Where Y'at New Year's Issue / Sugar Bowl Preview.

January 2020

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CONTENTS M

Features Peach Bowl Preview

10

Sugar Bowl Preview

14

Samantha Fish

16

New, New Year's Recipes

18

Hidden Places to Propose

22

Strange Things of New Orleans

25

Where to Go Dancing

26

New Year's Previews

28

Music Calendar

36

Lakeside 2 Riverside

Food & Drink

OUR VISION YOUR STYLE

We Make it Happen

40

Restaurant Guide

43

Food News

45

$20 and Under

48

Visually Interesting Bars

51

Bar Guide

Extras

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6 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

47

Ingrid Rinck

50

Film Reviews

52

Columns

54

Around the Web

56 58

Where Ya Been?

G

A

Z

I

N

E

January 2020 Vol. 23 No. 05

8

Events & Nightlife

A

Publisher/Editor-in-Chief: Josh Danzig Creative Director: Tony Lawton Assistant Editor: Donald Rickert Movie Editors: David Vicari & Fritz Esker Copy Editor: Michelle Nicholson Contributing Writers: Emily Hingle, Kathy Bradshaw, Phil LaMancusa, Debbie Lindsey, Kim Ranjbar, Landon Murray, Burke Bischoff, Leigh Wright, Emil Flemmon, Greg Roques, Steven Melendez, Andrew Alexander, Kimmie Tubre, Jeff Boudreaux, Eliana Blum, Alison Cohen, Camille Barnett, Celeste Turner, Donald Rickert, Justin Walton, Chantelle Win Director of Sales: Stephen Romero Cover Photo by Mike Trummel Photographers: Gus Escanelle, Romney Caruso, Kathy Bradshaw, Greg Roques, Emily Hingle, Farrah Ross Graphic Design: Marissa Williams Interns: Liv Arriviello, Essence Warren, Graham Andreae, Caroline Glattly, Christian Willbern Subscribe: Receive 1 year (14 issues) for $30 and get a FREE Where Y’at CD. Subscribe today at WhereYat.com.

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Where Y'at Chat

Happy New Year from Where Y’at! A new decade is upon us as 2020 has arrived.

Our January issue features many great New Year’s Eve party option—if you haven’t made plans yet, don’t delay!

New Year’s Eve also brings fantastic football via the Sugar Bowl match-up of Georgia vs. Baylor. New Orleans also hosts the College Football Championships on January 13; hopefully, LSU cover boy and Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow will be playing in that game. Don’t miss Andrew Alexander’s preview of all the action.

Are you superstitious? Many New Orleanians believe that eating cabbage and black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day brings good luck. Emily Hingle shares some personal recipes for this traditional dish. And if healthy eating is a New Year’s resolution, don’t miss Rebecca Fox’s chat with Ingrid Rinck of Sensible Meals.

Finally, Samantha Fish has established herself as a local favorite with her bluesrocking music. Lee Valentine Smith chats with her before her headlining of the Cigarbox Festival.

Be safe and don’t drink and drive!

–Josh Danzig, Publisher

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 7

Just Peachy: LSU is Back in the National Championship Hunt Against Oklahoma

By Andrew Alexander, photos by Mike Trummel

I

t’s been eight years, but it feels like only yesterday that LSU was undefeated and headed to New Orleans to square off against Alabama to claim their third national championship in less than a decade. Of course, we know how that game turned out, as well as the subsequent misery involved with an eight-game losing streak to Alabama, the firing of former coach Les Miles, and the never-ending question of when the Tigers would rise back up as one of the premier programs in college football.

Fast forward to 2019, and all the hopes and dreams of LSU fans have come true— the Tigers are undefeated SEC champions and are led by the second Heisman Trophy winner in program history. Ain’t life grand?

It’s fitting that No. 1 LSU (13-0) faces off against No. 4 Oklahoma (12-1) in the Peach Bowl, the semifinal of the College Football Playoff. The Sooners are the team that LSU defeated in 2003 to win the program’s first national title since 1958, kickstarting the new “golden era” for the Bayou Bengals in the twenty-first century. Should the Tigers advance past Oklahoma, the comparisons to previous title victories go even further: LSU will play in New Orleans (the site of 2003 and 2007 titles) and possibly face Ohio State (whom they beat for a national title in NOLA in 2007) en route to resuming their place as one of the best college football programs in the land, but presumptions are for the faint of heart.

Despite LSU’s spotless record, darling quarterback, and team-of-destiny persona, the Tigers still must take of business against Oklahoma in Atlanta.

The masses believe LSU will pistol-whip the Sooners back to Norman, but there’s still a small sliver of doubt in every Tiger fan’s mind that fears the worst. It’s the kind of negativity that comes from several years of heartbreak

8 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

in big games. Sure, the Joe Burrow-led Tigers have bested five Top-10 foes during this season, but everyone reserves a tiny spot in their hearts to brace for defeat—it’s the kind of despondence that’s been cultivated after nearly a decade of despair at the hands of an arch-rival.

“Hope is a dangerous thing,” Red espoused to Andy Dufresne in The Shawshank Redemption. “Hope can drive a man insane.”

Well, the Tiger fans finally have hope— hope that coach Ed Orgeron can deliver another national title to the LSU faithful because hope is a good thing, maybe the best of things, and no good thing ever dies.

LSU Offense vs. Oklahoma Defense Can LSU’s offense be stopped? No. Many defenses have tried, and they have all failed. The Tigers are clicking at a record pace behind Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Joe Burrow. The Ohio native has rewritten the LSU and SEC record books with his productivity, and even one of the top scoring defenses in the land could not contain him in the SEC championship. Of course, there are generational wide receivers like Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson and a running back whose skill set is reminiscent of a Swiss Army knife in Clyde Edwards-Helaire, but the offense’s heartbeat is Burrow. And No. 9 is one bad, bad man.

Oklahoma’s defense is improved, but the unit still gives up nearly 25 points a game. The Sooners play in a bush-league conference and had issues closing teams out in the month of November. LSU just eviscerated the second-ranked scoring defense in college football during the SEC Championship. Are the Sooners really going to be able to slow down the Burrow Express?

EDGE: LSU

Oklahoma Offense vs. LSU Defense Since transferring from Alabama, senior quarterback Jalen Hurts is having the best season of his celebrated collegiate career.

The Texas native has passed for over 3,600 yards and 32 touchdowns and rushed for over 1,250 yards and 18 touchdowns this year. Hurts is undoubtedly the most dynamic signal caller LSU has faced all season. Hurts’ best weapon is CeeDee Lamb, his do-itall receiver who has been burning Big 12 defenses all season. Lamb has over 1,200 yards and 14 touchdowns this season.

But here’s the thing—while much maligned for most of the season, LSU’s defense is peaking at the absolute perfect time. This unit is littered with future NFL draft picks, and, as they’ve gotten healthier, they’ve improved throughout the latter portion of the season. The Tiger defense has given up a total of 17 points the last two games. With studs like safety Grant Delpit and linebacker K’Lavon Chaisson heating up at the right time of the season, it could be a long day for any opponent foolish enough to line up against the Tigers.

EDGE: LSU Prediction One of the unintended shakeouts of this playoff match-up is LSU’s opportunity to beat a second (former) Alabama quarterback this season. The Tigers defeated Tua Tagovailoa and the Crimson Tide in early November, and now they get to face-off against his predecessor. That feels like two Bama wins.

LSU’s offensive firepower will be too much for Hurts and the Sooners. The Tigers continue their offensive dream season en route to a date with destiny in New Orleans.

LSU 42, Oklahoma 21

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 9

Sugar Bowl Preview: Georgia’s Back in NOLA to Battle Baylor

By Andrew Alexander

I

t’s déjà vu down in the Big Easy for the Georgia Bulldogs, who return to the Sugar Bowl after a 2019 campaign fraught with similar road bumps from last season.

After finishing 11-1 again this year, Georgia lost in the SEC Championship and is once again headed to face an up-and-coming, hungry foe out of the Lone Star State.

Last year, an uninspired Bulldogs squad, despondent about missing out on the College Football Playoff, lost a close one to the ambitious Texas Longhorns. This time around, No. 5 Georgia (11-2) will battle No. 7 Baylor (11-2), who’ve emerged as one of the surprise teams of the 2019 season in coach Matt Rhule’s third year. After inheriting a dumpster fire of a program, known lately more for scandals than victories, Rhule has engineered a complete turnaround—taking the Bears from a 1-11 record in 2017 to 11-2 just two seasons later.

Georgia is coming off a 27-point blowout loss to LSU in the SEC Championship, while Baylor fell to Oklahoma 30-23 in overtime of the Big 12 title game.

Georgia Offense vs. Baylor Defense Georgia’s offense took a step back this season following the departure of former offensive coordinator Jim Chaney to Tennessee and the promotion of James Coley. Under Coley’s watch, the Bulldogs’ junior quarterback Jake Fromm has regressed after a stellar sophomore season and, as a result, so has the Georgia offense.

The Bulldogs have only scored more than 27 points once in the past eight games, averaging just over 31 points per game this year. Last season, the Bulldogs scored less than 27 points only once in SEC play.

Fromm’s performance has dipped since last season, most notably in his completion percentage, which has decreased by eight percent this year. He’s joined in the backfield

by D’Andre Swift, who’s compiled over 1,200 rushing yards and seven touchdowns this season. Swift finished fourth in the SEC rushing yards, yet managed just 13 rushing yards against LSU in the SEC Championship game. With injuries depleting the Georgia wide receiving corps, Fromm will rely heavily upon George Pickens and Demetris Robertson, the only receivers remaining with

10 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

over 300 yards this season. The duo has combined for 885 yards and 10 touchdowns this year. Pickens, a freshman, was one of the few offensive bright spots for the Bulldogs in the SEC Championship, scoring the team’s lone touchdown after serving a first-half suspension.

On the flip side, Baylor’s defense is not your typical Big-12 pushover. This stout unit allowed fewer than 20 points per game this season, ranking as the 16th best scoring defense in the nation. Outside of Oklahoma, the Bears have not faced many highoctane offenses, but this group is resilient.

Junior defensive tackle James Lynch is the catalyst up front and has tallied 12.5 sacks this season, including two in the Big 12 Championship. Linebacker Terrel Bernard is one of the Big 12’s leading tacklers (107).

Baylor can get pressure and plans to harass Fromm all night long.

EDGE: Baylor Baylor Offense vs. Georgia Defense This is not the track meet offense fans may remember Baylor fielding for much of the Art Briles era in Waco, but it’s better than most would think. The Bears have a top-20 offense, averaging over 35 points per game.

Quarterback Charlie Brewer passed for nearly 3,000 yards before getting concussed in the Big 12 title game. By all indications, Brewer should be ready to go for the Sugar Bowl.

The Bulldogs have one of the nation’s best scoring defenses, allowing just 12.5 points per game this season. Georgia was able to stifle nearly every offense it faced this season (except LSU), so the Bears’ ability to score early and often will be paramount if they hope to vanquish the Bulldogs this time around.

EDGE: Georgia Prediction Georgia seems to be going through the motions at this point in the season. They’re out-manned, under-qualified, and do not have the feel of a legit team in coach Kirby Smart’s fourth season. Baylor has something to prove, much like Texas last season, and will take advantage of Georgia’s shortcomings.

Baylor 31, Georgia 24

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New Year’s Traditions from Around the World

By Burke Bischoff

N

ew Year’s is a time to get together with friends and family, reflect on the previous year, and welcome the next one with the hope that it’s even better than the last. What makes New Year celebration particularly special are the traditions that people practice for it every year. While most in the United States practice basically the same traditions, our traditions are not the only ones. People from all over the world have different New Year customs that stem either from cultural roots or history. To celebrate the coming new year, let’s take a look at the New Year’s traditions of countries that have either helped shaped New Orleans and Louisiana or left behind well-known communities.

France Also known as La Saint-Sylvestre, New Year in France has some of the same traditions that you would probably see in New Orleans.

Réveillon dinners, which are dinners that last beyond midnight, will still be going on even through Christmas is past. While at home or partying with friends, the French usually take time out to watch the French president’s message to the country as well as the New Year’s Day Parade through the ChampsÉlysées. You might also see people kissing under mistletoe and exchanging étrennes (gifts).

Ireland With a culture full of superstitions, New Year, or Oíche Chinn Bliana, traditions in Ireland usually incorporate a sense of the supernatural. One custom includes banging on the doors and walls of one’s home with leftover Christmas bread to chase out evil spirits. After that, Irish families may then clean their homes from top to bottom in order to invite in good spirits and make a fresh start for the new year. There’s also a tradition where families will leave a place at the table empty for family members who died and the front door unlocked to show their spirits are always welcomed to return home.

Italy Notte di San Silvestro sees Italy adopting some of the New Year traditions of its neighbors. Fireworks go off in every major city, families gather together for a New Year’s dinner featuring zampone or cotechino (which is pig’s trotters or entrails), and people wear red underwear to bring in good

Spain Out of all of the European countries, Spain might have some of the quirkiest New Year’s practices around. Perhaps the most wellknown Nochevieja traditions are the 12 lucky grapes. While the bells in the Puerta del Sol clock tower in Madrid toll to midnight, people try to eat 12 grapes before the bells finish ringing. Other unique Spanish traditions include wearing red underwear so Cupid will bring you love, rubbing lottery tickets against a pregnant woman’s belly or bald man’s head for luck, making a toast with some gold in a glass of Cava, and making sure you take a step with your right foot when the new year arrives.

12 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

luck. One specifically Italian custom, usually found in Southern Italy, involves people throwing old items (pots, pans, clothing, furniture, appliances, etc.) out from their upstairs windows in order to let go of past unhappiness and to be ready for the future.

Germany Germans celebrating Neujahr have traditional practices that are mainly unique to them, just like the Spaniards. Some of the more interesting ones include bleigießen (the act of dropping molten lead into cold water and telling someone’s fortune based on the shapes it forms) and glücksschwein (marzipan pigs that are eaten for good luck). You can also find many German families sitting down together in front of the TV to watch the short British comedy Dinner for One, which has been broadcast on German televisions every New Year’s Eve since 1972.

Greece New Year’s Eve in Greece is very interesting in how different and similar it is to what we New Orleanians are used to. Most Greek families celebrate New Year’s Eve as Saint Basil’s Day after Saint Basil of Caesarea, who is the Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Christian equivalent of Saint Nicholas of Myra (aka Santa Claus). During the day, people sing traditional Greek carols called kalanda. When midnight rolls around, a vasilopita (bread or a cake with a coin inside, much like New Orleans’ own king cake) is brought out, a sign of the cross is etched on top of it, and slices are left out for either Saint Basil or Jesus.

Croatia If you ever find yourself in Croatia during the New Year celebration, you might see most of the following traditions whereever there is a large concentration of the ethnic Bunjevci peoples, typically in Bačka and Lika. The main belief with the Bunjevci is that people’s lives will unfold exactly the same as the first day of the year. So homes are kept tidy and quiet on

New Year’s Day. The only sounds throughout the day should be cracking whips, which is done to ward off spirits. Also, at the start of New Year’s Day, family members fill a basin with water, add an apple and a coin to it, and wash their faces. This is supposed to bring people health and prosperity throughout the year.

Haiti January 1st is not only New Year’s Day in Haiti—it’s also when Haitians celebrate their independence from French colonial rule, which was achieved in 1804. As a sign of remembrance, Haitians will fix soup joumou for their families (since it was a food source for both Haitian slaves and French colonials back then). Soup joumou is made from calbaza (or winter squash), plantains, potatoes, beef, and vegetables, which are all puréed with water and mixed with lime, salt, garlic, and other spices. Some families may also add butter or oil as well as macaroni and vermicelli.

Honduras Año Nuevo in Honduras has specific traditions that can be found in both the urban and rural areas. While most people have a home party with friends and family, it’s customary to travel to Comayagua and gather around the city’s cathedral to hear the bell (which is debatably the oldest bell in the Americas) toll to midnight. In the more rural areas, you may see people burning mannequins that are typically dressed like Honduran presidents or community leaders.

The thought is that the mannequin represents all of the misfortunes of the past year. By burning it, the previous year is also burnt, and the new year is allowed bring in a clean slate.

Vietnam Tết Nguyên Đán (simply Tết or Vietnamese Lunar New Year) shares a lot of the same traditions, customs, and even dates as Chinese New Year. Family members from around the world typically go to Vietnam to reunite with relatives. Traditional customs include worshiping ancestors at either family altars or graves, giving children money in red envelopes for good luck, and either participating in or witnessing Mua Lan (or Lion Dancing, which is said to scare off evil spirits).

There is also a tradition, called xông đất, that if the first person a family invites into their home during the new year is of good temper and morality, then the family will be blessed with good fortune for the rest of the year.

Philippines In the Philippines, Bisperas ng Bagong Taon is not only influenced by local Filipino traditions, but also those from Spain. Most families attend church and then either attend or host a midnight meal called Media Noche, which usually includes lechón (roasted pig) and pancit (noodles). Just like in Spain, you might see people eating 12 grapes at midnight.

Other quirky customs include wearing polka dots to attract wealth, blowing on a torotot horn to ward off evil spirits, and jumping as high as you can when clocks strike 12 so that you can grow taller.

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Samantha Fish Colors Outside the Box of Traditional Blues, Pop, and Soul

By Lee Valentine Smith

Welcome Sugar Bowlers! &

Kinda Killin’ It

T

he past decade has been an incredible ride for inventive singersongwriter-guitarist Samantha Fish. From her 2009 debut Live Bait to Kill Or Be Kind released late last year, the blues-based artist has blazed her own unique trail. Along the way, she’s gained a wide swath of fans­­—including the legendary Buddy Guy.

Now she travels the world and operates the Wild Heart Records label with a roster that includes occasional tour-mates Jonathon Long, Nicholas David, and Charlie Wooton.

The like-minded musicians blend traditional blues, soul, and rock influences into their own unique sound—defying mere categorization while deftly avoiding the overloaded Americana label.

Atlanta-based writer Lee Valentine Smith recently spoke with Fish as she prepped for a lengthy tour that brings her back to New Orleans this month to headline the Cigar Box Guitar Festival.

LVS: You released Kill Or Be Kind on your own label last September. It’s a little different from your previous work. How’s the reaction so far?

SF: I’m proud of it, and, so far, people generally seem to like it. You’re right—it’s a little different. I haven’t talked to any really negative critics yet, but they’re probably lurking around.

LVS: Your bio says it’s mostly messages from the heart, and listening from that point of view, it totally makes sense. It seems like snapshots of moments rather than a concept album.

SF: I kinda stuck with the root of it—not getting too crazy heavy with the content.

There’s a lot of love songs, a lot of heartbreak songs, and a lot of just personal growth on it. So, in many ways, it is a snapshot. It’s what you might expect from somebody at a certain point in their life. Really, I think that’s how all my albums have come out so far. As far as writing goes, it’s really just where I was at when I was writing it.

LVS: You’ve enjoyed a full decade of exposure now. Even though the albums reveal where y’at any given moment, do you feel your writing has changed over time?

SF: I feel the content has certainly become more mature. I mean the writing itself. The song structures are still blues, but now there are other leanings in there as well. Some songs on this album have definite pop roots in them, but I put the blues in there because that’s just how I play—that’s my thing. So stylistically, I think I’ve evolved. It’s just about writing good songs and playing good shows.

It’s really stuff I’ve always listened to, but now it’s just the feeling that it will or won’t be accepted by the blues crowds or by my own fan base, but it’s not apologetic.

LVS: There are purists in every genre, and blues, jazz, and country fans are probably the most vocal.

LVS: You recorded Kill Or Be Kind in Memphis, and there’s a definite vibe of the city in the tracks.

SF: You can definitely tell we did it in Memphis. It’s all over the record; it’s in the sounds we got from the studio itself. We recorded it at Willie Mitchell’s place, Royal Studios—which is where Al Green recorded so many hits, and Ann Peebles, too. It’s got Memphis soul just seeping out of the walls.

You can’t help but be affected in some way.

LVS: It’s almost too limiting to call this a blues record because it’s all over the place stylistically.

SF: Yeah, it doesn’t fit into traditional blues, but the roots are definitely there. We live in this kinda weird time period where everything has to be so heavily classified. If it doesn’t fit neatly in a box, then it’s almost discarded because they don’t know where to put it. But I’m just trying to make music that is honest and true to me. Maybe I’m making a new sound. I know it’s evolving—taking old sounds into new sounds and mixing some things together. That’s how we’re gonna get more people interested in the blues and the great traditional music.

LVS: If people can’t quite figure out what to call it, they’ll just throw it into the good ol’ Americana bin.

SF: Americana has become a big absorption place. It gets to be a little bit lazy after a while because such a broad range of music is put into that category now. Even that genre has purists who protect what is truly Americana. But Kill Or Be Kind doesn’t really fall into it because there’s soul involved, there’s pop involved, there’s horns. It’s a bit broad, but I think people are starting to expect those elements now instead of rebelling against it all.

LVS: Some people say pop like it’s a dirty word, but there’s no reason to dismiss it because it’s popular music.

SF: Hey, the Rolling Stones were pop when they first came out. Pop is popular. You don’t have to like what’s going on now in it, but like with all of my influences, I tend to think of what it has been over the course of decades.

That’s how you find and make good music.

That’s all I’m trying to do.

LVS: The Samantha Fish Cigar Box Guitar Festival runs January 15-18, with performances at Chickie Wah-Wah and The Howlin’ Wolf. For more information, schedules, and tickets, visit neworleanscbg. com.

SF: For sure, but I always say there are artists who are doing it for those crowds.

They’re doing it from their heart, too. All you can expect from any musician is honesty.

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 15

New Recipes for New Year's Day

I

By Emily Hingle

t’s New Year’s Day, and you probably got home from your raucous New Year’s Eve festivities only hours before the sun rose. You’re jarred awake by the sound of your phone ringing. It’s your nearest and dearest family member calling to remind you to eat your cabbage and black-eye peas today, lest you encounter an entire year of bad luck. Begrudgingly, probably hungover’dly, you set forth to find a kind restaurant or watering hole that might be serving it up. It’s a difficult tradition, but one that you feel you must participate in just in, case the curse of bad luck is true.

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This year, you may want to think ahead and have some of it in the refrigerator, so you don’t have to make this painful journey.

You don’t just have to have it the traditional way; as long as you eat the main, luck-donning ingredients, you’re in the clear.

A typical traditional method to make a New Year’s stew involves soaking one pound of dried black-eyed peas in water overnight.

When you’re ready to cook, sauté a cup of chopped onion and two or three cloves of minced garlic in two tablespoons of butter or the oil of your choice until the onions become translucent. Drain the black-eyed peas and add them to the pot with enough water to cover them. Also, add one head of roughly chopped cabbage and one pound of chopped smoked ham or a whole ham bone.

Season it with a couple of bay leaves and the herbs of your choice and bring it a boil. Simmer the pot until the black-eyed peas are tender. Season the stew with salt and pepper to taste. If you used a ham bone, remove it from the pot before serving it over rice.

You can also throw all of the ingredients into a crock pot and cook it on low for up to eight hours.

If stew isn’t your favorite thing, consider cutting down your cooking time and buying canned black-eyed peas (Trappey's Jalapeno Blackeye Peas is an excellent choice). You can make your cabbage into something like a coleslaw. Better yet, roast it with olive oil or boil it with spices and veggies. Most of my family members are heavily involved in the annual making of the New Year’s meal, and they’ve put their own spins on it over the years.

If you want to dazzle the eyes as well as the palette, consider making black-eyed pea and cabbage crostini. In a large pot, sauté one chopped onion and a couple of minced garlic cloves in oil until the onions soften. Add one pound of soaked black-eyed peas (or two cans of ready-to-eat black-eyed peas), one head of finely chopped or slivered cabbage, meat such as chopped cooked bacon or ham, two quarts of stock or broth, and two bay leaves.

Bring the pot to a boil, then simmer partially covered for one hour. Season the stew with your favorite herbs and spices after removing it from heat and letting it cool. As the stew is cooling, toast the lightly-oiled crostini slices in a 350-degree oven for eight minutes. When the bread is done, top the slices with the pea and cabbage mix using a slotted spoon to drain the juices. You can garnish the crostini with grated cheese.

Of course, you could take your chances on your luck for 2020 by not consuming any black-eyed peas and cabbage on New Year’s Day, but do you really want to risk it?

16 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

My cousin Catherine Harrell's Cajun-style cabbage likes it Cajun style.

• Cut cabbage into wedges, place on a pan or baking sheet with a lip • Cover with melted butter or olive oil • Sprinkle with salt and pepper or Tony Chachere’s • Roast at 350 degrees until fork tender, or microwave it on microwave-safe plate until just barely tender Boiled Cabbage •

Cut cabbage into 1-inch squares

•

Put into a large pot and cover with water

•

Add 1 cup chopped onion, 2-3 cloves minced garlic, 1 lb. chopped ham or whole ham bone

•

Bring to a boil, then reduce to simmer

•

Cook until desired tenderness

•

Salt and pepper or Tony Chachere’s to taste

Roasted cabbage steaks with black-eyed pea topping.

• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees • Cover your baking sheet with aluminum foil and brushwith a healthy amount of olive oil • Cut one head of cabbage into 1-inch thick steaks • Brush each side with olive oil before seasoning them with salt and pepper • Place them on the oiled baking sheet in a single layer • Roast the steaks until the edges of the steaks are golden, about 40 to 45 minutes • While the cabbage steaks are cooking, cook your blackeyed peas on the stove with your choice of chopped veggies, herbs, and/or meat—like chopped bacon.

• When the steaks are finished, ladle the black-eyed pea mixture onto the cabbage steaks and enjoy.

(homemade with Bayou Select Rum, or store-bought)

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 17

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ccording to a 2015 study by The Knot, about 40 percent of couples get engaged between the months of November and February—a period sometimes reffered to as “proposal season.” During this time, you can expect all of your social media timelines to be filled with engagement ring closeups and “she said yes” hashtags. Sean Payton recently joined in on the fun by proposing to his girlfriend of several years at Longway Tavern in the French Quarter. Aside from the element of surprise and the elaborate planning many put into how they propose, location is often key. Locals and tourists alike have come to appreciate New Orleans for its picturesque and old-world charm—making it the perfect city to propose in.

Best Places in the City to Propose:

Seven Places to Propose During the Holidays

By Joni Hess

1. City rooftops The New Orleans skyline serves as a gorgeous backdrop for photos while taking in the open air high off the ground. Nopsi Hotel has a spacious rooftop bar as well as a small courtyard with heated lamps. The Jackson Brewery balcony, after a lazy day of shopping, is a great frontrunner as well as the rooftop terrace at the Catahoula Hotel.

2. Crescent Park First was constructed in February 2014. this $30 million project stretching from Elysian Fields Avenue to Mazant Street has miles of intricate landscaping that line the walking path and picnic areas. There’s also an open pier overlooking the Mississippi River that can serve as an area to propose as well as a possible site for the wedding reception.

3. Round trip on the ferry What was once a free boat ride connecting the French Quarter to Algiers will now set you back about $2 per person. Sunset would be a wonderful time to embark on this smooth ride across the Mississippi River.

After the deed is done, walk along the levy in Historic Algiers point or hit up one of the bars along Leake Street to get away from the busyness of the city. An alternative could be buying tickets to the Creole Queen, which has seven unique tours and cruises along the river—fitting for a luxurious and romantic experience.

L O N G B R A N C H

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18 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

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WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 19

Visit our boutique shops and farmers & flea markets for: clothing, jewelry, confections, arts and crafts, home decor, children’s toys, unique gifts, souvenirs, and more!

french market’s annual

mardi gras mask market In

dutch alley

F r i d ay, F e b r u a r y 2 1 – M o n d ay, F e b r u a r y 2 4 1 0 : 0 0 a m – 4 : 0 0 p m d a i ly !

featuring: Artisan Masks Live Music Food & Drink available for purchase

learn more at Frenchmarket.org

French Market New Orleans

FrenchMktNOLA

20 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

4. Bike ride through City Park’s Sculpture Garden You can’t go wrong with a bike ride through what was recently named one of the 6 Best Urban Parks by Travel Trivia. While the 1,300acre park has numerous areas to pop the question, the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is a magically designed space of manicured greenery with over 90 sculptures. It’s free to enter and is open seven days a week. The Alu Tress Star, made of milled aluminum, and the Mirror Labyrinth are two pieces that would make for a particularly jaw-dropping picture background.

5. A B&B Courtyard Courtyards in New Orleans are often tucked away behind brick walls or iron gates.

They usually consist of a central focal point, such as a water fountain, and are filled with trees and lush landscaping. Many bed and breakfast spots carry a distinctive history along with a quiet courtyard, such as the Banana Courtyard, 30 yards outside of the French Quarter. The Parisian Courtyard Inn, with its spiral staircase and three courtyards, is famous for hosting weddings. Creole Gardens, located on Prytania Street, is a 19th-century antebellum mansion that hosts a courtyard filled with banana trees. The complimentary southern-style breakfast is just what the doctor ordered for the newly engaged couple after a night on the town.

6. Bayou St. John The once-rusted Magnolia Bridge overlooking Bayou St. John was recently reopened after a series of renovations. Built in 1908, it stands as a walking bridge for pedestrians and cyclists. The bayou itself is an important landmark, serving as a meeting place for Mardi Gras Indian tribes, and its banks hold some of the oldest residencies in the city. The bridge is a beautiful spot for an engagement, a picnic, or both at the same time.

7. The steps at Jackson Square Anytime you can capture the historical St. Louis Cathedral as a photo backdrop is a win, but using the steps adds an unmatched level of anticipation to an engagement proposal. During the day, you can often find a concentration of street performers and artists drawing in the crowd. At night, however, it’s pretty quiet. The balcony overlooking the steps is the perfect place to have your families lying low, waiting for the big question as you and your honey stroll across from dinner at Muriel’s.

The Wonderfully Wacky and Weird Homes of New Orleans

By Sam Malvaney

E

verybody has seen one—that one weird house that doesn’t fit in the cookiecutter home mold in a neighborhood filled with traditional homes and picture-perfect front yards. I ought to know because, not only was I raised in one, I live in one myself now.

New Orleans is an anomaly because it never was really a conventional home kind of city. Homes in the older neighborhoods are usually completely different from each other.

One can be a shotgun house and, right next to it, could be another shotgun house but with a completely different look—woodwork, molding, and a competing garish color—that sets it apart from its next-door neighbor.

Drive through colorful, once-blue-collar neighborhoods, like the Faubourg Marigny, and view the domestic diversity,or hop on a streetcar and travel down St. Charles Avenue to view the grand mansions with one built of stone next to a Southern mansion fit for Gone With the Wind.

In the French Quarter, to the naked eye, the homes might seem alike in architecture to the tourist or first-time visitor to the Quarter. That’s due to the diligence of the Vieux Carre Commission, who regularly police the Quarter to spot an infraction according to its very strict historic district code. People either love the VCC or hate them because it’s said you seemingly can’t even change a light bulb without their permission. But, as the old country western song goes, “you don’t know what goes on behind closed doors.”

Case in point, my home at the corner of Royal and St. Peter, which I lovingly call “The Museum of Bad Taste,” has hundreds of tasteless items that are absolutely hideous individually but absolutely glorious collectively. Many people who have visited my abode through the years have called it a “sensory overload.”

Like so many of the unusual homes in New Orleans such as mine, a home owner/ collector often got started with just one item that served as an inspiration to how the home would go in a certain weird or wacky

direction. In my case, it was a hilariously tasteless mid-century lamp with a rotating harlequin clown on it that sent me to start collecting 50s, 60s, and 70s memorabilia and furniture.

Another collector like myself started with a couch in the shape of a woman’s lips in a bright red color that inspired her to furnish her weird home in a gaudy bordello direction, with an homage to Storyville, the red-light district that was located between North Robertson, Iberville, Basin, and St. Louis Streets.

One well-known New Orleans resident’s home is certainly eye-catching—the Bywater home of Pres Kabacoff, one of New Orleans’s premier real estate developers, and his wife, Sallie Ann Glassman. Sallie is an artist, an initiated and authentic Haitian Vodou priestess (one of only a few in America), and owner of the Island of Salvation Botanica, a store and gallery specializing in Vodou supplies, medicinal herbs, and art. Her and Pres’s home reflects their interests in art, spirituality, and travel. While the architecture of the home matches with the neighborhood, it’s bright and bold use of colors, purple, raspberry, and orange makes it stand out.

In a city known for individuality, kookiness and weirdness in food, music, local characters, and off-the-wall artwork, let’s not forget to add architecture to this list. Whether it’s a grain silo that’s not in a corn field. a weirdly artistic abode that’s more of an art museum than a home, or an apartment that’s so tasteless that it looks like it was furnished by a design team that shopped exclusively at Goodwill, Dollar Tree, and Chalmette garage sales for furnishings, take a minute and enjoy the weird architecture that abounds in New Orleans.

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 21

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nvariably, one of the first things that visitors notice about New Orleans is our so-called “New Orleans accent.” It is truly unlike any other Southern accent in the neighboring states—being more akin to a Brooklyn accent from the aforementioned New York borough. Locals take a fierce pride in the accent and make careful distinctions about the speeches of different neighborhoods and ethnic groups.

The Stranger Things of New Orleans: Customs and Curious Conventions that Characterize New Orleans

By Sam Malvaney

22 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

The best-known variety is spoken by the “Yats,” lower and middle class white New Orleanians derived from “Where y’at?” which is a question trying to discern someone’s immediate locale—“where are you at?” Yats use words like “dese,” “dem,” and “doze” for “these,” “them,” and “those,” in a real stereotypical Brooklynese accent. So keep your ears tuned, and you may hear a Yat ordering “a dozen ersters” and “berled shrimp” at the next oyster bar you visit.

Locals also find many of the things that visitors do equally amusing. No one from New Orleans would ever wear Mardi Gras beads out of Carnival Season, but, in the French Quarter, you often hear an approaching group of tourists before you see them by the clanging of their Mardi Gras beads, especially those wearing gigantic purple, green, and gold plastic ones that are the size of baseballs and are particularly noisy. But locals take it with a smile and an amused outlook and silently recall the biblical phrase, “Lord, forgive them

for they know not what they do.”

For visitors to the French Quarter, one of the most unusual sights that totally amazes them, but doesn’t even rate a second glance from longtime residents, happens countless times a day in the checkout lines of such mundane everyday establishments as a grocery store, a coffee shop, or even standing in line to use an ATM. It is the absolutely wild, weird, and wonderful diversity of the local people going about their daily business in costumes, outfits, body paint, or drag, or tuxedoed waiters from upscale dining establishments. Whether at 9 a.m. or a 9 p.m., you can be right behind one of the gold or silver “living painted statues,” next to a nun or priest from St. Louis Cathedral, walking towards a transvestite in a tight-fitting leggings that leave little (or nothing) to the imagination, or passing a perfectly-coiffed and made-up drag queen ready to go host a Sunday “drag queen brunch.”

139 Chartres

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 23

One of the best places in the French Quarter to catch such an array and a display is at the Rouse’s Grocery Store at the corner of Royal and St. Peter. Not only is it a gathering place for colorful characters such as these who are “making groceries,” as locals call a grocery store trip, but as the largest market in the French Quarter, everyone seems to know each other. You can hear the equally colorful banter between the longtime cashiers and their longtime loyal customers. Everyone is so nonchalant, open-minded, and friendly and are too busy discussing what kind of gumbo they’re gonna cook when they get home that they don’t notice the dropped chins and eyes wide with amazement from the tourists who often think they’ve dropped into a local circus rather than a local supermarket.

Another thing the locals all across New Orleans find amusing are the visitors who are absolutely astounded and overjoyed to find they can drink in the streets, going from bar to bar, with a “go cup” in hand. It’s such an everyday event for New Orleans residents, from the French Quarter to Uptown to points beyond, that when visiting other cities, locals often casually leave bars in, let’s say, Dallas with a drink in hand only to be stopped by security at the door to “rudely” confiscate the offending “to go” alcoholic beverage. And not to be outdone by the ease of drinking laws is the variety of drinks that visitors consume by the dozens that most of the locals have never tasted nor ever wanted to taste in their entire lives here. Probably the most often-spotted drink in the French Quarter is

the Hand Grenade—housed in a long and garishly glaring green grenade cup is potent concoction that is found at the many Tropical Isle bar locations scattered throughout Bourbon Street and side streets.

The drink’s somewhat more “refined” version is the ubiquitous Hurricane, which got its start in the famous (or infamous) Pat O’Brien’s Bar on St. Peter Street. As opposed to the Hand Grenade, the Hurricane has most decidedly been sampled by almost every generation of New Orleanians (and tourists alike) since its inception in the 1940s.

Its unique glass globe is shaped like a glass hurricane lamp, but don’t let its charming exterior fool you—it contains four ounces of dark rum that will really put the “whammy” on you, especially when combined with its sugary fruit juices.

Another strange, but annoying, part of life in New Orleans is one of the oldest hustles in America, one’s that’s an anathema to locals and tourists alike. It’s the “I bet I know where you got them shoes” scam. Picture a seemingly pleasant stranger walking up to you in the French Quarter and points to your shoes and bets you $20 that he “knows where you got them shoes.” Gullible tourists accept the bet, shake the hand of the hustler, and then find out that “you got those shoes on your feet on Bourbon Street.” Now, “Bam!” as Emeril would say, you are suddenly out $20 and either pay up out of embarrassment, shame, or anger—or a combination of all of these emotions.

There are countless other “strange” customs to be found in and around New Orleans that are either amusing or annoying to tourists or longtime residents. But there is one thing we can all agree upon that no one should ever do while in New Orleans, and that’s wear flip flops, open-toed-shoes, or sandals down Bourbon Street during Mardi Gras—because that seemingly innocent puddle of “rainwater” filled with beads, go cups, and carnival throws may not be as “innocent” as it seems.

No matter “where y’at,” from the French Quarter to Downtown to Uptown, it really is a strange but wonderful world out there waiting to be discovered by you.

Hair demos  Make-up tutorials  Fashion show  Photo ops Giveaways  Jewelry  Dresses  MODEL SEARCH*

Saturday, January 25th from 11 am – 5 pm The Cannery, 3803 Toulouse Street, New Orleans Some of the participants include:

Tickets start at $5 and can be purchased at www.promfete504.eventbrite.com or www.promfete504.com *MODEL SEARCH -- Be a part of our fashion show!

Visit www.promfete504.com for details.

New and gently used dresses, shoes and accessories will be collected at PromFete(504) and given to the Krewe of Athena as part of their annual prom dress giveaway

24 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

JANUARY 18-19

Swing Your Partner ‘Round the Town

By Emily Hingle

D

ancing has changed much throughout history, especially over the last few decades. People over the age of 50 seem to have many fond memories of going to dances with their sweethearts and dancing for hours on end at weddings, and they sure know how to grab a partner and cut loose on the dance floor when a great band starts playing.

Those under the age of 50 don’t seem quite as adept at partner dancing, however.

We seem more content to dance without touching other people in a big group. If you do take a partner, your moves will probably pale in comparison to those of older generations. You may look like a middle schooler, just swaying back and forth awkwardly. Though these circumstances may seem sad, there is hope on the horizon.

Plenty of venues around town not only encourage skilled partner dancing, but also offer lessons to those who don’t naturally have the moves.

Rock N’ Bowl was around during the heyday of paired dancing, and it maintains this tradition with several nights of themed music made just for dancing. You can visit the bowling alley exclusively for the music, or you can get some steps in in-between frames. NOLA Swing Dance Connection takes over the speakers on Mondays, with beginner West Coast Swing dance lessons for the first hour at 7 p.m. Every Tuesday, attendees are welcome to listen to spicy Latin tunes for Latin Night, with salsa dance lessons for those hoping to keep up with the salsa dance scenesters that always come out. Wednesday evenings most often consist of swing bands, and Zydeco bands are welcomed on Thursday nights. The weekends often rotate between genres of music and regular visitors that always know how to get the crowd moving.

Frenchmen Street is where visitors have a chance to mingle with the locals. The Maison is known for having live bands on one, or all, of their stages for several hours of the day and night. Often, those bands are booked for the sole purpose of getting people to dance. Every single Sunday, you are invited

to attend the Swingin’ Jazz Brunch, beginning at 10 a.m. The Maison might not have the biggest dance floor in the city, but there will absolutely be people dancing on them and in-between the tables.

Deep in the Bywater, the Tigermen Den is a multi-functional space that hosts many varied events throughout the year. Once a month they throw the Bywater Cajun Brunch + Dance—one of their most popular events, complete with live tunes, great food, and plenty of high-energy dancing. There are lessons available for beginners, starting at noon, and there are lessons for intermediate dancers at 1:30 p.m.

The All Star Covered Dish Country Jamboree at Dragon’s Den is celebrating its ninth season. This long-running weekly concert series features a rotation of bands who play classic country, Cajun, rockabilly, Americana, or folk music, but you never really know what you’re going to hear coming from the guest musicians. Because of the nature of the music and the fact that the series draws a crowd of regulars, you can usually see most of the crowd dancing along, no matter what kind of music the band decides to play.

Once a month at The All Star Covered Dish Country Jamboree, Square Dance NOLA comes out to teach us how to allemande left and right. You can also catch a good old-fashioned square dance at one of their events on the second Monday of each month, excluding June and July, at the First Presbyterian Church of New Orleans at 5401 South Claiborne Avenue.

Even the Ace Hotel is getting in on the dancing action these days, with a new monthly swing dance series. Four or Five Times kicked off on November 21, 2019, with live music by Meschiya Lake and the Lil’ Big Horns. Those who happen out to future shows will be able to take some swing dance lessons at 9 p.m., just before the band kicks off proper.

Throw away your cares about looking cool, unglue your feet from the floor, find a partner, and learn how to do the dances that our ancestors and family members did so well. It’s great for your health and great for your soul.

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WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 25

New Year's Previews

By Caroline Glattly

Three Ring Twerkus Dec. 31, 10 p.m. | The Joy Theater Twerk your way into the New Year at Three Ring Twerkus: A New Year’s Eve Freak Show ft. Freaks and Wonders! Lineup includes Big Freedia, Boyfriend and Sweet Crude.

Big Freedia has made her name in the New Orleans music scene by popularizing bounce music and Sweet Crude pays tribute to their roots by singing almost entirely in Louisiana French. Boyfriend popularized the genre of “Rap-Cabaret,” due to the emphasis of performance in her music.

The Country Club NYE Celebration Dec. 31, 6 p.m. | 634 Louisa Street Join the Country Club for an evening of decadent delights. For an all-inclusive price of $135 per person, guests can enjoy a cocktail and hors d’oeuvres reception, 3-course meal, live music, and pool access. This location provides easy access to Crescent Park and Rusty Rainbow for fireworks viewing. Oh, and did we mention bottomless champagne?

20/20 Vision with Lee Fields & The Expressions + Aaron Abernathy Trio Dec. 31, 9 p.m. | Three Keys at Ace Hotel Standing at the forefront of the soul revival, Lee Fields & The Expressions have been sampled by pop heavyweights like J. Cole and Travis Scott. Experience a part of history on New Year’s Eve and indulge in the music that has stood the test of time since the 1960s. 3 Keys will provide a 2020 Midnight Toast.

Foundation of Funk: George Porter Jr. & Zigaboo Modeliste w/ John Medeski and Eric Krasno Dec. 31, 9 p.m. | House Of Blues Enjoy the music of funk legends wth Foundation of Funk at the House of Blues.

Kick your night off right by reserving a beautiful courtyard table and indulging in happy hour specials between 3 to 6 p.m.

Upgrade to VIP for priority access, a premium menu, and upgraded seating.

GREAT DRINKS + BITES OPEN DAILY

BEAT WEEKENDS DJ 9PM TO CLOSE

317 BARONNE ST, NEW ORLEANS, LA • T 844 439 1463 NOPSIHOTEL.COM • @NOPSIHOTEL

26 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

The Revivalists at The Fillmore Nola Dec. 31 | The Fillmore Are you a music-lover looking for a way to ring in 2020? Well, look no further because New Orleans natives, The Revivalists, will be rocking in the new year at the Fillmore as a part of their 2020 National tour. Having started out playing music at local venues such as Checkpoint Charlies, The Revivalists are responsible for pumping out hits like “Wish I Knew You” and “All My Friends.”

Ring in the Revelry NYE Bash Dec. 31, 9 p.m. | Landry’s Seafood House Don’t miss out on a chance to dine, dance and party until the New Year, with an unbeatable view of fireworks you won’t be able to find anywhere else. For an allinclusive price of $75, guests will have the opportunity to indulge in an open bar, full buffet, dance floor, and a champagne toast!

Gatsby: A New Year’s Eve Affair Dec. 31, 8 p.m. | NOPSI Celebrate the roaring 20’s with a Gatsbythemed holiday extravaganza at the NOPSI Hotel. Sponsored by Grey Goose and Mumm Napa Brut, this event will feature New Orleans DJs and live music, as well as a midnight champagne toast and balloon drop.

Don’t miss out on this chance to break your resolutions early!

Big Night New Orleans NYE Dec. 31, 9 p.m. | Hyatt Regency New Orleans Big Night New Orleans is New Orleans’ largest indoor festival. Ring in the New Year amongst thousands and indulge in live music on multiple stages, mock casino, burlesque shows, and free drinks for an all-inclusive price. Treat yourself and upgrade to VIP for top-shelf drinks, ample seating, and more.

NYE Extravaganza with OOKAY Dec. 31st, 9 p.m. | The Metropolitan This year, The Metropolitan, Disco Donnie & Amps Events presents NYE Extravaganza with EDM producer and DJ OOKAY. Celebrate the new year in style with three rooms of music, a balloon drop, and a midnight champagne toast!

Galactic New Year’s Eve Dec 31, 9 p.m. | Tipitina’s Every year, Tipitina’s own Galactic welcomes in the New Year funk-style with their annual Galactic New Year’s Eve celebration. The band will be joined by singer, Anjelika “Jelly” Joseph and supported

by Memphis-based soul and blues quintet Southern Avenue. Upgrade to VIP to enjoy food from Jacques-Imo’s, open bar, and VIP viewing access.

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 27

MUSICCALENDAR

Be sure to check out our new interactive concert calendar at WhereYat.com!

Friday, December 27 30/90 - Smoke N Bones 3 Keys - DJ Raj Smoove Buffa’s - Eric Merchant Band Bourbon O - Doyle Cooper Jazz Band Cafe Negril - Dana Abbott Band, Higher Heights Carnaval Lounge - St. Roch Syncopators Circle Bar - Natalie Mae & Friends Crescent City Brewhouse D.b.a - Russel Welch Trio Gasa Gasa - Goth Dad Jazz Playhouse - Chucky “C” & Band Joy Theatre - Liquid Stranger Le Bon Temps - Simple Sound Retreat The Spotted Cat - Washboard Chaz Trio Three Muses - Doro Wat Tipitina’s - eyehategod, The Panchetted, Total Hell

BigNightNewOrleans Bag of Donuts, Choppa, and many other artists will be playing their hearts out this New Year’s Eve at Big Night New Orleans. Bring in the new year with this smashing event and you’ll be sure to stick to you resolutions. (At least that’s the hope.) Tuesday, December 31, 9:30 p.m., Hyatt Regency New Orleans, bignightneworleans.com Sunday, December 22 30/90 - T’Canaille 3 Keys - Caroling in Jackson Square 100 Men Hall - Panorama Jazz Band Allways Lounge - Sabertooth Swing Bar Redux - Dj Shane Love Buffa’s - Steve Pistorius Jazz Quartet Bombay Club - Lacey Troutman Bourbon O - Dan Ruch Quartet Cafe Negril - Vegas Cola Band Carnaval Lounge - Gina Leslie & Friends Circle Bar - Kate Baxter, Micah McKee and Friends Crescent City Brewhouse D.b.a - Palmetto Bug Stompers Jazz Playhouse - Germaine Bazzle Jazz Quartet The Spotted Cat - Pat Casey & The New Sound Three Muses - The Clementines Monday, December 23 30/90 - The Dapper Dandies 3 Keys - Simple Play Networking Happy Hour Buffa’s - Antoine Diel and Josh Paxton Bourbon O - James Williams Cafe Negril - Colin Davis & Night People Carnaval Lounge - Dick Deluxe Circle Bar - Champagne Girl and more Crescent City Brewhouse D.b.a - Alexis and the Samurai Gasa Gasa - The Bralettes, Acid Carousel, Sweetheart Hi-Ho - Bluegrass Pickin’ Party Jazz Playhouse- Gerlad French & the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band The Spotted Cat - The Rhythm Stompers Three Muses - Montey Banks Tuesday, December 24 30/90 - New Orleans Guerilla Christmas 3 Keys - Christmas Eve Bonfires on the Levee Buffa’s - Christmas Movie Marathon Bourbon O - Leroy Marshal Cafe Negril - John Lisi & Delta Funk Circle Bar - James Rose Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Rose Davis

House of Blues Restaurant - Michael Liuzza Jazz Playhouse - James Rivers Movement Mahogany Jazz Hall - Lips & the Trips Sidney’s Saloon- Steve Detroy The Maple Leaf - The Rebirth Brass Band The Spotted Cat - Smokin’ Time Jazz Club The Starlight - Steve Detroy Trio Wednesday, December 25 30/90 - Cole Davis & Night People AllWays Lounge - James McClaskey & his syncopated Sugar Plums Bamboula’s - Mem Shannon Band BMC - Keva Holiday Soul Bourbon O - Leroy Marshal Bourbon Street Drinkery - Gumbo Funk Celebration Hall - TBC Brass Band Collumn’s Hotel - Kathleen Moore Circle Bar - The Iguanas Crescent City Brewhouse Dmac’s - Spogga Hash Hi-Ho - Mainline with Dj Creepa Jazz Playhouse - Big Sam’s Crescent City Connection Maple Leaf - George Porter Jr. Old Point - Susan Cowsill Santo’s - The Russel Welch Quartet Sidney’s Saloon - Cosmic Americans Thursday, December 26 30/90 - Dj Dot Dunnie Buffa’s - Tom McDermott and Michelle Welchons Bourbon O - James Williams Cafe Negril - Sierra Green and the Soul Machine Carnaval Lounge - 30x90 Blue Women Circle Bar - Dark Lounge with Rik Slave Crescent City Brewhouse D.b.a - Soul Brass Band Gasa Gasa - One South Lark Hi-Ho - Green Buddha Jazz Playhouse - Brass-a-holics Joy Theatre - Liquid Stranger Le Bon Temps - The Soul Rebels The Spotted Cat - Jumbo Shrimp Three Muses - Tom McDermott

28 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

Saturday, December 28 30/90 - Vance Orange 3 Keys - Happy Feelins Bacchanal - The Tangiers Combo Buffa’s - Keith Burnstein Bourbon O - Sabertooth Swing Blue Nile - Brass-A-Holics Cafe Negril - Higher Heights Casa Borrega - Manny & Carmelo Carnaval Lounge - Green Gasoline Circle Bar - DJs Matty and Kristen Crescent City Brewhouse D.b.a - New Orleans Cottonmouth Kings Gasa Gasa - CASHMONEYCHIP, Ocserf Hi-Ho - Lil Jodeci Jazz Playhouse - Nayo Jones Experience The Spotted Cat - Aurora Neeland & The Royal Roses Tipitina’s - Corey Smith and Dawson Edwards Sunday, December 29 30/90 - T’Canaille 3 Keys - DJ Kemistry AllWays - The Hummingbirds Apple Barrel - Jillian Kay Bacchanal - Noah Young Buffa’s - Father Ron and Friends Bourbon O - Dan Ruch Quartet Cafe Negril - Vegas Cola

Carnaval Lounge - Gina Leslie and Friends Circle Bar - Kate Baxter Crescent City Brewhouse D.b.a - TBC Brass Band Dragon’s Den - DJ Kidd Love Jazz Playhouse - Germaine Bazzle Jazz Quartet Le Bon Temps - Buddy Conway Band The Spotted Cat - Pat Casey and the New Sound Three Muses - The Clementines Tipitina’s - Kermit Ruffins & The BBQ Swingers Monday, December 30 30/90 - Margie Perez Bamboula’s - G & The Swinging Gypsies BMC - Paggy Prine & Southern Soul Buffa’s - Arsene Delay and Charlie Wooton Bourbon O - James Williams Cafe Negril - Vegas Cola Carnaval Lounge - Daniel Beaudoin Circle Bar - Joe Kile Crescent City Brewhouse D.b.a - The Hot Plates of New Orleans Dragon’s Den - DJ Ill Medina Hi-Ho - Louisiana Claude, Bluegrass Pickin’ Party The Maison - Sierra Green & the Soul Machine Jazz Playhouse - Gerald French & the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band The Spotted Cat - Royal Street Winding Band Three Muses - Bart Ramsey Tipitina’s - The Revivalists Tuesday, December 31 30/90 - Gene’s Music Machine 3 Keys - 20/20 Vision w/ Lee Fields, The Expressions, Aaron Abernathy Trio Buffa’s - Marina Orchestra Bourbon O - Leroy Marshal Cafe Negril - John Lisi and Delta Funk Circle Bar - Palm Sunday, Julie Odell Crescent City Brewhouse D.b.a - Dinosaurchestra Hi-Ho - debauche House of Blues- Geroge Porter Jr & Zigaboo Modeliste Jazz Playhouse - Sierra Green and the Soul Machine Joy Theatre - Big Freedia, Sweet Crude, Boyfriend The Civic - DJ Soul Sister The Joy Theatre - Big Freedia

MorganWallen After rising to the forefront of the country music scene with his song “Whiskey Glasses”, ft. Florida Georgia Line, Morgan Wallen is setting forth on his debut roadshow to promote the song that has garnered recognition as the #1 year-end song for country radio. Held at the Fillmore, openers include Jon Langston and Ashland Crafton. Thursday, January 9, 8:00 p.m., The Fillmore, fillmorenola.com

The Starlight - Kuwaisiana Tipitina’s - Galactic Wednesday, January 1 30/90 - Big Mike and the R&B Kings 3 Keys - Sugar Bowl: Georgia vs. Baylor Buffa’s - Jazz Brunch w/ Some Like it Hot Bourbon O - Leroy Marshall Cafe Negril - John Lisi and Delta Funk, The Catahoulas Columns Hotel - Kathleen Moore Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Niko Lorraine Dragon’s Den - DJ FTK Dragon’s Den (Upstairs) - DJ T-Roy Gasa Gasa- Blue Lungs The Maison - Jason Neville Funky Soul Band The Spotted Cat - Doro Wat Thursday, January 2 30/90 - Smoke N Bones 3 Keys - Honor Thy Mother Buffa’s - Tom McDermott and Aurora Nealand Bourbon O - Shynola Jazz Band Cafe Negril - Sierra Green and the Soul Machine Carnaval Lounge - Treces Del Sur Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Leo Keegan’s Rock ‘n Roll Jam Dos Jefes- “Dos Guitarras” with Javier Gutierrez & Soren Andrade Dragon’s Den - DJ Jess Jazz Playhouse - Brass - A - Holics Le Bon Temps - The Soul Rebels The Spotted Cat - Jumbo Shrimp Treme Art and Music Lounge - Hot 8 Brass Band

Dos Jefes- Peter Nu Dragon’s Den - DJ Kidd Love House of Blues - Gospel Brunch Jazz Playhouse - Germaine Bazzle Jazz Quartet Saenger - Tipper The Maison - Higher Heights Treasure Chest Casino - Recuerdos: Latin American Night Monday, January 6 30/90 - NOLA Super Jam by Gene Harding 3 Keys - Krewe de Joan D’Arc Buffa’s - Arsene DeLay and Charlie Wooton Cafe Negril - Soul Project Nola Carnaval Lounge - Societe des Champs Elysees 12th Night Celebration Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Danny Alexander’s Blues Jam Dos Jefes- John Fohl Dragon’s Den - DJ Ill Medina Jazz Playhouse - Gerald French & the Original Tuxedo

Jazz Band The Maison - Sierra Green and the Soul Machine Tuesday, January 7 30/90 - The Set-Up Kings, Soul Project 3 Keys - Tech Tuesdays: Hack Night + NOFUN Meetup Buffa’s - Tacos, Tequila and Tiaras Bourbon O - Leroy Marshall Cafe Negril - Marla Dixon Band Carnaval Lounge - Mighty Brother & Friends Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Gris Gris Grin Dos Jefes- The Mark Coleman Band Dragon’s Den - Poor Boy Krill & The Bottom Dwellers Dragon’s Den (Upstairs) - Ranch Walker, Rancho T Motel Jazz Playhouse - The James Rivers Movement Luna Libra Live - Beth Paxton The Maison - Gene’s Music Machine Wednesday, January 8 30/90 - Colin Davis & Night People

3 Keys - Think Less, Hear More: The Last Dragon Buffa’s - World’s Most Open Mic Bourbon O - Shynola Jazz Band Cafe Negril - The Catahoulas Carnaval Lounge - Nic Leo, Sole Gaze, Beta Wave Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Chris Zonada Dos Jefes- Carl LeBlanc & Ellen Smith Dragon’s Den - DJ FTK Jazz Playhouse - Big Sam’s Crescent City Connection The Maison - Jason Neville Funky Soul Band Three Keys - Think Less Hear More Thursday, January 9 30/90 - Andy J Forest, Raw Deal 3 Keys - Helen Gillet with Doug Garrison Buffa’s - Tom McDermott and Aurora Nealand Black Duck Bar - The Rum Runners Cafe Negril - Sierra Green and the Soul Machine Carnaval Lounge - Rebel Roadside, Retrofit

Friday, January 3 30/90 - Luscious Dutchess 3 Keys - Slugger Bacchanal - The Tangiers Combo Black Duck Bar - The Rum Runners Buffa’s - Tiffany Pollack and John Fohl Bourbon O - Doyle Cooper Jazz Band Cafe Negril - Higher Heights Carnaval Lounge - DJ YRSTRLY Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Vance Orange Dos Jefes- The Panorama Jazz Band House of Blues - Inferno Burlesque One Eyed Jacks - Blind Texas Marlin Saenger- Tipper The Maison - Jason Neville Funky Soul Band The Spotted Cat - Doro Wat Tipitina’s - Morgan Heritage Treasure Chest Casino - At Fault Saturday, January 4 30/90 - Sam Price and the True Believers 3 Keys - Archive with Felice Gee Bacchanal - The Tangiers Combo Buffa’s - B Side Beatniks w/ Lary Scala Bourbon O - Marty Peters & the Party Meters Cafe Negril - Soul Project NOLA Carnaval Lounge - Champagne Girl, The Noise Complaints Crescent City Brewhouse Dos Jefes- The Betty Shirley Band Dragon’s Den - DJ FTK House of Blues - Departure - Tribute to Journey Jazz Playhouse - The Nayo Jones Experience Saenger - Tipper The Maison - City of Trees Brass Band The Spotted Cat - The Catahoulas Three Keys - Felice Gee Tipitina’s - Morgan Heritage Treasure Chest Casino - New Suit Sunday, January 5 30/90 - T’Canaille Bacchanal - Noah Young Buffa’s - Steve Pistorius Jazz Quartet Bourbon O - Dan Ruch Quartet Cafe Negril - Vegas Cola Carnaval Lounge - Gina Leslie Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Love Skunk, Coyah

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 29

30 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 31

Monday, January 13 30/90 - Margie Perez 3 Keys - Too Trill Trivia w/ Eric and Terri Buffa’s - Sam Price and Friends Carnaval Lounge - Comic Strip Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Danny Alexander’s Blues Jam Dos Jefes- John Fohl Dragon’s Den - DJ Ill Medina Kermit’s Treme Mother-in-Law Lounge - Kermit Ruffins The Maison - Sierra Green and the Soul Machine

Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Leo Keegan’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Jam Dos Jefes- The Anna Laura Quinn Band Dragon’s Den - DJ Jess Jazz Playhouse - Brass - a - Holics The Maison - Good For Nothin’ Band The Neutral Ground - Coydog, Kate Baxter, Aleah Hyer One Eyed Jacks - Aseethe + Communion Friday, January 10 30/90 - Big Easy Brawlers 3 Keys - The Living Room Experience Buffa’s - Charlie Wooton Project Bourbon O - Doyle Cooper Jazz Band Cafe Negril - Higher Heights Carnaval Lounge - Big Shot Burlesque Circle Bar - 99 Playboys Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Lyon Dos Jefes- Vivaz!

Dragon’s Den - DJ RQ Away Jazz Playhouse - Romy Kaye Saturn Bar - Alex McMurray and His Band Tipitina’s - Tribal Gold New Orleans Suspects Treasure Chest Casino - Flipside Treme Art and Music Lounge - Clarkgang Saturday, January 11 30/90 - MOFONGO! 3 Keys - Big Easy Brawlers Bacchanal - The Tangiers Combo Buffa’s - Jamie Burnstein and Dave Easley Bourbon O - Marty Peters & the Party Meters DMac’s - Sierra Green and the Soul Machine Cafe Negril - Another Day in Paradise Carnaval Lounge - Jesse Ethorin Crescent City Brewhouse Dos Jefes- Sunpie and the LA. Sunspots Dragon’s Den - DJ FTK House of Blues - The Sweet Spot Jazz Playhouse - The Nayo Jones Experience The Maison - Dj Dizzi

Tuesday, January 14 30/90 - Mem Shannon and the Membership Band Buffa’s - Josh Paxton Chilling with Chilli Bourbon O - Leroy Marshall Carnaval Lounge - Transiberian Nightmare Drag Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Ted Hefko Dos Jefes- Tom Hook & Wendell Brunious Dragon’s Den - Poor Boy Krill & The Bottom Dwellers Dragon’s Den (Upstairs) - The Hummingbirds Jazz playhouse - The James Rivers Movement Luna Libra Live - Stoo Odom The Maison - Gene’s Music Machine

Radiators This iconic new orleans band brings the rock that feels somehow quintessentially New Orleans. Known for songs such as Long Hard Journey Home, the band is intrinsically linked with the city and its musical history. The band perfectly blends the classic New Orleans musical style with mainstream Rock 'n' Roll.

January 16, 17, 18, 9:00 p.m., Tipitina's, tipitina's.com The Orpheum - LFO w/ Pablo Ferrandez Tipitina’s - Rebirth Brass Band Treasure Chest Casino - Aaron Foret Band Sunday, January 12 30/90 - Ted Hefko and the Thousandaires AllWays Lounge - Margi Cates and Harry Mayronne Buffa’s - Steve Pistorius Jazz Quartet Bacchanal - Noah Young Cafe Negril - Soul Project NOLA Carnaval Lounge - Gina Leslie Sundays

32 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Winslow Dos Jefes- Michael Liuzza and Co. Dragon’s Den - DJ Kidd Love House of Blues - Gospel Brunch Jazz Playhouse - Germaine Bazzle Jazz Quartet The Maison - Royal Street Winding Boys Tipitina’s - Super Fais Do Do with Bruce Daigrepont Treasure Chest Casino - Recuerdos: Latin-American Night

Wednesday, January 15 30/90 - Big Mike & the R&B Kings 3 Keys - Shape of Jazz to Come Buffa’s - World’s Most Open Mic Bourbon O - Shynola Jazz Band Carnaval Lounge - Misti Gaither’s Spotlight Project Circle Bar - Charles Ellsworth Chickie Wah Wah - Samantha Fish Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Spider Murphy Dos Jefes- The Gerald French Trio Dragon’s Den - DJ FTK Dragon’s Den (Upstairs) - DJ T-Roy Jazz Playhouse - Big Sam’s Crescent City Connection The Maison - Jason Neville Funky Soul Band New Orleans Jazz Museum - Wendell Brunious

Thursday, January 16 30/90 - Soul Project 3 Keys - Meschiya Lake and the Big Horns Buffa’s - Tom McDermott and Aurora Nealand Black Duck Bar - The Rum Runners Carnaval Lounge - Shawn Williams & Dana Abbott Chickie Wah Wah - Samantha Fish Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Leo Keegan’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Jam Dos Jefes- Rick Trolsen & the Po’ Boys Dragon’s Den - DJ Jess Jazz Playhouse - Brass - A - Holics Joy Theatre - Miranda Sings Tipitina’s - The Radiators Friday, January 17 30/90 - Smoke N Bones 3 Keys - AfroXotica w/ Andrea Peoples, DJ Ojay, Kodjo Bacchanal - The Tangiers Combo Bourbon O - Doyle Cooper Jazz Band Carnaval Lounge - The Junior League, Peter Searcy Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Retrofit Dos Jefes- Tom Fitzpatrick & Turning Point Dragon’s Den - DJ RQ Away House of Blues - LouMuzik Howlin Wolf - Samantha Fish Jazz Playhouse - Romy Kaye The Maison - Shotgun Jazz Band New Orleans Jazz Museum - Mikio Shoji Tipitina’s - The Radiators Treasure Chest Casino - Blue Eyed Soul Revue Saturday, January 18 30/90 - Big Easy Brawlers 3 Keys - Classes with the Brightest Burlesque Stars Buffa’s - Walter “Wolfman” Washington Bourbon O - Marty Peters & the Party Meters Carnaval Lounge - Miss Mojo, Eyope Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Lynn Drury Dos Jefes- The Joe Krown Trio Dragon’s Den - DJ RQ Away Howlin’ Wolf - Samantha Fish Jazz Playhouse - The Nayo Jones Experience Joy Theatre - Andrew Shulz The Maison - City of Trees Brass Band New Orleans Jazz Museum - Leroy Jones Tipitina’s - The Radiators Treasure Chest Casino - Joey Thomas Band Sunday, January 19 30/90 - Chris Klein and the Blvds 3 Keys - La Noche Caliente w/ Muevelo! and Mambo New Orleans Bacchanal- The Tangiers Combo Buffa’s - Steve Pistorius Jazz Quartet Carnaval Lounge - Gina Leslie Sundays Crescent City Brewhouse DMac’s - Sam Hotchkiss Band Dos Jefes- Kris Tokarsi Dragon’s Den - DJ Kidd Love House of Blues - Gospel Brunch Effervescence - Danielle Ryce Jazz Playhouse - Germaine Bazzle Jazz Quartet Santo’s Bar - Lucifer The Maison - Higher Heights Tipitina’s - Raw Oyster Cult Treasure Chest Casino - Recuerdos: Latin-American Night Monday, January 20 30/90 - The Dapper Dandies, NOLA Super Jam 3 Keys - Teaser Fest Buffa’s - Antoine Diel DMac’s - Danny Alexander’s Blues Jam Dragon’s Den - DJ Ill Medina Dos Jefes- John Fohl Carnaval Lounge - Comic Strip Crescent City Brewhouse - New Orleans Streetbeat Jazz Playhouse - Gerald French & the Original Tuxedo Jazz Band The Maison - Sierra Green and the Soul Machine Orpheum Theater - LFO

Tuesday, January 21 30/90 - Kennedy and the M.O.T.H 3 Keys - Hack Night and GDG New Orleans Meetup Buffa’s - Louisiana Red Hot Folk Alliance Celebration Bourbon O - Leroy Marshall Carnaval Lounge - Josh Paxton Crescent City Brewhouse - New Orleans Streetbeat DMac’s - Carson Station Dos Jefes- Tom Hook & Wendell Brunious Dragon’s Den - Poor Boy Krill & The Bottom Dwellers Dragon’s Den (Upstairs) - The Hummingbirds House of Blues - Dirty Honey Jazz Playhouse - The James Rivers Movement Luna Libra Live - Mark Bingham Saenger - Miss Saigon The Maison - Gene’s Music Machine Wednesday, January 22 30/90 - The Bywater Skanks 3 Keys - Psychedelic Society of New Orleans

Buffa’s - World’s Most Open Mic Bourbon O - Shynola Jazz Band Carnaval Lounge - Renshaw Davies, Rachel Toups Crescent City Brewhouse - New Orleans Streetbeat DMac’s - Spogga Hash Dos Jefes- Carl LeBlanc & Ellen Smith Dragon’s Den - DJ FTK Dragon’s Den (Upstairs) - DJ T-Roy House of Blues - Hawthorne Heights Jazz Playhouse - Big Sam’s Crescent City Connection Saenger - Miss Saigon The Maison - New Orleans Jazz Vipers Thursday, January 23 30/90 - Smoke N Bones Black Duck Bar - The Rum Runners 3 Keys - Big Chief Bo Dollis Jr. Buffa’s - Tom McDermott and Aurora Nealand Carnaval Lounge - New Orleans Klezmer All Stars Crescent City Brewhouse - New Orleans Streetbeat

DMac’s - Leo Keegan’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Jam Dos Jefes- The Loren Pickford Trio Dragon’s Den - DJ Jess House of Blues - Jonny Lang Jazz Playhouse - Brass-a-holics Le Bon Temps - The Soul Rebels Saenger - Miss Saigon The Maison - Tuba Skinny Treme Art and Music Lounge - Hot 8 Brass Band Friday, January 24 30/90 - Big Easy Brawlers 3 Keys - DJ Raj Smoove Bacchanal - The Tangiers Combo Bourbon O - Doyle Cooper Jazz Band Carnaval Lounge - Butte, Cool Moon, Slickback Jacques Circle Bar - Sibyl + Mister Earthbound Crescent City Brewhouse - New Orleans Streetbeat DMac’s - Chapel Hart Dos Jefes- The Afrodiziac’s Jazz

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WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 33

Dragon’s Den - DJ RQ Away House of Blues - Bustout Burlesque Jazz Playhouse - Romye Kaye The Maison - Shotgun Jazz Band One Eyed Jacks - DJ Soul Sister Saenger - Miss Saigon Tipitina’s - Billy Strings Treasure Chest Casino - Junior & Sumtin’ Sneaky Saturday, January 25 30/90 - Big Mike & the R&B Kings 3 Keys - Sierra Green, DJ Dreamer Bacchanal - The Tangiers Combo Bourbon O - Marty Peters & the Party Meters Carnaval Lounge - Fundraiser for Pearl Circle Bar - DJs Matty & Kristen Crescent City Brewhouse - New Orleans Streetbeat DMac’s - Sam Price and the True Believers Dos Jefes- Sunpie & the LA. Sunspots Dragon’s Den - DJ Jess House of Blues - Wale House of Blues Restaurant - Ron Hotstream Jazz Playhouse - Kermit Ruffins and the BBQ Swingers Joy Theatre - Jim Jefferies Saenger - Miss Saigon The Maison - DJ Dizzi Tipitina’s - Mandolin Orange Treasure Chest Casino - Summer Breeze Treme Art and Music Lounge - Carroll, Rappazzo and Cooper Sunday, January 26 30/90 - T’Canaille AllWays - Lilly Allure and Margi Cates Bacchanal - Noah Young Carnaval Lounge - AC Sapphire, Casey Jane, Julie Odell Circle Bar - Micah McKee & friends Crescent City Brewhouse - New Orleans Streetbeat DMac’s - Greg Afek Dos Jefes- Buddah Dragon’s Den - DJ Kidd Love Effervescence - Meryl Zimmerman

Jazz Playhouse - Germaine Bazzle Jazz Quartet Saenger - Miss Saigon The Maison - Higher Heights Treasure Chest Casino - Recuerdos: Latin - American Night Monday, January 27 30/90 - Margie Perez, NOLA Super Jam 3 Keys - Simple Play Networking Happy Hour Carnaval Lounge - Comic Strip Circle Bar - Chubby & The Gang Crescent City Brewhouse - New Orleans Streetbeat DMac’s - Danny Alexander’s Blues Jam Dos Jefes- John Fohl Dragon’s Den - DJ Ill Medina Jazz Playhouse - Gerald French One Eyed Jacks - Blind Texas Marlin Saenger - Miss Saigon The Maison - Chicken & Waffles Tuesday, January 28 30/90 - Ed Wills & Blues 4 Sale Bourbon O - Leroy Marshall Carnaval Lounge - Transiberian Nightmare Drag Crescent City Brewhouse - New Orleans Streetbeat DMac’s - The Tempted Dos Jefes- Tom Hook and Wendell Brunious Dragon’s Den - Poor Boy Krill & The Bottom Dwellers House of Blues - Raphael Saadiq Jazz Playhouse - The James Rivers Movement Luna Libra Live - Dayna Kurtz Saenger - Miss Saigon The Maison - Gene’s Music Machine The Starlight - The Dirty Rain Revelers Wednesday, January 29 30/90 - Big Mike & the R&B Kings Bourbon O - Shynola Jazz Band Carnaval Lounge - Anne Elise Hastings & Her Revolving Cast of Characters Crescent City Brewhouse - New Orleans Streetbeat DMac’s - John Fohl

34 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

HawthorneHeights Hawthorne Heights has earned its place as a fixture of the post-hardcore scene with emoanthemic hits like, “Ohio is For Lovers” and “This Is Who We Are”. In the wake of the announcement of their forthcoming album, Bad Frequencies, Hawthorne Heights is embarking on their 15-year anniversary tour. Wednesday, January 22, 7:00 p.m., House of Blues, houseofblues.com Dos Jefes- The Gerald French Trio Dragon’s Den - DJ FTK Dragon’s Den (Upstairs) - DJ T-Roy Jazz Playhouse - Big Sam’s Crescent City Connection Saenger - Miss Saigon The Maison - Jason Neville Funky Soul Band

Thursday, January 30 30/90 - Tony Lee Thomas, Soul Project 3 Keys - The Finest in Funk with AJ Hall Black Duck Bar - The Rum Runners Carnaval Lounge - The Swamp Blossoms Crescent City Brewhouse - New Orleans Streetbeat DMac’s - Leo Keegan’s Rock ‘n’ Roll Jam Dos Jefes- The Matt Lemmler Trio

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Lakeside2 2Riverside U P C O M I N G F E S T I VA L S & E V E N T S

All-State Sugar Bowl Parade Dec. 31 All-State Sugar Bowl NYE Parade Intersection of Elysian Fields Avenue and Decatur Street December 31 Ring in the New Year at this Mardi Gras-style parade featuring floats, music, and Sugar Bowl fans young and old. The parade starts at the intersection of Elysian Fields Avenue and Decatur Street, passing iconic landlords such as Cafe Du Monde, The French Market, The Old US Mint, and Jackson Square, wrapping up on Canal Street. WDSU will be set up outside of Jax Brewery to provide live coverage of the parade.

Wizard World New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center January 3, 4, 5 Join thousands of fans as they converge at Wizard World New Orleans to celebrate the best that pop culture has to offer.

Organized by Comic-Con, this convention will feature celebrity appearances by Sam Heughan from Outlander, Cary Elwes from The Princess Bride, and more guests TBA. Tickets range from general admission to VIP packages with exclusive perks.

Don’t miss out on this opportunity to nerd-out over exclusive panel discussions with actors and artists, meet-and-greets with celebrities, autographs, and cosplay.

9 to 5 Jan. 10 - Feb. 1 9 to 5 the Musical The Cutting Edge Theater, Slidell January 10 - February 1 Beginning January 10, 2020 Cutting Edge Theater will debut 9 to 5 the Musical, based on the book by Patricia Resnick and featuring the music of country-pop legend Dolly Parton. This show tells the story of friendship, romance, and revenge in the Rolodex era. When three female coworkers reach their breaking point with their egotistical, sexist boss, they concoct a plan to give him the boot while taking control of the company that had always kept them down. Don’t miss out on this feel-good celebration of girl power.

College Football January 11, 12, 13 This year, College Football Playoff has announced a starstudded musical lineup of multi-platinum artists to perform at AT&T Playoff Playlist Live! on January 11 to 12 and at the Allstate Championship Tailgate Plaza on January 13. Acts will include Tim McGraw, Meghan Trainor, H.E.R., Trombone Shorty & Orleans Avenue, Judah & the Lion, and more. Lauren Daigle will kick the game off with “The Star-Spangled Banner,” and the nation’s colors will be presented by the Nas JRB Joint Color Guard Team New Orleans. ESPN will be airing the game live on Monday, Jan 3, at 8 p.m. EST. Twelfth Night Kickoff of Mardi Gras January 6 Every year, Krewe de Jean D’Arc kicks off the Mardi Gras season with a celebration of Twelfth Night—and Joan of Arc’s birthday. Inspired by Joan of Arc’s time in 1400’s France, this medieval-themed parade celebrates the liberation of citizens of Orleans, France from Britain, coining her moniker “The Maid of Orleans.” There’s no better way to honor the unofficial patron saint of New Orleans than to take part in this unique foot parade.

Uptowners and those along the St. Charles Avenue streetcar route can celebrate the beginning of Carnival with the Phunny Phorty Phellows. The fun starts at 6:30 p.m. at the Willow Street Car Barn where members of the Krewe of Oak gather to toast the Phellows. At 7:00 p.m. the special streetcar filled with masked and costumed members and the Storyville Stompers will ride to Canal Street before returning to the Car Barn for an after-party.

Those along the Rampart–St. Claude Avenue streetcar route can catch the Société Des Champs Elysée. This group of 40 members boards at 7:30 pm at North Rampart Street and Elysian Avenue, continuing to Union Station before returning. Similar to the Phunny Phorty Phellows, these revelers will throw beads and toys.

36 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

Wizard World Jan. 3, 4, 5

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 37

How Soulful is New Orleans Soul Food?

By Kimmie TubrĂŠ

38 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

earty, well-seasoned, southern-fried, or country-style comfort food, regardless of what you call it, soul food has been a part of American culture for centuries. Soul food has been a connecting link, uniting black folks and families from all over the country. Most know what soul food entails and what dishes to include. But, in New Orleans, that soul food culture entangles itself with the traditional Creole foods that are a deep part of the city’s culture.

What’s traditional soul food?

The first thing to understand is that all black food is not soul food. Soul food stemmed from the Southeast region of the U.S.A., in an area known as the Cotton Belt—the agricultural region where cotton was the main cash crop. Initially, this area included Georgia, Alabama, and Mississippi.

Eventually, the region extended west and incorporated Tennessee, Arkansas, Louisiana, and parts of eastern Texas.

While some of the dishes are synonymous with traditional southern dishes, soul food and Southern food are not the same. Soul food is usually distinguished by its heavy seasoning and inclusion of pork. Pork chops, smothered or fried, are a typical protein in a soul food meal. Along with pork, there is fried chicken, baked chicken, smothered chicken, or fried fish, depending to the region. Of course, in the Big Easy, fried catfish is the most common. Then there are chitterlings. Known in the South as chitlins, this dish is literally the small intestines of a pig, served boiled or fried after a deep cleaning.

The meat can be accompanied by a variety of sides. Some of the more common sides are green beans (also known as string beans), candied yams, green peas, blackeyed peas, okra, and we cannot forget macaroni and cheese. Soul food mac and cheese is typically baked as a casserole and commonly referred to as “baked macaroni.”

One of the biggest staples, and often the healthiest dishes of soul food, are greens. Greens include cabbage, collard greens, mustard greens, turnips, and kale. Soul food greens can be vegan, but traditionally, greens are cooked with pork meats, such as ham hocks, pork necks, bacon, and sometimes even turkey necks.

Greens wouldn’t be greens without a side of cornbread, which can be served sweet or savory.

For dessert there are a variety of amazingly tasty treats, but the most wellknown are pound cake, banana pudding, peach cobbler, and sweet potato pie, which is the more soul-food version of pumpkin pie.

Soul food in New Orleans New Orleans wouldn’t be New Orleans if things were not done a little bit differently than the rest of the world. As with everything else, the soul food of this city is soul food with a twist. Think of your favorite local soul food restaurant, and you’re guaranteed to see some dishes that you will only find in a NOLA-based restaurant. Take Willie Mae’s Scotch House, for example. Known for having “America’s Best Fried Chicken,” Willie Mae’s offers many of the traditional

dishes that any soul food restaurant would offer across the South. While the dishes are mostly soul food, when you take a good look at the menu, you will find red beans and rice—a dish that is so common in New Orleans culture that it has its own special day of the week. Most everyone knows that you eat red beans and rice on Mondays.

Several of the other restaurants in the city will include smothered okra, crawfish or shrimp etouffee, and fried seafood. Most of the soul food restaurants in the Big Easy also include po-boys on the menu. While this is not soul food, it is an important fixture in the food culture of the city.

Soul food in New Orleans is certainly unique in many ways, and while we’ve added our personal touches to what we deem soul food, there are some things that we have excluded from our version of soulful meals.

One of those things are chitterlings. While some locals may indulge, many have no idea what they look like, let alone what they taste like.

When it comes to desserts, be sure to add bread pudding and pecan pie to the menu.

New Orleans’ cultural twist on soul food has much to do with the city’s unique culture, its relationship with seafood, and the connections between being black Southerners and French, Spanish, Creole, and Cajun cultures.

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$3 Happy HouR 7am - 9PM Every Day

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439 Rue Dauphine, French Quarter

The New soul food Whether traditional soul food or the New Orleans Creole-influenced version, soul food is beginning to evolve with the modern times. Many of today’s youth are recognizing that while soul food tastes amazing, there are many unhealthy attributes to the food that raised them. People have started to create healthy soul food options, like soulful vegetarian and vegan dishes, baked as opposed to fried meat, and using less salty or sugary versions of dishes typically accompanying soul food.

Without disrespecting traditions, it is wise to try to eliminate some of the conditions and diseases, such as diabetes and hypertension, that come along with decades of consuming this type of food.

Today, soul food, whether traditional or evolved, is still as popular as it was 100 years ago. Families continue to cook these dishes on Sundays and for holidays and family gatherings all around the world. While New Orleanians have their own version of soul food, both versions keep a continuous fan base that seems to be here to stay.

Whether you eat it the traditional way, the New Orleans way, or the healthy way, make sure you eat surrounded by loved ones and use it as a hearty tool that will always connect cultures and families with love.

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 39

RestaurantGuide African Bennachin Widely regarded for their flavorful, spicy dishes, Bennachin specializes in makube (a fried banana dish), nyeaturing (fish pie), and kone ni makondo (blackeyed pea stew). 1212 Royal St. | (504) 522-1230 | bennachinrestaurant.com

American Apolline Operating out of a renovated double-shotgun, Apolline serves wine and carefully crafted cocktails as well as a menu created by renowned Chef Michael Shelton. 4729 Magazine Street, (504) 894-888 | ApollineRestaurant.com Audubon Clubhouse Located within Audubon Park, the Audubon Clubhouse Café has a menu consisting of café fare, from salads and soups to sandwiches and po-boys, as well as an extensive wine list and specialty cocktails. 6500 Magazine Street, (504) 212-5282 | AudubonNatureInstitute.org/clubhouse-cafe Bayou Hot Wings All the wings are seasoned and brined for 24 hours to achieve the perfect combination of flavor and texture. With over 14 different flavors and levels of heat, guests can feast on mild and hot wings alike. 6221 S. Claiborne Ave., (504) 662-9933 | bayouhotwings.com The Country Club With a heated saltwater pool, hot tub, pool-side bar, sauna, and more, The Country Club is the ultimate place to kick back and relax, and the menu features the best of New Orleans cuisine. 634 Louisa Street, (504) 945-0742 | TheCountryClubNewOrleans.com Cowbell Centrally located on Oak Street, Cowbells boasts a wide variety of handmade meals from the freshest ingredients. We recommend the famous Cowbell burger with an added fried egg on top. 8801 Oak Street, (504) 866-4222 | Cowbell-Nola.com Crescent City Steak House’s Since 1934, Crescent City SteakHouse has been serving up New Orleans-style steaks (cooked in sizzling butter) from its off-the-beatenpath location on Broad Street. 1001 N Broad St., (504) 821-3271 | crescentcitysteaks.com Daisy Dukes Open early until late (and at some locations 24/7), this popular spot has all of your latenight breakfast cravings covered. Daisy Dukes strives

TheCountryClub to provide genuine Southern hospitality. Multiple Locations | DaisyDukesRestaurant.com Faubourg Bistro With multiple locations, Faubourg Bistro prides itself on its “fresh, unique, and fun” menu.

We recommend the Piggyback fries smothered in bacon and barbeque pulled pork. Multiple locations, (504) 267-0244 | FaubourgBistro.com Gattuso's Neighborhood Restaurant Gattuso’s is the Gretna Historical District’s favorite neighborhood bar and restaurant, with a menu that boasts a wide selection of traditional American-meets-Louisiana fare. 435 Huey P. Long Avenue, (504) 368-1114 | Gattusos.net Gordon Biersch Gordon Biersch opened over 25 years ago with the mission to combine German precision brewing with American craft beer, in a menu consisting of traditional pub-fare. 200 Poydras St., (504) 5222739 | gordonbiersch.com/locations/new-orleans/ Legacy Kitchen Steak + Chop Located in Gretna, Legacy Kitchen Steak and Chop is an extension to the Legacy family with a menu consisting of decadent steaks and salads as well as burgers, sandwiches, and house specials. 91 Westbank Expy., (504) 513-2606 | legacykitchen.com Liberty Cheesesteaks Known for its Philly fare, Liberty Cheesesteaks is bringing one of America’s most loved sandwiches to the Big Easy. To get an authentic experience, order “The Wiz,” a classic Philly-style

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40 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

cheesesteak with NY strip. 5041 Freret Street, (504) 875-4447 | LibertyCheesesteaks.com Melba’s Open 24/7, Melba’s is one of New Orleans’ best po-boy shops, specializing in New Orleans classics, including po-boys, fried chicken, and home-cooked plate dinners. 1525 Elysian Fields Avenue, (504) 388-4035 | Melbas.com Spudly's Super Spuds With a menu full of over 20 different potato-based meals, Spudley’s has been serving “a meal in a baked potato” for over 35 years.

Indulge in a fajita or super crawfish spud. 2609 Harvard Avenue, (504) 455-3250 | Spudlys.com The Steakhouse at Harrah's Located inside of Harrah’s, the Steakhouse offers a fine dining experience led by head Chef Chris Lusk, who pays homage to New Orleans cuisine through fresh ingredients and unexpected flavors. 8 Canal St., (504) 533-6111 | caesars.com/harrahs-new-orleans/restaurants/thesteakhouse Voodoo BBQ opened up on Mardi Gras day in 2002 and has since been serving up a new style of barbecue—New Orleans barbecue—complete with all of the Cajun spices that make New Orleans cuisine so unique. Multiple locations, (504) 522-4647 | voodoobbq.com Willie Mae's Scotch House Located in the historic Tremé neighborhood, Willie Mae’s opened in 1957 as a bar and then later changed locations and opened up as a restaurant, in response to demand for Ms. Willie Mae’s down-home Mississippi-meets-Louisiana cooking. 2401 St. Ann St., (504) 822-9503 | williemaesnola.com WOW Café Doubletree Established in 2001 by Paul Ballard, WOW Café is a unique fast-casual restaurant that aims to create a family-oriented dining experience.

In the heart of Downtown New Orleans, this restaurant is within walking distance to just about everything. 300 Canal St., (504) 212-3250 | wowamericaneats.com

Asian

Bao and Noodle Located in the Marigny, Bao and Noodle is critically acclaimed for its friendly prices and delicious steamed buns as well as a variety of vegan/ vegetarian friendly options, such as ma po tofu and mock-duck steamed bao. | 22266 St Claude Avenue, (504) 272-0004 | BaoandNoodle.com Five Happiness Five Happiness has been serving great food to the Carrollton neighborhood for over 30 years.

Chef recommendations include the house baked duck, shrimp with honey-roasted pecans, and asparagus with

chicken. 3605 S Carrollton Avenue, (504) 482-3935 | FiveHappiness.com Green Tea is a family-owned restaurant, known for developing the “GT Way,” which lets you customize your own dish by choosing a protein, veggie, side, sauce, and whether you’d prefer that combo. steamed or fried. 3001 Napoleon Avenue, (504) 899-8005 | GreenTeaNola.com Kyoto 2 is well-known for its warm and hospitable staff members, great prices, and large rolls. Customers can get the most of their money at this popular sushi restaurant. 5608 Citrus Boulevard, (504) 818-0228 | facebook.com/kyoto2 Mikimoto Striving to prioritize excellent and fast customer service, Mikimoto has been providing New Orleans with delicious sushi, udon, salads, and rice dishes for over 20 years. 3301 S Carrollton Avenue, (504) 488-1881 | MikimotoSushi.com Miyako's cuisine utilizes a combination of traditional and modern techniques, but specializes in hibachi and sushi, with a huge selection of chicken, steak, tuna, shrimp, scallops, and more. 1403 Saint Charles Avenue, (504) 410-9997 | JapaneseBistro.com Origami Located in the heart of Freret Street, Origami brings the authentic taste of Japan to the Big Easy with a combination of local ingredients and sustainably sourced seafood that expands guests’ palettes. 5130 Freret Street, (504) 899-6532 | SushiNola.com

Bars with Great Food Backspace Bar & Kitchen celebrates New Orleans literary icons, such as William Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Kate Chopin, and Alice Dunbar Nelson through a cocktail menu featuring a variety of adult beverages 139 Chartres Street, (504) 322-2245 | backspacenola.com Buffa’s Bar & Restaurant is a French Quarter bar with food as great as its live music. We recommend making it for the weekend jazz brunch to enjoy the iconic sounds of New Orleans jazz. 1001 Esplanade Avenue, (504) 949-0038 | buffasbar.com Carnaval Lounge is a new St. Claude hotspot featuring live music every night of the week, as well as traditional Brazillian street food from the Cozinha de Carnaval, starting every evening at 5 p.m. 1001 Esplanade Avenue, (504) 949-0038 | carnavallounge.com Copper Vine Winepub is an upscale winepub complete with recommendations from their very own sommelier. We recommend attending one of their

dinner and wine-pairing events. 1001 Poydras Street, (504) 208-9535 | coppervinewine.com Fulton Alley may be the city’s most luxurious gaming parlour, with a variety of pool tables, bowling lanes, and a prohibition vibe that evokes the coolness of the 1920s.

600 Fulton Street, (504) 208-5593 | fultonalley.com Le Bon Temps Roule has been a fixture of the New Orleans music scene since the 1970s having hosted many music icons—including Anders Osborne, Kermit Ruffins, and the Soul Rebels Brass Band. 4801 Magazine Street, (504) 895-8117 | Lbtrnola.com The Jimani This Chartres Street bar is a bustling spot for service industry workers, tourists, and natives alike, offering traditional bar fare—and then some.

141 Chartres Street, (504) 524-0493 | TheJimani.com The Library New Orleans Turn a few heads by inviting your friends to grab a drink at the Library, a Prytania Street gastropub bursting with literary puns and wit in addition to great food. 3629 Prytania Street, (504) 510-2527 | LibraryNewOrleans.com Mimi's in the Marigny Executive Chef Heathcliffe Hailey has a passion for combining farm-fresh ingredients with eclectic recipes and is best known for his “trust me” tapa. 2601 Royal Street, (504) 872-9868 | MimisMarigny.com Ole Saint features the cooking of former Saints running back Deuce McAllister and combines the essence of the city with his career in the Saints. 132 Royal Street, (504) 309-4797 | olesaint.com Orleans Grapevine, Originally constructed in 1808, Orleans Grapevine is a historic wine bar with over 65 wines available by the glass and 375 available by the bottle. 720 Orleans Ave., 523-1930 | orleansgrapevine.com Rivershack Tavern enjoyed a vibrant history as a former grocery store, bar, liquor store, and pharmacy before gaining recognition for being a great tavern with live music and traditional Louisiana fare. 3449 River Road, (504) 834-4938 | therivershacktavern.com Shamrock Bar and Grill At 16,000 square feet, the Shamrock Bar and Grill is the biggest neighborhood bar in New Orleans, featuring 23 pool tables, four pingpong tables, seven dart boards, and more. 4133 S. Carrollton Avenue, (504) 301-0938 | shamrockparty. com Tracey's Irish Bar and Restaurant Established in 1949, Tracey’s has many big screen TVs and Happy Hour specials—perfect for watching the next big game.

Tracey’s also hosts a variety of events. 2604 Magazine Street, (504) 897-5413 | TraceysNola.com

Café Café 615 Home of Da Wabbit Located in historic Gretna, and easily distinguished by its massive Bugs Bunny-inspired sign, Cafe 615 is famous for its huge portions of classic entrees. 615 Kepler Street, (504) 365-1225 | cafe615.com Café Amelie Residing on the historic land that once belonged to Princess Alice of Monaco, Cafe Amelie has been regarded as one of the most authentic French Quarter cafes. 912 Royal Street, (504) 412-8965 | cafeamelie.com Cafe Beignet With four locations in the French Quarter alone, Cafe Beignet has become a fixture of New Orleans with its hot, crispy, sugar-smothered beignets.

Pair yours with a cafe au lait. Multiple locations | CafeBeignet.com Café Navarre This quaint little Mid-City café, specializing in paninis, po-boys, and brunch fare, is the perfect lunch spot to hit after an afternoon in City Park.

800 Navarre Avenue, (504) 483-8828 | CafeNavarre.com Caffe! Caffe! In 1992, Gerard and Lisa Beck created Caffe! Caffe! to serve the classic family recipes that they grew up eating. Multiple locations | CaffeCaffe.com Carmo is a tropical cafe and bar with a focus on serving locally and sustainably sourced meals inspired by African, Carribean, Asian, and South American cuisine.

Try the Macaquito Banquet Bread. 527 Julia Street, (504) 875-4132 | CafeCarmo.com Compère Lapin Chef Nina Compton, owner of Compere Lapin, combines authentic Carribean cuisine with her French culinary training to create a menu unlike any other in New Orleans. 535 Tchoupitoulas Street, (504) 599-2119 | comperelapin.com Cru by Chef Marlon Alexander was created by Chef Marlon Alexander, known for his delectable braised short rib that has been enjoyed by his private chef clientele as well as a former POTUS. 535 Franklin Avenue, (504) 266-2856 | crunola.com Haydel’s Bake Shop is a family-owned bakery that has been open for over three generations. Haydel’s is best known for their seven types of king cake—ranging from German chocolate to praline pecan. 3117 Magazine Street, (504) 267-3165 | facebook.com/ haydelsbakeshop

Jimmy J’s Café is “N'awlins funkiest lil’ café,” complete with stained glass windows, colorful decor, and dishes made from scratch with fresh, locally-sourced ingredients. 115 Chartres Street, (504) 309-9360 | jimmyjscafe.com Petite Amelie The younger sister to Café Amelie, Petite Amelie specializes in “cuisine rapide” with a rotating menu of fine cheeses, salads, and sandwiches that can be best enjoyed picnic-style. 900 Royal Street, (504) 412-8065 | petiteamelienola.wordpress.com Riccobono’s Panola Street Café Tourists, locals, and university students flock to this university-centric hot spot, one of the best places in New Orleans to indulge to get a hearty, lumberjack-style breakfast. 7801 Panola Street, (504) 314-1810 | PanolaStreetCafe.com Sala is a West End restaurant that focuses on great cocktails and shareable small plates, from duck empanadas to a cured salmon charcuterie-style board—perfect for a small gathering or a date night. 124 Lake Marina Avenue, (504) 513-2670 | salanola.com Surrey’s Cafe & Juice Bar Surrey’s is an Uptown brunch venue that focuses on delivering decadent New Orleans flavors to tourists and locals alike. The shrimp and grits are a must-try. Multiple locations | surreysnola.com The Vintage This French brasserie-style cafe serves everything from champagne to cappuccinos as well as bistro fare, from salads to charcuterie. 3121 Magazine Street, (504) 324-7144 | thevintagenola.com

Dab’s Bistro Dab’s Bistro is Metairie’s newest Italian restaurant, featuring “New World Italian” cuisine distinguished by familiar Louisiana flavors. If you’re extra hungry, try the delicious cheesecake for dessert. 3401 N. Hullen Street | dabsbistro.com/ Josephine Estelle celebrates the recipes that were passed down from their grandmothers while combining the unlikely pairing of Italian and Southern American flavors. 600 Carondelet Street, (504) 930-3070 | josephineestelle.com Mellow Mushroom on Oak Street Located on Oak Street in the heart of Leonidas, Mellow Mushroom is a funky-casual pizza parlour with a focus on handcrafted pizzas, pastas, and salads. 8227 Oak Street, (504) 3458229 | mellowmushroom.com Mosca’s Restaurant was established out of the family legacy of Provino Mosca, who fell in love with New Orleans’ culture and fresh seafood. Mosca’s celebrates family and serves all dishes in shareable portions on family-style plates. 4137 U.S. Highway 90, Westwego, (504) 436-8950 | moscasrestaurant.com PIZZA domenica Conveniently located on the alwaysbustling Magazine Street Uptown and on Banks Street in Mid-City, PIZZA domenica serves up gourmet pizza from its oven, shipped straight from Italy. Multiple locations | PizzaDomenica.com Reginelli’s Pizza revolves around creating a casual

French Café Degas Offering traditional French cuisine with a touch of Creole, Café Degas’ menu features delectable entrees called mises en bouche, or “mouthfuls,” guaranteed to satisfy. 3127 Esplanade Avenue, (504) 945-5635 | CafeDegas.com Vyoone’s Born into a family of Afro-Creole French ancestry, Vyoone Segue Lewis opened Vyoone’s with the mission of bringing unique French classics to the Warehouse District. 412 Girod Street, (504) 518-6007 | Vyoone.com

Italian Andreas Italian Restaurant menu focuses on a variety of Italian delicacies, from antipasti to gourmet pasta. Andreas is also the perfect venue for your next party. 3100 19th Street, (504) 834-6698 | Andreasrestaurant.com

Cafe615

COTERIE BREAKFAST • LUNCH • DINNER • Happy hour

135 Decatur St. ~ New Orleans 504-529-8600 ~ CoterieNOLA.com

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 41

experience for guests to enjoy great food from their neighborhood pizza place. Multiple locations | Reginellis.com Red Gravy A self-taught chef, Roseann Melisi Rostoker partnered with her husband, Lou, to create her own unique spins on the Italian recipes passed down by her mother and grandmother. Multiple locations | RedGravyCafe.com Tavolino Tavolino is a restaurant and lounge with a focus on exceeding its guests’ expectations by providing a warm, fine-dining experience and a menu that focuses on Nouvelle-meets-homestyle cooking. 141 Delaronde Street, (504) 605-3365 | facebook.com/ TavolinoLounge Venezia With an intimate and quaint ambience, Venezia is an ideal spot for a romantic date. The homemade red sauce and Italian meatballs are a must-try. 134 N. Carrollton Avenue, (504) 488-7991 | VeneziaNewOrleans.net

Mexican Carreta's Grill Carreta’s Grill has been making customers feel like part of the family since 1999, with a focus on authentic Mexican cuisine and a menu full of traditional dishes, from fajitas to tacos. Multiple locations | CarretasGrillRestaurant.com Chilango’s Bar & Grill Chilango’s made its start as the

Taqueria Chilango Taco Truck, which served Mexican street food to thousands of construction workers and volunteers after Hurricane Katrina. Now, they specialize in authentic Mexican dishes. 1506 S. Carrollton Avenue, (504) 766-9949 | Chilangosnola.com Luna Libre is home to some really great Mexican food for those looking for a little bit of flavor in their life. The atmosphere and music are also considered to be great.

3600 St Claude Ave | 504-237-1284 | facebook.com/ Luna-Libre-New-Orleans-103925964393797/ NOLA Cantina is part lounge and part taco bar. Relax with one of their specialty cocktails and one of their inventive Mexican dishes, set to the tune of live New Orleans jazz or bumpy electronic music, depending on when you visit. 437 Esplanade Ave., 266-2848 | NolaCantina.com

Middle Eastern Lebanon’s Café has earned its place as a top Middle Eastern restaurant in New Orleans, thanks to its laidback atmosphere and proximity to the universities.

1500 S. Carrollton Avenue, (504) 862-6200 | lebanonscafe.com Pyramid’s Café is known for serving healthy, delicious, and, most importantly, authentic Mediterranean cuisine in the Broadmoor neighborhood. 3149 Calhoun Street, (504) 861-9602 | PyramidsCafeNewOrleans. com

New Orleans Cuisine

Carreta'sGrill

Antoine’s Restaurant Inspired to create a fine-dining experience with French influence, Antoine found New Orleans to be the perfect city to showcase his culinary expertise. This historic restaurant is the birthplace of oysters Rockefeller and eggs Sardou. 713 St. Louis Street, (504) 581-4422 | antoines.com Chef Ron’s Gumbo Stop Chef Ron’s boasts a huge assortment of different gumbos—including chicken and sausage, fried shrimp, and poached egg—but if you’re not a fan of gumbo, Chef Ron’s has a variety of other Louisiana classics. 2309 N Causeway Blvd, (504) 8352022 | Gumbostop.com The Columns Hotel famous for its Victorian interior and St. Charles-facing patio, has been a fixture of the Garden District since its establishment in 1883. The Sunday jazz brunch is a favorite among locals looking to enjoy fantastic entertainment. 3811 St. Charles Avenue, (504) 899-9308 | TheColumns.com Coterie NOLA Restaurant & Oyster Bar is a French

42 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

Quarter restaurant and oyster bar that was opened by New Orleans locals, so you know the food is going to be delicious. 135 Decatur Street, (504) 529-8600 | CoterieNola.com Court of Two Sisters Their jazz brunch is one of the best times to enjoy crawfish etouffee and jambalaya while listening to some of New Orleans finest jazz players. 613 Royal Street. (504) 522-7261 | Courtoftwosisters.com Crescent City Brewhouse, With a variety of unique beers brewed on site, from IPA’s to Pilsners, Crescent City Brewhouse incorporates both modern and oldworld brewing techniques. 527 Decatur Street, (504) 522-0571 | crescentcitybrewhouse.com House of Blues Restaurant and Bar Don’t worry about rushing the pre-show dinner or pre-game drinks in order to catch the opener—enjoy the menu consisting of traditional American and Cajun fare. 225 Decatur Street, (504) 703-4480 | houseofblues.com/ neworleans/menu Legacy Kitchen’s Craft Tavern offers a refreshing take on New Orleans classics. Daily brunch lasts until 4 p.m., when diners can chose to indulge in a beignet and café au lait. All dishes pair excellently with their signature cocktails. 700 Tchoupitoulas St., 613-2350 | LegacyKitchen.com Mandina's The menu at this historic restaurant has changed very little in over 75 years and still features the classic Italian and seafood dishes that made it so popular. 3800 Canal Street, (504) 482-9179 | mandinasrestaurant.com Neyow's Creole Cafe The menu comes straight from the recipes passed down by the founders’ grandmothers and celebrates their Creole heritage through rich flavors and spices. 3332 Bienville Street, (504) 827-5474 | facebook.com/neyows-creolecafe-127614750599979 New Orleans Creole Cookery is the perfect spot for a romantic date on the town. Enjoy one of many boozy beverages such as the category 5 hurricane. With extensive dining options, you can sit at the bar or dining room, or enjoy the outdoor patio. 508 Toulouse Street, (504) 524-9632 | neworleanscreolecookery.com Parran's Po-Boys and Restaurant has remained a local favorite for the classic po-boy sandwich. All po-boys are served on John Gendusa Bakery’s famous poor boy French bread and consist of all the po-boy fixings you could ask for. Multiple locations | parranspoboys.

Public Service This Warehouse District bar and

restaurant honors the Gulf Coast’s fishermen and farmers with a menu that highlights fresh, locally sourced seafood and ingredients. 311 Baronne Street, (504) 962-6527 | publicservicenola.com Short Stop PoBoys has been serving Metairie since 1966, and with over 50 types of po-boys available, customers have no shortage of selection.

119 Transcontinental Drive, (504) 885-4572 | shortstoppoboysno.com

Seafood Briquette is a contemporary-casual seafood restaurant named after the way the fresh fish is cooked over redhot briquettes. Briquette takes pride in its fresh coastal dishes, such as snapper Pontchartrain and Louisiana redfish on the half shell. 701 S. Peters Street, (504) 302-7496 | briquette-nola.com Felix’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar popularized the concept of an oyster bar where customers could bellyup to the bar and watch shuckers prepare oysters right in front of them. Multiple locations | felixs.com Landry’s Seafood has withheld its reputation for delivering an unmatched dining experience, featuring a variety of seafood specials, pastas, and steaks that changes daily and is artfully crafted by the chefs.

Multiple Locations | landrysseafood.com Middendorf’s originally opened in 1934 as a cafe specializing in the legendary house special—thin fried catfish. They now also specialize in a variety of other dishes, from alligator to crawfish. Multiple Locations | Middendorfsrestaurant.com Seaworthy is known for their wild-caught and sustainably harvested oysters from the Gulf Coast, East Coast, and West Coast. Stay for the late night food menu, available 11 p.m. to 1 a.m., which is perfect for those late-night munchies. 630 Carondelet Street, (504) 930-3071 | seaworthynola.com TackleBox is an oyster bar that specializes in Southern fare, such as fried chicken dishes and po-boys. Regulars at Tacklebox rave about the charbroiled oysters with garlic parmesan herb butter. 817 Common Street, (504) 388-4035 | legacykitchen.com Tito's Ceviche and Pisco is a Peruvian restaurant that takes enormous pride in using the freshest and highest quality ingredients in all of their recipes. With a handful of different dishes, guests are sure to find something to satisfy their cravings. 5015 Magazine Street, (504) 267-7612 | TitosCevichePisco.com

Food News

By Kim Ranjbar

One cat, two cats … Bearcat Cafe, the super-hot brunch and lunch spot just off Freret Street, recently announced on Instagram that a second location in the CBD was imminent. The new location on Carondelet Street offers the same delicious breakfast and lunch menu as the Jena Street location, but with the bonus of dinner and a full-service bar upstairs, dubbed Rotary Ten, managed by the talented mix master Ryan Gannon. Who's a good cat? 845 Carondelet Street, (504) 309-9011, bearcatcafe.com Shakin' thing up … New Orleans denizens no longer need to trek all the way to Metairie to get their burger fix now that Shake Shack has opened their first location on the edge of the French Quarter in Canal Place. In addition to their usual menu of burgers, dogs, shakes, and fries, the downtown locale also offers the Louisiana exclusive “Missi-chip-pi Fudge Concrete” and chocolate chip cookies from nearby baker and restaurant Willa Jean. 333 Canal Street, (504) 677-8001, shakeshack.com Out of this world … Another taco joint, Galaxie Tacos opened in the GNO recently.

Located in what formerly was a Texaco gas station designed by architect Walter Teague, the new taqueria emanates vibes from Mexico City and Oaxaca and, according to Eater New Orleans, makes its own masa for tortillas. Patrick Finney, who launched the restaurant and also is part-owner of the Franklin, has tapped Ken Jackson to manage the new digs, with Hank Shackelford as chef.

Dive into fish tacos or el pastor, with the pork coming from Home Place Pastures,

and other great dishes with green chiles from New Mexico and black beans and corn coming all the way from Oaxaca. Eventually, the new space will feature outdoor seating, expanding their dining space and giving folks the opportunity to sip their mezcal under the stars. 3060 St. Claude Avenue, (917) 455-9196, facebook.com/galaxie. tacos They heard us! … After many pleas by local foodies for more restaurants serving Indian food, our prayers were answered. Turmeric Indian Cuisine recently opened up on the Westbank Expressway in Gretna, taking over the space that formerly housed Red Palace Chinese. From samosas, raita, and naan to tandoori, korma, and masala, this new spot for Indian cuisine just might be the stuff dreams are made of. Turmeric is open for lunch and dinner, Wednesday through Monday. 1025 Westbank Expressway, (504) 354-1422, tumericnola.com Free the moon? … According to Gambit, a Ark-La-Tex-inspired restaurant recently opened in the Bywater on St. Claude Avenue. Located in a space formerly occupied by Shake Sugary, Luna Libre is a creation of Rhonda Findley that endeavors to bring the flavors of her hometown (Rose City, Arkansas) to New Orleans. The menu offers dishes such as carnitas, crunchy tacos, cheese dip, and migas, as well as breakfast tacos on weekend mornings. In addition to food and cocktails, Luna Libre also has live local music on Taco Tuesdays.

3600 St. Claude Avenue, (504) 237-1284, facebook.com/Luna-Libre-New-Orleans

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Rappin' about ramen … Early last month, New Orleans-born rapper Master P launched his own line of instant ramen, sold by the Atlanta-based brand Rap Snacks. Unique flavors include creamy chicken and gumbo, prime rib, and Louisiana hot and spicy chicken. “If you ain't eating Rap Noodles then you shouldn't be eating noodles 'cause this is the best of the best noodles.” rapnoodles.com

Henri and Booty’s Street Food, have been unsuccessful at this location, it seems to be cursed. Revelator Coffee Co was forced to close its coffee shop located at the American Can building in Mid-City. Thankfully, the location on Tchoupitoulas remains open.

Eat your tacos! … Because there can never be too many taco joints, El Cucuy New Orleans has launched on Tchoupitoulas Street, mere blocks from the recently opened Barracuda. With a heavy metal theme, the new restaurant is specializing in a spinning rotisserie (trompo) with al pastor tacos and hand-made tortillas. Named after the Spanish version of the bogeyman that steals and eats children who misbehave, the new stand offers both inside and outdoor seating and lots of agave-based cocktails. 3507 Tchoupitoulas Street, facebook.com/elcucuynola So sad to see you go ...

As always, the endless cycle of openings and closings have taken yet more victims. Most recently is the closure of two cafes by Revelator Coffee Co. The Bywater restaurant Paloma Café, on the corner of Louisa and Dauphine, has shuttered. Considering so many previous restaurants, such as Café

Rap Noodles

44 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

20 and Under

$

Low-Priced Lunch by the Boxful

By Kim Ranjbar

T

hough you'd like to believe that the plate lunch, sometimes called a “meat and three,” is a down-home, Southern, or Midwestern invention, its origin is actually Hawaiian. Even more fascinating is the fact that the Hawaiian plate lunch grew from the island-state's Pan-Asian influence, most particularly the centuries-old Japanese “bento.”

Defined as "convenient" or "convenience," bento is a type of lunch box, designed for one person and stuffed with steamed rice or noodles, meat or fish, and pickled or cooked vegetables. The box itself can range from beautifully hand-painted and crafted lacquerware to disposable plastic or paper containers, and the food is typically chosen and arranged to be not only nutritious and balanced, but also aesthetically pleasing.

These days, Japanese mothers will often

shape the food inside their children's bento boxes to mimic anime characters in the hopes that by being cute, their children will find the food more palatable.

Although bento boxes (like lunch boxes) are more commonly prepared at home, in the United States they have become exceedingly affordable lunches offered by pretty much any Japanese restaurant one might happen upon. There are even restaurants and caterers across the country that focus solely on selling bento boxes. In restaurants around the Greater New Orleans Area, the bento boxes offered may not be styled like adorable cartoon characters, but the great ones are not only economical, they are pleasing to both the palate and eye.

A building on Magazine Street had gone through several unsuccessful trials until Haiku Sushi moved in approximately five years ago. A sister to Royal Sushi in the French Quarter, Haiku is a casual spot

Haiku with both indoor and outdoor seating, offering a menu consisting mainly of sushi, ramen, and hibachi. Some of their special rolls are especially enticing, such as the Geisha Kiss—tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and avocado wrapped in thinly sliced cucumber—but if you're hungry and watching your finances, you'd do better to order their bento box lunch. You can choose a main protein like shrimp and vegetable tempura or chicken katsu (similar to paneed chicken, but with panko), and it's served with miso soup or salad, steamed rice, a crispy fried spring

roll, and half of a California roll. At no more than $10.95, this is a lunch deal designed to please.

Way out in the wilds of Harahan, on Citrus Boulevard, is what many consider one of the best, yet most underappreciated Japanese restaurants in the GNO. Kyoto II, hidden among the big box stores and warehouses in the area, is a terrific spot to lunch and is frequented by some of New Orleans' most respected foodies. The chefs are always busting out delicious, creative rolls, and the menu features everything from udon to donburi.

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WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 45

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Kyoto II also offers several lunch specials or bento boxes, such as grilled salmon or chicken teriyaki served with a choice of a California roll, tempura, or gyoza—plus miso soup and salad—for a grand total of $11.50.

Even in Downtown New Orleans, you can score a bento at a great price. Just try Tsunami, a restaurant that started in Lafayette and now has two more locations—one in Baton Rouge and the other here in New Orleans. Launched locally in 2017, Tsunami is a hip, funky, and fancy spot to score Japanese cuisine with a Southern twist. It's also one of the only spots offering pork tonkatsu, an odd, local rarity that continues to boggle. After all, who loves pork products more than the people of Louisiana? The bento offered at Tsunami are all $14 (only offered Monday through Friday at lunch), and diners can choose from mains including blackened salmon, tempura shrimp, and pork gyoza and add select sushi rolls, like California or

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spicy tuna, for a meal fit for a king. Their bento boxes also come with sunomono (cucumber) salad, steamed jasmine rice, and a bowl of miso soup.

Finally, located in Gert Town, Mikimoto has been serving sushi to the denizens of New Orleans for over two decades. The tiny box-like restaurant on the corner of S. Carrollton Avenue and Forshey Street offers plenty of the usual suspects—from sushi and tempura to udon and teriyaki— though there are also several dishes not often found elsewhere, including their wasabi mussels and the “Who Dat Popper,” a deep fried jalapeno stuffed with snow crab, spicy salmon, and cream cheese. For lunch, they have a wide variety of bento, few of which cost more than ten bucks, all served with miso or salad and pan fried or steamed rice and a choice of protein, such as tuna steak with teriyaki, chicken katsu, tofu with vegetables, and shrimp tempura.

Being Resolute with Ingrid Rinck: Sensible Meals’ Founder’s Best Tips For the New Year

By Rebecca Fox

T

o say that Ingrid Rinck is busy would be the understatement of the year.

She’s mom to several kids­—including one with Type 1 Diabetes—the partner to a comedian and National TV correspondent, an accomplished fitness trainer, dance class instructor, and owner of one of the more popular meal preparation companies in Louisiana. Plus, in her spare time, she also manages to head up the Leading Ladies League while fundraising for a variety of philanthropic organizations—but who’s counting?

She’s the perfect person to lead us into the New Year, not only because of her diet and exercise knowledge, but also because of the way that she tackles life. Here are her top 5 tips for being resolute this New Year: Set Goals, But Don’t Forget About Them Ingrid says that while most people are familiar with short-term versus long-term goals, they often don’t set anything in between. In her experience, people will either set a short-term goal—such as a 10-pound weight loss by February—achieve it, and then move on with their lives, putting it all back on.

Or they’ll set a long-term goal (70 pounds by December) and be sidetracked by June.

She advises that to make something actually stick, you should sit down and plan out all of the increments, acknowledging that you might plateau by certain months or get better at exercise or clean eating in later months. Then write specific goals for each week and month within your calendar. “Even if you forget and mess up, which we all do,” she says, “as soon as you turn that calendar page, you’ll have a reminder there all over again.”

Vision Boards Actually Do Make Dreams Come True Vision boards, although sometimes thought of as cliché, can also really work, insists Rinck, but only if you update them every week or two. She emphasizes that it’s not what’s on the board but the actual process of looking up an item, printing it out, cutting it out, and pasting it on that gets your brain subconsciously moving towards the item. It’s the same way handwritten notes work better for many in remembering things than simply storing them on a computer.

“They’re also really good for making us feel accomplished,” Rinck espoused, “because a lot of times, especially as women, we aren’t thanked by our children or our partners.

If you go through your vision board often, you are reminded of things you did and actually achieved. It’s a wonderful feeling and endorphin rush.” She points out that she went through an old vision board recently to find a beautiful green dress she had cut out only to realize she wore a similar dress to a benefit recently for Son of a Saint Foundation, where she was able to present them with a check for $10,000. That dream culmination only makes her want to pin more visions and continue to drive ahead.

It’s Not Necessarily About What You Eat, But About Portion Size Drive ahead she does, as Ingrid’s company, Sensible Meals, is a premiere meal prep

company in Louisiana, and considering that at least half of her customers are from the metro New Orleans area, it’s clear that she’s made an impact in our region.

Although Rinck had been familiar with calorie counting for over 20 years as a personal trainer, she truly realized what we were all doing to ourselves with portion sizes when she started preparing meals for her son, who has Type 1 Diabetes. Eventually, she realized that when you measure everything exactly, you can have a lot more variety and flavor in what you consume. Everything is okay in moderation, and that means that we can all have the jambalaya, étouffée, and chicken and waffles that we love so much, as long as we have one serving—not seven.

For more information about Ingrid’s Sensible Meals (weekly plans start at $85 for women and $105 for men, with multiple shipping and pickup options), visit eatsensiblemeals.com.

Find a Fitness Plan That You Enjoy and Make a Commitment To It When it comes to fitness, Rinck says that just like her aforementioned points, it’s all about putting something into a schedule and sticking to it, but, for maximum results, it is most helpful when you combine correct portion sizes with a fitness plan. She also states that the key to maintaining a fitness plan is to find something you’re passionate about and make a commitment to it. If you used to be a dancer, find a dance class you love (Rinck teaches dance classes on the Northshore) or join a Mardi Gras dancing krewe. If you played baseball in high school, maybe join a co-ed softball or kickball team or one of New Orleans’ countless other adult sports leagues.

Ingrid also points out that there are a ton of free YouTube training videos and free apps out there now, so there really isn’t an excuse that anyone can make about not having enough time or money when you can do something for free in your home.

Love What You Do The bottom line to all of this? Love what you do. While Rinck admits that she’s “painfully shy,” and although she doesn’t necessarily always flourish in small-talk social settings or one-on-one interactions, she speaks in front of tens of thousands of people at events all over the country promoting women in business, motherhood and business, and goal-setting and achievement. The key to her success is that she’s found something she adores, and that’s helping people, loving people, and ensuring that they flourish—and there’s no stopping her from accomplishing that resolution.

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 47

Bars (and Saloons) of Stature Worth a Look-See

By Steven Melendez

I

t takes more than just great food or cheap drinks to make a restaurant or bar—atmosphere matters. New Orleans has plenty of bars with a unique ambiance that keeps people coming back for more than just a drink-to-go, whether they’re neighborhood dives or fancy cocktail joints good for a splurge. Here are a few of them:

Vessel 3835 Iberville Street | 504- 603-2775 vesselnola.com Situated in a historic repurposed church, this Mid-City cocktail bar and restaurant is a gorgeous and airy oasis of natural light and exquisite early 20th century architecture.

Food options for dinner and weekend brunch are excellent, but, for a real treat, consider coming in at Happy Hour to enjoy a classic cocktail and watch the sun set through the massive westward-facing windows behind the bar.

Toulouse Dive 738 Toulouse Street | 504-522-2260 facebook.com/ToulouseDive Get in touch with your 1990s Goth side in this French Quarter bar which, while just steps from Bourbon Street, still feels like a local neighborhood hangout. A campy skull motif and artfully dim lighting help contribute to a sense of this late-night haunt being its own little world, albeit one well-stocked with reasonably priced drinks and bar amenities like a pool table and a unique digital heavy metal jukebox built into a faux coffin. Look for the quasi-secret passage in the back “bookcases” if you need the restroom.

Arnaud’s French 75 75813 Bienville Street | 504- 523-5433 arnaudsrestaurant.com/bars/french-75 Relax in a comfortable chair or just take a seat at the bar in the cocktail lounge of Arnaud’s famed Creole restaurant in the French Quarter. The bar’s snacks are unique takes on New Orleans cuisine, and the cocktails routinely win national praise, but the most interesting sights are upstairs.

A Mardi Gras museum displays dozens of extraordinarily elaborate costumes worn by restaurant founder Arnaud Cazenave, daughter and frequent Carnival ball queen Germaine Cazenave Wells, and others in the family. The museum is free and open when the restaurant and bar are.

48 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

Bar Redux 801 Poland Avenue |️ 504- 592-7083 facebook.com/BarRedux Look for the illuminated bar sign and the colorful cat mural to spot this Bywater hangout. Inside, decor blends a mix of colorful kitsch, Elvis Presley memorabilia, and a rotating display by local artists. The bar food is excellent, bartenders are friendly to the eclectic mix of tourists and Ninth Ward eccentrics who visit the establishment, and drinks are strong and cheap. A back patio with a tropical feel hosts music and other performances as well as film screenings.

Carousel Bar 214 Royal Street |️ 504- 523-3341 hotelmonteleone.com/entertainment/ carousel-bar This iconic rotating bar in the French Quarter’s Hotel Monteleone has won over visitors and locals out for a night on the town for decades. Stop by on a weekday night to beat the crowds, check out the detail on the carousel elements, and make sure to check the online entertainment schedule to catch a live jazz band in action. And don’t worry— even if you have a few cocktails, the rotating bar’s leisurely pace won’t make you dizzy.

Snake and Jake’s Christmas Club Lounge7612 Oak Street |️ 504- 861-2802 snakeandjakes.com Head Uptown near Tulane and Loyola universities to visit this true old school dive bar that’s illuminated almost entirely by Christmas lights. Attracting a vibrant mix of students, neighborhood dwellers, and out-of-town visitors, the no-frills service and selection of dirt-cheap beer don’t detract from the perennial festive atmosphere. Don’t bother to come before 7 p.m.—that’s when Snake and Jake’s opens—and keep in mind that the bar often doesn’t really get busy until well after midnight.

Portside Lounge 3000 Dryades Street |️ 504- 503-0990 portsidenola.com Yes, it’s a tiki-inspired bar with heavy metal shows, but it still manages to be a tastefully decorated addition to its Central City surroundings. Don’t shy away from the neoncolored cocktails that can look especially vivid under the bar lights—they’re pleasantly strong without being overly sweet. Local art, usually well-suited to the space, adorns the walls. Food pop-ups are often available, if you get hungry.

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 49

FilmReviews Reviews Star Wars – Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker

By David Vicari

Jumanj: The Next Level

By Fritz Esker

Black Christmas

By Graham Andreae

50 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

Catch all of Where Y'at's film reviews

by Movie Editor David Vicari and Critic Fritz Esker at WhereYat.com.

I must admit that I was far too lenient in my reviews of the two previous episodes in the Star Wars saga – The Force Awakens (2015) and The Last Jedi (2017). Maybe I was just excited to see new Star Wars movies with the original cast. However, neither film has stayed with me, as the new characters are rather dull, and there's too much rehashed plot from the original movies. Mostly, though, killing off my childhood heroes really rankled me.

Now, Episode IX: The Rise of Skywalker has many of the same problems as Force Awakens and Last Jedi, but it actually feels closer to a real Star Wars movie than the previous two.

Don't believe the early internet whispering that Rise of Skywalker is an unmitigated disaster. It's not.

Negating the conclusion of Darth Vader's story in Return of the Jedi (1983), evil Emperor Palpatine (Ian McDiarmid) is still around in Rise of Skywalker, and it is up to heroes Rey (Daisy Ridley), Finn (John Boyega), and Poe (Oscar Isaac) to find and destroy him. Villain and brat Kylo Ren (Adam Driver) is also in pursuit of Palpatine for his own nefarious purposes.

What Rise of Skywalker gets right is that it keeps the three lead characters together for much of the film instead of separating them into thankless subplots.

Force Awakens director JJ Abrams returns to helm this one and had his work cut out for him. First, he had to reconfigure Leia's storyline because of the untimely death of actress Carrie Fisher. Unused footage of Fisher from Force Awakens was used, and it sort of works even though Leia's appearance is little more than a cameo. Speaking of cameos, beloved characters Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) and Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams) get very little screen time. Christ, even R2-D2 gets the shaft.

The second issue for Abrams is fixing all that director Rian Johnson broke while subverting Star Wars just for the sake of it with The Last Jedi. Abrams' course corrections mostly work.

The Rise of Skywalker recycles many ideas from the original trilogy, and there are too many call backs to those films, but it is serviceable, if uninspired, entertainment.

2017’s Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle was a mildly pleasant surprise with likable characters and fun interplay between its four leads. Jumanji: The Next Level isn’t bad, but it suffers from the same “been there, done that” problem lots of sequels have.

This time, instead of the four kids inhabiting the video game characters from the first film, two of the kids (Ser’Darius Blain, Morgan Turner) end up in the game with one of their friend's grandpa (Danny DeVito, who turns into The Rock in the game) and his old business partner (Danny Glover, who turns in to Kevin Hart in the game). It makes more sense on screen than in print.

Once again, the characters are basically likable. DeVito has some funny scenes, and the Rock’s clearly having fun doing a DeVito impersonation. There’s a neat set piece involving some floating bridges and an army of angry mandrills. Kids who enjoyed the first one will probably enjoy this one, too.

However, at 123 minutes, it’s probably 15-20 minutes longer than it needs to be, and it feels repetitive at times.

The filmmakers (led by director Jake Kasdan) should probably call it a day after this one, as it’s unlikely there are any new ways to go back into the game and still be interesting

What is most striking about this reboot of the 1974 horror flick Black Christmas is that the themes are fully developed in the new film. Set around Christmas break at a small liberal arts college, a series of girls go missing, which starts a chain of events that leads to all out combat with a killer...or killers(?). The plot here brings to light themes of feminism, victim blaming, and toxic masculinity, and for the most part, the film works really well.

The performances throughout are stellar, with an on-point performance from Imogen Poots as the resilient, damaged lead Riley.

Caleb Eberhardt serves as her hapless and dorky love interest Landon. Their chemistry provides some fun awkwardness, but the women stand alone.

Another standout character is Kris, a fellow sister, played by Aleyse Shannon, who serves as the de-facto social justice warrior.

Riley’s character, in contrast, is complicated as a victim of sexual assault. These added

complexities are something not at all present in the original and make for a much stronger film. In addition, the performance of Cary Elwes as Professor Gelson is creepy, intimidating, and effective. Black Christmas shines in its moments of suspense and tension.

The scenes in which the sisters are chased around their pitch black house are sequenced extremely well, playing with dark rooms as a means of creating tension, though not the first to do so. It also captures the aesthetic of a sorority house at a liberal arts college, which is rustic and run-down, with pipes peeking through stucco walls, which are tinny at best.

The sisters’ conflict with the killers develops well for the first hour; however, as it reached the climax, the film pushed into slightly absurd territory. Black Christmas relied on a conspiracy as a crutch, instead of tightening up what worked in the first half of the film, but it’s a fun and dark romp for the holidays.

BarGuide Above the Grid (NOPSI Hotel) A dynamic and energetic venue with a breathtaking view of the city. Enjoy the view and pool with some refreshing 317 Baronne St. cocktails and some healthy, delicious food.

844-439-1463

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

Offering fantastic drinks and a stunning view of the New Orleans skyline, Ace’s rooftop bar Alto is a sanctum of relaxation in an ever-busy concrete jungle.

Backspace Bar 139 Chartres Street 322-2245

A literary-themed bar reminiscent of an English pub.

Backspace features a fantastic kitchen as well as a selection of historically inspired drinks.

Bar Marilou (Maison de la Luz) Bar Marilou oozes sophistication. This bar is known for a glass of its top-rated French wine and burrata. Indulge in 546 Carondelet St. the finer things at this Warehouse District hotspot.

814-7711 Bar Tonique 820 N. Rampart St. 324-6045

Stop by Bar Tonique to enjoy one of the always-changing daily specials. Bar Tonique offers $5 specials from noon to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Boot Scootin’ Rodeo 522 Bourbon Street 552-2510

Nashville country (or the Bakersfield Sound) in New Orleans is their thing. Their general store will be opening soon, but for now, you can grab a drink while dancing.

Bourbon Street Honky Tonk

820 N. Rampart St. 324-6045

Stop by Bar Tonique to enjoy one of the always-changing daily specials. Bar Tonique offers $5 specials from noon to 5 p.m. on weekdays.

Buffa’s Bar & Restaurant 1001 Esplanade Ave. 949-0038

New Orleans is known for its 24/7 party scene, and Buffa’s Lounge makes sure its doors are always open.

They've been doing so for almost 80 years!

Carnval Lounge 2227 St. Claude Av. 265-8855

The new Carnaval Lounge in the former Siberia location features great live music nightly. Come try the tasty Brazilian street food for a treat.

Copper Vine 1001 Poydras St. 208-9535

This restaurant has been praised by locals and tourists alike. Make a reservation for Copper Vine’s dinner series and enjoy a meal with carefully selected wine pairings.

The Country Club 634 Louisa St 945-0742

If you’re looking for one of the best bars in the city with a heated pool and hot tub for the Winter, look no further. they have an impressive selection of wine and outstanding food!

Crossing 439 Dauphine Street 523-4517

Crossing offers specialty cocktails in an inclusive and unique atmosphere. The bar is furnished with lit, handmade Einstein lamps with metallic gold and bronze finishes.

9PM Pa c k a g e T i c k e ts $ 1 7 5

Fulton Alley 600 Fulton St. 208-5569

Fulton Alley is a special venue whose highlight is bowling, bites, and booze. This bar combines the fun of a bowling alley with the elegance of a prohibition-era speakeasy.

Spectacular View of the Fireworks

Hermes Bar at Antoine's 725 St. Louis St. 581-4422

Hermes Bar at Antoine’s distills the Crescent City culture into signature cocktails. This genteel bar serves amazing drinks alongside classic dishes such as Oysters Rockefeller..

House of Blues 225 Decatur St. 310-4999

In addition to live music, this venue serves mouth-watering food and drinks. You can have just about any drink you can think of and a wide array of tasty treats.

Jimani 141 Chartres St. 524-0493

Home of the Mysterious Mixer, the Jimani is the perfect place for a late night jaunt. Enjoy a couple with some friendly ghosts at this classic slice of New Orleans.

Kerry Irish Pub 331 Decatur St. 527-5954

Kerry Irish Pub’s laid-back atmosphere is the perfect place to relax and enjoy musical talent any night of the week.

Celebrate with some Guinness or Jameson at this eclectic bar.

Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar Hang loose and enjoy some great food, best complemented with a frozen alcoholic beverage or cold beer. Check out the 701 Tchoupitoulas Street laid-back beach vibe in the heart of the Warehouse District.

504-523-8995 Martine's Lounge 2347 Metairie Rd. 831-8637

This Metairie bar offers darts, poker, and a jukebox. While they can make whatever you can imagine, try one of their signature drinks such as the Spicy Passion Fruit Margarita.

Ole Saint 132 Royal Street 504-309-4797

This bar encapsulates the spirit of New Orleans. The Ole Saint features a taproom with over 50 national and local beers on draft to satisfy any hankering for a beer.

Pal's Lounge 949 N. Rendon St. 488-7257

Pal’s is the perfect place to enjoy a signature cocktail or eat from one of the city’s local pop-up kitchens. This neighborhood joint has the goods to quench any thirst.

Penthouse Club 727 Iberville St. 524-4354

Celebrate a special event or enjoy an unforgettable night of luxury at the Penthouse Club. The club is across from Acme Oyster House and will treat you right.

Tipitina’s 501 Napoleon Avenue 895-8477

Few bars have as rich a history as Tipitina’s. Tipitinas has earned a well-deserved name for itself as one of the best music venues in the city.

Vintage Rock Club 1007 Poydras Street 308-1305

Vintage Rock Club is a throwback club and video music experience that allows guests to rock out to the best of the decades and enjoy a drink at the same time.

Ring in the Revelry

NYE BASH Super Premium Open Bar

Grey Goose Vodka, Bacardi Superior Rum, Dewar’s White Label Scotch, Bombay Gin, D’USSE Cognac, Cazadores Blanco Tequila, Angel’s Envy Bourbon

Dinner Buffet I DJ and Dance Floor Midnight Champagne Toast

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f r e n c h q u a rt e r • j a c ks o n sq u a r e WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 51

TalesFromTheQuarter

By Debbie Lindsey

Cherchez La Femme—A Review

A

fter hitting your fifth pot-hole, receiving a screwy S&W bill, spending six hours at the DMV, or watching our national news report upon one more in the seemingly endless assaults by Trump to undermine women, social justice, and our environment, you need something other than (or in addition to) a stiff drink to restore something resembling a positive outlook. I just received a happy pill in the form of a book, Cherchez La Femme: New Orleans Women by Cheryl Gerber.

“If a picture is worth a thousand words,” as the adage goes, then my small column will lack the proper words to do justice to all the women in this photography book. Adding to this impressive volume of gorgeous and colorful images of women representing our city are the essays by Constance Adler, Karen Celestan, Katy Reckdahl, Helen Freund, and Geraldine Wyckoff—just to name a few whose words grace the pages.

And behind each photo-image is a story, aspect, point of view, or attitude of our city, culture, cuisine, and consciousness that

needs no written text, but the writings are, nonetheless, compelling and complement the images Cheryl has captured with her eye and that make our city so unique—our New Orleans women.

For all the disparities present in New Orleans in terms of education, health care, wages, and environmental equity, there is a democracy of shared commonalities that runs through our town like a river.

Sometimes its waters are too fast, too rough, but sometimes it meanders so peacefully that everyone gets to drink from it. Women here know how to imbibe in life, whether rich or poor, and, if not every day, then at least more often than in other places. We are women living in the most magical and bat-shit crazy town imaginable, and I defy anyone elsewhere to dispute this.

Our women, who make our home here special, come in all colors and wear the hues that signify our feelings and flair. From our sacred black and gold attire (which we all know has the power to spur our Saints to victories) and the brilliant rainbow of colors that streak our hair and fingernails to the thousands of pink pussy caps worn by our

52 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

marching women to protest the misogyny of Trump and Mardi Gras costumes flaming purple, green, and gold—we wear our pride and allegiances with flamboyance and finesse. What better way to boast of this, to document this, than with photographs?

Cherchez La Femme celebrates muses and musicians, movers and shakers (and here in New Orleans that goes well beyond political persuaders—we twerk, jerk, and bounce our power as women), chefs and collegians, philanthropists and professors.

Our culinary culture is strong with women and ever growing. We are made proud being represented by the likes of Poppy Tooker, Joann Clevenger, Kristen Essig, Susan Spicer, Nina Compton, and the late Ella Brennan— the list goes on beyond my allotted word count. Leah Chase, of course, is the queen in my opinion and heart, and she went far beyond her kitchen to make our city a better place to call home. Indeed, her image is lovingly present in this book.

Philanthropists and the women of New Orleans society adorn the pages in all their glory and beauty, but with no higher elevation than that of our proud workingclass women, who daily keep our lives on track. In New Orleans, as photojournalist Gerber aptly proves, powerful personalities, from Gayle Benson to Cheeky Blakk, help to level the playing field and show off the diversity of our women. Whether you are Mayor Latoya Cantrell, activist Sandy Rosenthal, or a second-lining Baby Doll, you equally make our town proud—and what’s not to love about Trixie Minx? Let’s also

never ever even think to forget our teachers, librarians, and moms and give our thanks to the cashier at Rouses who makes sure you get your Camellia red beans rang up and bagged. How about a round of applause to Jennifer and Karen Terrannova for helping us make groceries?

Cheryl’s concern with her book is that she could not possibly showcase all the great women of New Orleans. Neither one of us could contain our admiration and delight over the ladies who we know and love and regret not being in this book. I feel I have not done justice here on this page to her book, the women within it, or the women that shape us as a city. Here I must make full disclosure: I have known Cheryl Gerber for nearly 30 years. If I seem to favor her book, it is in part because of the respect I have had for her work capturing and honoring our city through the years while never turning her lens away from the harsh realities of life in New Orleans, such as in her book New Orleans: Life and Death in the Big Easy. Nevertheless, all of her work—and her heartfelt love for this city—lifts my spirits and keeps my eyes focused on our magic.

Cherchez La Femme illustrates the power our women and their (our) contribution to keeping this place unique. And here I must also add my thanks to the men who understand this and love us.

Leah Chase once told Cheryl in regard to her work as a photographer, “Keep doing what you’re doing because it is important.” I feel this book is saying that to all the women of New Orleans.

Po-BoyViews

By Phil LaMancusa

Re-cognition Or Road To Nowhere

T

wenty-five years doesn’t seem like a lot of time to a Bowhead whale or single malt Scotch, but, in your real life, a heck of a lot can change while many things can stay relatively parallel. In 1994, twenty-five years ago, Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, and Nina Simone were still alive; Richard Milhous Nixon died, Kurt Cobain committed suicide, O. J. Simpson did or didn’t kill his wife, and Justin Bieber was born. The planet had about two billion less bipeds in 1994, and I was a much younger man.

In 1994, in his book Closing Time, Joseph Heller wrote in John Yossarian’s voice: A prick in the White House? It would not be the first time. Another oil tanker had broken up.

There was radiation. Garbage. Pesticides, toxic waste, and free enterprise. There were enemies of abortion who wished to inflict the death penalty on everyone that was not pro-life. There was mediocrity in government and self-interest too. There was trouble in Israel . Men earned millions producing nothing more substantial than change in ownership. The Cold War was over, and still there was no peace on earth.

People did things without knowing why and then tried to find out. Nothing made sense and neither did anything else.

In 1994 we watched Forrest Gump, The Shawshank Redemption, Pulp Fiction, Dumb & Dumber, and Natural Born Killers. Also, in real-time news, the United States was sending military forces to the Persian Gulf.

There were no new bombings that year— although in the previous year, the World Trade Center was bombed, and Timothy McVeigh was probably planning the next year’s bombing in Oklahoma. Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis died all on her own of non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma, and Congress enacted a ban on assault weapons.

In 1994, Amazon went live midyear—there was no Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, or Google, as those are things of the future. The first smart phone appeared and cost $1,100.00; texting was available the previous year, with hardly anyone using it. DVD players were three years away and would start at around $600.00.

Twenty-five years before that, minimum wage was $1.60; adjusted for inflation, now it would be $10.95. Minimum wage in 1994 was $4.25 which, when adjusted, would have been worth $7.20.

Today $7.25 is adjusted to $7.25, which means, in “olden times,” you were paid less but could buy more. How ‘bout them Granny Smiths?

“A Whole New World” from Aladdin won best song while we watched both sides of the Irish lay down their guns. Nelson Mandela was elected president of South Africa, and Israel signed accords with the Palestinians and a peace treaty with Jordan.

Friends and ER debuted on TV, and Go for Gin won the Kentucky Derby. Schindler’s List got Best Picture as the world turned its attention to 800,000 in Rwanda being slaughtered by Hutu extremists in 100 days.

Newt Gingrich became the House Speaker

as Bill Clinton almost went down because of someone doing him a favor (an impeachable offense, it turns out). There were armed conflicts in Afghanistan, Chechnya, Iraq, Mali, Mexico, Somali, Bosnia, Croatia, and Yemen.

But who cared?

Michael Jackson married Lisa Marie Presley, Anna Nicole Smith (26) married ultra-rich J. Howard Marshall (89), Bill Gates, Jerry Garcia, and Celine Dion tied the knot (to other people not to each other), and R. Kelly (25) wedded Aaliyah (15).

In other news, sadly, Billy Joel was divorced from Christie Brinkley.

Twenty-five years ago, the prospect of global warming had reared its ugly head, but we were too busy, distracted, or just plain stupid to take it seriously. We had a chance to cut back on over packaging, under recycling, and systemic wasting of our natural resources. We could have concentrated on quality education instead of pushing economically disadvantaged kids through our school systems into unskilled employment at a poverty wage. We could have curbed mega companies from dictating policy to our elected politicians by dangling campaign contributions like a carrot on a stick, at the expense of our environment and our welfare.

We could have debated more and fought less.

Shoulda, woulda, coulda … ain’t it a f**kin’ shame?

I don’t need to tell you what the world is like today; you either are aware or not. We no longer have security, faith, or trust in our present or future, and hope is in short supply. We know that everything that contributes to our quality of life comes with a price tag, and any small measure of normalcy can be snatched away faster than a speeding bullet.

I find in my inquiries that it’s not a case of paranoia, apathy, or even ennui—we just have nothing that we can rely on in our lives, so we rely upon nothing. Another shooting, out of control fires, flooding, corrupt governments, hostages, extremists, white nationalists, and riots in the streets? Poverty, crime, crumbling infrastructure?

Now Hiring: General Manager Apple Bus Company, a leading provider of school bus transportation, is seeking a General Manager to provide support, leadership, and direction at our New Orleans terminal. This role oversees all operational functions at the facility.

For more info visit applebuscompany.com/careers

Help! Murder! Police!

It’s all mesmerizing on television, but what can be done? What can we do? The world has already gone to hell in a hand basket; have some cheesecake, watch the Golden Girls, bring in the dog, and put out the cat. Yakety Yak (don’t talk back).

So, as the Sun pulls away from the shore and our boat sinks slowly in the West, we’re greeted with another new year, full of assumed possibilities to get it right somehow, and I’m left with the only words that make any sense—and these from the song “Prince of Peace,” written and recorded in 1970 (that’s gonna be fifty years ago) by Leon Russell: Try and judge me by my time and changes And not mistaken words, for I say many Listen only to my song and watch my eyes There’s not much time to spill, there’s hardly any.

Happy New Year.

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 53

WhereYaGram

Below are our staff's favorite #NOLA hashtags on Instagram for June.

Tag us @WhereYatNola or #WhereYatNola to be featured in an upcoming issue.

NewsAround AroundTheWeb

Updated Daily at WhereYat.com

HangoutMusicFesttoHaveBiggestLineupYet

@capturingnola

@davidnola

@drinkingnola

Hangout Music Fest announced its star-studded 11th instalment of the annual music and arts festival, taking place May 15 to 17 2020 on the beaches of Gulf Shores. This year's lineup has been highly anticipated as the biggest yet, including Red Hot Chili Peppers, Post Malone, Billie Eilish, Marshmello, Lana Del Rey, Cage The Elephant, and many more.

WeNeedTheAmericanAlligator @itsyournola

@nolaphotoguild

@our.nola.walks

@riverbeatsnola

@roamingnola

@the.deis

TweetBites Bites

Below are our staff's New Orleans hashtag picks from Twitter for November. Tag us @WhereYatNola or #WhereYatNola to be featured in an upcoming issue.

Louisiana plans on opening litigation with the state of California over their ban on alligator skins. This is due, in large part, to California being Louisiana's biggest market for their skins. This ban would bar sale of the skins, which is a big problem considering Louisiana is the largest seller of alligator skins.

BlueBikesGoElectricNextYear Blue bikes have become a familiar feature in New Orleans, where folks love the freedom, affordability, and sustainability of the bike sharing program. However, pedaling around town is not always the best option for folks more accustomed to pushing accelerator pedals or for those in more of a rush than cruisers allow.

@humbruh #NOLASpeak RT @ALEVYWORLD: Yes "Waaahn" is a proper salutation @nojackla Now they talking about merlitons stuffed wid scrimps. Swear ta gawd! #nolaspeak #nola

@brenisphere If Star Jones doesn't like being called Dear & Sweetie, she should not visit NOLA -- Honey, Sugar, My Baby, My Darlin', Cher#nolaSpeak

@NER AOC New Orleans - pronounced noo aw-lins, new or-lins, or new or-lee-yuns, but not new orleens. Got it? #nolaspeak #neworleans #NERAOC2013

@writerobinson That's hella funny! LOL! RT @addiekmartin: My twitterz just corrected "bizness" to "bidness" #NOLAspeak #shrug

54 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

Tip'sTeamsUpWithBarracuda Barracuda has teamed up with the historic uptown music venue Tipitina's to create the "band taco," a shrimp alambre taco featuring Gulf white shrimp, Niman Ranch bacon, grilled white onion, and melty cheese.

The first in a series of taco collaborations between Tipitina's and Barracuda, the taco will be available for a limited time run throughout January for $5, with all proceeds supporting The Tip It Foundation.

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 55

Where Ya Been?

1.

The bartenders at Barcadia enjoyed the Christmas Pop-Up.

6.

The Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots kicked off their season with a fantastic Thanksgiving party.

11. NOLA Brewing hosted the Lost Bayou Ramblers for their launch of Down the Bayou Strawberry Blonde Ale.

2.

Running of the Santas at The Metro was a party to remember.

7.

Buffa's Chuck and Janet Rogers were all smiles during 40 years of marriage.

3.

Wild Turkey's Joann Street, Glazer's Lauren Bancroft, Campari's Carley Dunavant, and Bourbon Fest's Tracy Napolitano enjoyed judging the Longbranch Bourbon Best Bartender of New Orleans Finals.

8.

Even The Grinch couldn't ruin the fun of Running of the Santas.

12. The new Shake Shack on Canal Street hosted a Grand Opening party that featured their famous burgers and milkshakes.

9.

Daiwa's Richard Luoung and friend toasted his winning the Longbranch Best Bartender of New Orleans Finals.

4.

Frank Brigsten served up tasty latkes at the JCRS's Latkes with a Twist.

5.

Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser (left) celebrated Hospitality Enterprises' new Louis Armstrong Riverboat.

13. Zoo Lights at the Audubon Zoo featured lights, games, and costumed characters.

14. Who Dat Vodka's Derek Domingue celebrated the launch of Who Dat Vodka at Gris Gris with Chef Eric Cook.

10. The stars of the Fillmore's Drag Queen Brunch celebrated the holiday season at Barcardia.

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56 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

15. The Westin New Orleans introduced their new restaurant.

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WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 57

Located in the Warehouse District, Briquette is housed in the former Rodd Brothers Molasses Refinery, which dates from the 1800s.

Briquette features a contemporary, yet casual—restaurant interior marked by our signature open kitchen. It features an enticing 18foot seafood display filled with fresh Branzino, halibut, Faroe Island salmon, Louisiana Redfish, and many other fresh whole fish. They offer an extensive wine list and beautifully crafted cocktails.

Chat NIKKI REYES with

Anna Tusa

Where Y’at Chat Questions: 1. Ol’ St. Nick is your Lyft. Where is he taking you?

2. You are a character in a holiday movie.

Who are you?

3. Year 2020 is knocking on your door. You answer it. What are you wearing?

4. It's the Sugar Bowl, and you’re the team’s Quarterback. What's your jersey number?

5. January hosts “Self Love Month.” What do you love about your body?

58 | New Year's Eve / Sugar Bowl | Where Y'at Magazine

Proprietor: Briquette Wine Room

Big Chief Alfred Doucette

1. Santorini, Greece. �Cause, I'm not naughty.

2. Anything not in a Hallmark movie.

3. Sequins and sparkles.

4. 10.

5. My assets.

Neutral Ground Records

“Big Pearl” Lani Ramos

Trent Dang

Founder / Producer: The Rock & Rouge

Director of Marketing: Fairgrounds New Orleans

1. Into the twilight—the ride of his life.

2. Bugsy the Wabbit!

3. My s**t kickin’ boots ready to climb in my bug.

4. 86.

5. My teets which have grown since the age of 18.

1. Chill dive bar with cheapy drinks.

2. The dude that handles the naughty list.

3. A Saints onesie.

4. 10. In Vietnamese, my name sounds like ten.

5. It keeps me alive.

John Price

Paris Vinnett

The Old No.77 Hotel & Chandlery

Marketing and Communications Manager: Jefferson Parish

1. To his North Pole.

2. White Witch of Narnia with a touch of Turkish delight.

3. Shorts and flip-flops holding a Cajun eggnog.

4. 8 1/2.

5. My ability to leave it.

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2.

3.

4.

5.

The Party.

Super Fly. Nothing at all.

3.

All six feet of it.

1.

2.

3.

4.

The Ritz Carlton.

All the ladies that sing "Santa Baby."

A New Orleans Meghan Markle look.

39. The age that my mommy passed away.

5. My smile.

Kayla Demma

Leatrice Latimore

Creative Services Manager: Hosts New Orleans

Director of Recruitment: N.O.P.D.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Santa's Workshop.

The girl version of Buddy the Elf. My comfiest pj's.

1.

The amount of wine it can consume.

Kerry Godbold

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Girls’ night.

Rudolph the Reindeeress.

My glasses—eyeglasses.

3.

All of it; it works.

Paul Riley, WSET, II

IS Applications Administrator: Canal Barge Company, Inc.

Area Manager: Republic National Distributing Company

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2.

3.

4.

5.

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Wherever my kids want to go.

Elf. My Saints underwear.

1.

My muscular legs.

Meet up with Prancer and Dasher.

Cousin Eddie from Christmas Vacation.

Velvet.

4.

Everything functions.

WhereYat.com | January 2020 | 59

MEDIA DAY

PLAYOFF FAN CENTRAL

XAVIER UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA CONVOCATION CENTER Saturday, January 11

ERNEST N. MORIAL CONVENTION CENTER Saturday, January 11 – Monday, January 13

ALLSTATE CHAMPIONSHIP TAILGATE PLAZA

AT&T PLAYOFF PLAYLIST LIVE!

JAX BREWERY LOT/WOLDENBERG PARK Saturday, January 11 – Monday, January 13

WOLDENBERG PARK Saturday, January 11 – Sunday, January 12

EXTRA YARD 5K

ECKRICH TASTE OF THE CHAMPIONSHIP PRESENTED BY THRILLIST

LAFAYETTE SQUARE Sunday, January 12

MARDI GRAS WORLD Sunday, January 12

Free Event!

Free Event!

Registration Now Open!

Free Event!

Free Event!

Tickets On Sale Now!

FOR ADDITIONAL EVENT INFORMATION, VISIT: COLLEGEFOOTBALLPLAYOFF.COM