Latest Issue: January 2026—New Year's Issue

January 2026

WhereYat.com

DINING • MUSIC • ENTERTAINMENT

• NIGHTLIFE

BIG FREEDIA PRESSING ONWARD

WhereYat.com | January 2026

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Features 6 10 14 16 20 22 32 34

Big Freedia is Pressing Onward The Sugar Bowl's Sweet Start NOLA New Year's Traditions Survivor: Family Holiday Edition Indoor Pools for Cold Weather Crescent City Songs Playlist Battle of New Orleans Revisited

38 Food & Drink 12 36 38 40 43 44 45

January 2026

Brunch Before the Big Game Mister Mao's Prahok Ktiss

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Josh Danzig Creative Director: Robert Witkowski

Sweet Side of Mardi Gras

Executive Editor: Burke Bischoff

Dining Guide

Assistant Editor: Donald Rickert Movie Editors: David Vicari, Fritz Esker

Food News

Contributing Writers: Jeff Boudreaux, Cynthea Corfah, Arielle Gonzales, Matt Hanson, Emily Hingle, Peyton Kullander, Phil LaMancusa, Debbie Lindsey, Tim McNally, Michelle Nicholson, Kim Ranjbar, Celeste Turner

Cocktail of the Month Bar Guide

New Languages in the New Year

Cover: Big Freedia by Romney Caruso

Entertainment & Nightlife 23 29 46 50

Live Music Calendar Lakeside2Riverside Movie Reviews Where Y'Been

Extras 13 30 48 49

Director of Sales: Jim Sylve Photographers and Designers: Gus Escanelle, Daelyn House, Emily Hingle, Ameer Joseph, Kim Ranjbar, Robert Witkowski

Allstate Sugar Bowl Parade Map Carnival Parade Maps Tales From the Quarter

Interns: Melody Daniels, Daelyn House, Mary Kate Johnson, Ameer Joseph, Cassidy Meehan, Frederick Quinn, Kylee Snyder

Po-Boy Views

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Letter from the Publisher Happy 2026 from Where Y’at. Get ready for a new year that kicks off with a bang.

Big Freedia is a local legend who has delved into a new genre of music with her gospel album Pressing Onward. Cynthea Corfah sits down with the Queen of Bounce to hear about her new business ventures and the gospel anthem “Celebration.”

The Georgia Bulldogs return to the Allstate Sugar Bowl on New Year’s Day. If you’re looking for a spot to brunch before the big game, don’t miss Arielle Gonzales’ breakdown of great restaurants near the Superdome. Speaking of sugar, Jeff Boudreaux explores the rich history of sugar cultivation in New Orleans.

Carnival season is upon us, and with an early Mardi Gras, there is less time to celebrate. This issue features parade maps of Joan of Arc and the Phunny Phorty Phellows, as well as Chewbacchus and more.

Happy New Year! –Josh Danzig, Publisher

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New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

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CLOCKWISE, FROM TOP: MANNY RANDAZZO; COURTESY NOBA / FEDERICO PALEO / TANGO AFTER DARK; COURTESY FIFI PARÉE COFFEE SHOP / OMNI ROYAL ORLEANS; CHLOE SACHS; EMILY BOUDREAUX; GUSTAVO ESCANELLE

CONTENTS

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oyful NOISE

Big Freedia Presses Onward & Upward

By Cynthea Corfah | Portrait Photography By Romney Caruso

Something spiritual awakens when an artist locks themselves away to create. The Rolling Stones went to France to write the 1972 classic rock album Exile on Main St., and Big Freedia went to Joshua Tree to write “Celebration,” the song that inspired her debut gospel album Pressing Onward.

Grammy-award-winning New Orleans bounce entertainer Freddy “Big Freedia” Ross Jr. recorded 50 songs in five days while at a writing camp in Joshua Tree, CA, in 2023.

Of those 50 songs, the gospel anthem “Celebration” stuck with her the most. While The Queen of Bounce expected to leave the starryskied desert with a hot new dance record, Big Freedia was inspired to make a gospel album instead and released her debut gospel album Pressing Onward in August 2025.

“Once I started working on the gospel record, my whole team got inspired,” Big Freedia said. “With what’s going on in the world, this record was needed more than anything that I had in my vault at the time. This was needed to give us all hope to keep pressing forward.”

Big Freedia has a gift for creating music that gives people hope. For nearly three decades, Big Freedia has helped people release their

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wiggle with an abundant catalogue of New Orleans bounce songs and features that have transformed the sound of music, catapulting New Orleans bounce music to new heights. Freedia went from performing underground New Orleans bounce music in clubs around town to recording songs with music icons including Lizzo, Ciara, Drake, Charli XCX, Kesha, and RuPaul. She has performed on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and earned a handful of awards over the years, including a Grammy for her unforgettable feature in Beyoncé’s “Break My Soul.”

While a gospel album from “The Queen of Bounce” may have been unexpected for some, those who know Ross before he became the Queen Diva knows his music career is rooted in the church. The Central City native began singing in the choir at Pressing Onward Baptist Church at the age of 10. Welcomed with open arms by his choir director godmother, he was encouraged to use his talents in the church. He started as a tenor singer before becoming the youth choir director and eventually the church’s assistant choir director.

“That was my upbringing,” Big Freedia said. “Just a young, Black,

New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

ROMNEY CARUSO

The Queen of Bounce is breaking into new music genres and entrepreneurial pursuits, all while rooting deeper in her faith.

WhereYat.com | January 2026

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gay boy in New Orleans singing down for the Lord.” While recording Pressing Onward, Big Freedia drew on the energy she grew up with to create a one-of-a-kind worship album that calls for worshipping God and celebrating life—with a dash of twerking.

“With bounce music, we catch some type of spirit that comes over us,” Big Freedia said about the connection between bounce and gospel music. “It’s the same thing as gospel. That’s why it meshed so well together. Being the first openly LGBTQ+ artist to come out with a gospel record, as well as incorporating bounce music, I could not be more proud.” Freedia recorded the album in Tremé at Esplanade Studios, a former 1920s church. To accompany her sound, she directed a choir of 15 local singers, bringing the church sound to life. This was the most fun she’s ever had working on an album, she said. And without realizing it, this album would be the light in one of her darkest times.

Three months before Pressing Onward was released, her partner of 20 years, Devon Hurst, died due to complications with diabetes. She dedicated the album to him, paying homage to her beloved. “I think it was the toughest time in my life,” Big Freedia reflected. “I couldn’t have imagined losing him at such a young age. He was only 38. We had planned to die together, and for it to just happen out of the blue, I’m trying to keep my mental [health] intact.”

Since experiencing such a devastating loss, Big Freedia has been on a healing journey. In a way, she believes God may have been preparing her for Hurst’s death with the gospel album. She has been focusing her attention on her music,

travelling, talking with a therapist, praying, and surrounding herself with close friends and family.

She has multiple albums in the works, including a second part to Pressing Onward, the dance album she shelved after her time in Joshua Tree, a voguing and bounce album, and a children’s book and album. In addition to her musical career, Big Freedia continues to grow her entrepreneurial ventures in the cannabis industry with her cannabis line, Royal Bud, and THC energy drink, Wobble, made in collaboration with Crescent Canna.

After unveiling plans in 2023 for Hotel Freedia, a boutique hotel, restaurant, pool, clubhouse, and live music venue near Frenchmen Street, Freedia said the hotel is still in development and plans to open in 2026. Though she is juggling a lot right now, Big Freedia eventually plans to lean more into entrepreneurship and put her days of twerking, swiggling, shaking, and liberating listeners to rest.

“They got a few more years of me,” Freedia said about her music fans. “The Queen has been doing this nonstop for going on 25 years, and I’m tired. There’s a lot of wear and tear on the body. It’s not just popping up on stage and performing.

It’s a lot that goes into it, logistically.”

But don’t fret. The Queen Diva isn’t going anywhere yet. With January 28 being her birthday, and a plethora of albums and projects on the way, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate the Third Ward’s very own. As Big Freedia finds healing and peace through her faith, her music carries that hope forward, reminding us to spread love, count our blessings, and embrace people exactly as they are.

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FROM SUGARCANE TO SUGAR BOWL

How Sugar Cultivation Shaped New Orleans and Inspired the Sugar Bowl As we prepare ourselves for New Orleans’ annual New Year’s Day football game, it's interesting to uncover just where the legendary Sugar Bowl got its name—as well as the importance of the commodity it represents for Louisiana.

Yes, friends, that abundant, everyday sweetener known the world over as sugar, a.k.a. “white gold,” first came to America’s shores via—you guessed it—New Orleans. In fact, this amazing city, which is so rich in culture, cuisine, and history, owes much of its development to the sugarcane crop, an Asian tropical grass that found unbridled success on the plantations of southeast Louisiana.

Sugarcane was first introduced to Louisiana in 1751 by Jesuit priests, by way of Saint-Domingue, who planted the soon-to-be earth-shattering crop in the area that is now known as Baronne Street in New Orleans. If you ever want to view the grounds where history was made, just take a walk down to the Immaculate Conception Jesuit Church and try to visualize sprawling rows of sugarcane plants.

From there, cultivation of the crop spread like wildfire up and down Louisiana’s portion of the Mississippi River. Yet, it wasn’t until the latter part of the century that sugar cultivation would soon reach its full potential through a plantation owner by the name of Jean Étienne de Boré.

De Boré was a Creole planter who had unsuccessfully attempted to utilize his fields in the production of indigo and cotton until ultimately switching to sugarcane, which was proven to grow exponentially in the subtropical environment of Louisiana. On the laborious backs of African slaves, de Boré set his sights solely on this relatively new crop in the area that is now Audubon Park. He purchased sugarcane from one of his contemporaries Antonio Mendez, the owner of the TerreauxBoeufs Plantation in St. Bernard Parish. A breakthrough

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New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

Sugar Bowl at Tulane Stadium occurred in 1795 after de Boré hired a chemist named Antoine Morin, a free man of color whose reputation in the sugar industry had preceded him. Under Morin’s commission, a sugar mill and factory were erected by the slaves, which allowed Morin to invent a new procession of sugar, known as granulation, and thereby changing the trajectory of the sweetener forever.

While historical whitewashing has painted Jean Étienne de Boré as the sole inventor of granulated sugar for a very long time, the crucial involvement of Antoine Morin, as well as his achievements, have gradually made their way to public consciousness—and rightfully so.

One indisputable fact about de Boré: He was chosen as the very first mayor of the city of New Orleans in 1803, following the Louisiana Purchase. In the early 19th century, sugar had become one of Louisiana’s most

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: CAROL M. HIGHSMITH VIA LIBRARY OF CONGRESS PRINTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS DIVISION; ASM GLOBAL; POSTCARD / PUBLIC DOMAIN; COURTESY WILDCAT BROTHERS DISTILLING

By Jeff Boudreaux

important cash crops, rivaling cotton in both output and profitability. As sugar plantations expanded, they came to dominate the economy of southern Louisiana, particularly in the parishes surrounding New Orleans.

Out of this so-called “sugar district,” another free man of color named Norbert Rillieux invented an even more efficient, and safer, way to boil and process cane-juice and syrup into sugar. This became known as the multiple-effect evaporator, which reduced waste and made sugar production more costeffective. By the mid-1800s, Louisiana was producing over 200,000 tons of sugar a year, with New Orleans emerging as a global center for the commodity’s refining and export.

While there were a few hiccups along the road, such as freezes, outbreaks of diseases, and the Civil War, sugar cultivation evolved into an industrial powerhouse that affected

Étienne de Boré

nation’s leading sugar producer at the time of conception. In 1935, the inaugural Sugar Bowl took place between Tulane University’s Green Wave and the Temple University Owls, of which Tulane won 20-14. An interesting fact is that the first game site, Tulane Stadium, was built on the very land that Étienne de Boré perfected his sugar craft.

As we all know, the annual Sugar Bowl game gradually became increasingly important, sometimes even hosting the National Championship. Even today, it stands as one of six rotating bowl games in the college playoffs, with its permanent home inside Caesars Superdome.

We certainly love our football—and our sugar even more so. Perhaps it has been taken for granted, much like air conditioning, fresh water, or the roofs over our heads. It’s hard to imagine just how

six historic six historic blocks blocks open open daily daily

New Orleans Sugar Exchange, late 1800

Free January Free January events events CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: RUDOLF BOHUNĚK / LOUISIANA STATE MUSEUM; PUBLIC DOMANIN; AMEER JOSPEH; PUBLIC DOMAIN (3)

at the at the french french market market

monday monday

Henderson Sugar Refinery, 1959

Henderson Condos, 2025

live music

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ASR warehouse, 1922 and bettered the lives of the area’s citizens.

With table sugar now a luxurious reality, it’s hard to underplay the use of the sweetener in the city’s culinary identity. From delectable confections such as pralines and beignets to its simple usage in coffee and tea, sugar was here to stay and would soon inspire an iconic event that millions of sports fans look forward to year after year.

Due to the widespread popularity of college football in the 1920s, and drawing from the success of the annual Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA, the idea of New Orleans’ very own “Sugar Bowl” was coined by local sportswriter Fred Digby, in honor of Louisiana’s status as the

ASR, c. 1915 groundbreaking its discovery, and eventual refinement, was perceived at the time. We all know how its hypothetical omission from public life would present a vastly different world. Even the laboratory-conceived sugar substitutes, such as saccharin, aspartame, and sucralose, that we rely on and love— and sometimes worry about—owe their very existence to visionary scientists who followed in the footsteps of Morin and Rillieux. Each one of these innovators have conditioned us to crave refreshments that satisfy the human “sweet tooth.” As far as we’re concerned, we wouldn’t have it any other way.

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Learn More @FrenchMarket.org WhereYat.com | January 2026

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GAME DAY, GRITS, & GOOD TIMES

By Arielle Gonzales

NOLA brunch as the new tailgate for Southern comfort, festive vibes, and boozy flair within a mile of the Superdome.

Not everyone pre-games with beer, bottomless mimosas, and shrimp and grits. New Orleans has long been a brunch town, but Sugar Bowl weekend brings it to a whole new level. This is our guide to the top local brunch spots to pre-game ahead of the Sugar Bowl, within a mile of the Caesars Superdome.

This list emphasizes vibrant joints serving up Southern comfort with a spin, encouraging festive brunch dishes, game-day playlists, and boozy atmospheres perfect for football enthusiasts craving flavor and flair. These places are ideal for locals entertaining friends or guests, making brunch the new tailgate.

Whether you’re pregaming with a mimosa tower or fueling up with biscuits and gravy, brunch is now part of the football ritual.

34 RESTAURANT & BAR Location: 714 Baronne St. Vibe: Sleek, modern, and made for mingling Why Go: 34 offers a polished Portuguese brunch with Cajun-Creole accents. Their Sunday brunch menu includes Portuguese French toast, salt cod fritters, and signature cocktails. Guests can dine in their beautiful interior with green and wood accents and with a painting of the Portuguese rooster, which symbolizes good luck, for game day. The bar scene is lively and festive.

Tailgate Twist: Perfect for groups staying nearby or looking to brunch in style.

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New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

BEARCAT CBD Location: 845 Carondelet St. Vibe: Wellness meets warehouse chic Why Go: This hotspot dual-menu concept caters to both clean eaters and comfort seekers. “Good Cat” options include vegan ranchero and mushroom toast, while “Bad Cat” favorites such as scallop and grits and pulled brisket bring the indulgence.

Tailgate Twist: A chill vibe with serious flavors, great for early risers.

COPPER VINE Location: 1001 Poydras St. Vibe: Garden-chic meets game-day buzz Why Go: This spot is a blend of historic architecture with modern bar vibes. It’s for those looking for a charming courtyard setting in the city. Copper Vine’s balcony is a full-on football fête. Guests can enjoy brunch charcuterie, seasonal curated flights with snacks, and have access to one of the best balconies in the city. The menu features Southern staples with upscale twists such as Cajun caviar deviled eggs and a “wine pub” breakfast. Also, be on the lookout for balcony tailgate experiences.

Tailgate Twist: Live music and a buzzy patio scene make it ideal for brunch squads.

DAISY MAE’S SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN & BREAKFAST Location: 920 Poydras St. Vibe: Down-home and delicious Why Go: Fried chicken and waffles, cheesy grits, and Cajun Bloody Marys at Daisy Mae’s is Southern comfort at its finest. This adorable breakfast joint serves up classic dishes that remind you of Momma. The booths are intimate, the service is fuzzy and warm, and the food is created with love. It’s the kind of place where you can get comfortable, pass plates around the table, and absorb pregame atmospheres with your crew.

Tailgate Twist: A hometown huddle with big flavor.

COURTESY COPPER VINE

Where to Brunch Before the Allstate Sugar Bowl

Copper Vine

HEADQUARTERS BY NICE GUYS NOLA Location: 445 S. Rampart St. Vibe: Brunch party central Why Go: This chic spot serves up Southern comfort with a side of swagger. Chicken and waffles, honey butter chicken biscuits, catfish and grits, and crawfish beignets headline the menu. There isn’t just food to enjoy. Dressing to impress, DJ tunes, and a lively crowd turn brunch into a full-on pregame.

Tailgate Twist: Loud, proud, and perfect for football fans who brunch hard.

Willa Jean

Meril

Daisy Mae’s

MAJORIA’S COMMERCE RESTAURANT Location: 300 Camp St. Vibe: Old-school diner charm Why Go: For locals, Majoria’s Commerce Restaurant is a genuine New Orleans institution with a no-nonsense flair and tons of flavor. Tucked away in the CBD, this family-owned restaurant has been serving locals, politicians, and downtown businesspeople big breakfasts for decades. On weekends during game day, it’s a staple place for those who wake up early and can get themselves energized up to watch the game. The brunch menu is loaded with Southern staples such as Orleans shrimp and grits, air-light omelets, and butter biscuits, as well as unique creations including hao chi dumplings. The service is fast, the servings are bountiful, and the vibe is charmingly retro.

Tailgate Twist: A nostalgic spot for early kickoff fuel.

MERIL Location: 424 Girod St. Vibe: Upscale but unpretentious Why Go: This downtown American gem brings bold flavors with global influences inspired by Chef Emeril Lagasse’s travels. Steak and egg flatbread, buttermilk waffles, and bottomless Meril mimosas are just the beginning. Their open kitchen and spacious tables make it a social hotspot.

Tailgate Twist: Ideal for foodies who want flair with their football.

TACOS DEL CARTEL Location: 1010 Girod St. Vibe: Street-style brunch with a Latin flavor kick Why Go: Brunch turns into a festive bash at Tacos del Cartel, which serves up bold, Latin-spiced flavor with attitude. Their brunch menu features birria tacos, egg and chorizo tacos, and breakfast al pastor burritos.

Many different craft cocktails start things off, and celebratory decor and a lively atmosphere segue into a high-energy pregame.

Tailgate Twist: Loud music, bold flavors, and a crowd that’s ready to rumble.

WILLA JEAN Location: 611 O’Keefe Ave. Vibe: Southern staples with brunch swagger Why Go: Willa Jean is a place where Southern comfort gets a hip, Instagram-influenced twist. Their vibe is bright and airy, from the front entrance to their comfortable interior. Many different biscuits, avocado toast, and Southern coconut cake make Willa Jean appear on a lot of lists of comfort food with attitude.

The crowd is hip, and the vibe is always perky. Their signature baked goods are also a favorite.

Tailgate Twist: Whether seated at the bar or in one of their many tables, it’s a win-win for an enjoyable brunch.

ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL NEW YEAR’ YEAR’S EVE PARADE WEDNESDAY, DEC. 31, 2 P.M.

CLCOKWISE FROM TOP: COURTESY WILLA JEAN; COURTESY DAISY MAE'S; COURTESY MERIL; MAP: AMEER JOSEPH

PARADE MAP KEY: SHOWS START & END

STARTING POINT

STOP

• Assemble in front of the Jazz Museum • Start at N. Peters & Elysian Fields Ave. • Parade down N. Peters St. • N. Peters St. to Decatur St. • Decatur St. past Jackson Sq. • At St. Louis St. turn onto N. Peters • N. Peters to Canal St.

WhereYat.com | January 2026

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A NOLA NEW YEAR Crescent City Traditions for Starting 2026 Fresh

By Michelle Nicholson

Every year, after the last firecracker fades and the champagne flutes are washed, New Orleans begins the business of ushering in the new year in its own way.

Food for Luck: Peas, Greens, and Gold on the Table The New Year’s plate in New Orleans—black-eyed peas, greens, pork, and cornbread—isn’t just comfort food. It’s a record of how cultures met in this port city and made luck a local flavor.

In the Lowcountry, Hoppin’ John is a meal of thrift and comfort, a simple dish of peas, rice, and salt pork. In New Orleans, cooks season it like the city itself—bold and layered.

The holy trinity of onion, bell pepper, and celery joins the pot; smoked tasso or ham hock deepens the broth; and thyme, bay leaf, and cayenne offer bite and perfume.

Each element carries meaning: peas swell like coins; greens—cabbage, collards, mustard—stand for folded bills; pork, tied to old European beliefs about the pig’s forward rooting, marks progress; and cornbread, golden and crisp, rounds out the wish for wealth. In some homes, a coin hides in the pot for luck, or a small serving is left out for ancestors.

If you’d rather not cook for a crowd, Cochon Butcher has a history of keeping tradition alive with a New Year’s Day package of bacon-braised cabbage, smothered pork, and black-eyed peas. Rouses Markets’ hot bars often serve peas and greens on January 1. However, it is easy to make your own: simmer peas with onion, garlic, and smoked meat until tender; wilt greens with vinegar and fat; and bake a skillet of cornbread until the edges crisp and the top glows gold—a plate that tastes like hope, seasoned the New Orleans way.

NOLA Rituals for Renewal Once the dishes are cleared and leftovers tucked away, New Orleanians turn their attention to another kind of renewal—of the house, the heart, the spirit. Here, cleaning is never just cleaning. It’s prayer in motion. These practices arise from the same blend that flavors local cooking: Catholic devotion, West African spirituality, and Caribbean folk traditions.

In Voodoo and other African-diasporic traditions, cleansing, netwayaj, is both physical and spiritual, meant to clear old energy and make space for blessings. In Catholic homes, that instinct might appear as holy water by the door or the quiet chalking of initials and year above the threshold, a custom still encouraged at St. George’s Episcopal Church. Some households braid the two— sweep from back to front to send out the old year, then sprinkle salt water or Florida Water in the corners to invite peace. A splash of rum, a drop of oil, or a spoken intention at the doorway seals the gesture.

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Botanicas and spiritual supply shops keep these rituals alive. Island of Salvation Botanica in the Marigny stocks sage, incense, oils, herbs, crystals, and spiritual waters.

Voodoo Authentica in the French Quarter carries candles, floor washes, soaps, and ritual kits. Each December, their shelves fill with small tools for big intentions—a white candle here, a vial of oil there, chosen to clear the slate for the coming year.

The city’s wellness community also offers collective ways to reset. For 2025, Orleans Yoga hosted a New Year’s Day Practice of breathwork and movement, Wild Lotus Yoga held “A Year of Intention,” and Earth Tones NOLA partnered with Swan River Yoga for a Healing Sound Bath. Similar gatherings are expected in 2026—some rooftop, some candlelit—all designed to begin the year with mindfulness and shared renewal. However different their forms, these circles echo the same purpose as the home rituals: pause, clear, and begin again—together.

Carry the Light Forward: From Home to the Streets Once the candles are snuffed and the sage smoke fades, the city reawakens in chorus—faith and festivity, tightly braided.

Renewal here is not quiet for long.

The first collective ritual of the year arrives on January 6, when the holiday season bows out and Carnival steps

New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

in. At sunset, the Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc winds through the French Quarter, torches and banners glowing against the early dark. Marchers dressed as saints, angels, and medieval courtiers follow the gilded statue of Joan of Arc— the city’s emblem of courage and rebirth. The procession blesses the city’s people as much as it entertains them, setting the tone for the season ahead: bright, resolute, and alive.

That same day, bakeries citywide unveil their first king cakes, the jeweled rings of dough and sugar that mark Carnival’s start. At Dong Phuong in New Orleans East, lines form before dawn; Haydel’s and Randazzo’s box their first batches; neighborhood cafés display smaller versions dusted with purple, green, and gold. Sharing that first slice, sometimes at an office table, sometimes on a stoop, is an act of communion as old as the city itself. The baby tucked inside isn’t superstition so much as an invitation. Whoever finds it carries the joy forward, expected to host the next gathering or buy the next cake.

Across homes and streets alike, light spills outward—from kitchen candles to parade torches. The year turns not by clock but by rhythm, beginning again in a city that refuses to separate the sacred from the celebratory. In New Orleans, renewal doesn’t whisper—it sings.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP; COURTESY ROUSES: GUSTAVO ESCANELLE; COURTESY COURTESY VOODOO AUTHENTICA / LILY EVANGELINE BULL

Here, the first days of January blend food, faith, and fellowship in ways that feel both ancient and alive. From simmering pots of black-eyed peas and cabbage to quiet house cleansings and torchlit parades, these rituals reveal the Crescent City’s gift for turning tradition into art.

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I FA M D E I LY • How to Survive New Year's Eve in NOLA with Family

By Peyton Kullander

We all have our favorite childless aunts with whom we have fond memories of slipping us a $20 and are excited to see again, but we also have Uncle Jimmys that stumble and talk a little bit too loud about the state of the world. That, combined with the persistent stress of relationship and career questions from parents, grandparents, and people you’re not 100% sure how you’re related to, can make for a very stressful atmosphere.

Fear not—we have compiled a quick guide of preparatory measures and escape plans to help you through the night, hopefully remaining in one piece.

PRE-DINNER PREPARATION 1. Control the Situation Steer your family towards a bar with two or more rooms/patios so you can easily slip away. If you’re the one hosting the family gathering, this is the time to take your rightful spot as host of the group. If not, protest to whoever is suggesting Monkey Hill that they need not make all the choices alone and that you’ll alleviate their weary mind from decision fatigue. Good local options are Tchop Yard and Hot Tin. 2. Pregame No further explanation is needed, but moderation is key. You don’t want to be the one to start the fight this year. Remember the golden rule: Beer before liquor, never been sicker; liquor before beer, you’re in the clear. You want to start with a light buzz that is maintained throughout the night, not descend into a whirlpool of chaos and puke in a bush at City Park.

3. Build Alliances Converse with family members you are on good terms with about what touchy topics to avoid and which ones will make you your parents’ favorite for the night. Having a planned set list of highlights from the year is a good idea. Make sure to bring up that you got a raise—just don’t mention it was only 50 cents from a coffee shop—and that you and your girlfriend just moved in together and adopted a dog. However, be wary of the, “When will you give me my grandbabies?” question to follow. A simple shrug and laugh should suffice, implying that you’re just too shy to even imply the act.

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4. Prepare the Compliment Arsenal Lying is not a sin here, at least not in these treacherous waters. Research family members’ Facebook pages beforehand to come up with things you know they’re begging for someone to bring up: the little cousin who just won their Greater New Orleans Little League tournament or the fresh haircut that your aunt got to show up her sister. Bring up one of these topics whenever the conversation lulls or intensifies to quickly diffuse the situation and get some other family members on your side.

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ESCAPE/SURVIVAL PLANS 1. The Codeword Have a codeword, such as “Scrim” or “Sazerac,” with a friend to indicate that you need them to call crying about their breakup, pet emergency, or flooding apartment. Don’t worry about plausability—just practice your facial distress in the mirror beforehand to make sure you deliver an Oscar-worthy performance. Big gasps of shock and covering one ear to hear better are good techniques.

I T I ED

2. The Bathroom If things get too heated, take a bathroom break to regain composure—a classic. If they ask why you were gone for 15 minutes, tell them the line was long, or that you ran into that girl from high school that they absolutely despised so they will not have any urge to go find them. If your family is okay with you smoking, that is also an option, but be mindful of the other smokers in your family. It could also bring Uncle Jimmy out and then you have to deal with him one-on-one.

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4. The Cyanide Pill Headache, nausea, vertigo, or a migraine, if you have a history of them, which is key. If things get too bad, feign illness to quickly escape and avoid the 30-minute parking lot goodbyes. Just be prepared for a possible grandmother check-in the next day, which can be a good or bad thing depending on your particular set of ancestors. Chicken soup is always welcome, but if the lecturing about your lifestyle habits gets to be too much, a quick reminder that she comes from the generation of quaaludes and casual amphetamine usage should suffice.

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3. The Tip Tip the bartender generously and early, both to apologize for anything that might come up and to possibly receive stronger pours. This also sets a precedent for the rest of your out of town/cheap family, so they will not want to look stingy when you’re already pulling out the big bucks. Your local service workers are your teammates, not your enemies. There’s probably a reason why they’re working through the holidays and can relate.

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So go drink and have fun with your family with these measures in mind. They will guarantee that you will leave the function without being the story that gets repeated every family gathering from here on out. Keep a level head and take notes on your family members who do f**k up on what not to do for next year.

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H2OH, YEAH!

NOLA’s Best Indoor Pool Picks Get in shape for the new year and make a splash at your local indoor pool.

By Celeste Turner

These days, DeMonsabert maintains a steady 191 pounds and never misses her water classes at the Wellness Center. “It’s great to be part of a group,” she said. “In class, someone is always pushing you. You wouldn’t think you could break a sweat in cold water.”

In fact, the water’s natural resistance makes your muscles work harder, explained Jessica Hotard, director of the East Jefferson Wellness Center and a certified water aerobics instructor for over 19 years. She emphasized that water workouts also boost heart health, flexibility, balance, and weight management, according to the Arthritis Foundation. “Working out in the water is just fun,” Hotard said. “You’ll leave the pool feeling accomplished and relaxed.”

As the new year begins, many look to get in shape, finding water a refreshing and effective alternative. Here’s a guide to local indoor pools available year round where you can dive into fitness anytime.

EAST JEFFERSON WELLNESS CENTER | 3726 Houma Blvd., Metairie According to Hotard, the Wellness Center has three indoor pools: a 25-meter lap pool, a 94°F therapy pool for low-impact classes, and a 104°F hot tub that seats eight to 10 people. “Our lap pool is designed for lap swimming with four lanes,“ Hotard said. “This pool is also shared with a few of the facility’s water classes.”

With 20+ water classes each week ranging from high-energy cardio to low-impact workouts, the Wellness Center makes it easy to get fit in the pool. “Membership is not required,” Hotard said. “Our guest fees are $10/day or $25/ week.”

Jewish Community Center

After nearly 50 years as a Metairie hairdresser, Lori DeMonsabert relies on the pool as her only way to stay physically active. For the past 10 years, DeMonsabert has attended water classes at the East Jefferson Wellness Center to maintain her physical fitness.

“I was diagnosed with arthritis and had always struggled with my weight,” DeMonsabert, who at one point weighed 326 pounds, said. “I also have stretched-out tendons in my feet from years on the job, so the pool is really the best option for me.” Following gastric sleeve surgery in 2005, DeMonsabert turned to the pool to maintain her mobility, as advised by her chiropractor. “I am positive that the only reason why I am still working is because of working out in the water,” she said.

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New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

UNIVERSITY OF NEW ORLEANS REC CENTER | 2000 Lakeshore Dr. Another year-round, publicly accessible pool offering swim lessons and aqua classes can be found at the University of New Orleans’ Recreation and Fitness Center. “Non-members may purchase a day pass for $10,” Assistant Director Edgar Avila Jr. stated. “Our pool is 25 yards in length and is designed for lap swimming with four lanes available.”

He mentioned that the pool is open Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. and on weekends from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., offering water aerobics classes on weekdays. Avila said, “We also provide swim lesson packages from ages 9 months old and up including Mommy & Me classes.”

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THE JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER | Uptown: 5342 St. Charles Ave. & Metairie: 3747 W. Esplanade Ave. Like the Wellness Center, the New Orleans Jewish Community Center offers a variety of aquatic programs and has lifeguards on duty whenever the pool is open. Although the JCC’s indoor pool measures just 13 yards in length one way, Aquatics Director Kathleen Kehoe Kennair noted that the Uptown facility is perfectly suited for lap swimming. “The pool is most active in the mornings from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m.,” she said. “Midday tends to be our calmest time for swimmers.”

Kennair pointed out that their aquatic fitness programs included aqua aerobics, aqua yoga, and swim lessons for all ages and skill levels.

“Our pool is available to JCC members only; however, non-members are able to sign up for our swim lesson programs at a non-member rate,” she said.

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OCHSNER FITNESS CENTERS | Harahan: 1200 S. Clearview Pkwy.

Heritage Plaza: 111 Veterans Blvd., Metairie Of its three locations in the New Orleans area, two Ochsner Fitness Center sites offer a wide range of water fitness activities for the whole family. At the Harahan facility, Aquatics Supervisor Grace Donovan highlighted the center’s two indoor pools—one recreational and one for lap swimming. “Our indoor lap pool has six lanes,” Donovan said. “We keep a wider lane open that can be used for swimming, walking, or other aquatic exercises.”

Donovan recommended non-members buy a guest pass for the water classes including Water Balance/ Flex, Power Hour, Fit Circuit, and Water Aerobics. Swim lessons are also available without membership.

At the Heritage Plaza location, Dylin Hartzheim, general manager of the satellite Ochsner Fitness Centers, said that the recently renovated pool now has two lap lanes and offers water aerobics Monday

through Thursday from 9 to 10 a.m. Non-members may use the pool for a $25 drop-in fee when accompanied by a member.

NEW ORLEANS ATHLETIC CLUB | 222 N. Rampart St. The indoor pool at NOAC, described by General Manager Stacy Falcone as a “water sanctuary,” features five lap lanes and offers aqua aerobics classes for all levels. Non-members can access the facility with a $30 day pass.

THE DRYADES YMCA | 2230 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd.

The Wellness Center at the Dryades YMCA features a six-lane indoor pool for lap swimming and offers yearround water aerobics classes on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 11 a.m. Guests can access the facility with a $15 day pass.

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CRESCENT CITY SONGS

A Playlist of NOLA Songs Made by Non-Locals

All cities are legendary, but not all cities are legendary in the same way. Or, as best surmised by Bob Dylan, “There are a lot of places I like, but I like New Orleans better.” By Matt Hanson New Orleans certainly has a worldwide reputation for a many number of things: Carnival season, restaurants, pirates, and, of course, our musical legacy. It is not only rich and deep but unique enough to inspire musicians all over the country and the world. The city has a major draw for people, imagining what life would be like in the Crescent City and then finding out it’s quite agreeable, with some obvious caveats—the opportunity to sample delicious music pretty much every night of the week being a major factor.

It’s understandable why New Orleans, with all its funk and free spirit, its resilience and darkness, would inspire a wide variety of songwriters from around the country. So here’s a playlist of original songs from artists spanning all genres and geographies who have paid tribute to our city. Of course, it’s only a sampling of a much larger tradition.

Here’s to sparking interest in the next batch of songs to (re)imagine the world of New Orleans.

PAUL SIMON | “Take Me to the Mardi Gras” A quintessential New Yorker digs being able to wear his summer clothes and drink in the street. Even better, “you can legalize your lows” while you’re at it. Sounds good to us.

Maybe Rhymin’ Simon isn’t as nimble as your average footloose Mardi Gras krewe, but if you’ve ever seen the “You Can Call Me Al” video, you know he can cut some decent steps, Chevy Chase notwithstanding.

TOM WAITS | “I Wish I Was in New Orleans” Of all the usual suspects in the songwriting world, Californian Tom Waits has certainly earned an honorary doctorate in New Orleans. He’s been mixing jazz and blues for decades now, and his whole aesthetic is being a loquacious nighthawk, a character appropriate for a town full of characters. This early plangent ode to missing NOLA comes straight from the heart. Welcome home, Waits.

GARY U.S. BONDS | “New Orleans” This one just gets the party started with an irresistibly singalong chorus. Tequila-flavored (wink wink) saxophone adds to all the exuberance of a block party. Bonds was a Virginian, but he makes you want to hop in a Cadillac and cruise down at high speed to see what all the fuss is about. Extra fun is pairing it with Wilson Pickett’s slightly spicier version, featuring more horns and backing vocals.

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New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

RANDY NEWMAN | “Kingfish” The son and nephew of acclaimed film composers, Newman grew up in LA but had family in the Garden District and spent summers here. His ability to write songs in character and his keen eye for the darker ironies of American life are second to none. Both are necessary to paint a portrait of the legendary Huey P. “Kingfish” Long, the progressive governor and senator from Louisiana whose political style was a suitably NOLA cocktail of corruption and charisma.

DUKE ELLINGTON | “Blues for New Orleans” You can’t talk about a city with a hearty jazz tradition without mentioning one of the greatest—if not the greatest—jazz musicians of all time paying tribute to it. Ellington essentially lived on the road, but he hailed from DC and became an icon of Harlem. This little-known track has style, swagger, and blues to burn, perfect for strutting along with a second line.

MERLE HAGGARD | “Living with the Shades Pulled Down” An icon of the Bakersfield Sound, Haggard pens a tale about someone living with a Bourbon Street working girl while hustling guitar gigs in the Quarter. He gleefully toasts the pair living the way they want to without a hint of judgment or punishment, which sometimes happens in country songs about sinning and grinning. You can hear it in the sly curl of the lips when he remarks that “daytime life sure is cozy living with the shades pulled down.” More power to you, Haggard. You do you.

HANK WILLIAMS | “On the Banks of the Old Pontchartrain” Williams was a Nashvillian by way of Montgomery but loved Louisiana, which loved him back.

He was an early star of the Louisiana Hayride radio show out of Shreveport, wrote the classic “Jamabalya,” and celebrated his second marriage with two well-attended concerts at the Municipal Auditorium. There’s a dark plot twist in this song, but his rainy romantic idyll by the lake is as picturesque as it gets. Bob Dylan, another rambler who has been on record as a NOLA fan and who recorded the superb 1989 record Oh Mercy on Soniat Street, spontaneously covered it in his last concert at the Saenger to a warm round of applause.

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CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL | “Proud Mary” Oakland’s John Fogarty spent some serious time imagining New Orleans and its environs, resulting in classic hits such as “Born on the Bayou” and later named a record Mardi Gras.

In “Proud Mary,” the narrator reflects on drifting through odd jobs (“Washed a lot of plates in Memphis / Pumped a lot of ‘pane down in New Orleans”) and stays proudly resilient: “But I never lost a minute of sleeping / Worrying about the way things might have been.”

Props to Ike and Tina Turner’s version, which zooms directly to the stratosphere.

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

MONDAY, DECEMBER 22 21st Amendment Big Mike Bacchanal Wine Byron Asher Bamboula’s The Rug Cutters Bar Redux Joey B. Wilson Beanlandia Treme Brass Band Bourbon Street Drinkery Justin Donovan BJ’s Leopard Hound Blues Band Cafe Negril Vibe Tribe Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Da Jump Off Lounge Sporty’s Brass Band D.B.A Secret Six Jazz Band Dos Jefes John Fohl French Market Alicia Renee Fritzel’s Richard Scott Maple Leaf George Porter Trio Mayfield‘s Irvin Mayfield, Kermit Ruffins MRB Ben Buchbinder Orpheum Theater LPO Preservation Hall Preservation Brass Band Snug Harbor Charmaine Neville Band Spotted Cat Dominick Grillo, Amber Rachelle The Maison The Crybabies The Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Tropical Isle Dave Ferrato

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24 Bamboula’s Jacky Blaire Bourbon Street Drinkery Justin Donovan Cafe Degas Gizinti Trio Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport French Market Alicia Renee Fritzel’s Sazerac Jazz Band Kermit’s Tremé Keep It Rolling Brass Band Mahogany Jazz Hall Tom Fischer Maison Bourbon Leroy Marshall MRB Lynn Drury New Orleans Jazz Park Kyle Cripps Orpheum Theater Sariyah Idan Preservation Hall Preservation All-Stars Spotted Cat Chris Christy The Jazz Playhouse Big Sam Tropical Isle Dave Ferrato THURSDAY, DECEMBER 25 Apple Barrel Bubbles Brown Blue Nile Irvin Mayfield Chandelier Bar David Torkanowsky Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Le Bon Temps Roule The Soul Rebels Mahogany Jazz Hall Jamil Sharif Spotted Cat Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band Tropical Isle Bryan Ory FRIDAY, DECEMBER 26

AllWays Lounge Angie Z Apple Barrel Bubbles Brown BJ’s Hemlock Bacchanal David Sigler, Willie Green Bamboula’s The Rug Cutters Blue Nile Kermit Ruffins Bourbon Street Honky Tonk Bad Sandys Buffa’s Washboard Chaz Carousel Bar Nayo Jones Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Le Bon Temps Roule Tiago Guy Mahogany Jazz Hall Don Vappie Rock ‘N’ Bowl Bag of Donuts Saenger Theatre LPO Snug Harbor Jason Marsalis Spotted Cat Paradise Jazz Band The Broadside Doussan Garrett Benoit The Maison Leroy Marshall Band The Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Tipitina’s Kyle Roussel, Preservation Hall Jazz Band Tropical Isle Bryan Ory SATURDAY, DECEMBER 27 Apple Barrel The Smoky Greenwell Band Bacchanal Miles Berry, Raphael Bas Blue Nile George Brown Band Chickie Wah Wah Jon “Papa” Gros Courtyard Brewery Sariyah Idan Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat D.B.A. Tuba Skinny Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Kermit’s Tremé Kermit Ruffins Kerry Irish Pub Patrick Cooper Le Bon Temps Roule Kowan & Da Homies New Orleans New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market Kandace Springs Snug Harbor Alicia Renee Spotted Cat Shake’em Up Jazz Band

The Broadside Lost Bayou Ramblers, HollyRock The Jazz Playhouse Nayo Jones The Maison Leroy Marshall The Polo Club John Royen The Roosevelt Sam Kuslan

NGHTMRE AT THE METROPOLITAN

Los Angeles based DJ and producer NGHTMRE is bringing the party to the Metropolitan night club. The EDM artist has headlined festivals including Coachella, Bonnaroo, Ultra, and Electric Forest.

Wednesday, December 31, 9 p.m., $34.44 to $1364.98, themetronola.com

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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 23 21st Amendment Big Mike Apple Barrel Bubbles Brown Bamboula’s Giselle Anguizola Quartet Bar Redux Sam Tenhoff Bayou Bar Peter Harris Bourbon Street Drinkery Justin Donovan Trio Chickie Wah Wah Kermit Ruffins Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Dos Jefes Tom Hook Fritzel’s Richard Scott Mahogany Jazz Hall Jenna McSwain Mayfield‘s Irvin Mayfield, Kermit Ruffins New Orleans New Orleans Jazz & Blues

Market José James Orpheum Theater LPO Preservation Hall Preservation All-Stars Snug Harbor Victor Goines Spotted Cat Smoking Time Jazz Club The Maison Jacky Blair The Polo Club John Royen The Rabbit Hole Rebirth Tipitina’s Stanton Moore Tropical Isle Dave James

WhereYat.com | January 2026

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MUSIC CALENDAR SUNDAY, DECEMBER 28 Bacchanal Juan Tigre, Tangiers Combo Bamboula’s The Jaywalkers Bourbon Street Drinkery Jamie Lynn Vessels Bourbon Street Honky Tonk Bad Sandys Carousel Bar Iguanas Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Kermit’s Tremé Kermit Ruffins, TBC Brass Band Orpheum Theater Gary Owens Saenger Theatre Chip Davis Snug Harbor David Navarro Spotted Cat Music Club Treme Brass Band The Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band The Maison Leroy Marshall Band The Polo Club David Boeddinghaus Tropical Isle Bryan Ory MONDAY, DECEMBER 29 30/90 Margie Perez AllWays Lounge Betsy Propane Apple Barrel Mark Appleford Bacchanal Wine Byron Asher Bourbon Street Drinkery Justin Donovan Constantinople Stage Dave Jordan, Rurik Nunan Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Da Jump Off Lounge Sporty’s Brass Ban D.B.A. Secret Six Jazz Band French Market Alicia Renee Mayfield‘s Irvin Mayfield, Kermit Ruffins Snug Harbor Charmaine Neville Band The Polo Club David Boeddinghaus TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30 21 Amendment Dave Hammer AllWays Crossroads Cabaret Apple Barrel Bubbles Brown Bamboula’s Giselle Anguizola Quartet Bayou Bar Peter Harris, Ashlin Park Bourbon Street Drinkery Justin Donovan Trio Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat D.B.A. T Marie Dos Jefes Tom Hook Fritzel’s Richard Piano Mayfield‘s Irvin Mayfield, Kermit Ruffins Maple Leaf A Very Good Band Orpheum Theater The Revivalists Rock ‘N’ Bowl Bucktown Allstars Snug Harbor Astral Project Spotted Cat Smoking Time Jazz Club The Jazz Playhouse Amber Rachelle The Maison Paradise Swing Band The Rabbit Hole Rebirth Tipitina’s Jon Cleary, Nigel Hall WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31 21st Amendment John Lisi, Marty Peters Bacchanal Pete Olynciw Bamboula’s John Saavedra Cafe Degas Gizinti Trio Cafe Negril Big Mike & The R&B Kings Chickie Wah Wah Morning 40 Federation Civic Theatre DJ Soul Sister Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat D.B.A. The Soul Rebels Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat French Market Alicia Renee Jax Brewery Top Cats Kermit’s Tremé Keep It Rolling Brass Band Orpheum Theater Revivalists Preservation Hall Preservation Legacy Band Rock ‘N’ Bowl The Boogie Man Snug Harbor Delfeayo Marsalis The Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band The Jazz Playhouse Big Sam The Maison Leroy Marshall Band Tipitina’s Galactic, Jelly Joseph Tropical Isle Dave Ferrato Virgin Hotel The Soul Rebels Woldenberg Park Dumstaphunk

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New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

THURSDAY, JANUARY 1 21st Amendment Big Joe Kennedy Duo BJ’s Sally Baby’s Silver Dollars BMC Mark Appleford Buffa’s Tom McDermott Chandelier Bar David Torkanowsky Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Le Bon Temps Roule The Soul Rebels Spotted Cat Jumbo Shrimp Jazz Band Steamboat Natchez Steamboat Stompers The Jazz Playhouse Big Sam’s Funky Nation FRIDAY, JANUARY 2 Bacchanal Wine David Sigler, Willie Green BMC Jazz Band Ballers Blue Nile Kermit Ruffins BJ’s Prey 4 Neighbors Buffa’s Cole Williams Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Le Bon Temps Roule Nina Hungerland

Snug Harbor Sariyah Idan Spotted Cat Paradise Jazz Band Steamboat Natchez Steamboat Stompers SATURDAY, JANUARY 3 Bamboula’s James McClaskey BJ’s Brasinola Blue Nile George Brown Band BMC The Rug Cutters Buffa’s Dead Magnolia String Band Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Le Bon Temps Roule The Snozzberries Rock ‘N’ Bowl Peyton Falgoust Snug Harbor Phil Degruy Spotted Cat Music Club Panorama Jazz Band The Broadside Creole String Beans The Den Oscillation Communications SUNDAY, JANUARY 4 21st Amendment Marty Peters Bacchanal Wine Tangiers Combo BJ’s James McClaskey Buffa’s Pfister Sisters Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Steamboat Natchez Steamboat Stompers The Howlin’ Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band The Jazz Playhouse Richard Scott MONDAY, JANUARY 5 BJ’s Smokehouse Brown Buffa’s David Doucet Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Le Bon Temps Roule VetJams

COURTESY THE RADIATORS / TIPITINA'S

Tipitina’s Big Sam Tropical Isle Bryan Ory

For up-to-date listings visit WhereYat.com Scan Here

TUESDAY, JANUARY 6 Buffa’s Alex McMurray Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Spotted Cat Smoking Time Jazz Club Steamboat Natchez Steamboat Stompers The Jazz Playhouse Amber Rachelle The Rabbit Hole Rebirth WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 7 Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport New Orleans Jazz Museum The Brave Acorn Band The Broadside Jeff Coffin Tropical Isle Dave Ferrato THURSDAY, JANUARY 8 Chickie Wah Wah Jim Lauderdale Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Hyatt Regency Roxy Coss

THE RADIATORS AT TIPITINA’S The Radiators will be taking over Tipitina’s for three nights for their 2026 anniversary celebration. The local rock band has been performing since 1978 and has fans all over the country.

January 15-17, 9 p.m., $186 to $242, tipitinas.com

Le Bon Temps Roule The Soul Rebels New Marigny Theatre LPO New Orleans New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market Lee Ritenour FRIDAY, JANUARY 9 Bacchanal Wine David Sigler, Willie Green Blue Nile Kermit Ruffins Chickie Wah Wah Gerald French Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Hyatt Regency Ryan DeWeese Le Bon Temps Roule Organami Marigny Opera House Sariyah Idan May Bailey’s Jacky Blaire New Orleans New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market Lee Ritenour New Orleans Jazz Museum Alex McMurray Spotted Cat Paradise Jazz Band SATURDAY, JANUARY 10 Chickie Wah Wah Eric “Benny” Bloom Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Fillmore Johnny Sketch Hyatt Regency Dani Toralla Jazz Education Conference Samuel Torres Maple Leaf River Eckert Band May Bailey’s Blue Horn Jazz Band New Orleans New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market The Headhunters Spotted Cat Shake’em Up Jazz Band Tipitina’s Sweet Supernova SUNDAY, JANUARY 11

Bacchanal Tangiers Combo Buffa’s Some Like It Hot! Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat The Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band MONDAY, JANUARY 12 Buffa’s David Doucet Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat H.O.B. Shaun Cassidy TUESDAY, JANUARY 13 Buffa’s Alex McMurray Spotted Cat Smoking Time Jazz Club Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat The Rabbit Hole Rebirth WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14 Chickie Wah Wah Mary Gauthier, Jaimee Harris Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Orpheum Theater Gregory Alan Isakov Tropical Isle Bourbon Dave Ferrato THURSDAY, JANUARY 15 Chickie Wah Wah Benmont Tench Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Le Bon Temps Roule The Soul Rebels Saenger Theatre Richard Thomas The Den JaFearce Tipitina’s The Radiators

733 SAINT JOSEPH ST. NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130 ZEROLATENCYVR.COM 504 300 9794

FRIDAY, JANUARY 16 Bacchanal David Sigler Blue Nile Kermit Ruffins Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Civic Theatre The Storyville Jazz Band Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Le Bon Temps Roule Smoker’s World New Orleans New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market Mindi Abair New Orleans Jazz Museum Alex McMurray Orpheum Theater Herb Alpert Southport Music Hall Beat Dat Belly Benefit Spotted Cat Paradise Jazz Band Tipitina’s The Radiators SATURDAY, JANUARY 17 Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Deutsches Haus Tongue & Groove House of Blues Storm Marrero, Josh Starkman Latter Library LPO Le Bon Temps Roule Joey Houck May Bailey’s Giselle Anguizola Trio Spotted Cat Music Club Panorama Jazz Band The Howlin Wolf Swinging Astrid Tipitina’s The Radiators SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 Bacchanal Wine Tangiers Combo Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Gasa Gasa Shiner, Bursting The Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band Tipitina’s Raw Oyster Cult MONDAY, JANUARY 19 Buffa’s David Doucet Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat TUESDAY, JANUARY 20 Buffa’s Alex McCurray Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Ellis Marsalis Center Keiko Komaki Saturn Bar Meredith Moon

WhereYat.com | January 2025

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New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

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WhereYat.com | January 2026

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

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 21 Chickie Wah Wah Will Hoge, Anthony D’Amato Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport New Orleans Jazz Museum The Brave Acorn Band Sheraton New Orleans Robby Hecht The Broadside Marbin The Den Barkley Cove Tipitina’s John Craigie, Anna Moss Tropical Isle Dave Ferrato THURSDAY, JANUARY 22 Carnaval Lounge Friendship Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Gasa Gasa Summer Hoop, ENMY New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market Damon Fowler, Jason Ricci Joy Theater The Floozies Sheraton New Orleans Tyler Ramsey, Carl Broemel Siberia friendship, Little Mazarn

THE FLOOZIES AT THE JOY THEATER

Check out The Floozies, as well as Too Many Zooz, at the Joy Theater. The Kansas-based funk band are two brothers who bring a future-esque groove to sold out venues across the country.

Thursday, January 22, 8 p.m., $39.20 to $109.71, thejoytheater.com

FRIDAY, JANUARY 23 Bacchanal David Sigler, Willie Green Blue Nile Kermit Ruffins Chickie Wah Wah Steep Canyon Rangers Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Gasa Gasa Skerik’s Compersion Quartet Jefferson Perf Arts Center TBlack Jacket Symphony Joy Theater Rene Vaca Le Bon Temps Roule Billy’s Third Dessert May Bailey’s Blue Horn Jazz Band New Orleans New Orleans Jazz & Blues

Market John Pizzarelli Saenger Theatre Hadestown Spotted Cat Paradise Jazz Band The Rabbit Hole Blue Widow

SATURDAY, JANUARY 24 Buffa’s T Marie Chickie Wah Wah Liz Barnez Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Folk Alliance International Dallahan Le Bon Temps Roule Jamie Bernstein May Bailey’s Giselle Anguizola Trio New Orleans New Orleans Jazz & Blues Market Kenny Barron Saenger Theatre Hadestown Sheraton New Orleans Amanda Pascali Spotted Cat Shake’em Up Jazz SUNDAY, JANUARY 25 Bacchanal Tangiers Combo Buffa’s Some Like It Hot! Chickie Wah Wah Luke Winslow-King Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat The Howlin Wolf Hot 8 Brass Band MONDAY, JANUARY 26 Buffa’s David Doucet Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat The Sazerac House The Great Shakeup TUESDAY, JANUARY 27 Buffa’s Alex McMurray Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat House of Blues Neko Case Marigny Opera House Geovane Santos

The Rabbit Hole Rebirth Spotted Cat Smoking Time Jazz WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 28 Chickie Wah Wah Sean Rowe Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Gasa Gasa 54 Ultra Tropical Isle Dave Ferrato THURSDAY, JANUARY 29 Buffa’s Tom McDermott Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Gasa Gasa Glare, All Under Heaven Le Bon Temps Roule The Soul Rebels FRIDAY, JANUARY 30 AllWays Lounge Vamp Lounge Bacchanal David Sigler, Willie Green Blue Nile Kermit Ruffins Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport May Bailey’s Bayou Manouche New Orleans Jazz Museum David Buchbinder Quintet Spotted Cat Paradise Jazz Band Tipitina’s Reverend Horton Heat

SATURDAY, JANUARY 31 Crescent City Brewhouse New Orleans Streetbeat Davenport Lounge Jeremy Davenport Le Bon Temps Roule Naomie April

MEET YOUR FAVE CELEBS

JANUARY 9-11, 2026 ERNEST N. MORIAL CONVENTION CENTER

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New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

COURTESY THE FLOOZIES

Spotted Cat Smoking Time Jazz Club The Rabbit Hole Rebirth Tipitina’s Galactic Zeitgeist Arts Center Daniel Rossi

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: ROBERT WITKOWSKI; COURTESY NOTCF GALA; NOBA /FEDERICO PALEO / TANGO AFTER DARK; DARK; COURTESY ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL / MATTHEW PERSCHALL

LAKESIDE2RIVERSIDE NOLA CHRISTMASFEST

December 20-29 | nolachristmasfest.com

The NOLA ChristmasFest is back at the New Orleans Convention Center and will provide tons of holiday cheer. Enjoy an ice skating rink, carnival rides, live music, speciality food items, and, for the first time ever, ice bumper cars. Ticket prices range depending on whether it is the weekday or the weekend, as well as if an individual or group ticket is purchased. NOLA ChristmasFest has two different daily reservation options, 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. to 9 p.m., to make sure the whole city can experience the unique holiday display.

ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL NYE PARADE December 31 | allstatesugarbowl.org

The Allstate Sugar Bowl New Year's Eve Parade, presented by Louisiana Tourism, will kick off on December 31 from the corner of Decatur and Elysian Fields at 2 p.m. The parade will feature festive floats, local marching bands, and exciting performers, all leading up to the Allstate Sugar Bowl game on January 1. The parade will ride through the French Quarter on Decatur Street along the Mississippi River to end on Canal Street. The event will be broadcast live on wgno.com and then will be re-played on WGNO-TV New Year's Day at 9 a.m.

FOURTH ANNUAL NOTCF HONORS GALA January 9 | notcf.com

The New Orleans Tourism and Cultural Foundation will be hosting their annual Honors Gala on January 9 at Mardi Gras World. Join the NOTCF for a night of honoring individuals who have contributed to our community by embodying the culture of New Orleans and striving to make a difference. NOTCF is a non-profit dedicated to uplifting the city’s traditions through skills, knowledge, and ideas. The NOTCF Honors Gala will recognize Cierra Chenier, Arkesha Baquet, Johnette Downing, and many more cultural leaders who have contributed to New Orleans’ cultural legacy. General admission and sponsor packages are available.

NOBA’S TANGO AFTER DARK

January 24 | mahaliajacksontheater.com

The New Orleans Ballet Association is welcoming Argentina’s Tango After Dark to the Mahalia Jackson Theater on Saturday, January 24. Internationally acclaimed choreographer Germán Cornejo fuses the soul of Buenos Aires with sophisticated modern ballet to bring to life the revolutionary music of Argentine legend Astor Piazzola. This experience is complete with 10 world-class dancers, a seven-piece live band, and two unforgettable vocalists. This once in a lifetime experience has a variety of tickets ranging from $32 to $212 and seating options available. Visit the Mahalia Jackson Theater’s website or NOBA’s website to secure your ticket.

WhereYat.com | January 2026

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Carnival Parade Maps Funky Uptown Krewe

Tuesday, January 6, 7 p.m.

The Phunny Phorty Phellows kicks off Carnival on Twelfth Night with a costumed, satirical streetcar ride along St. Charles Avenue, celebrating a tradition from 1878.

LAKEVIEW

CITY PARK

N. CARROLLTON

ST. CHARLES + JEFFERSON

MID-CITY ST. CLAUDE

DS

TREMÉ CANAL + LOYOLA

ST. CHARLES + NAPOLEON

LOUIS ARMSTRONG PARK

BIENVILLE + N. RAMPART

HOWARD + BARONNE

MARIGNY ME N

ST. PETER + N. RAMPART

NCH FRE

FRENCH QUARTER

BIENVILLE

CANAL

CBD

ST. CLAUDE + ELYSIAN FIELDS

ESPLANADE + N. RANPART

S. RAMPART

ST. CHARLES + LOUISIANA

FRANKLIN + ST. CLAUDE

F IE L

UNION TERMINAL

IN

BIENVILLE

CLAIBORNE

S. CARROLLTON

N KL

WILLOW STREETCAR BARN

Joan of Arc

Tuesday, January 6, 8 p.m.

The Krewe de Jeanne d’Arc puts on a medieval-themed French Quarter parade honoring Joan of Arc and featuring costumes, puppets, music, and familyfriendly fun.

FR A

ST. CHARLES + S. CARROLLTON

Tuesday, January 6, 7:05 p.m.

The Funky Uptown Krewe rolls behind the Phunny Phorty Phellows with a musicfilled St. Charles streetcar parade, discothemed throws, and support for local NOLA musicians.

IA N

Tuesday, January 6, 7:30 p.m.

The Société Des Champs Elysée helps support the neighborhoods around Elysian Fields and Saint Claude and throws a festive party on Twelfth Night.

Phunny Phorty Phellows

ELYS

Société Des Champs Elysée

BOURBON

MAG

POYDRAS

ST. CHARLES + JACKSON

DAUP HIN

E

CANAL + ST. CHARLES ROYAL

A Z IN

TIVOLI CIRCLE

E

CHARTRES+URSULINES

TOULOUSE + CHARTRES

CHARTRES+BARRACKS

AS

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WAREHOUSE ARTS DISTRICT

N. PETERS+DECATUR FRONT + BIENVILLE

FRENCH MARKET PL.+ URSULINES + N. PETERS BARRACKS

MISS RIVER Chewbacchus

Saturday, January 24, 7 p.m.

The Intergalactic Krewe of Chewbacchus parades with sci-fi flair, DIY eco-friendly floats, cosplay, and quirky throws. This year’s theme is “Rebellions Are Built on Hope.”

New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

FRENCHMEN + DECATUR

DS

ELYSIAN FIELDS + FRENCHMEN

MAP: AMEER JOSPEH; GUSTAVO ESCANELLE

OU L

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

BARRACKS + DECATUR

F IE L

UPIT

STOP

TOULOUSE + DECATUR

DECATUR + CONTI

PARADE MAP KEY: SHOWS START & END

STARTING POINT

JACKSON SQUARE

IA N

O TCH

UPTOWN

DECATUR + N. PETERS

ELYS

BIENVILLE + CHARTRES

WhereYat.com | January 2026

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THE BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS January 8, 2026, is the 211th anniversary of the Battle of New Orleans, one of the last skirmishes of the War of 1812. By Emily Hingle War raged across the globe in the century before this event. Superpowers were set on conquering vast swaths of lands as far as their ships would take them, battling to plant flags, extract minerals and metals, and grow cash crops despite the pain caused to those who already lived there.

Chalmette Monument 32

New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

North American History Parts of North America were colonized by Britain, France, and Spain beginning in the 16th century, and clashes occurred between them and Native American allies and foes. The French and Indian War in North America from 1754 to 1763 and the Seven Years War in Europe from 1756 to 1763 pitted kingdoms against each other over who had the right to “own” North American land and Caribbean islands. The 1763 Treaty of Paris decreed that victorious Britain received France’s land from the Mississippi River east to the Appalachian Mountains, as well as Canadian territories and Spain’s Florida territory.

The British Crown heavily taxed their own colonists to make up for the debt caused by numerous wars, which led to a push for American independence. The Revolutionary War began with the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, and ended with the Treaty of Paris signed on September 3, 1783. The new sovereign nation got all British territory from the Mississippi River to the Atlantic Ocean. Further, Britain ceded Florida back to Spain.

Spain was given a large territory west of the Mississippi River and the city of New Orleans

FROM TOP: BATTLE OF NEW ORLEANS BY PERCY MORAN / ENCYCLOPEDIA BRITANNICA / LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, WASHINGTON, D.C. (LC-USZC2-3796); CLOCKWISE COURTESY FROM NPS TOP: DREAM HOUSE LOUNGE; MOVE YA BRASS COURTESY ESSENTIALLY NOLA

THE LONG TALE OF

DON’T MISS THE

AMEERTOP: FROM JOSPEH COURTESY NPS; WIKIMEDIA COMMONS / UNKNOWN PHOTOGRAPHER, DETROIT PUBLISHING CO., PUBLISHER, 1910

Malus-Beauregard House, Chalmette Battlefield

Grand Army of the Republic Memorial, Chalmette National Cemetery

by France in the Treaty of Fontainebleau in 1762, and Spain retroceded this land back to France in the Third Treaty of San Ildefonso on October 1, 1800. It was too big to defend from the growing United States.

France’s leader, Napoleon Bonaparte, knew the immense value of this land, including its proximity to Caribbean islands that grow profitable sugar.

The American government was concerned that the French emperor would set his sights on conquering their land as he was trying to forcefully take present-day Haiti from the rebel government created from the Haitian Revolution. President Jefferson sent James Monroe and Robert Livingston to negotiate a purchase with Napoleon, and he offered more than imagined—$15 million for 828,000 square miles of land that nearly doubled the size of the US at that time. Napoleon needed cash for war with Britain, and this large piece of land required too much work to turn a profit. The Louisiana Purchase was signed on April 30, 1803, followed by Britain declaring war on the French Empire in May.

New Orleans was finally an American city; however, there were only a few years of peace in the US before guns started firing again.

The War of 1812 The British Royal Navy blocked sea trade between the US and France due to Britain’s war with Napoleon. There were also instances of ship seizure and impressment of Americans to the British Royal Navy. On June 1, 1812, President Madison asked Congress to declare war on Britain, and the War of 1812 officially began. American armed forces attempted to take Britain’s colonies in Canada before the battles spread south. Britain boosted their efforts in America after Napoleon abdicated his throne on April 6, 1813.

Governor of West Florida Mateo González Manrique asked the British to protect Pensacola from General Jackson, but Jackson was victorious in occupying the city. The fight then moved towards Mobile and New Orleans.

British ships arrived in the Gulf of Mexico in December, and British troops took over Lacoste Plantation on December 23, 1814.

The occupant, Major Gabriel Villeré, fled to warn General Jackson, who had created an army of militia, Native Americans, slaves, free men of color, and pirates. The Treaty of Ghent was signed on December 24 to end this war and ratified by Britain on December 27.

It took seven weeks to travel to America for ratification, and thousands of British troops traveled up the Mississippi River heading for the city.

The Americans made their stand at a strategic spot just a few miles south of New Orleans, an area bound by the river to the south and swamps to the north that would funnel the enemy forces into a tight area.

The Rodriguez Canal was cut between the water bodies, and the Americans built an earthen wall along its upriver side. The British prepared to cross the canal with fascines and scale the wall with ladders, but the mismanagement of these items may have been Britain’s downfall.

The British signaled the start of the January 8, 1815, battle with a rocket fire at 6:20 a.m. A team of about 500 British troops took over a battery of cover-fire cannons on the Westbank hours later than expected. The cannons were not able to be turned on the American line in time.

Under cover of fog, the first line of British troops advanced towards the redoubt to retrieve the supplies to cross the canal, but it was empty. The ladders and fascines were in another redoubt 500 yards behind them.

General Mullins and his 300 men backtracked to the correct redoubt while other troops advanced through them, causing disorder.

Additionally, the fog lifted. The red coats were highly visible to the Americans, who began to fire with cannons, rifles, and muskets. Within minutes, British troops were killed or wounded, including most of the senior officers.

The British withdrew entirely a few days later, and the Treaty of Ghent was ratified

by America on February 17, officially ending the war. General Andrew Jackson’s victory propelled him to the highest office in the land, and the 8th of January was a federal holiday from 1828 to 1861. Chalmette Battlefield is open to visitors year round to vividly explain the tale of the Battle of New Orleans.

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PARLEZ-VOUS…?

Learn a New Language in New Orleans Much like taking up a musical instrument at any stage of life, beginning a language journey has great implications for mental well-being, whether you’re mastering some phrases to get by while traveling or striving to become fluent.

A 2016 study entitled “Novelty, Challenge, and Practice: The Impact of Intensive Language Learning on Attentional Functions” by Thomas H. Bak, Madeleine R. Long, Mariana Vega-Mendoza, and Antonella Sorace concluded that “significant improvement in an attentional switching task” was noticed after just one week of an intensive Scottish Gaelic course. “Our results suggest that even a short period of intensive language learning can modulate attentional functions and that all age groups can benefit from this effect. Moreover, these short-term effects can be maintained through continuous practice. The improvement was noted across all age groups, from 18 to 78 years old,” the study stated. …ALLEMAND? The original Deutsches Haus opened its doors in 1928, the culmination of several German immigration aid and cultural organizations banding together during the trying times after World War I. Louisiana Act. No. 114 was passed in 1918, which prohibited “the teaching of the German language in the public and private elementary and high schools, colleges, universities, and other educational institutions in the state of Louisiana, and to provide penalties for the violation of this Act.” Though the discriminatory act was repealed in 1921, World War II loomed, and Deutsches Haus member numbers dropped. The German Beer Garden at the 1984 Louisiana World Expo saw a resurgence of New Orleans-German cultural appreciation.

Now a thriving organization that hosts several events annually at their clubhouse along Bayou St. John, members and non-members are welcome to learn German there. The Haus hosts three semesters of classes between 10 and 13 weeks for adults and children, members and non-members.

Those who want to try out the language first are welcome to come for movie nights and folk singing events.

organization purchased their current 4522 Prytania St. building in 1961. Adults and children are invited to take part in classes designed to “make communication in French a natural, personalized, enjoyable, and rewarding experience.”

Classes are held at various times and days to accommodate almost any schedule, and the proficiency levels start at Beginner and end at Near Native. Even l’argot (slang) is explained through film and music excerpts. You can get a taste of L’Union Française by joining a lecture, workshop, or culinary class conducted in English.

Alliance Française de la Nouvelle Orleans is one branch of a large, international network of French cultural hubs. This non-profit organization has been teaching French and hosting events in New Orleans since 1984. Francophiles young and old can take lessons at Alliance Française’s Uptown building at 1519 Jackson Ave. or join in online, with proficiency levels ranging from Elementary to Proficient and Conversational. Concerts, wine classes, and other events are also open to the public at the New Orleans chapter building.

The Lafayette chapter has the distinction of offering Standard, Cajun, and Creole French courses.

…LA LANGUE DES SIGNES? New Orleans Deaf Church is more than just a place of worship. Anyone can join in their free Monday night online American Sign Language sessions. There are a variety of proficiency levels to help introduce you to ASL or deepen your understanding of it.

…FRANÇAISE? New Orleanians have always felt a strong connection to France, so, naturally, French is a popular language to learn for youths and adults. L’Union Française and Alliance Française of New Orleans are two organizations that promote French culture and language in the city.

L’Union Française formed in 1872 with the intent to preserve French language and culture in New Orleans, the new, permanent home of French citizens. After the loss of their original building on N. Rampart Street to a fire, the

…ESPAGNOL? Casa de España gives Spanish lessons for adults out of an Uptown location (8200 Hampson St.) and Marigny location (2372 St. Claude Ave.) for eight-week terms that take place five times annually. Casa de España offers specialized on-site courses for businesses in which employees can learn basic Spanish and industryspecific terms. Occasionally, the organization hosts special courses in Conversational Spanish and Spanish for Travelers, in addition to events held just for fun.

Delgado Community College’s partnership with Ed2Go offers non-credit online courses in many topics, including languages. In addition to Spanish, French, and ASL, they have Conversational Japanese. The sixweek course features 24 hours of lessons focused on the essential components of Japanese, perfect for those traveling abroad.

Though we live in an age of live conversation translation technology, garnering basic words and phrases of a language new to you can open up a whole world of possibilities.

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New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

…RUSSE? The New Orleans Russian Community Center in Metairie holds 16 week-term Russian language classes online in three proficiency levels, all of which involve speaking, listening, reading, and writing. Some of these classes may involve more hands-on activities such as cooking. …ITALIEN? The American Italian Cultural Center teaches Italian in eight proficiency levels, from Novice I to Conversation. The sessions last for eight weeks and begin anew four times a year. It also regularly hosts group trips to Italy’s most celebrated cities, and these language courses can certainly enhance your time in that beautiful country.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY CASA DE ESPAÑA; COURTESY ALLIANCE FRANÇAISE DE LA NOUVELLE ORLEANS; COURTESY NEW ORLEANS RUSSIAN COMMUNITY CENTER; COURTESY NEW ORLEANS DEAF CHURCH

By Emily Hingle

Available at fine Grocers

Holiday Hangover Relief

We’ve got you covered for the HOLIDAYS Scan to view our Catering Guide.

HOLIDAYS

WhereYat.com | January 2026

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BITES & BACKSTORIES Chef Sophina Uong Reframes Prahok Ktiss

By Kim Ranjbar

For Chef Uong, a dreaded childhood chore becomes reflective preparation of an ideal, breakthrough dish into Cambodian cuisine.

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY MISTER MAO / CORY FONTENOT

From peeling mountains of potatoes to the tedium of picking the leaves from a seemingly endless bundle of parsley, few women escape the drudgery of food prep as a child. Instead of running amok and playing games with friends on a sunny afternoon, some get stuck in the kitchen snapping mounds of green beans or peeling cooked crawfish for étouffée. For Sophina Uong, chef and coowner of “tropical roadhouse” restaurant Mister Mao, it was sitting on the floor in front of a “tiny” mortar and pestle and pounding salted fish.

The fermented fish paste, called prahok, is a signature ingredient used in Cambodian cuisine. It’s made from small, freshwater fish that are salted, ground into a paste, and then fermented for several weeks. Prahok, or the “stinky ass fermented fish,” as Uong puts it, is often compared to some of Europe’s more pungent cheeses, as well as fish sauce and shrimp paste in Vietnamese and other Southeast Asian cuisines. Like the odiferous Époisses or Taleggio cheeses, prahok may stink to high heaven, but the funky, umami flavor is well-worth the stench.

When she was still a toddler, Uong’s family fled conflicts in Cambodia and immigrated from capital city Phnom Penh to Long Beach, CA—a city that currently boasts the largest Cambodian community outside of Southeast Asia.

As the young daughter of an Asian household, meal preparation was one of Uong’s primary chores, which included making prahok ktiss, a minced pork dip served with fresh vegetables. “I had to sit on the floor as a kid and pound the prahok with lemongrass, garlic, galangal, fresh turmeric, chilies,

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New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

ALL PHOTOS COURTESY MISTER MAO / SOPHINA UONG

and peanuts. You have to sit on your side, like a lady or whatever,” Uong laughed. “It’s considered rude for women to sit cross-legged, so that [position] was the worst. You’re just pounding and pounding, and it was really uncomfortable.”

Although Uong still maintains that making the dip was a childhood dread, she has come to embrace it, dubbing the preparation “meditative,” as long as it’s made in small batches. It seems pursuing a culinary career forced Uong to see prahok ktiss in a different light.

Uong learned her way around the kitchen through necessity. With a father who was always on the job and an absent mother, it was up to her to put food on the table for herself and her brother. Though she could follow a recipe, her passion for cooking didn’t ignite until she experienced homemade meals at a boyfriend’s house and the joy they took in the process, from helping to set the table to sharing family recipes.

The self-trained, Cambodian American chef has come a long way, cooking at lauded San Francisco Bay Area restaurants such as Restaurant Lulu, Citizen Cake, Waterbar, and Calavera Mexican Kitchen & Bar. Uong also competed in Food Network’s Chopped in 2016 and was named “Grill Master Napa Champion,” a win that likely motivated Andrew Zimmern to hire her to help launch the Lucky Cricket, a Chinese American restaurant in Minneapolis.

Through no fault of her own, the Lucky Cricket “tanked,” and Uong and her husband William “Wildcat” Greenwell found their way south.

The couple made friends while attending Lafayette’s Runaway Boucherie—a chefto-chef event that brought together cooks, butchers, growers, pitmasters, and food lovers to celebrate and preserve the historical Cajun practice of butchering and cooking, typically a

whole hog, for the community.

“I guess you could say we moved down here because we needed some sun.” They were staying with friends, and she was working as a bartender at Rockrose, a now-defunct Greek restaurant at the International House Hotel, when COVID hit. “We were like, sure, let’s live in New Orleans like Gen X hipsters,” Uong laughed. She truly began sharing her culinary talents in New Orleans through a series of pop-ups held at places such as Mid-City’s Coffee Science, the former Zony Mash Beer Project in the Lower Garden District, and Congregation Coffee in Algiers Point. It wasn’t long before Chef Uong and her husband were able to open Mister Mao in the summer of 2021.

Located on the corner of Tchoupitoulas and Jena streets, Mister Mao serves cuisine that is polar opposite to the menu offered at Dick & Jenny’s, the Creole seafood restaurant that lived on that same corner for nearly two decades. Chef Uong’s menu is as diverse as it is spicy, offering dishes with influences from all over the world, from Puerto Rican-style guisado, or stews featuring smoked and braised beef cheek, to Kashmiri fried chicken and wood-fired scallops with tahini and harissa.

Sophina’s once-hated childhood chore prahok ktiss goes on and off the menu at Mister Mao, but she also loves to bring it on the road when guest-cheffing at other restaurants. “I think it’s a great introduction to Cambodian food—slightly funky, sweet, coconutty, salty, and spicy. Usually, this dip looks kind of broken—which is the best way with the oils showing—but for the Western palate, we serve this at the restaurant with crudite and shrimp chips, and we temper the funkiness of the fish.”

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Trivia Night every Thurs. 7pm

GAMES ON TV • GAMES ON THE GREEN

WEEKLY DRINK SPECIALS • OPEN TILL 2AM

♣ 203 HOMEDALE ST., LAKEVIEW ♣ (504) 483-0978 WhereYat.com | January 2026

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THE SWEET SIDE ♥F

CARNIVAL

From King Cake to Lunar New Year Treats

From classic king cakes to seasonal specials in shops across the city, New Orleans bakers and restaurants are finding ways to let Carnival, Valentine’s Day, and Lunar New Year each leave their mark on the month—turning February into one long celebration of sweetness.

KING CAKE SEASON: CARNIVAL’S CROWN JEWEL Every January, king cake season begins the city’s annual race of ovens and mixers. Part pastry, part community ritual, the ring of sweet dough and colored sugar is more than dessert—it’s edible pageantry. The tradition traces back to Epiphany celebrations, but New Orleans turned it into a two-month spectacle of flavors, fillings, and fierce loyalties.

Ask 10 locals where to find the best king cake, and you’ll get 10 different answers. Still, two names tower above the rest: Dong Phuong Bakery and the Randazzo family. Dong Phuong’s Vietnamese-French bakeshop in New Orleans East gained national notoriety when it received the James Beard American Classic Award in 2018. Their king cake is locally famous for its soft brioche layers, cream-cheese filling, and light frosting. The Randazzo family bakeries, which trace their roots to Hi-Lan Bakery in Chalmette in 1965 and now stretch from Metairie to Covington, are best known for classic cinnamon-swirled cakes with icing and sprinkles.

Others add their own flair. Hi-Do Bakery draws on French-style baking traditions when crafting king cakes. Bywater Bakery turns out various inventive iterations, including Chantilly, azul dulce blueberry, and even savory king cakes, while Breads on Oak offers a fully vegan take on the Mardi Gras classic. The modern king cake may change shape or filling, but the question at every table stays the same: Who got the baby?

If you’d rather bake than buy, King Arthur’s Golden Brioche Mix makes an easy shortcut.

While the dough rises, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, and butter into a sandy paste. Roll the dough flat, spread the cinnamon filling, then roll and shape it into a ring. Bake until golden, cool, and drizzle with icing—just powdered sugar and milk will do, sweet enough to share even without a sugared sparkle.

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VALENTINE’S IN DEEP GRAS Valentine’s Day often lands somewhere within Carnival season, but this year, love and parades share the same night—Endymion Saturday, when the city glitters from Canal Street to City Park. The pairing feels natural here, where intimacy and communal celebration co-exist year-round.

In the Uptown and Garden District stretch, Gracious Bakery on Prytania showcases seasonally themed pastries and desserts, including past Valentine’s offerings such as a chocolate-raspberry mousse. Sucré Sweet Boutique on Magazine offers elegant French-style macarons—including a Valentine’s Day assortment—beautifully boxed and ready for gifting. Mid-City’s Willa Jean brings warmth and nostalgia with seasonal treats, fresh baked goods, and its beloved chocolate-chip cookies, all adding to the bakery’s holiday charm.

For couples planning dinner before the floats roll, one elegant option is Miss River at 2 Canal St.—which, in recent years, has offered a Valentine’s prix fixe featuring a shared dessert such as banana pudding for two— just steps from the parade route.

Meanwhile, The Bower on Magazine traditionally touts a decadent flourless chocolate cake crowned with candied rose petals and rosy, love-day cocktails mixed just for the occasion.

Both balance quiet romance with the hum of the season, letting diners linger over dessert before heading out to join the crowds.

New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

LUNAR NEW YEAR IN THE CRESCENT CITY As Carnival nears its finale, another celebration of light and renewal unfolds—Lunar New Year. The Year of the Horse begins February 17, marked by lion dances, lanterns, and the scent of sesame and citrus drifting through neighborhood streets. It’s a season of fortune and family, rooted in the city’s Vietnamese, Chinese, and other Asian communities whose traditions have long shaped local life.

The annual Tết Festival at Mary Queen of Vietnam Church draws crowds for live performances, fireworks, and rows of vendor stalls serving Vietnamese street food, sticky rice cakes, and other New Year treats. Visitors linger over bánh mì, phở, spring rolls, and holiday snacks—often washed down with strong coffee sweetened with condensed milk—as the community welcomes the lunar new year.

At home, the custom is simple—fill the table with something sweet and bright: tangerines for wealth, coconut for togetherness, and a touch of gold or red to welcome good fortune through the door.

In New Orleans East—home to one of the largest Vietnamese communities in the South— shoppers looking for traditional Southeast Asian sweets will have the best luck at markets along the Chef Menteur Highway corridor, including Viet My Super Market and Minh Canh Market. Around Tết, those stores are especially likely to stock celebratory treats such as sesame balls, red bean buns, candied coconut ribbons, and sticky-rice cakes—sweets long associated with good fortune, renewal, and prosperity in Vietnamese New Year traditions.

In New Orleans, Lunar New Year doesn’t compete with Carnival—it completes it. Both honor abundance and renewal, both bring people together, and both remind the city that celebration is a shared language—one that always ends with dessert.

KEARNEY

In New Orleans, February has never been for restraint, but this year, the city’s sweet tooth has reason to celebrate in triplicate. Mardi Gras, Valentine’s Day, and Lunar New Year all collide in the same week, with Valentine’s landing on Endymion Saturday and Fat Tuesday doubling as the Lunar New Year itself.

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: MANNY RANDAZZO'S; COURTESY SUCRÉ; KING ARTHUS BAKING CO.; COURTESY THE BOWER / LATTER HOSPITALITY / RANDY KRAUSE SCHMIDT; COURTESY FOUR SEASONS NOLA / JESS-

By Michelle Nicholson

AWARD BLOOD WINNING Y MARY S

Serving •Breakfast Includes choice of frosting topped with Mardi Gras sprinkles and a good luck baby served on the side!

Serves 8-10.

4921 Freret St, New Orleans, LA 70115

•Lunch •Dinner!

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ON ROUTE! A PAR DE E. ARLES AV 310 ST. CH 11-17 FEB. ICKETS LIMITED T LE! AVAILAB

Come visit any of our 6 locations: Serving Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Daisy Dukes 121 Chartres St. French Quarter

Daisy Duke’s Creole Kitchen 123 Carondelet St. CBD

Daisy Mae’s 902 Poydras St. Warehouse District

Daisy Dukes 2244 Veterans Blvd.

Kenner

Daisy Dukes Cafe* 308 St. Charles Ave. CBD

Daisy Dukes 5209 W. Napoleon Ave. Metairie

* Catering and Event Space Available!

7005 St. Claude Av., Arabi 504-301-2285 Just 10 Minutes From the French Quarter

da i sydukesrestaurant.co m WhereYat.com | January 2026

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RESTAURANT GUIDE Anita’s Grill has served the same comforting menu since 1922, first as Jerry’s before Mrs. Anita’s son renamed it and ran it for nearly 40 years. Known for its hearty breakfasts, it’s long been a beloved Saints pre-game stop. 833 Howard Ave., (504) 3548979, anitasgrillnola.com

the Saintsational, it’s a top destination for steak lovers. 91 Westbank Expy. #51, Gretna, (504) 513-2606, legacykitchen. com Luke, in the Hilton New Orleans Hotel, offers dishes such as crispy pork schnitzel, moules frites, and a standout raw bar. Open since 2007 as a tribute to French and German brasseries, it serves brunch, lunch, and dinner with crafted cocktails.

333 St. Charles Ave., (504) 3782840, lukeneworleans.com Moe’s Original BBQ, created by three University of Alabama friends who started smoking meat in Colorado, serves Alabamastyle barbecue, Southern sides, fresh seafood, and more. Moe’s offers catering and signature bold BBQ and tartar sauces. 1101 N. Causeway Blvd., (504) 4073533, moesoriginalbbq.com New Orleans Vampire Café delivers theatrical dining with dishes including “stake” and eggs and cocktails served by blood type including the “Type O-” mojito.

Guests enjoy Trueblood wines, batshaped chocolates, and even leaf readings during their monthly high tea. 801 Royal St., (504) 581-0801, nolavampirecafe.com

Briquette Bearcat Café offers expansive vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options alongside fresh juices, local coffee, and specialty teas.

With “Good Cat” and “Bad Cat” menus, a full bakery, and cocktails, it brings something for every kind of diner across its locations.

Multiple Locations, bearcatcafe.com Crescent City Steaks, Louisiana’s oldest family-owned steakhouse, opened in 1934 under John Vojkovich and remains in the family today. They pioneered the “New Orleans style,” butter-sizzled steak, and they serve premium cuts including a bacon-wrapped filet mignon. 1001 N. Broad St., (504) 8213271, crescentcitysteaks.com Daisy Dukes Café serves all-day breakfast and classic Cajun and Southern comfort dishes from shrimp and grits to po-boys and more.

Known for its award-winning Cajun Bloody Mary, the restaurant earned Tripadvisor’s “Travelers Choice” in 2024. Multiple Locations, daisydukesrestaurant.com Desi Vega’s Steakhouse is known for USDA prime steaks, fresh seafood, and an award-winning wine list. Inspired by owner Vega’s New Orleans upbringing and training under chefs at Brennan’s and Commander’s Palace, the restaurant also features elegant private dining rooms. Multiple Locations, desivegasteaks.com Legacy Kitchen’s Craft Tavern serves American cuisine and craft beer in a chic industrial space. Known for its all-day beignets, it shares a restaurant group with Tacklebox and Steak + Chop and offers dishes such as crawfish cornbread. 700 Tchoupitoulas St. #3612, (504) 613-2350, legacykitchen. com Legacy Kitchen’s Steak + Chop specializes in prime cuts, including sirloin, ribeye, tomahawks, and filets, plus seafood and vegetarian options. With happy hour, gameday specials, and creative cocktails including

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NOLA Steak, inside Boomtown Casino, serves steaks, Louisiana BBQ shrimp, crawfish bread, and seasonal salads. Open for dinner Thursday through Saturday, with a jazz brunch buffet on Sundays, it also features Ladies Night with a DJ and creative specialty drinks.

4132 Peters Rd., Harvey, (855) 8055596, boomtownneworleans.com Sala NOLA offers shareable plates, specialty cocktails, and meals from breakfast to weekend brunch and steak night. Owned by Joseph Riccobono, an advocate for local small businesses, the restaurant serves favorites including bacon Brussels sprouts and bang bang shrimp. 124 Lake Marina Ave., (504) 513-2670, salanola.com Spudly’s Super Spuds is famous for loaded baked potatoes that serve as full meals.

Since opening in 1980, it has expanded from potatoes to soups, salads, sandwiches, and creative spuds including crab and shrimp, pizza, and fajita. 2609 Harvard Ave., Metairie, (504) 455-3250, spudlys.com The Country Club has been a Bywater favorite for over 40 years, offering a serene pool and cabana lounge along with a Creole restaurant and bar. Known for its awardwinning drag brunch, it serves dishes including crab beignets. 634 Louisa St., (504) 9450742, thecountryclubneworleans.com Vacca Steakhouse blends old-school steakhouse vibes with modern touches.

Known for weekly specials including Martini Monday and complimentary garlic steak bites at happy hour, it also offers Sunday brunch favorites and hosts private events from weddings to business presentations.

3524 Severn Ave., Metairie, (504) 3183808, vaccasteakhouse.com

New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

Vampire Apothecary, which opened in 2023, blends mysticism and dining through tarot readings, a full restaurant and bar, and occasional magic shows. Guests can enjoy high tea leaf reading sessions, complete with treats, and even get customized fangs made on-site. 725 St. Peter St., (504) 7668179, vampireapothecary.com Willie Mae’s NOLA, originally a Tremé bar from 1957, serves award-winning fried chicken recognized by the James Beard Foundation.

The restaurant offers cocktails including Uncle Yam’s Old Fashioned, as well as gumbo, Creole fish, and weekend brunch. 898 Baronne St., (504) 354-8194, williemaesnola.com

ASIAN

Asia, which is inside Boomtown Casino, serves Vietnamese and Chinese dishes, including phở, fried rice, and lo mein. Alongside blood orange sparkling sake from Wetlands Sake, they offer unique non-alcoholic drinks such as grass jelly and chrysanthemum tea.

4132 Peters Rd., Harvey, (504) 3648812, boomtownneworleans.com Mantra Original Indian Cuisine showcases Punjabi flavors using hand-blended spices and fresh ingredients. The menu features tandoori specialties such as sheekh kabob alongside lamb and goat entrées, desserts such as carrot halwa, and much more. 3116 S. I-10 Service Rd. W. E., Metairie, (504) 3548349, mantraoriginalindiancuisine.com Mikimoto Restaurant has served fresh, high-quality sushi on South Carrollton since 1999 and is New Orleans’ only drive-thru sushi spot. Offering dine-in, to-go, and free catering delivery over $100, the menu features gyoza, tempura, specialty rolls, and various sake options. 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 488-1881, mikimotosushi.com

BARS WITH GREAT FOOD

JB’s Fuel Dock, located on Lake Pontchartrain, offers pizzas, calzones, sandwiches, and a full bar with waterfront patio seating. Built in the 1950s as a boat yard and fueling station, it was transformed into a restaurant and bar in 2018. 128 S. Roadway St., (504) 510-2260, jbsfueldock.com Le Bon Temps Roule, housed in a 1890 building, became a 24-hour neighborhood bar in 1979 under musician Ned Hobgood. Known for great food, live music, and a full kitchen serving burgers and nachos, the good times roll over there. 4801 Magazine St., (504) 897-3448, lbtrnola.com Rivershack Tavern opened in 1990 in a building once used as a grocery, liquor store, and pharmacy. It offers live music on weekends, NOLA bar food, and even trades a free drink for guests who bring in a tacky ashtray. 3449 River Rd., Jefferson, (504) 834-4938, rivershacktavern.com The Channel on Magazine Street blends neighborhood charm with a full bar, seasonal crawfish, and game-day energy. With TVs everywhere and space for parties, it’s a go-to for wings, burgers, and big crowds on football Sundays. 2604 Magazine St., (504) 381-

4680, thechannelneworleans.com The Jimani, housed in a 200-year-old building, offers beer, Jello shots, and a stacked menu of po-boys, pizza, and Chicago-style dogs. The building also carries deep history, once home to the UpStairs Lounge before the tragic 1973 fire. 141 Chartres St., (504) 524-0493, thejimani.com

CAFÉS

Café Amelie, set inside an 1836 townhouse and named after the American Princess of Monaco’s mother, serves brunch and dinner inspired by New Orleans’ French roots. Enjoy gumbo, chic Kitchen Table Café is an Arabi staple that serves fresh, locally sourced American fare, along with live music and community events.

Expect creative plates such as fruity brioche, smoked duck gumbo, and a killer pesto chicken cutlet sandwich. 7005 St. Claude Ave., (504) 301-2285, facebook.com/ kitchentablearabi The Vintage Restaurant on Magazine Street mixes café, bakery, and wine bar vibes with beignets, small plates, and house-roasted coffee. Pre-Prohibition cocktails and playful bites such as alligator poppers make it a stylish all-day hangout. 3121 Magazine St., (504) 608-1008, thevintagenola.com Willa Jean is a modern Southern bakeryrestaurant known for its fried chicken biscuit, shrimp Creole, and nostalgic cookies + milk dessert. The bright, bustling spot also caters and hosts events, making it a must visit spot in the Warehouse District. 611 O’Keefe Ave., (504) 509-7334, willajean.com

CARIBBEAN

Jamaican Jerk House, with locations in NOLA and Metairie, serves authentic Jamaican favorites with creative twists such as oxtail tacos and jerk salmon pasta.

Their signature jerk seasoning comes from a cherished family recipe, connecting Kingston to New Orleans. Multiple Locations, jamaicanjerkhouse.com

FRENCH

Restaurant August brings refined Creole cuisine to a historic CBD building, offering elevated dishes such as snapper Pontchartrain. With major national accolades and expert execution, it remains a flagship of New Orleans’ fine dining scene.

301 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 2999777, restaurantaugust.com

ITALIAN

Domenica, located in the Roosevelt New Orleans hotel, delivers rustic Italian comfort with pizzas, pastas, and salumi.

Led by Executive Chef Phillip Mariano, the restaurant honors traditional Sunday meals while offering soulful dishes made with care. 123 Baronne St., (504) 3366541, domenicarestaurant.com Mosca’s Restaurant, a true Westwego institution, has kept its Creole Italian menu unchanged and rooted in family

ROBERT WITKOWSKI

AMERICAN

tradition since 1946. Expect family-style classics such as oysters Mosca and chicken cacciatore in a timeless, cozy setting. 4137 US-90 West, Westwego, (504) 4368950, moscasrestaurant.com Pizza Domenica, with wood-fired ovens shipped from Italy, serves both classics and inventive pizza pies in lively, casual spaces in both Uptown and Lakeview.

Happy hour deals and open kitchens make it perfect for laid-back gatherings. Multiple Locations, pizzadomenica.com Venezia, a staple since 1957, offers hearty Italian classics and now operates in both Mid-City and Gretna over on the Westbank. It’s a longtime favorite for pizza, dishes including chicken marsala, and private parties with set menus. Multiple Locations, venezianeworleans.com

LATIN

34 Restaurant & Bar is an Emeril and E.J. Lagasse restaurant bringing Portuguese flavors to Baronne Street with dishes such as paella and blood sausage. Chef Chris dos Reis adds Michelin-level technique to this stylish brunch and dinner spot. 714 Baronne St., (504) 498-3434, 34restaurantandbar.com Felipe’s Mexican Taqueria is a crowd favorite for customizable Mexican plates, fresh-squeezed margaritas, award-winning

34 Restaurant & Bar

Mona’s Cafe, located in Mid-City, offers hearty Middle Eastern dishes ranging from falafel to safeiha and other delicious classics.

This hidden gem’s desserts keep regulars coming back, especially the nammura, which is semolina, almond, honey, and rosewater. 3901 Banks St., (504) 482-7743, monas-cafe. foodjoyy.com Shaya blends Levantine tradition with Southern influence, offering wood-fired pita, vibrant vegetarian-friendly dishes, and amazing meat dishes such as slow-cooked lamb shank. The restaurant’s contemporary menu spans North Africa, Greece, Turkey, and the Middle East. 4213 Magazine St., (504) 943-7231, shayarestaurant.com

NEW ORLEANS CUISINE

3rd Block Depot, located in the Hotel de la Poste, serves creative Creole and Cajun dishes in a historic space. When you visit, expect to see crawfish omelets, hushpuppies, and cocktails inspired by Louisiana flavors. 316 Chartres St., (504) 5524095, 3rdblockdepot.com Crescent City Brewhouse, which is the French Quarter’s first and only microbrewery, pairs daily live jazz with scratch-made Louisiana dishes. Set in a building dating to 1722, it brews delicious, Old World-style beers in-house for customers. 527 Decatur St., (504) 522-0571, crescentcitybrewhouse. com

3100 MAGAZINE ST. 504-354-1584 Open 11:30am- 9:30 pm Tues.- Sun. 401 S CLAIBORNE AVE 504-766-6916 Open 11 am- 9:30 pm Everyday FOLLOW US ON

House of Blues New Orleans combines Southern cooking with live music, refreshing drinks, multiple event halls, and a rich celebration of African American culture. Their membership perks include VIP treatment and early access to shows. 225 Decatur St., (504) 310-4999, houseofblues.com/ neworleans Lakeview Harbor is a beloved neighborhood spot known for its thick burgers, massive baked potatoes, and fun Lakeview bar vibes.

Their catering menu includes many different kinds of local favorites including crawfish and mini muffulettas. 8550 Pontchartrain Blvd., (504) 486-4887, lakeviewharbor.us

BOOK YOUR HOLIDAY PARTY WITH US!

Loretta’s Authentic Pralines, founded by a trailblazing African American praline-maker, serves classic and creative pralines from its French Market and Rampart Street locations.

Beyond sweets, they’re known for savory and specialty beignets, as well. Multiple Locations, lorettaspralines.com tacos, and so much more. With multiple locations and lively events, it’s always buzzing during regular business hours and during special holidays such as Mardi Gras. Multiple Locations, felipestaqueria.com

RANDY SCHMIDT

MIDDLE EASTERN

Lebanon’s Cafe has served authentic Middle Eastern cuisine in Carrollton for over two decades, serving up classics such as gyro plates and baba ganoush. This bring-your-ownwine gem is one of the best Middle Eastern spots in all NOLA. 1500 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 862-6200, lebanonscafe.com

Lyons Corner, situated in a former 1800s apothecary, offers contemporary American and NOLA dishes in a chic, casual setting.

Menu favorites include bang bang oysters and an espresso bar serving fresh coffee and tea daily. 537 Gravier St., (504) 5270006, lyonscornernola.com Mandina’s Restaurant has been a New Orleans institution since 1932 and evolved from a Sicilian family’s 1898 grocery store into today’s beloved Creole-Italian restaurant.

Still family operated, it’s known for po-boys, pastas, and other comforting New Orleans classics. 3800 Canal St., (504) 4829179, mandinasrestaurant.com

126 S. Roadway St. NOLA 504-510-2175 504-329-1403 @jbsfueldock WhereYat.com | January 2026

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RESTAURANT GUIDE Mother’s Restaurant, open since 1938, is famous for feeding Marines during WWII and has been serving generations of locals and visitors ever since. They’re known for their allday breakfast, baked ham, seafood platters, and classic New Orleans poboys. 401 Poydras St., (504) 5239656, mothersrestaurant.net

Crescent City Steaks Melba’s was born after Hurricane Katrina and became a 24-hour community hub serving hearty plates including BBQ ribs, po-boys, and breakfast. With an attached laundromat at its Elysian Fields location and a literacy program, it remains a true neighborhood staple. Multiple Locations, melbas.com Meril, a Chef Emeril Lagasse restaurant, blends global inspiration with a casual, open-kitchen atmosphere and is named for his daughter. The menu ranges from

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com

New Orleans Creole Cookery is set in a historic, allegedly haunted, French Quarter building. It offers traditional Creole dishes and a charming outdoor patio, and the restaurant earned an OpenTable Diners’ Choice award in 2023. 510 Toulouse St., (504) 5249632, neworleanscreolecookery.

Neyow’s Creole Café, founded in 2009, brings homemade-feeling Creole favorites inspired by family “to-go plates” after Hurricane Katrina. The menu shines with stuffed crab, gumbo, BBQ shrimp, and chargrilled oysters, and it also offers extensive catering options. 3332 Bienville St., (504) 827-5474, neyows.com Neyow’s XL, next door to its sister restaurant Neyow’s Creole Café, elevates the

New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

experience with premium steaks, seafood, and a curated wine list. Its elegant interior and signature XL cocktails make it ideal for special occasions and private events.

3336 Bienville St., (504) 503-1081, xl. neyows.com Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar and Bistro, located in an 1809 building, pairs an extensive global wine list with upscale dishes such as scallops. Owned by the creators of Tropical Isle, it blends historic charm with a refined bistro feel. 720 Orleans Ave., (504) 523-1930, orleansgrapevine.com Short Stop Poboys is a former grocery turned po-boy powerhouse. It has been family-run since the start, and they’re celebrated for their gravy-soaked roast beef po-boy, along with seafood favorites such as shrimp and softshell crab po-boys. 119 Transcontinental Dr., Metairie, (504) 885-4572, shortstoppoboysno.com

SEAFOOD

Briquette is set in a historic, former molasses refinery. It specializes in fresh Gulf seafood prepared over red-hot briquettes.

Owned by the Tusa family, the contemporary restaurant highlights local ingredients in a sleek Warehouse District setting. 701 S. Peters St., (504) 547-6330, briquettenola.com Delacroix Restaurant honors the

fishing culture of St. Bernard Parish with refined takes on camp-style dishes. The menu features turtle sauce piquante, wild boar cavatelli, and an impressive raw bar with Gulf oysters and stone crab. 1 Poydras St. Spec. 1005, (504) 6559002, delacroixrestaurant.com Drago’s Seafood Restaurant, founded

by Croatian immigrant Drago Cvitanovich, is best known for creating the iconic chargrilled oyster dish now served across New Orleans. Run by his son Tommy, the restaurant also offers Maine lobster, filet mignon, and seafood pasta. Multiple Locations, dragosrestaurant.com Legacy Kitchen’s Tacklebox highlights quality seafood with dishes including softshell crab BLTs, lobster rangoons, and fried seafood platters. It serves brunch until 2 p.m., featuring options such as a breakfast burger, Bananas Foster waffle, and NOLA-style grits bowls. 817 Common St., (504) 8271651, legacykitchen.com The Galley Seafood began as a popular 1976 Jazz Fest food stand known for its fried soft-shell po-boy. The family opened a brick-and-mortar in 1991, continuing traditions with dishes including fried artichoke hearts and crawfish Monica with fried catfish. 2535 Metairie Rd., Metairie, (504) 832-0955

ROBERT WITKOWSKI

shareable international dishes to a lively weekend brunch with bottomless mimosas. 424 Girod St., (504) 5263745, bemeril.com

FOOD NEWS

Presentation is key . . . Veho Hospitality, the folks who gave us the endlesslyentertaining Tacos Del Cartel (shots, shots, shots), recently opened a whole new restaurant concept dubbed Sushi by Us. Located on O’Keefe Avenue inside the Beacon at South Market, the new restaurant took over what was formerly the high end women’s clothing store Lukka Boutique.

Sushi by Us is a self-proclaimed “Mexakase,” combining Mexico and the Japanese word for a chef’s tasting menu, omakase. Guests are served an eight to 10 dish tasting menu of small sushi dishes infused with elevated Mexican flavors.

711 O’Keefe Ave., sushibyus.com

CLOCKWISE FORM TOP: COURTESY CHARMANT; AMEER JOSPEH; FIFI PARÉE / NEW ORLEANS OMNI ROYAL HOTEL; MUNCH FACTORY

A munch on the move . . . The delicious magic of the Munch Factory has moved from the Joseph M. Bartholomew Municipal Golf Course in Gentilly and is now located in Mid-City, taking over the space on N. Carrollton Avenue that formerly housed Frey Smoked Meats. Owners Alexis and Jordan Ruiz are excited to have their modern Creole restaurant in a space that garners a lot more action. At the new location, Chef Jordan has resumed dinner service and has expanded the menu to include more entrees. Munch Factory die-hards, however, will likely be lining up for old favorites, from crispy fried Buffalo oysters to blackened fish over fried grit cakes and his incredible seafood and hot sausage gumbo. Don’t forget those killer LGD fries.

4141 Bienville St., (504) 264-7621, themunchfactory.net Bookish brunch . . . Mani Dawes and Sean Josephs, the husband and wife team behind the now defunct but no less spectacular Uptown restaurant Kenton’s—Saba took over the space in 2018—have launched a Cafe Malou. Although technically in the space that once housed Toast and, more recently, Scrambled, the building has undergone a major renovation, and the space has expanded to seat 32 people—inside, no less. If that doesn’t beat all, the new café and Octavia Books are now connected, and customers can walk through the swiveling stacks right into the restaurant. Cafe Malou offers both breakfast and lunch options that somehow seem suited to the well-read palate. Dishes from Chef Matt Greco include everything from a chopped Italian deli salad with mortadella and provolone to openfaced crab sandwiches, baked grits “a la Carbonara,” and ricotta and clementine toast.

5433 Laurel St., (504) 227-3110, cafemalou.com From phở to bistro . . . Local couple Bonnie and Chris Borges have opened Charmant, a new European-style bistro and wine bar in the space known for years as MoPho on City Park Avenue. Charmant features refined yet approachable cuisine, an extensive wine program, and a service style that flows from daytime brunch and lunch to an evening wine bar with small plates. Executive Chef Chris Borges offers an enchanting menu with dishes including a fried Brussels sprout salad with lima beans, golden raisins, and cardamom

By Kim Ranjbar yogurt, as well as a croque madame layered with truffle salami and celeriac rémoulade.

Evening small plates include scallop crudo with apples, cucumbers, dill, and crème fraîche; Vermont goat crottin with duck confit; and an array of artisanal cheeses and charcuterie. Sommelier Bonnie Borges has curated a robust wine list for Charmant.

She believes “wine is about discovery and connection” and wants “to introduce our guests to exciting new varietals but always in a way that feels approachable.”

514 City Park Ave., (504) 381-4573, charmantnola.com Bring on the boudin . . . Cajun food restaurant Frissons has opened on St. Claude Avenue in the space that formerly housed Rosalita’s Tacos. Beaux Church, known for managing Clover Grill and organizing the New Orleans Pride Parade in 2021, wanted to open an affordable restaurant serving Acadian favorites including boudin, fried pork skins (aka crackling), and even a few vegan offerings such as garlic green beans and smothered cabbage. Dillian Theriot, Church’s boyfriend, introduced Cajun food to the industry vet and many Theriot family recipes are making an appearance at Frissons, whose tagline is “if you ain’t sweatin’, you ain’t eatin’ right.”

3304 St. Claude Ave., frissonsnola.com Get smashed . . . Halal joint Smash House Burgers & Shakes recently opened in the French Quarter, located inside a space that over the years has worn many faces, mostly touristy-type shops selling tchotchkes and souvenirs. Smash House serves mainly smash-style burgers, obviously, made from meats that are both kosher-friendly and halal, but the menu also includes a fried chicken sandwich, smash patty melt, and loaded fries. The new burger spot also sports a bunch of creamy shakes with cereal-based flavors including Fruity and Coco Pebbles, Fruit Loops, and Cinnamon Toast Crunch, as well as classics such as vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry.

106 Royal St., (504) 459-2943, smashhousenola.com When cats fly . . . The Omni Royal Orleans recently announced the opening of Fifi Parée, a darling new coffee shop in the hotel’s lobby. The café is named after the first cat to fly across the English Channel in 1910 with her person, aviator John Moissant. Oddly enough, Moissant later died in an air crash in Harahan, Louisiana. Bizarre connection aside, the chic café occupies a striking little space featuring hand-painted murals of native flora. Open daily, the café serves Congregation Coffee drinks and Ayu Bakehouse pastries alongside grab-and-go dishes such as a Bananas Foster parfait, goat cheese and tomato baguettes, tuna niçoise, and gluten-free char siu pork belly bánh mì wraps.

621 St. Louis St., (504) 529-7045, omnihotels.com/hotels/new-orleansroyal-orleans/dining/fifi-paree

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Absinthe Frappé

By Tim McNally

It is interesting that the Absinthe Frappé is one of the few drink titles of all the cocktails created in New Orleans that really sounds like New Orleans.

ABSINTHE FRAPPÉ INGREDIENTS • 1 ½ oz absinthe • ½ oz simple syrup • Mint, for garnish INSTRUCTIONS Add absinthe and simple syrup into a cocktail shaker and fill ¾ with ice.

1. Shake until chilled, about 12 seconds. Strain into a double rocks glass or julep cup filled with crushed ice.

2. Stir, top with more crushed ice, then garnish with a sprig of mint.

Mixologist Tip: Do not skimp on the ice. Stuff as much ice into the mixing glass or cocktail shaker as you can.

Jewel of the South's Absinthe Frappé

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New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

Dispelling Absinthe Let’s do a dive into absinthe because no other spirit has as much information, most of it false, swirling about. We can begin with: • Absinthe does not cause hallucinations unless you overindulge.

• Absinthe was never technically illegal in the U.S. but it was treated as if it were.

• If you are not a fan of licorice, you will not like absinthe.

AMEER JOSEPH

COCKTAIL OF THE MONTH

The names Gin Fizz, French 75, and Sazerac don’t really scream Crescent City; however, Absinthe Frappé would never have originated in Boise. Absinthe is a spirit that was featured in many French recipes, both cooking and at the bar, and frappé, the name, could only have come from a French-speaking area.

On both counts, New Orleans takes prominence. While even early on, our city was a magnet that attracted folks from many nations. We were always French-based even when German, English, Irish, Italian, and American settlers came in big numbers. French was the dominant culture, and our street names, along with the names of other towns surrounding us, are French-based.

The other name in the drink title is frappé (frap-pay) with the accent on the second syllable. You’ve probably enjoyed a drink in the frappé style, maybe even without knowing you were doing so. No? You’ve never had a milk shake? Of course you have. Frappé is a style of drink, the name of which comes from the French past participle word frapper, the meaning of which is to chill or strike with ice. Usually, frappé refers to a slushy drink, but it really has come to mean just a very cold drink.

Okay, on to specifics of the Absinthe Frappé. The cocktail was created at the Old Absinthe House in 1874. While the drink creation is an important point in history at that particular location in the French Quarter, still in operation at 240 Bourbon St., real history was made when General Andrew Jackson met at this rooming house, built in 1806, with pirate and New Orleans resident Jean Lafitte in 1813 to lay the groundwork for a plan during the War of 1812 to wage the Battle of New Orleans against the British in 1815.

Fast forward to 1874, a renowned bartender, Cayetano Ferrer, was intrigued by all the stories surrounding the alcohol spirit absinthe and wanted to create a drink that featured it. The cocktail he created, oddly enough, does not have many other ingredients and, despite stories about what absinthe could do to mess with your senses, the cocktail initially became a favorite breakfast beverage. What a grand way to start a day. Then again, the rumors about absinthe were not fully true—but that was not known in the late 1800s, early 1900s.

In the mid-1800s, artists, writers, and members of the general public, especially those of French descent, thought absinthe was a mind-altering beverage. Stories noted that folks after imbibing too much absinthe were “stoned” and they were doing self-destructive deeds such as cutting off body parts and jumping off high buildings. It is likely the stories happened but not because of the ingredients in the spirit. Absinthe contains one of the highest levels of alcohol by volume measurement when compared to other adult beverages—loads of alcohol— somewhere between 45% and 74%. A regular beer lives at 6%, and most wines are at 12%. See why people who enjoy absinthe seem to quickly be a little wacky?

Absinthe is made from wormwood, an organic herb primarily grown in the temperate zone of North Africa, and a key “medical” ingredient of wormwood is thujone. The combination of ingredients used to make the spirit causes the absinthe to turn green, and the final result has been tagged with the nickname “the Green Fairy.”

In the late 1800s, thujone was somewhat mistakenly identified as the prime culprit causing the hallucinogenic effect.

There was a movement among certain public groups to outlaw absinthe. The U.S. was the first country of many to take the legal action to place legal limits on the spirit. In so doing, the wording of the legislation defined the level of thujone that could be present in the final absinthe released to market.

The real situation was that absinthe never possessed the level of thujone as defined in the law; however, everyone thought absinthe was illegal and, for 95 years, was considered to be not legal until 2007 when modern chemical analysis proved that absinthe had thujone levels below the legal definition.

So, in truth, absinthe “came back” in 2007, but the spirit, over the entire span of 95 years, was never technically illegal.

A leader in bringing absinthe back was Ted Breaux, a New Orleanian who brought to market the product Lucid—a perfect absinthe for the Absinthe Frappé cocktail.

Bar Guide

Drink Food Dancing Specials

Boot Scootin’ Rodeo 522 Bourbon St. (504) 552-2510

Boot Scootin' is a lively country bar offering line dancing, a mechanical bull, and games. Enjoy a full bar with beers and specialty drinks for a fun-filled Southern night.

Bourbon Street Honky Tonk 727 Bourbon St. (504) 523-1960

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.

Headquarters by Nice Guys 445 S. Rampart St. (504) 217-6851

Headquarters by Nice Guys NOLA is a laid-back bar and event space. Headquarters offers an extensive menu of cocktails, beers, and wines—perfect for any occasion.

Hot Tin 2031 St. Charles Ave. (504) 323-1500

JB's Fuel Dock 128 S. Roadway St. (504) 510-2260

Hot Tin, perched atop the Pontchartrain Hotel, offers chic ambiance, creative cocktails—such as the Sugarcane Old Fashioned—and sweeping city views, where timeless elegance meets modern mixology.

House of Blues lets you experience NOLA’s nightlife with electrifying bands, delicious food, and creative cocktails, including the Rock Me Hurricane, perfectly blending the city’s vibrant music, flavor, and spirit.

JB's Fuel Dock overlooks Lake Pontchartrain and is a former fuel dock turned waterfront bar, offering cocktails, beers, seltzers, and wines. It’s an inviting spot to enjoy stunning lakeside views.

Le Bon Temps Roule 4801 Magazine St. (504) 897-3448

Le Bon Temps Roule has been a staple since 1979. This 24hour bar features live music, signature cocktails, and more.

It’s perfect for late-night drinks or a game of pool.

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

Lots a Luck Tavern is a hidden dive bar gem near City Park featuring a backyard courtyard and games. With affordable drinks and a lively crowd, it’s a must-visit.

Martine's Lounge 2347 Metairie Rd., Metairie (504) 831-863

Martine's Lounge is a true Old Metairie gem, boasting a laidback charm that welcomes both regulars and newcomers alike with low prices, a new pool table, and friendly vibes.

Pal's Lounge 949 N. Rendon St. (504) 488 7257

Pal's Lounge is open daily and offers a relaxed NOLA-style atmosphere with heavy pours, classic games, and occasional food trucks—perfect for a nightcap or pregame drink.

Parasol's Bar & Restaurant 2533 Constance St. (504) 354-9079

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 315 Bourbon St. (504) 524-4222

Rick's Cabaret offers a full wine and beer selection, plus VIP cocktails including Mile High Gin and Unrigged Tequila, making it the ideal place for bachelor or bachelorette celebrations.

Rivershack Tavern 3449 River Rd. (504) 834-4938

Rivershack Tavern is a mix of a neighborhood tavern, live music club, sports bar, and a restaurant. It offers great burgers and poboys, a vast beer selection, a wine list, and more.

Saddle Bar 715 Bienville St. (504) 313-1113

Saddle Bar is a country-themed bar in the Quarter featuring two floors of cocktails and throwback shots, perfect for riding the mechanical rooster or showing off your line-dancing skills.

Sazerac House 101 Magazine St. (504) 910-0100

Sazerac House is a historic museum that offers insight into the traditions and culture of the Sazerac cocktail. After wandering through their distillery, make sure to grab a classic Sazerac.

The Boondock Saint 731 St. Peter St. (504) 525-4950

The Boondock Saint is a cozy Irish-style pub that offers a wide selection of draft beers and an old-school jukebox, making it perfect for a relaxed and authentic NOLA experience.

The Channel 2604 Magazine St. (504) 381-4680

This Irish Channel gem serves perfectly poured Guinness and excellent bar food. A favorite hangout for locals, don’t miss The Channel’s lively St. Patrick’s Day block party celebration.

The Jazz Playhouse 300 Bourbon St. (504) 553-2299

The Jazz Playhouse is one of the city’s top jazz clubs. This hotspot in the Royal Sonesta offers jazz-inspired cocktails, flavorful entrées, and a rotating lineup of world-class artists.

The Jimani 141 Chartres St. (504) 524-0493

The Jimani is a classic sports bar offering 100 beers, great food, and 16 TVs for every game. Housed in a 1848 building, it’s home to the famed “mysterious mixer.”

The Metropolitan 310 Andrew Higgins Blvd.

(504) 568-1702

The Metropolitan is a two-story club with multiple full bars, VIP bottle service, and trendy DJ sets. They offer a calendar of events, so visit their website to see upcoming performances.

The Original Nite Cap 1300 St. Bernard Ave. (504) 221-1560

The Original Nite Cap is a Seventh Ward entertainment bar featuring live music, burlesque, and Italian cuisine. Sip unique cocktails such as the Mora Nera or Bel Signore.

The Vintage 3121 Magazine St. 504-324-7144

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.

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.

Vintage Rock Club offers nostalgic fun and is NOLA’s only immersive concert experience, featuring DJ-curated rock hits. Check out their social media for themed nights and dress to impress.

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

Tropical Isle Multiple Locations (504) 523-1927 Vintage Rock Club 1007 Poydras St. (504) 308-1305

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45

FILM REVIEWS

By David Vicari & Fritz Esker

Hamnet

Ella McCay

A

E

fter winning the Best Director Oscar for Nomadland, which also won Best Picture, Chloe Zhao tried her hand at blockbuster fare with Eternals, which failed to get off the ground as a franchise. That may have been a good thing, because Zhao is now back to making character-driven fare for adults with Hamnet.

Agnes (Jessie Buckley) is a young woman who spends most of the time in her local forest. One day, she meets a young William Shakespeare (Paul Mescal), who at the time is not a famous writer but a young man struggling with an abusive father and trying to find his way in the world. The two fall in love.

They have three children (two are twins), but Shakespeare’s success with his plays means he spends a lot of time in London away from his family in Stratford-upon-Avon. Tragedy strikes one of the children, leaving the two parents to struggle with their grief and Shakespeare’s prolonged separations. Shakespeare then writes Hamlet as a tribute to his late son Hamnet.

The movie is lovely to look at, but it is

a little slow in the early going; however, it features moments of great emotional power. The extended sequence where the Shakespeares’ son falls ill and dies is absolutely gut-wrenching. The lengthy finale, where Agnes and her brother Bartholomew (Joe Alwyn) travel to London to watch Hamlet, is also powerful. It’s touching for the catharsis the couple experiences, but it also serves as a moving tribute to the power of experiencing art in a communal setting.

In a world where Netflix is tentatively scheduled to merge with Warner Bros, placing movie theaters in more peril than they already are, that is an important message for audiences. Art, and all the emotions that come with it, is best experienced with other human beings and not just on one’s couch.

— Fritz Esker

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llla McCay is a political comedydrama written and directed by James L. Brooks, who is a co-creator of television’s The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Taxi, and The Simpsons and who also directed the critically acclaimed movies Terms of Endearment (1983), Broadcast News (1987), and As Good as It Gets (1997). Sadly, Ella McCay is a complete misfire. It feels like four undernourished movies rolled into one traumatic filmgoing experience.

The film is set in 2008, long before the completely unhinged current political climate, and idealistic lieutenant governor Ella (Emma Mackey) is rising to the role

of governor. It’s not all roses and sunshine, however, because there may be a sex scandal on the rise involving Ella and her husband Ryan (Jack Lowden). Ella also has to deal with her philandering father Eddie (Woody Harrelson) and her agoraphobic brother Casey (Spike Fearn). Don’t worry, though. When the problems pile up, Ella can lean on her nononsense aunt Helen (Jamie Lee Curtis) and her driver Nash (Kumail Nanjiani).

Mackey is good and deserves a better movie, and Curtis has a few amusing moments, but the problem is that the movie is a mess. There are flashbacks that could have easily been explained through a few lines of dialog, unnecessary narration from Ella’s secretary Estelle (Julie Kavner), and all the subplots go nowhere, such as the father’s new mysterious girlfriend and the brother’s relationship with a girl.

The sex scandal plot takes up very little of the movie’s time, and there is no real tension associated with it.

It certainly doesn’t help that the annoying music score by Hans Zimmer shifts between cutesy wackiness and Lifetime movie melodrama.

It’s just so shocking that, with all the great talent behind Ella McCay, it is such a bad movie. —David Vicari

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47

I

t’s the little things. We accept and acknowledge that: a small bullet can take a life, a termite can destroy your home, a match could decimate a forest, a cell can grow into cancer, and a verbal insult or slur might fester and cause a blow to someone’s self-esteem. Ever fall flat on your ass because a small support screw escaped your chair’s leg? If we know how one wrong turn, one wrong action, has the power to yield terrible consequences, then why can’t we believe in the power of positivity?

If you—we—believe in the power of positive action, then why do I hear constantly, “What can I do?” And it’s not as an offer to actually do something but rather as a throw-your-hands-up-in-defeat lament?

Instead of throwing our hands up in the air as if to imply that we, as an individual, have no strength, no voice, no power—use those hands to cast a vote, write a letter of complaint—or, better yet, a compliment— pick up a piece of litter, plant a tree, hand a water to a mail-carrier or a sandwich to a homeless person.

Apathy can be fueled by disconnection.

If I never take an action on behalf of something, let’s take a tree dying from a recent drought, I will never know that the simple act of watering this city-planted tree in the school yard across the street could bring it back to life. The city neglected to install or provide irrigation/watering, and the school staff had other priorities. I felt apathetic and disheartened, but then I felt pissed, so Husband and I had to try and hydrate what seemed hopeless—leaves were browning and falling off so rapidly,

AMY RUSSO

48

TALES FROM THE QUARTER

By Debbie Lindsey

Power we assumed the and guess “Do your little bit of good where you minutes, worst and feared it what? The show aired. had been poisoned. are; it’s those little bits of good put Like Kimmel or not, However, all it is beside the point together that overwhelm the world.” that needed were gallons here. The point is that —Desmond Tutu of water for two folks can “vote” daily weeks until rain with their voice. returned. Okay, a Aside from “We got to make this land a better politically influenced long-winded story, but the point is this: land than the world in which we live.” things and issues, your We felt disconnected voice or email or Yelp —Allen Toussaint to the city and the review can be used to school but decided reward good service. to just do it ourselves and adopt the green That shop that struggles for business needs space and contribute to it. Apathy dissolves your social media shout out. Use your and a feeling of proprietorship takes hold.

Instagram or Facebook to share to all who Besides, this green space is open to the follow you that such-n-such business is neighborhood to enjoy, so why not take worth supporting. You are already spending responsibility? time looking at your device or computer, A single voice has the power to so why not use it to remind folks to vote or contribute to a roar, but that roar depends to support a worthy cause or fundraiser or on each person taking the time, sometimes to spend a little money at that small locally mere minutes, to make a change. Take for owned coffee shop that is reliant upon new example the recent dust-up over Jimmy additional customers? Also, take a few Kimmel and his show being suspended and minutes to call political leaders to thank then, upon reinstatement, our local affiliate them when they “do the right thing.” chose not to air it. Instead of whining about If yelling and flipping off that rude driver this, individuals telephoned the station and who cut you off or made an illegal turn has insisted on it being aired. That took mere the power to cause road rage and lead to

LBJ

CARRIGAN CHAUVIN

New Year's Eve / Twelfth Night | Where Y'at Magazine

a hot-headed confrontation, then, perhaps, let it go for your own safety and channel that energy into thanking a fellow driver when they yield to you to cross a busy street safely. As a walker, I always wave a “thanks” to any motorist who abides by the crosswalks—sure it’s the law, but, still, it’s nice to reward someone with a thank you for being courteous and law-abiding.

There is a domino effect for small things—just like the small domino that topples the next larger domino so can acts of civic involvement lead, often by example, to larger acts. Or, you can be the result of your own small act—you pick up a piece of litter and, then, that next bit of trash you walk by now seems more obvious and you pick it up and so on. Texting a notice for a protest, garage sale, or missing dog can often gain momentum by texts. Speaking of communication, my friend Lauren is encouraging folks to send post cards to people—just to spread the pleasure of receiving mail—you know, that thing that your mail carrier puts in your mailbox—real mail and not just a bill. When was the last time you used the power of a tiny stamp on a 6x4 postcard? Something that small can make a person’s day.

Exponentially, one action can rapidly grow, gaining speed with time. There are consequences to all action. Just as evil can and does spread so can good. Let’s stop ceding power to evil, adversity, selfishness, and start seeding power to ourselves as the movers and shakers for change—for a better world. In the words of Mr. Toussaint, “If we want it, yes, we can, can.”

PO-BOY VIEWS

By Phil LaMancusa

Leftovers Or Hangovers

M

ake a New The roads are “I don’t want to work away Year’s crooked and hazardous, Doin’ just what they all say. resolution and everyone drives “Work hard, boy, you’ll find, to carve some as fast as they can, One day you’ll have a job like mine.” with a stick shift, no time out from your harried, hurried, less. A majority smoke —Cat Stevens, half-happy life here. tobacco, drink espresso, “But I Might Die Tonight” Go spend time in and, if they want, have some place that gelato for breakfast. you’ve never been. Perhaps where your The food is simple and satisfying. The fruits people originate—preferably as a nonand vegetables are always at their peak judgmental, open-minded visitor. We’re of fresh and ripeness. The air is clean, all immigrants here so seek a place where and the surrounding mountains are lush time stops and go there, chill, and practice and verdant. There’re more people in the passeggiata. cemetery than those who live in town.

As you may know, I visited my I stayed in a guest house in the middle grandparent’s little village in the hills of town, right on the piazza, and birds outside of Messina in Sicily in 2025—18 called “swifts” darted about. Old men days and nights. To show how remote walked their dogs, and people bought this village is, it took me 36 continuous foodstuffs: wine, olive oil, and bread. The hours of traveling to get there: plane, second day I was there, I wished that I plane, plane, bus, train, a missed bus, but, had gone to Paris or Rome. The third day, I thankfully, a 45-minute taxi up a winding never wanted to leave. mountainous road. There’s nothing going I didn’t miss the food there. I ate olives, on there but life as they know it. cheeses, ripe tomatoes and freshly baked It’s a simple place called San Piero Patti bread, remarkable ricotta al forno, pistachio and known in faraway times as Petra. Petra pesto, and good red wine. What I missed is the feminine form of the word Petros while there was my home and my family, (Peter), which in Greek means “rock.” The such as it is; however, I didn’t wish that I village in Sicily that I went to was definitely was back stateside—I wished that they were carved from a very rocky mountain. It’s where I was. assumed that it was originally a Greek This is not how I feel about New Orleans, settlement. I was told that the area has although New Orleans still is, in my mind, been inhabited for thousands of years. the only place worth living in this country.

There are 2,700 people who live there, This was the way I felt when I first came spread out across miles—it’s not densely to New Orleans, which was before New populated. There’s a piazza (plaza) large Orleans turned into a tourist mecca. I enough for a car to turn around and a large sensed community over there, which I think church that, together, account for relatively has been a comfort I’d been lacking back in few level surfaces. Everything, all the stone New Orleans, and it was a curiosity. I kept a streets and pathways, are either uphill or journal, took photos, threw the I Ching, and downhill. Of course, it’s the same thing one wrote back to Deb daily. way or another, and there’s a lot of walking I visited the cemetery and took long to do if you want to get from point A to point walks on cobbled streets—up-and-downB—knees and leg muscles are apt to get a and-up-and-down. I got into a rhythm called workout, whether you like it or not. passeggiata, which, contrary to the English The usual attitude for folks in a translation, occurs at all hours and it’s more thousand-year-old culture is that shops of an attitude than an evening walk-about. I open in early morning and close for ate when I was hungry, I drank when I was a four-to-five-hour break at mid-day, thirsty, I napped when I felt like it, and got opening back up for the early evening up and about when I saw fit. and then to dinner, date, and/or drink (or There were no rules—there are no rules two). A bakery, bookstore, green grocer, there. You know what you have to do and and commodities shopping, one each, is just do it. If you’re not happy, it is no one enough to satisfy, as well as a jeweler, else’s fault. Passeggiata. Chill. Take it easy. hardware, auto parts and repair, pharmacy, To be truthful, not everyone in Sicily, Italy, electronics, local police, etc. There is also or anywhere else can be passeggiata. It’s a city hall and records department. The a calm life philosophy with a little indolent whole place is run piano-piano—in other Zen thrown in. Everything is as it is, even words, “as time and moods dictate.” in your work-a-day chosen profession.

The younger ones travel down the hill Piano-piano. to larger towns for work, or to get away, I am pursuing dual citizenship, if for and eventually come back and stay because nothing else but to pass on to my children there’s nothing out there that they really and/or children’s children. I’m not sure if want or need. It reminds me of the French you’ve noticed, but it’s crazy here. It’s really Quarter back in the day—the smell of baking f**king crazy here. I might have had on bread in the morning, everyone knowing rose-colored glasses, but it is not that way each other, the lazy time-enough-forwhere my family came from, and possibly everything attitude. not from where yours came from either.

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ALL PHOTOS GUSTAVO ESCANELLE

FGNO EXOTIC ANIMAL RACES

Allstate Sugar Bowl New Year’s Parade • Dec. 31, 2 p.m.

The official Allstate Sugar Bowl New Year's Parade presented by Louisiana Tourism, a Mardi Gras-style parade with floats, bands and other participants, entertains fans of all ages prior to the Allstate Sugar Bowl. The parade, which is scheduled for the afternoon of December 31, 2025 (scheduled for a 2 p.m. start), will begin at the intersection of Elysian Fields Avenue and Decatur Street. It will travel through the French Quarter up Decatur Street along the Mississippi River, passing iconic landmarks such as The Old US Mint, the French Market, Cafe du Monde and Jackson Square. The Parade

will wrap up at Canal Street. Check www.AllstateSugarBowl.org for final route details and times.

The Allstate Sugar Bowl New Year’s Parade presented by Louisiana Tourism will be broadcast live on Nola38CW (WNOL-TV) in New Orleans. The official broadcast, presented by Sunshine Quality Solutions, will include a live online broadcast that can be found by visiting wgno.com. In addition, the parade will be rebroadcast on WGNO-TV ABC 26 on New Year’s Day starting at 9 a.m.