June 2026: Summer Restaurant Guide

DINING • MUSIC • EN TERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE

DINING • MUSIC • EN TERTAINMENT • NIGHTLIFE

Summer

RESTAURANT GUIDE

LETTER

PUBLISHER from the

Bon appétit. Enjoy this Summer Restaurant Guide featuring some of the hottest spots in the Crescent City. Find a restaurant featured in this issue, and try someplace new.

Happy 80th to Brennan’s Restaurant. This legendary locale, famous for inventing Bananas Foster, is celebrating with special menus and more. Emily Hingle chats with Ralph Brennan about the Brennan family history within the New Orleans restaurant scene.

Speaking of famous local food families, Carrie Sagen-Severino interviews Emeril Lagasse about the passing of the torch to his son E.J. You’ll also love Kim Ranjbar’s profile of Frank and Marna Brigtsen as their restaurant, Brigtsen’s, celebrates 40 years of serving classic Creole cuisine.

Juneteenth is commemorated with Kimmie Tubré’s piece on how New Orleans Black folks find ways to be resilient during moments of oppression. In addition, Jeff Boudreaux explores movies for Juneteenth with his look at classic Black cinema shot in New Orleans.

We also want to welcome new Creative Director Christopher Grim to the team. His extensive experience in branding and artistic direction is an exciting compliment to the evolution of Where Y’at.

– Josh Danzig, Publisher

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Josh Danzig

Creative Director: Christopher Grim

Executive Editor: Burke Bischoff

Assistant Editor: Donald Rickert

Movie Editors: David Vicari, Fritz Esker

Contributing Writers: Jeff Boudreaux, Kevin Credo, Emily Hingle, Peyton Kullander, Phil LaMancusa, Debbie Lindsey, Tim McNally, Kim Ranjbar, Carrie Sagen-Severino, Kimmie Tubré, Beauregard Tye

Cover: Brennan's Bananas Foster photo credit: Randy Schmidt

Director of Sales: Jim Sylve

Photographers and Designers: Burke Bischoff, Gustavo Escanelle, Emily Hingle, Kim Ranjbar, Robert Witkowski

Interns: Melody Daniels, Davis Hopper, Robert "Drew" Hudson, Cassidy Meehan, Sydni Sanders, Alya Satchu, Aaliya Weheliye

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Logo ©2026 All rights reserved Bruce Betzer, Legal Counsel: (504) 304-9952

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

80th Happy

Birthday

To Brennan's from Ralph Brennan

// EMILY HINGLE

Brennan’s began its storied life as a gibe between Arnaud “Count” Cazenave, proprietor of Arnaud’s, and Owen Brennan, proprietor of the Old Absinthe House.

Shortly after opening its doors on Bourbon Street in 1946, Brennan’s Restaurant became a staple eatery, particularly for breakfast and lunch. The restaurant moved into a larger space on 417 Royal St., its current home. The cheery pink facade welcomes guests from near and far daily and all leave happy and well fed.

Owen Brennan’s nephew, Ralph Brennan, was born just six years after Brennan’s opened, and it was a constant in his life. He recalled, “I grew up there as a child. I used to go to dinner there with my Aunt Adelaide and my Aunt Ella. What I remember is we would go see a movie at the Saenger, the Lowe’s, or the Joy when they were all movie theaters, and then they’d take me to Woolworth’s and buy me a little something to play with, and then we’d go to the restaurant. They would work, and I would play around the building and stay out of everybody’s way. My mom, Claire, used to take us there during Mardi Gras, and we would sit upstairs at a table by the window and do our homework, have dinner, and wait for the parades to come by. The parades were much different. They were smaller and they would come through the Quarter. Then my mother would have us go give out beads to the people in the restaurant. Mom was a big fan of Mardi Gras.” This special attention to customer experience stuck with Brennan throughout his career.

As Brennan’s in the French Quarter

and Commander’s Palace in the Garden District were family-run restaurants, many Brennan family members started their careers at them before branching out into other eateries, but they all began their work in the kitchen. “I started working there when I was in high school, [at] about 12 years old. I worked as a prep cook. My first job there was peeling shrimp and boning chickens,” Brennan remembered. He was soon promoted through other back of house and front of house positions.

“They taught me how to poach eggs and make hollandaise sauce—two very important items at Brennan’s.”

Photo courtesy of Randy Schmidt

Brennan’s is as fresh as ever. Adventurous menu items appear for holidays and special occasions, beckoning even those who are regulars to come try something new. Brennan is happy to be one of the bosses to taste and approve of these items. “Our philosophy is it’s nice to keep things changing because it makes us focus on guest experiences. I just don’t want us to get stale.” Brennan’s Aunt Ella instilled this ethos. “My Aunt Ella, who was very close to me and helped me a lot in my younger days, always was concerned about not continuing to grow and develop and getting stale. She always strived to keep the restaurants fresh and new to some degree, always improving and innovating. That’s what we instilled in Brennan’s and it’s true in all my other restaurants. Obviously we have the traditional breakfast items, but we also have a lot of contemporary dishes.”

“When I was young, dinner was not a busy meal period at Brennan’s and that continued through my cousin’s tenure there,” he explained. “After we took over, we decided that breakfast should be what it was because

New Orleans. And I’m very happy to make guests happy. We honor our roots in Creole and Cajun food here in South Louisiana and our fresh Gulf seafood, but it’s the way it’s prepared. There’s a lot more diversity in New Orleans cuisine than you would have seen when I was young, which is exciting. We just don’t want to have a notebook full of old standards.“

From top: courtesy of Randy Schmidt; Simoneink llc

2026 Summer Restaurant Guide

AMERICAN

Anita’s Grill brings American flavors to the Warehouse District neighborhood with a lively atmosphere and menu packed with Southern flavors. Breakfast options include steak & eggs, a biscuit breakfast sandwich, and pancake and waffle options. They also offer a variety of po-boy dishes, including the hamburger po-boy and the liver & onion po-boy. 833 Howard Ave., (504) 354-8979, anitasgrillnola.com

Bearcat Café is a popular destination known for its health-conscious options and comfort dishes. The menu offers “good cat” and “bad cat” options, differentiating from more health-conscious to heavier dishes. Specific options include the “good cat” mushroom soft scramble and vegan ranchero, as well as the “bad cat” shrimp & grits, breakfast club sandwich, and crab scramble. Multiple Locations, bearcatcafe.com

Commons Club offers a contemporary dining experience inside the Virgin Hotels New Orleans. The menu highlights modern American cuisine, featuring seasonal ingredients and creative presentation. Food options include charcuterie boards, Wagyu steak fries, truffle campanelle pasta, burrata, and lobster scampi. The atmosphere is bright and vibrant, making it 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 known for old-school charm and prime-aged beef since 1934. Family-owned for generations, it delivers classic steakhouse fare in a nostalgic setting. Specific steak options include the rib eye, filet wrapped in bacon, strip sirloin, and cowboy rib eye. The restaurant also serves seafood, potatoes, and vegetables á la carte. 1001 N. Broad St., (504) 821-3271, crescentcitysteaks.com

Daisy Dukes Restaurant delivers delicious Southern comfort food in a lively and casual setting. Known for their filling breakfasts, po-boys, and New Orleans favorites, it offers big portions in an authentic Southern atmosphere. Specific menu options include French toast, breakfast sandwiches, and country fried steak with gravy served with eggs, hash browns, or a biscuit. Multiple Locations, daisydukesrestaurant.com

Desi Vega’s Steakhouse is a spot for classic, high-quality steaks served in an upscale setting. Known for its elegant atmosphere, the restaurant serves traditionally Southern flavors with a modern touch. Be sure to try the rib eye & fries served with whipped bearnaise. Seafood options include the jumbo LA shrimp Creole and Louisiana crawfish bisque. 628 St. Charles Ave., (504) 523-7600, desivegasteaks.com

Legacy Kitchen’s Craft Tavern blends elevated American comfort food with an industrial tavern atmosphere in the Warehouse District. Their brunch menu offers crawfish & egg beignets and the

Bananas Foster waffle with whipped cream and honey butter. The main menu offers favorites including a BBQ pulled pork sandwich and the redfish St. Charles, served with asparagus and crawfish cornbread. 700 Tchoupitoulas St. #3612, (504) 613-2350, legacykitchen.com

Legacy Kitchen’s Steak + Chop brings delicious steakhouse fare to the Westbank. In addition to plenty of craft cocktails and fine wines, the restaurant offers hot plate specials from Monday to Friday. Menu options include the chicken & waffle, a “build your own burger,” and trout amandine. They also offer many different cuts of steak such as center cut top sirloin. 91 Westbank Expy., Gretna, (504) 513-2606, legacykitchen.com

Luke is known for a refined take on French and German-inspired cuisine, served in a brasserie-style setting. Known for classic preparations of oysters and seafood dishes, options for breakfast include the LA crawfish omelette and the crispy fried chicken biscuit, along with dinner entrees including 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 barbeque in a casual setting. Popular for its catering packages, its relaxed atmosphere and hearty quality make it a great spot for a satisfying meal. The menu features pulled pork, smoked chicken, and fried catfish platters with cornbread. 1101 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, (504) 407-3533, moesoriginalbbq.com

New Orleans Vampire Café brings a theatrical approach to dining with a gothic, vampire-inspired setting and menu. The atmosphere is mysterious, with dishes that blend New Orleans flavors with vampire-esque presentation. They offer drinks with sangria, vodka pomegranate lemonade, and more prepared in ghastly blood bag packaging. Food options include the alligator po-boy and shrimp & grits. 801 Royal St., (504) 581-0801, nolavampirecafe.com

All photos: courtesy of Sydni Sanders & Melody Daniels

JB's Fuel Dock

Crescent City Steaks

Rib Room is a classic French Quarter 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, mustardfried flounder, Cajun corn ribs, and more. The turtle au sherry soup consists of baby spinach, egg, and lemon broth. 621 St. Louis St., (504) 529-7045, ribroomneworleans.com

Sala NOLA offers a savory dining experience with a focus on coastal Italian cuisine and fresh seafood. Specific menu options include the house cured salmon board, veal parmesan, blackened catfish topped with crab meat, and chicken caprese The restaurant also offers breakfast, weekend brunch, happy hour, and steak nights. 124 Lake Marina Dr., (504) 513-2670, salanola.com

Spudly’s Super Spuds specializes in loaded baked potatoes packed with toppings. The menu also includes starters, soups, salads, burgers, and sandwiches. Potato options include the traditional spud with cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, and chives. The Super Duper MKT is stuffed with crabmeat, shrimp, and crawfish topped with cheese sauce, cheddar, and chives. 2609 Harvard Ave., Metairie, (504) 455-3250, spudlys.com

Vampire Apothecary offers cocktails and cuisine inspired by gothic themes and a rustic atmosphere of storytelling. Located in the French Quarter, it specializes in creative cocktails crafted with unique presentation. Their food options are fresh and health-oriented. Dishes include baked salmon, tea brined chicken thighs, baked oysters, and dessert options such as the poached pear and the hazelnut chocolate dome. 725 St. Peter St., (504) 766-8179, vampireapothecary.com

ASIAN

Aroma Indian Cuisine offers traditional Indian dishes with a focus on bold spices and authentic preparation. The menu features favorites such as curries, biryani, and tandoori specialties. Its welcoming atmosphere and quality make it a reliable choice for both casual meals and exploring Indian cuisine. Specific options include the chili paneer, Chicken 65, and malai kofta Multiple Locations, aromanolaindiancuisine.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. Sushi options include the Diane roll with crabstick, avocado, and cream cheese, as well as the Fuji Mountain roll. The menu also 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 in a welcoming setting. The menu features classic items such as pad Thai, curries, and more prepared with Thai spices. Specific menu options include the Thai beef jerky, chicken satay, butter Thai shrimp, and the papaya salad. Its authentic approach to Thai cuisine makes it a mustvisit spot. 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, seafood po-boys, and boudin balls. The restaurant hosts daily music performances and is great for hanging out with a group of friends. 514 Frenchmen St., (504) 451-7306, bamboulasmusic.com

JB’s Fuel Dock offers waterfront dining with views of Lake Pontchartrain, making it a great choice for sunset views. The menu leans into seafood favorites, po-boys, and casual Italian dishes. Specific menu options include pepperoni or sausage calzones, JB’s BLT sandwich, and a good range of pizza options including buffalo chicken, jalapeno pepper, and margherita 128 S. Roadway St., (504) 510-2260, jbsfueldock.com

Le Bon Temps Roule is an Uptown bar offering live music, drinks, and New Orleans bar food. The establishment is open late and is always lively, making it a neighborhood staple for its authentic local atmosphere. Be sure to order their smash burgers including the mushroom Swiss or Oklahoma fried onion, the blackened mahi sandwich, and their loaded fries. 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.” The menu features tasty New Orleans fare, and the restaurant also hosts live music. Menu options include the Leaf Me Alone house salad, the Double R sandwich with bacon and ham, and the alligator sausage po-boy, which deliciously blends pork and alligator together. 3449 River Rd., Jefferson, (504) 834-4938, rivershacktavern.com

Swamp Room Bar & Grill, located over in Metairie, is a great bar and restaurant to hang out at. Not only is it home to the “swamp burger,” the restaurant also offers plenty of creative bites such as red beans & rice balls. They also have The Cypress Room, which is a private event space that can hold up to 250 people. 5400 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 888-5242, theswamproom.com

The Channel features American cuisine with a focus on seasonal ingredients. Located on Magazine Street, its traditional feel enhances a menu featuring seafood and shareable plates. On the menu is the Irish club sandwich, a triple decker sandwich with ham, turkey, and American cheese. They also offer fried green tomatoes and the shrimp, fish, chicken,

and oyster baskets. 2604 Magazine St., (504) 3814680, thechannelneworleans.com

CAFÉ

Kitchen Table Café is a neighborhood spot in Arabi where classic Southern meals meet a homestyle cooking dynamic. Food options include hearty meals such as the thick cut-center pork chop, the Asian flank steak, and a creamy alfredo pasta. 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 applewood bacon egg Benedict and their afternoon tea service with finger sandwiches, scones, assorted desserts, and unlimited tea refills. 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. Located on Magazine Street, it offers a laid-back space for brunch or evening drinks. The menu offers beignets and pastries served all day, flatbreads, and charcuterie. They also offer espresso martinis, beer and wine on tap, and Prohibition-era 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. Biscuit options include the fried chicken and tabasco honey biscuit and the bacon, egg, and pimento cheese biscuit. The menu also offers options including amazing avocado toast and a crawfish omelette. 611 O’Keefe Ave., (504) 5097334, willajean.com

CARIBBEAN

Jamaican Jerk House brings Caribbean flavors to New Orleans with a menu centered on traditional Jamaican dishes. From jerk chicken to curry goat, each plate is rich in authentic flavors. Specific menu options include their oxtail pasta, jerk shrimp plate, pork rib, and authentic jerk chicken served with rice & peas and two additional sides. Multiple Locations, jamaicanjerkhouse.com

ITALIAN

sauteed with rosemary and Italian seasoning. 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. On the menu, specific pizza options include the margherita, chicken pesto, and crawfish pizzas. They also serve garlic knots, delicious salads, and wood roasted wings. Multiple Locations, pizzadomenica.com

Venezia is a long-running Italian restaurant known for its extensive menu of pizzas, pastas, and comfort dishes. The atmosphere is casual and familyfriendly, making it an ideal spot for relaxed meals in New Orleans and Gretna. Specific menu options include the house special pizza with pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, and artichoke; fettucini alfredo; lasagna; and prime New York strip. Multiple Locations, venezianeworleans.com

MIDDLE EASTERN

Lebanon’s Café 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 options from hummus and falafel to grilled meats and vegetarian flavors. Specific choices include the safeheh mini pizza, zaater bread, and halloumi cheese. 1500 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 862-6200, lebanonscafe.com

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. The lively, upscale atmosphere pairs itself with a refined menu. Options include tutto carne and clam pizza, squid ink tagliolini with blue crab and herbs, and the 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. Specific menu options include the oysters Mosca, baked and topped with breadcrumbs, as well as the bordelaise pasta and the chicken cacciatore,

Mona’s Café brings Middle Eastern food to Mid-City with a menu focused on fresh, flavorful, and affordable dishes. Known for its sandwiches from the grill, the menu highlights bold spices and flavors. The menu is extensive with specific options including the gyro plate, chicken shawarma sandwich, hummus dip with peppers, meat grape leaves, and much more. 3901 Banks St., (504) 4827743, facebook.com/monasnola

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. Specific menu options include their lamb ragu hummus, crispy halloumi, crawfish arayes, and chicken schnitzel sandwich. It has a bright, modern atmosphere that makes it one of Uptown’s most acclaimed dining spots. 4213 Magazine St., (504) 943-7231, shayarestaurant.com

Rib Room

Bamboula's

Jamaican Jerk House

3rd Block Depot offers an upscale, modern take on Creole cuisine in the French Quarter, blending New Orleans flavors with modern presentation. The menu spans from brunch dishes, such as the morning quesadilla, buttermilk pancakes, and Chartres breakfast sandwich, to refined dinner entrées including the chicken & sausage gumbo, blackened redfish, and braised short rib. 310 Chartres St., (504) 552-4095, 3rdblockdepot.com

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 makes it a local spot for everyday dining. Specific menu options include the hamburger steak, crazy crab pasta, and delicious gumbo, in addition to their steak, rib, and po-boy dishes. 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. Its generous portions and their authentic flavors make it a go to spot for comfort food lovers. Specific menu options include the bayou scampi, bronzed drum fish, chicken & sausage gumbo with okra and tomato, and the crawfish étouffée served in a Cajun roux. 2309 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, (504) 8352022, 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, designed to complement rotating craft brews. Menu options include raw oysters, crispy chicken salad, and crabmeat hushpuppies. 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 in a classic New Orleans atmosphere. Their extensive menu offers gumbos, salads, po-boys, New Orleans specialties,

sonesta.com

Galliano puts a focus on Southern Louisiana and Cajun cuisine in an upscale and rustic environment. Appetizer options include the alligator Creole, seafood jambalaya, and Wagyu arancini. Their house specialties range from the swamp pasta with Gulf shrimp, andouille sausage, and fried alligator to the Wagyu po-boy cheese burger. They also offer an extensive list of cocktails and spirits. 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 deep-fried potato skins with cheese, fried mushrooms, a catfish po-boy, and chili cheese dogs. The atmosphere is laid-back, making it perfect for hanging out with friends. 8550 Pontchartrain Blvd., (504) 486-4887, lakeviewharbor.us

Lil’ Dizzy’s Café 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, it delivers comforting New Orleans dishes rooted in tradition. It has a deep local history and daily specials including red beans & rice on Monday and jambalaya with fried chicken on Wednesday. 1500 Esplanade Ave., (504) 766-8687, lildizzyscafe.net

All photos: courtesy of Sydni Sanders & Melody Daniels

NEW ORLEANS CUISINE

and dessert. Desire Oyster Bar features raw oysters, chargrilled oysters, and boiled shrimp in Cajun spices. 300 Bourbon St., (504) 553-2281,

Lil' Dizzy's Café

Desire Oyster Bar

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. Praline options include their coconut pralines, rum pralines, and chocolate pralines, in addition to praline shoe soles. Multiple Locations, lorettaspralines.com

Lyons Corner is a contemporary downtown café and bar that offers American classics with modern New Orleans energy. The menu consists of breakfast, lunch, and dinner options. Menu selections include the lamb lollipops with chermoula sauce, the chicken BLT flatbread, and the Camp catfish sandwich. For a pick-me-up, enjoy their iced chai latte or a cappuccino. 537 Gravier St., (504) 5270006, lyonscornernola.com

Mandina’s Restaurant is a Mid-City institution serving Creole-Italian dishes in a family-friendly setting. Known for its red gravy, seafood options, and large portions, their menu is comforting and traditional. Specific dishes include the Gulf fish meunière or almandines with fries, as well as po-boys and Italian specials including eggplant parmesan and spaghetti. 3800 Canal St., (504) 482-9179, mandinasrestaurant.com

Meril offers contemporary New Orleans cuisine in the Warehouse District. Visitors can enjoy brunch, lunch, and dinner options in an upscale, modern setting. The menu offers plates such as the Gulf yellowfin tuna bundles and candied pork ribs. Other entrees include the fettuccine with truffle butter and buttermilk fried chicken. 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 po-boys, breakfast plates, and daiquiris, it delivers classic flavors and is devoted to helping the community. Specific menu options include breakfast po-boys such as the bacon & egg po-boy, in addition to great catering options for any party. Multiple Locations, melbas.com

Mother’s Restaurant is a classic New Orleans 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. Menu favorites include the debris po-boy, crawfish étouffée omelet, and cheese grits with shrimp Creole. The eatery also has a large drink menu and fantastic homemade desserts. 401 Poydras St., (504) 523-9656, facebook.com/mothersrestaurant

New Orleans Creole Cookery offers local cooking traditions in a beautiful French Quarter setting. The menu highlights classic Creole cuisine with seafood offerings, jambalaya, and raw or chargrilled oysters that can be enjoyed in a quaint French Quarter courtyard. Specific menu highlights include Creole red beans & rice, catfish Decatur, and crawfish étoufféé. 510 Toulouse St., (504) 5249632, neworleanscreolecookery.com

Neyow’s Creole Café is a lively spot known for its Creole flavors and warm, neighborhood vibe. Signature dishes such as chargrilled oysters and hearty seafood plates draw customers seeking authentic tastes. The menu leans on New Orleans flavors with dishes including red beans, Southern fried chicken, shrimp on the avenue pasta, po-boys, and their redfish combination platter. 3332 Bienville St., (504) 827-5474, neyows.com

Mother's

Neyow’s XL expands on Neyow’s success with a larger space and more fine dining menu. Guests can look forward to seafood specialities and craft cocktails. It offers a variety of dishes including steaks, desserts, and an extensive drink menu. Specific dishes include classic soups, a seafood omelet, seared fillet of salmon, and the XL burger. 3336 Bienville St., (504) 503-1081, xl.neyows.com

Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar and Bistro combines a romantic ambiance with a menu of American and Creole dishes. The restaurant is tucked in a historic French Quarter building and features a courtyard and vast wine selection. Menu options include the Cajun surf & turf served with smashed potatoes and vegetables, the Creole pasta, 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. Popular with both locals and tourists, it offers hearty sandwiches, cold drinks, and a friendly vibe. Other menu options include the firecracker shrimp po-boy, crawfish bites, and the oyster BLT. The restaurant is an option for casual dining and for hanging on St. Patrick’s Day. 2533 Constance St., (504) 354-9079, facebook.com/ParasolsNOLA

Please U Restaurant is a local diner serving classic New Orleans breakfast and comfort food. Known for their traditional local dishes, the menu consists of hot plates including red beans & rice, baked chicken, gumbo, and seafood platters. Breakfast specials, served all day, include hot cakes with bacon, ham, or sausage; 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 paired with wine or craft cocktails. Dinner options include the chicken & mirliton rochambeau, the blackened scallops with potatoes and fennel pickles, filet mignon, and a list of toppings for steak dishes. 857 Fulton St., (504) 522-6863, restaurantrebirth.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 features options including the catfish po-boy, BBQ roast beef po-boy, and tasty gumbo. Short Stop is a fantastic spot for catering any special event. 119 Transcontinental Dr., Metairie, (504) 885-4572, shortstoppoboysno.com

Willie Mae’s NOLA offers famous, and hearty, Southern flavors. The restaurant has some of the best fried chicken in the country. The menu is extensive with highlights such as the Creole butter rotisserie chicken, catfish étoufféé, and fried chicken served with a choice of side and cornbread. Visitors can also enjoy an extensive wine and cocktail list. Reservations are recommended. 898 Baronne St., (504) 354-8194, williemaesnola.com

Willie Mae's

Meril From top: photos: courtesy of Sydni Sanders & Melody Daniels; Emeril's Homebase

SEAFOOD

Briquette offers a polished and inviting dining experience in the Warehouse District, specializing in contemporary and coastal dishes. The open kitchen and 18-inch seafood display highlight the day’s freshest seafood offerings. Dinner highlights include oysters Bienville en casserole with shrimp, pork belly, and mushroom dressing, as well as ahi tuna poke and blackened redfish. 701 S. Peters St., (504) 547-6330, briquette-nola.com

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. Specific menu selections include the stuffed crab, broiled stuffed flounder, and barbeque shrimp. The menu also features po-boys, boiled seafood, and gumbos. Multiple Locations, deanies.com

Delacroix offers a coastal Louisiana dining experience with an emphasis on fresh Gulf seafood. Located next to Spanish Plaza, the restaurant features a view of the Mississippi River. Seafood specialties include the osetra caviar with housemade ranch dressing and, when available, the jumbo Louisiana stone crab claws. Their savory alligator meat pie is served with smoked bacon and jalapeños. 1 Poydras St. Spc. 1005, (504) 655-9002, delacroixrestaurant.com

Drago’s Seafood Restaurant is known for originating chargrilled oysters and for seafood dishes that exemplify Louisiana flavors. The menu offers traditional seafood flavors and signature specialties in a lively, welcoming setting. Specific menu options include their original charbroiled oysters, grilled shrimp tacos, and fresh lobster. Try their crawfish fest, with crawfish tails served three ways. Multiple Locations, dragosrestaurant.com

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 seafood Louisiana is famous for. Menu options include a variety of oysters that come chargrilled or on the half-shell. The menu also offers soups, boiled seafood, and plenty of po-boys. Multiple Locations, felixs.com

Legacy Kitchen’s Tacklebox offers a New Orleans and Louisiana inspired menu in a refined yet casual locale. Shareable options include the seafood gumbo and the crawfish bread, and main dishes include the soft shell crab BLT and the Mainestyle shrimp roll. The restaurant offers happy hour and featured drinks, in addition to a raw bar for seafood lovers. 817 Common St., (504) 827-1651, legacykitchen.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. Specific menu features include seafood gumbo, the fried oyster platter, and a variety of pizza options. 7900 Lakeshore Dr., (504) 284-2898, thebluecrabnola.com

The Galley Seafood is a neighborhood favorite that offers fresh seafood and classic Louisiana dishes in Old Metairie. The environment is friendly, warm, and casual. Specific menu options include the cheese and crab meat jalapenos, fresh grouper, and their famous soft shell crab po-boy. Additionally, there are offerings that include seafood platters, chicken parmesan, and crawfish étouffée. 2535 Metairie Rd., Metairie, (504) 832-0955

Photo courtesy of Deanie's Seafood

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Passing the

Baton

Emeril Lagasse and His Son E.J. on Food, Family, and the Future of a New Orleans Legacy

// CARRIE SAGEN-SEVERINO

In New Orleans, food has always been more than something that lands on a plate. It is a tradition. It is family. It is stories passed down through generations, often told around a kitchen table or over a simmering pot of gumbo. Few families embody that spirit more than the Lagasses.

For more than three decades, the Lagasse name has been part of the city’s culinary fabric. For decades, Chef Emeril Lagasse has been one of the most recognizable figures in American cuisine and a defining voice in New Orleans dining. Now his son, E.J. Lagasse, is stepping forward, continuing a culinary legacy rooted in mentorship, curiosity, and a deep love for the city they both call home.

For E.J., that journey started early, long before professional kitchens or culinary school. “We did a lot of cooking together when I was younger,” E.J. said.

“There are some very early pictures of me peeling carrots, sitting on the countertop while Dad was making dinner. Food always brought us closer together.”

Growing up around restaurants meant kitchens and dining rooms were simply part of everyday life. “As I started working in the restaurants with him, that was a whole different side of it,” he said. “But food has always been instrumental for us.”

For Emeril, the moment when his son might follow in his footsteps did not happen overnight. It unfolded naturally as E.J. spent more time around the business. “He grew up in it,” Emeril

explained. “He would work the front, talk with guests, tell people what they should eat or what the specials were, but he always gravitated back to the kitchen.”

One particular memory stands out. During a tasting menu experience, the family shared a meal that would quietly shape E.J.’s future. “After tasting this duck dish, he turned to his mom and me and said, ‘I think I figured out what I want to do. I want to be a chef,’” Emeril recalled.

From there, E.J.’s culinary journey expanded well beyond New Orleans. He trained in demanding kitchens, including time with Chef Eric Ripert at Le Bernardin in New York, followed by culinary school at Johnson & Wales University and additional experience abroad in London and Sweden. “You eventually have to leave the nest,” Emeril said.

Those experiences helped shape E.J. not only as a cook but as a leader. Something that continues to inspire him, he said, is watching his father’s approach to the craft even after decades in the industry. “Something that inspires me every day about Dad is the way he’s always conducted himself in the kitchen,” E.J. said. “He’s such a wealth of knowledge, not just about cooking but about the business.”

However, it is his father’s curiosity that stands out most. “Even after doing this for so many years, he still comes in wanting to learn something new,” E.J. said. “I hope that, as my career goes on, I can keep that same curiosity.”

From top: courtesy Laura Steffan; Randy Schmidt

Today, father and son work closely together, continuing to shape the next chapter of Emeril’s Restaurant’s story. “We work really well together because we’re good listeners,” Emeril said. “I’m not going to say we never disagree, but it’s rare. When we do, we talk it through. These days, I’m here more as the coach and mentor.”

For E.J., having that guidance close by is invaluable. “One of the greatest parts of working together is being able to walk across the kitchen or into the office and ask for advice from someone who’s seen so much,” E.J. said.

“There’s such tremendous respect for the foundational cuisine of this city.”

Certain dishes, he explained, are essential. “You can’t come to a New Orleans restaurant without things like gumbo or trout amandine on the menu.”

For Emeril, arriving in New Orleans in the early 1980s opened a new world of culinary inspiration. “I never disrespected the tradition here,” he said. “I always embraced it.” Once you understand the classic dishes such as gumbo, jambalaya, or trout amandine, he explained, you can begin layering your own perspective onto that foundation.

Today, that blend of tradition and innovation continues to define their approach to cooking and hospitality. It also shapes how Emeril thinks about fatherhood and mentorship. “I think you have to let them be free and decide what direction they want to go in,” he said. “But I’m always a big believer in mentors.

You need someone you can look up to and learn from.”

For the Lagasses, that philosophy reflects a larger truth about family and the culture of New Orleans itself. “Family plays such a crucial role in the fabric of this city,” E.J. said. “You see so many family businesses here that have been around for decades.”

The Lagasse name has now been part of that culinary fabric for more than 36 years and they hope it will continue for many more. When asked what “passing the baton” means to him, Emeril said the answer comes down to watching the next generation take ownership of the craft. “For me, passing the baton means knowing it’s in good hands,” Emeril said. “Seeing the passion and dedication he has for the craft makes me incredibly proud.”

For E.J., carrying that legacy forward is both an honor and a responsibility. “It’s the privilege of a lifetime to do this in New Orleans,” he said. “But the greatest privilege of all is being able to do it together.”

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A Matter of Perception: Brigtsen’s Restaurant

Revisiting restaurants covered years ago to see what’s changed or what’s deliciously stayed the same.

Ithink the most obvious changes are not at the restaurant itself but the city in general,” said Frank Brigtsen, chef and co-owner of Brigtsen’s Restaurant. “I say that is because of the altered perspective in the way that people might view Brigtsen’s.”

Marking the restaurant’s 40th anniversary, this year, Brigtsen was recently hailed by Food & Wine Magazine as “a leader in the New Orleans culinary scene, preserving the rich history and flavors of Creole cooking,” but his cuisine was viewed through a different lens when the Riverbend restaurant first opened.

Food critic Gene Bourg had no lack of praise for Brigtsen’s when it opened, granting it a nigh unattainable "five beans" and gushing about every morsel to pass through his lips from a dish of blackened prime rib of “unassailable quality” with a “marvelous” herbal crust to a “spectacularly good” banana ice cream; however, the young chef was astonished to read Bourg’s claim that Louisiana cooking was “redefined” at Brigtsen’s. “I was like whoa, wait. What? Is that what I’m doing?

// KIM RANJBAR

“I like to keep one foot firmly rooted in the past and one foot looking forward, and that’s really a joyful stance.”

I’m just doing what I do,” Brigtsen laughed. “Now, 40 years later, I’m viewed more as the traditionalist who

carries the torch for classic Creole cuisine, but I’m still doing the same thing.” Doing what he does, Brigtsen reflects that the demographics of New Orleans has changed a lot over the years but most notably after Hurricane Katrina, an event which quite literally ripped hundreds of thousands of longtime residents from their homes, never to return. “This vacuum was filled by people from elsewhere and it changed the complexion of our population,” Brigtsen said.

This major upheaval in our city’s culture was, in part, what inspired Brigtsen to begin teaching at Nicholls State University in Thibodeaux, where he spent 17 years teaching a culinary course on Creole and Acadian food, and he began offering classes at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts in 2011 when the high school established its culinary school. “I recognized then that I was indeed a traditionalist. I want to preserve Creole/Cajun cuisine and teach what I know, what Paul Prudhomme taught me.”

While many of the dishes at Brigtsen’s are an obvious homage to Creole cuisine, as well as the recipes and techniques of his mentor, Brigtsen confides that his creative dishes are often the product of circumstance. “I had some

All

photos: James Owens

leftover duck, and I wanted to do something different with it, and I decided to make a duck calas [and] served it with an orange [and] Creole mustard sauce,” Brigsten explained. “Calas are on my menu everyday in one form or another. We serve shrimp calas with our BBQ shrimp, and we have an appetizer of crawfish calas during crawfish season.”

Calas are fried rice fritters or rice doughnuts that were sold from covered baskets carried by Creole women and free people of color in the French Quarter in the 17th and 18th century. “I love having calas on the menu because every time someone asks what they are, we get to tell the story,” Brigsten said. “The historical significance of that is powerful to me.”

Running an economical, sustainable kitchen with little or no waste was instilled in Brigtsen long before he began cooking with Prudhomme. One such story he likes to tell is how his father insisted on French bread with every meal, but by the end of the week, there would be stale heels of bread stashed on top of the refrigerator. “If there was enough, on Sunday nights, my mother would make bread pudding. It was a special dish for us.”

Over a decade ago, the menu at Brigtsen’s offered dishes such as crab and corn bisque, smoked Muscovy duck with andouille cornbread, and banana bread pudding with a pecan praline sauce. Today, Brigtsen’s menu features shrimp remoulade with guacamole and deviled eggs, roast duck with a tart dried cherry sauce and dirty rice, and figgy bread pudding with dreamsicle sauce. He loves to change things up to coincide with what’s in season or to incorporate flavors from different cuisines, but he never fails to fall back on the classics.

“I like to keep one foot firmly rooted in the past and one foot looking forward, and that’s really a joyful stance,” Brigsten said. “You don’t shut anything out and you embrace what’s coming, what’s in season, and what’s available. Have fun with it, create, and yet still make the gumbo and the trout meunière.”

Most recently, Brigsten announced his new cookbook titled Color of Flavor, set to be released in June. A self-published edition, the new cookbook is a

departure from the two Stay at Home limited edition electronic cookbooks the chef released during the pandemic shutdowns. Color of Flavor features gorgeous photos captured by Romney Caruso and was created in partnership with President of Blue Runner Foods Richard Thomas.

“We’ve been friends forever. He [Richard Thomas] came up to me one night a year ago and said, ‘Frank, do you want to write a cookbook?’ And I said, ‘Yes.’”

from a Former Server Etiquette

New Orleans has a plethora of restaurants, and dining out is integral to the city’s culture.

From Brennan’s to Turkey and the Wolf, there is sure to be somewhere to satisfy everyone’s appetites. That being said, some key points of etiquette are essential to making sure your server doesn’t spit in your food.

5. Be Careful with Your First Date Menu Choices

Here’s some advice from a former server:

1. No Snapping

This is not a poetry slam. Snapping at your server is possibly one of the rudest things you can do to your server. Not only does your server have to help other tables, but it snaps them out of their flow and can

Spaghetti and a white shirt is an obvious, “No,” but eating other messy foods such as a hamburger, gumbo, a po-boy, or even crawfish étouffée can land you in hot water and scrambling for a glass of soda water. Opt for something easier to eat like a salad or something with a limited amount of sauce.

// PEYTON KULLANDER

Photo courtesy of Cottonbro Studio

6. Know Your Limit

The last thing your server wants to do is have to awkwardly cut you off. Not only does over drinking lead to bad decisions but one becomes more clumsy, leading to knocked over glasses and yelling. This is also not an excuse to puke and rally in the bathroom, as your wretching will surely echo throughout the restaurant and alert everyone to what you’re doing.

7. Do Not Leave Your Table a Mess

Consensus is still out on whether you should stack your plates after your meal, but common courtesy is to not leave your table a mess. Please restrict your food to your plate and do not empty your purse’s contents on the table for your server to clean up. Also, leaving outside soda bottles is sure to build resentment from your server as they’ll see it as a missed tip.

8. Only Send Back Food One Time

We servers do want you to enjoy your meal, and we all have different tastebuds, but there is only so much we can do if you order something you don’t usually eat and don’t like it. Asking for a remake one time is fine, but if you’re still not satisfied, please take up your server’s offer of getting you something different.

9. Limit Modifications

If you don’t like tomato on your burger, that’s fine, but a lot of soups and sauces are made in batches and simply cannot be changed. Plus, too many modifications in your order increases the risk that your stoned line cook will mess something up. Please go easy on your kitchen staff, and don’t make them create a whole new menu item for you.

10. Don’t be Entitled

Unless you’ve made a sketchy restaurant choice, chances are that your server has multiple tables to handle and cannot wait on you hand and foot. Asking for copious refills or demanding an explanation of every menu item will increase the chance of your server getting in the weeds and resenting you.

11. Tip Your Server

This shouldn’t have to be said, but tip your server. While you may think that you’re saving $10, if everyone didn’t tip, that $2.13 service minimum wage will hit your server hard and they possibly won’t be able to pay their light bill. Karma is real, and what goes around, comes around.

With these tips in mind, go out and eat, drink, and be merry. We New Orleanians want you to enjoy your experience here. Just remember to not make an ass of yourself or else you might end up consuming someone’s spit.

Spill It:

The Truth About Sweet Tea

// TIM Mc NALLY

In America, if we are to properly define our country’s relationship with tea, we must go back to the very beginning of our history. In our schools, before anything was taught about math or language, we learned about the Founding Fathers and the Boston Tea Party, inheriting and implementing our love of tea, as strong as the love of England, one of our founding countries.

Still, in the Southern U.S., during the 19th century, we did develop something new with this ancient beverage. Thanks to our warm, humid climate, we came up with iced tea. It was then, at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis where ice tea was introduced and this now universally enjoyed version of the ancient Chinese hot beverage gained notoriety and acceptance.

The expansion of the embrace of tea in this new serving form as a common cure for thirst was not complete. Tea presented a number of contradictions to the consumer. Heat the water but then cool the water by adding ice cubes. Depending on the type of tea used in the preparation, many of which are quite tannic on the palate, lemon was added to soften this quality. Also, tea can be bitter, so sugar is often added to the final mix to make it more palatable. Despite this doubling back to correct the beverage's core attributes, tea remained popular.

At this point in our “tea tale,” enter Summerville, SC. A recipe book called Housekeeping in Old Virginia, published in 1879 and compiled by author Marion Cabell, caught the fancy of consumers, and a particular recipe for a sweetened tea was immediately adopted as a cool idea during a hot summer.

To be sure, the recipe was considered out of reach for the laboring class since ice was still somewhat reserved for those at the upper ranks, economy-speaking. It was not until the early 1920s that ice became more universally available.

A couple of societal developments came together at that time. The generation and distribution of electricity helped with making refrigerators a more common household appliance. Refrigerators, powered by electricity and able to provide a steady ice supply, presented more advantages to consumers over bulky ice-boxes, which required the physical delivery of the necessary core product.

Also at this time, which became known as the “Roaring ‘20s,” a prohibition of beverages made to yield alcohol went into universal enforcement. Iced and sweetened tea took on the mantle of accepted adult beverages with beer, wines, and spirits outlawed to manufacture, sell, and consume.

Even with the national repeal of the Volstead

Act in 1933, which set the prohibition of alcoholic beverages in 1928, tea lost none of its appeal. That appeal, particularly for sweetened iced tea, was felt most heavily in the Southern United States.

With the success of sweetened iced tea to the east of New Orleans, and with our area’s sometimes oppressive and uncomfortable climate, it was inevitable that we would want to take part in the movement—but it took awhile. We were, after all, focused on harder adult beverages. In truth, Prohibition was a very low road block to New Orleans’ love of party. Iced tea, and in particular sweetened iced tea, was a bit tame, and we’ve never really looked to the Eastern U.S. for guidance on how to party or eat or drink.

Our history and understanding of adult beverages and lifestyle items, as well as popular culinary delights, resides deeply here in our own history and DNA. Local ethnic directions, as well as our geographic location, have put us in our own space.

Order a refreshing glass of tea while dining in a restaurant or enjoying a beverage—whenever we refer to tea, it almost always is assumed to be iced tea—and there will likely be a resulting question, “Do you want sweet tea?”

That last inquiry is a relatively new addition to the clarification of what a customer desires.

After all, we have our own almost exclusive “menu vernacular.” To the New Orleans diner, a “dressed” sandwich is self-explanatory, as is “red gravy.”

“Mynez” communicates what condiment you want. “Hot sauce” refers to a Louisiana style of red, which is not of Mexican origin, and so on.

Then along comes that question from the server, “Do you want your tea sweetened?”

Let’s define that request. One of the best raw materials for the best type of iced tea is Earl Grey leaf. This style of tea is of the black tea family and is usually blended or infused with oil from the rind of the bergamot orange. Historically, there really was an Earl Gray, a British lord in the 1830s. Whether he actually championed this style of tea, or even tasted it prior to his death, is disputed. His Lordship never traveled to China, and, anyway, the bergamot orange is unknown in that part of the world.

Additionally, while tea was exported to South Carolina in the late 1700s, the earliest recipes for tea with ice, lemon, and sugar were not evident until 100 years later; However, the fact remains that tea, flavored with lemon and sugar and iced cold, is truly a perfect summer beverage.

New Orleans has a soft spot for sweet drinks. The real answer to the question from your server is how sweet you like your tea. Granulated sugar does not dissolve well or easily in cold liquid, so maybe allow the dining establishment you are patronizing to do the work and enjoy the sweetened iced tea all the way to its desired conclusion. Still, there are patrons who prefer to control

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Food News

Here we come a-waffling . . . New Orleansborn entrepreneur Jelani Hankins has launched Only Coffee, a pink pick-up window next to the late Habana Outpost, on the corner of Esplanade Avenue and Rampart Street. Serving specialty coffee drinks pulled from beans they imported from Brazil and Ethiopia and roasted “in-house,” the new coffee window is part of the Nur Coffee family, a top-rated specialty coffee concept in Salzburg, Austria and Berlin, Germany. Quality brews aside, only coffee’s biggest pull is the “waffolino,” the crazed concept of serving frothy cappuccinos in chocolate-lined waffle cones. A coffee catastrophe waiting to happen? You be the judge. 1040 Esplanade Ave., (504) 892-0508, only-coffee.us

How romantic . . . NOLA-based restaurant group Latter Hospitality recently launched Charles & Julia, a cocktail bar and rooftop terrace inside the Hotel Perle. Inspired by the fictional romance of a young couple who meet on a streetcar, or possibly because the hotel lies on the corner of St. Charles Avenue and Julia Street, Charles & Julia are two spaces joined in spirits as one. “When Hotel Perle approached us in 2025 and asked us to helm the food and beverage program for the hotel, we immediately saw an

opportunity to create something that felt deeply personal to New Orleans,” Mark Latter, founder and CEO of Latter Hospitality, said.

Downstairs, guests enter the wine and cocktail lounge with a seasonally driven menu of shareable small plates developed by Chef Marcus Woodham and executed by Chef de Cuisine Ubolratana “Aum” Wipop. Upstairs features a terrace with the atmosphere of a "European garden escape floating above the city."

757 St. Charles Ave., @charlesandjulianola

Silver Seafood Jubilee All congratulations to GW Fins, the French Quarter’s answer to excellent seafood, celebrating their 25th anniversary this year.

Owner Gary Wollerman opened his award-winning restaurant in 2001 and, over the years, has cultivated a “fin-forward,” fine dining establishment to rave about. Through developing years-long ties with local fishermen and Executive Chef Michael Nelson's sustainable practices and expert technique, GW Fins has evolved into a seafood dining destination, one that locals and visitors alike hope will stick around for another 25 years.

808 Bienville St., (504) 581-3467, gwfins.com

All in the family Matt Nguyen and Malachi Dupre, owners of downtown restaurant Kenji Omakase, have opened Kenji Kazoku, a new concept in Metairie. Teaming up with new partners Logan and Paris Jean, the Metairie Road restaurant is designed to be more approachable, featuring a cozier yet no less elegant everyday menu featuring dishes such as Texas Wagyu and crispy rice, toro toast, and grilled octopus served atop a corn purée. Not to shy away from a good thing, Kenju Kazoku also offers their spectacular dryaged Japanese fish once a week, omakase-style.

2929 Metairie Rd., Metairie, @kenjikazoku

Best bank bamboozle . . . Eastbank diners' hopes were dashed when Chicken’s Kitchen’s owner Marlon "Chicken" Williams dumped plans to lease a space in the CBD to buy his own expansive digs in Harvey. In an offer that seemed almost too good to be true, Williams scored a large, built-in space formerly known as the old Tunnel Club on Peters Road and now offers customers a lot more space to dine-in and feast on fried chicken and catfish, braised oxtails, lasagna, and roasted Cornish game hens with heaps of sides, everything from white beans and smothered okra to candied yams and his five star mac 'n' cheese.

921 Peters Rd. Harvey, @chickenskitchen2

Vamos a desayunar . . . What’s better than a dinner at James Beard Award finalist Ana Castro’s Acamaya Restaurant? Breakfast at James Beard Award finalist Ana Castro’s new Bywater spot Casimiro. Okay, it might not be better, but it sure is equally fantastic with dishes such as breakfast burritos and chilaquiles made with their spectacular house-made tortillas. Located on the corner of Louisa and Dauphine streets, a space which recently housed Alma Café, Casimiro is also the perfect spot to score a sweet summertime agüita de horchata or boozy, tomatobased micheladas and munch on warm tamales while watching the world walk by. 800 Louisa St., @casamironola

Twofer . . . Chef Kamil el Jaouhari and Wasim Jamhour have launched not one but two restaurants inside the building that was the longtime home to Schiro's Café in the Marigny. Located on the corner of Royal and St. Roch streets, the space now sports Habibi Lebanese Grill & Wine Bar and Royal Woodfired Pizza. It's two for the price of one, where guests can either inhale plates of grilled halloumi with gyro shawarma pita sandwiches or a classic pepperoni pie and a Caesar salad. 2483 Royal St., habibilebanesegrill.com, royalswoodfire.com

A dab will do ya . . . Crew, a New York-based restaurant group led by Alex and Miles Pincus, has come to the Big Easy and launched Holywater, a new French Quarter restaurant on Conti Street. Briefly home to Salon by Sucre, the historic, threestore building has been undergoing extensive renovations over the past year. Thankfully, beloved local chef Alex Harrell, formerly of Angeline, Elysian Bar, and the Gloriette, was tapped to lead the kitchen. Holywater's menu features lots of seafood specialties from charbroiled lobster frites and a fruit de mer tower to a ton of oysters sourced from all of our country's coasts. 622 Conti St., @holywater.nola

From top: photos courtesy of GW Fins; Sam Hanna; Kim Kimball

// KIM RANJBAR

GW Fins

GW Fins

Charles & Julia Kenji Kazoku

Charles & Julia

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FRIDAY, JUNE 26, 2026

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

MUSIC CALENDAR

SUNDAY, MAY 24

Bacchanal Wine Christien Bold, Noah Young Blue Nile Street Legends Brass Band

Bourbon O Bar Queta Cavalier

Chickie Wah Wah The New Orleans Jazz Vipers Empire Arlene MC

Gasa Gasa TsuShiMaMiRe

Joy Theater Curren$y

Polo Club David Boeddinghaus, Chore Boys

Saturn Bar Ramona and the Holy Smokes

Spotted Cat Music Club Treme Brass Band

The Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band

Tipitina’s Jon Cleary & the Absolute Monster Gentlemen

Mahogany Jazz Hall Tuxedo Jazz Band

Marigny Brasserie Legacy Jazz Band

Mayfield’s 208 Bourbon Kermit Ruffins

Polo Club David Boeddinghaus, Legatron Prime

Spotted Cat Aurora Nealand & the Inquiry Quartet

St. Roch Tavern Ramona and the Holy Smokes

The Maison Aurora Nealand

TUESDAY, MAY 26

Bourbon O Bar Big Mike, Nina Hungerland

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Le Bon Temps Roule The Soul Rebels

Peacock Room Da Lovebirds

Rock ‘n’ Bowl Leroy Thomas & the Zydeco

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3

Chickie Wah Wah Jim Lauderdale and the Game

Changers

No Dice Crush Diamond, Loose Helmet

MONDAY, MAY 25

21st Amendment James Beaumont

Bacchanal Wine Byron Asher

Bamboula’s Ted Hefko & the Thousandaires

BJ’s Lounge Washboard Chaz, Jonathan Freilich

Bourbon O Bar Kid Merv

Cafe Negril Keep It Rolling Brass Band

Chickie Wah Wah HaSizzle, TBC Brass Band

D.B.A. Corey Henry, Secret Six

Da Jump Off Lounge Sporty’s Brass Band Dos Jefes John Fohl

Fritzel’s Richard Scott, Tin Men

Apple Barrel Bubbles Brown, Jackson’s Flying Circus

Audubon Clubhouse by Dickie Brennan Blake

Amos

Bamboula’s Music Caitie B. & the Hand Me Downs, F

K-rrera Group

Bayou Bar The OG’s

Fritzel’s Colin Myers Orchestra

Mahogany Jazz Hall Leroy Jones & the Home Team

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy at Orpheum Theater

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy is set to perform at the Orpheum, presenting their hits including “You & Me & the Bottle Makes 3 Tonight (Baby)” and “Go Daddy-O” and a program of swing revival material rooted in jazz and jump blues traditions.

Sunday, May 31, 7 p.m., $59.50 to $89.50, orpheumnola.com

Marigny Brasserie Legacy Jazz Band

No Dice Your Neighbors, Vision Arcade

Rock ‘n’ Bowl DJ Nayo

Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band,

Smoking Time Jazz Club

The Jazz Playhouse The Sam Lobley Trio

The Maison Jacky Blaire, Paradise Jazz Band

The Rabbit Hole Rebirth Brass Band

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27

Apple Barrel bar Big Al and the Heavyweights

Bacchanal Wine Jesse Morrow

Bamboula’s John Saavedra

Bayou Bar Firm Roots,The Groovemaster

Bourbon O Bar Giselle Anguizola

Café Degas Gizinti Trio

Commons Club Leaux Fye Tribe

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Dos Jefes Captain Larry Spalding

House of Blues Paul Gilbert

Marigny Brasserie Legacy Jazz Band

Picnic Provisions Hypno Nun

Polo Club David Boeddinghaus

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Shotgun Jazz Band

The Jazz Playhouse Big Sam

The Maison Gene’s Music Machine

Tropical Isle Bourbon Dave Ferrato

THURSDAY, MAY 28

Apple Barrel Bubbles Brown, Johnny Mastro

Bacchanal Wine Pete Olynciw

Bayou Bar Cryptic

Roadrunners

Saint John Sean Riley & the Water

Salon Salon The Silver Lining Serenaders

Saturn Bar Crooked Diehl & Olivia Barnes

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Miss Sophie Lee

The Jazz Playhouse Brass-A-Holics

Vaughan’s Lounge Corey Henry & the Treme Funktet

FRIDAY, MAY 29

30/90 Carson Lewis

Apple Barrel Bubbles Brown

Bacchanal Wine David Sigler, Willie Green

Bayou Bar Oh Yeah!

Blue Nile Kermit Ruffins, The Caesar Brothers’ FunkBox

Bourbon O Bar April Spain, Ellen Smith

Cafe Istanbul La Tran-K Band

Carousel Bar Nayo Jones

Carrollton Station Crooked Diehl

Chickie Wah Wah Easy Star All-Stars

Commons Club Nell Simmons Bradley

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Dos Jefes ¡VIVAZ!

House of Blues Teena May

Le Bon Temps Roule Night Kitchen

May Baily’s Place Jacky Blaire & the Hot Biscuits

Picnic Provisions Mikayla Braun

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Shotgun Jazz Band

Tropical Isle Bourbon Dave Ferrato

THURSDAY, JUNE 4

ARORA NOLA Mad Dubz, VKTM

Chickie Wah Wah Willis Alan Ramsey, Paul Sanchez

Gasa Gasa Chris Duarte

Le Bon Temps Roule The Soul Rebels

No Dice Crush Diamond, Loose Helmet

Peacock Room Da Lovebirds

Saint John Sean Riley & The Water

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Jenavieve

FRIDAY, JUNE 5

Bacchanal Wine Willie Green

Chickie Wah Wah ShadowGrass

Fillmore Wonderboy

Gasa Gasa Chris Duarte

Kerry Irish Pub Partick Copper

Mahalia Jackson Lucy Darling

Maison Bourbon Jazz Club Leroy Marshall Band

May Baily’s Place Silver Lining Serenaders

Miss River Silver Lining Serenaders

No Dice Sam & the Big Boys, the Narrows, Big Leather

Old Point Bar T Marie & Bayou Juju

Pirogue’s T Marie & Bayou Juju

Polo Club David Boeddinghaus

Rock ‘n’ Bowl Peyton Falgoust Band

Spotted Cat Dirty Tuba, Paradise Jazz Band

SATURDAY, MAY 30

Bacchanal Wine Miles Berry, Raphael Bas

Bayou Bar Band 4 Life

Blue Nile ADO SOUL, The Next Level Band

Bourbon O Bar Brian Wingard, The Blues Masters

Buffa’s Bar Or Shovaly Plus

Cook Theater Adonis Rose

Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport

Gasa Gasa WASTE, Catsclaw

House of Blues Blade Rave

Le Bon Temps Roule Tru Phonic

May Baily’s Place John Lisi, Delta Funk

Rivershack Tavern Gold Crown Blues Band

Spotted Cat Music Club Panorama Jazz Band, Twerk

Thomson Band

The Jazz Playhouse The Nayo Jones Experience

The Maidstone The Sponges

SUNDAY, MAY 31

AllWays Lounge The Silver Lining Serenaders

Bacchanal Wine Nahum Zdybel, Noah Young

Blue Nile Street Legends Brass Band

Bourbon O Bar Queta Cavalier

Dos Jefes Mikayla Braun

Polo Club David Boeddinghaus

Spotted Cat Treme Brass Band

The Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band

MONDAY, JUNE 1

Da Jump Off Lounge Sporty’s Brass Band

Snug Harbor Roderick Paulin Quintet

Saturn Bar La Tran-K

Saenger Theatre Monty Python’s Spamalot

Spotted Cat Paradise Jazz Band

The Broadside A Soulful Summer Night

Tipitina’s Dave Jordan & The NIA, Cardboard Cowboy

Vaughan’s Lounge Tuba Skinny, New Orleans Jazz Vipers

SATURDAY, JUNE 6

AllWays Lounge The Van Ella Bordella

Fillmore French Montana

Gasa Gasa Chris Duarte

Kerry Irish Pub Partick Copper

Maison Bourbon Jazz Club Leroy Marshall Band,

Danny Rubio

May Baily’s Place The Sweet Peas

NOLA Brewing Gal Holiday

Orpheum Theater Orchestra Noir

Saenger Theatre Monty Python’s Spamalot

Seithers Seafood VetJams

Sidney’s Saloon Fentanyl

Southport Hall Blue Monday

Tipitina’s DJ Soul Sister

Rib Room Sugar Bear

Spotted Cat Music Club Panorama Jazz Band, Twerk Thomson Band

SUNDAY, JUNE 7

Chickie Wah Wah Sunny Sweeney

Constantinople Stage Lauren Murphy Duo

Old Point Bar Gregg Martinez

Siberia Haunt, Show N Tell

The Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band

MONDAY, JUNE 8

Spotted Cat Aurora Nealand & the Inquiry Quartet

TUESDAY, JUNE 2

Audubon Clubhouse Blake Amos

House of Blues Yung Bleu

Spotted Cat Chris Christy Band, Smoking Time Jazz

Club

Da Jump Off Lounge Sporty’s Brass Band

NOLA Brewing NOLA Pickin’ Party Bluegrass Jam

Poor Boys Bar Gumbolaya, Decompression

Mondays

Spotted Cat Music Club Aurora Nealand & the Inquiry Quartet

photos: courtesy of Orpheum Theater

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

TUESDAY, JUNE 9

AllWays Lounge

Sincerely, Fantasy

Audubon Clubhouse

Burris & Mikayla Braun

Milton H. Latter

Memorial Library Make Your Own Musical

Instruments

Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Smoking Time Jazz Club

The Howlin Wolf Comedy Beast

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 10

Compass Point Terry McDermott

Fillmore The Runarounds

Loa Bar Cally Cole

Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Shotgun Jazz Band

Tropical Isle Bourbon Dave Ferrato

THURSDAY, JUNE 11

Blue Nile DJ T-Roy

Chickie Wah Wah Quail P, Anella

House of Blues Yebba

Pavilion of the Two Sisters The Boogiemen

Peacock Room Da Lovebirds

Rock ‘n’ Bowl Nathan & the Zydeco Cha Chas

Saint John Sean Riley & the Water

Saturn Bar Lyle Hutchins

Siberia Cardiel

Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Miss Sophie Lee

FRIDAY, JUNE 12

Buffa’s T Marie & Bayou Juju

Bacchanal Wine Willie Green

Maison Bourbon Jazz Club Leroy Marshall Band

Mardi Gras Ball The Shams

May Baily’s Place John Lisi

New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market Matt Schofield

Official

Sports Drink Emma Willmann

Spotted Cat Music Club Paradise Jazz Band

Tipitina’s The Quickening, Sam Price & the True Believers

True South Marsh Fire

Zeitgeist Thomas Helton, Chris Alford

SATURDAY, JUNE 13

Maison Bourbon Jazz Club Leroy Marshall Band,

Danny Rubio

May Baily’s Place Ellis Dyson’s Current Five

No Dice Noble Apes, Rare Seed, Mars & Other Planets

Rib Room Sugar Bear & the Jazz Cats

Smoothie King Center Rob49

Sports Drink Emma Willmann

Spotted Cat Music Club Popcorn, Shake’Em Up Jazz Band

Tipitina’s Lost Bayou Ramblers, Crush Diamond

The Dog House Craig Cortello

True South Patrick Copper, Mark Carroll

Whiskey Cowboy Saloon VetJams

SUNDAY, JUNE 14

House of Blues Big K.R.I.T.

Le CaBARet Clown Church

Rib Room Sugar Bear & the Jazz Cats

The Howlin Wolf The Grammy Winning Hot 8 Brass Band

MONDAY, JUNE 15

Da Jump Off Lounge Sporty’s Brass Band

NOLA Brewing NOLA Pickin’ Party Bluegrass Jam

Poor Boys Bar Gumbolaya

Spotted Cat Music Club Aurora Nealand & the Inquiry Quartet

TUESDAY, JUNE 16

Audubon Clubhouse Blake Amos

Ellis Marsalis Center for Music Darrell Lavigne

Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band,

Smoking Time Jazz Club

The Howlin Wolf Comedy Beast

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 17

Picnic Provisions & Whiskey Mikayla Braun

Saenger Theatre The Human League, Soft Cell, Alison Moyet

Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Shotgun Jazz Band

Tropical Isle Bourbon Dave Ferrato

THURSDAY, JUNE 18

Blue Nile Reggae Night with DJ T-Roy

Chickie Wah Wah Taj Farrant

Deutsches Haus Liederkranz German Sing Along Peacock Room Da Lovebirds

Saint John Sean Riley & the Water

Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Jenavieve & the Winding Boys

Amanda Shaw at Creole Tomato Fest at French Market

Amanda Shaw will perform at this year’s Creole Tomato Festival, leading a full set that highlights Cajun fiddle, pop, and rock sounds with songs such as “Johnny Can’t Dance.” Saturday, June 6, 3:30 p.m., Free Admission, frenchmarket.org/ creoletomatofest

LIVE MUSIC CALENDAR

FRIDAY, JUNE 19

AllWays Lounge Henrietta’s Baudy Brothel Sing

Along

Bacchanal Wine Willie Green

Chickie Wah Wah Shannon McNally

Deutsches Haus Saengerchor Men’s Choir

House of Blues Sister Hazel

Kerry Irish Pub Patrick Cooper

Le Bon Temps Roule Strange Roux

Maison Bourbon Jazz Club Leroy Marshall Band

May Baily’s Place Jacky Blaire

Press Street Station Echoes of the Heart

Southport Hall Maiden LA, Superbloom

Spotted Cat Music Club Paradise Jazz Band, New

Orleans Cottonmouth Kings

Tipitina’s

Hip Drops

Spotted Cat Music Club

Orleans Cottonmouth Kings

Tipitina’s

Hip Drops

SATURDAY, JUNE 20

AllWays Lounge

BB’s Stage Door Canteen

Gretna Cultural Center

Spotted Cat Music Club Panorama Jazz Band, Twerk

Thomson Band

The Howlin Wolf Ify Nwadiwe

SUNDAY, JUNE 21

Loa Bar Chloé Marie

No Dice We’re Wolves, DONEFOR

Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Shotgun

Jazz Band

Tropical Isle Bourbon

AllWays Lounge Are We Living in the Twilight Zone?

Joy Theater Joe Jackson + Band

Le CaBARet Clown Church

Press Street Station Echoes of the Heart

Rib Room Sugar Bear & the Jazz Cats

Spotted Cat Music Club Pat Casey & the New Sound

The Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band

Gernon Brown Recreation Center Free Movin’ and Groovin’ Line Dance Class

The Human League at Saenger Theatre

Synth-pop band The Human League, known for many hits including “Don’t You Want Me” and “Human,” will perform at the Saenger. The concert will also feature synth-pop greats Soft Cell and Alison Moyet.

Wednesday, June 17, 7:30 p.m., $72.59 to $145.79, us.atgtickets.com

Corporation

Kerry Irish Pub

Patrick Cooper

Maison Bourbon Jazz Club Leroy

Marshall Band,

Danny Rubio

May Baily’s Place

Giselle Anguizola Trio

Ohm Lounge

Saturday Nights @ Ohm Lounge

Press Street

Station Echoes of the Heart

Rib Room Sugar Bear & the Jazz Cats

FESTIVAL sEASON

MONDAY, JUNE 22

AllWays Lounge Are We Living in the Twilight Zone?

Da Jump Off Lounge Sporty’s Brass Band

NOLA Brewing NOLA Pickin’ Party Bluegrass Jam

Poor Boys Bar Gumbolaya

Spotted Cat Music Club Aurora Nealand & the Inquiry Quartet

TUESDAY, JUNE 23

AllWays Lounge

Audubon Clubhouse

New Orleans Jazz Museum

Camp, U.S. Air Force Band

No Dice

Spotted Cat Music Club Meters

THURSDAY, JUNE 25

AllWays Lounge

Blue Nile

Cafe Istanbul

Chickie Wah Wah

House of Blues

Peacock Room

Saint John Sean Riley & tThe Water

Siberia Leo Middea

Sports Drink Ryan Rogers

Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Jenavieve & the Winding Boys

The Howlin Wolf Comedy Gumbeaux

FRIDAY, JUNE 26

AllWays Lounge Tears & Tassels

Bacchanal Wine Willie Green

Bank St. Bar Eduardo Music

Cafe Istanbul La Tran-K Band

Spotted Cat Music Club Chris Christy Band, Smoking

Time Jazz Club

The Howlin Wolf

Spotted Cat Music Club Cooke

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24

Joy Theater Ilana Glazer

Le Bon Temps Roule Robo Go-Go

Southport Hall Mothership: A Tribute to Led

Zeppelin

Sports Drink Jackie Fabulous

Spotted Cat Music Club Paradise Jazz Band, New Orleans Cottonmouth Kings

The Den at The Howlin’ Wolf Billy Sorrells

Photo: courtesy of Perou

French Quarter Ghost Tour

Walking Tour $30

3pm Daily (Only on)(Dec. 26 - Aug 15 & Oct 1 - Nov 30)

6pm + 8pm - Every night

5 in 1 Tour Experience

Walking Tour $30 5:00pm & 7:30pm Daily/Nightly Monday - Sunday

New Orleans Voodoo Tour

Walking Tour $30 7:30 - Fri./Sat./Sun.

Haunted Pub Crawl

Walking Tour $30

5:30pm & 8:15pm Nightly

TRUE CRIME TOUR

Walking Tour $30 5:15pm & 7:45pm Nightly ALL OF THE ABOVE TOURS MEET AT 723 ST. PETER STREET IN THE FRENCH QUARTER

New Orleans Cemetery Tour

Walking Tour $30 10:15am & 1:15pm Daily

Departs from Morning Call Coffee Shop, 5101 Canal Blvd.

Garden District Tour

Walking Tour $30 10am & 1:00pm Daily

Departs from LePitit Blue, 1437 Washington Avenue

New Orleans Vampire Tour

Walking Tour $30 8:30pm Nightly Departs in front of the Saint Louis Cathedral, at the gates of Jackson Square No Tours on Mardi Gras Day

LAKESIDE2RIVERSIDE

FestivalSouth in Hattiesburg, MS

May 30 to June 27 | festivalsouth.org

FestivalSouth runs throughout late May and June across Hattiesburg, MS, as the state’s largest multi-genre arts festival. The event features over 50 performances and activities spanning music, theater, dance, visual artistry, and family events. The series will include productions such as Disney’s Newsies, a musical celebrating America’s spirit, from June 4 to June 6. The “Arties Celebration of American Authors, Artists, and Musicians” celebrates hands-on art, dance, and music on May 30. Other events take place in theaters, galleries, parks, and public city spaces. There are both ticketed shows and free community events. Tickets for specific events can be purchased online.

New Orleans Public

Library’s Summer Fun

June 1 to July 31 | nolalibrary.org

The New Orleans Public Library’s Summer Fun & Reading Challenge programming returns June 1 to July 31, offering a citywide program designed to keep readers engaged throughout the summer. Participants can register online, in person, or through the library’s Beanstack app and then can log reading and complete activities for prizes. The program includes a blackout bingo challenge, encouraging participants to read 800 minutes and complete specific tasks. Free events include reading challenges, interactive workshops, storytimes, crafting sessions, STEM activities, and special guest appearances. The reading challenge is both an incentive program and a summer-wide activity for individuals of all ages.

New Orleans Restaurant Week

June 8-14 | neworleans.com/restaurantweek

New Orleans Restaurant Week returns from Monday, June 8 to Sunday, June 14, offering food fanatics across the city a chance to experience special prix-fixe menus at some of the GNO’s most celebrated restaurants. Hosted by the Louisiana Restaurant Association and in partnership with New Orleans & Company, the event highlights the city’s culinary scene from historic French Quarter institutions to neighborhood eateries. Guests can enjoy multicourse lunches and dinners while supporting local hospitality businesses. Reservations are encouraged, as participating restaurants may feature limited time menus, dining deals, and high demand throughout the week.

New Orleans Black Pride

June 4-7 | blackpridenola.org

New Orleans Black Pride returns this year with a weekend filled with celebration, empowerment, and community for Black LGBTQ+ individuals, allies, and many more. Events will span multiple venues across the city and will include cultural wellness programming, social functions, and nightlife events that highlight local talent. Specific events include the Queer Aunties Wine Down Event, the Queer Aunties Wellness Experience, and the community festival and tailgate. Attendees can expect educational panels, performances, and parties throughout New Orleans that uplift Black queer culture in the city. Those interested can purchase tickets for specific events online.

New Orleans Wine & Food Experience

June 10-13 | nowfe.com

The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience takes place from June 10 to June 13, celebrating the city’s culinary and drink culture. The event features tastings, wine dinners, chef events, and grand tasting events that highlight local, national, and international cuisine. Specific events include the Tournament of Rosés on June 12 and the Grant Tasting on June 13. Attendees can explore pairings designed by top chefs and sommeliers while participating in themed food events and educational events. The festival draws food and drink fans from across the country in a celebration of culinary creativity. Tickets for events are available for purchase online.

From top: courtesy Festival South; New Orleans Public Library; New Orleans Black Pride; NOWFE

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30 Years of Catchin’ ‘Em All: Pokémon Championships Return to New Orleans

Amid Anniversary Celebrations // KEVIN CREDO

In

Tokyo in the early 1970s,

An avid fan of bug collecting, Tajiri wished for a way to replicate the feel of going out and collecting creatures independently of the growing industrial sprawl of what would soon become the world's largest metropolitan area. Like all Japanese children of his era, Tajiri was absorbed in the sci-fi adventure stories of Eiji Tsuburaya, whose television series, Ultraseven, featured "capsule monsters," summoned from handheld devices to battle for the fate of the planet. He hatched an idea for battling and catching monsters.

Freely adapted from Japanese-English loanwords for "Pocket Monster," Tajiri's Pokémon debuted in 1996 as an ambitious mixture of video games, animation, comics, and trading cards. The initial Pokémon video games came in two versions, Red and Green, expressly encouraging players to trade monsters between the two versions, while also learning about the world and strategies in the anime, which directly paralleled the structure of the games. Nothing quite like it existed prior, and it was a big

a boy named Satoshi Tajiri grew up at a time of rapid change.

The resulting international popularity rocketed way beyond Tajiri's wildest expectations, and "Pokémania" swept the United States at the turn of the millennium. In 2026, the franchise is celebrating 30 years, with celebrations extending across the franchise. The trading card game is releasing an anniversary set of classic cards from the series' history, the video games are celebrating both the teaser of their next main installment, Pokémon Wind and Waves, as well as special anniversary events for the augmented reality mobile game Pokémon GO, which created a second wave of Pokémania in the mid-2010s. For the past three of these 30 summers, the world's most popular franchise has celebrated its biggest North American event, the competitive Pokémon North American International Championships (NAIC), from June 12-14 in America's most interesting city.

"Championships" is the key word here. While the New Orleans event has plenty of casual play, card collecting, and general fan experiences, the main attraction is the competitive Pokémon battling, both alternatively over the card mat and on the Nintendo Switch. The Pokémon Video Games Championships (VGC) is a pro-level competition entailing all of the preparation and dedication expected from any other.

“I have been in the competitive Pokémon scene since 2017,” remembered Sierra Dawn Hunter, a professional commentator for VGC on behalf of the Pokémon Company International.

“Pokémon and VGC have seen incredible growth since then, with more competitors showing up at each event.” Coinciding with the 30th anniversary, a separate new game, Pokémon Champions, is designated to function as a competitive platform focusing entirely on the battling aspect of the Pokémon franchise independently of the collecting and trading grind found within the main game titles. Hunter is optimistic about the new battling simulator. “Pokémon VGC hasn’t ever really been a focus in the main series titles, so it now being the focal point of the newest game Pokémon Champions should be great for the growth of the scene going forward, giving an easier experience for casual fans to try their hand at VGC.” A plushie of Mew, the mythical first Pokémon, can be seen accompanying Hunter, decked out in its own professional commentating headset.

-Donny Rouse CEO, 3rd Generation

If this level of media focused on this competition seems big, one must understand the extent of the demand when it comes to the other end of the franchise—collecting. There are multiple specialty shops dedicated to the business of trading cards all within just the metro area of New Orleans. Uptown, Media Men Cards & Collectibles is an officiallydedicated competitive Pokémon TCG battle location, hosting more casual, weekly competitions in both the most recent TCG formats and in retro runs of early cards. In Metairie, PokéNOLA Collectibles swaps the competitive focus for breadth of shelf space. NAIC weekend, all the way over at the Morial Convention Center, has historically proven to create PokéNOLA’s busiest weekend of the year. House of Cards, formerly Markman Breakers and near the foot of the Causeway, arranges premium card grading, which is to say official preservation and value determination. A computerized kiosk streamlines the process of arranging individual cards' shipment to authoritative valuation companies, and it's usually designed for single trading cards with values starting at around $100.

It is courteous to patronize the various shops and to get into the mindset. In one pack, this writer pulled cards of both Iris, the Champion of the Unova region, and Iono, a Gym Leader of the most recent Paldea region, who fights with electric-type Pokémon and even wears one in an elaborate hairdress. One of the Pokémon Company International executives even stated he'd seen a cosplayer of Iono with a fully functioning replica of the piece last year. The Magnemite's eyes would turn and look at you.

Meanwhile, at the Morial Convention Center, one can imagine pallets of Pokémon gear unloaded for the event-exclusive pop-up store, the Pokémon Center. "Pokémon Center" is of course the titular

building in which Pokémon are healed in between their battles, the shopping element perhaps working well considering that the in-game shopping marts, Poké-Marts, have been merged with Pokémon Centers since Generation Five Pokémon in the Unova Region. It was a whole thing.

And so the most popular franchise in the world is finally set to return to the Big Easy, every angle pointing to a nigh-inexhaustible world of collecting, battling, and playing. Maybe it'd take a decade, or three, to really catch it all.

Photos courtesy of Pokemon International Championship

A Historic Branch of the New Orleans Public Library

Returns in a New Incarnation

//

BEAUREGARD TYE

Libraries had always done well by 19th century steel magnate Andrew Carnegie, and he did well by them in return, turning to philanthropy in his later years, with public libraries and educational institutions the most common beneficiaries of his benevolence.

In his 1899 book, The Gospel of Wealth, Carnegie said, “A free library occupies the first place, provided the community will accept and maintain it as a public institution, as much a part of the city property as its public schools, and, indeed, an adjunct to these.” He was responsible for the building of more than 2,500 libraries worldwide, almost 1,700 of them in the United States, earning him the unofficial title of “the Patron Saint of Libraries.” The foundation he created has continued his work for over a century.

Carnegie gifted the city of New Orleans with a grant of over a quarter of a million dollars to build new public libraries. The Algiers Point branch, now named for Cita Dennis Hubbell, opened in 1907, followed soon after by the Napoleon Branch in January 1908 and the grand, copperdomed structure that would serve as the new Main Library opened on St. Charles Avenue on Halloween 1908—a treat for the community.

A trick came later, though, as the stately building, which was inspired by a Grecian temple that honored the god of war, was sold to an insurance company and demolished just 50 years later.

The opening of a new Main Library at the Civic Center in October of that year precipitated the closure of the last of the local Carnegie libraries, the Canal Street branch, which had opened in 1911. That building is now home to a yoga studio.

The Napoleon branch was reimagined as the Children’s Resource Center Library in 1993 with a collection focused on children’s materials. A more radical restructuring of the facility to occur in concert with a structural renovation began with surveys, focus groups, and interviews circa 2019. Delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic, a plan to transform the branch into an early literacy center was put forward in line with the goals outlined in the 10-Year Strategic Plan, implementation of which was scheduled to begin in 2022.

As an early literacy center, the new CRC will no longer have public computers, books, or other materials for adults or teens.

As designed by Christine McCourtney, head of Early Literacy Programming for the New Orleans Public Library system, and her team, “the updated space will be focused on the five key principles of early literacy: talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing,” explained Jane LeGros, director of Marketing and Communications for the library system. “This space will be designed to encourage parent and child engagement and interaction, specifically for children from birth to age 5, but no one will be turned away.”

All photos: courtesy of New Orleans Public Library

Library users looking for a more traditional range of library services are directed to visit one of the other branches, the three closest being the Milton H. Latter Memorial Branch on St. Charles Avenue, the Rosa Keller Library and Community Center on Broad Street, and the Main Library downtown.

According to the organization’s website, the public should expect an interactive play area designed specifically for babies, toddlers, and

preschoolers; a carefully curated collection of materials that supports the needs of early learners and their caregivers as the children develop early literacy and schoolreadiness skills; an intentional focus on a child’s early years of development, learning, and social interactions; and a design that offers early literacy experiences in a nurturing and engaging learning environment.

Following an extended closure for renovations, which began in May 2025, the new Children's Resource Center will be staffed by a team of early literacy specialists when it reopens, while the existing staff members at the branch have all been reassigned since the closure began.

The renovation will encompass the repair and replacement of plaster walls, and the flooring throughout the building will be upgraded to ensure that it meets modern standards for safety and functionality. The restrooms will also be remodeled, a necessity to achieve full compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, so as to provide accessibility for all library users. Such modern priorities can sometimes lead to the sacrifice of architectural features. The Napoleon branch had been designated a historic landmark in 1979, but as historic preservation advocate Sandra Stokes reminds us, "It is unfortunate but there are no controls for interior renovations."

Damaged masonry on the outside of

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the building is being repaired, however, and other exterior renovations are also planned, so in addition to the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system undergoing repairs and receiving new ductwork, the building is getting new gutters and downspouts.

Libraries look very different than they did in Carnegie’s day, and many of the needs they serve have changed, but the people of New Orleans will be able to judge for themselves whether or not the new Children's Resource Center is best equipped to meet their needs when it reopens, which is tentatively scheduled to happen sometime in the summer of 2026, pending the completion of the renovations.

M a r t i n i Lunches Lunches

Joy as Resistance: The Resilient Spirit of Black New Orleans For Juneteenth

// KIMMIE TUBRÉ

Much of the beloved cultural aspects of New Orleans is rooted in Black culture, but this sense of celebration, while fun loving and joyful, has rarely been separate from survival.

For Black communities in the city, joy has often been an act of resistance. In many circumstances, celebrations stemmed from exclusion and necessity yet sustained by deep communal bonds. Across centuries marked by enslavement, segregation, and systemic inequality, Black New Orleanians have continually created their own spaces to gather, to mourn, to laugh, and to live fully. Whether in the form of parades, social clubs, or alternative economies these traditions tell the story of a people full of resilience.

Take Mardi Gras, for example. Today, it’s globally recognized as a grand, inclusive spectacle, but that wasn’t always the case. For much of its history, the official krewes that organized parades and balls were segregated, excluding Black participants

entirely. Rather than accept that exclusion, Black New Orleanians built their own Mardi Gras traditions from the ground up. They didn’t just replicate what existed—they reimagined it.

One of the most iconic examples is the Zulu Social Aid & Pleasure Club, founded in 1909. Its origins were humble, even playful. A group of Black laborers, inspired by a comedic skit about African royalty, decided to create their own Mardi Gras krewe. What began as satire evolved into one of the most beloved and enduring institutions in the city. Zulu’s parade, with its hand-decorated floats and the famous tradition of throwing painted coconuts, became a powerful statement—if access is denied, we will create something just as meaningful.

But Mardi Gras was only one expression of this spirit. Long before Zulu took to the streets, Black New Orleanians had already been organizing themselves into benevolent societies, also known as mutual aid organizations, that provided critical support in times of need. These groups, which later became known for their “second lines,” were born out of necessity in a society that denied Black people access to basic services such as insurance and healthcare. Benevolent societies pooled resources to help members pay for funerals, medical expenses, and other emergencies. Funerals, in particular, became moments of profound communal expression. The “first line” would consist of the family and the brass band, leading the procession in somber tones.

All

photos: courtesy of Gustavo Escanelle

Once the burial was complete, the “second line,” friends, neighbors, and community members, would erupt into music and dance. It was a transformation of grief into a celebration of that person’s life.

These social aid and pleasure clubs continue to parade through the streets of New Orleans today. They are living testaments to a history of collective care and resilience.

Even in places where vice and exploitation defined the landscape, Black New Orleanians carved out spaces of autonomy. Storyville, the city’s legalized red-light district established in 1897, was officially segregated, with limited opportunities for Black workers and patrons. In response, Black entrepreneurs and entertainers created parallel spaces, which was informally known as “Black Storyville.” There, Black musicians, sex workers, and

business owners could operate and thrive on their own terms.

These spaces were crucial incubators for early jazz, providing opportunities for Black musicians to perform and innovate their craft. While the official Storyville catered largely to white clientele, these alternative venues nurtured a cultural revolution that would eventually transform music worldwide. Once again, exclusion gave rise to creativity.

The roots of this resilience stretch even further back into the era of slavery itself. Louisiana’s unique colonial history, shaped by French and Spanish rule before becoming part of the United States, created a somewhat different social structure compared to other parts of the South. While still deeply oppressive, it allowed for certain pathways to freedom that Black people navigated with remarkable determination.

Some enslaved individuals were able to purchase their freedom through a system known as coartación, particularly during the Spanish period. They might save money from extra labor or skilled work, gradually paying their enslavers for their own liberation. Others gained freedom through military service, especially during conflicts such as the War of 1812, when free Black men and enslaved individuals fought in defense of New Orleans.

There were also instances of selfemancipation through escape, of course, as well as manumission granted by enslavers. Free people of color, a significant and distinct class in New Orleans, often worked to free family members, pooling resources in acts of quiet defiance against the system.

What ties all of these histories together is a consistent pattern: When formal systems excluded or oppressed them, Black New Orleanians responded not with resignation but with creation. They built institutions where none existed. They transformed hardship into culture. They made celebration a form of resistance.

That legacy continues today. Every Mardi Gras season, when Zulu rolls through the streets, it carries with it more than a century of history. Every second line parade echoes the footsteps of benevolent societies that refused to let their members be forgotten or neglected. Every note of jazz that drifts through the French Quarter and beyond is rooted in spaces that once existed outside the boundaries of acceptance.

In New Orleans, resilience is not just about surviving. Here, we live out loud and unapologetically. This city insists on joy even when the world says you don’t deserve it. And perhaps most importantly, it’s about doing so together, as a community.

All photos: courtesy of Gustavo Escanelle

Ch lie’s

Movies for Juneteenth Classic Black Cinema in

Orleans

// JEFF BOUDREAUX

In fact, each of these four films constitute an overlooked part of film history in the Crescent City. Amazingly, they were all filmed before New Orleans gained, then subsequently lost, that highly attractive tax credit that made it “Hollywood South.” So all these productions simply wanted to film in the greatest city on Earth. As we look towards the powerfully poignant observance of Juneteenth signifying the emancipation of all U.S. slaves in 1865, let us check out these classic films that redefine how Black life in the South was portrayed onscreen through the lenses of independence, class struggle, and even racism.

Night of the Strangler (1972)

Not to be confused with Dan Curtis’ The Night Strangler, this misnomer of a movie stars Monkees lead singer Micky Dolenz as Vance, a decent guy with the world’s worst racist for a brother named Dan. You see, Dan is angry because their sister, Denise, is engaged to a Black man named Jake (Chuck Patterson). This sets off an unfortunate web of violence with killings running the gamut from knives and sniper rifles to more inventive tools such as snake venom and poisoned arrows—but absolutely no strangulation. The local priest, Father Jessie (also

Patterson), must get to the bottom of why his parish population is dwindling fast, while simultaneously keeping it real.

Directed by New Orleans actor/filmmaker Joy N. Houck Jr. (Night of Bloody Horror, Creature from Black Lake), you may recall that his father owned a dynasty of theaters in the New Orleans area that bore his name from the Joy in downtown to Joy’s Panorama 6. A hard-to-find film for many years, it was restored in 2015 by the good folks at the American Genre Film Archive. Featuring prominent support from the New Orleans Police Department, you can catch this on YouTube with a free trial of Screambox.

J.D.’s Revenge (1976)

Law student/cab driver Isaac (Black film icon Glynn Turman) gets hypnotized for fun at a Bourbon Street speakeasy then soon undergoes a gradual transformation into a dead 1940s gangster named J.D., to the utter shock and dismay of his girlfriend Christella (Joan Pringle). He becomes obsessed with a charismatic preacher named Elija Bliss and perceives as his enemy. The trouble is, not everything is what it seems. What do Samuel L. Jackson, Louis Gossett Jr., and Micky Dolenz have in common? Well, they’re all

Produced by the legendary drive-in king Sam Arkoff, this action-horror hybrid features some beautifully nostalgic photography by Blaxploitation cinematographer extraordinaire Harry J. May, not to mention an era-specific virtual tour of the gritty underside of Bourbon and the strip clubs we love. An undeniable highlight is none other than the Superdome in its original glory, one year after completion. Directed by Arthur Marks (Detroit 9000, Friday Foster), you can view this free time capsule on Tubi.

Cane River (1982)

Rescued from the point of extinction by the Academy Film Archive and Oscilloscope Laboratories in 2013, this charming tale of two African Americans from different sides of the tracks plays like a Romeo and Juliet for Creoles. Athletic specimen Peter (Gretna native Richard Romain) could've paved the way for future sports icons such as Bo Jackson and Deion Sanders—football is mentioned and we see him playing baseball—but all he really wants to do is write poetry and connect with nature. While looking for inspiration, he meets Bohemian tour guide Maria (Tommye Myrick). They begin a whirlwind romance, much to the chagrin of their very different families. Will Maria’s upcoming semester at Xavier University be the thing to break them apart, or will their love endure? Soundtrack artist Phillip Manuel sure seems to favor the latter with his infectious songs.

Filmed in Natchitoches and New Orleans, Cane River presents an interesting premise that touches upon colorism and the aftershocks of slavery. No

stars are to be found here, unless you count this list’s second appearance of that glorious arena at 1500 Sugar Bowl Dr. Sadly, writer-director Horace B. Jenkins passed away from a heart attack shortly after filming, which directly contributed to its shelving. Too bad he couldn't live to see this passionate project of his sit at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. You can watch this formerly “lost” classic as part of a free trial on Fandor.

Eve's Bayou (1997)

In this haunting, Southern Gothic drama, prominent Black physician Louis Batiste (Samuel L. Jackson) seems to spend more time with his female patients than with his lovely family, headed by wife Roz (Lynn Whitfield) and their three children.

A stunning secret involving the eldest daughter, Cicely, will soon threaten to disrupt the entire family—particularly through the eyes and actions of the titular middle child, Eve, who may have just discovered Voodoo.

Co-starring soap opera legend Debbi Morgan as Aunt Mozelle—a Hoodoo practitioner—and the inimitable Diahann Carroll as competing “witch” Elzora, Eve’s Bayou became the most commercially successful independent film of that year. Directed by Kasi Lemmons (Black Nativity, Harriet), this film undoubtedly contributed to greater nuance in contemporary Black cinema and would inspire future dynamic filmmakers such as Ava DuVernay, Nia DaCosta, and Barry Jenkins. Lauded upon release, it was selected to the National Film Registry in 2008. Watch it for free on Plex or Prime Video.

Cane River

Eve's Bayou

FILM REVIEWS

// FRITZ ESKER + DAVID VICARI

In the Grey

Guy Ritchie (Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels and Snatch) can be a very hitor-miss director. Unfortunately, his newest effort In the Grey is one of his biggest misses.

Jake Gyllenhaal and Henry Cavill play Bronco and Sid, two operatives who help a lawyer (Eiza Gonzalez) track down a billion dollars that’s been stolen from an asset management firm by a ruthless businessman (Carlos Bardem) with his own private island and an army of thugs at his disposal.

While In the Grey is mercifully brief at 98 minutes, roughly two-thirds of the film is dedicated to planning and discussion of the mission. It’s a veritable avalanche of expository dialogue. When the mission finally kicks in, it’s mostly Bronco and Sid and their men mowing down a bunch of anonymous henchmen.

None of the characters distinguish themselves. Bronco and Sid are little more than delivery mechanisms for stale quips. Bronco and Sid’s team

Obsession

Obsession is not to be confused with Brian De Palma's 1976 thriller, also titled Obsession, which is an effective homage to Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo (1958). This new Obsession is an unnerving horror film about a wish gone wrong and is written, directed, and edited by Curry Barker.

are as interchangeable as the bad guys they spend the final half hour killing. The villains spend most of the film just seeming completely overmatched at all times. They never feel like a real threat to the heroes. Ritchie knows how to direct a good action scene, but none of the ones here distinguish themselves in any way.

In the Grey feels like a film from a writer/director who’s run out of ideas. Ritchie was able to rebound after his career hit a rough stretch in the early to mid 2000s. Here’s to hoping he finds his way again.

Bear (Michael Johnston) is a hopeless romantic, and he has a mad crush on his music store co-worker Nikki (Inde Navarrette). Because of a major fear of rejection, Bear can't tell Nikki how he feels. Bear finds a “One Wish Willow” novelty toy at a strange New Age bookstore and decides to use it, wishing that Nikki would fall madly in love with him and, boy, does she ever. The girl of Bear's dreams has become smothering and obsessed with him to a terrifying degree.

We've all had that crush on someone we just know would be perfect for us, but it turns out that we know nothing about them. Obsession takes that a step further, as the main character is trying to force this girl to be his by making the wish.

The performances here are pitch perfect, but the movie belongs to Navarrette. She is terrifying. Once she becomes possessed by the wish, the character's freak outs are unsettling. Director

Barker wisely lets shots of Nikki and her creepy grin linger longer than they should, and it's just so uncomfortable.

This is the second film from Curry Barker, his first being Milk & Serial, which is also a horror movie. Barker is probably best known for the YouTube sketch comedy channel That's a Bad Idea with comedy partner Cooper Tomlinson, so it's no surprise that Barker infuses Obsession with humor; however, it's very, very dark humor. Occasionally, Obsession is repetitive and somewhat depressing, but for much of its running time, the film is both funny and uncomfortable at the same time.

Obsession is a smart and effective horror film, and it would be a shame if it gets lost in the shuffle because of its generic title. One Wish Willow would have been a more enticing title, but it's officially called Obsession so seek out Obsession.

Top to Bottom: courtesy Black Bear Pictures; Focus Features

// FRITZ ESKER

// DAVID VICARI

BARGUIDE

BAMBOULA'S 516 Frenchmen St. (504) 451-7306

BOOT SCOOTIN’ RODEO

522 Bourbon St. (504) 552-2510

BOURBON STREET HONKY TONK

727 Bourbon St. (504) 523-1960

CRESCENT CITY BREWHOUSE

527 Decatur St. (504) 522-0571

HIGH GRACE NOLA

733 St. Peter St. (504) 218-5649

JB'S FUEL DOCK

128 S. Roadway St. (504) 510-2260

LE BON TEMPS ROULE

4801 Magazine St. (504) 897-3448

LOTS A LUCK TAVERN

203 Homedale St. (504) 483-0978

MARTINE'S LOUNGE

2347 Metairie Rd., Metairie (504) 831-8637

MÉLANGE ON FRENCHMEN

516 Frenchmen St. (504) 451-7306

MISFIT TOYS

410 Bourbon St.

PAL'S LOUNGE

949 N. Rendon St. (504) 488-7257

PARASOL'S BAR & RESTAURANT

2533 Constance St. (504) 354-9079

RICK'S CABARET

315 Bourbon St. (504) 524-4222

RIVERSHACK TAVERN

3449 River Rd. (504) 834-4938

SADDLE BAR

715 Bienville St. (504) 313-1113

SAZERAC HOUSE

101 Magazine St. (504) 910-0100

THE BOONDOCK SAINT

731 St. Peter St. (504) 525-4950

THE CHANNEL

2604 Magazine St. (504) 381-4680

THE JAZZ PLAYHOUSE

300 Bourbon St. (504) 553-2299

THE METROPOLITAN

310 Andrew Higgins Blvd. (504) 568-1702

THE VINTAGE

3121 Magazine St. (504) 324-7144

THREE MARIES JAZZ CLUB

621 St. Louis St. (504) 529-7045

TROPICAL ISLE

Multiple Locations (504) 523-1927

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' 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 blends blues and country vibes. It offers signature cocktails including the Hand Grenade and Pirate’s Passion, plus some of the best live performances in the Quarter.

For nightly live music and quality craft beer, be sure to visit Crescent City Brewhouse. The microbrewery also offers tasty Louisiana favorites such as oysters and fried alligator.

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 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 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 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 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 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.

Offering great live music and plenty to drink, Misfit Toys is a truly rockin’ place in the French Quarter. Try one of their “rocktails” including the Velvet 75.

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 is famous for its po-boys and is a beloved neighborhood dive bar offering diverse beers and cocktails. Try their Frozen Irish Coffee and homemade onion rings.

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 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 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 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 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.

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 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 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, 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.

// DEBBIE LINDSEY

Surviving Summer

Summer still holds a place in my heart, despite the risk of heat stroke. My fondness for this season has been tested during the last three summers. They have been brutal during extreme heat, and, during some peaks, have brought drought. And, hot damn, it’s back by popular demand, considering we humans have caused much of our extreme weather.

In fact, we can look forward to our summers growing hotter and longer. We’ve always known that New Orleans summers are more than June thru August, with September the height of hurricane season, but, now, those hot months are breaking records and will extend longer into autumn.

Last I checked, I’m not a climate scientist and, if I was, I would possibly be “doged” out of a job for stating that the Earth is not flat. Yet, proof of climate change and our warming, blazing summers is in the sweat. Even the lifesaving benefits of sweating, our body’s method of cooling us down, is impacted by the extreme humidity.

Okay, it is what it is, for the time being. Hopefully, the tide will turn—not rise—and we can buckle down and address the environmental issues before it’s too late. So for now, I have my “stay cool and not fall out in the heat” suggestions. The best way to stay chill is to never go outside. This will also spare you the constant assault from our insidious vampires AKA mosquitos; however, we must venture out to work, for school, to forage, and partake in all that our town offers.

Let’s start with the basics: hydration, sun protection, and temperature adjustments. Stay hydrated, always, year-round. Keep plenty of filtered H2O on hand and in hand. Most folks use bottled water, I personally abhor plastic and find canned flat water as my goto—reminds me of a can of cold beer. Husband and I stock up on cases of canned water—can be found at Whole Foods, for example—and we try to keep a small ice chest in-car with extra waters for homeless folks, dog walkers, protesters, even the street-corner purveyors of restrictive substances. Always offer water to your delivery person and mail carrier.

Keeping some small, easy to peel, seedless, oranges—Mandarin, Halos, Cuties—in your purse or tote bag is like having a beverage in its own natural eco-friendly container.

"Okay, slather on that sunscreen, put on those movie star sunglasses, place an ice pack inside your clothes, and enjoy summer."

Festivals abound despite the heat; however, festing in the summer is not for the faint of heart, and don’t get me started on sports and jogging. I suggest airconditioned fitness centers. For sporting events, skip participation and view others from the comfort of your Laz-Z-Boy recliner, remote in hand, and AC set to the temps you hated all winter.

That brings me to a question. Why, in the summer, do I thrive in air-conditioning set to 68 degrees, and yet anything in winter below 70 turns me blue? I drain the hot water heater while showering just to stop shaking from winter’s chill. Sure, there are physical reasons. As I age, thinner skin and less muscle mass explain feeling chilled to the bone in January, but why doesn’t this help reverse the heat of August on my body? Maybe I just want what I can’t have—sweater weather in the summer. Speaking of clothing, I just wanna slap anyone wearing yoga pants or jeans in the heat. Why ya wanna inflict swamp ass upon yourself? Just looking at tight thick clothing makes me feel faint and in need of an ice-water plunge.

Enough with my seasonal judgmental bad attitude concerning fashion choices. On to helpful suggestions to combat our ever-soaring high temps.

Protect that skin with sunscreen lotion—SPF 30 to 50—and sun protective clothing with UPF 50 rating. If health concerns don’t get your attention, then know this: 90 percent of skin aging is due to UV exposure. Please remember that skin cancer is not only dangerous, even deadly, it is damn unattractive. Cover up. Need a cautionary tale? Just look at my spotted, dry, and wrinkled skin. That seemingly sexy tan will make ya look like an old hag. Also, for goodness’ sake, protect your eyes. Wear sunglasses every time you go outside. Make sure they have a sticker indicating 100% UVA/UVB or UV 400. Cheap glasses that meet these standards apparently are just as effective and safe as the fancy expensive ones. Also, don’t put the glasses in your mouth because lead lurks in the metals and/or paint. Yeah, scary s**t is everywhere; however, I want to prioritize protecting my vision, so I wear sunglasses. Don’t forget the protective fashion of a brimmed hat to shade your sweet face and scalp. Spend a little time researching and reading up on the above suggestions and others that promote protection from the rays.

I am over-heated just thinking about the great outdoors during a heat wave. I suggest museums as an airconditioned outing. Louisiana residents: free admission Wednesdays at NOMA, Thursdays at the Ogden Museum, Sundays at the Contemporary Arts Center. The Louisiana Children’s Museum is free on select Sundays. Google to confirm more details and other options. Also, one of my favorites is The Historic New Orleans Collection—closed Mondays—which is free to tourists and locals alike. Never forget our free NORDC recreational city supported centers with swimming pools—visit nordc.org. By the way, tourists are welcome at the NORDC pools for free; just fill out a short form at the desk and take a swim. My favorite is the Treme Recreational and Community Center at 700 N. Villere St.

Okay, slather on that sunscreen, put on those movie star sunglasses, place an ice pack inside your clothes, and enjoy summer.

PO-BOY VIEWS

Festing Or Resting

I‘m not sure that I know anybody who wouldn’t be comforted by a good bowl of soup. Hot soup on a cold day, cold soup on a hot day, any good soup on a bad day. In fact, the first man to open an “eat-stop” in France specialized in soup (Paris, 1765, M. Boulanger). He claimed that his soup was a restorative and places like his came to be called re-staur-ants.

Cruising super markets for prepared soups can be a real rabbit hole, and you can get lost with choices that you didn’t know existed. My advice? Don’t buy convenience soups, because they’re slop and mass produced in packaging that is dubious at best—check out the sodium levels.

Now, I cannot give you all the details of addresses and hours of operations, phone numbers, etc. So, take this as a quick “soup crawl” around New Orleans and my mind.

Norma’s has a caldo de res that is absolutely incredible. El Sabor 5 Estrellas N2 has a pozole that will knock your socks off. The harissa coconut soup at 1,000 Figs is a gotta have. Café Degas has been making their onion soup in the same pot for 30 years and it’s reputed to be the best in the city. Lentil soup at Fatma’s and/or Mona’s is traditionally requested. Tofu phở at Eat Well, egg drop soup at Golden Wall, yakamein at the Orange House or from Ms. Linda Green.

Soups are also memory stimulants: the turtle soup at Commander’s when Paul Prudhomme was chef, the wonton soup at that little joint on 23rd Street, cioppino at Little Joe’s in San Francisco, as well as the congee from Sam Wo’s.

being made in smaller batches more often. The gumbo that I have at the Brown Derby— sausage, shrimp, chicken, crab—I cannot say is the best I’ve ever had, but I’ve had none better, if that makes any sense. Spoiler alert: If you find a chicken neck or gizzard in your gumbo, you’ve landed in the right place. Liuzza’s by the Track puts fresh cooked shrimp on top of theirs, made by that man called “Roadrunner,” and you can get potato salad with it, which is brilliant. The quail, pheasant, and andouille gumbo at the Jazz Fest is beyond comprehension. The dark roux at the now closed Avery’s was simply black gold and on and on. Is gumbo a soup? I’d like to think it is. Fight me. Avgolemono, have you had it with some taramasalata and egg bread? A nice bowl of chicken soup with kneidlach followed by some hand cut livers and challah Tom yum goong that brings a sweat. Ukrainian, or any other, borscht will zone you out, and some Brazilian moqueca with pão de queijo or canja from Cape Verde will wake your mouth up, brotha.

“And if you ain’t had a bath, Ain’t nobody who cares, ‘Cause they’ve seen it all before, From the bums to the whores, And if you shout ‘Hallelujah,’ They’ll give you some more.”

—Johnny Cash, “Praise the Lord and Pass the Soup”

Soba noodle soup at Mifune, Boston clam chowder at John’s Lobster House at Rockaway Beach in New York, and, from my childhood, a soup that I will forever recall called zuppa povera: beef bones, canned tomatoes, soup veggies, shell macaroni, and parmesan cheese; comfort on the cheap.

Now, you query, what about gumbo? The waitress—they were called “waitresses” back then—at the Gumbo Shop, Debbie, explained that gumbos were like snowflakes—they were all different depending on who made them and where they were made. I find the best ones at corner stores with quick lunch take out. Here’s why: At big-time restaurants and eating places, especially tourist places, they’ll make a mighty fine gumbo in a 20-gallon pot. You’ll be a customer there once or maybe even twice a year? Once a month, if they’re lucky. At neighborhood corner markets, they want you back once or twice a week, if not more. So their gumbo is geared toward the everyman’s taste and budget and is constantly

To explore new soups, head to Nigeria for banga, ogbono, efo riro, afang, egusi, or edikaikong typically served with fufu. Ask around; there are a few West African places that would be glad that you would want something real from their home region; however, yes, you don’t have to go out to have a grand bisque, chowder, consommé, potage, gumbo, or pot au feu. As Bill Haley said, or sung, “Get out in that kitchen and rattle those pots and pans.” You can, dare I say it, make your own. Ask your mama or maw maw, peruse a book, check with Chef Google, or just use the magnificent imagination that you have. Simple. A visit to a market to pick out what looks good to you—a knife and a cutting board, a pot and some water, and maybe a glass of wine with some music—and there you go. When in doubt, punch into your computer “recipe” and then name your ingredients and that darn thing will tell you how and what to do with what you got. Get it? Got it? Good.

Cool weather? Make a warm soup. Hot weather—what here?—make a cold soup: gazpacho, vichyssoise, cucumber yogurt. Heck, make a fruit soup like rote grütze—look it up—or chłodnik

Soup is a magic amalgamation over 20,000 years in the making. You are the alchemist, wizard, sorceress, conductor, and orchestrator of that enchantment, right there in your kitchen. With this power and responsibility, you are given the authority to bonk somebody on the nose with your ladle who would dare challenge that. Don’t forget to wash your hands.

Best Bar (Bywater/Marigny)

Best Bar (CBD/Warehouse District)

Best Bar (French Quarter)

Best Bar (Lakeview)

Best Bar (Metairie)

Best Bar (Mid-City)

Best Bar (Uptown)

Best Bar (Westbank)

Best Bar for Hand-Crafted Cocktails

Best Beer Selection

BEST DINING:

Best Bar Food

Best Breakfast Spot

Best Brunch Spot

Best Budget Eats

Best Café

Best Cajun Restaurant

Best Creole Restaurant

Best Daily Specials

Best Fried Chicken

Best Gumbo

Best Hamburger

Best Locally Owned Coffee Shop

TREATS & GLOBAL FLAVORS

Best African Restaurant

Best Bakery

Best BBQ Restaurant

Best Beignet

Best Caribbean Restaurant

Best Chinese Restaurant

Best French Restaurant

BEST SHOPPING:

Best Adult Novelty Store

Best Athletic Club

Best Bike Shop

Best Boutique Fitness Studio

Best Costume Shop

Best Eyeglass Shop

Best Jewelry Store

Best Mardi Gras Supply Store

Best New Restaurant

Best Outdoor Dining

Best Oyster Po-Boy

Best Oysters

Best Pizza

Best Place to Get a Salad

Best Restaurant (CBD/Warehouse District)

Best Restaurant (French Quarter)

Best Restaurant (Lakeview)

Best Restaurant (Marigny/Bywater)

Best Restaurant (Metairie)

Best Restaurant (Mid-City)

Best Ice Cream/Gelato

Best Indian Restaurant

Best Italian Restaurant

Best Japanese/Sushi Restaurant

Best King Cake

Best Latin American Restaurant

Best Matcha

Best Men's Clothing

Best Pet Services

Best Pet Store

Best Smoke Shop

Best Spa

Best Supermarket

Best Tattoo/Piercing Parlor

Best Thrift Shop

Best Women's Clothing

Best Restaurant (Uptown)

Best Restaurant (Westbank)

Best Restaurant for a Date

Best Restaurant for Boiled Seafood

Best Roast Beef Po-Boy

Best Sandwich Shop

Best Seafood Restaurant

Best Shrimp Po-Boy

Best Steakhouse

Best Upscale Restaurant

Best Vegetarian Menu

Best Wings

Best Mexican Restaurant

Best Middle Eastern Restaurant

Best Pasta

Best Restaurant for Dessert

Best Sno-Ball

Best Taco/Burrito

Best Thai Restaurant

Best Vietnamese Restaurant