a name, that means there is general agreement about the ingredients and the preparation. Mess with it at your peril. If you want to create and serve a Singapore Sling, there is a definition as to what’s in that and what is the proper outcome. Don’t fight it. The original is accepted and reasonably expected by your audience. If you want to mess with perfection, don’t mention the original to your audience until after they have tried it. Let them come to their own conclusion as to whether what you have created is anything like a beloved Singapore Sling or it’s better. In truth, there are very few cocktails or food recipes that are not derivative of something that came before. Allow your audience to come to their own conclusions. In the end, this could be better for you.
Use Only the Best Ingredients and Don’t Skimp on the Quality No one needs to convince us that just about everything right now is too expensive. We are all attempting to save money on our purchases by buying at the lowest cost. However, often those low cost items are of lesser quality. Sometimes, the lesser quality item works perfectly well instead of the more expensive item. In cocktail ingredients, that is almost-always never the case. The taste and bouquet of a cocktail is its key benefit to the palate enjoying it. Taking an ingredient that calls itself about the same thing as the higher priced ingredient that is called for in the recipe very
seldom brings about the pleasure or enjoyment expected by the consumer. A short piece of advice about ice—buy it. You do not clean your ice system at home like the commercial ice houses clean theirs. Buy ice for your cocktails, and what you don’t use, toss out. Don’t re-freeze any leftovers.
Use a Measuring Cup/Spoon Every Step of the Way for All Ingredients The reason every ingredient is in every dish or cocktail is that they are providing another aspect of the final product. They are contributing to what you, the chef, is trying to achieve. The quantities of the ingredients has been pre-determined either by a professional kitchen, who are the original creators of the dish/cocktail, or the ingredients have been defined by multiple professionals. At least for the first couple of batches, you stick to the specifics of the recipe. It is logical that after you have made the cocktail according to generally accepted definitions, you will want to experiment. Maybe you have an affinity for a particular ingredient and would like to take it to a higher profile with your creation? Don’t do that initially. Create the drink as the experts have laid it out with ingredients and quantities. After you’ve created a few whatevers, then the experimentation can take place. A cocktail’s key component is balance. By deviating from the recipe, you are messing with the balance. You are messing, therefore, with the outcome. Nothing can be a bigger turn-off to a home creation than too much of a good thing. Even a Mint Julep with too much mint can quickly become a not-so lovely experience. Have fun, but take pride and follow the necessary steps to make a cocktail that your friends will be enjoying and talking about for a long time to come.
All photos: courtesy of New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute
How to Do it Right
BARGUIDE
Your GaMe DaY sPoT! Drink Specials
Food
Live Music
Dancing
Billards
BAMBOULA'S 516 Frenchmen St. (504) 451-7306
Providing live music every day, Bamboula's is the perfect place on Frenchmen Street. Try their Oyster Shooter with one raw oyster, vodka, and spicy Bloody Mary Mix.
BOOT SCOOTIN’ RODEO 522 Bourbon St. (504) 552-2510
Boot Scootin' is a lively country bar offering line dancing, a mechanical bull, and games. Enjoy a full bar with beers and specialty drinks for a fun-filled Southern night.
BOURBON STREET HONKY TONK Bourbon Street Honky Tonk blends blues and country vibes. It offers signature cocktails including the Hand Grenade and 727 Bourbon St. Pirate’s Passion, plus some of the best live performances in (504) 523-1960 the Quarter. CRESCENT CITY BREWHOUSE For nightly live music and quality craft beer, be sure to visit 527 Decatur St. Crescent City Brewhouse. The microbrewery also offers tasty Louisiana favorites such as oysters and fried alligator. (504) 522-0571 HIGH GRACE NOLA 733 St. Peter St. (504) 218-5649
If you want a unique drinking experience, check out High Grace NOLA. This 24-hour, upscale dive bar offers delicious craft cocktails such as the Caribbean Port City.
JB'S FUEL DOCK 128 S. Roadway St. (504) 510-2260
JB's Fuel Dock overlooks Lake Pontchartrain and is a former fuel dock turned waterfront bar, offering cocktails, beers, seltzers, and wines. It’s an inviting spot to enjoy stunning lakeside views.
LE BON TEMPS ROULE 4801 Magazine St. (504) 897-3448
Le Bon Temps Roule has been a staple since 1979. This 24-hour bar features live music, signature cocktails, and more. It’s perfect for late-night drinks or a game of pool.
LOTS A LUCK TAVERN 203 Homedale St. (504) 483-0978
Lots a Luck Tavern is a hidden dive bar gem near City Park featuring a backyard courtyard and games. With affordable drinks and a lively crowd, it’s a must-visit.
MARTINE'S LOUNGE 2347 Metairie Rd., Metairie (504) 831-8637
Martine's Lounge is a true Old Metairie gem, boasting a laid-back charm that welcomes both regulars and newcomers alike with low prices, a new pool table, and friendly vibes.
MÉLANGE ON FRENCHMEN 516 Frenchmen St. (504) 451-7306
Mélange sets itself apart by being a cool bar that is completely alcohol free. The spot above Bamboula’s offers NA alternatives, THC beverages, and more.
PAL'S LOUNGE 949 N. Rendon St. (504) 488-7257
Pal's Lounge is open daily and offers a relaxed NOLAstyle atmosphere with heavy pours, classic games, and occasional food trucks—perfect for a nightcap or pregame drink.
PARASOL'S BAR & RESTAURANT Parasol's is famous for its po-boys and is a beloved neighborhood dive bar offering diverse beers and cocktails. 2533 Constance St. Try their Frozen Irish Coffee and homemade onion rings. (504) 354-9079 RICK'S CABARET 315 Bourbon St. (504) 524-4222
Rick's Cabaret offers a full wine and beer selection, plus VIP cocktails including Mile High Gin and Unrigged Tequila, making it the ideal place for bachelor or bachelorette celebrations.
RIVERSHACK TAVERN 3449 River Rd. (504) 834-4938
Rivershack Tavern is a mix of a neighborhood tavern, live music club, sports bar, and a restaurant. It offers great burgers and po-boys, a vast beer selection, a wine list, and more.
SADDLE BAR 715 Bienville St. (504) 313-1113
Saddle Bar is a country-themed bar in the Quarter featuring two floors of cocktails and throwback shots, perfect for riding the mechanical rooster or showing off your line-dancing skills.
SAZERAC HOUSE 101 Magazine St. (504) 910-0100
Sazerac House is a historic museum that offers insight into the traditions and culture of the Sazerac cocktail. After wandering through their distillery, make sure to grab a classic Sazerac.
THE BOONDOCK SAINT 731 St. Peter St. (504) 525-4950
The Boondock Saint is a cozy Irish-style pub that offers a wide selection of draft beers and an old-school jukebox, making it perfect for a relaxed and authentic NOLA experience.
THE CHANNEL 2604 Magazine St. (504) 381-4680
This Irish Channel gem serves perfectly poured Guinness and excellent bar food. A favorite hangout for locals, don’t miss The Channel’s lively St. Patrick’s Day block party celebration.
THE JAZZ PLAYHOUSE 300 Bourbon St. (504) 553-2299
The Jazz Playhouse is one of the city’s top jazz clubs. This hotspot in the Royal Sonesta offers jazz-inspired cocktails, flavorful entrées, and a rotating lineup of world-class artists.
THE METROPOLITAN 310 Andrew Higgins Blvd. (504) 568-1702
The Metropolitan is a two-story club with multiple full bars, VIP bottle service, and trendy DJ sets. They offer a calendar of events, so visit their website to see upcoming performances.
THE VINTAGE 3121 Magazine St. (504) 324-7144
TROPICAL ISLE Multiple Locations (504) 523-1927
The Vintage, located on Magazine Street, serves coffee, beignets, wines, and bubbles, as well as coffee cocktails, local beers, and pre-Prohibition classics—perfect for daytime treats or evening indulgences. Three Maries Jazz Club, located in the Omni Royal, is perfect for people looking for late-night tunes. The club offers snacks and decedent cocktails such as the Caviar and Champagne. Tropical Isle is famous for its iconic Hand Grenade and lively French Quarter bar atmosphere. They serve frozen and classic cocktails, making it the perfect starting point for exploring New Orleans.
WRONG IRON 3532 Toulouse St. (504) 302-1503
Wrong Iron on the Greenway is perfect for gameday viewing and friendly hangouts. They offer tons of draft beer, delicious sandwiches, and frozen cocktails including the Bushwacker.
THREE MARIES JAZZ CLUB 621 St. Louis St. (504) 529-7045
Best Patio Bar oNe oF tHe Best Dog-FrieNDly Bars oNe oF tHe Best Beer selectioNs oNe oF tHe Best Bars (MiD-city)
3532 Toulouse sT. New orleaNs
3532 Toulouse St, New Orleans
(504) 302-0528
wrongiron.com
Go Saints! Saints Preview // August 2026
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FILM REVIEWS
// FRITZ ESKER + DAVID VICARI
The Odyssey
// FRITZ ESKER
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omer’s The Odyssey is one of the foundational texts of world literature. It’s been taught in schools for generations, but there hasn’t been a definitive cinematic adaptation of the entire text. 2024’s The Return starring Ralph Fiennes is good, but it focuses solely on Odysseus’ return to Ithaca. It got the miniseries treatment in 1997, but the full story hasn’t received its due in theaters until now with Christopher Nolan’s excellent take on it. For those unfamiliar with the story, Odysseus (Matt Damon) leaves his wife Penelope (Anne Hathaway) and his newborn son Telemachus (played by Tom Holland as a young man) to fight in the Trojan War. After a 10-year stalemate, Odysseus’ Trojan Horse trickery wins the war for the Greeks; however, the journey home is beset by bad weather, a cyclops, a whirlpool, giant knights, a six-headed monster, a witch, and more. Odysseus and his men often end up being their own worst enemies. Meanwhile, suitors (led by Robert Pattinson) in Odysseus’ home in Ithaca have essentially forced their way into his house and are eating his food every night in an attempt to pressure Penelope into marrying one of them. For a movie that runs just shy of three hours, The Odyssey carries its runtime remarkably well.
In an era where so many movies seem padded and overlong, The Odyssey feels justified in its length. The epic poem doesn’t emphasize the psychological toll the journey takes on Odysseus, but the slaughter of the Trojans, the loss of his men, and the length of time away from his family all steadily eats away at him, and the film conveys that skillfully. The Odyssey is also a very brutal story, and Nolan correctly made this an R-rated enterprise. It has to feel ugly at times. There may not be a single standout amongst the performances, but all the main players are very good. In an era where some big-budget spectacles still somehow manage to look very cheesy, The Odyssey looks fantastic. It’s meant to be seen on a big screen, preferably in 70mm or IMAX. Christopher Nolan continues to remind moviegoers that big-budget entertainment and artistic merit can still go hand-in-hand.
O
nce again, Disney is terrorizing us with a live-action movie adapted from one of their beloved animated films. 2016’s Moana is a delight, but this liveaction remake, while serviceable, is rather soulless. The title character in this musical adventure is a teenage girl who lives on the Polynesian island of Motunui with her tribe. When crops begin to die and fishing produces few catches, Moana discovers that she must find the powerful pounamu stone and return it to Te Fiti, the goddess of nature who is the living island. Moana takes to the ocean to first track down Maui, the wily shape-shifting demigod of the wind and sea who had once stolen the stone a thousand years ago but eventually lost it. Portraying Moana is Catherine Laga’aia, and she is pretty bland in the role. In the actress’ defense, a lot of the Disney teenage protagonists are fairly vanilla. The film does come to life when Dwayne Johnson, as Maui, and Rena Owen, as Moana’s grandmother, are on screen. Johnson is
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reprising his role from the animated film, and his performance here is sometimes genuinely funny but sometimes awkward when he is trying to match the rapid-fire delivery from the animated movie. The songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Opetaia Foa'i still work, and the cast can all sing. The real culprit is the slack pacing. This version is approximately 10 minutes longer than the animated version, but it feels more like 30 minutes longer. It’s kind of funny to call this “live-action” since it is mostly real actors in front of green screens that smother them in CGI. Stick with the animated Moana. // DAVID VICARI
Photos from top: courtesy of Universal Studios, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Moana
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TALES FROM THE FRENCH QUARTER // DEBBIE LINDSEY
Love Or Lunacy
A
new guy started working with us. We’ll call him “J.” J came from Texas last year for Jazz Fest, went back, and saved money so that he could move here. Like so many of us, J drank the water. As we all know, once you drink the water here, you’re never gonna be satisfied living anywhere else. J says it was “the vibe” here that made him think that this is where he belongs. I say it was the water. I took an immediate liking to J. He’s friendly, funny, smart, and easy to get along with, so I exercised my right as a Who Dat national to hip him into what he needs to know as a new New Orleanian. The first thing I asked him was whether he read books. You know, so many young folks don’t. When he answered in the affirmative, I began my tutelage—this over the course of our initial weeks working together. First, the book Why New Orleans Matters by Tom Piazza, “a passionate and critical look at the city’s unique culture. Spirit and deep-seated problems written in the wake of Hurricane Katrina.” Along with that, a most revered copy—my very own, in fact—of Sara Roahen’s Gumbo Tales: Finding My Place at the New Orleans Table; the most comprehensive book I’ve found to learn about our local foods. Then, Frenchmen, Desire, and Good Children And Other Streets of New Orleans by John Churchill Chase, for when he’s curious about our street names. Finding out that J is vegan put a pause for “retrointernal-spection” in my sussing him out about our food culture. It’s okay if he don’t “dig the pig,” but what about crawfish, ersters, swimps, roast beef po-boys, fish frys, ed-cetera? Potato salad, turkey necks, andouille sausages, and turducken? Whatcha gonna do with a boy like that, especially when we work in a restaurant that prepares and sells dead animals to be consumed by hungry people? Good Time Eatin’ In Cajun Country by Donna Simon fills the bill, is completely vegan, and is very Cajun. I also gave him a list of places around town that are friendly to those friendly enough to animals not to eat them—there are many. I told him about the New Orleans Community Resource Guide, available at libraries and online—40 pages of free and affordable services that we have here. Next, his interest in our local spices and seasoning flavors had me donate a bottle of Creole Crack, that beloved spice blend from Kitchen Witch, which of course, now, he swears by. Although, I did follow up with the Creole/Cajun bible of cooking— Paul Prudhomme’s Louisiana Kitchen, which not only contains all basic Creole/Cajun recipes but his spice blends, 22 in all, there to peruse, examine, and duplicate. A vegan can adapt recipes to suit their tastes.
He also found favor in my favorite knife—KIWI brand—that I get for real affordable prices down the road from Dong Phuong Bakery, a place for vegan bánh mì, on Chef Menteur Highway in the little grocery stores that service the locals. I conversed with him about bicycle thieves, automobile towing, stinging caterpillars, termite swarms, and our eight months of summer, very important for new folks moving here. I schooled him on the pronunciation of Tchoupitoulas and told him that he needs to be able to spell it out loud, and quickly, if he was ever to fit in. There’s a lot of stuff I feel that I need to impart, like where to find free city swimming pools, exercise facilities, music and dance lessons, NORDC, etc. There is s**t new people need to be schooled on. If he’s ever in a bar and someone asks, “Are you a turtle?” The proper answer is an enthusiastic, “You bet your sweet ass I am.” If you don’t answer correctly, you have to buy a drink for the questioner. It’s a tradition here and across the country going back to WWII that I don’t understand and haven’t seen practiced in years, but you never know. WWOZ membership, Allen Tousaint, Doctor John, the Meters, Mardi Gras Indians, Dirty Linen Night, voter registration, library cards, museum memberships, Super Sunday, second lines, red beans on Monday, and Irma Thomas. Things that we learned by osmosis that someone should write a guide for the “Who Dat New Dat”—anyone out there? Alligators in Bayou St. John, hurricane prep, timid possums, and pesky palmetto bugs. Great places for adult beverages, pool tables, dart boards, and, yes, hatchet throwing. Coffee shops, bakeries, yaka-mein, those monk parrots, and the plethora of other birds found flitting citywide—making friends with crows is very important. The streetcar, book stores, king cakes and Carnival season, music clubs, and festivals of every kind. All up for conversation. J is gonna have to find his own way around and, no doubt, will come up with many ways to fit in and be strange but not a stranger. He’ll, no doubt, discover things in the Marigny, Bywater, Uptown, Magazine Street, Oak Street, the French Quarter, and the many out of the way places that we all have come to love and enjoy. New Orleans is home to me, and I am aware of all the quirks, fantastic fallacies, and foibles that make our city one of a kind. The northernmost Caribbean city and not really part of the rest of the country, even though we’re sometimes punished for being weirder than dirt and proud of it. J will find that New Orleans is not only a city that you live in but a city that will live in you. P.S. The next book for J: A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole. Where y’at, J?
“Fun is the best way of having a good time.” —The Barking Duck Society, New Orleans, 1972
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Rock The Vote
I
love to vote—love, love, love to vote. I can recall, often with great detail, my voting enthusiasm, and the elections that I had the pleasure of being a participant in. I am certain I voted in my home town, but the details of voting centers and candidates elude my memory. I do remember registering at Mobile’s City Hall, and I seem to recall this was a school excursion into becoming a “complete citizen.” How can you consider yourself a member of a democracy if you aren’t a card-carrying registered voter? Now, don’t mistake me for a flag waving patriot—not then, not now; however, I have always enjoyed attempts to better things through involvement. Was I the most informed voter? No. Am I now, all these years later, fully informed on politics and community issues? No. Yet, I take it seriously. I ask questions and tap into the expertise and knowledge of fellow voters who are in the know and that I trust. Also, I am a news nerd. This love of voting helps to spark my interest and involvement and holds my feet to the fire to be better informed. Election Day is when I prefer to cast my vote. There is an energy I feel on these days. The only time I ever early-voted was during COVID, and that was because I feared that, with my luck, I would catch the COVID cootie, have to quarantine, and miss the election. I must say the energy level that day we voted early was sky-high. It rivaled the fun of a Jazz Fest line. Similarly, I will never forget my first presidential election as a New Orleanian. It was 1992, and my polling place was a church close by. I was gonna be the first person in line to vote. I arrived early, but guess who beat me there? The pastor. Okay, he did have an advantage over me. He had connections. He had the keys. At least I was in good company. I was determined in 2008 to be the first in my precinct to cast a vote for Obama. Up before daybreak and armed with my ID, registration card, positive attitude, and a box of doughnuts—this is a known fact that poll watchers love doughnuts. I was gonna be a part of history that day. Well, I am delighted to say I didn’t get to be first in line. There was a line of voters waiting for the doors to open. Obama was not alone in making history that day— large numbers of New Orleans voters said “no” to voter apathy.
Growing up during segregation, I never thought this day would come. I was dancing on air all day. When thinking about the timelines of civil rights, voting rights, and civic freedoms, I can’t help but become angry. My giddiness surrounding getting to vote is supplanted with annoyance and a resounding, “Why aren’t more people voting?” We all have either lived through the dark ages of voter suppression and discrimination or, if you are younger than myself, asked your grandparents and great grandparents about what they went through. Times are currently repeating those dark days— fight back with your vote. A person makes time for an oil change for their car but can’t be bothered to perform civic maintenance. Young people can’t wait for their rite of passage—getting a driver’s license. This is an easy opportunity to register right then and there, but where are they on Election Day? Some do vote but not the turnout we need. The same opportunity to register goes for any new residents going to the OMV to get a Louisiana driver’s license. Already got your driver’s license? Cool. Now spend the same amount of time you allot for washing your car on the world around you. You take pride in detailing and putting a shine on that car, so take pride in having your voter ID in that wallet of yours. Also, there are no valid excuses. “Oh I am so busy. I don’t have time to vote.” Bullocks. Polls are open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for Saturday elections. Tuesday elections are from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., and handicapped folks are allowed to move to the front of the line. Also, there is early voting and mailin-voting. Go online to geauxvote.com for tons of information. Win, lose, or draw, just please vote. I don’t want to hear one more, “Why vote?” It is rarely a serious query but rather a dismissive response, a regurgitation of apathy and societal laziness. Get on board and be a part of your community, your country. We want you. Republican or Democrat– your choice—just show the world we believe in a democracy. Make no mistake, the world is watching America right now. “The vote is precious. It is the most powerful non-violent tool we have in a democratic society, and we must use it.” —John R. Lewis
“The vote is the most
powerful instrument ever devised by human beings
for breaking down injustice and destroying the terrible
walls which imprison people because they are different from others.”
—President Lyndon B. Johnson
Think Globally And Locally // EMILY HINGLE
Photos from top: courtesy of James Karst, Global New Orleams
The Far Reach of Global New Orleans As a major port city located on the southern coast of the U.S., the United States Information Agency saw value in creating an office in New Orleans and five other cities to act as International Welcome Centers when the Cold War began with a mission “to understand, inform, and influence foreign publics in promotion of the national interest and to broaden the dialogue between Americans and U.S. institutions, and their counterparts, abroad.” The USIA folded into the Department of State in 1999, and the work for the New Orleans office, renamed Global New Orleans, continued and expanded. Executive Director Laila Bondi summarized the nonprofit’s work, “We are coordinating international exchange programs through the State Department. For 80 years, we’ve been welcoming visitors. When we say exchange programs, people think we’re talking about students. We’re mostly talking about professionals. Sometimes they’re as young as 25, sometimes they’re in their 60s. They’re doing incredible things in their country.” Director of Programs Chelsea Brauwn continued the thought, “The main program that we run is the International Visitor Leadership Program, which is a public diplomacy program from the Department of State where these individuals don’t go through an application process. Their local US embassy recognizes that they’re an emerging leader and selects them for a specific exchange project within this program. Some of the alumni that have come out of this program are current world leaders or past world leaders.” Global New Orleans’ impressive International Visitor Leadership Program doesn’t specifically cater to politicians. One cohort in 2026 was composed of Indonesian-based professionals for a program entitled Asserting Maritime Sovereignty. Brauwn stated, “When you think about national security, long-term national security diplomacy, the South China Sea is a hot spot internationally speaking, particularly with some of North Korea’s developments," These are relationships that can help sustain national security interests.”
The bonds being forged between the international visitors and Louisiana citizens they are paired with is more than just a good will mission. It is strategic. “The point of these programs is definitely professional development and networking, but it’s also to understand the United States in a way that’s different from seeing it in movies,” Bondi explained. “This is not just an altruistic thing. It’s part of the national security strategy. The government knows that paying for these programs means that we’re building relationships with people who are emerging leaders in their countries. Now or 10, 15 years from now, they’ll be leading their countries, writing national security strategies, and negotiating foreign trade policy.” People who are chosen by U.S. embassies to spend time in New Orleans are linked with individuals and institutions that can assist and inspire them in the work they’re doing in their country. The Professional Fellowship initiatives allow international guests an even deeper dive into research. Bondi explained, “In the past three years, we’ve really expanded our portfolio and added fellowships, which are amazing. The IVLP recipients come here for a few days. With the fellows, they come here for a month. Our job is to find someone that they can work with for the month that they’re here. We just had Mario Gomez, founder of Rosalind Lab in Mexico, who started creating rapid diagnostic testing for home use for HPV to prevent cervical cancer. He was placed with Tulane’s Zwezdaryk Lab to develop the next generation of translational molecular diagnostics. Camila Castro Grinstein from Argentina, founder of eTimo, makes materials out of recycled coffee grounds. She’s working with GroundsKrewe to make totally biodegradable Mardi Gras beads.” Brauwn expounded on Grinstein’s partnership, “GroundsKrewe is going to be exhibiting in Argentina very soon to check out her manufacturing facility so that they can potentially launch a satellite program hosted in Argentina to create these new beads and then find a way to replicate that manufacturing process here in New
Orleans.” In 2025, with the hopes of involving more New Orleans citizens in their work, the organization began the Global Explorers Program for adults to travel to places where Global New Orleans has existing relationships and the Global Leadership Academy for local students to learn how to navigate international relationships and collaboration. “We fundraised just enough to make it a full-year program for our students where they learn about what diplomacy is and why it’s important, international relations careers, public speaking skills, and that being a global citizen is also about being a citizen of your community,” Bondi said. Global New Orleans promotes “essential diplomacy” through all of their programming and events. Bondi explained this concept as “the kind of diplomacy that can’t happen without having a conversation with a local in the community or sharing some of their food to say that we’re different, but we’re all the same.” Brauwn added. “This organization is so human-to-human and operated by nonprofits for a reason, so that people can have human-to-human conversations about these objectives that they’re on. Because of that, they’re able to meet real Americans and not just bureaucrats. If somebody does have a bit of reticence, once they arrive and meet American citizens, it’s a very different impression than they get from bureaucracy. It’s something that we keep at the heart of our mission: recognizing that what we’re doing is affecting real people. And it’s affecting real Louisianians, real New Orleanians. We keep that in mind in every step of our programming.” Everyone is invited to join Global New Orleans, their visitors, and fellows at their public events to lend some Louisiana hospitality and New Orleans flair that will travel all over the globe.
Saints Preview // August 2026
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