MURALS ON THE RIVER
Canal Street Ferry artwork honors the city’s mix of cultural contributions
BY ROBERT S. WOLF Contributing writer
The exterior of the Canal Street Ferry terminal building has five new colorful murals, painted by local artists, that pay homage to the Black and indigenous people who worked and lived along the Mississippi River and contributed to Louisiana culture.
Titled “River Rhythms: A Tribute to Louisiana’s Indigenous People,” each scene in the mural is painted by a different artist, and each portrays a different element of local culture, including runaway slaves, Mardi Gras Indians and Native American farmers.
The work is a collaboration between the Regional Transit Authority, which operates the ferry, and the Ashé Cultural Arts Center, which helped curate the story and coordinate the project with the artists, said RTA CEO Lona Edwards Hankins.
Hankins said that when the RTA completed the new ferry terminal two years ago, it intentionally left the wall blank to accommodate an art project, but money was tight until the Super Bowl came to town. RTA partnered with GNO Inc., in December, and $175,000 was allotted for the art project.
“We wanted to honor the people who built the city and worked along the river, we wanted to honor the commerce and exchanges that happen along the wharf, we wanted to honor the entertainment that grew from that culture,
ä See MURALS, page 2G
A Rosie the Riveter Congressional Gold Medal Commemoration was held recently at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans. During World War II, millions of American women joined the wartime effort by filling in defense industry jobs that had traditionally belonged to the men who left to fight in the war. The era was symbolized by the iconic pose of a woman flexing her arm.
Warm weather is here, and it signals the start of a season most people don’t think about: kitten season.
For animal rescues, it’s the only season worse than hurricane season. It works the same each year: Spring arrives, stray cats begin to reproduce in large numbers and area shelters and rescues get overwhelmed with kittens. In fact, it’s common for dozens of cats to be surrendered to parish shelters every single day
So what do you do if you find a lone kitten or a litter and the mother isn’t around? The answer: Leave them alone and monitor from a distance. A litter without a mom nearby doesn’t necessarily mean that she has abandoned her babies. More likely is that she’s out looking for food and will return. If a litter is sited in a safe location, it’s best to leave them alone and just keep an eye out to make sure the mom does return.
An impulse reaction may be to “rescue” the kittens, but according to the national cat advocacy group, Alley Cat Allies, “Compassion is a good impulse, but our actions must always be guided by what is in a cat’s best interest. That means allowing kittens and moms who are already thriving outdoors to stay right where they are.”
PHOTO Kittens can be neutered as early as age 2 months if they weight requirements.
WHAT YOU CAN DO: There is something we can do, however We can help by providing the mother cat with regular food and water an outdoor shelter and peace and quiet to tend to her babies. If the kittens are in a dangerous area, or the mother cat hasn’t come back after a reasonable amount of time, it is best to contact the parish shelter immediately to get assistance regarding next steps to get the babies to safety
FELINE FACTS:
n Most female cats go into heat three times a year, beginning in March-April. n She will keep repeating a heat cycle until
FESTIVALS
FRENCH QUARTER FESTIVAL: April 10-13, 11 a.m.-8 p.m.; around the Quarter. The free celebration features more than 20 stages and more than 60 food vendors, kicking off with a parade on Thursday at 10 a.m. The French Quarter Fest After Dark Series offers nighttime programming from 9 p.m. to midnight. After Dark tickets and Family VIP passes for sale. frenchquarterfest.org.
NOLA CIGAR FESTIVAL: April 10-13; various locations. Cigar enthusiasts gather to celebrate the culture surrounding premium cigars. Activities include meet-and-greets, a car show, crawfish boil and the Black & Gold Ball. Tickets start at $100 via Eventbrite www.nolacigarfestival.com.
NEW ORLEANS POETRY FESTIVAL: April 10-13; various locations. The 10th annual event starts with the Locals Night Opening Gala April 10, 7 p.m., at the Saturn Bar, 3067 St. Claude Ave. in New Orleans. Readings, roundtables, workshops and a small press fair will take place April 12-13, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., at the New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St Claude Ave. in New Orleans. Other events include an open mic session and a main event. Free. nolapoetry.com.
NEW ORLEANS JAZZ & HERITAGE FESTIVAL: Jazz Fest takes over the Fair Grounds Race Course, 1751 Gentilly Blvd. in New Orleans, during the two weekends between April 24 and May 4, playing out across 14 stages with more than 5000 performers. Food vendors along with crafts in three marketplaces. Advance tickets through April 8 start at $89. Multi-day and VIP passes are available. www.nojazzfest.com.
ENTERTAINMENT
CRAWFISH BOIL COOK-OFF: The Crawfish Boil Cookoff will take place on the University of Holy Cross New Orleans campus, 4123 Woodland Drive in Algiers, on April 12, 1 p.m.-5 p.m. Team registration is $150. Winners will be announced in the
categories of best crawfish, best corn, best potatoes and best sausage. Admission is $25 in advance; $40 at the gate, including all-you-caneat crawfish. Children 10 get in free. www.uhcno.edu/ crawfish
WESTWEGO SPRING FOOD
TRUCK
FESTIVAL: The Westwego Booster Club will sponsor the food festival on April 12, 3-7 p.m., at Wego Park, Avenue D THAI NEW YEAR SONGKRAN
FESTIVAL: The Wat Wimuttayaram Buddhist Temple of Louisiana, Inc. will sponsor a free Thai cultural festival on April 13, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m., at 1601 Stanton Road in New Orleans. Experience Thai culture, performance, activities and foods. (504) 343-8241.
EASTER
EGG HUNT AND FAMILY
FESTIVAL: The family event featuring arts and crafts, games, face painting, food and music will be held in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins C. Diboll Circle in New Orleans, on April 12, 10 a.m.12:30 p.m. Tickets start at $20. noma.org.
EGG SCRAMBLE: City Park Conservancy will host the annual egg hunt April 13, 9:30 a.m. to noon, in the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park and Storyland at City Park, 1 Palm Drive in New Orleans. Children will be provided with bags to hold the
LENTEN FISH FRIES
JEFFERSON PARISH
CHRIST THE KING: Dinners at the church, 535 Deerfield Road in Terrytown, will be served April 11, 5-7:30 p.m. The menu varies each week. (504) 3611500 christkingterrytown.com
DIVINE MERCY PARISH: KC Council 14822 will sell drivethru dinners, 4337 Sal Lentini Parkway in Kenner, on April 11, 3-7 p.m. $15 a plate. April 11 menu will include a fried shrimp option. (504) 467-6221 divinemercyparish.org.
OUR LADY OF PERPETUAL HELP: KC Stoulig Council 3528 will host dinner April 11, 4-7 p.m., at the church, 1908 Short St. in Kenner. www olphla.net.
OUR LADY OF DIVINE PROVI-
DENCE: Drive-thru dinners, 8617 W. Metairie Ave. in Metairie, April 11, 4-7 p.m. Catfish plates or crawfish pie plates are $10. Pint of shrimp etouffee is $7. Individual crawfish pies are $4. oldp.org.
ST. AGNES: Dinners in the Marquette Activity Center at 3410 Jefferson Highway in Jefferson on April 11, 5 p.m. Plates are $15. (504) 833-3366, www stagnesjefferson.org.
ST. ANGELA MERICI: Dinners will be held April 11, 5-8 p.m., at the church, 901 Beverly Garden Drive in Metairie. Fish plates are $12 for adults, $10 for children. Drive-thru available. Grilled fish or fried shrimp plates are $14. (504) 835-0324, stangela.org.
ST. ANN CHURCH AND SHRINE: Dinner on April 11, 5:30 p.m., drive-thru only Fish or shrimp plates are $12, and combo plates are $15. stannchurchandshrine.org.
ST. CHRISTOPHER THE MARTYR: Drive-thru dinners on April 11, 6 p.m., 3900 Derbigny St. in Metairie. Fish or shrimp dinners are $14, and combo plates are $15. www.stchristophermensclub.org.
ST. JOACHIM: Drive-thru dinner April 11, 11 a.m.-7 p.m., at 5505 Barataria Blvd. in Marrero. Fish plates are $10, shrimp plates $12, combo plates $14. (504) 341-9226, www.stjoachimmarrero.org.
ST. JOHN PAUL II CHURCH: Lunch, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and dinner, 5-7 p.m., on April 11 at 6851 River Road in Waggaman. Dine-in or takeout. Gumbo $12, fried or blackened fish plates or shrimp and grits are $15. jpiiwestbank.org.
ST. JOSEPH THE WORKER: Knights of Peter Claver 267 will host dinners on April 11, 11 a.m.-5 p.m., behind the church at 453 Pine St. in Marrero. Plates are $15. (504) 9949975, www.stjworker.church.
ORLEANS PARISH
ALL SAINTS CATHOLIC: The church at 300 Ptolemy in Algiers will host dinners April 11. Fish plates $15, gumbo $8, hush puppies and crawfish balls are $3. allsaintschurch-
eggs they collect from among the 36,000 hidden throughout the Carousel Gardens. Recommended for children 8 and younger. Storyland will be reserved for toddlers. Tickets are $25 for guests over 36” tall and include unlimited Amusement Park rides. Admission affords all-day access to Carousel Gardens, opening to the public at noon. neworleanscitypark.org.
FRENCH QUARTER EASTER
PARADES: Three parades will be held on Easter Sunday.
n The Historic French Quarter Easter Parade begins at Tableau Restaurant, 616 St. Peter St. in New Orleans, on April 20 at 9:45 a.m. The parade travels to St. Louis Cathedral for 11 a.m. Mass. After Mass, the women promenade in Jackson Square.
n The 40th French Quarter Easter Parade, formerly the Chris Owens French Quarter Easter Parade, starts and ends at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, 621 St. Louis St., rolling at 1 p.m. Activities start at the hotel at 11 a.m. with a hat contest, silent auction and entertainment in the ballroom.
n The Gay Easter Parade rolls at 4:30 p.m., beginning at the Armstrong Arch at 12981100 St. Ann St. and ends at Betty’s, 700 Burgundy. This is also a family-friendly affair.
COMMUNITY EVENTS
SUPER TAX DAY: Entergy New Orleans will offer its customers free tax preparation at
nola.org. GOOD SHEPHERD PARISH: KC Council 3411 will sell drive-thru dinners at the Basilica of St. Stephen, 1025 Napoleon Ave April 11, 5-7 p.m. Cost is $12 per plate. (504) 239-1297, www goodshepherdparishnola.com.
HOLY NAME OF MARY AND SANTA MARIA: KC 1724 will sell dinners at the church, 342 Olivier St., on April 11. Fish dinners are $15, combo plates ar $16, and shrimp plates are $17. (225) 226-9813,holynameofmarynola.org.
MATER DOLOROSA: Dinner at 1231 Dublin St. on April 11, 5-8 p.m. $15 per plate. (504) 813-4913, www.mdolorosa. com.
OUR LADY OF GUADALUPE: The Knights of Peter Claver 394 will hold dinner at the church, 411 N. Rampart St., on April 11, 10:30 a.m. until sold out. $10 per plate. judeshrine.com
ST. DAVID: Dinner April 11 at 5617 St. Claude Ave., 11 a.m.4:30 p.m. Catfish or shrimp plate is $13. Combo plate is $15. stdavidnola.com
ST. DOMINIC: On April 11, 6-8:30 p.m., the church will hold a dine-in or takeout dinner at 775 Harrison Ave Shrimp St. Dominic is $15. Shrimp, fish or combo plates are $15 for adults and $10 for kids. (504) 482-4123, stdominicparish.com
ST. JOSEPH CHURCH: Dinner on April 11, 6 p.m., at 1802 Tulane Ave. Donations will be accepted. stjosephchurch-no. org.
ST. JOSEPHINE BAKHITA: The church at 3501 N. Miro St. will hold dinner on April 11, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Plates are $13. (504) 945-3186, sjbnola.org.
ST. MARIA GORETTI: The church, 7300 Crowder Blvd will host dinner on April 11, noon-5 p.m. Plates of fried or baked fish are $15. www.smgnola.com
upcoming events throughout New Orleans. Qualified Entergy customers can walk in and receive assistance from IRS-certified volunteers. The events will be held at Algiers Regional Library, 3014 Holiday Drive, and at the University of Holy Cross, Saturdays through April 12. www.uhcno. edu or www.entergy.com/ freetaxhelp.
CITY PARK COMMUNITY
MEETING: City Park Conservancy invites the public to a meeting to shape the future of City Park April 9 at the Pavilion of the Two Sisters, 3 Victory Ave. in New Orleans. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., with a presentation and activity at noon. RSVP is requested. Community engagement meeting documents are available online. neworleanscitypark.org/master-plan-community-input/. HIBISCUS SHOW AND SALE: The New Orleans Hibiscus Society will host a show and sale on April 13, 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., at Alfred Bonnabel High School, 2801 Bruin Drive in Kenner. Free.
GLASS RECYCLING: Glassroots will accept clean glass donations on April 15, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., at the Alvar Library, 913 Alvar St. in New Orleans; April 16, 4:306:30 p.m., at the East New Orleans Regional Library, 5641 Read Blvd. in New Orleans; and April 17, 10:30 a.m.12:30 p.m., at the Algiers Regional Library, 3014 Holiday Dr. in New Orleans. Glass will be turned into sand and used for coastal restoration, ecoconstruction and more.
CULTURE & CONCERTS
EVENINGS WITH ENRIQUE:
The free concert series at The Helis Foundation Enrique Alferez Sculpture Garden at New Orleans Botanical Garden City Park, 5 Victory Ave in New Orleans, will continue each Wednesday in April, 5-7:30 p.m. April 9 will feature Patrice Fisher and Arpa . neworleanscitypark.org.
THURSDAYS AT TWILIGHT: The musical series returns from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. to the Pavilion
ST. MARTIN DE PORRES: The church at 5601 Elysian Fields Ave. will hold dinner, 10:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. or until sold out, on April 11. Plates of fried or baked fish are $15. (504) 908-8279, smdpnola.com.
ST. PAUL THE APOSTLE: The church, 6828 Chef Menteur Highway, will hold dinner April 11, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Plates are $12. (504) 242-8820, www stpaultheapostlechurch-nola.
org.
ST. PETER CLAVER CHURCH: Drive-thru dinner, 1923 St. Philip St., on April 11, 11 a.m.4 p.m. Plates are $12. TOUPS FAMILY MEAL: Throughout Lent, Toups Meatery, 845 Carrollton Ave. in Mid-City New Orleans, will host $26 lunch specials, beginning at 11 a.m. and featuring wildcaught fried catfish, hushpuppies, potato salad. All proceeds go to Toups Family Meal, a nonprofit dedicated to fighting food insecurity. www toupsfamilymeal.com
of the Two Sisters in the Botanical Garden, 1 Victory Ave in City Park, New Orleans. On April 10, entertainment will be provided by Bon Operatit! and Mediterranean Pasta and on April 17 by The Ladies of Soul and Red Beans. Tickets are $15. NewOrleansCityPark.org.
RHYTHM & ROSES CONCERT
SERIES: The weekly series of outdoor concerts at the Historic BK House & Gardens, 1113 Chartres St. in New Orleans, will feature French Quarter Festival bands will perform April 10. New Orleans
fiddler Amanda Shaw will perform April 17. Limited seating; bring chairs. Shows start at 6 p.m. Tickets start at $25. www.bkhouse.org.
LPO MARKET NIGHT: The LPO will be joined by guitarist, songwriter and founding member of The Revivalists Zack Feinberg to perform his original songs on April 9, 5:30 p.m., at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, 1426 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd. in New Orleans. Tickets start at $40. lpomusic.com.
CATHEDRAL CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA SPRING CON-
CERT: The choir will perform Rossini’s “Stabat Mater,” a musical reflection on Mary’s experience of the crucifixion of Jesus, on April 12, 2 p.m., at St. Louis Cathedral, 615 Pere Antoine Alley in New Orleans. The concert will also be performed April 13, 2 p.m., at Mater Dolorosa Church, 1230 S. Carrollton Ave. Free.
THE LAFAYETTE TOUR: The French National Orchestra of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes will perform April 13, 4 p.m., at the Orpheum Theater, 129 Roosevelt Way in New Orleans, as part of its musical and immersive tour in the United States, celebrating the bicentennial of Marquis de Lafayette’s visit in 1825. Tickets start at $48.50 via Ticketmaster. orpheumnola.net.
BOOKS
“NEUTRAL GROUND”: Photographer and New Orleans native William Greiner will be joined in conversation by Abram Himelstein at Garden
District Book Shop, 2727 Prytania St. in New Orleans, on April 13, 4 p.m. An audience Q&A and book signings will follow. www.gardendistrictbookshop.com.
“MARDI GRAS AT MIDNIGHT”: Author Mary Walsh will celebrate the release of her book, the third in the Big Easy Collection, on April 9, 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., at Lafitte Hotel and Bar, 1003 Bourbon St. in New Orleans. The event will feature book signings and light refreshments. Free with reservations via Eventbrite. THE EVOLUTION OF STORYTELLING: Local authors Constance Adler and Teresa Tumminello Brader will discuss the topic and celebrate the release of their latest books, “Sight Unseen” and “Secret Keepers,” respectively on April 10, 6:30 p.m., at Blue Cypress Books, 8123 Oak St. in New Orleans. The discussion will be followed by an audience Q&A and book signings. www.bluecypressbooks.com.
BOOK SALE: The Friends of the University of New Orleans Library will hold a three-day used book sale fundraiser on April 10-12 on the fourth floor of the UNO Earl K. Long Library, 2000 Lakeshore Drive in New Orleans. Hours are 10 a.m.-6
