NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
Givonna Joseph
Celebrating Operatic History
The Arts Are Back Health for the Holidays +Senior Care Directory
Founder ANN BOWER HERREN Publisher BRANDON FOREMAN Associate Publisher AMY L. FOREMAN Editorial LAURA CLAVERIE Executive Editor
AMANDA MILLER Managing Editor EMILY DREZ Assistant Editor
SARAH BATROUS ANTHONY BUI LYNZI WHALEN Editorial Interns
Art/Production JENNY ZIGLIN Production Manager
MELODY TAUZIN Senior Graphic Designer
ALEX HERRING Graphic Designer
MADELENE SOILEAU Multimedia Specialist
CHANEY RAY Multimedia Assistant
TWIRL PHOTOGRAPHY Cover Photography
Advertising/Marketing LAURIE ACOSTA Director of Sales
KRISTEN RENFROW Account Executive
EMILY MANCUSO Marketing Specialist
MAGGIE SHARP Marketing Assistant
VICTORIA COTEJAR Social Media Coordinator
Business Operations TERI HODGES Director of Community Partnerships
ROXANE VOORHIES SARAH MILLER Administrative Coordinator
“Art is an effort to create, beside the real world, a more humane world.” –Andre Maurois, French Author Imagine a world without art–no music, no paintings or sculptures, no dance, no eloquent prose. Now, try to imagine our own New Orleans without its unique artistic culture of jazz, the Louisiana Philharmonic, the Opera, the visual arts showcased in museums and along the fences of Jackson Square. Our historic homes and tasty Creole foods also qualify as art forms to many. Where would our culture be without these treasures? To that end, this issue of Nola Boomers celebrates art in its many forms in our city and in our lives. We welcome our cover artist, Giovanna Joseph, a New Orleans native and founder and artistic director of OperaCréole. Ms. Joseph, a nationally-known mezzo soprano, along with her daughter Aria Mason, also a mezzo soprano, are deeply committed to the culture of New Orleans as evidenced in their concerts featuring 19th century people of color. This proud graduate of Loyola University’s outstanding music program was named “Southerner of the Year” by Southern Living magazine. Many of our city’s art venues have suffered greatly during this pandemic, and most recently, New Orleans and most towns and villages in south Louisiana were battered by Hurricane Ida. These are trying times for our area, and our hearts go out to all who endured the losses of lives and property in this horrific storm. If you can help those in need during this time, please do so. Send any donations to a local United Way, Second Harvesters Food Bank, park, hospital, or the church of your choice. If you cannot donate funds, consider donating your time to help those in need. Like art, giving of yourself is humane. Last, change is a wonderful part of life. We at Nola Boomers are no different. We are growing and changing and will make some big announcements soon. Stay tuned. In the meantime, support the local arts and those in need in any way you can. And get vaccinated, so the good times can roll again in our city.
Artfully yours,
Laura Claverie
For reprint information, contact
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One Galleria Blvd., Ste. 1900 Metairie, LA 70001
(504) 866- 0555 A publication of
November/December 2021 volume 4, issue 3
NOLA BOOMERS is published monthly by FAMILY RESOURCE GROUP INC. and distributed free of charge. Subscriptions accepted. Only authorized distributors may deliver and pick up the magazine. We reserve the right to edit, reject, or comment editorially on all materials contributed. We cannot be responsible for the return of any unsolicited material. NOLA BOOMERS Copyright © 2021. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission prohibited.
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Community Outreach
FROM LAURA
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CONTENTS NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2021
CONTRIBUTORS ON THE COVER Givonna Joseph of OperaCréole. Photo by Twirl Photography.
CARLETTE DENNIS is a librarian at Algiers Regional Library.
GEOFFREY RONIGER is the
A FEW WORDS 3
From Laura
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FEATURES
4
10
The Arts are Back
15
Healthy Knees, Please!
16 Givonna Joseph of OperaCréole 18
6 Tips for Traveling Safely
24
Live Comfortably on Less
REGULAR TOPICS 6
Eating for Health
Anti-Inflammatory Foods
8
From the Bookshelf
Winter Crafts for Creativebug Fun
owner of Yoga Unbound on Freret Street. He has been teaching full time for nearly two decades and is considered an expert in the field of adaptive yoga. Check out his latest creation, a comprehensive instructional video program made specifically for older adults: vimeo.com/ ondemand/geoffreyyogaolderadults. Enter the promo code “NOLABoomers” and you’ll be able to download the entire thing for free.
12 Fitness
Health for the Holidays
19
On the Go
When, Where, and What to Do
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Freebies
Free Things to See & Do
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Senior Care Directory
Our Guide for Making Informed Choices
MARIA SYLVESTER TERRY, MS, RDN, is the dietitian behind
the operations, marketing, programming, and social media for Ochsner Eat Fit NOLA. Dietetics is her second career; she was previously an English teacher and is passionate about educating our community about food and nutrition.
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EATING FOR HEALTH
Anti-Inflammatory Foods You’ve likely heard one word repeatedly when it comes to health: inflammation. One Google search yields thousands of anti-inflammatory recipes and diets. Layer in a global pandemic and increased marketing of immune-boosting supplements for a complete recipe for confusion.
What exactly is inflammation?
Inflammation serves a beneficial purpose; it is your body’s response to infection, injury, stress, or allergens. In the presence of these “invaders,” your body’s inflammatory response cues up to protect and heal you. Think of the soreness you feel after a workout, for example. Inflammation is a sign that our bodies are helping us recover. On the other hand, chronic inflammation is not so helpful. Worse, it’s linked to diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, type II diabetes, arthritis, and depression. Lifestyle choices can keep this low-level, persistent inflammation in check, such as smoking cessation, regular exercise, stress management, and dietary choices.
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An Anti-Inflammatory Approach to Food
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Contrary to viral soundbites on social media or the news, research on foods that cause inflammation is somewhat murky. Health isn’t as simple as eating “clean” or choosing organic produce. Rather than zooming in on the singular food items, consider zooming out on your overall dietary patterns. Where can you add in anti-inflammatory foods? Where could you find moderation with pro-inflammatory foods? Foods that are considered inflammatory-promoting include added sugars, refined carbohydrates, artificial trans fats, and nitrites found in processed meats. Moderating added sugar intake is a helpful start to supporting overall health. Don’t fall for the ‘better’ sugar debate. Natural sweeteners like honey, agave, coconut sugar, and cane juice are metabolized in the body just as other sugars. Anti-inflammatory foods have a few things in common; they contain micronutrients, antioxidants, and often, color! Check the list for some of the best studied sources. When it comes to nutrition, the small changes are the big changes. Instead of a full pantry clean-out, choose a few anti-inflammatory foods to incorporate into your routine this week.
Maria Sylvester Terry, MS, RDN, is the dietitian behind the operations, marketing, programming, and social media for Ochsner Eat Fit NOLA. Dietetics is her second career; she was previously an English teacher and is passionate about educating our community about food and nutrition.
Food Berries + Cherries Omega 3-rich Fish
How It Helps Rich in anthocyanins, antioxidants that fight inflammation
Fish like salmon and sardines contain omega-3 fatty acids which are broken down into resolvins and proteins that reduce inflammation
Chili + Bell Peppers
Packed with vitamin C and antioxidants like quercetin, sinapic acid, and ferulic acid, which contribute to healthy aging
Turmeric
Contains a powerful, bright yellow compound called curcumin, well-established for fighting inflammation in the body. Pair with black pepper for increased absorption.
Broccoli
Cruciferous vegetables are associated with decreased cardiovascular disease; broccoli contains the powerful antioxidant, sulforaphane
Avocado
Loaded with micronutrients like potassium, magnesium, and fiber, as well as monounsaturated fats that can reduce inflammation
Green Tea
Contains a potent compound and antioxidant called a catechin, which can protect against cellular damage from inflammation and free radicals
Extra Virgin Olive Oil Mushrooms Dark Chocolate
Packed with B vitamins and minerals selenium and copper, as well as antioxidants called phenols Contains flavanols, an antioxidant that protects the lining of your arteries
Great source of Vitamin C, potassium, and lycopene, known for reducing inflammation related to specific cancers. Pair with a fat for increased absorption of lycopene.
november/december 2021 | www.nolaboomers.com
Tomatoes
Contains anti-inflammatory chemical, oleocanthal
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FROM OUR B OOK SHE LF
Winter Crafts for Creativebug Fun Are you a do-it-yourselfer? Or are you not the creative type? Well, I am here to tell you that everyone can make something with their bare hands with Creativebug. Creativebug is a free online service from the New Orleans Public Library. This virtual database has more than 1,000 award-winning arts & crafts video classes taught by recognized design experts and artists. With a library card, users get unlimited access to watch classes anytime, anywhere.
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The classes that are available fall into the following categories: Art & Design, Sewing, Quilting, Paper, Knitting, Crochet, Food & Home, Jewelry, Holiday & Party, and Kids. Bonus: these classes never expire, and you can save them to your personalized watchlist, which gives you the ability to start and stop projects at your own pace. Classes are set as Beginner, Intermediate, and Expert level.
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Currently, I am learning how to make a winter garland. This is a beginner level class, taught by Alethea and Jill from Studio Choo. This class teaches me how to make a festive holiday garland using seasonal greenery. The garland uses a branch as a base for a clean, modern take on holiday garlands. The instructors show me how to work with seasonal greenery including boxwood, cedar, wax flower, and seeded eucalyptus branches. A fragrant gardenia adds an unexpected touch of elegance. If it is summertime, you may opt to use different seasonal flowers instead.
Throughout the class, Alethea shares her philosophy for creating an organic design and teaches the basics of wire wrapping to make a sturdy, long-lasting garland, perfect for hanging on the wall or using as a tabletop centerpiece. Another way to customize this project is by using faux greenery instead of the real branches. The one thing that I love about these classes is that no matter when I start the classes, I can customize them to allow for changes in the seasons. Creativebug classes provide a materials list as well as a timeline for how long the project will take to complete. The winter garland takes an estimated 15 minutes to complete. Another amazing element is that no matter when you take a class, you can contact the instructor(s) through the comment section if you have a question. If you do not like watching a video, you can either read or print the transcript of the course/ instructions for easy review. There is no pressure added with these projects, just possibilities with Creativebug! Creativebug is just one of many virtual services and databases available to all New Orleans Public Library cardholders. If you do not already have a library card, and you are a New Orleans resident, you can obtain a card by either visiting any library location or by applying online at nolalibrary.org.
Carlette Dennis is a librarian at Algiers Regional Library.
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The Arts Are Back By Sarah Batrous and Anthony Bui
The performing arts have been a staple in everyday life since as far as we can remember. From ancient Greek amphitheatres to modern day opera houses, the arts have continuously evolved and progressed throughout history. So when the stay-at-home order went into effect due to COVID-19, the arts took a long intermission. Luckily, with several precautions in place, the arts have begun making their return to the stage, continuing to provide the joy we’ve all been needing.
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Importance of the Arts
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Several key performing arts institutions in the city placed an emphasis on the overall importance of the arts to the community and the youth. Greg Lambousy, the executive director at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, states, “The performing arts are the glue that holds our cultural fabric together. It helps tell our individual and collective stories, and it gives us purpose and reason to work together in creative ways.” Anwar Nasir, the executive director of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, also chimes in, “Performing arts for the community and the youth are vital to who we are. The arts spark joy and creativity. It creates opportunities for
us to laugh, cry, and everything in between. The arts tell our stories for future generations. It provides a place for children to express themselves and build lifelong skills. The arts are an expression of who we are as human beings.” There is no denying the importance of the arts. Its impact overall is huge, but the role it plays cements its legacy as a vital part of any community, especially with the added constraint of the coronavirus. Jenny Hamilton of the New Orleans Ballet Association expresses, “During the pandemic, classes have provided much needed extracurricular activities that engage students–fostering creativity, helping them maintain a sense of enthusiasm and promoting health and wellness.” The arts have been of great benefit to the community during the pandemic, though the pandemic has affected accessibility to the arts. Performances, usually enjoyed by the multitude, are now becoming commonplace with in-home entertainment. An entirely new set of norms had to be created in order to preserve the art forms that we all know and love.
Pandemic Changes
The pandemic brought big changes to our daily
lives and businesses were not spared either. The performing arts businesses had to be innovative and quick to meld with the lockdown, mask mandates, and limitations to public spaces. A few businesses share what changes they implemented and which ones will be remaining this year. The New Orleans Opera will be continuing all of their smaller live performances, seeing that their audiences enjoyed Opera on Tap in our Yard. They found no reason not to continue these themed opera concerts held in the beautiful Guild Home yard in the Garden District. Their online programming series, ALLONS!, and virtual education programming will remain in place this season. Additionally, they hope to be live in classrooms as the pandemic gave them a wonderful opportunity to use virtual learning content to their advantage, sparking interest in schools across Louisiana. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra’s Our Music at the Museum series will continue this season for the community to hear members of their orchestra in non-traditional and other new spaces. LPOtv, their exclusive streaming home of LPO concerts, will be launched this fall for added comfort to fans who want to enjoy performances at home.
remains a challenge. However, they are more than open to offering their community some amazing entertainment and learning opportunities. The New Orleans Opera House promotes one of their more ambitious projects, The Lacrimosa Project, a music video experience named after a section of Mozart’s Requiem. Clare Burovac came up with the project as a way to showcase the New Orleans Opera Chorus, as well as acknowledge the suffering of the New Orleans community due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Alongside this project, the opera house will continue to provide virtual content for teachers to use in the classroom. They want to partner with schools and other learning institutions to give all of New Orleans’ children the opportunity to grow, learn, and discover their talents through opera as its disciplines include singing, storytelling, visual arts, orchestral performance, technical theatre, and dance.
Overall, the arts will continue to adapt to keep their staff and audiences safe. Despite the safety precautions in place, these businesses are still reaching out to the community with more public events and programs.
Community and Educational Outreach
Despite the turbulent changes, the arts will still be reaching out to the public with exciting new (and returning!) programs. To these organizations, it is vital that community outreach remains one of their top priorities, and adjusting to the current circumstances
The New Orleans Film Society is planning another hybrid in-person and virtual New Orleans Film Festival to take place between November 5 and November 21. Films will be screened across venues in New Orleans between November 5 and November 14. A lineup of over a hundred films will be available at their virtual cinema. The NOLA Jazz Museum is upping their virtual outreach this season. They have increased their capacity for broadcasting through the development of their new Education Center and Ruth U. Fertel Jazz Lab. This has allowed them to install new equipment in their performing arts center and mobile streaming capabilities for outdoor events. While in the process of connecting all of these locations, they want to create multiple sound stages for TV-style broadcasts of larger events like NOLA Riverfest and their Improvisations Gala in
The New Orleans Ballet Association offers a plethora of summer programs in collaboration with NORD centers and Tulane University. Established at NORD’s request to fill a void of senior programming following Hurricane Katrina, NOBA’s Senior Dance Fitness Program (SDF) celebrates over 10 years of providing adults ages 55 and over with free, weekly dance and movement classes. They promote participation in intergenerational performances, like the annual Nutcracker Suite and Spring Concert, and their Dance for Parkinson’s Program uniquely engages Parkinson’s patients, their families, and their caregivers with new early onset workshops added to the roster. Their Freedom of Movement Program reaches veterans of all abilities, and the weekly open community classes for ages 14 and up feature both local and guest artists leading ballet and modern dance. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will be offering their Soul Strings music therapy program which serves both students and adults with developmental disabilities in the Greater New Orleans area. This program both supports and increases the quality of life for their participants. Their music mentorship Music For Life program provides one-on-one or small group music study directly with their musicians. This year-round program allows for students from primarily low-income Title-1 schools to learn instrument technique and music theory. These events are meant to meld both the young and old alike, encouraging them to express themselves. Local arts businesses and organizations express the beauty of the performing arts with every plan, exclaiming that we are never too old or too young to start pursuing our passions. In many of these community outreach programs and events, the main goal is simply to educate every member of the community about the rich history of the performing arts. Their resolve to not be brought down despite the challenges and restraints placed on them asserts that there is nothing, not even a worldwide pandemic, that could stop these organizations from educating, entertaining, and uniting the public.
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The Jefferson Performing Arts Society, NOLA Jazz Museum, and New Orleans Ballet Association will all be requiring masks, doing temperature checks, enforcing social distancing, and implementing any future mandates for the safety of their patrons. In addition to these precautions, the NOLA Jazz Museum will also keep in place their sanitizer stations, plexiglass barriers between the front desk staff and patrons, and will utilize contact tracing when needed. Like its neighboring businesses, the New Orleans Film Society also attests that they would continue to watch the pandemic closely, following all city and state ordinances that could change rules regarding in-person screenings and attendance limitations.
The Jefferson Performing Arts Society will be offering professional workshops and master classes with guest artists this fall and inviting some of the theater kids to participate. They will also be having another student production in the spring and three more next summer. Community conversation series will continue virtually, including panels with local professors, professionals, artists, and community leaders that connect the dots between their productions onstage and daily life.
December. In regards to the NOLA Riverfest, At Sound Collage, and the Improvisations Gala, there will be around 27 bands playing.
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FIT N E S S
Health for the Holidays
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As New Orleanians, we are genetically encoded to over-indulge on food and drink, particularly during the holiday season. Fortunately for us, there are many techniques in the yoga tradition that can combat this tendency and promote healthy digestion. You might be surprised to learn that an entire section of a famous 14th-century yoga manual was allocated to gut health. After reading the author’s description of various purification techniques, one could even argue that theold-time yogis were obsessed with proper elimination and assimilation. But how might that be relevant to us folks living in the modern era who just want to feel better without doing anything too weird? Allow me to explain.
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What do you do when you want to wring out the dirty dishwater from a rag? Obviously, you fold its opposite ends together to make the rag more compact and then you twist those ends away from each other to expel the dirty water. Supposing you then want to saturate the dish rag with fresh, clean water, what do you do to make it more absorbent? You simply untwist the rag and spread it back open. In a similar sort of way, when you want to expel the toxicity from your gut, you fold and twist the abdominal organs. In order to make your gut more receptive and absorbent again, you untwist and re-spread the abdominal organs. The pulsation between folding/twisting and spreading/opening is what moves waste products out of our body in order for fresh nutrients to be ushered in. This is such a simple concept, but it was quite insightful for the people who discovered it 800 years ago because it helped keep them clean and healthy. Here’s the easiest way for you to try it for yourself:
1. Lie on your back with legs outstretched and then squeeze the inseams of your legs together. Be sure that your head is supported by a blanket or thickly-folded towel so that you feel no tension in your neck. On an exhalation, draw your right knee toward your chest. Clasp the knee with both hands, fold it even more deeply toward the chest for five more exhalations. Release the knee on an inhalation, and then repeat the same process with your left leg. 2. Once more, draw the right knee toward your chest on an exhalation. This time you’ll leave your left hand on that knee and open your right arm out wide to the right. On your next exhalation, drop the knee over to the left so that you feel a twisting sensation along your whole torso. Leave the right knee where it is and rotate the abdomen in the opposite direction. You should feel a “wringing out” quality to the belly, similar to the dirty dish rag. Repeat this same process with your left leg. 3. Finally, bend both knees toward your chest and put the soles of your feet flat on the ground. From there, bring the soles of your feet together and drop the knees out away from each other. If this is stressful for your hips, knees, or lower back in any way, then support your outer legs with blankets or thickly-folded towels. Notice the lengthening and widening of your abdomen. Direct your inhalations into that wide, open space, and savor the feeling of lightness in your belly. I hope that this simple practice helps you find solace and ease in the midst of holiday hedonism.
Geoffrey Roniger is the owner of Yoga Unbound on Freret Street. He has been teaching full time for nearly two decades and is considered an expert in the field of adaptive yoga. Check out his latest creation, a comprehensive instructional video program made specifically for older adults: vimeo.com/ondemand/geoffreyyogaolderadults. Enter the promo code “NOLABoomers” and you’ll be able to download the entire thing for free.
november/december 2021 | www.nolaboomers.com
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Healthy Knees, Please!
How to Prevent and Repair Knee Problems By Cheryl Harbour Keeping your joints healthy is absolutely essential if you’re going to stay active and enjoy life. Almost everyone knows someone who’s had a knee replacement. But there are still many people walking around with pain, wondering whether knee surgery is in their future. So what is the latest on preventing and fixing knee problems? Here is some of the best information we’ve found.
How do you know if you’re going to have knee problems?
Do knee problems come from too much or too little activity? As people get older, they sometimes get less active. And they also start having knee stiffness or pain. It’s not necessarily a coincidence. The common thinking now is that activity is good for your joints, even if you have some arthritis. Of course, it’s important to use common sense. We know an otherwise healthy woman who took up running at age 65 when she retired, and eight months later, she was having arthroscopic surgery–a procedure to diagnose and treat a variety of problems.
If your knees seem healthy now, what steps can you take to condition and protect them? You might already know some of the answers–from avoiding weight gain to taking time to stretch to choosing the right shoes.
Are there any new advances that will replace knee replacement? One of the alternatives being considered is injection therapy. The Knee Restoration Center also mentions cartilage restoration as an alternative to knee replacement surgery–but at this time says “current restoration is ‘filling pot-holes’ in a road and arthritis is damage to the entire road surface.” You may also hear about something called “geniculate artery embolization (GAE),” a minimally invasive, image-guided treatment that blocks key arteries in the knee to reduce inflammation and pain.
Which sport is toughest on your knees?
Another treatment under trial is “The Calypso Knee System.” The first of these kinds of surgeries were performed at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center by Dr. David Flanigan. They implanted a device that works like a shock absorber to take the pressure off the inside of the knee while walking. This is seen as a “bridge toward total knee replacement, giving patients years, if not a couple of decades, before a total knee replacement is required.”
Although most people–including our friend mentioned above–would probably answer running, there are other sports that can be equally harmful. According to information from pain experts, skiing ranks at the
As always–consult a doctor you trust. And good luck with your knees. Original source: readgrand.com
november/december 2021 | www.nolaboomers.com
Some kinds of knee pain come from old injuries–for example, a torn ACL or meniscus. For most people, the problems come from wear and tear that results in osteoarthritis. Some early–and more subtle and progressive–signs are: having stiffness, hearing “popping” or “crunching” noises when you bend your knee, having pain when you bear weight or your knee tends to “give out,” being unable to fully extend or flex your knee, having swelling or fluid build-up around your kneecap.
top of the list, followed by plyometric exercise (such as squats, burpees, and lunges), basketball, singles tennis, soccer, golf and, yes–running.
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COVER STORY
Givonna Joseph of OperaCréole Celebrates the Operatic History of Our Great City Photos by Twirl Photography
By Mari Walker
The global pandemic made huge impacts on Givonna Joseph’s life in 2020. Restrictions hit hard for OperaCréole, the organization she founded and runs with her daughter, Aria Mason. When the pandemic struck, elaborate plans for a season culminating in the nonprofit’s 10th anniversary were all shut down.
never been a person who has said there’s only one way to do something, and a lot of that comes from my mom,” Mason says. “She’s always made a lane for herself. And growing up with that kind of example has been invaluable for me.”
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Joseph serves as OperaCréole’s director, and Mason is its production director. The nonprofit is dedicated to performing works by composers of African descent, especially from 19th century New Orleans free people of color.
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Luckily, the pandemic brought a personal silver lining. Mason and husband Henri Mason-Folse welcomed baby Amara Mason-Folse three weeks into the spring 2020 shutdown, and with the birth of her granddaughter, Joseph became “Mamère,” her favorite role to date.
Creating Her Lane in the Big Easy
Born at the tail end of the Baby Boomer generation, operatic sounds have filled Joseph’s entire life. “I started singing before I could get sentences out,” she says. Her parents exposed her to all kinds of music in her early years, and her career as a mezzo-soprano was sparked when she followed voice teacher Charles Paddock to Loyola University. “He’s the one who planted the bug, so to speak,” Joseph says. “He made me believe that it was something I could do.” In developing her career, Joseph has passed down lessons to her daughter, whom she named Aria as a way of calling something into existence. Like her mother, Mason is a successful mezzo-soprano. “I’ve
As a native New Orleanian, Joseph is deeply committed to the city’s culture. OperaCréole shares the history of opera in New Orleans, specifically the contributions of Black opera creators over hundreds of years. “We wanted to just go where people were and let them hear our voices and begin to tell the stories of who we really are,” Joseph says. Joseph’s and Mason’s strengths have balanced each other out while bringing operas to life, many of which were previously unknown to audiences. “Often, the shows we do have no guidebook,” Mason says. “Half the time, there aren’t even stage notes. If the show’s been performed at all, it was once a hundred years ago, so we’re really having to create something out of nothing.”
Uncovering Connections Between Jazz and Opera
New Orleans is known for jazz and nurturing the development of that art. Part of OperaCréole’s work has been to bring to light the connections between opera and the birth of jazz, two worlds often much too separated but intricately linked. OperaCréole has been part of New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival for nearly 10 years, performing each year in the kids’ tent, projects the mother-daughter duo craft artistically together. The organization plans to be part of Jazz Fest’s return.
Black Excellence in Opera
Blessings During the Pandemic
OperaCréole has changed many people’s perceptions of opera by presenting “how long we’ve been creating it–not just performing it, but creating it.”
Dreams for a Bright Future
Opera is arguably considered the most elaborate art form known to humankind. It’s technically very difficult, and Black creators have excelled in all opera’s facets. Opera may be presented as overwhelmingly white, but “this is our music, too,” Joseph says.
One of the ways OperaCréole shares its message of Black operatic excellence to the community is by inviting groups like students from Son of a Saint to rehearsals. Joseph says she hopes to do more in the future with the organization serving fatherless boys in the city. The word creole means “native to the place,” like creole tomatoes are native to Louisiana, and that was the inspiration for naming their nonprofit OperaCréole. “In that spirit, it’s nothing about color. It’s about the history that is native to this place and the African diaspora in general,” Joseph says. Joseph has worked closely with the New Orleans Opera on its diversity committee, “developing a great diversity statement and looking at things that can change in terms of behind the scenes, not just hiring singers, but who’s on staff, who’s backstage,” Joseph says. “There’s been a lot of good development in that direction, and I’m just really excited about that.”
Joseph has found blessings in technology throughout the restrictions required by COVID-19, allowing her to connect with others using Zoom, making presentations, and teaching and sharing her work with organizations, universities, and festivals around the country from home. Technology also allowed Joseph to keep an eye on granddaughter Amara while she was in the NICU for the first five months of her life. A future goal is to honor New Orleanian free composer of color Edmond Dédé, born in 1829, who wrote five operas, only one of which still exists but has never been performed. “One of the things I really want to see our city do is honor this person of our history,” Joseph says. “We still have unheard works we need to unearth, and we need support to do that.” The mother-daughter team have big dreams for the future of OperaCréole, including producing films of their productions as features and shorts, preserving the work for posterity. They also hope to build out their staff and programs, creating a pipeline for training not just for performance but also production and backstage work. Plans for next spring include a concert celebrating contributions of Black women in the suffragette movement and beyond: “From Ida B. Wells to Kamala Harris.” Joseph has lived her life with an integral mantra as she’s blazed her own trail as a performer, teacher, writer, advocate, and public speaker. “The worst thing you can do in your life is put yourself in a box,” she says. “You don’t have to believe what other people believe.”
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6 Tips for Traveling Safely By Nola Boomers One of the perks of getting older is having more time to devote to recreation and traveling. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, there are roughly 52 million people who are age 65 or older in the United States. With a $1.6 trillion total net worth, seniors spend more on groceries, pharmaceutical items and travel and leisure than any other demographic.
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Age does not have to restrict one’s ability to travel, and with age comes experience and more opportunities to enjoy travel. Before taking off for parts unknown, men and women over 50 can take steps to ensure their excursions are as safe as they are memorable.
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1. Consider risk. The coronavirus pandemic of 2020 taught the world that situations can change rapidly. Before booking any travel, weigh the risks and the benefits of a trip. Determine if COVID-19 is spreading where you live or at your destination. Older adults have a higher risk for severe illness caused by the virus. Until you are vaccinated, it may be best to wait to travel.
Boomer demographic–travel insurance can be essential for older travelers. Older travelers may be more at risk of falling or getting sick and some may need extra medication if travel is interrupted or delayed. Travel insurance can provide extra coverage for a relatively low price if something goes wrong. 4. Don’t advertise your absence. It may be tempting to upload photos of your beachside vacation to social media as you are immersed in paradise. Unfortunately, seniors tend to be targets for thieves because they are seen as vulnerable. Don’t make the job easier by advertising you are away from home. In addition, have a neighbor periodically pick up your mail and set lights on timers to give the impression you are home even when you’re not. 5. Share your itinerary. Keep loved ones apprised of your general travel itinerary, especially if you are traveling solo, recommends AARP. Keep a mobile phone on you at all times.
2. Use senior-friendly services. Seek out travel services that offer the best perks for older adults. Many travel providers no longer offer senior discounts, but they may offer other benefits, such as early boarding or assistance with traveling from gates to baggage areas.
6. Pack copies of important documents. In the event paperwork is lost while traveling, request copies of prescriptions and/or statements of medical conditions from each physician and medical treatment center so you have a second set. Keep copies of your passport, driver’s license, insurance cards, travel tickets, and other documents as well.
3. Get travel insurance. According to Liz Dahl, co-founder of Boomer Travel Patrol–a website featuring expert advice geared toward the Baby
Seniors have the ability to travel much more than other age groups. Make the experience enjoyable by focusing on safety.
ON THE GO
NOVEMBER 2 Tuesday
TELL IT TO ME SWEET Noma Sculpture Garden at 7 p.m. This play is the perfect way to explore the new addition to the Besthoff Sculpture Garden while experiencing live theatre that is bold, fun, family-friendly, and COVID-safe. noma.org
3 Wednesday
PELICAN GREENHOUSE PLANT SALE #2 Celebration Drive - City Park at 9 a.m. The New Orleans Botanical Garden hosts plant sales with a wide variety of plants, including annuals, perennials, roses, gingers, edibles, succulents, and native plants. neworleanscitypark.com
OPERATION HOME FRONT The National WWII Museum from November 4-7. Travel to The National WWII Museum to explore, remember, and reflect on World War II through exclusive access to the Museum’s campus. nationalww2museum.org WARDROBE: FASHION ON THE RATIONS BB’s Stage Door Canteen from 6-9 p.m. The National WWII Museum and New Orleans Fashion Week present an evening of 1940s fashion with a modern twist. nationalww2museum.org
NEW ORLEANS FILM FESTIVAL The festival screens 170 films from across the globe, including more than 25 features and documentaries at local theaters, including outoor shows at The Broadside, and most films are available online as well. neworleansfilmsociety.org SWING THAT MUSIC: A TRIBUTE TO LOUIS ARMSTRONG BB’s Stage Door Canteen at 7 p.m. New Orleans jazz legend and former bandleader for the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Wendell Brunious, pays tribute to the great Louis Armstrong. nationalww2museum.org
6 Saturday
ABITA FALL FEST Abita Springs Trailhead Museum from 10:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m. Music on two stages, food & drinks, the Kid Zone with activities and entertainment from the “Pumpkin Stage,” and the Interactive Circle for all ages. abitafallfest.com GRETNA FARMERS MARKET Gretna Farmers Market from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Enjoy fresh local produce and crafts at the Gretna Farmers Market, rain or shine, under the covered Gretna Market Building, Huey P. Long Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets in historic downtown Gretna. gretnala.com
7 Sunday
SAINTS VS, ATLANTA FALCONS Caesars Superdome at noon. Cheer on the New Orleans Saints as they take on the Atlanta
Falcons in the Superdome. caesarssuperdome.com
8 Monday
CURTAIN CALL Le Petit Théâtre du Vieux Carré at 6:30 p.m. Signature cocktails and delicious Creoleinspired food from Tableau start the cocktail hour. Guests then move to the theatre for a live performance featuring Kathleen Monteleone and a host of local favorites. A live auction with art and experiences rounds out the evening and concludes with an afterparty. lepetittheatre.com
9 Tuesday
TELL IT TO ME SWEET Noma Sculpture Garden at 7 p.m. This play is the perfect way to explore the new addition to the Besthoff Sculpture Garden while experiencing live theatre that is bold, fun, family-friendly, and COVID-safe. noma.org
10 Wednesday
TOOTSIE Saenger Theatre at 7:30 p.m. Based on the motion picture, the stage musical tells the story of Michael Dorsey, a talented but difficult actor who struggles to find work until one showstopping act of desperation lands him the role of a lifetime, featuring a Tony-winning book by Robert Horn and score by 2018 Tony winner David Yazbek. saengernola.com
12 Friday
KEN PEPLOWSKI QUARTET Jazz at the Blue Dog at 8 p.m. (504) 525-2500
november/december 2021 | www.nolaboomers.com
4 Thursday
DINNER AND A MOVIE: THE BIG LEBOWSKI NOCHI from 6-9 p.m. Enjoy an intimate movie screening with a themed dinner and cocktail pairing, all in NOCHI’s stunning rooftop spaces. nochi.org
5 Friday
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13 Saturday
BAYOU PADDLESPORTS DOG DAY Bayou St. John from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Paddling isn’t just for humans. On Dog Day, you can bring your canine friends along with you. bayoupaddlesports.com COVINGTON THREE RIVERS ART FESTIVAL Downtown Covington, 200-600 Blocks of Columbia St., from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Free concert at 7 p.m. Saturday at Covington Trailhead. The 25th annual Three Rivers Art Festival, one of the largest juried art festivals in the region and most popular events on the Northshore, brings art lovers to downtown Covington each year for two full days of shopping and entertainment. louisiananorthshore.com GRETNA FARMERS MARKET Gretna Farmers Market from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Enjoy fresh local produce and crafts at the Gretna Farmers Market, rain or shine, under the covered Gretna Market Building, Huey P. Long Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets in historic downtown Gretna. gretnala.com
14 Sunday
| november/december 2021 www.nolaboomers.com
17 Wednesday
park’s maintenance, care, and beautification year round. Make memories with your loved ones in City Park this holiday season. neworleanscitypark.com
PELICAN GREENHOUSE PLANT SALE #2 Celebration Drive - City Park. at 9 a.m. The New Orleans Botanical Garden hosts plant sales with a wide variety of plants including annuals, perennials, roses, gingers, edibles, succulents, and native plants. neworleanscitypark.com
SAINTS VS. BUFFALO BILLS Caesars Superdome at 7:20 p.m. Cheer on the New Orleans Saints as they take on the Buffalo Bills in the Superdome. caesarssuperdome.com
18 Thursday
BAYOU CLASSIC BATTLE OF THE BANDS Caesars Superdome at 7 p.m. Before Southern University takes on Grambling State in the Bayou Classic on Saturday, the annual Battle of the Bands and Greek show kicks off the weekend of events. Don’t miss Southern University’s human jukebox and Grambling’s band square off inside the Superdome. caesarssuperdome.com
DINNER AND A MOVIE: THE BREAKFAST CLUB NOCHI from 6-9 p.m. Enjoy an intimate movie screening with a themed dinner and cocktail pairing, all in NOCHI’s stunning rooftop spaces. nochi.org
19 Friday
FRIDAY NIGHTS ON THE SQUARE TerraBella Village at 5:30 p.m. A concert series featuring Four Unplugged brings together local bands and food and beverage vendors right in the Town Square. terrabellavillage.com
20 Saturday
COVINGTON THREE RIVERS ART FESTIVAL Downtown Covington, 200-600 Blocks of Columbia St., from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The 25th annual Three Rivers Art Festival, one of the largest juried art festivals in the region and most popular events on the Northshore, brings art lovers to downtown Covington each year for two full days of shopping and entertainment. louisiananorthshore.com
GRETNA FARMERS MARKET Gretna Farmers Market from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Enjoy fresh local produce and crafts at the Gretna Farmers Market, rain or shine, under the covered Gretna Market Building, Huey P. Long Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets in historic downtown Gretna. gretnala.com
16 Tuesday
CELEBRATION IN THE OAKS New Orleans City Park through January 2, 2022. This incredible light festival has enchanted park visitors since the 1980s and is vital to the
WILLIE NELSON & FAMILY Saenger Theatre at 8 p.m. Live performances
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by musician, author, actor, and activist Willie Nelson. saengernola.com
25 Thursday
26 Friday
27 Saturday
BAYOU CLASSIC: SOUTHERN VS. GRAMBLING PRESENTED BY PROCTER & GAMBLE Caesars Superdome at 4 p.m. This annual event is one of the country’s greatest college sports rivalries, bringing the fans and alumni of Southern University and Grambling State University to New Orleans each November. A week of events featuring a parade, fan festival and battle of the bands culminates with Saturday’s Bayou Classic football match-up. caesarssuperdome.com GRETNA FARMERS MARKET Gretna Farmers Market from 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. Enjoy fresh local produce and crafts at the Gretna Farmers Market, rain or shine, under the covered Gretna Market Building, Huey P. Long Avenue between 3rd and 4th Streets in historic downtown Gretna. gretnala.com
DECEMBER 1 Wednesday
ALLMAN FAMILY REVIVAL + RIVER KITTENS Saenger Theatre at 7:45 p.m. The Allman Family Revival is a celebration of the life, spirit, and music of Gregg Allman, hosted by his son, Blues Music Award winning Devon Allman and anchored by his group, The Allman Betts Band. saengernola.com CELEBRATION IN THE OAKS New Orleans City Park through January 2, 2022. This incredible light festival has enchanted park visitors since the 1980s and is vital to the park’s maintenance, care, and beautification year round. Make memories with your loved ones in City Park this holiday season. neworleanscitypark.com
3 Friday
LPO HOLIDAY SPECTACULAR Orpheum Theatre at 7:30 p.m. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra features a program of popular Christmas tunes, performed by local NOLA artists.lpomusic.com MID-CITY JEWELRY & ART MARKET Studio 414 from 6-9 p.m. Support local artists. Includes an amazing vintage jewelry selection, good eats, drinks, and music. Visitors get to experience their exclusive free Augmented Reality Interactive Art Trail, where art comes to life.
music, & a second line. urbansouthbrewery.com
THE AMAZING ACRO-CATS The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret at 7 p.m. For the month of December, the Amazing Acro-Cats feature their Meowy Catmas special. Celebrate Christmas (or Catmas) with them by watching cats jump through wreaths, roll an ornament, push a sleigh and perform an array of other seasonal tricks. Real rescued house cats that delight and amaze audiences of all ages. theallwayslounge.net
SIPS & SLICES: COCKTAIL AND PIE PAIRING WITH BYWATER BAKERY Sazerac House at 4 p.m. What is the holiday season without decadent desserts and boozy beverages? Join them as they explore the history and craft of desserts and bourbon cocktails. sazerachouse.com
4 Saturday
HOLIDAY WREATH MAKING WORKSHOP Longue Vue House and Gardens from 10-11:30 a.m. Support Longue Vue and gain some crafting skills. Grab some friends and join Amy Graham, Longue Vue Director of Gardens, in the decorated Playhouse to make your own stunning gold magnolia wreath, using leaves they have harvested on site. All materials are provided and light snacks are served. longuevue.com HOLIDAY TREE LIGHTING, COURTYARD AND HOME TOUR Your tour includes visiting a lovely Greek Revival Townhome beautifully decorated for Christmas. Hear stories of Christmas Past. Saunter to the next home, an 1818 Creole Cottage, for a Tree Lighting Ceremony to celebrate Christmas Present. Christmas Future is the best surprise. eventbrite.com UNMASKED DREAMS MASQUERADE Urban South Brewery from 7-10 p.m. Raising funds for Depaul USA and SVDP NOLA to support housing and stability, with dining, live
7 Tuesday
THE ELF ON THE SHELF: A CHRISTMAS MUSICAL Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts at 6 p.m. Scout Elves return to center stage for the musical inspired by the beloved box set, a spectacle of music and dance that transports audiences to the North Pole to glimpse the lives of the elves. Tickets start at $29.50. saengernola.com
11 Saturday ART MARKET PRESENTED BY ARTS COUNCIL NEW ORLEANS Arts Market New Orleans takes place every second Saturday of the month in City Park from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on the Goldring/Woldenberg Great Lawn. Take a stroll and discover a variety of artworks from jewelry and ceramics to paintings and woodworks. artsneworleans.org OUT OF DARKNESS WALK 2021 LaSalle Park from 9 a.m.-noon. American Foundation for Suicide Prevention walk of support. supporting.afsp.org
14 Tuesday
november/december 2021 | www.nolaboomers.com
2 Thursday
SAINTS VS. DALLAS COWBOYS Caesars Superdome at 7:20 p.m. Cheer on the New Orleans Saints as they take on the Dallas Cowboys in the Superdome. caesarssuperdome.com
neworleans.com
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CATS Saenger Theatre through December 19. CATS, the record-breaking musical spectacular by Andrew Lloyd Webber that has captivated audiences in over 30 countries and 15 languages, is now on tour across North America. saengernola.com
16 Thursday
CLASSICAL CHRISTMAS WITH THE LPO Orpheum Theater at 7:30 p.m. The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra features a program of classical Christmas. orpheumnola.com
17 Friday
DINNER AND A MOVIE: A CHRISTMAS STORY NOCHI from 6-9 p.m. Enjoy an intimate movie screening with a themed dinner and cocktail pairing, all in NOCHI’s stunning rooftop spaces. nochi.org NOLA CHRISTMAS FEST 2021 New Orleans Convention Center from December 17-30. NOLA ChristmasFest, a family-friendly seasonal event, offers your group the perfect opportunity to get into the holiday spirit, make a little joy, and spread a little cheer. Experience a real indoor ice skating rink, ice slides, carnival rides, Santa and friends, Gingerbread houses, and decorated trees. nolachristmasfest.com
19 Sunday
CAROLING IN JACKSON SQUARE Jackson Square at 7 p.m. Community singalong for visitors and locals alike. The historic Square is illuminated by candlelight as thousands enjoy belting out holiday favorites. Complimentary songbooks and candles are provided. neworleans.com
www.nolaboomers.com
| november/december 2021
HOLIDAY HOME TOUR
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French Quarter New Orleans from 1-4 p.m. Savor the holiday spirit by touring French Quarter residences dressed for the season. This self-guided walking tour is sponsored by Patio Planters of the Vieux Carre’ and includes a variety of architectural styles, homes from several historical periods, unique decorations, and holiday collections. patioplanters.net
20 Monday
THE AMAZING ACRO-CATS The AllWays Lounge & Cabaret at 7 p.m. For the month of December, the Amazing Acro-Cats feature their Meowy Catmas special. Celebrate Christmas (or Catmas) with them by watching cats jump through wreaths, roll an ornament, push a sleigh, and perform an array of other seasonal tricks. Real rescued house cats that delight and amaze audiences of all ages. theallwayslounge.net
24 Friday - CHRISTMAS EVE 25 Saturday - CHRISTMAS 27 Monday
SAINTS VS. MIAMI DOLPHINS Caesars Superdome at 7:20 p.m. Cheer on the New Orleans Saints as they take on the Miami Dolphins in the Superdome. caesarssuperdome.com
28 Tuesday
HADESTOWN Saenger Theatre through January 2. Welcome to Hadestown, where a song can change your fate. saengernola.com
29 Wednesday
21 Tuesday
HADESTOWN Saenger Theatre through January 2. Welcome to Hadestown, where a song can change your fate. saengernola.com
23 Thursday
HADESTOWN Saenger Theatre through January 2. Welcome to Hadestown, where a song can change your fate. saengernola.com
SARAH BRIGHTMAN: A CHRISTMAS SYMPHONY Saenger Theatre at 8 p.m. Performance by Sarah Brightman. saengernola.com MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER CHRISTMAS Saenger Theatre at 8 p.m. saengernola.com
22 Wednesday
A SWINGING CHRISTMAS BB’s Stage Door Canteen from 11:45 a.m. 1:45 p.m. Victory Belles celebrate the season with a sleigh full of swinging holiday hits. Their beautiful Belle harmony dazzles on “Sleigh Ride,” “Winter Wonderland,” “Jingle Bells,” and “ Let it Snow.” nationalww2museum.org
30 Thursday
31 Friday - NEW YEAR’S EVE
BIG NIGHT NEW ORLEANS NEW YEAR’S EVE Hyatt Regency New Orleans at 9 p.m. This all-inclusive NYE party will feature Big Freedia, Tank and the Bangas and Paola Shea. bignightneworleans.com HADESTOWN Saenger Theatre through January 2. Welcome to Hadestown, where a song can change your fate. saengernola.com
s e i b e e r F
MUSEUMS & EXHIBITIONS Bounyful Green Market
Sundays
Historic Algiers Point @ 149 Delaronde St. Open every 1st & 3rd Sunday of the month. Enjoy some fresh produce, pastries, and other unique finds from their assortment of local vendors. 10 a.m.-1 p.m. bounyfulgreenmarket.com
CAC
900 Camp St. Each Sunday, Louisiana residents receive free admission to the Contemporary Arts Center, courtesy of The Helis Foundation. 11 a.m.-5 p.m. cacno.org
Longue Vue House and Gardens
7 Bamboo Road. On the 1st Sunday of every month, free admission for Louisiana families. Bring a picnic, explore the children’s Discovery Garden, and stroll the gardens. Reservations required. 1-5 p.m. longuevue.com
Tuesdays Crescent City Market: Uptown
200 Broadway St. at the River. The Crescent City Farmers Market operates weekly, year-round throughout New Orleans. They host nearly 60 local small farmers, fishers, and food producers, and more than 150,000 shoppers annually. 8 a.m.-noon. crescentcityfarmersmarket.org
Audubon Zoo
Wednesdays
6500 Magazine St. On the 3rd Wednesday of each month, Orleans Parish residents with ID proof of residency get free admission, up to four guests to Audubon Zoo. See website for COVID requirements for entry. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. audubonnatureinstitute.org
Covington Farmers Market
1 Canal St. On the 1st Thursday of each month, Orleans Parish residents with ID proof of residency get free admission, up to four guests, to Audubon Aquarium of the Americas. See website for COVID requirements for entry. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. audubonnatureinstitute.org
Crescent City Market: Mid-City
500 Norman C. Francis Pkwy. The Crescent City Farmers Market operates weekly, year-round throughout New Orleans. They host nearly 60 local small farmers, fishers, and food producers, and more than 150,000 shoppers annually. 3-7 p.m. crescentcityfarmersmarket.org
Ogden Museum
925 Camp St. Each Thursday, Louisiana residents receive free admission to the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, courtesy of The Helis Foundation. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ogdenmuseum.org
Saturdays Covington Farmers Market
The Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Covington Farmers Market is a convivial community of producers and consumers of homegrown fresh produce, prepared food and music. They gather every Wednesday and Saturday morning. On Saturdays, expect to find music, usually a local musician, food, and free samples from a local chef. Wednesdays feature some great lunch possibilities with an acoustic music jam. covingtonfarmersmarket.org
Gretna Farmers Market
739 Third St., Gretna. Open each Saturday, enjoy fresh local produce and crafts, rain or shine, under the covered Gretna Market Building. 8:30 a.m.12:30 p.m. gretnala.com
Art Market Presented by Arts Council New Orleans
City Park. Every second Saturday of the month from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Take a stroll and discover a variety of artworks from jewelry and ceramics to paintings and woodworks. Every market, they feature more than 30 local and Gulf South artists who showcase handmade works. artsneworleans.org
MUSIC & LEARNING NEW ORLEANS PUBLIC LIBRARY
New Orleans Botanical Garden
Saturdays What If?–Speculative Fiction Short Story Club (Virtual)
NOMA
Virtual Creative Writing Workshop
5 Victory Ave. Each Wednesday, Louisiana residents receive free admission to the New Orleans Botanical Garden, courtesy of The Helis Foundation. Limited admission. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. neworleanscitypark.com One Collins Diboll Circle, City Park. Each Wednesday, Louisiana residents receive free admission to the New Orleans Museum of Art, courtesy of The Helis Foundation. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. noma.org
Thursdays
Discuss two stories in the genres of fantasy, science fiction, horror, alternate history, and/or weird fiction. Registration required. nolalibrary.org Writers will create, share, and critique original works while learning to develop their own voice and style. Registration required. nolalibrary.org
Who Dun It? Mystery Book Club (Virtual)
Solve crimes together and discover “who dun it” on Zoom. Each month, a new selection will be unveiled. Registration required. nolalibrary.org
november/december 2021 | www.nolaboomers.com
The Covington Trailhead, 419 N. New Hampshire, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. The Covington Farmers Market is a convivial community of producers and consumers of homegrown fresh produce, prepared food, and music. They gather every Wednesday and Saturday morning. On Saturdays, expect to find music, usually a local musician, food, and free samples from a local chef. Wednesdays feature some great lunch possibilities with an acoustic music jam. covingtonfarmersmarket.org
Audubon Aquarium of the Americas
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Live Comfortably on Less By Nola Boomers
www.nolaboomers.com
| november/december 2021
Many people look toward retirement with mixed feelings. There is the anticipation and excitement of no longer having to stick to a set schedule. However, there may be some trepidation about living without a steady income.
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Bloomberg financial experts found the number of Americans ages 65 and older without a disability that weren’t in the labor force rose to 800,000 in the fourth quarter of 2016. This has become a long-standing trend of Baby Boomers leaving the workforce and entering retirement. Yet, a Statistics Canada study of people between the ages 60 and 64 who had left long-term employment found 43 percent of them were working again, most within a year of leaving their job. Although boredom may have compelled many of those people to reenter the workforce, some may have started working again to make ends meet. Researchers found the higher the earnings in one’s late 40s, the more likely a retiree is to go back to work. While retirees may need to alter their spending habits, it is possible to live happily on less. Here are some ways to do just that. Accurately assess home expenses. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling says the cost of home-related expenses accounts for roughly 45 percent of spending for retirees. Individuals can add up exactly how much their homes are costing them and then decide if downsizing is a practical solution. Downsizing has a host of benefits, not the least of which is reducing housing-related expenses.
Invest in health care. Unexpected health care costs can quickly deplete individuals’ finances. That’s why it is essential to have a solid insurance plan in place. Health care planning also may include thinking ahead to long-term care, such as assisted living and nursing homes. One may have to make concessions elsewhere, but investing in health care can assuage concerns men and women might have about the cost of living in their golden years. Use alternative transportation. Cars can be expensive. A budget-friendly alternative to driving is to use public transportation or transportation services provided to seniors free or for nominal fees. Take advantage of senior discounts. Many restaurants, stores and service centers offer discounts to seniors. The starting age for discounts may vary from store to store, so always ask before cashing out. Shop for food differently. Bulk buys may have been appropriate for men and women when there were kids running around, but empty-nesters can cut back on food expenses. Shopping sales and making more meals at home can help seniors save money. The market research firm NPD Group found that in-home meals cost roughly one-third of what it costs to eat the same food at a restaurant. Save dining out for special occasions. Retirees can make changes to save money without negatively affecting their quality of life.
Senior Care DI R ECTO RY
Adult Daycare Centers
John J. Hainkel, Jr. Home & Rehabilitation Center 612 Henry Clay Ave. New Orleans, LA 70118 (504) 896-5900 hainkelhome.com
PACE Greater New Orleans 4201 N. Rampart St. New Orleans, LA 70117 (504) 941-6507 pacegno.org
Kingsley House 1600 Constance St. New Orleans, LA 70130 (504) 523-6221 kingsleyhouse.org
Poydras Home 5354 Magazine St. New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 897-0535 poydrashome.com
november/december 2021 | www.nolaboomers.com
Facilities that provide meals, structured activities, transportation, and social interaction for people with cognitive or functional impairments, usually serving those 80 and older. Adult daycare centers also offer a safe place to go when family caregivers are at work, run errands, or just need a break. On-site and on-call medical professionals, transportation, and field trips and activities are provided.
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Assisted Living
Assisted Living
Focused on daily living tasks, including bathing, dressing, and eating. Residents usually live in their own rooms and share common areas. They have access to three meals a day; help with medications, housekeeping, and laundry; 24-hour supervision, security and on-site staff; and social and recreational activities.
Avanti Senior Living at Covington 2234 Watercross Pkwy. Covington, LA 70433 (985) 317-6110 covington.avanti-sl.com Beau Provence 100 Beau West Dr. Mandeville, LA 70471 (985) 869-5118 beauprovence.com Brookdale Mandeville 1414 N. Causeway Blvd. Mandeville, LA 70471 (985) 200-0202 brookdale.com/en/communities/ brookdale-mandeville.html
www.nolaboomers.com
| november/december 2021
Christwood Retirement Community 100 Christwood Blvd. Covington, LA 70433 (985) 898-0515 christwoodrc.com
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Good Samaritan Rehabilitation & Nursing Center 4021 Cadillac St. New Orleans, LA 70122 (504) 246-7900 goodsamaritanrehabandnursing. com HomeLife in the Gardens 1101 Aline St.
New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 894-6100 homelifeinthegardens.com
Laketown Village 1600 Joe Yenni Blvd. Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 322-3995 pegasusseniorliving.com/ laketown-village Lambeth House 150 Broadway St. New Orleans, LA 70118 (504) 865-1960 lambethhouse.com St. Anthony’s Gardens 601 Holy Trinity Dr. Covington, LA 70433 (985) 238-4310 stanthonysgardens.org St. Francis Villa Assisted Living 10411 Jefferson Hwy. River Ridge, LA 70123 (504) 738-1060 stfrancisvilla.com St. Margaret’s at Belleville 813 Pelican Ave. New Orleans, LA 70114 (504) 362-7166 facebook.com/BellevilleALF Sunrise of Metairie 3732 W. Esplanade Ave. Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 273-4366
sunriseseniorliving.com
The Atrium Assisted Living 6555 Park Manor Dr. Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 454-6635 The Trace by Discovery Senior Living 19432 Crawford Rd. Covington, LA 70433 (985) 249.7676 thetraceseniorliving.com The Windsor Senior Living Community 1770 N. Causeway Blvd. Mandeville, LA 70471 (985) 624-8040 windsorseniorliving.com Tranquil Living 4500 Leo St. Marrero, LA 70072 (504) 304-9925 tranquilliving.net Ville St. Marie Senior Living Community 4112 Jefferson Hwy. New Orleans, LA 70124 (504) 834-3164 villestemarie.com Vista Shores 5958 St. Bernard Ave. New Orleans, LA 70122 (504) 288-3734 vistashores.com
Retirement Retirement Communities/Continuum Of Care Retirement Communities
A retirement community is a residential community or housing complex designed for older adults who are generally able to care for themselves. Activities and socialization are often provided. Continuing care retirement communities offer different levels of service in one location, which varies by facility. A resident might move from level to another depending on their specific needs. Healthcare services and recreation programs are also provided.
Chateau de Notre Dame 2832 Burdette St. New Orleans, LA 70118 (504) 866-2741 cdnd.org Christwood Retirement Community 100 Christwood Blvd. Covington, LA 70433 (985) 898-0515 christwoodrc.com Jo Ellen Smith Living Center 4502 General Meyer Ave. New Orleans, LA 70131 (504) 361-7923 jesliving.com
Lambeth House
Landing at Behrman Place 3601 Behrman Pl. New Orleans, LA 70114 (504) 208-2038 sunshineretirement living.com Nouveau Marc 1101 Sunset Blvd. Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 353-9314 holidayseniorliving.com Poydras Home 5354 Magazine St. New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 897-0535 poydrashome.com St. Anthony’s Gardens 601 Holy Trinity Dr. Covington, LA 70433 (985) 288-1075
stanthonysgardens.org
The Trace by Discovery Senior Living 19432 Crawford Rd. Covington, LA 70433 (985) 249-7676 thetraceseniorliving.com The Windsor Senior Living Community 1770 N. Causeway Blvd. Mandeville, LA 70471 (985) 624-8040 windsorseniorliving.com Ville St. Marie Senior Living Community 4112 Jefferson Hwy. New Orleans, LA 70124 (504) 834-3164 villestemarie.com Woldenberg Village 3701 Behrman Pl. New Orleans, LA 70114 (504) 367-5640 touro.com/ woldenberg-village
november/december 2021 | www.nolaboomers.com
Laketown Village 1600 Joe Yenni Blvd. Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 322-3995 pegasussenior living.com/ laketown-village
150 Broadway St. New Orleans, LA 70118 (504) 865-1960 lambethhouse.com
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Memory
Memory Care Homes
Memory care is a distinct form of long-term care designed to meet the specific needs of a person with Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, or other types of memory problems.
Avanti Senior Living at Covington 2234 Watercross Pkwy. Covington, LA 70433 (985) 317-6110 covington.avanti-sl.com
Bayside Healthcare Center
5600 General DeGaulle Dr. New Orleans, LA 70131 (504) 394-5991 olwhealth.org
Brookdale Mandeville
Peristyle Residence Lakeview House
Christwood Retirement Community 100 Christwood Blvd. Covington, LA 70433 (985) 898-0515 christwoodrc.com
Harvard House
4012 Harvard Ave. Metairie, LA 70006 (504) 884-1063 theacademyhouse.net/the-homes
Heritage Manor of Mandeville 1820 W. Causeway Approach Mandeville, LA 70471 (985) 626-4798 heritagemanormandeville.com
| november/december 2021
HomeLife in the Gardens
www.nolaboomers.com
Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center
3201 Wall Blvd. Gretna, LA 70056 (504) 393-1515, facebook.com/ BaysideHealthcareCenter
1414 N. Causeway Blvd. Mandeville, LA 70471 (985) 200-0202 brookdale.com/en/communities
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5301 August Ave. Marrero, LA 70072 (504) 341-3658 nexion-health.com/marrerohealthcare
1101 Aline St. New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 894-6100 homelifeinthegardens.com
Jo Ellen Smith Living Center 4502 General Meyer Ave. New Orleans, LA 70131 (504) 361-7923 jesliving.com
Laketown Village
1600 Joe Yenni Blvd. Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 322-3995 pegasusseniorliving.com/laketown-village
Marrero Healthcare Center
858 Mouton St. New Orleans, LA 70124 (504) 517-3273 peristyleresidences.com/locations/ lakeviewhouse
Pontchartrain Health Care Centre 1401 Hwy. 190 Mandeville, LA 70448 (985) 626-8581 pontcare.com
(504) 273-4366 sunriseseniorliving.com
The Academy House 4324 Academy Dr. Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 884-1063 theacademyhouse.net
The Atrium Assisted Living 6555 Park Manor Dr. Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 454-6635
The Suites at Algiers Point 813 Pelican Ave. New Orleans, LA 70114 (504) 676-5279 algierspointsuites.com
The Trace by Discovery Senior Living 19432 Crawford Rd. Covington, LA 70433 (985) 249-7676 thetraceseniorliving.com
Poydras Home
The Windsor Senior Living Community
St. Anna’s at Lambeth House
Vista Shores
St. Anthony’s Healthcare & Rehab Center
Westbank Lighthouse
5354 Magazine St. New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 897.0535 poydrashome.com 150 Broadway St. New Orleans, LA 70118 (504) 865-1960 lambethhouse.com
6001 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 733-8448 stanthonynh.com
St. Joseph Nursing & Rehabilitation Center 405 Folse St. Harahan, LA 70123 (504) 738-7676 stjosephofharahan.com
Sunrise of Metairie
3732 W. Esplanade Ave. Metairie, LA 70002
1770 N. Causeway Blvd. Mandeville, LA 70471 (985) 624-8040 windsorseniorliving.com 5958 St. Bernard Ave. New Orleans, LA 70122 (504) 688-3052 vistashores.com
1712 Holiday Dr. New Orleans, LA 70131 (504) 218-5074 westbanklighthouse.com
Woldenberg Village
3701 Behrman Pl. New Orleans, LA 70114 (504) 367-5640 touro.com/woldenberg-village
Wynhoven Health Care Center 1050 Medical Center Blvd. Marrero, LA 70072 (504) 347-0777 wynhoven.org
Nursing Homes Nursing Homes
Nursing homes provide a wide range of health and personal care services, which varies by location. Their services focus on medical care, 24-hour supervision, three meals a day, and assistance with everyday activities. Most nursing home residents live there permanently.
Bayside Healthcare Center
heritagemanormandeville.com
3201 Wall Blvd. Gretna 70056 (504) 393-1515 facebook.com/BaysideHealthcare Center
Jefferson HealthCare Center
Carrington Place of New Orleans
John J. Hainkel, Jr. Home & Rehabilitation Center
5301 Tullis Dr. New Orleans, LA 70131 (504) 394-5807 carringtonplaces.com
Chateau Living Center of Kenner 716 Village Rd. Kenner, LA 70065 (504) 464-0604 chateaulivingcenterkenner.com
Covenant Nursing Home 5919 Magazine St. New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 897-6216 covenantnursinghome.org
Ferncrest Manor Living Center
Good Samaritan Rehab and
Nursing Center 4021 Cadillac St. New Orleans, LA 70122 (504) 246-7900 goodsamaritanrehabandnursing.com
Heritage Manor of Mandeville 1820 W. Causeway Approach Mandeville, LA 70471 (985) 626-4798
612 Henry Clay Ave. New Orleans 70118 (504) 896-5900 hainkelhome.com
Lafon Nursing Facility of the Holy Family 6900 Chef Menteur Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70126 (504) 241-6285 lafonnursingfacility.com
Maison Deville Nursing Home of Harvey 2233 8th St. Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 362-9522
Marrero Healthcare Center 5301 August Ave. Marrero, LA 70072 (504) 341-3658 nexion-health.com/ marrero-healthcare
Our Lady of Wisdom Healthcare Center 5600 General DeGaulle Dr. New Orleans, LA 70131 (504) 394-5991 olwhealth.org
150 Broadway St. New Orleans, LA 70118 (504) 865-1960 lambethhouse.com
St. Joseph Nursing & Rehabilitation Center 405 Folse St. Harahan, LA 70123 (504) 738-7676 stjosephofharahan.com
St. Jude’s Health and Wellness Center 1539 Delachaise St. New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 895-3953
St. Luke’s Medical Center 4201 Woodland Dr. New Orleans, LA 70131 (504) 378-5050 stlukesno.org
St. Margaret’s at Mercy 3525 Bienville St. New Orleans, LA 70119 (504) 279.6414 stmmercy.org
West Jeff Health Care Center 1020 Manhattan Blvd. Harvey, LA 70058 (504) 362-2020 wenohealthcare.com
Wynhoven Health Care Center 1050 Medical Center Blvd. Marrero, LA 70072 (504) 347-0777 wynhoven.org
november/december 2021 | www.nolaboomers.com
14500 Hayne Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70128 (504) 246-1426 ferncrest.com
2200 Jefferson Hwy. Jefferson, LA 70121 (504) 837-3144 jeffersonhealthcarela.com
St. Anna’s at Lambeth House
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Personal Care Personal Care Homes
Assisted living and personal care homes offer seniors many of the same services as independent living communities, but with the addition of assistance with daily needs. These are usually smaller, more private facilities, providing beds for around five to 20 residents.
Fidelis Residential Care Homes Fidelis Care IV 4801 Tartan St. Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 304-7862 fideliscaregroup.com
Lake Villa House
4212 Lake Villa Dr. Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 884-1063 theacademyhouse.net
Serenity Senior Residences
www.nolaboomers.com
| november/december 2021
817 Aurora Ave. Metairie, LA 70005 3949 Meadowdale St. Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 495-5522
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serenityres2.com
Solution Care Homes, LLC River Forest Home 5 S. Division Dr. Covington, LA 70433 (504) 202-2548 solutioncarehomes.com
The Academy House 4324 Academy Dr. Metairie, LA 70003 (504) 884-1063 theacademyhouse.net
Westbank Lighthouse 1712 Holiday Dr. New Orleans, LA 70131 (504) 218-5074 westbanklighthouse.com
Home Health: (985) 635-6900 (Covington); (504) 849-9100 (Metairie), (985) 386-7800 (Ponchatoula), ameracare.com Hospice: (985) 893-3301 (Covington); (504) 831-1300 (Metairie); (985) 956-7127 303 W. 21st Ave Covington, LA 70433 3822 Airline Dr. Metairie, LA 70001 1579 US 51 Business Ponchatoula, LA 70454 ameracare.com
Canon Hospice
3600 Prytania St. #46 New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 818-2723 canonhospicems.com 19375 North 4th St. Covington, LA 70433 (985) 626-3051 canonhospicems.com
Community Hospice 3600 Chestnut St. New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 899-2011 communityhospice.us
Compassus
1301 W. Causeway Approach Mandeville, LA 70471 (985) 200-9729 compassus.com 2450 Severn Ave. #315 Metairie, LA 70001 compassus.com
Harmony Hospice
Heart of Hospice
1700 Belle Chasse Hwy #230 Gretna, LA 70056 (504) 341-0038 heartofhospice.net/NewOrleansLA 1001 Service Road East Hwy. 190, Suite 200 Covington, LA 70433 (985) 549-1877 heartofhospice.net/NorthshoreLA
Hospice Associates of New Orleans
Louisiana Hospice and Palliative Care of New Orleans 3500 N. Causeway Blvd. #650 Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 483-9792 lhcgroup.com
Notre Dame Hospice 1000 Howard Ave. New Orleans, LA 70113 (504) 227-3600 notredamehealth.org
Passages Hospice-North Shore 20081 Highway 36 Covington, LA 70433 (985) 888-1687 passages-hospice.com
Sanctuary At Passages Hospice 617 Dublin St. New Orleans, LA 70118 (504) 875-4204 passages-hospice.com
St. Joseph Hospice
507 Upstream St. New Orleans, LA 70123 (504) 734-0140 thecarpenterhealthnetwork.com 19500 Helenberg Road #C Covington, LA 70433 (985) 892-6955 thecarpenterhealthnetwork.com
St. Margaret’s Hospice 3525 Bienville St. New Orleans, LA 70119 (504) 373-5923 neworleanshospice.com
Senior Resources Hospice Foundation of America 1707 L. St. NW, Suite 220 Washington, DC 70036 (800) 854-3402 spicefoundation.org
Louisiana Department of Health
P.O. Box 629 Baton Rouge, LA 70821 (225) 342-9500 ldh.la.gov On its website, you can find regional offices’ locations, apply for services, file a complaint, report fraud, and more.
According to the department, there is currently a moratorium in place for nursing facilities in Louisiana. No new nursing homes will be built or licensed in the near future.
Louisiana-Mississippi Hospice & Palliative Care Organization 717 Kerlerec St. New Orleans, LA 70116 (888) 546-1500 hpco.org
Louisiana Nursing Home Association
7844 Office Park Blvd. Baton Rouge, LA 70809 (225) 927-5642 lnha.org The LNHA is a nonprofit organization headquartered in Baton Rouge, and represents more than 250 nursing facilities and assisted living communities by providing public policy advocacy, education, professional development, quality initiatives, and other services.
Medicare medicare.gov/hospicecompare
Nursing Home Rating System
medicare.gov/nursinghomecompare Medicare and Medicaid-certified only nursing homes are subjected to annual surveys and a five-star rating system. A nursing home’s overall rating is based on health inspections, staffing, and quality measures. Medicare.gov offers a searchable database of the ratings.
Ombudsman
ltcombudsman.org Also directed by the Governor’s Office of Elderly Affairs, the Ombudsmen are trained advocates for residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities.They provide information about how to find nursing homes and other types of long-term care facilities and investigate and resolve complaints made by or on behalf of residents of long-term care facilities. Their services are confidential and free of charge. Ombudsman Coordinator for the New Orleans region–Tanya Hayes, (504) 909-0672, thayes@capitalaaa.org Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, and St. Tammany Parishes
november/december 2021 | www.nolaboomers.com
3621 Ridgelake Dr., Suite 200 Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 832-8111 harmonyhospicellc.com
3941 Houma Blvd #1A Metairie, LA 70006 (504) 457-2200 hospiceassociates.org
Hospice
AmeraCare Family Hospice & Home Health
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