Gambit New Orleans December 23, 2014

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looking back at the past year

Same Sex Marriage Judge upholds state ban on gay nuptials “Booking flight to Vegas!”

Ty D’Knott

one day dreams

GA MBI T > VO LUME 3 5 > NUMBER 51 > D EC EMBER 2 3 > 2 01 4

Krewe Du Vieux Ice Bucket Challenge

Mardi Gras takes aim at New Orleans gentrification

“Thanks to all my buddies who nominated me!!”

“Next year’s costume!”

Albie Freesing

memorable moments

Foo Fighters

Graham Marshall

favorite float themes

Band packed Preservation Hall and House of Blues “Wish I had been there!”

Canta Geddin bands i love

Nagin Trial Mayor found guilty on 20 of 21 charges Seymour Barres nola politics

Kale Eaton Greene

getting healthy

Take our “Uncommon Core” 2014 news quiz!

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We love our hospice volunteers and are always looking for new additions to our wonderful team!

Our hospice volunteers are special people who can make a difference in the lives of those affected by terminal illness. We would like to announce a new exciting track for those interested in a future medical career. Many physicians and nurses received their first taste of the medical field at Canon.

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GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

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GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

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CONTENTS

STAFF Publisher | MARGO DUBOS Associate Publisher | JEANNE EXNICIOS FOSTER Administrative Director | MARK KARCHER

December 23, 2014

EDITORIAL

+

Volume 35

+

Number 51

Editor | KEVIN ALLMAN Managing Editor | KANDACE POWER GRAVES Political Editor | CLANCY DUBOS Arts & Entertainment Editor | WILL COVIELLO Special Sections Editor | MISSY WILKINSON

STYLE + SHOPPING

Staff Writer | ALEX WOODWARD

Holiday Gift Guide.................................................29 Attention, last minute shoppers What’s In Store ......................................................33 Martin Wine Cellar

Feature Writer | JEANIE RIESS Calendar & Digital Content Coordinator | ANNA GACA Contributing Writers SARAH BAIRD, ANNE BERRY, D. ERIC BOOKHARDT, RED COTTON, ALEJANDRO DE LOS RIOS, KEN KORMAN, BRENDA MAITLAND, NORA MCGUNNIGLE, NOAH BONAPARTE PAIS

EAT + DRINK

Contributing Photographer | CHERYL GERBER Intern | KATE WATSON

Fork + Center ...........................................................35 All the news that’s fit to eat — and drink 3-Course Interview .............................................37 Prescott Trudeau, museum exhibit designer Drinks ........................................................................38 Beer Buzz; Wine of the Week Last Bites .................................................................39 5 in Five; Off the Menu

PRODUCTION Production Director | DORA SISON Web & Classifieds Designer | MARIA BOUÉ Senior Graphic Designer | LYN VICKNAIR Graphic Designers | PAIGE HINRICHS, JULIET MEEKS, DAVID KROLL, JASON WHITTAKER Pre-Press Coordinator | KATHRYN BRADY

DISPLAY ADVERTISING fax: 483-3159 | displayadv@gambitweekly.com Advertising Director | SANDY STEIN BRONDUM 483-3150 [sandys@gambitweekly.com] Advertising Administrator | MICHELE SLONSKI 483-3140 [micheles@gambitweekly.com]

ARTS + ENTERTAINMENT

Advertising Coordinator | CHRISTIN GREEN 483-3138 [christing@gambitweekly.com] Senior Account Executive | JILL GIEGER 483-3131 [ jillg@gambitweekly.com] Account Executives JEFFREY PIZZO

UNCOMMON CORE! Take our “Uncommon Core” quiz and see how much you remember about the news of 2014

483-3145 [jeffp@gambitweekly.com]

BY KEVIN ALLMAN | PAGE 26

LINDA LACHIN

483-3142 [lindal@gambitweekly.com] BRANDIN DUBOS

483-3152 [brandind@gambitweekly.com] SAVANNA ARMSTRONG

483-3144 [savannaa@gambitweekly.com] TAYLOR SPECTORSKY

483-3143 [taylors@gambitweekly.com]

MARKETING Marketing & Events Coordinator | ANNIE BIRNEY

CLASSIFIEDS 483-3100 | fax: 483-3153 classadv@gambitweekly.com

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Classified Advertising Director | RENETTA PERRY 483-3122 [renettap@gambitweekly.com]

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Senior Account Executive | CARRIE MICKEY LACY 483-3121 [carriel@gambitweekly.com]

BUSINESS Billing Inquiries 483-3135 Controller | JULIE REIPRISH Assistant Controller | MAUREEN TREGRE Credit Officer | MJ AVILES

ON THE COVER

NEWS + VIEWS

So That Happened ...Gambit’s Year in Review The Year in Politics .........................................................17 The Year in New Orleans ............................................19 The Year in Transit.........................................................27 The Year in Dining ..........................................................35 The Year in Entertainment......................................47 The Year in Music........................................................... 48 The Year in Film................................................................52 The Year in Art...................................................................55 The Year in Stage........................................................... 58

News.............................................................................7 Part II of our series on Louisiana film tax credits Y@Speak + N.O. Comment .....................................7 What’s trending online — and in Y@ Speak Scuttlebutt...............................................................12 From their lips to your ears C’est What? ..............................................................12 Gambit’s Web poll Bouquets & Brickbats .........................................13 This week’s heroes and zeroes Commentary............................................................14 That was the year that was Blake Pontchartrain.............................................15 Jingle, jangle, jingle: Here comes Mr. Bingle

7 IN SEVEN Seven Things to Do This Week........................... 5 Lost Bayou Ramblers, Great Russian Nutcracker, NOLA ChristmasFest and more

Music .........................................................................49 PREVIEW: Fancy Pants Film.............................................................................53 REVIEW: The Imitation Game Art ...............................................................................56 Stage..........................................................................59 REVIEW: A Christmas Carol Events ........................................................................61 Crossword + Sudoku .......................................... 68

CLASSIFIEDS Market Place ...........................................................63 Employment ...........................................................64 Legal Notices..........................................................64 Picture Perfect Properties................................66 Real Estate .............................................................67 Mind + Body + Spirit...............................................69 Home + Garden .......................................................70 Holiday Helpers ......................................................71

OPERATIONS & EVENTS Operations & Events Director | LAURA CARROLL

GAMBIT COMMUNICATIONS, INC.

Operations Assistant | KELLAN DUNIGAN

Chairman | CLANCY DUBOS + President & CEO | MARGO DUBOS

COVER DESIGN BY Dora Sison

Gambit (ISSN 1089-3520) is published weekly by Gambit Communications, Inc., 3923 Bienville St., New Orleans, LA 70119. (504) 486-5900. We cannot be held responsible for the return of unsolicited manuscripts even if accompanied by a SASE. All material published in Gambit is copyrighted: Copyright 2014 Gambit Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

seven things to do in seven days

DEC

Great Russian Nutcracker | The Mos-

cow Ballet brings Tchaikovsky’s score to life with a colorful, classic performance and a cast of award-winning dancers, lifesized puppets and dazzling set pieces. The Moscow Ballet performs two shows at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Saenger Theatre.

NOLA ChristmasFest

Thru Dec. 24 | The two week-long event comes to a close at 2 p.m. Christmas Eve. There are music performances, a gingerbread house competition, a petting zoo, visits from Santa Claus and other activities daily at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

Dax Riggs with Brother Dege

Statiqbloom

Sun. Dec. 28 | Brooklyn’s shadowy industrial dance wizard Fade Kainer helms this electronic project, which recently toured with Corrections House (a punishing new outfit from Eyehategod’s Mike IX Williams). New Orleans dance-noise maestro Skull Katalog (formerly Sewn Leather) also performs at 10 p.m. at The Saint.

Sat. Dec. 27 | For those acutely aware of the Satan anagram lurking in Santa, this belated lump of coal arrives just in time: Devil-horned Acid Bather Dax Riggs and Delta spirit-chaser Brother Dege are a match made in Hades. At 10 p.m. at One Eyed Jacks.

Take a Chance Benefit feat. Die Rotzz

Lost Bayou Ramblers

Rory Scovel, Kyle Kinane and Sean Patton

Sat. Dec. 27 | Louisiana’s premier Cajun rock ’n’ roll outfit released its live album, Gasa Gasa Live, earlier this year, capturing the band’s turned-to-11 performances in an intimate, down-home setting. Last month, the band appeared on NPR’s World Cafe and performed a revved-up, Cajun French cover of The Who’s “My Generation.” Colin Lake and Cedryl Ballou & the Zydeco Trendsetters open at 10 p.m. at Tipitina’s.

Sun. Dec. 28 | The new no-kill animal shelter Take a Chance gets a treat from some killer hard rock and punk bands: Die Rotzz anchors a lineup that includes I’m Fine, Teeth, 11 Blade and Fat Stupid Ugly People. At 9 p.m. at Siberia.

Mon. Dec. 29 | This stand-up comedy triple bill features madman hometown hero Sean Patton, as well as Kyle Kinane, who will release the follow-up (titled I Liked His Old Stuff Better) to his well-received 2012 album Whiskey Icarus next year. Rory Scovel released the acclaimed vinyl album Live at Third Man Records this year. Rojo Perez and Chris Trew also perform at 9 p.m. at One Eyed Jacks.

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

P H O TO C O U RT E S Y M O S C O W B A L L E T

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GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

NEWS +

VIEWS

S C U T T L EB U T T 12 C ’ ES T W H AT ? 12 B O U Q U E T S & B RI C K S 13 C O M M EN TA RY 1 4 B L A K E P O N TC H A RT R A IN 15 CL ANCY DUBOS 17

knowledge is power New Orleans’ week in Twitter Duris Holmes

The runaway industry

@duris

#FalconsHateWeek Remember, the TV in @roddywhiteTV stands for too dumb to spell WR

Gret¢hen @wokkax3

Love Sean Payton but sometimes I want Randy Quaid to kidnap him & bring him to my house so we can have a serious talk about 4th and 3 calls

Part II of our series about Louisiana film tax credits focuses on the ‘catch-22’: After creating so many jobs, how can lawmakers dial back the tax incentives without sending the industry somewhere else?

SeventhWard @SeventhWard

Maybe instead of that friggin siren in the Superdome they should turn the AC down to 40 degrees. These boys need cold weather to play right!

Gov. Bobby Jindal @BobbyJindal

Ruthless dictators like Assad, Putin and Castro think Obama is an easy mark and will be sorry to see him go.

By Matt Brennan

@Toffleresque

“This is on the edge,” says Renee Henry, the writer/producer behind “The New LA Filmmakers” documentary short that played during this year’s New Orleans Film Festival.

Academy Award-winning film Django Unchained was among productions that filmed in Louisiana.

And in other news, a prominent Baton Rouge attorney’s wife sent me 3 unrequested nude pics of herself. The Internet makes people weird.

Gumbeaux Gouxroux @SheSeauxSaditty

Critics of the incentives don’t disagree that Louisiana tax policy has encouraged significant investment in the state’s film and television industry, nor do they dismiss the effect industry spending has on ancillary sectors such as the service economy, whose hotels, caterers and rentals of all kinds help Hollywood South run smoothly. Rather, their concern is that the state has overextended itself to support a profitable business with wealthy investors, and in turn has given schools, hospitals and other public accommodations short shrift.

“We’ve spent so much money through the tax code that it’s creating this perpetual crisis in the state budget,” says Jan Moller, director of the Louisiana Budget Project (LBP), a fiscal watchdog group. “We’re both right. The economic activity argument is not wrong, but the taxpayer impact is also not wrong.

It’s really a question of, ‘What do you find more persuasive?’”

According to State Sen. J.P. Morrell, who serves on the legislature’s Entertainment Industry Development Advisory Commission, the more pressing issue is the unpredictability of the state’s year-to-year expenses when it comes to the motion picture tax incentives.

“In any given year, [the incentive program] could explode well beyond what it currently is,” he says. “[Legislators’] primary concern is that when budgeting going forward, they feel like the amount we’re paying out has to be a predictable amount.”

PAGE 8

I don’t see how tourists walk bourbon street with open toed shoes. Especially at night. NOPE.

N.O. COMMENT What you had to say on BestofNewOrleans.com this week

Gov. Bobby Jindal has scheduled a prayer rally on the campus of Louisiana State University in January, but the official “prayer guide” for the event (which seemed to have been prepared for a similar event held by Texas Gov. Rick Perry in 2011) said Hurricane Katrina occurred six years ago.

“Homophobe, women’s reproductive infatuation, sin, the end of the world, non accurate information, and this jackleg wants to be president. Is anyone surprised?” — Sis “It is about to be 2015. How can such ignorance exist... and be in a position of power? Our state is better than this.”

— C’estlavie

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

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egardless of the optimism of Hollywood South advocates or arguments made by its detractors, one thing is inarguable: The state’s motion picture tax incentive program is pricey. Scholars and policy analysts have called state tax credits for film and television production “embarrassingly generous,” “madness” and “costly giveaways” that fuel an interstate “race to the bottom.”

According to a 2012 study produced by the Louisiana Budget Project, the state has recovered a steadily diminishing proportion of tax revenue lost to the credits: 16 percent in 2008, 14.2 percent in 2009 and 13.7 percent in 2010. (An additional 7 to 15 percent of the total value of the credits granted in these years was recovered in local taxes.) “[W]hile the [Motion Picture Investor Tax Credit] is generally an effective means to incentivize film production,” Amelia Hurt wrote in the Louisiana Law Review earlier this year, “the overaggressive nature of the MPITC renders it inefficient and inequitable.”

Louisiana now confronts a classic “catch-22” — to use a term coined by novelist Joseph Heller and popularized by Mike Nichols’ film adaptation of Heller’s book of the same name.

The incentive program, the mechanism by which the state sought to “achieve an independent, self-supporting industry,” has become the mechanism on which that industry most depends.

With the construction of Hollywood South apparatus, from the growth of homegrown companies such as Second Line Stages and Hollywood Trucks and the development of a resident crew base to the proliferation of Louisiana filmmakers, producers, investors and tax credit brokers, the state’s motion picture industry has been born in a little more than a decade. Yet most agree that an abrupt reduction or elimination of the tax incentives would deal a serious blow to Louisiana’s motion picture industry.

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NEWS VIEWS PAGE 7

Sherri McConnell, executive director of Louisiana Entertainment from 2007 to 2011 and principal of entertainment business consulting firm McConnell & Associates, says Louisiana’s incentive program encourages project-based (as opposed to permanent) economic development. Though she cautions against drastic changes to the motion picture tax credits in the short term, McConnell argues the long-term direction of the film and television industry requires shifting the focus from Hollywood to digital technology and distribution, indigenous talent and homegrown entities such as Shreveport’s Moonbot Studios and New Orleans’ Court 13 Films.

“I think Hollywood has been done, and I cringe at the name ‘Hollywood South,’” she says. “I feel strongly that we should have our own brand, but [the name] is appropriate, because it is Hollywood that we’re feeding here.”

In addition to recommendations contained in the Government Efficiencies Management Support analysis released in May, including a streamlined audit process and the disqualification of “soft costs” such as airfare and interest payments, Morrell says the advisory commission, which is set to report on the credits early next year, is examining a number of possible reforms to the incentive program. Among these are tax withholding on salaries for “above-the-line talent,” including actors and directors; an effort to encourage the production of more syndicated, as opposed to reality, television series; limitations on third-party transactions; and a sliding scale for measuring the amount of credits awarded to productions that hire Louisiana residents, with preference given to those that employ skilled, higher-wage labor.

“I do have a concern, as well as [do] several other legislators, that the industry is not really creating supremely high-paying jobs,” Morrell says. “As long as the highest-paid people on any film are being imported into the state, we’re not getting as much bang for the buck.”

Yet with the exception of a hard cap on the total value of credits awarded, which Morrell opposes, there is no clear mechanism for guaranteeing against annual fluctuations in expenditures on the tax incentives. As the state faces a $1.2 billion budget shortfall, Moller says the number of jobs created by the state’s subsidy of Hollywood South is not worth the cost to other policy priorities.

“I was a little shocked that the number was that high,” he says, referring to the LBP’s 2012 calculation that each direct job created in motion picture production costs taxpayers $60,000. “There are people who talk about ‘multipliers,’ but we were concerned with how many direct jobs we were creating. I thought we would have had more permanent jobs in the film industry for what we’re actually spending.”

Industry advocates say that focusing on the fiscal impact of the incentives ignores the overall benefit to the state’s economy. Moreover, the per-job cost of the credits has declined since the LBP report. The most recent data available, from calendar year 2012, show that the state effectively subsidized each of the 5,976 direct jobs in motion picture production by $28,146. Factor in the 8,329 indirect jobs created and the amount drops to $12,005.

“We’re sinking billions of dollars into the state,” says producer and production manager Todd Lewis. “Does everybody get to share it, or is it just being spent in New Orleans and Shreveport and Baton Rouge? The easy answer is to say, ‘We dump a lot of money into the hotels, lumberyards, car rentals, caterers, etc.,’ but what people care about is getting a paycheck.”

The proliferation of productions also boosts the state’s tourism industry, says Lt. Gov. Jay Dardenne, who oversees the Louisiana Department of Culture, Recreation and Tourism. Films and television series such as Treme, 12 Years a Slave and Duck Dynasty improve the state’s visibility.

To mark the third anniversary of the reality series Swamp People, for instance, the state partnered with the History Channel to build a swamp in New York City’s Chelsea Market and gathered 11,000 email addresses from potential visitors. (The History Channel funded the project.)

“I think the impact has been dramatic,” Dardenne says. “Each of those series has generated national recognition for Louisiana. ... Movies and television series that have been about Louisiana and Louisiana subjects have helped identify Louisiana as a fascinating place to visit.”

Whether the incentive program constitutes a canny investment or a hand on the scales, however, depends on one’s perspective. Even Dardenne, who wrote the original legislation, acknowledges the initiative has become more costly than expected.

“I don’t remember that we had a discussion that at some point we were going to have to cut this off,” he says. “That’s become a legitimate topic of debate. ... I think you’ll see the legislature, even though it’s an election year, taking a serious look not only at the film industry tax credits but at all tax credits.”

“We’ve built a very recognizable, trusted and valuable brand as a location for these productions,” Louisiana Entertainment’s Chris Stelly says, citing the state’s improving motion picture infrastructure and expanding ranks of trained, experienced crew. “If you didn’t have that, then the incentive is only as good as you can get in a particular area. All you have is a number at the end of the day.”

NEWS VIEWS

“Nobody disputes that the dollars we put up as a state bring in dollars from outside in terms of production,” Moller says. “The same would be true of any industry. If there was a 30 percent tax credit for journalism, the staff of Gambit or NOLA.com would grow exponentially, and that would create economic activity.”

Lewis, who comes from Mobile, Alabama, met his wife, a costume designer from Lafayette, in Los Angeles.

“There was a future in Louisiana, and we were working on the road all the time,” Lewis says. “We were never home. So we moved. We packed it up and moved out of L.A., and it was right around that time that they started lobbying to raise the tax credits. ... I think it’s come miles since that time. We always call it a boom town. That’s what we think New Orleans is.”

Broader indicators of motion picture industry employment, both in greater New Orleans and statewide, support this anecdotal evidence. According to Katie Williams, director of Film New Orleans, the number of television series and feature films produced in the New Orleans region increased from approximately 15 in 2009 to 60 in 2013, resulting in additional payroll spending and more consistent employment for the estimated 1,294 film workers in the region. (Because of the temporary, transient nature of motion picture production, these workers filled 2,093 so-called “discrete” jobs.) Phil LoCicero, president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Local 478, which covers Louisiana and southern Mississippi, says membership has grown from 300 to 1,300 since the adoption of the incentives in 2002.

“We’ve had quite a few people locate here, move here and establish residency and join our local, and some have transferred from other locals,” LoCicero says. “We can crew up seven to eight shows [simultaneously] … and do a job a producer would be satisfied with.”

Other advocates say the state’s investment in preparing the next gen-

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Sherri Strain, a producer of 45 movies (including straight-to-DVD and made-for-television titles), left New Orleans in 1980 to attend the University of California at Los Angeles and returned to the Crescent City three years ago, a move she says was made possible by the tax credits. The decision to continue her 20-year career in the motion picture industry while living near her family and enjoying a higher quality of life has paid off professionally and personally.

“It’s gotten to be a really hard place to live over the years,” Strain says of Los Angeles. “Everything’s expensive, traffic is terrible, people are angry, the film business has moved away. ... The red tape I used to go through in Los Angeles just to get film permits would be enough to make you crazy. I never have that problem here.”

Henry moved here from North Hollywood, California with her husband, Peter Santoro, vice president of feature and commercial services for the post-production company FotoKem. She, too, cites the combination of career opportunities and New Orleans’ distinctive vibe as the lure of Hollywood South.

“The fact is that my husband and I both reached a certain level in L.A., and we had all the outer comforts — the cars and the house and all that — but I can’t say that we were as happy as we are now,” Henry says. “Because we don’t have to dress up for anyone, we don’t have to wash our car, we don’t have to have dinner parties.”

12 Years a Slave is one of the many films and TV series shot in Louisiana in the last few years. New Orleans alone had 60 productions in 2013.

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NEWS VIEWS PAGE 9

eration of skilled employees has not kept pace with the expansion of the incentive program.

“We have not created a comprehensive educational structure to train up new talent,” Morrell says. “When you talk to people [in the industry], we have some of the most talented artists in the country, but it’s frustrating to them at times that they have to train up these raw artists to be competitive nationally. ... On the education bit, we’ve failed.”

Strain acknowledges the film and television industry in Louisiana is unlikely to achieve the breadth and depth it has in New York and Los Angeles as long as the decision makers (studio ex-

the incentive program. Both supporters and skeptics of the tax credits suggest that such a move could lead to a crisis of runaway production — the very problem that led to the establishment of the tax credits in 2002. Dardenne and Morrell say they expect next year’s legislative session to feature a healthy debate over the costs and benefits of the incentive program — including employment of Louisiana residents in the industry, the multiplier effect of the economic activity it generates and its sizable impact on the state’s ongoing budget crisis.

The motion picture tax credits are not the sole culprit in these fiscal woes. A recent investigation by The

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

“I do have a concern, as well as [do] several other legislators, that the industry is not really creating supremely high-paying jobs. As long as the highest-paid people on any film are being imported into the state, we’re not getting as much bang for the buck.”

— State Sen. J.P. Morrell

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ecutives, agents, managers) and major infrastructure (soundstages, post-production facilities) remain based there.

She adds, however, that investments in Louisiana’s film and television industry will be for naught if the incentive program is dismantled.

“I don’t necessarily think it’s productive to cap the incentives,” she says.

“And people will go elsewhere. Georgia will get these jobs and these films. If Louisiana gives up on it, someone else will pick up the slack.”

“If the incentives got cut in half, would we do half the business we currently do? I don’t think so,” LoCicero says. “I think the drop would be more drastic than that. We can’t cut back.

We have to stay on the same competitive level as the other states are now.”

As Louisiana Entertainment’s Chris Stelly notes, Hollywood South remains in its infancy compared to production hubs such as New York and Los Angeles. “You’re really not looking at a very long period,” he says. “We are making significant strides toward creating that indigenous industry.”

As Louisiana’s film and television industry grows, however, so does its impact on the state’s budget, increasing the likelihood that officials eventually will see fit to cap, curtail or eliminate

Advocate found annual tax subsidies for six key industries, including film and television, retail and oil and gas, increased 420 percent in the last decade, from $208 million to nearly $1.1 billion.

As one of Louisiana’s newest areas of economic development, however, film and television production is likely to be first on the chopping block if legislators attempt to delay revisions to the motion picture incentive program beyond next year, or if Gov. Bobby Jindal vetoes such changes, according to Morrell.

“I think the greater issue is that [Jindal] has historically viewed any change to the tax credits as a tax increase,” says Morrell, who predicts that many lawmakers will support the Entertainment Industry Development Advisory Commission’s forthcoming recommendations. “My concern is that in 2017, when we have our next fiscal session and the state is in dire financial straits, there will be an effort by the more mature industries to sacrifice the younger industries to keep themselves solvent,” he says. “Rather than there be a holistic approach to tax credits in 2017, they’ll just want to get rid of the last person on the boat.”

Matt Brennan is a New Orleansbased writer.

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NEWS VIEWS SCUTTLEBUTT Quote of the week

Shop Local at the Historic French Market WHERE LOCALS HAVE SHOPPED SINCE 1791!

The Shops at the Upper Pontalba on Jackson Square The Shops at the Colonnade along Decatur Street The Farmers and Flea Markets at the French Market

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Weekly Crescent City Farmers Market every Wednesday!

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Boutique retail shopping • Children’s toys & books Jewelry, clothing, and art made by local artisans WE ARE OPEN CHRISTMAS EVE, CHRISTMAS DAY, NEW YEARS EVE & NEW YEARS DAY!

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“Looks like gator season will be open year-round!” — Former Senate candidate Rob Maness Dec. 17, announcing the formation of his new political action committee, Gator PAC. Maness described the PAC as “a vehicle to give liberty-minded citizens the teeth and the tools to join together to take our government back from the career politicians.” Maness launched the PAC with Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and U.S. Sen. David Vitter. Breitbart News reported that Vitter will host the PAC’s first major fundraiser in 2015. No word yet as to what office Maness might seek in next year’s statewide elections.

Ramsey to amend smoking ordinance

Opponents predict logistical nightmare

Next month, the New Orleans City Council will begin to dissect a new ordinance that could drastically limit where smoking is allowed in many parts of town. As written, District B City Councilwoman LaToya Cantrell’s ordinance bans the use of any tobacco products within 25 feet of business-

c’est

?

Vote on “C’est What?” at www.bestofneworleans.com Gov. Bobby Jindal told Fox News Dec. 7 that if he decides to run for president, it will be because he’s improved Louisiana. How has his leadership affected the state?

75%

Made it worse

15% 10%

Same ol’ state Made it better

THIS WEEK’S QUESTION:

After she leaves the Senate, should Mary Landrieu throw her hat in the ring in the 2015 governor’s race?

es — including bars and other smoke-friendly establishments.

Opponents of the ordinance say it could create a logistical nightmare, particularly in the business-dense French Quarter. District C City Councilwoman Nadine Ramsey — whose district includes the Vieux Carre — already is moving to exempt some Quarter businesses from Cantrell’s measure, with mixed success.

Two weeks ago, the City Planning Commission denied Ramsey’s motion to request that the city’s Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (CZO) create a new definition of a “tobacco retail business” in the Vieux Carre. It makes the distinction between, say, a bar or a convenience store selling cigars (which is defined as a retail business) and the French Quarter’s cigar bars. Currently, the CZO lumps smoking lounges in the same category as cocktail lounges. Ramsey’s motion also recommended making tobacco retail businesses allowable as a conditional use in the VCC-2 district — where cocktail lounges are prohibited.

Although the City Planning Commission denied Ramsey’s motion, it did support reclassification in theory. (The Department of Finance currently doesn’t make the distinction between a smoking lounge and a cocktail lounge.) On Dec. 11, Ramsey made a last-minute request to overrule the Planning Commission’s recommendation in order to avoid a motion-killing deadline. The City Council voted 5-0 to approve the motion, though not without some hesitation.

“Given the ordinance to end smoking in bars and casinos, this kind of flies in the face of that,” said District A Councilwoman Susan Guidry. Guidry — who is co-sponsoring Cantrell’s measure — added that she was “not comfortable with the lack of time to review this.”

“My staff has talked to Councilmember Cantrell,” Ramsey said, adding that the council will hold public hearings and “work with her to ensure the language will correspond” with Cantrell’s proposed smoking ban.

Guidry said Ramsey’s motion still wouldn’t address the health of workers “who are nonsmokers and subject to smoke,” one of the primary reasons Cantrell introduced the anti-smoking measure.

The council’s Community Development Committee is expected to discuss Cantrell’s proposed ordinance on Jan. 7. — ALEX WOODWARD

NEWS VIEWS

Short-term rentals, long-term issue

Council says enforcement is first step

The Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots

donated 1,957 pounds of canned goods and nonperishable food to Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana. The Fair Grounds collected food at the track and at 10 off-track betting locations in south Louisiana.

The Fair Grounds also donated $1,000 to Second Harvest, which helps serve more than 22 million meals each year.

The National Endowment for the Humanities

awarded grant funding to Dillard and Xavier universities and Southern University at New Orleans.

Dillard received $100,000 for its Defining, Documenting and Teaching New Orleans Creole Culture program; SUNO received $50,400 for its “New Orleans, Literature and the Transatlantic World” project; and Xavier received $6,000 for a workshop on the “Preservation and Care of Photographic and Newspaper Collections.”

One More,

a charitable organization from New Orleans Saints tight end Benjamin Watson, sponsored The Big BENefit Dec. 9.

The event gave 25 families seeking assistance from the New Orleans Family Justice Center an opportunity to shop for gifts and household items at Walmart in Harahan.

Ryan Mast,

a former New Orleans Fire Department (NOFD) firefighter, pleaded guilty in Orleans Parish Criminal Court Dec. 10 to aggravated assault and simple criminal damage of property. Mast was arrested after threatening a cab driver with a gun in 2012. He was ordered to pay $1,000 in restitution. Mast resigned from NOFD Dec. 10.

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Among the New Orleans City Council’s 2015 agenda items will be how to handle “illegal” short-term rentals — aka the big crop of AirBnBs available throughout the city. At its Dec. 17 Community Development Committee meeting, council members heard from proponents and opponents of short-term rentals and pledged that before they draft new legislation, they’ll look to enforce what already is on the books.

“We have not done a great job of enforcement in the city,” said District B Councilwoman LaToya Cantrell. “We immediately have to look at how to enforce laws on the books … and be realistic as to what is happening in neighborhoods, and make some decision as to how we regulate.”

The Alliance for Neighborhood Prosperity (ANP) — an organization that “supports visitor housing choice” and defends short-term rentals — says more than 100,000 visitors to New Orleans this year have used short-term rentals and stay an average of five nights.

According to ANP, 18 percent of guests are from overseas, and 50 percent of guests make more than $70,000 a year.

ANP adds that more than 80 percent of those who rent out their residences are homeowners using the property as their primary residence or as a pied-aterre. ANP also says those rentals give visitors an “opportunity to experience other neighborhoods” outside the hotel-dense French Quarter.

Brian Furness, who runs a French Quarter bed and breakfast, said, “It’s about the money, it’s not about sharing, it’s not about restoring property.”

Bonnie Rabe, president of the Professional Innkeepers Association of New Orleans (PIANO), said, “The same reasons people choose AirBnBs are the same reasons people choose bed and breakfasts. … They’re opening doors wherever they want to and providing the same service.”

Current city ordinances prohibit renting properties for fewer than 60 days in the Vieux Carre and 30 days in other parts of New Orleans. French Quarter groups estimate the city fails to collect more than $1 million a year in permit fees and tax revenue from unlicensed rentals. Before moving onto the next agenda item, Cantrell said the council has “made a commitment that we will focus on this matter,” before joking, “All the illegal rentals: Exit out this door.” — ALEX WOODWARD

BOUQUETS + brickbats ™ heroes + zeroes

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COMMENTARY

thinking out loud

2014: the good, the bad, the weird

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

very year at this time, we look back at the year in metro New Orleans — the good, the bad and the just plain weird occurrences that make living in the Crescent City so interesting.

Politically, 2014 was a transitional year, even though it began with a foregone conclusion: the February re-election of Mayor Mitch Landrieu, who carried nearly two-thirds of the vote against several challengers. The year ended with the defeat of the mayor’s sister, U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu.

She was overwhelmed by outside money and a tsunami of anti-Barack Obama sentiment as she lost to Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Cassidy. The two Landrieu elections further cemented New Orleans’ reputation as a bright blue Democratic outpost in a state that has trended ever more Republican red over the last few decades (see “The Year in Politics,” p. 17).

The New Orleans City Council saw a generational shift, with longtime Councilwomen Jackie Clarkson and Cynthia HedgeMorrell defeated and three new council members elected. Jason Williams became an at-large councilman; former Civil Court Judge Nadine Ramsey took over the District

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C seat; and former state Rep. Jared Brossett won the District D seat. Elsewhere, Sheriff Marlin Gusman was re-elected even as his management of Orleans Parish Prison (OPP) continued to draw negative attention. As the year ended, the opening of the new OPP was postponed again — for the fourth time.

Big construction projects continued to make news. The former New Orleans Arena got a makeover and a name change, becoming the Smoothie King Center. Meanwhile, construction continued on the LSU-VA hospital complex in lower Mid-City and on the downtown South Market District complex facing Loyola Avenue. The first buildings in the South Market District, featuring residences, shopping and dining, are set to open in 2015. Also slated for completion soon is the long-awaited Lafitte Greenway, a 2.6-mile path that will connect Mid-City to the French Quarter with green space, recreation areas, a bike path and other amenities. City officials say the Greenway will officially open in the spring, but locals already are biking and walking parts of it.

Hope springs eternal when it comes to the New Orleans Saints, and this year it seemed more than the usual number of fans

were holding out hope that 2014 might see a repeat of the magical 2009 season, when the Black and Gold won the Super Bowl. Such hopes were, to put it mildly, far too optimistic. As we went to press, the team’s record was a middling 6-8, but we joined fans in hoping for a victory against the hated Atlanta Falcons. The only consistent bright spot in an otherwise mediocre season was the fact that the NFC South has the worst collective record in memory.

The Saints at 6-8 sat atop the division headed into the Falcons game. That says more about the division than it does about the Saints this year.

Culturally, the international art biennial Prospect returned to New Orleans (see “The Year in Art,” p. 55), and Bruce Springsteen likewise returned to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival. Plenty of national music acts came through town (see “The Year in Music,” p. 48), with one of the highlights being an all-star tribute to Dr. John at the Saenger Theatre in April.

On the culinary front, new restaurants, food trucks, pop-ups and bars opened faster than they could be cataloged (see “The Year in Dining,” p. 35). Most notably,

two local landmarks were resurrected at year’s end when Brennan’s reopened on Royal Street and Martin Wine Cellar returned to Baronne Street after more than nine years’ absence. Both reopened to rave reviews.

Theater also was on a roll this year (see “The Year in Stage,” p. 58), with an entirely new wrinkle — New Orleans has emerged as a national comedy capital. There’s no single comedy club hub, but you can catch standup or improv seven nights a week now and major stars like Louis CK and Dave Chappelle turned in numerous sets around town.

For most of us, 2014 saw constant transportation challenges (See “The Year in Transit,” p. 27). City Hall was called upon to referee a ground transportation war between taxicab companies and Uber, while local drivers had to dodge never-ending street and drainage repairs in most parts of Uptown. As 2015 dawns, we are told — once again — that Napoleon Avenue won’t quite be ready for Mardi Gras.

That’s OK — the rest of us are. It’s one of many reasons why we always look forward to the New Year. Until then, happy holidays!

BLAKE PONTCHARTRAIN™ Questions for Blake: askblake@gambitweekly.com

BLAKEVIEW

Hey Blake,

It’s almost Christmas. Why can’t I find any videos of the Mr. Bingle show? Do they still exist?

Clarke Kissel

Dear Clarke,

As I sit here at my desk, I’m flanked by a couple of Mr. Bingle dolls: one from when Ol’ Blake was Li’l Blake and one from this year’s collection at Dillard’s. The store chain inherited the little snowman mascot from Maison Blanche department store and keeps him alive and on the shelves.

For those too young to remember, Mr. Bingle starred in his own daily television shows during the holiday season, sponsored by Maison Blanche.

Mr. Bingle was “born” in 1947, the creation of Maison Mr. Bingle is now part of City Park’s Blanche display director Emile Alline, who wanted Celebration in the Oaks holiday display. the store to have its own Christmas character.

P H O T O B Y K A N D A C E P O W ER G R AV E S Sharing the same initials as the store, Mr. Bingle was a merchandising bonanza best known as a marionette in the hands of Edwin “Oscar” some audio clip online at www.mrbinglefans.com.

Isentrout. The giant papier-mache Bingle (now a Now, how about that theme song? fixture at City Park’s Celebration the Oaks) was Jingle, jangle, jingle a landmark on Canal Street, dangling from the Here comes Mr. Bingle storefront before the building became The Ritzwith another message from Kris Kringle Carlton New Orleans.

Time to launch the Christmas season There is little by which we can remember Mr. Maison Blanche makes Christmas pleasin’ Bingle’s early TV days. Many segments were done Gifts galore for you to see Each a gem from M.B.! live or the film was reused or tossed out. You’ll find

T

his week we remember Ernest “Dutch” Morial, a New Orleans civil rights and political trailblazer whose death 25 years ago this week — on Christmas Eve 1989 — shocked many in the city. Morial, New Orleans’ first African-American mayor, was just 60 when he died.

Then-Orleans Parish Coroner Frank Minyard surmised the frigid weather that gripped the city that week contributed to Morial’s death from a heart attack brought on by an asthma attack.

A New Orleans native, Morial was a civil rights activist and attorney early in his career, which saw many firsts. He was the first African-American to graduate from LSU School of Law and the first to serve in the U.S. Attorney’s office. He was the first African-American elected to the state House of Representatives since Reconstruction, and later became the first black judge; he

was elected to the Juvenile Court and later to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeal.

Morial, who served as mayor from 1978 to 1986, was known as a tough taskmaster who occasionally showed a fiery disposition, but his political power and influence were undeniable.

“He was a trailblazer in so many ways,” legendary pollster Joe Walker said in The New York Times’ obituary. “He was still capable of great political influence” even after leaving office, Walker said.

The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center was named in his honor in 1992. His widow, Sybil Haydel Morial, remains a force in civic affairs, and several of his five children followed him into public service, including son Marc, who served two terms as mayor of New Orleans, and daughter Monique, who currently is a judge at First City Court.

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

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GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

CLANCY DUBOS

POLITICS

Follow Clancy on Twitter: @clancygambit

YEAR IN REVIEW: POLITICS

THE TOP 10*

Common Core — to justify their about-faces.

Truth is, they’re just pandering to the GOP’s red meat crowd. Meanwhile, Louisiana’s business leaders are doubling down in support of the standards, and key state lawmakers likewise continue to support Common Core.

electable candidates. That changed this year as African-American candidates captured a majority of the council seats for the first time in eight years. Their majority grew to 5-2 after the March runoffs.

OF 2014

Closed 12/24 - 1/5

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

8. RAY NAGIN CONVICTED — The final political chapter of Hurricane Katrina closed with a guilty verdict against the 4. MITCH LANDRIEU’S *PLUS ONE MORE, FOR LAGNIAPPE — former mayor on federal bribery and RE-ELECTION — His big sister struggled corruption charges. He was sentenced to and lost against a tsunami of GOP IT WAS THAT KIND OF YEAR 10 years in prison, and he will forever be opposition, but the New Orleans mayor Examples abound. He continues to act he year 2014 will be remembered coasted to an easy victory earlier in the year. remembered as a corrupt and incompetent as a watershed in Louisiana polias though he’s winning the war against poseur who botched our post-Katrina Now, however, he has a City Council that tics for many reasons. It was the Common Core, when in fact the courts recovery while lining his own pockets. seems more inclined than its predecessor year the Republican Party completed its long and the Legislature have consistently Good riddance. to go its own way. That’s not unusual for march to dominance, the year Mary Landrieu smacked him down. He’s still in official second-term mayors, and Landrieu is as 9. JEFFERSON PARISH’S lost her U.S. Senate seat, the year Big Money denial about trying to give State Police Col. skilled as anyone at working the council.

HOSPITAL STANDOFF — After years of made all politics national instead of local and Mike Edmonson a $55,000-a-year bump in As he did in 2010, Landrieu won re-election studies and political maneuvering, the parish the year that Edwin Edwards finally faced retirement benefits. (Kudos to blogger Tom with solid support among black as well as council could not reach a decision on which his political mortality.

Aswell for exposing that.) He continues to white voters. hospital company should lease Jefferson’s Herewith our top 10 political stories of pretend that Louisiana did not run a deficit 5. THE LEVEE BOARD LAWSUIT — two publicly owned hospitals. The politicking 2014 — plus one more for lagniappe. It’s been last fiscal year — even though Wall Street was intense and continues today, but it Big Oil and Bobby Jindal did everything they that kind of year. and state Treasurer John Kennedy forced appears the council is no closer to a longcould to kill the Southeast Louisiana Flood his administration to admit it to refinance 1. REPUBLICAN SUPREMACY term decision than it ever was.

Protection Authority-East’s environmental state bonds. He remains in hiding on the — State GOP leaders have had U.S. Sen. lawsuit against dozens of oil, gas and 10. THE JEFFERSON PARISH Bruce Greenstein indictment, which proves Mary Landrieu in their crosshairs for two pipeline companies for destroying fragile his ethically challenged administration SCHOOL BOARD WAR — Four years decades. This year they finally brought her coastal wetlands. Indeed, the suit appeared is anything but the “gold standard” he ago, Jefferson business and civic leaders down — with a huge assist from President to be near death several times, but favorable crows about in Iowa, New Hampshire and successfully backed a slate of candidates Barack Obama, the only politician less court rulings kept it on life support. And elsewhere. Voters in Louisiana and across for the parish school board. The new popular in Louisiana than Gov. Bobby Jindal. in recent months some of the energy the nation give him embarrassingly low members stiff-armed the teachers union and Landrieu was the last remaining southern defendants have come to the table to settle approval ratings, and U.S. Sen. David Vitter instituted a number of other changes. This Democrat in the U.S. Senate and the last — which is exactly what proponents of the year, the local teachers union (with $450,000 statewide elected Dem in Louisiana. Her loss has left him in the dust as the leader of litigation said the suit was designed to make the Louisiana GOP. As 2015 begins, his from the national union) helped elect a new, to Congressman Bill Cassidy completes the happen. Stay tuned. union-friendly board majority.

GOP’s sweep in Louisiana and sets the stage delusion continues: He has scheduled a giant 6. STEVE SCALISE’S RISE — The prayer meeting in January to announce his for U.S. Sen. David Vitter to run for governor LAGNIAPPE: EWE’S POLITICAL presidential ambitions. Ironically, he’s holding Metairie congressman catapulted to national next year — just as Jindal announces that DEATH RATTLE — Former Gov. Edwin prominence as House Majority Whip after it at LSU, which, like all public universities, he’s running for president. Both will have Edwards ceased being relevant when he former House Majority Leader Eric Cantor has suffered massive budget cuts under significant GOP opposition. In addition to reported to federal prison in 2002, but Jindal. Apparently irony, like reality, is lost on suffered a surprise defeat in Virginia’s GOP Obama’s unpopularity, Super PACs played apparently some political reporters and primary. Scalise honed his skills in the The Boy Blunder. a huge role in Landrieu’s defeat. They pundits didn’t get the memo. Voters in Louisiana Legislature, and he quickly got poured millions into her race in support of 3. THE COMMON CORE WAR — Louisiana’s 6th Congressional District recomfortable in his new role as one of the Cassidy and ushered in a new political era: There’s a new political dance craze in Baton GOP’s leading brokers and dealmakers on issued that memo in boldface when they henceforth, all politics is national, not local.

Rouge: the Common Core Flip-Flop. Bobby soundly rejected the doddering Silver Zipper.

Capitol Hill.

2. BOBBY JINDAL’S REALITY Jindal and David Vitter did their best FredIt just goes to show that Bobby Jindal isn’t 7. BLACKS REGAIN COUNCIL and-Ginger this year as they switched from the only one in Louisiana trying his hand DISTORTION FLOPS — Unlike the late staunch supporters to rabid opponents of MAJORITY — After Hurricane Katrina, at reality distortion. At least EWE has an Steve Jobs, who reportedly could change the educational standards. Both invoked the New Orleans City Council reverted to excuse — he’s in his dotage. reality by dint of his charisma and bravado, the far right’s favorite bogeyman — Barack a white majority, as it appeared the black Happy Holidays — and let’s hope for better Gov. Bobby Jindal fizzles every time he times next year!

Obama, who actually has nothing to do with political establishment had no “bench” of tries to spin his way out of political reality.

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GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

YEAR IN REVIEW

SO

HAPPENED 2014 GOES INTO THE RECORD BOOKS. COMPILED BY KEVIN ALLMAN at the Charbonnet Funeral Home sitting at a table, wearing her favorite Saints gear, with a case of Busch beer and a bottle of Glenlivet at her side. Then there was socialite Mickey Easterling (pictured), who greeted visitors at her wake at the Saenger Theater with a feather boa, a cigarette holder and a diamond-studded pin that read “BITCH.” Here’s a completely incomprehensive (but, hopefully, not incomprehensible) look at a few of the highlights (and lowlights) of 2014 in New Orleans:

The number of guilty counts against former New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin, who was charged with 21 counts of fraud and bribery. Nagin was found guilty in federal court in February and reported to federal prison in Texas in September to begin serving a 10-year sentence.

CHICKEN BOXING Ever heard of it? Neither had most people, until State Sen. Elbert Guillory brought up the “sport” in a discussion of tightening Louisiana’s cockfighting laws. The Advocate reported Guillory’s explanation: “Just as dueling is a blood sport, two men fighting each other with swords is a blood sport that is illegal. Similarly, two men with boxing gloves on can box each other as a sport that is legal. This is the same distinction between chicken boxing and cockfighting.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart sent down correspondent Al Madrigal to talk with Guillory, who told him, “I’m not a fan of cockfighting, but I love to go and watch some chicken boxing.”

C O U RT E SY KR E W E O F SPA N K

DIZNEYLANDRIEU In the history of the satirical Krewe du Vieux, no one theme may have made as much of an impact as the Krewe of SPANK did this year with “Dizneylandrieu.”

“Mitchey Mayor” rode the float in front of a St. Louis Cathedral that looked like Cinderella’s castle, while marching krewe members wore plastic ears identifying them as “Mitchkateers.”

The throws were Disney-style brochures for “Mitchey Mayor’s Gentrified Kingdom,” and featured various park regions that included “Hipsterland,” “Jacked-Up Square” and “Bourbon

ANCHORMEN 2

“NEW ORLEANS IS NOT COSMOPOLITAN. THERE’S NO KALE HERE.” P H OTO B Y C H ERY L G ERBER

Perhaps the year’s strangest trend involved two high-profile public embalmings, both of which made international news. The late local resident Miriam Burbank bade mourners goodbye

— Actor Tara Elders, quoted in a March New York Times story about artistic transplants in New Orleans. The story (“Experiencing New Orleans with Fresh Eyes and Ears”) included other cringeworthy quotes (“So many of the cool places here are really rundown. And not because a stylist designed them that way”) and inspired a brief run on kale jokes.

New Orleans lost two of its most seasoned TV newsmen when WDSU’s Norman Robinson and WWL’s Dennis Woltering both stepped down in May.

THE TRICENTENNIAL Get used to hearing a lot about New Orleans’ 300th birthday, which arrives in 2018 and coincides with the end of Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s second term in office. In January, Landrieu and leaders The Year in Politics, by Clancy DuBos The Year in Transit, by Jeanie Riess The Year in Dining, by Sarah Baird The Year in Entertainment, by Will Coviello

17 27 35 47

The Year in Music, by Alex Woodward The Year in Film, by Ken Korman The Year in Art, by D. Eric Bookhardt The Year in Stage, by Will Coviello

48 52 55 58

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

he year in New Orleans began and ended with ordinances — in January, opponents of a proposed civic noise ordinance demonstrated outside City Hall before storming the doors and leading a brass band parade through the building into City Council chambers. In December, people were talking about Councilwoman LaToya Cantrell’s proposed ordinance, scheduled to be taken up by council shortly after New Year’s, which would ban smoking virtually everywhere in public in New Orleans.

In between, we had a rainy Mardi Gras, a very quiet hurricane season and a terrible New Orleans Saints season that may somehow result in a playoff berth.

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from Orleans and surrounding parishes announced construction of the new Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport, a project budgeted at $828 million that’s scheduled to be done in May 2018.

Meanwhile, the Tricentennial Consortium — a group comprised mostly of people in the tourism and hospitality industries — announced plans (a “holistic vision”) for a remaking of the waterfront at the foot of Canal Street, stretching up to and including the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Those plans were dealt a severe setback in April when the city could not come to terms with Gatehouse Capital, the development group that had been selected to redevelop the World Trade Center site and the building that is its centerpiece. More tricentennial trouble came in May, when the city lost out to Minneapolis when it came to hosting Super Bowl LII in 2018.

This month, Landrieu announced the formation of a super-committee to coordinate the city’s tricentennial activities, with a series of eight subcommittees under it. They now have three years to plan a major party.

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YEAR IN REVIEW WHOOPS!

Street, U.S.A.” Among the attractions: “200,000,000 Gallons Under the Sea,” “The Riverfront Monorail” and “A Streetcar Named Out of Service.”

It was a brilliant, biting take on New Orleans’ gentrification — and a reminder that Mardi Gras krewes can still deliver powerful satire.

In June, Gambit’s reporting partner Uptown Messenger broke the news that the city had issued an official “Certificate of Recognition” and welcome letter to Operation Save America, an anti-abortion group that spent its time in New Orleans disrupting a church service and picketing doctors’ houses. “This proclamation was issued in error,” the city said later.

PHOTO BY ALE X WO O DWARD

FOO JAM

DR. NORMAN FRANCIS

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

GETTING HITCHED

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Developments in the Louisiana same-sex marriage movement this year started with Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s quiet endorsement of the practice in June (he previously had been in favor of civil unions). After a string of federal court victories, a Sept. 3 decision by U.S. District Judge Martin Feldman upheld the state’s ban on same-sex marriage. Conservatives praised the decision, while gay marriage advocates held a rally in Jackson Square.

On Jan. 9, 2015, the U.S. 5th Circuit Court of Appeals will hear oral arguments on same-sex marriage, which could legalize the practice not only in Louisiana, but also in Texas and Mississippi.

The president of Xavier University announced his intention to step down in 2015 after 46 years of leadership. Francis, the longest-tenured university president in the nation, was one of the students who integrated Loyola University School of Law and later served as president of the United Negro College Fund. He also has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.

SEPTEMBER WAS THE CRUELEST MONTH … for high-profile lawbreakers.

Former city tech chief Greg Meffert was sentenced to 30 months in prison, while former City Councilwoman Renee Gill Pratt finally reported to jail the same month — as did former Mayor Ray Nagin.

The French Quarter has seen few human traffic jams as large as the one created when the Foo Fighters played a “surprise” show (that was hardly a surprise) with the Preservation Hall Jazz Band in May. Arcade Fire’s Win Butler sat in as well, and hundreds of fans crammed St. Peter Street outside Pres Hall hoping to get a listen.

“SOUTHERN LOUISIANA CAN FINALLY SLEEP WITH BOTH EYES CLOSED.” — Tom Ziller of SBNation.com, on Pierre the Pelican’s February makeover. The New Orleans Pelicans mascot was widely (and accurately) criticized as terrifying when it debuted in 2013, so the team had some fun with the replacement mascot, announcing that Pierre had broken his beak on the court and would require reconstructive surgery — even tweeting a photo of a bandaged Pierre at Ochsner Medical Center. The new Pierre was a lot less frightening — and a lot less distinctive.

P H OTO BY C R E AT IVE C O M M O N S/ IN FR O GM AT IO N

THE BYWATER ABIDES The gentrification/hipsterification (take your choice) of the neighborhood continued apace. Crescent Park opened in February, offering riverfront recreation, while restaurants and shops continued to fill in the area, including the new Oxalis and Garage Pizza. Just across the railroad tracks at the Bywater edge of the Faubourg Marigny, St. Claude Avenue continued to develop as the city’s theater corridor (The New Movement comedy theater relocated there in the fall) and a raft of new restaurants opened on the avenue, including Kebab, Red’s Chinese and Sneaky Pickle (and, perhaps by the time you read this, the long-delayed Junction). Other Marigny arrivals included Horn’s, The Franklin and Bao & Noodle.

PAGE 23

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

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GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

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YEAR IN REVIEW PAGE 20

“OH, LORD, NO.”

project to playfully imagine how we can enhance our underinvested commercial corridors. This Friday night, stop by to experience pop-up food vendors, temporary bike lanes, murals, play areas for children, live music, and an art installation in the historic and soon-tobe-renovated Dew Drop Inn.”

— Outgoing U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu to Politico Dec. 10, when asked if she intended to run for office again. She quickly amended her statement to say she hadn’t entirely ruled out running for the Louisiana governorship or Senate again.

DARREN SHARPER

NEW ORLEANS MINUTEMEN

“WE HAVE TURNED THIS DEPARTMENT AROUND.”

During one of several spates of violent crime this year in the French Quarter, an organization called French Quarter Minutemen was announced by organizer Aaron Jordan. Jordan proposed a militia of armed volunteers walking the Vieux Carre, escorting service workers to and from work, and the idea incited a lot of talk pro and con. But the idea never got much farther than a Facebook page and a meeting with New Orleans Police Department officials; Jordan was arrested on an unrelated stalking charge.

COVER CRISIS Gambit was pretty pleased in May when it got an exclusive interview with former Sex Pistol John Lydon about his turn as King Herod in an arena-rock staging of Jesus Christ Superstar that was opening in New Orleans before going on a world tour. But 90 minutes before the paper went to press, the producers abruptly canceled the whole thing, leaving the actors and crew high and dry and Gambit without a cover story. What to do?

We made some cosmetic changes to the cover and sent it to the printer, secure in the knowledge that the Lydon interview was now a true exclusive, since there was no show.

HB 388

PHOTO BY CRE ATI V E CO MMO NS / A N THONY Q UI NTANO

ICE BUCKET CHALLENGE Pouring cold water over your head in the middle of a Louisiana summer doesn’t sound like a sacrifice, but the practice raised more than $100 million this summer to fight amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), the disease affecting former New Orleans Saint Steve Gleason. People around the world did the Ice Bucket Challenge to raise money to fight ALS, and in an August statement the ALS Foundation said it had raised $100.9 million in one month, compared to $2.8 million in the same time period one year ago.

PORTMANTEAUS OF THE YEAR “FESTSPLAINING”: Offering advice on local customs to tourists during Jazz Fest and other big events. (The advice doesn’t have to be correct — and often isn’t.)

“EBOLANOIA”: A portmanteau of “Ebola” and “paranoia,” as demonstrated by state officials who asked health workers who traveled to Ebola-stricken nations not to come to the November meeting of the American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene in New Orleans, where Ebola was going to be discussed.

“PREVITALIZATION”: Imagining how an area could be gentri — uh, economically enhanced, as seen in a press release this year: “Better Block is a ‘previtalization’

THE

YEAR IN

“Productive asshole”

Political consultant Cheron Brylski, in a widely circulated email discussing Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s way of getting things done

“Guidry full of shit”

New Orleans City Council District A candidate Drew Ward on Twitter, referring to incumbent opponent Susan Guidry

“Send her old ass to the Retirement home!”

Musician Glen David Andrews on Twitter, expressing his distaste for longtime New Orleans City Councilwoman Jackie Clarkson

“BITCH”

The diamond pin fastened to the lapel of socialite Mickey Easterling’s outfit at her lavish public memorial service

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GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Ronal Serpas stepped down as New Orleans Police Superintendent after four years in the job, taking a position at Loyola University’s Department of Criminal Justice. Serpas touted statistics showing murder was down and said his staff had “turned this department around.” But his legacy may be the damning November report released by Inspector General Ed Quatrevaux, which found five detectives in the NOPD’s sex crimes and child abuse unit had failed to investigate cases, misclassified others or simply ignored them completely; of nearly 1,300 calls placed to the department, 65 percent were labled “miscellaneous,” with no ongoing documentation or report.

Also known as the “Unsafe Abortion Prevention Act,” House Bill 388, introduced by State Rep. Katrina Jackson (a Democrat) sailed through both the House and Senate and was signed into law by Gov. Bobby Jindal in June. Its provisions include a stipulation that doctors who perform abortions have admitting privileges within 30 miles of the clinic where the procedure is performed. Texas saw more than a dozen clinics close during the first year a similar law was in effect. With this law, the anti-abortion group Americans United For Life (AUL) declared Louisiana the most “pro-life” state in the U.S. in its 2014 report. “Louisiana has enacted a measure banning all abortions once Roe v. Wade is overturned,” AUL noted. “While the ban includes an exception for life endangerment, there is no exception for rape or incest.”

The former New Orleans Saint, five-time Pro Bowl NFL standout and TV football analyst has been in a Los Angeles County jail for nine months after being charged with drugging and raping two women in California. He has been accused of the same thing in Arizona, Nevada and Louisiana, and a judge has denied bail in the California case.

On Dec. 12, Sharper was indicted by an Orleans Parish grand jury on two counts of aggravated rape and one count of simple rape — and the feds indicted him on drug distribution charges the same day. According to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department, Sharper’s next court date there is Jan. 5, 2015.

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GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

•

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Dickie Brennan & co Presents

S̩ °̩Ϻ˨̣ȹϺʍ ^Ѣʍ̩˨̩ʰ Ưʍͷ˨ʍΚ

12.31.14

Le Petit Theatre

Tickets: www.LePetitTheatre.com Doors open: 9:00pm 504.274.1829 616 St. Peter St.

YEAR IN REVIEW: DEATHS PAGE 23

FOND JUST A FEW OF THE PEOPLE NEW ORLEANS AND SOUTH LOUISIANA LOST IN 2014 JANUARY Bluesman Tabby Thomas State Sen. Chris Ullo

JULY

Jazz musician Lionel Ferbos

Jazz musician Lionel Ferbos Bluesman Tabby Thomas

AUGUST

Socialite Mickey Easterling

SEPTEMBER

MAY

Bounce musician Nicky da B Record producer Cosimo Matassa

Philanthropist Ralph Lupin Former La. Agriculture Commissioner Bob Odom Political journalist John Maginnis

Political journalist John Maginnis

DECEMBER Comedian/activist Jonah Bascle Author/professor Michael Mizell-Nelson Drummer Paul Ferrara Lucky Dogs owner Doug Talbot Architect Augie Perez Civil rights leader Rudy Lombard

Comedian/activist Jonah Bascle PAGE 26

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

APRIL

Saxophonist Tim Green

25

YEAR IN REVIEW: QUIZ PAGE 25

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE OF NEW ORLEANS’ MOST ODDBALL STORIES OF 2014.

COLONIAL

BOWLING CENTER PARTIES • CATERING • LEAGUES COSMIC BOWLING • FAMILY ARCADE FAMILY FUN • YOUTH LEAGUES CORPORATE EVENTS • ADULT GAMING LOUNGE • PRO SHOP

6601 JEFFERSON HIGHWAY • HARAHAN • 737-2400 • COLONIALBOWLING.NET

1. What was in the “suspicious

package” that shut down Orleans Parish Criminal District Court in April?

a) The remains of a Popeyes lunch b) An energy drink c) A bottle of vomit

2. Why did the City Planning

Commission raise concerns over the construction of the new Deutsches Haus building on Bayou St. John?

a) It “glorified beer consumption” b) It “looked like a mausoleum” c) It was “too Germanic”

3. New Orleans police arrested two people in May for selling something on Frenchmen Street. What was it?

4. What was the official

explanation proffered for Ms. Lauryn Hill’s 45-minute tardiness at the Voodoo Music Experience?

a) She was having dinner at Booty’s b) She misplaced her iPhone c) She got lost on the way from her hotel

5. In April, the Louisiana House

of Representatives voted 67-27 to keep which unconstitutional (and therefore unenforceable) law on the books? a) The Bible as the official state book b) Criminalizing oral sex c) The legalization of “chicken boxing”

6. When longtime City

Councilwoman Jackie Clarkson was defeated in March, what field of endeavor did she tell Gambit she would take up next?

a) Opening a hair salon in Algiers b) Performing with her daughter, actress Patricia Clarkson c) Honorary consul-general to Lithuania Answers: 1c, 2c, 3b, 4c, 5b, 6c, 7c, 8b, 9c, 10c

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

a) Weed lollipops b) Laughing gas balloons c) School fundraiser chocolate bars

26

CORE

7. What dubious local snack

was coveted by one of the main characters on the new show NCIS: New Orleans?

a) “some deep-fried gator balls” b) “German chocolate king cake” c) “beignets and lemonade”

8. Which celebrity showed up

at New Orleans City Councilman Jason Williams’ victory party?

a) Lil Wayne b) Lil Boosie c) Big Freedia

9. Which Louisiana-shot TV show did Variety call “creepy on almost every level”? a) American Horror Story: Coven b) Top Chef: New Orleans c) The Governor’s Wife

10. Which candidate tweeted “#byefelicia” at a Louisiana political columnist? a) State Rep. Lenar Whitney b) Incoming U.S. Rep. Garret Graves c) Former Gov. Edwin Edwards PAGE 27

YEAR IN REVIEW: TRANSIT PAGE 26

A

2

BY JEANIE RIESS

YEAR

group called “Businesses on Baronne” to share information about how a bike lane would hurt business and congest the thoroughfare.

The bike lane was striped in November and is the only buffered bike lane in the city.

2014 also saw more than a handful of deaths involved in public transit and alternative transportation. In February, 6-year-old Shaud Wilson was hit by a bus while crossing the street to get to his bus stop; four cyclists were killed by motor vehicles in 2014, and in response Ride and Bike Easy instituted a Vision Zero policy, with a goal of educating the public and improving public infrastructure to aim for zero traffic-related deaths. Vision Zero, which started in Sweden and has been adopted by American cities like Houston, was approved by the New Orleans City Council and will go into effect next year.

After months of debate and postponed decisions, the City Council finally allowed hail-a-cab app Uber to bring its limousine and town car service, Uber Black, into New Orleans. Uber Black uses off-duty luxury car drivers at existing limo and car services to act as taxis. Despite the demand for better public transportation in New Orleans, there’s been a lack of Uber Black cars on the streets.

UberX, a ridesharing system that allows ordinary drivers to become makeshift taxis, organized via smartphone, exists in dozens of cities around the world but is still prohibited in New Orleans, though advertisements intended to recruit UberX drivers here are posted on Craigslist and Facebook. Proponents criticized the city for what they called a resistance to accept new technology, but cities around the world are rethinking their allowance of the platform, with Paris set to ban it altogether in 2015. Uber has soured its relationship with American cities, too, including Portland, Oregon (where the service began operating illegally last month) and Miami.

Several local cab companies have talked about adding their own mobile apps to compete with the threat of UberX; United Cab has told its drivers the company will launch an app in early 2015, and an existing app called Curb hails New Orleans Carriage Cabs. Last month, WDSU launched a Transit Tracker app, which developers say tracks buses and streetcars in real time. In 2015, the RTA says it plans to launch a mobile app that will allow riders to see how long the wait is for a particular bus or streetcar in real time. It also promises to introduce mobile ticketing.

3312 Magazine St. • 504-891-7443

BuffaloExchange.com

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

014 was the year of public input on public transit, from passengers and advocacy groups voicing their needs for more routes, better infrastructure and more comfortable places to sit while waiting for the bus, to public outrage over the city’s continued resistance to allow the car-hailing app Uber to operate in New Orleans.

The Regional Transit Authority (RTA) seemed to listen, creating a Riders’ Advisory Committee in February that will go into full effect next year, and responding to cries for a CBD transit hub at the busy intersection at Canal Street and Elks Place, where many bus lines converge. The Riders’ Advisory Committee will allow bus, streetcar, ferry and paratransit riders to play an integral role in transit policy, from routes to schedule changes. Ride New Orleans, a local transportation advocacy group, helped lobby for the committee.

In April, Ride also staged a “day of action” to call for basic infrastructure changes at the Canal Street transfer hub, one that serves as the central transfer point for a dozen RTA bus lines but lacks basic amenities like adequate seating and protection from the elements. In response, the RTA announced it would allocate $500,000 for planning a new transit hub at the intersection. It also installed more seats over the summer.

The RTA also rolled out $5 million for new bus services in September, bringing back lines that were put out of commission during Hurricane Katrina and the federal floods in 2005. Those cover the East and West Banks, and a new bus that connects Hollygrove to Gentilly. It also added a Louisa line to bring back bus service to the Desire neighborhood. Ferry hours also were extended; the RTA had taken over the service and reduced its hours in 2013.

There weren’t many notable streetcar developments in 2014, but 2015 will bring the groundbreaking of the new North Rampart Street/St. Claude Avenue line, which will travel between Canal Street and Elysian Fields Avenue.

A bike lane on Baronne Street downtown extended the quickly growing bicycle riding infrastructure in New Orleans, following the trend of public discourse related to how we move about the city. Cycling advocacy group Bike Easy, along with Mayor Mitch Landrieu’s office, hosted charettes for those involved, while businesses along the CBD street, most notably Rouses Markets, opposed the infrastructure change, arguing it would add unnecessary traffic to an already busy part of town. Rouses and other businesses started a Facebook

tomorrow exchange buy * sell*trade

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GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

L ast

Minute

A bejeweled statement necklace takes your look from office casual to holiday party chic in no time, $26.95 at Miss Smarty Pants (5523 Magazine St., 504-891-6141; www.misssmartypantsnola.com).

GIFT GUIDE Stash your holiday cash in this quirky tin box, $12.50 at Buffalo Exchange (3312 Magazine St., 504-891-7443; www.buffaloexchange.com).

This titillating title by bestselling author Gary Krist is a page-turner, $26 at Maple Street Book Shop (7529 Maple St., 504-866-4916; www.maplestreetbookshop.com).

NO PR E SE N TS? NO PROB L E M —

Light up each night of Hanukkah with an intricately crafted menorah, $59.99 at Kosher Cajun New York Deli and Grocery (3519 Severn Ave., Metairie, 504-888-2010; www.koshercajun.com).

thanks to this handy shopping resource.

BY ANGEL A HERNANDEZ

An alpaca throw blanket is a cozy complement to milk and cookies, $174 at Haven (300 Jefferson Highway, Suite 102, 504-304-2144; www.havencustomfurnishings.com).

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Old World charm gets a NOLA spin with a bronze fleur-de-lis doubloon with a sterling silver bezel pendant (chain not included), $95 at Jose Balli Jewelry (621 Chartres St., 504-522-1770; 800 Metairie Road, Metairie, 504-832-8990; 70360 Highway 21, Covington, 985-892-8990; www.joseballi.com).

PAGE 30

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Last Minute GIFT GUIDE PAGE 29

Form meets function in an end table equipped with outlets for charging phones, $179.99 at Let’s Do Furniture (1716 Barataria Blvd., Marrero, 504-341-6007; www.letsdofurniture.com).

Stay organized in style with this 2015 planner, $14 at Scriptura (Lakeside Shopping Center Annex, 3301 Veterans Memorial Blvd., 504-219-1113; 5423 Magazine St., 504-897-1555; www.scriptura.com).

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Wine is fine, but a basket full of craft beers will make the brewmaster in your life very hoppy indeed, $37.51 at Pearl Wine Co. (3700 Orleans Ave., 504-483-6314; www.pearlwineco.com).

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This rustic Santa makes a ho-ho-homey accent piece, $24 at Discoveries Furniture & Finds (2850 Magazine St., 504-267-2000; www. discoveriesla.com).

Leave it to a local to design waterproof speakers ideal for camping, tailgating or poolside partying.

Made by the Mandeville-based company Drytunes, these waterproof, high-fidelity wireless speakers are $399 at Massey’s Professional Outfitters (509 N. Carrollton Ave., 504-648-0292; 816 N. Highway 190, Covington, 985-809-7544; 3131 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, 504-885-1144; www.masseysoutfitters.com).

Make a strike in style using the Mix bowling ball, $99.95 at Colonial Bowling Lanes Pro Shop (6601 Jefferson Highway, Harahan, 504-737-2400; www.colonialbowling.net).

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

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GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

WHAT’S

in store

Better with

By Andrea Blumenstein

A

seats 120, a Martin Wine Cellar significant reopened in its increase from flagship location what was a this month.

10,000-squarefoot-structure, P H OTO BY C H ER Y L G ER B ER which seated 72 people.

(Originally, the Martin family’s deli and catering business had 16 counter stools.)

Thanks to FH Myers Construction and Waggonner & Ball Architects, the new structure on Baronne Street maximizes its space with a beautiful kitchen equipped for both in-house menu items and catering. The pale wood and large windows make the space feel cozy.

“The heat of the day falls to the back,” Martin says. “The structure is designed so that it is both pretty and functional. The sunlight does not hit the wine directly during peak hours, and that is important for storage.”

Martin Wine Cellar is open seven days a week, with a lunch and dinner menu as well as catering and graband-go options. There are $3 mimosas during Sunday brunch, as well as $4 happy hours from 4 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Pre-wrapped gift baskets and wines are popular choices for holiday gifts, and the well-educated and diverse staff loves to help customers choose bottles.

“We’re passionate about what we do, we love what we do, and it’s different,” Cedric says. “We survive.”

SHOPPING

NEWS

by Missy Wilkinson

Through Tuesday, Dec. 23, Spruce (2043 Magazine St., 504-265-0946; www.sprucenola. com) offers a “draw a discount” sale. Receive 10 to 40 percent off your purchase depending on the discount you draw.

Neon Heart (1022 Lowerline St., 504-2027983; www.facebook.com/neonheartshop) celebrated its grand opening this month. The men’s and women’s boutique offers local and international fashion and lifestyle brands.

Tibetan House Cultural Gift Store and Meditation Room (4900 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-897-9339; www.tibetanhouse.com) celebrated its grand opening this month.

The store offers gifts from northern India and Nepal.

Sacred Woman (1228 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 504-644-8937; www.sacredtrade.com), a fair trade women’s fashion line, held its inauguration party this month. Made of organic hemp and cotton, the garments are sewn in New Orleans.

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

quick scroll through the Company History tab of Martin Wine Cellar’s newly designed website (500 Magazine St., 504-894-7420; 714 Elmeer Ave., Metairie, 504-896-7300; 2895 Highway 190, Mandeville, 985-951-8081; 3827 Baronne St., 504-899-7411; www. martinwine.com) reveals what many in this city already know — the deep roots the Martin family and their business have in New Orleans.

Since 1946, the Martin family has offered the Gulf South diverse wines from all over the globe. The business expanded to Metairie, Mandeville and Baton Rouge.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and the federal levee failures, the original Baronne Street location suffered flooding and looting. However, the flagship location reopened this month in a new building that solves many of the original shotgun building’s issues and erases the scars that resulted from its gradual expansion.

“It’s coming back home,” says Cedric Martin. “This is where I grew up, where I learned the trade. … My father started this business when people were just learning about wine; back in the ’60s and early ’70s people were just picking up something from the few bottles they stocked at the liquor store. My father brought wines from Europe and California and starting teaching classes and having wine tastings and educating.”

The new 14,000-square-foot building

TIME

33

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GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

+

Email dining@gambitweekly.com

Kebab now serves alcohol

NEW ORLEANS

YEAR IN REVIEW: DINING

A

YEAR

2014 brought innovations in tacos and tiki, as well as more raw, gluten-free and vegetarian options for New Orleans diners. Will 2015 be the year of next-generation Chinese food?

BY SARAH BAIRD

St. Claude Avenue sandwich-and-art hot spot Kebab (2315 St. Claude Ave., 504-383-4328; www.kebabnola.com) has added yet another reason to come in: a liquor license.

The restaurant now offers a collection of largely local beers, as well as wine and a DIY cocktail system that plays to the strength of Kebab’s already-robust selection of juices and sodas. Cocktail menu standards like the Moscow Mule and Dark and Stormy are crafted on demand for $6.50, but the real stars are the more creative concoctions. Adding gin to the soda of the day (which was a tart lemon, beet and ginger concoction on a recent night) or a splash of rum to the restaurant’s young coconut juice served in the husk elevates an already stellar, wallet-friendly dining experience to the next level.

For those looking to stretch their booze budget even farther, Kebab also offers daily happy hour specials, with $4.50 cocktails alongside beers priced between $1.50 and $3 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and 10 p.m. to midnight.

— SARAH BAIRD

BIGGEST FLIRT

Meauxbar If your idea of a romantic date night is a little bit Casablanca, a little bit rock ’n’ roll and might involve drinking through a marrow bone, then Meauxbar should be your destination. This French-inspired bistro is playful enough for a first date, but sultry enough to be the perfect environs for staring longingly into the eyes of your beau.

CLASS CLOWN

Pagoda Cafe Almost every element of Pagoda Cafe is whimsical, down to the very shape of the building, and the mood so consistently jovial that it inspires an “I’ll have what they’re having” sort of attitude. On most days, Pagoda feels like the best backyard party you’ve ever attended, with one-of-a-kind dishes (try the Indian banh mi) and coffee concoctions that leave diners with satisfied, goofy grins.

Carrollton Market Carrollton Market feels downright regal in its presentation and dining room demeanor. Various plays on oxtail — from a lush terrine to a lighter, sweet-savory gnocchi — and caper-butter-doused sweetbreads highlight the culinary chops of Chef Jason Goodenough, whose brainy, classically-inspired dishes are on full display.

PAGE 36

Diners can now have beer, wine or cocktails with their sandwiches at Kebab.

Pop-ups and a drive up worth trying

In a city devoted to tracking the next big thing in the restaurant world, there still are a number of below-the-radar pop-ups bringing something completely new to the city. Here are three fresh spots (plus a bonus food truck) worth checking out: Congresso Cubano — If there’s any week that you should be celebrating Cuban food, this one is it. Popping up every PAGE 36

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

MOST INTELLECTUAL

35

EAT

DRINK

NEW ORLEANS PAGE 35

BUILT

1883

YEAR IN REVIEW: DINING

FORK + CENTER [CONTINUED]

PAGE 35

A Cuban sandwich from Congresso Cubano, a regular pop-up at the Hi-Ho Lounge.

MISS CONGENIALITY

Old Arabi Eats The hidden gem of St. Bernard Parish, Old Arabi Eats offers warm, welcoming cuisine that’s equal parts accessible and learned.

Whether feasting on a behemoth pork chop while listening to Billie Holiday or snowy, flaky pan-seared sheepshead to the sound of The Replacements, it’s difficult not to feel welcome here.

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

MOST ARTISTIC

36

Tie — Doris Metropolitan and Kebab Artistry comes in many forms, and the tie between Doris Metropolitan and Kebab for this creative superlative illustrates both sides of the coin. The dishes at Doris Metropolitan — the French Quarter’s premier new wave steakhouse—arrive like intricately arranged modernist creations, with each plate a Joan Miro tuna or a Georgia O’Keeffe beet. St. Claude Avenue doner hotspot Kebab veers in a more literal direction, combining some of the city’s finest budget dining with a rotating curated art collection that spotlights local artists.

Diamond Earrings - $895 Pendant - $495

MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED

Ox Lot 9 Ox Lot 9 is poised to launch a Northshore dining explosion, with its unmatched combination of rustic fare (strap on a bib for the frog legs) and sophisticated surroundings.

So what’s next for 2015? The swell of innovative Latin restaurants seems to be dying down just as next-generation Chinese food picks up the slack. The arrival of small plates shop Bao & Noodle and the trippy, Mission Chinese-inspired newcomer Red’s Chinese plants a flag for the St. Claude corridor as fertile soil to experiment with the likes of ginger milk custard and pig ear terrine.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday night at Hi-Ho Lounge (2239 St. Claude Ave., (504) 945-4446; www.hiholounge.net), Congresso Cubano offers an ever-rotating, always impressive array of Cuban favorites, from salted cod salad to ropa veja and beyond.

Pizza Rustica — Martine’s Lounge (2347 Metairie Road, Metairie, 504831-8637; www.facebook.com/martineslounge) is a Metairie cocktail bar that also is home to some of Jefferson Parish’s best pizzas, served every Friday and Saturday night as part of a project called Pizza Rustica. The fresh dough is made in house, and breakfast pizzas are available on any day the New Orleans Saints have a game that starts at noon.

Lahpet: A Taste of Burma — This brand new pop-up might be the first step toward introducing Burmese food to the New Orleans landscape. Its menu features pickled tea leaf salad, golden egg curry and Burmese milk tea. The inaugural lunchtime event took place at board game-hub Rook Cafe (4516 Freret St., 618-520-9843; www.facebook.com/therookcafe) last week, with more meals in the works.

Saigon Slim’s (504-339-8129; www.facebook.com/SaigonSlims) — Yes, there probably is a brand spanking new Vietnamese place near your house already, but seeking out new food truck Saigon Slim’s still will be worth your time. Parked regularly outside of The Club Ms. Mae’s (4336 Magazine St., 504-218-8035; www.facebook.com/theclubmsmaesnola) and 45 Tchoup (4529 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-891-9066), Slim’s marries New Orleans flavors with Vietnamese sensibilities, creating dishes like bananas Foster spring rolls. — SARAH BAIRD

Bruiser’s takes hot dog invasion to Slidell

The spread of laid-back, hot dog-centric restaurants has reached the Northshore with the arrival of Bruiser’s (1904 Front St., Slidell, 985326-8208; www.bruisersdogs.com).

Bruiser’s opened quietly around Thanksgiving, making Bruiser’s Duca dog is fried and topped with chili, cheese bacon and coleslaw. its home in a former Gulf Coast Oil gas station that feels charmingly antiquated and playful.

The restaurant’s primary claim to fame — and its standout item — is the Barduca dog, which features chili, cheese, bacon and coleslaw piled high on a one-third pound, foot-long hot dog that has been (wait for it) deepfried. If you still want your dog fried but aren’t up to a full third of a pound, the Duca dog weighs in at a scant quarter of a pound and still provides a crispy, meaty crunch.

Non-fried hot dog options include the New Yorker, a grilled weiner served with spicy mustard, onion sauce and sauerkraut, and the breakfast dog, which crowns the encased meat with cheese, scrambled eggs, grilled onions and peppers, bacon and pico de gallo.

The restaurant is open for lunch Tuesday through Sunday and dinner Tuesday through Saturday. — SARAH BAIRD

EAT

DRINK

NEW ORLEANS

3-COURSE interview

Prescott Trudeau

Museum exhibit designer, curator Prescott Trudeau is an exhibit designer and co-curator responsible for the development of the Old Arabi Sugar Museum and the forthcoming Museum of the American Cocktail exhibits as part of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum (SoFAB). Trudeau talks to Gambit about sugar’s storied history in Louisiana, the upcoming Museum of the American Cocktail exhibits and the intersection of food and design.

How did you become involved in curating culinary exhibits?

Trudeau: I run my own firm, called NOLA Art Department, but I’ve had a long-standing relationship with the Southern Food and Beverage Museum. The Old Arabi Sugar Museum was the first project that [SoFAB Executive Director] Liz Williams and I worked on together, and it was commissioned by the St. Bernard Parish Office of Tourism. We worked closely with them on developing the project, and it’s been open about a year now. We’re now working on putting together the Museum of the American Cocktail that will be open in the new SoFAB site. The [Museum of the American Cocktail] exhibit will open in February.

What were some of the highlights of working on the Sugar Museum?

How did you work to integrate food and design?

T: We start [the exhibit] in 1761, when the Jesuits first brought sugar cane to the area, and then there are some important historical dates that are highlighted throughout the museum with certain personalities popping up. There’s a large mural laid out with an interactive touch screen, which allows you to see when sugar comes into the refinery, and then the many ways in which it can leave, including how it’s packaged for consumers. The history is fascinating, and I tried to let that play into the design.

Indigo was the first major crop that people tried to cultivate in the area, and it didn’t really go over very well — it was subpar indigo. They realized then, pretty quickly, that sugar cane was the major crop to focus on. It replaced the indigo industry, but they still had all this leftover indigo. When they made refined sugar, it would be in a cone shape, and they would dye paper with the leftover indigo — blue — and wrap the sugar cones with the blue paper. When people still produce sugar cones, mainly in Mexico, they wrap the cones in blue paper to this day.

Blue and indigo became this design consideration for me, and I used that color to really tie the museum together and give it a little stylish pizzazz. — SARAH BAIRD

Chef Marcus Woodham

NEW YEAR'S EVE Ring in the New Year with tastes of South Louisiana.

Chef Marcus Woodham presents a feast true to our region with a family-style approach; 3-course meal with a complimentary glass of champagne.

Two seating times 7:00pm and 9:30pm. $75 PER PERSON TIVOLIANDLEE.COM • (504) 962 0909 • FREE VALET PARKING AT THE HOTEL MODERN • 2 LEE CIRCLE • NEW ORLEANS

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

T: The sugar project came up, and St. Bernard Parish had this building that was called the Old Arabi Courthouse and Jail on Hernandez Street. They did renovations after [Hurricane] Katrina, and in the past it had been an informal meeting area for locals and organizations. They wanted to develop it as a tourist attraction for Old Arabi, and with the Domino Sugar refinery just down the street, doing the [sugar] museum in that location became a good choice.

A lot of people want to visit the Domino Sugar refinery, and unfortunately, they don’t really have tours or any way for people to see the facility. If you drive up to the gates, they’ll actually ask you to turn around because it’s a dangerous site and there’s lots of stuff going on there. We proposed the idea, because we did a sugar exhibit in collaboration with Domino Sugar inside the [former Riverwalk location of] SoFAB. A lot of the exhibit pulls from SoFAB’s permanent collection, and it basically is a chronological history of sugar production and harvesting in Louisiana.

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BEER buzz In 2011, neighbors and homebrewers Bert Swafford, Kevin Muggivan and Jeff Roland decided that “brewing by yourself sucks,” Swafford says. “It’s boring. Brewing together makes it fun — it’s like the difference between playing solitaire on a Friday night and playing poker with your friends.”

Matthew Morgan and Devin Villegas joined them and, since all five hailed from the 400 block Members of Far Fighter 400 (left to of Telemachus Street in Mid-City, they right): Bert Swafford, Jeff Roland, dubbed themselves “Far Fighter 400.”

Devin Villegas and Matthew Morgan.

The group is looking for more members.

“It’s about friends getting together and having a good time,” Swafford says. The Far Fighter 400 club does not have set meetings, dues or an official mission statement, although its unofficial slogan is “More brewers, more beer, better world,” according to Morgan.

Earlier this month, the quintet introduced the club to potential recruits at Treo — owners Pauline and Stephen Patterson are supporters of the club, whose members are their neighbors and regulars at their other business, Finn McCool’s.

Although they don’t take themselves or brewing too seriously, the trash talking among the five during their brewing sessions led to a competition to see who could back up their boasts in a blind tasting by their friends. They added a fundraising component, with the winner choosing which charity would get the money collected. Last year, the group raised and donated $500 to the LA/SPCA. The 2015 competition, scheduled for April 18, will be at Treo.

For more information, check out Far Fighter 400’s Facebook group. Future brew days will be announced there. — NORA MCGUNNIGLE

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Email Nora McGunnigle at nora@nolabeerblog.com

WINE of the week Dopff & Irion Cremant d’Alsace Rose ALSACE, FRANCE RETAIL $22-$24

OPEN EVERY DAY 5252 VETERANS BLVD. METAIRIE • 504.456.9234 perryssportsbarandgrill.com

A rose sparkling wine can be a perfect partner for an evening of food and fun. This Cremant from the Alsace region is a product of two families who forged a partnership in 16th century. Today, the company is a leading Alsace producer with 67 acres of vineyards at the firm’s estate, Chateau de Riquewihr. Located between the Vosges Mountains to the west and Schoenenbourg hill on the north, the vineyards are protected from harsh climate influences. As the fruit matures and the levels of sugar and acid are in balance, the grapes are harvested by hand. In the cellar, the fruit is gently pressed and only the first pressing juice makes the cut for estate wines. Following traditional tank fermentation, a second fermentation occurs in the bottle during nine months aging on the lees. In the glass, this 100 percent pinot noir sparkling rose is refreshing and lively, with delicate aromas of fresh flowers, red berries and a hint of brioche leading into rounded flavors of strawberry, cherry and raspberry fruit on the palate. Serve well-chilled.

Great with seafood, fowl, light meats and a variety of dishes. Buy it at: Bin 428, Swirl Wine Market and Bacchanal.

Drink it at: Square Root, Windsor Court Hotel, Martinique Bistro, Doris Metropolitan, Gautreau’s, Oak, The Joint and One Eyed Jacks. — BRENDA MAITLAND Questions? Email winediva1@bellsouth.net

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FIVE

in

5

Five covey-ted quail dishes

1 2 3 4 5

Louisiana Bistro

337 Dauphine St., (504) 525-3335 www.louisianabistro.net

The boudin-stuffed half-quail at Louisiana Bistro is served on a bed of bacon-braised greens.

Mariza

2900 Chartres St., (504) 598-5700 www.marizaneworleans.com

Mariza’s quail and pancetta is plated with red onion, wilted greens and saba.

Restaurant R’evolution

777 Bienville St., (504) 553-2277 www.revolutionnola.com

The restaurant’s triptych of quail prepares the bird three ways: Southern-fried, boudin-stuffed and absinthe-glazed.

Rib Room

621 St. Louis St., (504) 529-7045 www.ribroomneworleans.com

Charred local quail is paired with sweet corn, cherry tomatoes and okra.

Sylvain

625 Chartres St., (504) 265-8123 www.sylvainnola.com

Roasted Texas quail arrives with cornbread stuffing, creamed mustard greens and warm tasso vinaigrette.

the

menu

Trends, notes, quirks and quotes from the world of food.

Bay Area beignets “The cupcake has finally been dethroned. But who would have thought its successor would be the humble doughnut?

Amid the bright glazes and bellies of custard, however, a subtrend has emerged — the savory doughnut.” — Alissa Merksamer of SFGate.com, writing about the nouveau doughnut trend in San Francisco, several of which are spins on traditional New Orleans beignets. Among them: a crawfish-stuffed beignet “inspired by crawfish zombie bread served at the New Orleans Jazz Fest”; a Camembert beignet dusted with mushroom powder; and a bacon beignet served with creme fraiche and a sherry-vinegar reduction.

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

OFF

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GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

to

EAT

melts are topped with melted Monterey Jack and shredded Parmesan cheeses and served on a choice of bread. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sat.-Sun. Credit cards. $

COMPLETE LISTINGS AT WWW.BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM

you are where you eat

Out 2 Eat is an index of Gambit contract advertisers. Unless noted, addresses are for New Orleans. Dollar signs represent the average cost of a dinner entree: $ — under $10; $$ — $11 to $20; $$$ — $21 or more. To update information in the Out 2 Eat listings, email willc@ gambitweekly.com, fax 483-3116 or call Will Coviello at 483-3106.

Deadline is 10 a.m. Monday.

AMERICAN

BAR & GRILL

Bayou Beer Garden — 326 N. Jefferson Davis Pwky., (504) 302-9357 — Head to Bayou Beer Garden for a 10-oz. Bayou burger served on a sesame bun. Disco fries are french fries topped with cheese and debris gravy. No reservations.

Lunch and dinner, late-night Fri.Sat. Credit cards. $ Down the Hatch — 1921 Sophie Wright Place, (504) 522-0909; www.downthehatchnola.com — The Texan burger features an Angus beef patty topped with grilled onions, smoked bacon, cheddar and a fried egg. The house-made veggie burger combines 15 vegetables and is served with sun-dried tomato pesto.

Delivery available. No reservations. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $ Lucy’s Retired Surfers’ Bar & Restaurant — 701 Tchoupitou-

BURGERS

Charcoal’s Gourmet Burger Bar — 2200 Magazine St., (504) 644-4311; www.charcoalgourmetburgerbar. com — This burger specialist’s patty options include beef, bison, shrimp and veggie. The House burger is dressed with cheddar, lettuce, onion, tomato, pickles, mayonnaise and mustard and served with house-made chips.

The Cobb salad features romaine lettuce, grilled chicken, avocado, tomato, onion, applewood-smoked bacon, blue cheese, croutons and buttermilk ranch or honey-mustard dressing. No reservations.

Lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$ Cheeseburger Eddie’s — 4517 West Esplanade Ave., Metairie, (504) 455-5511; www.mredsno. com — This eatery serves a variety of specialty burgers, Mr. Ed’s fried chicken, sandwiches, po-boys, salads, tacos, wings and shakes. Besides patty melts and chili-cheeseburgers, there also are seafood burgers featuring tuna, salm-

on or crabmeat. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $

CAFE

Antoine’s Annex — 513 Royal St., (504) 525-8045; www.antoines. com — The Annex is a coffee shop serving pastries, sandwiches, soups, salads and gelato. The Caprese panino combines fresh mozzarella, pesto, tomatoes and balsamic vinaigrette. The ham and honey-Dijon panino is topped with feta and watercress. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $ Breads on Oak — 8640 Oak St., Suite A, (504) 324-8271; www. breadsonoak.com — The bakery offers a range of breads, muffins, pastries and sweets.

Pain au chocolat is a buttery, flakey croissant filled with dark chocolate, and a vegan version also is available. The breads include traditional, hand-shaped Parisian-style baguettes. No reservations. Breakfast Wed.-Sun., lunch Wed.-Sat. Credit cards. $ Cafe Freret — 7329 Freret St., (504) 861-7890; www.cafefreret.com — Casual dining options include burgers, sandwiches and half and whole muffuletta rounds and daily lunch specials. Wednesday features steak night. Reservations accepted. Lunch Fri.-Wed., dinner Mon.-Wed. and Fri.-Sat., brunch Sat.-Sun. Credit cards. $ Cafe NOMA — New Orleans Museum of Art, City Park, 1 Collins C. Diboll Circle, (504) 4821264; www.cafenoma.com — The cafe serves roasted Gulf shrimp and vegetable salad dressed with Parmesan-white balsamic vinaigrette. Other options include chipotle-marinated portobello sliders and flatbread pizza topped with manchego, peppers and roasted garlic. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch Tue.-Sun., dinner Fri. Credit cards. $ Il Posto Cafe — 4607 Dryades St., (504) 895-2620; www. ilpostocafe-nola.com — The cafe offers house-baked items, bagels, granola and more in the morning. The lunch and dinner menu features panini, Italian cheese boards, antipasti plates, pressed sandwiches, soups and salads. Shaved Brussels sprouts salad includes toasted almonds, Parmesan, apples and house lemon dressing. No reservations.

Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $$ Lakeview Brew Coffee Cafe — 5606 Canal Blvd., (504) 483-7001 — This casual cafe offers gourmet coffees and a wide range of pastries and desserts baked in house, plus a menu of specialty sandwiches and salads. For breakfast, an omelet is filled with marinated mushrooms, bacon, spinach and goat cheese. Tuna salad or chicken salad avocado

Five Happiness — 3511 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 482-3935 — The large menu at Five Happiness offers a range of dishes from wonton soup to sizzling seafood combinations served on a hot plate to sizzling Go-Ba to lo mein dishes. Delivery and banquest facilities available.

Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

COFFEE/DESSERT

Angelo Brocato’s — 214 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-1465; www. angelobrocatoicecream.com — This sweet shop serves its own gelato, spumoni, Italian ice, cannolis, fig cookies and other treats. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $ Rue de la Course — 1140 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 861-4343; www.facebook. comruedelacourse — The Downtown sandwich includes turkey, bacon, Swiss cheese, avocado, tomato, lettuce, sprouts and mayonnaise on a choice of bagel and comes with chips, potato salad or coleslaw. The Lakeview features chicken or tuna salad dressed with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise on a bagel and comes with a side. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily. Cash only. $

CONTEMPORARY

Bayona — 430 Dauphine St., (504) 525-4455; www.bayona.com — House favorites on Chef Susan Spicer’s menu include sauteed Pacific salmon with choucroute and Gewurztraminer sauce and the appetizer of grilled shrimp with black-bean cake and coriander sauce. Reservations recommended.

Lunch Wed.-Sat., dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$$ The Delachaise — 3442 St. Charles Ave., (504) 895-0858; www.thedelachaise.com — The bar offers a large selection of wines by the glass and full restaurant menu. Mussels are steamed with Thai chili and lime leaf. Chicken mofongo features plantains stuffed with stewed chicken. No reservations. Lunch Fri.-Sun., dinner and late-night daily.

Credit cards. $$ Fulton Alley — 600 Fulton St., (504) 208-5569; www.fultonalley.com — The kitchen at this upscale bowling alley offers Southern-influenced cuisine. The menu includes sandwiches, salads, meat pies, sliders, deviled eggs and smoked and fried chicken wings. Reservations recommended. Lunch Fri.-Sun., dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $$ Ivy — 5015 Magazine St., (504) 8991330 — Chef Sue Zemanick offers a selection of small plates. Grilled lobster is served with arugula, roasted potatoes and corn. Warm snow crab claws come with truffle butter. No reservations. Dinner and late-night Mon.-Sat. Credit Cards. $$ Suis Generis — 3219 Burgundy St., (504) 309-7850; www.suisgeneris. com — The constantly changing menu includes dishes such as panfried Gulf flounder with kumquat ginger sauce, crispy Brussels sprouts and sticky rice. Reservations accepted for large parties.

Dinner Wed.-Sun., late-night Thu.Sat., brunch Sat.-Sun. Credit cards accepted. $$

Antoine’s Restaurant — 713 St. Louis St., (504) 581-4422; www.antoines. com — The city’s oldest restaurant offers a glimpse of what 19th century French Creole dining might have been like, with a labyrinthine series of dining rooms. Signature dishes include oysters Rockefeller, crawfish Cardinal and baked Alaska.

Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Mon-Sat., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$$ Bar Redux — 801 Poland Ave., (504) 592-7083; www.barredux.com — The mix of Creole and Caribbean fare includes jerk chicken and crawfish etouffee and cheese steaks are available. The Cuban sandwich features house-made roasted garlic pork loin, Chisesi ham, Swiss cheese, pickles, mustard and garlic mayonnaise on pressed French bread. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Sat., dinner and late-night daily.

Credit cards. $$ Cafe Gentilly — 5325 Franklin Ave., (504) 281-4220; www.facebook.com/ cafegentilly —Crab cake Benedict is French bread topped with poached eggs, a hand-made crawfish sausage patty and hollandaise.

Breakfast is available all day, and the creamed spinach, crawfish and Swiss cheese omelet can be served in a po-boy. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily, dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $ Ignatius Eatery — 3121 Magazine St., (504) 899-0242; www.ignatiuseatery. com — The menu includes classic Creole dishes such as red beans and rice, speckled trout meuniere and crawfish etouffee as well as sandwiches, salads and pasta.

Crawfish Ignatius pasta features crawfish cream sauce with mushrooms, tomatoes, onion and bell peppers topped with grated Parmesan. Reservations accepted.

Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sat.Sun. Credit cards. $$ The Landing Restaurant — Crowne Plaza, 2829 Williams Blvd., Kenner, (504) 467-5611; www.neworleansairporthotel.com — The Landing serves Cajun and Creole dishes with many seafood options. Louisiana crab cakes are popular. No reservations.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Credit cards. $$ Ma Momma’s House — 5741 Crowder Blvd., (504) 244-0021; www.mamommashouse.com — Traditional homestyle Creole dishes include red beans and rice, shrimp pasta, fried chicken, cornbread and more. Chicken and waffles includes a Belgian waffle and three or six fried chicken wings. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Thu.-Mon., dinner Thu.-Sat. Credit cards. $$ Palace Cafe — 605 Canal St., (504) 523-1661; www.palacecafe.com — Creative Creole dishes include crabmeat cheesecake topped with Creole meuniere. Andouille-crusted fish is served with Crystal buerre blanc.

For dessert, there’s white chocolate bread pudding. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sunday. Credit cards. $$$ Olivier’s Creole Restaurant — 204 Decatur St., (504) 525-7734; www. olivierscreole.com — Eggplant Olivier features flash-fried eggplant medallions served with shrimp, chicken, andouille and crawfish tails in garlic, basil and brandy sauce.

Braised Creole rabbit is served with Creole gravy, oyster dressing and rice pilaf. Reservations recommended. Lunch Tue.-Sat., dinner daily.

Credit cards. $$ Roux on Orleans — Bourbon Orleans, 717 Orleans Ave., (504) 571-4604; www. bourbonorleans.com — This restau-

rant offers contemporary Creole dishes including barbecue shrimp, redfish couvillion, gumbo and catfish and shrimp dishes. Reservations accepted. Breakfast daily, dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $$ Tableau — 616 St. Peter St., (504) 9343463; www.tableaufrenchquarter. com — Tableau’s updated Creole cuisine includes bacon-wrapped oysters en brochette served with roasted garlic butter and grilled Two Run Farm lamb chops served with New Orleans-style barbecue sauce. Balcony and courtyard dining available. Reservations resommended. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$$ Willie Mae’s Scotch House — 2401 St. Ann St., (504) 822-9503 — This neighborhood restaurant is know for its wet-battered fried chicken. Green beans come with rice and gravy.

There’s bread pudding for dessert.

No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$

DELI

Kosher Cajun New York Deli & Grocery — 3519 Severn Ave., Metairie, (504) 888-2010; www.koshercajun. com — This New York-style deli specializes in sandwiches, including corned beef and pastrami that come straight from the Bronx. No reservations. Lunch Sun.-Thu., dinner Mon.-Thu. Credit cards. $ Mardi Gras Zone — 2706 Royal St., (504) 947-8787; www.mardigraszone. com — The 24-hour grocery store has a deli and wood-burning pizza oven. The deli serves po-boys, salads and hot entrees such as stuffed peppers, beef stroganoff and vegetable lasagna. Vegan pizzas also are available. No reservations.

Lunch, dinner and late-night daily.

Credit cards. $ Martin Wine Cellar — 714 Elmeer Ave., Metairie , (504) 896-7350; www. martinwine.com — The wine emporium’s dinner menu includes pork rib chops served with house-made boudin stuffing, Tabasco pepper jelly demi-glaze and smothered greens. The Deli Deluxe sandwich features corned beef, pastrami, Swiss cheese, Russian dressing and Creole mustard on an onion roll. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch daily, early dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$ Qwik Chek Deli & Catering — 2018 Clearview Pkwy., Metairie, (504) 4566362 — The menu includes gumbo, po-boys, pasta, salads and hot plate lunches. The hamburger po-boy can be dressed with lettuce, mayo and tomato on French bread. Shrimp Italiano features shrimp tossed with cream sauce and pasta. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

FRENCH

Martinique Bistro — 5908 Magazine St., (504) 891-8495; www.martiniquebistro.com — Roti d’agneau is roasted New Zealand lamb loin served with white truffle mashed potatoes, pine nut pistou and sun-dried tomato jus. Courtyard seating is available in all weather due to a retractable roof. Reservations recommended.

Dinner Wed.-Sun., brunch Sat.-Sun. Credit cards. $$$

GOURMET TO GO

Breaux Mart — 315 E. Judge Perez, Chalmette, (504) 262-0750; 605 Lapalco Blvd., Gretna, 433-0333; 2904 Severn Ave., Metairie, (504) 885-5565; 9647 Jefferson Hwy., River Ridge, (504) 737-8146; www.breauxmart.com — Breaux Mart prides itself on its “Deli to Geaux” as well as weekday

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Colonial Bowling Lanes — 6601 Jefferson Hwy. Harahan, (504) 7372400; www.colonialbowling.net — The kitchen serves breakfast in the morning and a lunch and dinner menu of sandwiches, burgers, chicken wings and tenders, pizza, quesdaillas and more. Daily specials include red beans and rice on Mondays and seafood platters on Friday. No reservations.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, late-night Fri.-Sat. Credit cards. $ Somethin’ Else Cafe — 620 Conti St., 373-6439; www.somethingelsecafe.com — Combining Cajun flavors and comfort food, Somthin’ Else offers noshing items including shrimp baskets, boudin balls and alligator corn dogs. There are burgers, po-boys and sandwiches filled with everything from cochon de lait to a trio of melted cheeses on buttered thick toast. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, late-night Thu.-Sat. Credit cards. $$ Treasure Island Buffet — 5050 Williams Blvd., Kenner, (504) 4438000; www.treasurechestcasino. com — The all-you-can-eat buffet includes New Orleans favorites including seafood, salad and dishes from a variety of national cuisines. No reservations. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner daily, brunch Sat.Sun. Credit cards. $$

las St., (504) 523-8995; www. lucysretiredsurders.com — This surf shack serves chips with salsa and guacamole made to order, burgers, salads, tacos, entrees and more. Fried catfish is topped with onion rings and served with mashed potatoes.

Panko-crusted avacado is topped with shrimp salsa. The restaurant is dog-friendly. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily, late night Thu.-Sat., brunch Sat.-Sun. Credit cards. $$ Perry’s Sports Bar & Grill — 5252 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 456-9234; www.perryssportsbarandgrill.com — The sports bar offers burgers, hot dogs, sandwiches, wraps, tacos, salads, steaks and a wide array of bar noshing items. Boiled seafood options include shrimp and crabs. Open 24-hours Thursday through Sunday. No reservations.

Lunch, dinner and late-night daily.

Credit cards. $ The Rivershack Tavern — 3449 River Road, (504) 834-4938; www. therivershacktavern.com — This bar and music spot offers a menu of burgers, sandwiches and changing lunch specials. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $ Warehouse Grille — 869 Magazine St., (504) 322-2188; www. warehousegrille.com — The menu features upscale bar food, burgers, steaks, seafood, salads, sandwiches and noshing items including chicken wings and duck crepes with spiced cherry glaze. For brunch, there’s chicken and waffles with Pabst Blue Ribbon syrup. Reservations accepted. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily, brunch Fri.-Sun. Credit cards. $

CHINESE

CREOLE

41

OUT to EAT specials. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

LIVE JAZZ

INDIAN

EVERY NIGHT 8PM

Bar Snacks available til 12am | Happy Hour 4-7pm Daily Dinner 5:30-10pm Sun-Thurs & 5:30-11pm Fri-Sat

Nirvana Indian Cuisine — 4308 Magazine St., (504) 894-9797 — Serving mostly northern Indian cuisine, the restaurant’s extensive menu ranges from chicken to vegetable dishes. Reservations accepted for five or more. Lunch and dinner Tue.Sun. Credit cards. $$ Taj Mahal Indian Cuisine — 923-C Metairie Road, Metairie, (504) 836-6859 — The traditional menu features lamb, chicken and seafood served in a variety of ways, including curries and tandoori.

Vegetarian options are available. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $$

INTERNATIONAL Matt Johnson Trio

JANUARY 2015 MUSIC 4

Kris Tokarski solo piano

Tom Hook

solo piano & vocalist

11

solo piano & vocalist

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Tom Hook

42

18

Jenna McSwain

19

solo piano & vocalist

25

solo piano & vocalist

12

Jenna McSwain

solo piano & vocalist

solo piano & vocalist

Tom Hook

5

Jenna McSwain

Jenna McSwain

26

solo piano & vocalist

Josh Paxton

6

New Orleans style solo piano

Kris Tokarski

13

solo piano

Josh Paxton

featuring Orange Kellin

14

Kris Tokarski Duets featuring Larry Scala

20

New Orleans style solo piano

Josh Paxton

7

Kris Tokarski Duets

27

New Orleans style solo piano

21

Kris Tokarski Duets featuring Hal Smith

28

Kris Tokarski Duets featuring Ed Petersen

Kris Tokarski Trio

Kris Tokarski Trio

Matt Johnson Trio

Kris Tokarski Trio

1

Meryl Zimmerman Trio

2

jazz vocalist

8

9

Don Vappie Trio

jazz guitar

15

22

Christina Perez Trio

16

23

Latin jazz & standards vocalist

29

Steve Pistorius Duo

swing/traditional vocalist

Banu Gibson Quartet

10

Great American songbook vocalist

jazz vocalist/ guitarist

Alex Peters Quartet

3

Linnzi Zaorski Quartet

30

traditional jazz

Kitt Lough Trio

17

jazz vocalist

Dave Mooney Duo

24

jazz guitarist

Leroy Jones Quintet

31

New Orleans jazz

830 rue conti | 504-577-2237 | bombayclubneworleans.com

Canal Street Bistro — 3903 Canal St., (504) 482-1225; www.canalstreetbistro. com — This Mid-City cafe’s menu draws from an array of global influences. Duck enchiladas feature corn tortillas filled with duck confit topped with red mole or chipotle-tomatillo sauce and served with black beans. Reservations recommended.

Lunch Wed.-Fri., dinner Wed.-Sat., brunch Sat.-Sun. Credit cards. $$$

ITALIAN

Amici Restaurant & Bar — 3218 Magazine St., (504) 300-1250; www.amicinola. com — Amici serves coal-fired pizza and Italian dishes. The broccoli rabe salsica Italiana pie is topped with marinara, mozzarella, sauteed bitter Italian greens and Italian sausage. Pasta carbonara features pancetta and green peas in white sauce. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$$ Andrea’s Restaurant — 3100 N. 19th St., Metairie, (504) 834-8583; www.andreasrestaurant.com — Chef/owner Andrea Apuzzo’s specialties include speckled trout royale which is topped with lump crabmeat and lemon-cream sauce. Capelli D’Andrea combines house-made angel hair pasta and smoked salmon in light cream sauce. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$$ Cafe Giovanni — 117 Decatur St., (504) 529-2154; www.cafegiovanni.com — Chef Duke LoCicero serves inventive Italian cuisine and Italian accented contemporary Louisiana cooking. Shrimp Dukie features Louisiana shrimp and a duck breast marinated in Cajun spices served with tasso-mushroom sauce. Belli Baci is the restaurant’s cocktail lounge.

Reservations accepted. Dinner daily.

Credit cards. $$$ Mosca’s — 4137 Hwy. 90 W., Westwego, (504) 436-8950; www.moscasrestaurant. com — This family-style eatery has changed little since opening in 1946.

Popular dishes include shrimp Mosca, chicken a la grande and baked oysters Mosca, made with breadcrumps and Italian seasonings. Reservations accepted.

Dinner Tue.-Sat. Cash only. $$$ Red Gravy — 125 Camp St., (504) 561-8844; www.redgravycafe.com — The cafe serves rustic Italian fare including handmade pastas, ravioli and lasagna and seafood dishes with shrimp, clams and mussels. Sicilian egg pie features eggs baked with cream and spices in puff pastry. Reservations accepted. Lunch and brunch Wed.-Mon., dinner Thu.-Sun. Credit cards. $$ Vincent’s Italian Cuisine — 4411 Chastant St., Metairie, (504) 885-2984; 7839 St. Charles Ave., (504) 866-9313; www. vincentsitaliancuisine.com — Housemade cannelloni is stuffed with ground veal, spinach and Parmesan, baked in Alfredo sauce and topped with housemade tomato sauce. Creamy corn and

OUT to EAT

crab bisque is served in a toasted bread bowl. Reservations accepted. Chastant Street: lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat. St. Charles Avenue: lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner Tue.Sun. Credit cards. $$

Laurel Street Bakery (2701 S. Broad St., 504-897-0576; www.laurelstreetbakery.com) offers an array of coffee drinks and baked goods.

P H O TO BY C HERY L G ERBER

JAPANESE

music and Japanese kitsch. Dishes include curries, housemade ramen soups, fried chicken and other specialties. Reservations accepted. Dinner daily, late-night Fri.-Sat. Credit cards. $

LATIN AMERICAN La Macarena Pupuseria and Latin Cafe — 8120 Hampson St., (504) 862-5252; www.pupusasneworleans.com — The NOLA Special breakfast burrito is stuffed with hot sausage, organic eggs, refried black beans, hash browns and American cheese. Carne asada is marinated and grilled beef tenderloin served with saffron rice and tropical salad. Vegetarian and gluten-free dishes are available. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Mon. Cash only. $$

LOUISIANA CONTEMPORARY 7 On Fulton — 700 Fulton St., (504) 525-7555; www.7onfulton. com — New Orleans barbecue shrimp features a peppery butter sauce made with blonde ale. Oven-roasted lobster tail is topped with Louisiana crawfish and corn cream sauce and comes with fingerling potatoes and asparagus. Reservations accepted.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Credit cards. $$ Dick & Jenny’s — 4501 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 894-9880; www. dickandjennys.com — Located in a renovated Creole cottage, the restaurant serves contemporary Creole and Italian dishes.

Sauteed Gulf fish is prepared with smoked herb rub and served with crawfish risotto and shaved asparagus. Reservations recommended. Dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$$ Heritage Grill — 111 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 150, Metairie, (504) 934-4900; www.heritagegrillmetairie.com — This power lunch spot offers dishes like duck and wild mushroom spring rolls with mirin-soy dipping sauce and pan-fried crab cakes with corn maque choux and sugar snap peas. Reservations accepted.

Lunch Mon.-Fri. Credit cards. $$ Manning’s — 519 Fulton St., (504) 593-8118; www.harrahsneworleans.com — Named for former New Orleans Saints quarterback Archie Manning, this restaurant’s game plan sticks to Louisiana flavors. A cast iron skillet-fried filet is served with two-potato hash, fried onions and Southern Comfort pan sauce.

The fish and chips feature black drum crusted in Zapp’s Crawtator crumbs served with Crystal beurre blanc. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily.

Credit cards. $$$ Marti’s — 1041 Dumaine St., (504) 522-5478; www.martisnola.com — This brasserie serves traditional French and contemporary Louisiana cooking. The grande plateau fruits de mer features whole Maine lobster, chilled shrimp, marinated snow crab claws, oysters on the half shell and scallop ceviche. Grilled Texas quail is served with spaetzle, oyster mushrooms, corn and Pommery mustard sauce. Reservations

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Kyoto — 4920 Prytania St., (504) 891-3644 — Kyoto’s sushi chefs prepare rolls, sashimi and salads.

“Box” sushi is a favorite, with more than 25 rolls. Reservations recommended for parties of six or more. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$ Mikimoto — 3301 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 488-1881; www.mikimotosushi.com — Sushi choices include new and old favorites, both raw and cooked. The South Carrollton roll includes tuna tataki, avocado and snow crab. Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch Sun.-Fri., dinner daily. Delivery available. Credit cards. $$ Miyako Japanese Seafood & Steakhouse — 1403 St. Charles Ave., (504) 410-9997; www.japanesebistro.com — Miyako offers a full range of Japanese cuisine, with specialties from the sushi or hibachi menus, chicken, beef or seafood teriyaki, and tempura. Reservations accepted.

Lunch Sun.-Fri., dinner daily.

Credit cards. $$ Rock-N-Sake — 823 Fulton St., (504) 581-7253; www.rocknsake. com — Rock-n-Sake serves traditional Japanese cuisine with some creative twists. There’s a wide selection of sushi, sashimi and rolls or spicy gyoza soup, panfried soba noodles with chicken or seafood and teriyaki dishes.

Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch Fri., dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $$ Yuki Izakaya — 525 Frenchmen St., (504) 943-1122; www.facebook. com/yukiizakaya — This Japanese tavern combines a selection of small plates, sake, shochu, live

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GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

OUT to EAT

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accepted. Dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $$$ Ralph’s On The Park — 900 City Park Ave., (504) 488-1000; www. ralphsonthepark.com — Popular dishes include turtle soup finished with sherry, grilled lamb spare ribs and barbecue Gulf shrimp. Tuna two ways includes tuna tartare, seared pepper tuna, avocado and wasabi cream. Reservations recommended. Lunch Tue.-Fri., dinner daily, brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$$ Restaurant R’evolution — 777 Bienville St., (504) 553-2277; www. revolutionnola.com — Chefs John Folse and Rick Tramanto present a creative take on Creole dishes as well as offering caviar tastings, house-made salumi, pasta dishes and more. “Death

by Gumbo” is an andouille- and oyster-stuffed quail with a roux-based gumbo poured on top tableside. Reservations recommended. Lunch and dinner daily.

Credit cards. $$$ Tivoli & Lee —The Hotel Modern, 2 Lee Circle, (504) 962-0909; www.tivoliandlee.com — The restaurant offers a modern take on Southern cuisine in a small plate format, with dishes ranging from andouille potato tots to fried oysters. The pied du cochon is served with braised Covey Rise Farms collard greens, bacon and pickled Anaheim peppers.

Half a roasted chicken comes with dirty spaetzle, sweet tea glaze and greens. Reservations accepted. Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily, brunch Sat.-Sun. Credit cards. $$$ Tomas Bistro — 755 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 527-0942 — Tomas serves dishes such as bouillabaisse New Orleans, filled with saffron shrimp, mussels, oysters, Gulf fish, crawfish and pesto aioli croutons. Crispy fried wild catfish is served over stone-ground grits with Cajun tasso. No reservations. Dinner daily. Credit cards. $$ Tommy’s Wine Bar — 752 Tchoupitoulas St., (504) 525-4790 — Tommy’s Wine Bar offers cheese and charcuterie plates as well as a menu of appetizers and salads from the neighboring kitchen of Tommy’s Cuisine. No reservations.

Lite dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

MEDITERRANEAN /MIDDLE EASTERN

Attiki Bar & Grill — 230 Decatur St., (504) 587-3756 — This restaurant and hookah bar serves an array of Mediterranean dishes.

Tomato Buffala features baked tomatoes and mozzarella topped with basil and olive oil. Grilled filet mignon is topped with creamy mushroom sauce and served with two sides. Reservations accepted. Lunch, dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $$ Mona’s Cafe — 504 Frenchmen St., (504) 949-4115; 1120 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 861-8175; 3901 Banks St., (504) 482-7743; 4126 Magazine St., (504) 894-9800; www.monascafeanddeli.com — These casual cafes serve entrees including beef or chicken shawarma, kebabs, gyro plates, lamb chops, vegetarian options and more.

There also are stuffed grape leaves, hummus, falafel and other appetizers. Patrons may bring their own alcohol. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily.

Credit cards. $$

Pyramids Cafe — 3151 Calhoun St., (504) 861-9602 — Diners will find Mediterranean cuisine featuring such favorites as sharwarma prepared on a rotisserie. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

MEXICAN & SOUTHWESTERN

Casa Borrega — 1719 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., (504) 427-0654; www. facebook.com/casaborrega — The barroom and cantina is decorated with folk art, and there’s seating in the back courtyard. Chicken enchiladas are served with mole, rice and beans. Pozole de puerco is Mexican hominy soup featuring pork in spicy red broth with radish, cabbage and avocado and tostadas on the side. No reservations. Brunch, lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $$ Coyote Blues — 4860 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, (504) 301-3848; www.coyotebluesfreshmex.com — Shrimp and crawfish chimichanga is a fried burrito stuffed with shrimp and crawfish in cream sauce, Mexican rice and chili con queso and served with two sides. The churrascaria platter features skewers of marinated beef, chicken, jumbo shrimp, jalapeno sausage, peppers and onions and comes with chipotle cream sauce, chimichurri, mashed potatoes and grilled asparagus. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily.

Credit cards. $$ Del Fuego Taqueria — 4518 Magazine St., (504) 309-5797; www.delfuegotaqueria.com — The taqueria serves an array of house salsas, tacos and burritos with filling choices including carne asada, carnitas, chorizo, shredded chicken and others.

Tostadas con pescada ahumada features achiote-smoked Gulf fish over corn tostadas with refried black beans, cabbage and cilantro-lime mayonesa. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$ Juan’s Flying Burrito — 515 Baronne St., (504) 529-5825; 2018 Magazine St., (504) 486-9950; 4724 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 569-0000; www.juansflyingburrito.com — Juan’s serves tacos, burritos, quesadillas, nachos, salads and more.

Roasted pork tacos are topped with spicy slaw. Vegetarian Mardi Gras Indian tacos feature roasted corn, beans, cheese and spicy slaw on corn tortillas. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

MUSIC AND FOOD

The Columns — 3811 St. Charles Ave., (504) 899-9308; www.thecolumns.com — There’s live music in the Victorian Lounge at the Columns. The menu offers such Creole favorites as gumbo and crab cakes and there are cheese plates as well. Reservations accepted. Breakfast daily, lunch Fri.-Sat., dinner Mon.-Thu., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$ Fiske’s Martini Bar and Restaurant — 301 Dauphine St., (504) 5860972 — This French Quarter hideaway is is known for its martini menu. Louisiana crab and roasted Creole tomato fondue is finished with manchego cheese, scallions and grilled crostini. Reservations recommended. Dinner daily, latenight Fri.-Sat. Credit cards. $$$

Gazebo Cafe — 1018 Decatur St., (504) 525-8899; www. gazebocafenola.com — The Gazebo features a mix of Cajun and Creole dishes and ice cream daquiris. The New Orleans sampler rounds up jambalaya, red beans and rice and gumbo.

Other options include salads, seafood po-boys and burgers.

No reservations. Lunch and early dinner daily. Credit cards. $$ House of Blues — 225 Decatur St., 310-4999; www.hob.com/neworleans — Try the pan-seared Voodoo Shrimp with rosemary cornbread.

The buffet-style gospel brunch features local and regional groups. Reservations accepted.

Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$ The Market Cafe — 1000 Decatur St., (504) 527-5000; www.marketcafenola.com — Dine indoors or out on seafood either fried for platters or po-boys or highlighted in dishes such as crawfish pie, crawfish etouffee or shrimp Creole. Sandwich options include muffulettas, Philly steaks on po-boy bread and gyros in pita bread. No reservations.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Credit cards. $$ Siberia — 2227 St. Claude Ave., (504) 265-8855; www.siberianola. com — The Russki Reuben features corned beef, Swiss cheese, kapusta (spicy cabbage) and Russian dressing on grilled rye bread. Potato and cheese pierogies are served with fried onions and sour cream. No reservations. Dinner and late-night daily. Credit cards. $

NEIGHBORHOOD

Cafe B — 2700 Metairie Road, Metairie, (504) 934-4700; www. cafeb.com — This cafe serves an elevated take on the dishes commonly found in neighborhood restaurants. Grilled redfish is served with confit of wild mushrooms, spaghetti squash, charred Vidalia onion and aged balsamic vinegar. Reservations recommended. Lunch Mon.-Fri., dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$ Joey K’s — 3001 Magazine St., (504) 891-0997; www.joeyksrestaurant.com — This casual eatery serves fried seafood platters, salads, sandwiches and Creole favorites such as red beans and rice. Daily specials include braised lamb shank, lima beans with a ham hock and chicken fried steak served with macaroni and cheese. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$ Katie’s Restaurant — 3701 Iberville St., (504) 488-6582; www. katiesinmidcity.com — Favorites at this Mid-City restaurant include the Cajun Cuban with roasted pork, grilled ham, cheese and pickles pressed on buttered bread. The Boudreaux pizza is topped with cochon de lait, spinach, red onions, roasted garlic, scallions and olive oil. There also are salads, burgers and Italian dishes.

No reservations. Lunch daily, Dinner Mon.-Sat., brunch Sun. Credit cards. $$

PIZZA

Marks Twain’s Pizza Landing — 2035 Metairie Road, Metairie, (504) 832-8032; www.marktwainspizza.com — Disembark at Mark

OUT to EAT Twain’s for salads, po-boys and pies like the Italian pizza with salami, tomato, artichoke, sausage and basil. No reservations.

Lunch Tue.-Sat., dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $ Slice Pizzeria — 1513 St. Charles Ave., (504) 525-7437; 5538 Magazine St., (504) 897-4800; www.slicepizzeria.com — Slice serves pizza by the pie or slice, plus salads, pasta and more.

The Sportsman’s Paradise pie is topped with Gulf shrimp, andouille, corn, diced tomatoes and caramelized onions. Full bar available. No reservations.

Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $ Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza — 4218 Magazine St., (504) 894-8554; 4024 Canal St., (504) 302-1133; www.theospizza.com — There is a wide variety of specialty pies and diners can build their own from the selection of more than two-dozen toppings. The menu also includes salads and sandwiches. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $ Wit’s Inn — 141 N. Carrollton Ave., (504) 486-1600 — This Mid-City bar and restaurant features pizzas, calzones, toasted subs, salads and appetizers for snacking. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $

SANDWICHES & PO-BOYS

SEAFOOD

Blue Crab & Oyster Restaurant — 7900 Lakeshore Drive., (504) 284-2898; www.thebluecrabnola. com — The seafood restaurant serves shrimp and grits, stuffed whole flounder, fried seafood and seasonal boiled seafood.

There’s seating overlooking Lake Pontchartrain. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $$$ Bourbon House — 144 Bourbon St., (504) 522-0111; www.bourbonhouse. com — Bourbon House serves seafood dishes including New Orleans barbecue shrimp, redfish cooked with the skin on, oysters from the raw bar and more. Large picture windows offer views of Bourbon Street, and the bar is stocked with a large selection of bourbons. Reservations accepted.

Breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

Credit cards. $$$ Charles Seafood — 8311 Jefferson Hwy., (504) 405-5263 — Trout is stuffed with crabmeat, topped with crawfish Acadiana sauce and served with vegetables, salad and bread. The menu includes soups, salads, sandwiches, fried seafood platters, tuna steaks and a few Italian entrees, such as paneed veal. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Tue.-Sat. Credit cards. $$ Galley Seafood Restaurant — 2535 Metairie Road, Metairie, (504) 832-0955 — Galley serves Creole and Italian dishes. Blackened redfish is served with shrimp and lump crabmeat sauce, vegetables and new potatoes.

Galley’s soft-shell crab po-boy is the same one served at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Reservations accepted for large parties. Lunch and dinner Tue.Sat. Credit cards. $$ Half Shell Oyster Bar and Grill — 3101 Esplanade Ave., (504) 289-0504; www.halfshellneworleans.com — The Bayou Boogaloo breakfast features a three-egg omelet with sauteed shrimp and crawfish with fried oysters and shrimp sauce on top. Voodoo Bleu features bacon-wrapped char-grilled oysters topped with garlic-butter and blue cheese. No reservations. Lunch, brunch and dinner Thu.-Tue. Credit cards. $$ Mr. Ed’s Seafood & Italian Restaurant — 910 West Esplanade Ave., Kenner, (504) 463-3030; 1001 Live Oak St., Metairie, (504) 8380022; www.mredsno.com — The menu includes seafood, Italian dishes, fried chicken, po-boys, salads and daily specials. Eggplant casserole is stuffed with shrimp and crabmeat. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$ Red Fish Grill — 115 Bourbon St., (504) 598-1200; www.redfishgrill.com — Seafood favorites include hickory-grilled redfish, pecan-crusted catfish, alligator sausage and seafood gumbo.

Barbecue oysters are flash fried, tossed in Crystal barbecue sauce and served with blue cheese dressing. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily.

Credit cards. $$

STEAKHOUSE

Austin’s Seafood and Steakhouse — 5101 West Esplanade Ave., Metairie, (504) 888-5533; www.austinsno.com — Austin’s

serves prime steaks, chops and seafood. Veal Austin features paneed veal topped with Swiss chard, bacon, mushrooms, asparagus, crabmeat and brabant potatoes on the side. Reservations recommended. Dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $$$ Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse — 716 Iberville St., (504) 522-2467; www.dickiebrennansrestaurant. com — The house filet mignon is served atop creamed spinach with masa-fried oysters and Pontalba potatoes. Popular starters include the jumbo lump crabcake made with aioli. Reservations recommended. Lunch Friday, dinner daily. Credit cards. $$$

TAPAS/SPANISH

Mimi’s in the Marigny — 2601 Royal St., (504) 872-9868 — The decadant Mushroom Manchego Toast is a favorite here. Hot and cold tapas dishes range from grilled marinated artichokes to calamari. Reservations accepted for large parties. Dinner and latenight Tue.-Sun. Credit cards. $ Vega Tapas Cafe — 2051 Metairie Road, Metairie, (504) 836-2007; www.vegatapascafe. com — Grilled avocado salad is served with crispy onions and Mahon cheese in Portuguese chestnut-vanilla vinaigrette. Wild mushroom ravioli are served with Madeira and goat cheese creme. Reservations accepted.

Dinner Mon.-Sat, late night Fri.Sat. Credit cards. $$

VEGETARIAN

Seed — 1330 Prytania St., (504) 302-2599; www.seedyourhealth. com — Seed uses local, organic ingredients in its eclectic global menu, including soups, salads, nachos, sandwiches and more.

Raw pad thai features shredded cucumber, carrots, peppers, jicama, bean sprouts and peanuts in house-made marinade. Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$

VIETNAMESE

Lin’s — 3715 Westbank Expressway, (504) 340-0178; www.linsmenu.com —The menu includes Chinese, Vietnamese and Thai dishes. Vietnamese “Shakin’” beef features beef tips and onions served with rice. Singapore-style vermicelli is a stir fry of noodles, shrimp, pork, bean sprouts, carrots and bamboo shoots.

Reservations accepted. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Mon. Credit cards. $$ Pho Tau Bay Restaurant — 113 Westbank Expwy., Suite C, Gretna, (504) 368-9846 — You’ll find classic Vietnamese beef broth and noodle soups, vermicelli dishes, seafood soups, shrimp spring rolls and more. No reservations. Breakfast, lunch and dinner Mon.-Wed. & Fri.-Sat. Credit cards. $ Rolls-N-Bowls — 605 Metairie Road, Metairie, (504) 309-0519; www.facebook.com/rolls-nbowlsnola — This casual Vietnamese eatery serves spring rolls, pho, rice and vermicelli bowls, banh mi, stir fry entrees and bubble tea. The vermicelli bowl features noodles over lettuce, cucumber and carrots; shrimp are optional.

No reservations. Lunch and dinner Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Killer Poboys — 811 Conti St., (504) 252-6745; www.killerpoboys. com — At the back of Erin Rose, Killer Poboys offers a short and constantly changing menu of po-boys. The Dark and Stormy features pork shoulder slowly braised with ginger and Old New Orleans Spiced Rum and is dressed with house-made garlic mayo and lime cabbage. No reservations. Lunch and dinner Wed.-Sun. Cash only. $ Magazine Po-Boy Shop — 2368 Magazine St., (504) 522-3107 — Choose from a long list of po-boys filled with everything from fried seafood to corned beef to hot sausage to veal. There are breakfast burritos in the morning and daily lunch specials. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Mon.-Sat. Credit cards. $ Mahony’s Po-Boy Shop — 3454 Magazine St., (504) 899-3374; www.mahonyspoboys.com — The Peacemaker layers fried local oysters, bacon and cheddar cheese on Leidenheimer French bread.

Angus’ pot roast beef po-boy is served dressed on Leidenheimer bread. No reservations. Lunch and dinner daily. Credit cards. $$ Short Stop Po-Boys — 119 Transcontinental Drive, Metairie, (504) 885-4572; www.shortstoppoboysno.com — Popular po-boy options include fried shrimp or fried oysters and roast beef, featuring beef slow cooked in its own jus.

Short Stop’s gumbo combines smoked andouille sausage and chicken. No reservations. Breakfast and lunch Mon.-Sat., early dinner Mon.-Thu., dinner Fri.-Sat. Credit cards and checks. $ Tracey’s Original Irish Channel Bar — 2604 Magazine St., (504) 897-5413; www.traceysnola. com — The neighborhood bar’s menu includes roast beef and fried seafood po-boys, seafood platters, fried okra, chicken wings, gumbo, soups, salads and more. No reservations. Lunch and

dinner daily, late-night Fri.-Sat. Credit cards. $

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GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

MU S I C 4 8 FIL M 52 A RT 5 5 S TAGE 5 8

what to know before you go

E V EN T S 6 1

AE +

YEAR IN REVIEW: ENTERTAINMENT

BACK TO 2014 has been a year of renewed and improved ventures.

BY WILL COVIELLO The Carver joins a group of theaters near the French Quarter, including the Saenger Theatre, Joy Theater and Civic

War Horse, Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera White, an all-star Dr. John tribute with appearances by Bruce Springsteen and John Fogerty) and comedy. The Civic’s increased bookings included a mix of concerts (Jenny Lewis, The New Pornogra-

Roy Lichtenstein’s Five Brushstrokes replaced a kinetic sculpture

by Lin Emery in front of the New Orleans Museum of Art. PHOTO COURTESY NOMA

New Orleans’ comedy scene continues to grow.

Touring comics who visited in 2014 included Colin Quinn, Lewis Black and Dave Chappelle, who tacked on two extra performances to his recent appear-

Nelson refer to it as a “campus”) with more room to have multiple projects and classes happening at once. The theater diversified its Hell Yes Fest! by focusing on several sketch and improv niches instead of building it around a handful of nationally known stand-up comics.

Local festivals presented major touring headliners, including Prince at Essence Music Festival, Bruce Springsteen, Carlos Santana and Eric Clapton at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, and Foo Fighters at The Voodoo Music + Arts Experience. But electronic dance music is the biggest new thing at local festivals, driving the growth of the BUKU Music and Art Project and making acts like Skrillex one of the major draws at Voodoo.

The alternative film scene also grew. Indywood opened on Elysian Fields Avenue and together with Shotgun Cinema (founded in December 2013) presented screenings of independent and foreign films and more. The annual 48 Hour Film Project — a crash competition for filmmakers to conceive and finish a seven-minute film in less than two days — takes place in more than 100 cities around the world, and its final round of competition, Filmapalooza, was held at the Joy Theater in March.

At the street level, theater companies and artists have gotten creative in their use of space. Southern Rep continues to operate without a home theater, and it presented The Night of the Iguana at Michalopoulos Studios, the second time it created a small world in included more than 50 shows at independent venues.

When the Mudlark Public Theatre was damaged by a fire, productions moved blocks away to a warehouse space dubbed The Purification Plant. The Marigny Opera House, a Fringe Festival venue for years, had permit pation license and is working on improvements that will Creative inspiration abounds in the culinary world.

Locals are embracing Louisiana-brewed craft beer, and recently opened breweries include The Courtyard Brewery in the Lower Garden District. New takes on Chinese cooking include Red’s Chinese and Bao & Noodle, which opened recently in Bywater and Faubourg Marigny, and more Vietnamese restaurants opened in Uptown, including Pho Cam Ly. Food truck roundups are easier to come by, and restaurants from Theo’s Neighborhood Pizza to Church’s Fried Chicken have dispatched mobile units.

But the biggest restaurant news of the year may be the reopening of Brennan’s. The kitchen is helmed by chef Slade Rushing, known for his work deconstructing the cuisines of Mississippi and Louisiana at MiLa. The Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group completed a $20 million renovation of Brennan’s iconic pink building on Royal Street. It’s a reverent update and renewal of an icon of local tradition.

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

he 10-year anniversary of Hurricane Katrina looms in 2015, but by then rebuilding may seem like just another longstanding New Orleans tradition. In 2014, a host of local institutions, new and old, refreshed themselves and their homes. A city enamored with tradition seems to enjoy embracing the new — or renewed.

Billed as a biennial, Prospect.1 opened in November 2008 and was a boon to the city’s rapidly emerging contemporary art scene. Prospect.2 was delayed until 2011, and three years later, Prospect.3 opened under the direction of Franklin Sirmans, who replaced founder Dan Cameron as artistic director. Sirmans took his inspiration from literature, particularly Walker Percy’s The Moviegoer, and pondered the artist’s search for self, seen through lenses of artists from around the globe. But many works allow New Orleanians to see reflections of themselves. One of Sirmans’ major contributions, related to his own prior work, is a show of the late art star Jean-Michel Basquiat, and the expo, titled Basquiat and the Bayou, features works referencing Louisiana. Artist Hew Locke’s work reflects his young life in the Caribbean coastal nation Guyana. Supplemental shows and performances also included Claire Tancons’ performance piece on Press Street, full of New Orleans parading groups. The Prospect.3 expo and events run through Jan. 25, 2015. And, coming to terms with its frequency, Prospect New Orleans announced that it now produces a triennial.

The New Orleans Museum of Art said goodbye to contemporary art curator Miranda Lash, but its year has been marked by major additions, including sculpture by Roy Lichtenstein (Five Brushstrokes, placed in front of the main entrance) and others donated by Sydney and Walda Besthoff. The museum and adjoining Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden have been a hub of performance of a less abstract nature, hosting two lively NOLA Project theater productions, Twelfth Night; or, What You Will this month and Adventures in Wonderland in the garden in May. The city welcomed the return of another performance space, The Carver Theater, on Orleans Avenue in April, and it hosted concerts, Community Records’ Block Party and a Halloween art and music event.

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YEAR IN REVIEW: MUSIC

NOTES

FROM FOO DATS AND COMEBACKS TO ACCOLADES AND CROSSOVERS, 2014 WAS AN EXCITING YEAR FOR NEW ORLEANS MUSICIANS BY ALEX WOODWARD HURRAY FOR THE RIFF RAFF

The songwriter of the year Alynda Lee Segarra penned several of the most crucial, year-defining songs of 2014 on Hurray for the Riff Raff’s ATO Records debut Small Town Heroes. It’s “The Body Electric,” however, that has turned all eyes to the folk- and country-influenced Segarra, whose powerful lyrics and delivery channel rage, hurt and hope all at once.

The album was named on several year-end lists, and “The Body Electric” — Segarra’s ballad against violence against women — was named American Songwriter’s song of the year.

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

5TH WARD WEEBIE AND BIG FREEDIA

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The king and queen of bounce Intergalactic bounce ambassador Big Freedia has a reality TV series (Queen of Bounce, which the Fuse network says is its highest-rated show ever) and a first proper full-length album, the club- and bounce-influenced Just Be Free. Freedia also broke the record for most people simultaneously twerking, bringing the Guinness World Record home with a whopping 406 people twerking at September’s Central City Festival. Meanwhile, the jester in bounce’s court, 5th Ward Weebie, continued to dominate the radio with “Let Me Find Out,” which also reached Questlove, Snoop Dogg and your “cool” uncle.

featured John Fogerty (also stolen from the Fest), Allen Toussaint, Aaron Neville and a dozen others. The Year in Mac also included a new album, his tribute to Louis Armstrong, Ske-Dat-De-Dat… The Spirit of Satch — an idea, John told Gambit, that came to him in a dream. And he’s scheduled to finish a busy year with a New Year’s Eve show at Le Petit Theatre.

BENJAMIN BOOKER AND PELL

The rookies of the year Florida transplant Benjamin Booker rode a huge wave — from signing to ATO Records to opening for and jamming with Jack White within a year — based on his bluesand punk-influenced bare-bones, soulful rock ’n’ roll. His self-titled debut landed on several critics’ year-end lists. With his full-length debut Floating While Dreaming, New Orleans rapper Pell threw the budding cloud rap trend into a blender, with dreamy, genre-twisting production to back his quick and breezy flow and introspective lyrics.

FOO FIGHTERS

Band that you couldn’t avoid if you tried If you were one of the many people who saw Foo Fighters three times in New Orleans in 2014, you saw the band clown around inside Preservation Hall, headline the final night of the 2014 Voodoo Music + Arts Experience and pack the House of Blues for an immediately sold-out, nearly three-hour performance (for $20). All of it, of course, was part of a commercial for its DOWN, EYEHATEGOD AND THOU album Sonic Highways and HBO series of The three-headed metal mammoth the same name. While the series was full New Orleans metal band Eyehategod of revisionist rock history (particularly in returned with its first album in more the New Orleans episode, in which rock than a decade, a brutal, sludgy self-titled ’n’ roll architect Cosimo Matassa is hardly behemoth released on the heels of drummentioned), the album was a Foo Fighters mer Joey LaCaze’s death in 2013. Down — album — big, loud, pop rock ’n’ roll — and not following singer Phil Anselmo’s rejuvenated, a genre-encompassing, reflective album on heavier-than-ever return to the metal American music. fray — released part two of its Down IV. EDM (Meanwhile, Anselmo’s inner comedy fan starred alongside comedian Dave Hill in the Three letters changing the New Orleans webseries Metal Grasshopper as a sort of festival landscape Electronic dance music has grown from demented, metal wizard Mr. Miyagi.) Equal a tiny tent among stages at Voodoo Fest parts snarling darkness and beautiful to a stage (Le Plur) that’s as big as any gloom, Thou released its best work, Heaother and has more acts than all the other then, a definitive double LP. stages combined at the Halloween weekDR. JOHN end festival. And for its third annual event Return of the Mac (with a fourth coming in March 2015), the The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festi- Buku Music + Art Project held a two-day val’s biggest news was who wasn’t playing: dance party at Mardi Gras World boasting Dr. John, who instead headlined the French a lineup of popular electronic acts, DJs and Quarter Festival and his own star-studproducers. Expect an even bigger presence ded tribute show at the Saenger Theatre on your 2015 festival calendar. (held in the middle of Jazz Fest). Bruce Springsteen, himself a returning Jazz Fest For more from 2014’s year in music, includheadliner, opened Mac’s tribute, which also ing a playlist, visit bestofneworleans.com.

MUSIC LISTINGS

Rusty Nail — Jenn Howard, 9 Saucy’s — Mark Appleford, 6 The Spotlight Bar and Grill — Dr. Rock, 9 Spotted Cat — Monty Banks, 4; Orleans 6, 6; Antoine Diel & the New Orleans Misfit Power, 10

THURSDAY 25 COMPLETE LISTINGS AT WWW.BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM

Anna Gaca listingsedit@gambitweekly.com 504.483.3110 FAX: 866.473.7199

21st Amendment — Steve Pistorius Quartet, 8 Bamboula’s — Gypsy Elise & the Royal Blues, 10 Banks Street Bar — Hazlehurst, 9 Blue Nile — Reggae Night with DJ T-Roy, 11

TUESDAY 23 21st Amendment — Linnzi Zaorski, 7; Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, 8 Bamboula’s — Sweet Deluxe, 2; Vivaz, 4:30 Banks Street Bar — NOLA County, 9 Blue Nile (Balcony Room) — Open Ears Music Series: Silky Fire, 10 Bullet’s Sports Bar — Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, 7:30 Checkpoint Charlie — Hubcap Kings, 7; Josh Waddell, 11 Chickie Wah Wah — Anders Osborne, John Fohl & Johnny Sansone, 9; Sonic Bloom feat.

Eric Bloom & Andrew Block, 11 Circle Bar — Laura Dyer, 6; Mark Farmer, 10

Snug Harbor — Stanton Moore Trio, 8 & 10 Spotted Cat — Andy Forest, 4; Meschiya Lake & the Little Big Horns, 6; Smokin’ Time Jazz Club, 10 Tropical Isle Original — Way Too Early, 1

WEDNESDAY 24 21st Amendment — Marla Dixon, 7 Apple Barrel — Barbarella Blue, 5:30 Bamboula’s — Raddy Tattat & the Cats, 6:30; Mem Shannon Band, 10 Banks Street Bar — Major Bacon, 10

DMac’s — Will Wesley, 8

BMC — Bobby Love & Friends, 5

Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar — Tom Hook & Wendell Brunious, 9

Checkpoint Charlie — The Blue Fox, 7; My Friends Band, 11

Gasa Gasa — Progression Music Series Christmas Party, 9

Chickie Wah Wah — Phil DeGruy, 6; Clockwork Elvis’ Acoustic Blue Xmas, 9

House of Blues — Matt Lemmler, 7

Circle Bar — Mike True, 6

Kerry Irish Pub — Willie Bonham, 8 Little Gem Saloon — Jon Roniger, 5 The Maison — Gregory Agid Quartet, 6 Maple Leaf Bar — Rebirth Brass Band, 10:30 Neutral Ground Coffeehouse — Braithwaite & Prohibition, 8; Billy Jung (The Silent Game), 9; Michael Liuzza, 10

Dragon’s Den (downstairs) — Dancehall Classics with DJ T-Roy & Bayou International Sound, 10

Old Point Bar — Isla Nola, 8 Preservation Hall — The Preservation Hall-Stars feat.

Shannon Powell, 8, 9 & 10

Preservation Hall — Creole Christmas feat. Lars Edegran’s St. Peter Street All-Stars, 1

Prime Example Jazz Club — Sidemen+1, 8 Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar + Restaurant — Lucas Davenport, 7 Rock ’n’ Bowl — Jerry Embree, 8

House of Blues — Back Porch Review, 6:30; Jet Lounge, 11 House of Blues Voodoo Garden — Domenic, 6 The Jefferson Orleans North — Jay Zainey Orchestra, 6:30 The Maison — Caesar Brother Funk Box, 9:30

Prime Example Jazz Club — Jesse McBride & Next Generation, 8 Recovery Room Bar & Grill — Oscar & the Blues Cats, 8:30 Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar + Restaurant — Tony Seville, 7

Bullet’s Sports Bar — Neisha Ruffins, 7:30 Cafe Negril — Chris Klein & the Boulevards, 6; Soul Project, 10 Checkpoint Charlie — My Friends Band, 11 Le Bon Temps Roule — Soul Rebels Brass Band, 11 Maple Leaf Bar — The Trio feat.

Johnny Vidacovich, 10:30 Preservation Hall — Preservation Hall All Stars, 8, 9 & 10 Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar + Restaurant — Mississippi Hyperfly, 7 Rock ’n’ Bowl — Benny Grunch Annual Christmas Bash, 5; Geno Delafose Zydeco Christmas Party, 8:30

FRIDAY 26 21st Amendment — Jack Pritchett, 9:30

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

d.b.a. — Treme Brass Band, 9

Siberia — Monocle feat.

Aurora Nealand, Rouxchambeaux, 9

Apple Barrel — Barbarella Blue, 5:30 Bamboula’s — Christopher Johnson Trio, 2; Raddy Tattat & the Cats, 5:30; John Lisi Band, 10 Banks Street Bar — Lynn Drury, 10 Bar Redux — Men in Bibs, Jalin Malin & guests, 8 Blue Nile — Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, 7; Luke Winslow-King, 11 Blue Nile (Balcony Room) — New Creations Brass Band, 11 Buffa’s — Chip Wilson, 5 Bullet’s Sports Bar — Guitar Slim Jr., 7:30 Carrollton Station Bar and Music Club — Fred Leblanc’s Christmas Show, 10 Checkpoint Charlie — Yamomanem, 7; Eat the Witch, Hostile Apostle, The Weakness, 11 Chickie Wah Wah — Michael Pearce, 6; Paul Sanchez, 8; Royal Finger Bowl, Alex McMurray, Matt Perrine, Carlo Nuccio, 10:30 Circle Bar — Shane, 6; Eva LoVullo, The Clements Brothers, 10 PAGE 50

DISCOUNT VALIDATED PARKING AT CANAL PLACE

49

MUSIC LISTINGS PAGE 49

PREVIEW

Fancy Pants d.b.a. — Debbie Davis & the Mesmerizers, 6; Marc Stone’s Allstars, 10 Dish on Hayne — Sharon Martin, 6:30 DMac’s — Smashing Blonde, 9 Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar — Sansone, Krown & Fohl, 10 Dragon’s Den (downstairs) — Up Up We Go, 7

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Fair Grinds Coffeehouse — Sam Cordts, 3 Gasa Gasa — 35 PSI, Stone Rabbits, 10 Golden Lantern — Nighthawk, 7 Hangar 13 — Pulse Friday: Rroid Drazr, Kidd Love, 1:30 a.m.

House of Blues — Elton John & Billy Joel tribute feat. The Molly Ringwalds, The Mixed Nuts, The Chee Weez, 8 Howlin’ Wolf — George Porter Jr.’s Birthday Bash, 10 Kerry Irish Pub — Chip Wilson, 5; Moe, Larry & Shirley, 9 Le Bon Temps Roule — Jeff “Snake” Greenberg, 7 Little Gem Saloon — Erin Demastes, 5; James Martin, 8

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

The Maison — Jon Roniger, 4; Shotgun Jazz Band, 7; Ashton Hines & the Big Easy Brawlers, 10; The Business, midnight

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Maple Leaf Bar — The New Orleans Suspects, 10 Old Point Bar — Rick Trolsen, 5 One Eyed Jacks — The Hitchhiker, DiNOLA, Donde Wolf, 9 Pearl Wine Co. — Sarah Gromko Trio, 8 Preservation Hall — Southern Syncopators, Steve Pistorius, 6; PresHall Brass feat. Daniel Farrow, 8, 9 & 10 Red Bastille Lounge — Harvey Jesus & Fire, 10 Republic New Orleans — DallasK, 10 Rivershack Tavern — Soul Express, 10 Rock ’n’ Bowl — Groovy 7, 9:30 Siberia — Hostile Apostle, Eat the Witch, The Weakness, 9 Snug Harbor — Jason Marsalis & Drums Unlimited, 8 & 10 Southport Hall — Jimmy Anselmo presents Jimmy’s Music Club Reunion, 8 Spotted Cat — Andy Forest, 4; Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, 6; Cottonmouth Kings, 10 St. Roch Tavern — James

Jordan & his Beautiful Band, 9:30 Tipitina’s — Earphunk, Gravity A, 10 Treasure Chest Casino — Harvey Jesus & Fire, 7 Tulane Ave. Bar — Vanessa Carr, 8 Twist of Lime — Nick Ray album release show feat.

Jawa Command, 9

SATURDAY 27 21st Amendment — Chance Bushman, 9:30 AllWays Lounge — Mystery Girl CD release, 10 Bamboula’s — A Diamond Band, 2; Ed Wills Blues 4 Sale, 5:30; Smoky Greenwell Band, 10 Banks Street Bar — Joystick, 10 Blue Nile — Washboard Chaz Blues Trio, 7; Stooges Brass Band, 11 Blue Nile (Balcony Room) — Mike Dillon, Johnny Vidacovitch, James Singleton, 10 Buffa’s — Bernard & the Ole Man River Band, 8 Cafe Istanbul — Rock-ADread Earth Day Bash feat.

Ben Hunter Voodoo Reggae, Ambush Reggae Band, 10 Cafe Negril — Jamey St. Pierre & the Honeycreepers, 7 Carrollton Station Bar and Music Club — John Mooney, 10 Checkpoint Charlie — The Olivia DeHavilland Mosquitoes, 5; 30 x 90 Blues Women, 7; Swing Arm, 11 Chickie Wah Wah — Eric Benny Bloom’s Really Really Tacky Holiday Show feat.

Nigel Hall, 10 Circle Bar — Richard Bates, 6 d.b.a. — The New Orleans Jazz Vipers, 7; The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, 11 DMac’s — Jon Roniger, 7; 3 Legged Man, 9

Fancy Pants is one of New Orleans’ newest bands. So new it doesn’t yet have a full-length album (debut EP It’s a Party arrived in May). So new its members still appear to really like one another (see The Shotgun Sessions’ proggrog “Project Dominate” and “Circle Life,” in which the sextet romps around Fancy Pants a living room wearing DEC with Orange Umbrella exuberant grins, hitting drum skins with a wallet 10 p.m. Monday resting on them). As with Circle Bar, 1032 St. Charles Ave. most young things in America, its Facebook is (504) 588-2616 a precocious oversharer: www.circlebarneworleans.com an audiovisual open diary of a band’s first year in existence. There you can get as deep into Fancy Pants as you dare.

Watch — or, more precisely, listen — as singer Chelsea Hines makes her “studio debut,” laying down catchphrase “Heyshithey!” behind a makeshift bedroom isolation booth of hanging bedsheets. Trip out to Stereolab miniature “Cloud Pop” via a series of big sky photos. Dance along with Hannah Weber to first video “Vista,” staged at the gazebo in Audubon Park. Embark on tour and hit the road, waking up to a predawn remix of “Total Eclipse of the Heart”; return home to a Thanksgiving-eve throwdown at One Eyed Jacks.

Become the de facto house band at Circle Bar. Impress everyone. Get written up in Gambit. Santa Monica, Calif., startup Orange Umbrella opens. Call club for ticket information. — NOAH BONAPARTE PAIS

29

DJ Soul Sister, 11 Howlin’ Wolf — The Benjy Davis Project, 10 Howlin’ Wolf Den — Mississippi Shakedown, Righteous Jones, 10

Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar + Restaurant — Lucas Davenport, 6; Glen David Andrews, 9 Rivershack Tavern — The Refugeze, 10

Jazz National Historical Park — Peter Nu, noon; Richard Scott, 2

Rock ’n’ Bowl — Harvey Jesus, Karma, 8:30

Kerry Irish Pub — Lynn Drury, 9

Siberia — Idle Hour Club feat. Joe Kile, 6; Little Freddie King, 9

Le Bon Temps Roule — Chris Klein & the Boulevards, 10 Little Gem Saloon — Kermit Ruffins & the Barbecue Swingers, 7 & 9 The Maison — Melanie Gardner, 4; Smoking Time Jazz Club, 7; Dysfunktional Bone, 10; Street Legends Brass Band, midnight

Maple Leaf Bar — The New Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar — Sunpie & the Louisiana Orleans Suspects, 10 Sunspots, 10 Neutral Ground CoffeeDragon’s Den (downstairs) house — Cody & Nina, 7; Dan Rivers, 8; TJ Sutton, 9; — Loose Marbles, 7 Ashley Beach, 10 Dragon’s Den (upstairs) Oak — Andrew Duhon, 9 — DJ Marshall Monica & Friends, 10 Old Point Bar — Steve Dry Dock Cafe — Just Honey Mignano, 9:30 & the Wingmen, 9 One Eyed Jacks — Dax Golden Lantern — Esplanade Riggs, 10 Ave. Band, 7:30 Preservation Hall — Joint Chiefs of Jazz feat. Frank Hangar 13 — Flyy-By Nite, Oxley, 6; Preservation 1 a.m.

Hall All Stars feat. Lucien Hi-Ho Lounge — Hustle with Barbarin, 8, 9 & 10

Rusty Nail — Gal Holiday, 10

Snug Harbor — Herlin Riley & the NOLA Music Makers, 8 & 10 Spotted Cat — Harbinger, 2; Panorama Jazz Band, 6; Dominick Grillo & the Frenchmen St. All-Stars, 10 Tipitina’s — Lost Bayou Ramblers, Colin Lake, Cedryl Ballou & the Zydeco Trendsetters, 10 Twist of Lime — Robin Windstein birthday & holiday celebration feat.

Intrepid Bastards, 9

SUNDAY 28 21st Amendment — Tom McDermott, 4 Bamboula’s — Tom Trio, 3:30; Jeremy Joyce & the Band, 7 Banks Street Bar — Ron Hotstream & the Mid-City Drifters, 8

Blue Nile — Mykia Jovan and Friends, 7; Lagniappe Brass Band, 11 Buffa’s — Nattie’s Songwriters Circle, 7 Chickie Wah Wah — Sweet Olive Duo, 6; Gal Holiday & the Honky Tonk Revue, 8 Circle Bar — Micah McKee & Little Maker, Blind Texas Marlin, 6 d.b.a. — The Palmetto Bug Stompers, 6; Strange Roux, 10 Dragon’s Den (downstairs) — CHURCH, Unicorn Fukr, 10 Gasa Gasa — Hudson Taylor & Gabrielle Aplin, 8 Hi-Ho Lounge — Writer’s Block, 9 Howlin’ Wolf Den — Hot 8 Brass Band, 10 Little Gem Saloon — Jon Roniger’s Gypsyland, 10 a.m.

The Maison — Leah Rucker, 7; One Love Brass Band, 10 Maple Leaf Bar — Joe Krown, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, 10 Old Point Bar — Jelly Jazz, 3:30; Tom Witek Jazz Quartet, 7 Preservation Hall — Southern Syncopators, Steve Pistorius, 6; Preservation Hall All Stars feat. Wendell Brunious, 8, 9 & 10

MUSIC LISTINGS Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar + Restaurant — Tony Seville, 7

CIGARETTES ©2014 SFNTC (4)

Rock ’n’ Bowl — Mixed Nuts, 8:30 Siberia — Punk Rock Puppy Benefit: Die Rotzz, I’m Fine, 11 Blade, Fat Stupid Ugly People, 9 Snug Harbor — Allen Toussaint, 8 & 10 Spotted Cat — Jazz Band Ballers, 2; Ben Polcer & the Grinders, 6; Pat Casey & the New Sound, 10

MONDAY 29 Bamboula’s — Swinging Gypsies, 7:30 Banks Street Bar — Steve Magnino, Kilmo & the Blues Allstars, 10 BJ’s Lounge — King James & the Special Men, 10 Blue Nile — Higher Heights Reggae Band Kwanzaa Party, 9 BMC — Lil’ Red & Big Bad, 6 Carrollton Station Bar and Music Club — Andrew Duhon Trio, 7 Chickie Wah Wah — Alexis & the Samurai, 8 Circle Bar — Jamey St. Pierre & Dave Freeson, 6; Orange Umbrella, Fancy Pants, 10 d.b.a. — Luke Winslow-King, 7; Glen David Andrews, 10 DMac’s — Danny Alexander, 8 Dos Jefes Uptown Cigar Bar — John Fohl, 9 Gasa Gasa — Antique Booty Music, 9 Kerry Irish Pub — Patrick Cooper, 9 The Maison — Chicken and Waffles, 5; Aurora Nealand & the Royal Roses, 7; The New Orleans Super Jam feat. Ashton Hines & the Big Easy Brawlers, 9:30 Maple Leaf Bar — Tony Hall, Nigel Hall, Alvin Ford, 10 Old Point Bar — The Romy Kaye Jazz Trio, 7

*

Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar + Restaurant — Monty Banks, 7 Rock ’n’ Bowl — Geno Delafose, 8:30 Snug Harbor — Charmaine Neville Band, 8 & 10 Spotted Cat — Sarah McCoy & the Oopsie Daisies, 4; Dominick Grillo & the Frenchmen Street All-Stars, 6; Jazz Vipers, 10

CLASSICAL/CONCERTS

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New Orleans Trombone Choir. Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave., (504) 522-0276; www.trinitynola.com — John Risey directs Christmas and jazz favorites. 5 p.m. Sunday.

Organ & Labyrinth. Trinity Episcopal Church, 1329 Jackson Ave., (504) 522-0276; www.trinitynola.com — Albinas Prizgintas performs on the church’s 5,000-pipe tracker organ. 6 p.m. Tuesday.

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CALL FOR MUSIC Junior Philharmonic Society. Tulane University, Dixon Hall, (504) 865-5105; www.tulane.edu/~theatre — The Junior Philharmonic Society auditions young instrumentalists, vocalists and dancers for recitals March 8 or May 3, 2015. Visit www.jrphilnola.org for required application. Application deadline Jan. 3, 2015.

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Preservation Hall — Joint Chiefs of Jazz feat. Frank Oxley, 6; Preservation Hall Jazz Masters feat. Leroy Jones, 8, 9 & 10

51 New Orleans Gambit 12-23-14.indd 1

12/18/14 8:27 AM

2014

YEAR IN REVIEW: FILM

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THE YEAR IN

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

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BY KEN KORMAN

he 1970s are back and they’re better than ever, at least if you’re willing to accept what many of the best films of 2014 had to offer. It’s not that a great number of the year’s movies were set during that time period. In 2014, the 1970s became a guiding aesthetic — a way of looking at the world — for those behind many of the year’s Boyhood finest independent and Hollywood-made films.

Some merely were set in an unspecified time in which cellphones and social media had not yet taken hold. But many others intentionally echoed the “New Hollywood” films of the ‘70s, when originality of vision and a film’s overall “vibe” took precedence over traditional narratives and the perceived needs of the marketplace.

The result was a consistently interesting year for movies, at least for those who took the time and trouble to seek out non-mainstream fare. Half the films on the Top 10 list below screened locally for one week or less and at a single theater. Blink and you miss them — or watch them at home through increasingly popular video on demand services.

This year was the first in which even highly anticipated indie films were widely available for home viewing at the same time they debuted in theaters. That trend’s not going away any time soon, but neither is the singular experience of seeing a great movie on a huge screen in a theater full of like-minded film fans.

What follows is an alphabetical and entirely subjective Top 10 list of personal favorites from the films that debuted in New Orleans during 2014.

Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) — Director Alejandro Inarritu’s dazzling Birdman skillfully maintains the illusion of a two-hour film shot in a single take, but its skewering of modern-day notions of celebrity and success made it the year’s sharpest film.

Boyhood — Richard Linklater’s historic 12-year film project reveals how each of our lives would be understood as extraordinary if we could only grasp the complexity of human experience over time.

Foxcatcher — This biographical drama about paranoid-schizophrenic millionaire John DuPont debuted locally at the 2014 New Orleans Film Festival (a full theatrical run is scheduled for January) and

features the year’s most mind-blowing performance in comedian Steve Carell’s take on DuPont.

Good Vibrations — This joyous film from Northern Ireland received only a single local screening as part of this year’s New Orleans Irish Film Festival, but it may be the first movie to capture the defiant spirit of punk rock and DIY culture as it sprung to life in the late 1970s — track this one down through video on demand.

The Grand Budapest Hotel — Given the extraordinary artistic success of his last few films, it’s safe to say Wes Anderson finally has found the soul to match his overactive imagination.

The Great Beauty — The eternal city of Rome is the unqualified star of Paolo Sorrentino’s lush and surprisingly hopeful examination of sometimes frivolous 21st-century life and culture.

Ida — Polish-born director Pawel Pawlikowski’s moving and visually stunning (in glorious black-and-white) tale of a young woman’s search for cultural identity may have been the year’s most welcome surprise.

The Lunchbox — Indian filmmaker Ritesh Batra’s warm and funny film presents an unlikely romance between two lonely denizens of megacity Mumbai and reminds us that some things are universal, even half a world away.

Tim’s Vermeer — Science and art blend seamlessly in this fascinating documentary about inventor Tim Jenison’s quest to unlock the secrets of Johannes Vermeer’s mysterious paintings.

Venus in Fur — Master filmmaker Roman Polanski returns in top form with a biting satire on the battle of the sexes that’s also the most successful film adaptation of a Broadway play in years.

Films that almost made the list: 20,000 Days on Earth, Calvary, The Imitation Game, Joe, Last Days in Vietnam, Love Is Strange, Under the Skin and The Rover.

FILM LISTINGS

COMPLETE LISTINGS AT WWW.BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM

Contact Anna Gaca listingsedit@gambitweekly.com 504.483.3110 FAX: 866.473.7199

OPENING THIS WEEKEND

musical. Clearview, Elmwood, West Bank, Chalmette, Kenner, Slidell, Regal

Big Eyes (PG-13) — Artist Margaret Keane (Amy Adams), famous for paintings of doe-eyed children, fights her ex-husband (Chrisoph Waltz) for rights to her work in Tim Burton’s biographical drama. Kenner, Slidell, Regal, Canal Place

Beyond the Lights (PG-13) — Struggling with sudden success, singer Noni Jean (Gugu Mbatha-Raw) is saved from suicide by a young police officer (Nate Parker) in a romantic drama also starring Danny Glover. West Bank

The Gambler (R) — Literature professor Jim Bennett (Mark Wahlberg) has an out-of-control gambling problem in the remake of the 1974 drama. Elmwood, West Bank, Kenner, Slidell, Regal, Canal Place

Into the Woods (PG) — Meryl Streep, James Corden and Emily Blunt star in the musical about an unhappily childless couple who meet fairy tale characters as they seek to undo a witch’s curse. Clearview, Elmwood, West Bank, Kenner, Slidell, Regal Unbroken (PG-13) — Former Olympian Louis “Louie” Zamperini (Jack O’Connell) survives 47 days on a raft in the Pacific Ocean and more than two years in a Japanese POW camp during World War II. Clearview, Elmwood, West Bank, Kenner, Slidell, Regal, Canal Place

NOW SHOWING Annie (PG) — Foster child Annie (Quvenzhane Wallis) befriends Will Stacks (Jamie Foxx), a billionaire seeking to improve his image, in the update of the classic

Big Hero 6 (PG) — Young prodigy Hiro Hamada (Ryan Potter) and his robot sidekick Baymax (Scott Adsit) must save San Fransokyo from a dangerous plot in this animated adventure. Clearview, Elmwood, West Bank, Kenner, Slidell, Regal Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance) (R) — A washed-up actor, whose previous claim to fame was his portrayal of a popular superhero, attempts to recapture his past glory by mounting a Broadway play. Elmwood The Captive (R) — Eight years after a child disappeared without a trace, detectives find disturbing clues that she still may be alive. Prytania Dumb and Dumber To (PG13) — Dimwit Harry Dunne (Jeff Daniels) snaps equally cretinous Lloyd Christmas (Jim Carrey) out of a fugue state to accompany him on a journey to find his long-lost daughter. Slidell, Regal Exodus: Gods and Kings (PG-13) — Egyptian pharaoh Ramses (Joel Edgerton) exiles Moses (Christian Bale) when he discovers Moses’ Hebrew heritage, but God commands Moses to return and free his people. Clearview, Elmwood, West Bank, Chalmette, Kenner, Slidell, Regal, Canal Place

Great White Shark 3D (NR) — The documentary goes underwater with the misunderstood predator. Entergy IMAX The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies (PG-13) — Dragon Smaug and evil lord Sauron attack Bilbo (Martin Freeman), Gandalf (Ian Mckellen) and the dwarves in the final installment of Peter Jackson’s J.R.R. Tolkien adaption. Clearview, Elmwood, West Bank, Chalmette, Kenner, Slidell, Regal, Canal Place Horrible Bosses 2 (R) — Nick (Jason Bateman), Dale (Charlie Day) and Kurt (Jason Sudeikis) start their own business, but resort to kidnapping after an investor rips them off.

Elmwood, West Bank, Kenner, Slidell, Regal, Canal Place The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1 (PG-13) — The first half of the final part of the trilogy opens as Katniss (Jennifer Lawrence) wakes up in District 13 and learns of a secret rebellion that could save her nation. Clearview, Elmwood, West Bank, Chalmette, Kenner, Slidell, Regal, Canal Place Interstellar (PG-13) — A physicist (Michael Caine) and an ex-NASA pilot (Matthew McConaughey) seek a habitable planet where they can send the population of a blighted Earth. Clearview, Elmwood, West Bank, Entergy IMAX, Slidell, Regal

ERIC CHURCH SMOOTHIE KING CENTER JANUARY 8 @ 7:30 PM

Island of Lemurs: Madagascar 3D (G) — Morgan Freeman narrates a film about lemurs in Madagascar. Entergy IMAX Kenya 3D: Animal Kingdom (NR) — Two young Maasai warriors go on a ritual safari through Kenya. Entergy IMAX Night at the Museum: Secret of the Tomb (PG) — Night watchman Larry Daley (Ben Stiller) travels to London to preserve the magic that brings museum exhibits like Teddy Roosevelt (Robin Williams) and Jedediah (Owen Wilson) to life. Clearview, Elmwood, West Bank, Chalmette, Kenner, Slidell, Regal, Canal Place Nightcrawler (R) — Lowlife Louis Bloom (Jake Gyllenhaal) stumbles into a new career videotaping Los Angeles’ most horrifying crimes.

Elmwood Penguins of Madagascar (PG) — Penguins Skipper, Kowalski, Rico and Private battle villainous octopus Dr.

2015 CFP SEMIFINAL AT THE ALLSTATE SUGAR BOWL JANUARY 1 @ 7:30 PM

ERIC CHURCH JANUARY 8 @ 7:30 PM

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WWE RAW JANUARY 12 @ 6:30 PM

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MARVEL UNIVERSE LIVE! JANUARY 15 - 18

Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketmaster.com, all Ticketmaster Outlets, the Smoothie King Center Box Office, select Wal-Mart locations or charge by phone at 1-800-745-3000. www.mbsuperdome.com | www.smoothiekingcenter.com | www.champions-square.com

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

The Imitation Game (PG-13) — British computer scientist and cryptographer Alan Turing (Benedict Cumberbach) cracks the Nazis’ Enigma Code, but is later prosecuted for homosexuality. Elmwood, Prytania, Canal Place

Big Charity (NR) — A noted film at this year’s New Orleans Film Festival, Alexander Glustrom’s documentary explores the closing of Charity Hospital after Hurricane Katrina. Prytania

Gone Girl (R) — Amy Dunne (Rosamund Pike) goes missing on her fifth wedding anniversary, and her husband Nick (Ben Affleck) becomes the prime suspect.

Canal Place

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FILM LISTINGS REVIEW Octavius Brine (John Malkovich) in the animated spy thriller.

Clearview, Elmwood, West Bank, Kenner, Slidell, Regal PK (NR) — Indian superstar Aamir Khan plays a newcomer whose unusual worldview challenges existing social norms. Elmwood Santa vs. The Snowman (NR) — A snowman tries to take over Christmas from Santa, inciting a full-scale war between the two sides. Entergy IMAX St. Vincent (PG-13) — Maggie (Melissa McCarthy) leaves 12-year-old Oliver (Jaeden Lieberher) in the care of misanthropic neighbor Vincent (Bill Murray), and the two males forge an unlikely friendship as they visit dive bars and strip clubs. Elmwood

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Top Five (R) — Chris Rock directs a film starring himself as Andre Allen, an upcoming comedian who opens up to a journalist (Rosario Dawson) in hopes of being taken seriously as an actor. Clearview, Elmwood, West Bank, Chalmette, Kenner, Slidell, Regal

54

Wild (R) — After losing her beloved mother, Cheryl Strayed (Reese Witherspoon) makes a clean break from personal trauma with a solo hike of the challenging Pacific Crest Trail.

Elmwood, Slidell, Canal Place

SPECIAL SCREENINGS The Babadook (NR) — A children’s book monster terrorizes a young boy (Noah Wiseman) and his mother (Essie Davis) in this Australian psychological horror. 8 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday-Monday. Zeitgeist Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (R) — Upset by their breakup, a pair of ex-lovers (Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey) opt to erase their memories of one another in Michel Gondry’s acclaimed 2004 film. 7 p.m.

Friday. NOMA It’s a Wonderful Life (PG) — In Frank Capra’s classic, an angel helps a distraught businessman (James Stewart) by showing him what life would be like if he had never existed.

7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Wednesday.

Kenner, Slidell, Canal Place Lumumba (NR) — Raoul Peck’s drama centers on Patrice Lumumba (Eriq Ebouaney),

PHOTO COURTESY BLACK BEAR PICTURES

The Theory of Everything (PG13) — Facing a bleak diagnosis, a young Stephen Hawking (Eddie Redmayne) falls in love with Jane Wilde (Felicity Jones) and transforms the study of astrophysics. Elmwood, Canal Place

The Imitation Game

The Imitation Game

It was in 1936 that pioneering British mathematician Alan Turing first described what he called Directed by the Universal Turing Machine. Today it’s called a computer, and Turing is celebrated the world over Morten Tyldum as the father of computer science. Yet few know the unbelievable story of how Turing effectively Starring Benedict won World War II for the Allies by secretly building the world’s first computer and using it to crack Cumberbatch Germany’s Enigma machine, which the Nazis used to encrypt crucial war communications.

Turing’s wartime achievement was kept secret for 50 years, but Norwegian director Morten Wide release Tyldum’s thrilling The Imitation Game blows the lid off this story, focusing on Turing’s welldeserved but unlikely status as a war hero.

That focus allows The Imitation Game to avoid the pitfalls of many Hollywood biopics. The film necessarily delves into Turing’s tragic personal life (he was prosecuted for “gross indecency“ merely for being a gay man in 1950s Britain), but never dissolves into melodrama. Graham Moore’s beautiful screenplay scarcely wastes a word, making it easy to forgive its occasional wanderings from historical fact. And Benedict Cumberbatch (12 Years a Slave, TV’s Sherlock) is nothing short of brilliant as the awkward but visionary Turing.

The Imitation Game may be a fairly conventional film, but it‘s also a uniquely successful one. It’ll be hard to beat over the holidays — and at next year’s Oscars. — KEN KORMAN

the Congolese leader who led his country to independence in 1960. 7 p.m. Monday. Cafe Istanbul Sagrada: The Mysteries of Creation (NR) — The documentary looks at Barcelona’s Sagrada Familia, a basilica designed by Antoni Gaudi that’s been under construction since 1882. 6 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday-Monday. Zeitgeist White Christmas (NR) — Singers Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) and Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) join Betty (Rosemary Clooney)

and Judy Haynes (Vera-Ellen) to perform a Christmas show in rural Vermont. Noon Wednesday. Prytania

CALL FOR FILMMAKERS Tulane University Film & Arts Festival. Organizers seek short films and art pieces for the inaugural festival, which will be held Feb. 20-21, 2015. Deadline Jan. 10, 2015. Visit www. tulanefilmandartsfestival.com or email tulanefilmfest@gmail. com for details.

AMC Clearview Palace 12: Clearview Mall, 4486 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie., (504) 887-1257; www.amctheatres. com AMC Elmwood Palace 20: 1200 Elmwood Park Blvd., Harahan., (504) 733-2029; www.amctheatres.com AMC Westbank Palace 16: 1151 Manhattan Blvd., Harvey., (504) 263-2298; www.amctheatres. com Cafe Istanbul: New Orleans Healing Center, 2372 St. Claude Ave., (504) 940-1130; www.cafeistanbulnola. com Chalmette Movies: 8700 W. Judge Perez Drive,

Chalmette., (504) 304-9992; www.chalmettemovies. com Entergy IMAX Theatre: 1 Canal St., (504) 581-4629; www.auduboninstitute.org The Grand 14 Esplanade: 1401 W. Esplanade Ave., Kenner., (504) 229-4259; www. thegrandtheatre.com The Grand 16 Slidell: 1950 Gause Blvd. W., Slidell., (985) 641-1889; www.thegrandtheatre.com New Orleans Museum of Art: City Park, 1 Collins Diboll Circle., (504) 658-4100; www. noma.org Prytania Theatre: 5339 Prytania St., (504) 891-

2787; www.theprytania. com Regal Covington Stadium 14: 69348 Louisiana State Hwy. 121, Covington., (985) 871-7787; www.regmovies.com The Theatres at Canal Place: The Shops at Canal Place, 333 Canal St., (504) 5812540; www.thetheatres. com Zeitgeist MultiDisciplinary Arts Center: 1618 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., (504) 827-5858; www.zeitgeistinc.net

YEAR IN REVIEW: ART

ART NEW ORLEANS’ ART SCENE SAW NEW INSTALLATIONS, CHANGES IN LEADERSHIP AND LOTS OF INSPIRING ART IN 2014.

BY D. ERIC BOOKHARDT

important Mel Chin retrospective, Rematch, surveying his vast output leading up to his remediation efforts in the St. Roch neighborhood, where he partnered with pioneer St. Claude gallerist Kirsha Kaechele on behalf of inner-city children suffering from environmental lead poisoning.

Institutions like the McKenna Museum of African American Art and the Ogden Museum of Southern Art, quietly persevered in presenting high-quality art programming, but the organization that perhaps most epitomizes quiet effectiveness is the Joan Mitchell Foundation, which this year under the directorship of New Orleans native Gia Hamilton completed the construction of 10 new studios and the renovation of eight vintage residences for its studio residency program. It also is noteworthy that 10 of the 58 international artists in Prospect.3 had received grants from the foundation over the past two decades.

In the new New Orleans art world, Prospect.3 is clearly the enigmatic elephant in the room, and 2014 appears to be the year that Prospect regained its footing after its globally celebrated start in 2008, and somewhat shakier follow-up iteration. Although lacking P.1’s iconic spectacles like Mark Bradford’s dramatic Lower 9th Ward ark — Bahamian artist Tavares Strachan’s big and beguiling neon barge sculpture, You Belong Here, (pictured) is probably its closest equivalent — Prospect.3 makes ingenious use of New Orleans’ deep multicultural roots. Long celebrated as “America’s most European city,” it is also paradoxically known as America’s most Afro-Caribbean city. Prospect.3 took on the challenge of reconciling those paradoxes in a truly global art exposition that is as subtle and wide-ranging, yet as deep, as its Walker Percy-inspired motto: “Seeing oneself in the other.”

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

t was neither the best nor the worst of times, but for the visual arts in New Orleans, it was a year that began with ... a pink rabbit. The creation of Trisha Kyner and David Friedheim, Pink Rabbit is a loopy steel sculpture of a loping rabbit in motion, one of several dozen sculptures installed about town by Michael Manjarris’ Sculpture for New Orleans project in concert with the Helis Foundation, Downtown Development District and various public-spirited individuals. Though not the biggest, Pink Rabbit’s appearance on the Poydras Avenue median next to the Superdome at the start of 2014 was celebrated in social and traditional media as a holiday hangover hallucination made permanent, thereby unexpectedly publicizing the Poydras median’s transformation into a linear sculpture park of some 26 mostly blue chip works.

In that sense, it typified any number of little-noticed subcurrents that seemed to suddenly surface as full-blown events over the course of 2014.

It was a year of culminations, consolidations and new beginnings, sometimes all happening at once. At the Contemporary Arts Center (CAC), it was new director Neil Barclay’s first full year on the job at an art institution that had been without a curator since Amy Mackie quit in 2012. In October, he announced that a new curator, Andrea Andersson, had been selected. A New Orleans native who had lived in New York since 2001, she is the granddaughter of legendary former New Orleans Opera conductor Knud Andersson, suggesting that her approach may be somewhat multidisciplinary, in keeping with the CAC founders’ original vision.

Other notable 2014 arrivals include Monica Ramirez-Montagut, the new director of Tulane University’s Newcomb Art Gallery.

2014 also saw the departure of New Orleans Museum of Art contemporary art curator Miranda Lash, who is credited with opening up the venerable old institution to all sorts of new and experimental work by figures ranging from New York street artist Swoon to popular New Orleans electronic musician Quintron’s live-in residency as he composed new music inspired by paintings from both the NOMA collection and the Saturn Bar. Lash also organized the

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ART

LISTINGS

COMPLETE LISTINGS AT WWW.BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM

Contact Anna Gaca listingsedit@gambitweekly.com 504.483.3110 FAX: 866.473.7199

PROSPECT.3 Prospect.3: Notes for Now. Citywide; www.prospectneworleans.org — The third edition of New Orleans’ international contemporary art biennial features 60 artists in exhibitions at many local museums and institutions.

GALLERIES 5 Press Gallery. 5 Press St., (504) 940-2900; www.5pressgallery.com — “Wishlist: Art for Sharing,” art, crafts and gifts

by NOCCA faculty and alumni, through Monday.

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

A Gallery For Fine Photography. 241 Chartres St., (504) 568-1313; www.agallery.com — “Where: The Exploration of Photographs and Place, 18432014”, through January 2015.

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Academy Gallery. 5256 Magazine St., (504) 899-8111; www.noafa.com — “A Visit to Horn Island,” plein air paintings

by Claude Ellender, Diego Larguia, Renee Mitchell, Mary Monk, Louis Morales, Auseklis Ozols, Phil Sandusky and Billy Solitario, through Feb. 27, 2015.

AFA New Orleans. 809 Royal St., (504) 558-9296; www. afanyc.com — “Dirty Little Secrets,” pop surrealism group exhibition, ongoing.

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AIA New Orleans Center for Design. 1000 St. Charles Ave., (504) 525-8320; www.aianeworleans.org — Prospect.3: work by Mary Ellen Carroll, through Jan. 25, 2015.

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Angela King Gallery. 241 Royal St., (504) 524-8211; www. angelakinggallery.com — New work by Paul Tamanian, Michelle Gagliano and Richard Currier, ongoing.

Antenna Gallery. 3718 St. Claude Ave., (504) 298-3161; www.press-street.com/antenna — “Team Draw Activiate!,” collaborative work inspired by exquisite corpse, through Jan. 4, 2015; The Blue Library, group show of photography chapbooks, through January 2015.

Antieau Gallery. 927 Royal St., (504) 304-0849; www.antieaugallery.com — “Super Imposed,” work by Betsy Youngquist and Celibeth Donnelly, ongoing.

Ariodante Gallery. 535 Julia St., (504) 524-3233; www.ariodantegallery.com — “Pathless Travel,” work by Cheryl Grace, Kiki Huston, Ginger Kelly and Ellen Macomber, through December.

Art Gallery of the Consulate of Mexico. 901 Convention Center Blvd., (504) 528-3722 — “Where the River Bends,” photographs by Scott Dalton, through Dec. 30.

Barrister’s Gallery. 2331 St. Claude Ave., (504) 525-2767; www.barristersgallery.com — “Orgasm,” photographs by Linda Troeller; paintings and drawings by Carol Leake, Anne Nelson, Cynthia Scott and Frances Swigart; “Sleepers,” photos by Robert Hannant; “Up From Guadalajara,” paintings

by Roberto Pulido; all through Jan. 3, 2015.

Berta’s and Mina’s Antiquities Gallery. 4138 Magazine St., (504) 895-6201 — “Puppy Love with My Angels from Above,” paintings by Mina Lanzas and Nilo Lanzas, ongoing.

Boyd | Satellite. 440 Julia St., (504) 581-2440; www.boydsatellitegallery.com — “Once Around the Sun,” Polaroids by Richard McCabe and Andres Serrano, through Jan. 1, 2015.

Byrdie’s Gallery. 2422 St. Claude Ave., (504) 656-6794; www.byrdiesgallery.com — “Rhapsody in Blue,” cyanotypes by Philip Yiannopoulos, through Jan. 6, 2015.

Callan Contemporary. 518 Julia St., (504) 525-0518; www. callancontemporary.com — “Back to Bogalusa,” paintings and sculptures by George Dunbar, through Friday.

Carol Robinson Gallery. 840 Napoleon Ave., (504) 895-6130; www.carolrobinsongallery. com — Annual Christmas Exhibition, group show featuring Noah Saterstrom, Jere Allen, Christina Goodman, Beverly Dennis, Cathy Hegman and others, through Dec. 30.

Casell-Bergen Gallery. 1305 Decatur St., (504) 524-0671; www.casellbergengallery. com — Work by Joachim Casell, Rene Ragi, BellaDonna, Jamal and Phillip Sage, ongoing.

Catalyst Gallery of Art. 5207 Magazine St., (504) 220-7756; www.catalystgalleryofart.com — Group exhibition of New Orleans-inspired art, ongoing.

Cole Pratt Gallery. 3800 Magazine St., (504) 891-6789; www.coleprattgallery.com — “At Play,” abstract paintings

by Karen Stastny; “Fact and Fiction: Imagining the West,” photographs by Jeremiah Ariaz; both through Dec. 27.

Coup D’oeil Art Consortium.

2033 Magazine St., (504) 722-0876; www.coupdoeilartconsortium.com — “La Petite Mort,” installation by Blaine Capone, James Taylor Bonds and M. Silver Smith, through Jan. 25, 2015.

Dillard University. Art Gallery, Cook Communications Center, 2601 Gentilly Blvd., (504) 8164853; www.dillard.edu — Prospect.3: work by Terry Adkins and William Cordova, through Jan. 25, 2015.

The Exchange Center. 935 Gravier St., (504) 523-1465; www.artscouncilofneworleans.org — Prospect.3: work

by Liu Ding, Lisa Sigal and Tavares Strachan, through Jan. 25, 2015.

The Foundation Gallery. 1109 Royal St., (504) 568-0955; www. foundationgallerynola.com — “Cosmos Transition,” paintings

by Jon Coffelt, through Dec. 23.

The Front. 4100 St. Claude Ave., (504) 301-8654; www. nolafront.org — “Anna Freud and Her Father,” video by Cristina Molina; “Fictitious Cartographies,” collage by Jill Stoll; “Love Object Love,” assemblage and sculpture by Jessica Vogel; all through Jan. 4, 2015.

Gallery Burguieres. 736 Royal St., (504) 301-1119; www.galleryburguieres.com — Mixed media

by Ally Burguieres, ongoing.

Gallery Twenty-One Fourteen. 2114 Decatur St., (504) 875-2110; www.gallerytwentyonefourteen.com — “Things That Go Bump in the Night,” work by Ben Gregory, Margaret Minezer, MRSA, Pauly Lingerfelt, Senan O’Connor, Katy Weidemann and Chez Marie, through Jan. 25, 2015.

Garden District Gallery.

1332 Washington Ave., (504) 891-3032; www.gardendistrictgallery.com — “Annual Holiday Open House,” group exhibition of paintings, pastels, ceramics and sculpture, through Jan. 18, 2015.

Good Children Gallery. 4037 St. Claude Ave., (504) 616-7427; www.goodchildrengallery. com — “Crowning Glory,” new work by Good Children artists, through Jan. 4, 2015.

Guthrie Contemporary. 3815 Magazine St., (504) 897-2688; www.guthriecontemporary. com — “Big Appetites,” photographs by Christopher Boffoli; “Counting to Ten in French,” photo-based art by Aline Smithson; “She Can Leap

ART LISTINGS Tall Buildings,” photographs

by Heidi Lender; all through February 2015.

— “A Dot Red,” photogravures

by Christa Blackwood, through January 2015.

Hall-Barnett Gallery. 237 Chartres St., (504) 522-5657; www. hallbarnett.com — “Southern Winters,” work by Melissa Smith, Laura W. Adams and others, through December.

May Gallery and Residency.

2839 N. Robertson St., Suite 105, (504) 316-3474; www.themayspace.com — Prospect.3: “Meka Jean: How She Got Good,” installation by Tameka Norris, through Jan. 25, 2015.

Jean Bragg Gallery of Southern Art. 600 Julia St., (504) 895-7375; www.jeanbragg.com — “B is for Banana, Bayou and Bungalow,” paintings by Carol Hillock, through December.

Joan Mitchell Center. 2275 Bayou Road, (504) 940-2500; www.joanmitchellfoundation. org — “Convergence,” work by resident artists curated by Deborah Willis; Prospect.3: work

by McArthur Binion, Los Jaichackers, Akosua Adoma Owusu and Hayal Pozanti; both through Jan. 25, 2015.

Jonathan Ferrara Gallery.

400 Julia St., (504) 522-5471; www.jonathanferraragallery. com — “Guns in the Hands of Artists,” decommissioned guns repurposed as art, through Jan. 24, 2015.

Jonathan Ferrara Gallery offsite location. 3919 St. Claude Ave. — “Chapel of the Almighty Dollar,” outdoor installation by Dan Tague, through Jan. 25, 2015.

J&S Gallery. 3801 Jefferson Highway, Jefferson, (504) 952-9163 — Wood carvings and paintings by local artists, ongoing.

La Madama Bazarre. 910 Royal St., (504) 236-5076; www.lamadamabazarre.com — Mixed-media group exhibition featuring Jane Talton, LaTeefah Wright, Sean Yseult, Darla Teagarden and others, ongoing.

LeMieux Galleries. 332 Julia St., (504) 522-5988; www.lemieuxgalleries.com — “An Abstract Master Rediscovered,” work by Dusti Bonge; “Unseen Works of Paul Ninas,” paintings by the late artist; both through Dec. 27.

Loyola University, Collins C. Diboll Art Gallery. Monroe Library, fourth floor, 6363 St. Charles Ave., (504) 861-5456 — “Leftovers,” work by Tasheka Arceneaux Sutton; “Reconciliation,” work by Peter Biarritz; both through Jan. 15, 2015.

M. Francis Gallery. 1938 Burgundy St., (504) 931-1915; www. mfrancisgallery.com — Paintings

by Myesha Francis, ongoing.

Martin Lawrence Gallery New Orleans. 433 Royal St., (504) 299-9055; www.martinlawrence. com — Work by Mark Kostabi and Erte, through Jan. 1, 2015.

Martine Chaisson Gallery. 727 Camp St., (504) 304-7942; www. martinechaissongallery.com

New Orleans Glassworks & Printmaking Studio. 727 Magazine St., (504) 529-7277; www. neworleansglassworks.com — “Art d’Hiver,” glass sculpture by Gerald Haessig and print work

by Cathy DeYoung, through Dec. 30. “Insomnia,” watercolor prints by Henry Miller, through January 2015.

New Orleans Photo Alliance.

1111 St. Mary St., (504) 610-4899; www.neworleansphotoalliance. org — “Skins, Shells and Meats,” assemblages by Elizabeth Stone, through Jan. 20, 2015.

NOCCA Riverfront. 2800 Chartres St., (504) 940-2787; www. nocca.com — “Sabor-Saber-Saver,” photo installation by Cristina Molina, through Jan. 29, 2015.

Oak Street Gallery. 111 N. Oak St., Hammond, (985) 345-0251; www.theoakstreetgallery.com — Work by Thom Barlow, Mark Haller, Pat Macaluso and John Robinson, ongoing.

Octavia Art Gallery. 454 Julia St., (504) 309-4249; www. octaviaartgallery.com — Photography by Joe Zammit-Lucia, through Dec. 27.

Rhino Contemporary Crafts Gallery. The Shops at Canal Place, 333 Canal St., second floor, (504) 523-7945; www.rhinocrafts.com — Works by Vitrice McMurry, Lauren Thomas, Sabine Chadborn, Cathy DeYoung and others, ongoing.

River House at Crevasse of 1922. 8122 Saro Ln., Poydras — “Land-Scapes: Photography, Drawings and Paintings,” group show, through Jan. 25, 2015 Scott Edwards Photography Gallery. 2109 Decatur St., (504) 610-0581; www.scottedwardsgallery.com — “Borrowed Relics: The Last of the Large Polaroid Transfers,” photography by Anna Tomczak; “Juju,” photographs

by Sandra Russell Clark; both through Feb. 7, 2015.

Sophie Lvoff at 3422. 3422 St. Claude Ave.; www.facebook. com/sophielvoff3422 — Photographs by Sophie T. Lvoff, through Jan. 25, 2015.

Soren Christensen Gallery. 400 Julia St., (504) 569-9501; www. sorengallery.com — “Dream Eternal,” photographs by Nicolas

St. Tammany Art Association.

320 N. Columbia St., Covington, (985) 892-8650; www. sttammanyartassociation.org — “Nature’s Essence: Two Visions,” paintings by Marcia Holmes and Jim Seitz, through Feb. 7, 2015.

Staple Goods. 1340 St. Roch Ave., (504) 908-7331; www. postmedium.org/staplegoods — “Brothers x 2,” functional art objects by Abe and Andrew Geasland, through Jan. 11, 2015.

Stella Jones Gallery. Place St. Charles, 201 St. Charles Ave., Suite 132, (504) 568-9050; www. stellajonesgallery.com — “Another Southern Journey,” work

by Ed Clark, Bruce Davenport Jr., Charles Simms and Leonard Maiden, through Jan. 3, 2015.

Steve Martin Studios. 624 Julia St., (504) 566-1390; www. stevemartinfineart.com — “Artisan Juncture,” group show featuring Gustavo Duque, Travis Linde, Amy Boudreaux, Jose Luis Rodriguez, Jedd Haas, Steven Soltis and others, ongoing.

Ten Gallery. 4432 Magazine St., (504) 333-1414; www.facebook. com/nolaartsalon — “Down the Hatch,” new work by Wendell Bruins and Angel Perdomo; new print work by Jono Goodman; both through Dec. 28.

Three Rivers Gallery. 333 E. Boston St., Covington, (985) 8922811; www.threeriversgallery. com — “Small Works: Group Exhibition,” featuring gallery artists, through February 2015.

Tulane University, Carroll Gallery. Woldenberg Art Center, (504) 314-2228; www.carrollgallery.tulane.edu — “Tulane Contemporary.3,” new work by seven professors in Tulane’s Newcomb Art Department, through Jan. 25, 2015.

UNO-St. Claude Gallery. 2429 St. Claude Ave., (504) 280-6493; www.finearts.uno.edu — Prospect.3: work by Christopher Myers and the Propeller Group’s Phunam, Matt Lucero and Tuan Andrew Nguyen, through Jan. 25, 2015.

Dyson, through Jan. 16, 2015; Prospect.3: work by Lonnie Holley, through Jan. 25, 2015.

SPARE SPACES Algiers Regional Library. 3014 Holiday Drive, Algiers, (504) 5297323; www.nutrias.org — “Edna Karr project,” photographs by Akasha Rabut; “Danger Shelter Opportunity,” photographs

by James Osborne IV; both through December.

New Orleans Public Library.

219 Loyola Ave., (504) 529-7323; www.nutrias.org — “From Common and Basin to Tulane and Loyola: 150 Years of Change in Our Neighborhood,” photographs and documents of neighborhood transformation, ongoing.

Jackson: Hero of New Orleans”, through March 29, 2015; handcarved decoy ducks, ongoing.

Le Musee de F.P.C. 2336 Esplanade Ave., (504) 233-0384; www. facebook.com/lemuseedefpc — “Revelations of Goddesses,” paintings by Eleanor Merritt, through Jan. 25, 2015.

Longue Vue House and Gardens. 7 Bamboo Road, (504) 488-5488; www.longuevue.com — Prospect 3: work by Shigeru Ban, Camille Henrot and Jose Antonio Vega Macotela, through Jan. 25, 2015.

Louisiana Children’s Museum.

420 Julia St., (504) 523-1357; www.lcm.org — Architecture exhibit by The Historic New Orleans Collection, ongoing.

Ochsner Art Walk 1. 1315 Jefferson Highway, (504) 842-3900; www.ochsner.org — “Roots~Redemption,” photographs by Emerson Matabele, through December.

Louisiana State Museum Presbytere. 751 Chartres St., (504) 568-6968; www.lsm.crt.state. la.us — “Krewe of Hermes: The Diamond Jubilee,” an overview of the Carnival organization, through December; “Living with Hurricanes: Katrina and Beyond,” interactive displays and artifacts; “It’s Carnival Time in Louisiana,” Carnival artifacts, costumes, jewelry and other items; both ongoing.

Ochsner Art Walk 2. 1516 Jefferson Highway, (504) 842-4000; www.ochsner.org — “Marsh Fog Series,” photographs by Dean Cavalier, through December.

New Orleans African American Museum. 1418 Gov. Nicholls St., (504) 566-1136; www.noaam.com — Prospect.3: work by Zarouhie Abdalian, through Jan. 25, 2015.

Newcomb College Center for Research on Women. Caroline Richardson Hall, 62 Newcomb Place, (504) 865-5238 — “A.I.R. Pioneers,” portraits by Judy Cooper, through December.

St. Alphonsus Church. 2025 Constance St., (504) 524-8116; www.stalphonsusneworleans. com — “I am not garbage,” mixed media by Mike Kilgore, through Jan. 25, 2015.

Zeitgeist Multi-Disciplinary Arts Center. 1618 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., (504) 827-5858; www.zeitgeistinc.net — “The Perpetual Instant,” group photography exhibition selected

by Grant Hamilton, through Jan. 25, 2015.

MUSEUMS Ashe Cultural Arts Center. 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., (504) 569-9070; www.ashecac.org — “If We Had Our Way – Experiencing Joy in the Lives of Women and Girls,” photographs by Douglas Redd and Jeffrey Cook, through December; Prospect.3: work by Kerry James Marshall, through Jan. 25, 2015; “The African Presence in Mexico: From Yanga to the Present,” an educational panel display, through February 2015.

New Orleans Museum of Art. City Park, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, (504) 658-4100; www. noma.org — Prospect.3: work

by Tarsila do Amaral, Frederick J. Brown, Huguette Caland, Ed Clark, Andrea Fraser, Paul Gauguin, Jeffrey Gibson and Alma Thomas; “Photorealism: The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Collection,” group exhibition of paintings; both through Jan. 25, 2015; “Orientalism: Taking and Making,” European and American art influenced by Middle Eastern, North African and East Asian cultures, through Feb. 1, 2015; “Degas’ Little Dancer Aged Fourteen,” Edgar Degas’ Little Dancer sculpture and related work, through March 1, 2015; “Photo-Unrealism,” group exhibition of abstract and surreal photography, through March 15, 2015; “Forever,” mural by Odili Donald Odita, through April 2015.

Whisnant Galleries. 343 Royal St., (504) 524-9766; www.whisnantgalleries.com — Ethnic, religious and antique art, sculpture, textiles and porcelain, ongoing.

George & Leah McKenna Museum of African American Art. 2003 Carondelet St., (504) 586-7432; www.themckennamuseum.com — Prospect.3: work

by Carrie Mae Weems, through Jan. 25, 2015; “Queens Rule!” portraits, attire and art inspired

by Mardi Gras Indian queens, through March 14, 2015.

Ogden Museum of Southern Art. 925 Camp St., (504) 5399600; www.ogdenmuseum. org — “Self-Taught, Outsider and Visionary Art from the collection of Richard Gasperi”; “Self-Processing — Instant Photography,” instant film photography group exhibition; both through Jan. 4, 2015; Prospect.3: “Basquiat and the Bayou,” paintings and works on paper by Jean-Michel Basquiat; Prospect.3: work by Herbert Singleton, Keith Calhoun, Chandra McCormick and Benny Andrews; both through Jan. 25, 2015.

Xavier University. 1 Drexel Drive, (504) 486-7411; www.xula. edu — Paintings by Deirdre

The Historic New Orleans Collection. 533 Royal St., (504) 5234662; www.hnoc.org — “Andrew

Old U.S. Mint. 400 Esplanade Ave., (504) 568-6993; www.crt. state.la.us/museum/properties/

Upstairs at 3308 Magazine Street. 3308 Magazine St. — “The Nature of Now,” new work by 14 artists addressing Louisiana ecology, through Jan. 24, 2015.

Vieux Carre Gallery. 507 St. Ann St., (504) 522-2900; www. vieuxcarregallery.com — Work

by Sarah Stiehl, ongoing.

usmint — Pictures of the Year International, images from the Missouri School of Journalism’s photojournalism competition; “Keeping Time,” photographs of Louisiana’s musical history; both through February 2015.

Southeastern Architectural Archive. Tulane University, Jones Hall, 6801 Freret St., (504) 865-5699; www.seaa.tulane. edu — “Bungalows,” artifacts of bungalow and cottage architecture, through May 20, 2015.

Southern Food & Beverage Museum. 1504 Oretha C. Haley Blvd., (504) 569-0405; www. southernfood.org — “Happy Happy Happy!” photographs from S. Louise Neal’s Birthday Cake Project, ongoing.

Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park, (504) 658-4100; www.noma.org — Prospect.3: work by Will Ryman, through Jan. 25, 2015.

Williams Research Center. 410 Chartres St., (504) 523-4662; www.hnoc.org/willcent. htm — “Studio, Street, Self: Portrait Photographs from the Historic New Orleans Collection”, through February 2015.

CALL FOR ARTISTS ArtFields competition. The competition seeks art for a combined $100,000 in cash prizes. The festival runs from April 24 to May 2, 2015. Visit www. artfieldssc.org for details.

Gravier Street Social. Gravier Street Social, 523 Gravier St.; www.gravierstreetsocial.com — The social club seeks art for monthly group shows. Artists should work on canvas, mixed media or board with paint, collage or ink. Deadline Jan. 9, 2015.

Louisiana River Arts College Art Contest. The contest seeks art from students attending accredited Louisiana colleges.

Cash prizes are awarded. Visit www.rwnaf.org/contest, email emilyyoung@rwnaf.org or call (318) 865-4201, ext. 130, for details. Deadline Feb. 1, 2015.

Platforms Fund. A collaboration of Press Street, Ashe Cultural Arts Center and Pelican Bomb, the fund provides grants of up to $5,000 for artist-driven projects that engage the community. Deadline Jan. 20, 2015.

Visit www.platformsfund.org for more information.

Swap Meet NOLA. St. Margaret’s at Mercy, 3525 Bienville St., (504) 279-6414; www.stmargaretsno. org — The art and farmers market seeks artists. Email info@ swapmeetnola.com.

Veteran’s Housing Outreach.

The organization seeks art in all media for a January 2015 exhibit at the St. Charles Regional Library. Call Lisa at (504) 340-3429 to submit art.

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Kevin Gillentine Gallery. 3917 Magazine St., (504) 891-0509; www.kevingillentine.com — “Duck Blinds,” photographs

by Nell Campbell, through December.

New Orleans Community Printshop & Darkroom. 1201 Mazant St.; www.nolacommunityprintshop.wordpress. com — “Portraits of place, self and obsession,” photographs

by Breonne DeDecker, Meg Turner and Colin Roberson, through December.

Bruno; “New Light,” abstract paintings by Karen Scharer; both through Dec. 30; group exhibition by William Dunlap, Audra Kohout, Steven Seinberg, Thomas Swanston, Jamali and Ed Smith, ongoing.

57

YEAR IN REVIEW: STAGE

AN A LOOK AT 2014 ONSTAGE

BY WILL COVIELLO

REGULAR ADMISSION

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

(7-9 pm)

58

$50

EARLY VIP ADMISSION (6-9 pm)

$70

he New Orleans theater scene seemed to live between extremes in 2014. The NOLA Project went from enticing adults into a trip down the rabbit hole in Alice in Wonderland to the morass of men infantilized by institutionalization in One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest. The Marigny Opera House triumphantly launched its dance company in October and was nearly shuttered over permit issues during the New Orleans Fringe Festival. Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre lost the rights to produce Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat but finished the year with an entertaining run of the recent Broadway hit, Peter and the Starcatcher.

The NOLA Project presented a diverse and impressive set of productions. After several years of springtime Shakespeare productions in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, it delighted all ages with an adaptation of Alice in Wonderland in which audiences followed Alice or one of two of her sisters and met Lewis Carroll’s bizarre characters in various scenes throughout the space. Its production of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest rose above the original book’s dated ideas about mental health care and explored the risks of antisocial behavior.

Cecile Monteyne turned in two excellent performances, animating a rebellious teenaged girl in Shiner and livening the mourning Olivia in a boisterous version of Twelfth Night; or, What You Will staged in the Great Hall at NOMA. Local actors brilliantly brought to life several of Tennessee Williams troubled and brooding characters in a couple of productions. Southern Rep returned to Michalopoulos Studio, where it presented A Streetcar Named Desire in 2012, and Mike Harkins starred as the haggard defrocked priest in The Night of the Iguana. At Le Petit Theatre, Beau Bratcher directed a lush production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof starring Monteyne as Maggie.

Le Petit presented Golda, the one-woman show about Israeli Prime Minister Golda Meir, and finished the year with Peter and the Starcatcher, an imagining of the backstory of Peter Pan. The theater scrambled to replace Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (which is scheduled instead in the 2015 Broadway in New Orleans season), presenting a remount of the feel-good jukebox musical The Big Easy Boys, which debuted at Rivertown Theaters for the Performing Arts. Le Petit also lost the services of Artistic Director Cassie Steck Worley, who stepped down in September after starring in Vanya and

YEAR

The NOLA Project presented a delightful trip down the rabbit hole in Adventures in Wonderland, set in the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden.

Sonia and Masha and Spike.

The Elm Theater became the latest company to hit the road, leaving its former space on Julia Street. It produced a stark version of Sam Shepard’s A Lie of the Mind at Mid-City Theatre.

The Anthony Bean Community Theater reinforced its identity as home to August Wilson’s Pittsburgh Cycle. After completing the 10-play, decade by decade look at African American life in the 20th century, the theater restarted the cycle with the first Wilson play it produced, Two Trains Running.

The Shadowbox Lounge may be inadvertently gaining a reputation for gorey spectacles after hosting the 2013 Evil Dead: The Musical, this year’s Musical of the Living Dead and The Christmassacre Story, a holiday and horror mashup from See ’Em On Stage: A Production Company.

Shadowbox also hosted the Iraq warbased Dying City, which featured a standout performance from Monica Harris. Casey Groves anchored a polished production of Moon for the Misbegotten at The Irish House.

It also was a good year for original productions. John Biguenet’s beguiling one-woman show Broomstick debuted locally at Southern Rep and at theaters across the country. Goat in the Road Productions’ Numb, exploring the discovery of medical anaesthesia, was a highlight of the Fringe Festival. After a successful year the festival is changing its name to faux/ real [a chain of events]. The effort is spurred by the success of independent production companies and venues to stage their own works, a good sign of the creative energy driving the local theater scene at the grassroots level.

STAGE LISTINGS

COMPLETE LISTINGS AT WWW.BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM

Contact Anna Gaca listingsedit@gambitweekly.com 504.483.3110 FAX: 866.473.7199

HOLIDAY A Very Electric Christmas.

Joy Theater, 1200 Canal St., (504) 528-9569; www. thejoytheater.com — Electroluminescent puppet company Lightwire Theater performs to favorite holiday music, from Tchaikovsky to Mariah Carey.

Tickets start at $25. 3 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Great Russian Nutcracker.

Saenger Theatre, 1111 Canal St., (504) 287-0351; www. saengernola.com — The Moscow Ballet’s touring show features Tchaikovsky’s full score, Russian folk characters, dancing puppets and falling snow.

Tickets start at $44. 3 p.m. & 7 p.m. Saturday.

Bad Girls of Burlesque.

House of Blues, 225 Decatur St., (504) 310-4999; www.houseofblues.com — Elle Dorado, Athena, GoGo McGregor, Charlotte Treuse and Donna Hood star in a monthly show hosted by Dr. Sick. 8 p.m. Saturday.

Big Deal Burlesque. Freret Street Publiq House, 4528 Freret St., (504) 826-9912; www.publiqhouse.com — Roxie le Rouge produces the burlesque show, featuring Tallulah St. James, Foxy Flambeaux and Sarah the Bobcat. Tickets start at $12. 9 p.m. Friday.

Bits & Jiggles. Siberia, 2227 St. Claude Ave., (504) 265-8855; www.siberianola.com — The show mixes comedy and burlesque. 9 p.m. Monday.

Burlesque Ballroom.

Royal Sonesta Hotel (Irvin Mayfield’s Jazz Playhouse), 300 Bourbon St., (504) 5532331; www.sonesta.com/ royalneworleans — Trixie Minx stars in the weekly 1960s-style burlesque show featuring music by Romy Kaye and the Brent Walsh Jazz Trio. 11:50 p.m. Friday.

COMEDY Accessible Comedy.

Buffa’s, 1001 Esplanade Ave., (504) 949-0038; www. buffaslounge.com — Jake Potter hosts stand-up.

Midnight Friday.

Comedy Beast. Howlin’ Wolf Den, 907 S. Peters St., (504) 529-5844; www. thehowlinwolf.com — The New Movement presents a stand-up comedy showcase. 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Comedy Catastrophe. Lost Love Lounge, 2529 Dauphine St., (504) 949-2009; www.lostlovelounge.com — Cassidy Henehan hosts the weekly comedy showcase.

9 p.m. Tuesday.

Cram It In. The BEATnik, 1638 Clio St., (504) 648-7998; www.facebook.com/ beatnikbookingnola — Massive Fraud presents an open-mic comedy show hosted by Joe Cardosi. 7 p.m. Friday.

Friday Night Laughs. La Nuit Comedy Theater, 5039 Freret St., (504) 231-7011; www.nolacomedy.com — Jackie Jenkins Jr. hosts an open mic. 11 p.m. Friday.

Give ’Em the Light OpenMic Comedy Show. House of Blues, 225 Decatur St., (504) 310-4999; www.houseofblues.com — Leon Blanda hosts the showcase. 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Johnny Rock. C. Beever’s Bar of Music, 2507 N.

On the street below Ebenezer Scrooge’s office window, a caroler belts a song of good tidings.

At the same time, the penny-pincher’s nephew has come to Scrooge’s office to extend an invitation to dinner. Irritated, Scrooge answers this familial offer with a “Bah, humbug” denial. Then, he slams the window — shutting out not just the singer but anything to do with Christmas — in Southern Rep’s recent production of A Christmas Carol.

Since A Christmas Carol’s creation in the mid-19th century, Charles Dickens’ work — in many forms — has been a winter favorite. Adapted by Doris Baizley, this show’s format follows a play-within-a-play structure, in which a troupe struggles to put on a version of the holiday classic. As part of the troupe, three clowns (Jon Greene, Rachael Anne Pace and Joshua Smith) periodically juggle and offer slapstick-type bits. They ramp up the energy and help flesh out the show’s overall framework.

The troupe’s main issue in putting on a show is that the actor playing Scrooge has quit. To fill the role, the director (Mike Harkins) calls on the grumpy stage manager (John “Spud” McConnell). As Scrooge, McConnell imbues the iconic character with the iciness of a London winter. He’s a booming presence as a successful businessman who hoards money. Scrooge is especially hard on his employee Bob Cratchit (Donald Lewis) and doesn’t want to give him the day off to celebrate with his wife Mrs. Cratchit (Laura Friedmann) and sick son Tiny Tim (Danny Herre). While Tiny Tim may only have one line — “And, God bless us, everyone” — Herre also plays the prop boy. The young actor holds his own with this talented cast.

One reason for A Christmas Carol’s long-lived popularity is Scrooge’s transformation into a generous, Christmas-loving man. The change begins when the spirit of his deceased business partner Jacob Marley (also played by Harkins) visits. He then encounters the ghosts of Christmases past, present and future. When the ghosts come to see Scrooge, four large wooden bedposts turn his office into his home. The set, smartly designed by David Raphel, makes good use of a tight space and allows for scenes in which the spirits take Scrooge to another place.

Dressed in a long, hooded robe, Friedmann’s Ghost of Christmas Past is the most memorable of the three spirits. She plays the character with an urgency that sets up the creepiness factor of holiday ghosts. Green and Pace, wearing a single outfit, play the Ghost of Christmas Present in a quasi-comical way, which felt a contrived contrast to the serious tone. The Ghost of Christmas Present is faceless and silently stands in front of Scrooge as the former tightwad has his big moment of realization, the one everyone wants to see.

This Southern Rep production of A Christmas Carol is moving and reminds us of the importance of generosity and family bonds. — TYLER GILLESPIE Woodlawn Ave., Metairie, (504) 887-9401; www.facebook.com/thenewcbeevers — Comedian Johnny Rock hosts an open-mic comedy night. 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Local Uproar. AllWays Lounge, 2240 St. Claude Ave., (504) 758-5590; www. theallwayslounge.com — Tory Gordon and Paul Oswell host an open-mic night. 7 p.m. Saturday.

A Night of Comedy. Tacos & Beer, 1622 St. Charles Ave., (504) 304-8722 — Corey Mack hosts two stand-up showcases. 8 p.m. & 10 p.m.

Saturday.

NOLA Comedy Hour. Hi-Ho Lounge, 2239 St. Claude Ave., (504) 945-4446; www.

hiholounge.net — Andrew Polk hosts the series, which features a booked showcase and open mic. 9 p.m. Sunday.

Rory Scovel, Sean Patton, Kyle Kinane. One Eyed Jacks, 615 Toulouse St., (504) 569-8361; www.oneeyedjacks.net — Three nationally touring stand-up comedians perform, with additional support from Rojo Perez and The New Movement’s Chris Trew. Tickets $20. 8 p.m. Monday.

Sketch Comedy. La Nuit Comedy Theater, 5039 Freret St., (504) 231-7011; www. sketchycharacters.net — The Sketchy Characters perform sketch comedy. 9:30 p.m. Saturday.

Think You’re Funny?

Carrollton Station Bar and Music Club, 8140 Willow St., (504) 865-9190; www. carrolltonstation.com — The weekly open-mic showcase is open to all comics. 9 p.m. Wednesday.

AUDITIONS Cripple Creek Theater Company. Akili Academy, 3811 N. Galvez St.; www. cripplecreekplayers.org — The theater company hosts auditions from noon til 6 p.m. on Jan. 3, 4, 10 and 11, 2015 for its fall 2015 production of Marc Blitzstein’s The Cradle Will Rock. Contact Andrew Vaught at vaught@ cripplecreekplayers.org to schedule an audition.

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

CABARET, BURLESQUE & VARIETY

Sunday School. The BEATnik, 1638 Clio St., (504) 648-7998; www.facebook. com/beatnikbookingnola — The burlesque and variety show features the Rev. Spooky LeStrange & Her Billion Dollar Baby Dolls. 9 p.m. Sunday.

Talk Nerdy to Me. Dragon’s Den (downstairs), 435 Esplanade Ave., (504) 9405546; www.dragonsdennola.com — The weekly scifi-themed revue features burlesque performers, comedians and sideshow acts. 7 p.m. Saturday.

REVIEW

A Christmas Carol

59

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2 Take a photo with anything that has the bar’s logo

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for a chance to win $1,000 in bar tabs. The more bars you visit, the more chances to win. Multiple photographs at the same bar will be discarded.

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PARTICIPATING BARS CHECK THEM OFF AS YOU GO! (BY NEIGHBORHOOD)

MID-CITY

201 Julia St.

FRENCH QUARTER

326 N. Jefferson Davis Pkwy

Rusty Nail

21st Amendment

1100 Constance St.

725 Iberville St.

Handsome Willy’s

Rock ‘n’ Sake

Bourbon O

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Bayou Beer Garden

60

218 S Robertson St.

The Holy Ground Irish Pub

Mulate’s

823 Fulton St.

717 Orleans St

Tivoli & Lee

Deja vu Bar & Grill

936 St. Charles Ave.

400 Dauphine St

440 S St Patrick St

UPTOWN

713 Rue Saint Louis

Pal’s Lounge

Ale

3340 Canal St

Mid City Yacht Club 949 N. Rendon St.

8124 Oak St.

Parkway Bakery and Tavern

Bruno’s Tavern

538 Hagan Ave

Columns Hotel Bar

Ralph’s on the Park 900 City Park Ave.

Banks Street Bar & Grill 4401 Banks St

DOWNTOWN Bellocq Bar

7538 Maple St. 3811 St. Charles Ave.

Down the Hatch

Hermes Bar House of Blues 225 Decatur St.

Kerry Irish Pub 331 Decatur St.

May Baily’s Place 415 Dauphine St

Patrick’s Bar Vin 730 Bienville St.

1921 Sophie Wright Pl.

Red Fish Grill

Prytania Bar

115 Bourbon St.

3445 Prytania St.

Publiq House 4528 Freret St.

936 St. Charles Ave.

St. Joe’s Bar

Fulton Alley

5535 Magazine St.

Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar

Bourbon House 144 Bourbon Street

Palace Cafe 605 Canal Street

Tableau 616 St. Peter St.

Tiki Tolteca 301 N. Peters St.

Turtle Bay 1119 Decatur St.

MARIGNY/ BYWATER

Lucy’s Retired Surfers Bar

2604 Magazine St

Oak

Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse

701 Tchoupitoulas St.

8118 Oak St.

716 Iberville Street

717 Conti St.

(Old Metairie) 2700 Metairie Rd.

Coyote Blues (Metairie) 4860 Veterans Blvd

Gennaro’s Martin Wine Cellar

J&J’s Sports Lounge 800 France St.

(Metairie) 714 Elmeer Ave.

Mimi’s in the Marigny

Martine’s Lounge

2601 Royal St.

MULTIPLE LOCATIONS Bulldog

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1001 Esplanade Ave.

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Spirits on Bourbon

600 Fulton St.

Blue Crab

Buffa’s Lounge

(Uptown) 3236 Magazine St. (Mid-City) 5135 Canal Blvd

301 Dauphine St.

MORE GREAT PLACES!

(French Quarter) 301 N. Peters St. (Uptown) 6215 S. Miro St. (Mid-City) 411 N. Carrollton Ave.

(Old Metairie) 2347 Metairie Rd.

Oscars (Old Metairie) 2027 Metairie Rd.

Perry’s Sports Bar and Grill (Metairie) 5252 Veterans Blvd.

Swamp Room (Metairie) 5216 Veterans Blvd.

Legends 2708 N Hullen St

to enter: 12/30/14 • Must be 21 to play • Multiple entries at the same bar will be discarded. Have fun & don’t drink and drive!

Tip your bartender • Read complete rules and restrictions on bestofneworleans.com • No purchase necessary RULES: Deadline

EVENT LISTINGS

gives visitors a chance to wear original military uniforms and equipment. 9 a.m.

FRIDAY 26 Critical Mass. Washington Artillery Park, Mississippi River across from Jackson Square — Cyclists gather for a mass ride. 6 p.m.

COMPLETE LISTINGS AT WWW.BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM

Contact Anna Gaca listingsedit@gambitweekly.com 504.483.3110 FAX: 866.473.7199

HOLIDAY Bayou Christmas. Heritage Park, 1701 Bayou Lane, Slidell, (985) 646-4371 — The holiday lights festival features live music, visits with Santa and a local gift market. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Tuesday-Wednesday.

Caroling with Louisiana History Alive. French Market, corner of Gov. Nicholls Street and French Market Place, (504) 522-2621; www.frenchmarket. org — Famous New Orleanians from history lead period and contemporary holiday songs.

Noon Friday.

Friday Nights at NOMA. New Orleans Museum of Art, City Park, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, (504) 658-4100; www.noma. org — This week’s event includes music by Gal Holiday & the Honky Tonk Revue and a screening of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Creole Christmas Historic Home Tour. 1850 House, 523 St. Ann St., (504) 568-6968; www.crt.state. la.us — Visitors take a self-guided tour of five public and private French Quarter homes, learning about 19th-century Christmas in New Orleans. Tickets $25. Dec. 27 to 28, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Holiday In the Park. Lafreniere Park, 3000 Downs Blvd., Metairie, (504) 838-4389; www. lafrenierepark.org — The park’s holiday celebration features light displays, a carousel, ornament decorating and Christmas characters. Admission $3 per car; free on Wednesday and Thursday. Dusk to 9:45 p.m.

Sunday-Thursday, dusk to 11:30 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

Live Nativity Scene. Israelite Baptist Church, 2100 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., (504) 957-5232 — Community partners host a live outdoor nativity, featuring music by gospel singer Jo “Cool” Davis and local choirs. 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Christmas Eve at St. Louis Cathedral. Jackson Square, 615 Pere Antoine Alley, (504) 525-9585; www.stlouiscathedral. org — The faithful gather for midnight Mass in the French Quarter, with music by the St. Louis Cathedral Concert Choir and the boys’ choir. 11:15 p.m. Wednesday.

Miracle on Fulton Street. Fulton Street, at Poydras Street near Harrah’s Hotel; www.miracleonfulton.com — The holiday decorations on the pedestrian walk include faux snow, a Christmas tree and a gingerbread St. Louis Cathedral. There’s live music from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday.

Tuesday-Friday.

NOLA Christmas Fest. Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, 900 Convention Center Blvd., (504) 582-3000; www.christmasinthedistrict.com — The indoor festival features decorated trees, a gingerbread house competition, inflatables, crafts and activities. Weekends include an arts and crafts market. Visit website for full schedule and tickets. Noon to 9 p.m. Tuesday; 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday.

TUESDAY 23 It’s All About the Music Bike Ride. Louis Armstrong Park, 701 N. Rampart St., (504) 658-3200; www.facebook.com/groups/ nolasocialride — The cyclists of NOLA Social Ride cruise around the city, stopping along the way to enjoy live music. 6 p.m.

Sheriff’s Office Job Fair.

New Kitchen Warehouse, 3000

The Gallier House, dressed in the traditional 19th-century holiday style, is part of the Creole Christmas Historic Home Tour Dec. 27 and 28.

Perdido St.; www.opso.us/ careers — The Orleans Parish Sheriff’s Office recruits deputies and civilian employees. 9 a.m. to noon.

Toddler Time. Louisiana Children’s Museum, 420 Julia St., (504) 523-1357; www.lcm.org — The museum hosts activities for children ages 3 and under and their parents or caregivers.

Non-members $8. 10:30 a.m.

Yoga at the Cabildo. Louisiana State Museum Cabildo, 701 Chartres St., (504) 568-6968; www.lsm.crt.state.la.us — Yogis of all experience levels practice in the Cabildo gallery.

Non-members $12. 7:30 a.m.

WEDNESDAY 24 Barbershop Meetings. Ashe Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., (504) 5699070; www.ashecac.org — Peter Nahkid leads the men’s discussion. 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

Nature Walk and Titivation.

Northlake Nature Center, 23135 Highway 190, Mandeville, (985) 626-1238; www.northlakenature.org — Guests tour natural habitats and learn to prune plants along the trail. 1 p.m.

White Glove Wednesdays.

National World War II Museum, 945 Magazine St., (504) 5276012; www.nationalww2museum.org — Curator Eric Rivets

SATURDAY 27 Arts Market of New Orleans.

Palmer Park, South Claiborne and Carrollton avenues — The Arts Council of New Orleans’ market features local and handmade goods, food, children’s activities and live music. Visit www.artscouncilofneworleans.org for details. 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Last Saturday of every month.

Jazz Yoga. Jazz National Historical Park, 916 N. Peters St., (504) 589-4841 — Susan Landry leads a free class featuring meditational jazz piano. 10 a.m.

Renaissance Marketplace of New Orleans East.

Renaissance Marketplace, 5700 Read Blvd — The market offers cuisine from area restaurants, arts and crafts, children’s activities and more.

1 p.m. to 6 p.m.

PAGE 62

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Celebration in the Oaks. New Orleans City Park, 1 Palm Drive, (504) 488-2896; www.celebrationintheoaks.com — The festival of lights draws 165,000 people to City Park for light displays, dancers, a carousel and a train ride. Admission $8. 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

Starlight Racing. Fair Grounds Race Course & Slots, 1751 Gentilly Blvd., (504) 944-5515; www. fairgroundsracecourse.com — Evening racing kicks off with first post at 5 p.m. General admission $5.

61

EVENT LISTINGS PAGE 61

Swap Meet NOLA. Swap Meet NOLA, 3525 Bienville St., (504) 813-5370; www.swapmeetnola. com — The event includes a farmers market, flea market and art market. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday.

Yoga/Pilates. Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, New Orleans Museum of Art, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, City Park, (504) 658-4100; www.noma.org — The museum hosts Pilates classes every fourth Saturday of the month and yoga classes every other Saturday in the sculpture garden. Call (504) 4565000 for details. Non-members $5. 8 a.m.

SUNDAY 28 Jonah Bascle Memorial. Kingpin, 1307 Lyons St., (504) 891-2373; www.kingpinbar.com — Friends remember the late comedian and activist with a jazz funeral procession from The Kingpin to La Nuit Theatre. A comedy roast follows. 1 p.m.

MONDAY 29

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Tai Chi/Chi Kung. New Orleans Museum of Art, City Park, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, (504) 456-5000; www.noma.org — Terry Rappold leads the class in the museum’s art galleries.

Non-members $5. 6 p.m.

62

Tour de Liqueur. Parlay’s, 870 Harrison Ave., 504-304-6338; www.parlaysbar.net — The daylong bicycle pub crawl gathers at Parlay’s and includes stops at Liuzza’s, Cooter Brown’s and more. 9:30 a.m.

WORDS Friends of the New Orleans Public Library Book Sale.

Latter Library, 5120 St. Charles Ave., (504) 596-2625; www. nutrias.org — The group hosts twice-weekly sales of books, DVDs, books on tape, LPs and more. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday.

Story Time with Miss Maureen.

Maple Street Book Shop, 7529 Maple St., (504) 866-4916; www. maplestreetbookshop.com — Children’s books are read.

Saturdays, 11:30 a.m.

StoryQuest. New Orleans Museum of Art, City Park, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, (504) 658-4100; www.noma.org — Authors, actors and artists read children’s books and send kids on art quests through the museum.

11:30 a.m.

Tina Freeman. Garden District Book Shop, The Rink, 2727 Prytania St., (504) 895-2266; www. gardendistrictbookshop.com — The photographer signs Artist Spaces. 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

SPORTS Pelicans. Smoothie King Center, 1501 Girod St., (504) 5873663; www.nba.com/pelicans — The New Orleans Pelicans play the San Antonio Spurs.

7 p.m. Friday.

FARMERS MARKETS Covington Farmers Market. www.covingtonfarmersmarket. org — The Northshore market offers local produce, meat, seafood, breads, prepared foods, plants and live music twice a week: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday at Covington Trailhead, 419 N. Hampshire St., Covington; 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Covington City Hall, 609 N. Columbia St., Covington.

Crescent City Farmers Market. www.crescentcityfarmersmarket.org — The market offers produce, meat, seafood, dairy, flowers and prepared food at four weekly events: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesday at Tulane University Square, 200 Broadway St.; 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday at American Can Apartments, 3700 Orleans Ave.; 8 a.m. to noon Saturday at Magazine Street Market, corner of Magazine and Girod streets.

CRISP Farms Market. CRISP Farms Market, 1330 France St.; www.facebook.com/ CRISPfarms — The urban farm offers greens, produce, herbs and seedlings. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday.

German Coast Farmers Market.

Ormond Plantation, 13786 River Road, Destrehan; www. germancoastfarmersmarket. org — The market features vegetables, fruits, flowers and other items. 8 a.m. to noon Saturday.

Gretna Farmers Market.

Huey P. Long Avenue at Second Street, Gretna; www.gretnafarmersmarket.com — The weekly rain-or-shine market features more than 30 vendors offering fruits, vegetables, meats and flowers. 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Hollygrove Market. Hollygrove Market & Farm, 8301 Olive St., (504) 483-7037; www.hollygrovemarket.com — The urban farm operates a fresh market that’s open daily. 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Saturday-Sunday.

Old Algiers Harvest Fresh Market. Old Algiers Harvest Fresh Market, 922 Teche St., Algiers, (504) 362-0708; www. oldalgiersharvestfreshmarket. com — Produce and seafood are available for purchase. 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday.

Rivertown Farmers Market.

400 block of Williams Boule-

vard, Kenner, (504) 468-7231; www.kenner.la.us — The market features fruits, vegetables, dairy products, homemade jams and jellies and cooking demonstrations. 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday.

Sankofa Mobile Market. www. sankofanola.org — The Sankofa market truck offers seasonal produce from the Sankofa Garden at several weekly stops.

11 a.m. to noon Tuesday at the Lower 9th Ward Community Center, 5234 N. Claiborne Ave.; 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Sunday at New Israel Baptist Church, 6322 St. Claude Ave. St. Bernard Seafood & Farmers Market. Aycock Barn, 409 Aycock St., Arabi, (504) 355-4442; www.fb.com/StBMarket — The market offers seafood, produce, preserves, baked goods, crafts, live entertainment and children’s activities. 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

Vietnamese Farmers Market.

14401 Alcee Fortier Blvd. — Fresh produce, baked goods and live poultry are available at this early market catering to New Orleans East’s Vietnamese population. 5 a.m. Saturday.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED American Cancer Society. The society seeks volunteers for upcoming events and to facilitate patient service programs.

Visit www.cancer.org or call (504) 219-2200.

Another Life Foundation.

The foundation seeks volunteers recovering from mental illness to help mentor others battling depression and suicidal behaviors. Training is provided. Contact Stephanie Green at (888) 543-3480, email anotherlifefoundation@hotmail. com or visit www.anotherlifefoundation.org.

Arbor Day Volunteers.

Northlake Nature Center, 23135 Highway 190, Mandeville, (985) 626-1238; www.northlakenature.org — The nature preserve seeks volunteer groups to help plant and reforest on Jan. 31 and Feb. 7, 2015. Call (985) 6261238 or email rue@northlakenature.org.

Battle of New Orleans Bicentennial. Chalmette Battlefield of Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve, 8606 W. St. Bernard Hwy., Chalmette, (504) 589-3882; www. nps.gov/jela — Jean Lafitte National Historic Park seeks volunteers to work as greeters, demonstrators, visitor center assistants and clean up crews at the bicentennial celebration.

Visit the website or call (504) 689-3690, ext. 10 for details.

Bayou Rebirth Wetlands Education. Bayou Rebirth seeks volunteers for wetlands planting projects, nursery maintenance and other duties. Visit www. bayourebirth.org.

CASA New Orleans. The organization seeks volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates to represent abused and neglected children in New Orleans. The time commitment is a minimum of 10 hours per month. No special skills are required; training and support are provided. Call (504) 522-1962 or email info@ casaneworleans. org.

Crescent City Farmers Market. CCFM and marketumbrella.org seek volunteers to field shoppers’ questions, assist seniors, help with children’s activities and more. Call (504) 495-1459 or email latifia@ marketumbrella. org.

Dress for Success New Orleans. The program for women entering the workplace seeks volunteers to help clients, manage inventory and share their expertise. Call (504) 891-4337 or email neworleans@ dressforsuccess.org.

Each One Save One. Greater New Orleans’ largest one-onone mentoring program seeks volunteer mentors. Visit www. eachonesaveone.org.

Edgar Degas Foundation. The nonprofit seeks volunteers to contribute to foundation development. Call (504) 821-5009 or email info@degashouse.com.

Girls on the Run. Girls on the Run seeks running partners, assistant coaches, committee members and race day volunteers. Email info@gotrnola.org or visit www.gotrnola.org.

Greater New Orleans Fair Housing Action Center.

The center seeks part-time civil rights investigators with excellent writing skills, reliable transportation and no criminal convictions to help expose housing discrimination in the New Orleans metro area. Call (504) 717-4257 or email mmorgan@gnofairhousing.org.

Green Light New Orleans. The group seeks volunteers to help install free energy-efficient lightbulbs in homes. Visit www. greenlightneworleans.org, call (504) 324-2429 or email green@ greenlightneworleans. org.

HandsOn New Orleans.

The volunteer center for the New Orleans area invites prospective volunteers to learn about the opportunities available and how to be a good volunteer. Call (504) 304-2275, email volunteer@handsonneworleans.org or visit www. handsonneworleans.org.

Hospice Volunteers. Harmony Hospice seeks volunteers to of-

fer companionship to patients through reading, playing cards and other activities. Call Carla Fisher at (504) 832-8111.

Jackson Barracks Museum Volunteers. The museum seeks volunteers to work one day a week for the Louisiana National Guard Museum. Volunteers prepare military aircraft, vehicles and equipment for display. Call David at (504) 837-0175 or email daveharrell@yahoo.com.

Lakeview Civic Improvement Association. The association’s green space committee needs volunteers to pick up trash or trim trees for the adopt-a-block program. Sign up with Russ Barranco at (504) 482-9598 or rpbarranco@cox.net.

Louisiana SPCA. The LA/SPCA seeks volunteers to work with the animals and help with special events, education and more. Volunteers must be at least 12 years old and complete an orientation to work directly with animals. Visit www. la-spca.org/volunteer.

Lowernine.org Volunteers.

Lowernine.org seeks volunteers to help renovate homes in the Lower 9th Ward. Visit www. lowernine.org or email lauren@ lowernine.org.

Meal Delivery Volunteers. The Jefferson Council on Aging seeks volunteers to deliver meals to homebound adults.

Gas and mileage expenses are reimbursed. Call Gail at (504) 888-5880.

National World War II Museum.

The museum accepts applications for volunteers to greet visitors from around the world and familiarize them with its galleries and artifacts. Call (504) 527-6012, ext. 243, or email katherine.alpert@nationalww2museum.org.

NOLA Wise. The partnership of Global Green, the City of New Orleans and the Department of Energy helps homeowners make their homes more energy efficient. It seeks volunteers, who must attend a 30-minute orientation. Email mrowand@ globalgreen.org.

Parkway Partners. The greenspace and community garden organization seeks volunteers for building, gardening and other projects. Email info@ parkwaypartnersnola.org, call (504) 620-2224 or visit www. parkwaypartnersnola.org.

Senior Companion Volunteers.

The New Orleans Council on Aging seeks volunteers to assist with personal and daily tasks to help seniors live independently. Visit www.nocoa.org or call (504) 821-4121.

St. Thomas Hospitality House.

The Catholic charity seeks

individuals and groups of volunteers to serve people experiencing homelessness. Contact Daniel Thelen at nolacw@gmail. com or (517) 290-8533.

Start the Adventure in Reading.

The STAIR program holds regular training sessions for volunteers who work one-on-one with public school students to build reading and language skills. Call (504) 899-0820, email elizabeth@stairnola.org or visit www.stairnola.org.

Teen Suicide Prevention. The program seeks volunteers to help teach middle- and upper-school New Orleans students. Call (504) 831-8475.

Veterans Housing Outreach Ministries. The charity seeks volunteers to help disabled, wounded and senior veterans with food and clothing distribution, home improvement, beautification, social media and web design. Call (504) 340-3429 or visit www.veteranshousingoutreach.webs.com.

REQUEST FOR APPLICATIONS Call for Makers. The New Orleans Mini Maker Faire seeks makers, artists, performers and crafters for the March 7, 2015 event at Tulane University. Visit www.nolamakerfaire.com/callformakers for an application.

Deadline Feb. 1, 2015.

New Orleans Fashion Week. Organizers are accepting applications from designers for New Orleans Fashion Week, March 21 to 28, 2015. Deadline for the Top Design Competition is Dec. 31; deadline for the Featured Designer is Jan. 15, 2015.

Visit www.fashionweeknola. com for details.

PA Boot Camp. Ashe Cultural Arts Center, 1712 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., (504) 569-9070; www.ashecac.org — New Orleans Video Access Center seeks residents of Orleans and Jefferson parishes to participate in a free, two-day training workshop for film production assistants. Visit www. novacvideo.org for information and application. Deadline Jan. 8, 2015.

Startup St. Bernard. The Meraux Foundation offers cash and business services worth $110,000 to a new business located in St. Bernard Parish.

Visit www.startupstbernard. com to submit a business plan.

Deadline Jan. 31, 2015.

Swap Meet NOLA. Swap Meet NOLA, 3525 Bienville St., (504) 813-5370; www.swapmeetnola. com — Artists, farmers, bakers and flea market vendors are invited to set up booths at recurring swap meets.

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EMPLOYMENT NEW ORLEANS

CLASSIFIEDS

JOB GURU

Dear New Orleans Job Guru, “My brother is a Petroleum Engineer and got his last two jobs through recruiters that specialize in Oil & Gas, but I’m unable to find any recruiters to help me find a sales or management job. Can you tell me about recruiters and how to find them?”

— Jacob A., New Orleans, LA Dear Jacob,

You are not alone in asking about recruiters. In fact, it is one of the questions I get asked about most. You didn’t state your current professional level, which would be absolutely critical to determining if there may be a fit for a headhunter or recruiter Grant Cooper suitable for you. Because of my business (Strategic Résumés & CareerPro) and my 20+ years of work here in the New Orleans area, I do have a number of recruiters in various specialties who regularly contact me to find top-level talent.

However, in case you are not in engineering or a technical field, you should understand that the days of headhunters or recruiters “finding jobs” for mid-level or general business candidates are basically over. If there are any recruiters out there who are interested in finding positions for my clients, I am always happy to hear from them.

Here are a few salient points that jobseekers should bear in mind concerning recruiters: 1) Recruiters are paid by and receive specific requests for talent requirements from employers, and therefore have no allegiance to candidates. Their job is to find talent for companies, not to find jobs for jobseekers.

2) The ultimate goal of most recruiters is to find what the career industry terms as “passive” candidates. Passive candidates are those who are currently employed, are considered successful in their current jobs, but are possibly open to offers for career advancement, providing that the new offer is good enough.

3) Those who are currently seeking jobs, who are posting their résumés on job boards and sending out résumés to job openings, who may be dissatisfied with their current situation, or who may be presently unemployed, are all considered to be what the industry terms “active” candidates. These are not the types of candidates that recruiters are normally paid to find.

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

4) The primary fields that recruiters are actively recruiting in are: CEO/CFO & senior executives (particularly from larger firms), senior-level medical positions, engineering and scientific disciplines, pharmaceutical, medical, some technical and pharmaceutical sales positions, senior academic positions, IT and programmer positions, and a few other areas. In the not too distant past, recruiters did get orders to find candidates a bit lower in the food chain. Not so much any more.

64

5) Those who hire recruiters do not want them to look for people who are already seeking jobs... They can find those people easily enough and even get flooded with hundreds or thousands of resumes for such jobseekers. However, companies are willing to pay thousands for recruiters to find the “rock stars” of their professions, those who are not actively seeking work, and who are at the top of their fields. Put bluntly, companies pay a recruiter to “steal” the best talent from Company A and deliver it to Company B. So, Jacob, the days of having someone else find you a job, unless you fall neatly into one of the above categories, are pretty much gone. The good news, however, is that there are some very specific jobhunting techniques that our firm and others can make available to assist candidates in maximizing their job search strategies. Feel free to contact Lela Neff, our Certified Career Management Coach.

New Orleans Job Guru is New Orleans native Grant Cooper. President of Strategic Résumés®, Grant ranks within the top LinkedIn Résumé Writing Experts nationwide and has assisted the U.S. Air Force, Kinko’s, the Louisiana Dept. of Labor, the City of New Orleans, NFL/NBA players & coaches, as well as universities, regional banks, celebrities, and major corporations.

Send Your Questions to New Orleans Job Guru at: grant@resupro.com or 504-891-7222.

Please state your city, first name, and last initial.

AGENTS & SALES HIRING SALES REPS NOW!

Must be energetic, healthy & have outgoing personality. Current DL & ins required. Call (504) 456-2249 for additional information.

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR: RETAIL WORK/LIFE BALANCE CAREER OPPORTUNITY & BENEFITS? The Navy Exchange in Belle Chasse, LA has the following positions available:

Warehouse Supervisor • Jewelry Supervisor Operations Supervisor • Soft-lines Supervisor Hard-lines Supervisor • Barber Sales Clerk • Cashier • Inventory Tech To apply log on to

www.mynavyexchange.com/nex/work-for-us

INSIDE SALES REPRESENTATIVE

We are seeking an inside sales representative with at least one year of customer service experience.

Knowledge of the floral industry required.

The successful candidate will possess the following skills: - Team Player - Friendly phone presence - Ability to work in a fast paced environment - Knowledge of Cut Flowers - Need a valid driver’s license and be able to pass drug screening - Must be able to lift up to 50 lbs.

If you think you would make a great addition to our team, please submit resume with cover letter explaining why you’d be a good fit in reply to this ad. norgwf@greenleafwholesale.com

FARM LABOR TEMPORARY FARM LABOR:

B&B Mencer Farms, Lake Village, AR, has 6 positions for grain & oilseed crops; 3 mo. experience required for job duties listed; must be able to lift 75 pounds; must be able to obtain driver’s license within 30 days of hire; once hired, workers may be required to take random drug tests at no cost to worker; testing positive or failure to comply may result in immediate termination from employment; tools, equipment, housing and daily trans provided for employees who can’t return home daily; trans & subsistence expenses reimb.; $9.87/ hr, may work nights and weekends; three-fourths work period guaranteed from 2/1/15 – 12/1/15. Apply at nearest LA Workforce Office with Job Order 168388 or call 225-342-7294.

TEMPORARY FARM LABOR:

Bieri & Son, Angleton, TX, has 2 positions for rice, grain, hay & livestock; 3 mo. experience required for job duties listed; must be able to lift 75 pounds; must be able to obtain driver’s license within 30 days of hire; once hired, workers may be required to take random drug tests at no cost to worker; testing positive or failure to comply may result in immediate termination from employment; tools, equipment, housing and daily trans provided for employees who can’t return home daily; trans & subsistence expenses reimb.; $10.86/ hr, may work nights and weekends; three-fourths work period guaranteed from 2/2/15 – 12/1/15. Apply at nearest LA Workforce Office with Job Order TX5017635 or call 225-3342917.

TEMPORARY FARM LABOR:

Carl Loewer Farming, Wynne, AR, has 2 positions for rice & soybeans; 3 mo. experience required for job duties listed; must be able to lift 75 pounds; must be able to obtain driver’s license within 30 days of hire; once hired, workers may be required to take random drug tests at no cost to worker; testing positive or failure to comply may result in immediate termination from employment; tools, equipment, housing and daily trans provided for employees who can’t return home daily; trans & subsistence expenses reimb.; $9.87/ hr, may work nights and weekends; three-fourths work period guaranteed from 2/9/15 – 11/20/15. Apply at nearest LA Workforce Office with Job Order 1067438 or call 225-342-2917.

TEMPORARY FARM LABOR:

Dean Lindley Farms, Clarendon, AR, has 2 positions for grain & oilseed crops; 3 mo. experience required for job duties listed; must be able to lift 75 pounds; must be able to obtain driver’s license within 30 days of hire; once hired, workers may be required to take random drug tests at no cost to worker; testing positive or failure to comply may result in immediate termination from employment; tools, equipment, housing and daily trans provided for employees who can’t return home daily; trans & subsistence expenses reimb.; $9.87/ hr, may work nights and weekends; three-fourths work period guaranteed from 2/5/15 – 12/5/15. Apply at nearest LA Workforce Office with Job Order 1068812 or call 225-342-2917.

TEMPORARY FARM LABOR:

Harper Ross Farms, Leland, MS, has 4 positions for grain, oilseed crops & irrigation; 3 mo. experience required for job duties listed; must be able to lift 75 pounds; must be able to obtain driver’s license within 30 days of hire; once hired, workers may be required to take random drug tests at no cost to worker; testing positive or failure to comply may result in immediate termination from employment; tools, equipment, housing and daily trans provided for employees who can’t return home daily; trans & subsistence expenses reimb.; $9.87/ hr, may work nights and weekends; three-fourths work period guaranteed from 2/5/15 – 12/5/15. Apply at nearest LA Workforce Office with Job Order MS115253 or call 225-342-2917.

Experienced

PIZZA MAKER WIT’S INN Bar & Pizza Kitchen Apply in person Mon-Fri, 1-4:30 pm 141 N. Carrollton Ave. VOLUNTEER

Offers Volunteer Opportunities

Make a difference in the lives of the terminally ill & their families. Services include: friendly visits to patients & their families, provide rest time to caretaker, bereavement & office assistance. School service hours avail.

Call Volunteer Coordinator @ 504-818-2723 #3006 TEMPORARY FARM LABOR:

J.D. Myrick, Hart, TX, has 1 positions for livestock; 3 mo. experience required for job duties listed; must be able to lift 75 pounds; must be able to obtain driver’s license within 30 days of hire; once hired, workers may be required to take random drug tests at no cost to worker; testing positive or failure to comply may result in immediate termination from employment; tools, equipment, housing and daily trans provided for employees who can’t return home daily; trans & subsistence expenses reimb.; $10.86/hr, may work nights and weekends; three-fourths work period guaranteed from 2/3/15 – 4/25/15. Apply at nearest LA Workforce Office with Job Order TX5017368 or call 225-342-2917.

MODELING/ACTING BRAND AMBASSADORS NEEDED!

Elevated Events is adding BAs to represent high profile spirits brands. Day, night and weekend work available.

Choose when you work! $15-$25/hr. Direct Deposit. Must be 21+, outgoing and reliable. Jobs@Elevate-Your-Event.com

MUSIC/MUSICIANS Louisiana Red Hot Records

Bookkeeper/Executive & Marketing Asst., PT/FT, $20-45K Email resume to: louisianaredhotrecords@gmail.com

PROFESSIONAL EXP. FLORAL DESIGNER

Full or part-time. Saturday work necessary. Apply at Villere’s Florist, 750 Martin Behrman Avenue, Metairie.

TEACHERS/INSTRUCTORS RIDING INSTRUCTOR

Full time for English riding. Please call Avery at (504) 891-2246.

LEGAL NOTICES Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Paul Elie Bryant, III, please contact attorney William Boyles at 504-2322940.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Quintrell Thompson and/or Sabrina Brown Thompson a/k/a Sabrina Denise Thompson, please contact Attorney William J. Jung at (504) 4519518 IMMEDIATELY Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Revia Theresa Rosales a/k/a Revia T. Rosales a/k/a Revia Rosales please contact the Law Offices of Rudy Gorrell (504) 553-9588 1215 Prytania St., Ste. 223, New Orleans, LA 70130.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Robert Andrew Schiff a/k/a Robert A. Schiff a/k/a Robert Schiff please contact Ammon L. Miller, Jr. at (504) 525-5671.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Rodney C. Cordova, contact Atty.

James Carter (504) 324-4400.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of SHAWN ELLIOT BOZEMAN, please contact Carolyn B. Hennesy at 504581-9322.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Shawn Johnson Rogers a/k/a Shawn J. Rogers a/k/a Shawn Rogers and Miner Rogers please contact attorney Wayne Woods at 504-309-4177.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of the heirs of ELAINE JENSEN KOREN please contact Justin A. Reese Atty, 2216 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70130, (504) 525-1500.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Marlene S. Robinson, please contact Atty. S. Kirk at (504) 581-9322.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Gloria Anderson Thomas, please contact Attorney Louis DiRosa, Jr., at 504-615-7340.

CLASSIFIEDS 24TH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATE OF LOUISIANA

CIVIL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF ORLEANS

CIVIL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF ORLEANS

CIVIL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF ORLEANS

STATE OF LOUISIANA

STATE OF LOUISIANA

NO. 2014-11679 DIVISION “A”

NO.2014-5806 DIVISION “A-15”

NUMBER: 2013-10311 DIVISION: “M”

STATE OF LOUISIANA

NO. 638-434 DIVISION “A” SUCCESSION OF JAMES F. TOUPS, JR.

SUCCESSION OF LOIS ERSULA REMY

NOTICE TO SELL IMMOVABLE PROPERTY AT PRIVATE SALE NOTICE IS GIVEN that Lori Toups, duly qualified executrix of the Succession of James F. Toups, Jr. has filed a Petition for authority to sell, at private sale, the immovable property described as follows:

Being the same property acquired

by Rita Magnon, wife of an James F. Toups, Sr., from Lucy Justin Duet by act passed before Harold L. Molaison, Notary Public, dated February 13, 1953, registered in COB 334, folio 51, Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. under the terms and conditions as provided in the agreement to purchase filed in these proceedings.

Notice is now given to all parties to whom it may concern, including the heirs and creditors of decedent, and of this estate, that they be ordered to make any opposition which they may have to such application, at any time, prior to the issuance of the order or judgment authorizing, approving and homologating that application and that such order or judgment may be issued after the expiration of seven days, from the date of the last publication of such notice, all in accordance with law.

Gretna, Louisiana, this 21st day of November, 2014.

Giselle LeGlue Clerk of Court Attorney: Ryan Scafidel, Scafidel Law Firm Address: 4130 Canal Street, New Orleans, LA 70119 Telephone: (504) 485-0200 email: ryan@scafidellawfirm.com Gambit: 12/02/14 & 12/23/14 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Tyron D. Celestine, please contact Atty.

D. Nicole Sheppard, at 4224 Canal Street NOLA, 70119, 504-234-4880.

Notice is hereby given that the administrator of the succession has filed a petition for authority to pay debts of the succession in accordance with the tableau of distribution contained in the petition. The petition can be homologated after the expiration of seven (7) days from the date of this publication; any opposition to the petition must be filed prior to homologation.

Deputy Clerk Jean L. Norton Attorney at Law 831 Elysian Fields New Orleans, Louisiana 70117 Phone: (504) 218-4679 Gambit: 12/23/14

CIVIL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF ORLEANS STATE OF LOUISIANA

NO. 2012-8494 DIV “I” IN RE: SUCCESSION OF THOMAS COMMEDORE, JR. NOTICE OF FILING OF TABLEAU OF DISTRIBUTION Notice is hereby given to the creditors of this estate and all other interested persons to show cause within seven days from the publication of this notice, if any they have or can, why the tableau of distribution filed

by EMILE COMMEDORE, should not be approved and homologated and the fund distributed in accordance with it.

Clerk Attorney: Elaine Appleberry Address: 405 Gretna Blvd.

Gretna, Louisiana 70053 Telephone: 504-266-0729 Gambit: 12/23/14

CIVIL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF ORLEANS STATE OF LOUISIANA

NO.11-7186 DIVISION “D” SECTION “16” DOCKET “1” SUCCESSION OF EDWARD WRIGHT KLEPPINGER NOTICE IS GIVEN to the creditors of this Estate and to all other interested persons, that a Motion to Set and Pay Compensation of the Executrix has been filed by the Dative Testamentary Executrix of this Succession; and that the Motion be homologated after the expiration of seven (7) days from the date of the publication of this notice. Any opposition to the Motion to Set and Pay Compensation must be filed prior to homologation.

By Order of the Court DEPUTY CLERK Attorney: Eric M. Schorr Address: 201 St. Charles Avenue Suite 3815 New Orleans, Louisiana 70170 Telephone: 504-582-1500 Gambit: 12/23/14

PETITION FOR HOMOLOGATION OF TABLEAU OF DISTRIBUTION The petition of Geneva Ann Bordelon, the duly appointed and qualified Administratrix of the above entitled and numbered succession, respectfully represents: I. She files herewith this Tableau of Distribution in the Estate of Mary Rita Cuadrado Bordelon, who died on May 20, 2014.

II. Your petitioner avers the captioned estate is insolvent, without any possibility of achieving solvency; and it has no assets to pay any of its remaining debts; therefore, there is no further need of an administration of the estate; and your petitioner desires to be discharged as the Administratrix of this Estate and relieved of any further duties and/or obligations in connection therewith.

WHEREFORE, petitioner, Geneva Ann Bordelon, prays that the filing of this Tableau of Distribution be advertised according to law; and after due proceedings and/or legal delays, it be approved and homologated by the court; and your petitioner further prays that she be discharged and relieved of any further duties and/or obligations as the Administratrix of this Estate.

Respectfully submitted, HAND, HOLMES, PILIE’S & MATTHEWS, LLC Attorney: Timothy F. Hand Address: 901 Derbigny Street Gretna, Louisiana 70053 Telephone: 504-368-1118 Gambit: 12/23/14 NOTICE TO FATHER BY PUBLICATION LEGAL NOTICE IN THE MATTER OF THE PATERNITY OF A.R. to H.S., f/k/a H.R. and John Doe, described as a Caucasian male.

You have been identified as the biological father or possible biological father of a caucasian male child whom the biological mother currently intends to place for adoption. The placement is expected to occur on or about March 1, 2015.

A.R. was conceived on or about July 15, 2004 in New Orleans, Louisiana and was born on April 19, 2005 in Gretna, Louisiana.

If you are the biological father, you have the right to: 1) deny paternity; 2) waive any parental rights you may have; 3) relinquish and consent to adoption; 4) file a Notice of Objection to Adoption and Intent to Obtain Custody pursuant to Nebraska Revised Statute section 43-104.02 or; 5) object to the adoption in a proceeding before any Nebraska court which has adjudicated you to be the biological father of the child prior to your receipt of notice.

In order to deny paternity, waive your parental rights, relinquish and consent to the adoption or receive additional information to determine whether you are the father of A.R., you must contact the undersigned attorney. If you wish to object to the adoption and seek custody of the child you must seek legal counsel from your own attorney immediately.

BY: J. D. Sabott, #25419 SHAMBERG, WOLF, McDERMOTT & DEPUÉ PO Box 460 Grand Island, NE 68801 308/384-1635 308/384-1759 (fax)

SUCCESSION OF MARGARET GAYLE REESE RIEHL NOTICE BY PUBLICATION OF APPLICATION FOR AUTHORITY TO GRANT A VOLUNTARY UNIT ON SUCCESSION PROPERTY NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that MILTON REESE, JR., Provisional Administrator of the above succession, has applied for authority to execute a Voluntary Unit Agreement to Mack Energy, Co., as Operator, and to Louisiana Onshore Exploration, L.L.C., as Lessee of the interest of this succession, in the following described property, to-wit: That certain tract or parcel of land containing 40.00 acres, more or less, being the Northeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter (NE/4 of SE/4) of Section 5, Township 12 South, Range 2 West, Vermilion Parish, Louisiana.

LESS AND EXCEPT: 2.99 acres, more or less, being a strip of land located along the eastern boundary of the Northeast Quarter of the Southeast Quarter (NE/4 of SE/4), Section 5, Township 12 South. Being bounded, now or formerly, by lands owned as follows: North by other lands owned

by Lessors not leased herein; East

by Acadia Vermilion Rice Irrigation Company and/or other lands owned

by Lessors not leased herein; South

by Marjorie Vincent Hartwell, et al; and West by Norman A. Hartwell, Jr., et al. Leaving a total balance of 37.01 acres, more or less, herein leased.

Any parties whom it may concern, including heirs and creditors of the Decedent herein, are ordered to make any opposition which they may have to such application prior to the issuance of the order or judgment authorizing, approving, and homologating such application; such judgment or order may be issued after the expiration of seven (7) days from the date of the last publication of such notice.

BY ORDER OF THE COURT CLERK OF COURT Attorney: Loretta O. Hoskins Address: 1100 Poydras Street 2300 Energy Centre New Orleans, LA 70163-2300 Telephone: (504) 585-7264 Gambit: 12/23/14 and 1/13/15 January, LLC d/b/a Nu Nu Restaurant Lounge is applying to the Office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control of the State of Louisiana for a permit to sell beverages of low alcohol content at retail in the City and Parish of New Orleans at the following address: 1700 Port Street, New Orleans, LA 70117 January, LLC Doing Business As: Nu Nu Restuarant Lounge Members: Emanual January Director of LSM: Emanual January Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Keith J. Burd a/k/a Keith Burd please contact the Law Offices of Rudy Gorrell (504) 553-9588 1215 Prytania St., Ste. 223, New Orleans, LA 70130.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Marie L. Brousseau L/K/A 2027 7th Street or 2215 Brainard Street, New Orleans, La, please call Raashand Hamilton, 504-940-1883.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Michael H. Killeen call J. Gainsburgh, atty, 504-582-2280.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of any heirs of Evelyn Winona Leonard, please contact Atty. E. Appleberry, 405 Gretna Blvd., Ste: 104, Gretna, LA 70053; 504-362-7800.

CIVIL DISTRICT COURT FOR THE PARISH OF ORLEANS

NO. 734-482 DIVISION: “I”

NO.1998-17439 DIVISION “B”

SUCCESSION OF CAROL STUMPF, wife of/and LAWRENCE K. CONNELLY

SUCCESSION OF LEON IMPASTATO (A/K/A LEON J. IMPASTATO)

STATE OF LOUISIANA

NOTICE OF FILING OF TABLEAU OF DISTRIBUTION Notice is hereby given that the administratrix of this succession has filed a petition for authority to pay debts of the succession in accordance with the tableau of distribution contained in the petition. The petition can be homologated after the expiration of seven (7) days from the date of this publication; any opposition to the petition must be filed prior to homologation.

Deputy Clerk Attorney: Daniel M. Douglass Address: 3224 N. Turnbull Drive Metairie, Louisiana 70002 Telephone: 504-888-1919 Gambit: 12/23/14

TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON STATE OF LOUISIANA

NO. 738-999 DIVISION:”H” SUCCESSION OF CHARLYN ANN SAUTER NOTICE OF FILING PETITION FOR AUTHORITY TO DISPOSE OF MOVABLE PROPERTY Notice is hereby given that the Administratrix of this succession has filed a Petition for Authority to Dispose of Movable Property belonging to the succession in return for a tax deduction.

The petition can be homologated after the expiration of seven days from the date of this publication; any opposition to the petition must be filed prior to homologation.

BY ORDER OF THE COURT CLERK OF COURT Attorney: Regel L. Bisso Address: 3925 N. I-10 Service Road W., Suite 227 Metairie, Louisiana 70002 Telephone: 504-830-3401 Gambit: 12/23/14 Anybody knowing the whereabouts of Georgette Cox Moore and Kelvin Moore, last known to be residents of Gretna and/or Marrero, LA, please contact Attn. Deborah E. Lonker at (504) 528-9500.”

Anyone having any interest in the property located at Lot P, Wallace, LA or the Successions of Alvin, Gladys or John Davis contact atty. Sondra Borne at (504) 905-1767.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of a lost promissory note payable to Crescent Bank and Trust dated February 19, 2011 in the amount of $22,284.24 and signed by a C. Brown & G. Carter please contact Jules Fontana, Attorney @ 504-581-9545.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of a lost promissory note payable to Tower Loan of Slidell dated July 15, 2014 in the amount of $1,206.20 and signed by a P. Brown please contact Jules Fontana, Attorney @ 504-581-9545.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of BARBARA GARRETT please contact Justin A. Reese Atty, 2216 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70130, (504) 525-1500.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Christopher J. Vicknair, please contact Attorney William J. Jung at (504) 4519518 IMMEDIATELY

STATE OF LOUISIANA

NOTICE NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN to the creditors of this Estate and to all other persons herein interested, to show cause within seven (7) days from this notification why the Petition for Authority to Enter into Settlement and Release Agreement filed with the Court on December 15, 2014, should not be approved, homologated, authorized, and ratified. An Order approving the Petition for Authority to Enter into Settlement and Release Agreement may be issued after the expiration of seven (7) days from the date of publication and an opposition may be filed at any time prior to the issuance of the order.

BY ORDER OF THIS HONORABLE COURT Deputy Clerk WILLIAM A. NEILSON, SR. (Bar No. 9921) AJUBITA, LEFTWICH & SALZER, L.L.C. 1500 Energy Centre 1100 Poydras Street New Orleans, LA 70163-1500 Telephone: (504) 582-2300 Attorneys for Nancy LoNigro And STEPHEN C. RESOR (Bar No. 16767) SALLEY, HITE, MERCER & RESOR, L.L.C. Suite 1710 365 Canal Street New Orleans, LA 70130-1139 Telephone: (504) 561-1044 Attorneys for Gary Impastato Gambit: 12/23/14 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of David P. Howcott a/k/a David Howcott please contact atty Wayne Woods at 504-309-4177.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Debra P. Bradley and/or Kevin Bradley please contact attorney William Boyles at 504-232-2940.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Gloria Anderson Thomas, please contact Attorney Louis DiRosa, Jr., at 504-615-7340.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of heirs of JAMES SIMMONS please contact J. Benjamin Avin Atty, 2216 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70130, (504) 525-1500.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Jacob Tapley or Allison Martinez Tapley, contact Attorney Brad Scott, 504-528-9500 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Jacqueline Murrill Burson A/K/A Jacqueline Murrill Brooks Green Burson, please contact Atty. D. Nicole Sheppard, at 4224 Canal Street NOLA, 70119, 504-234-4880.

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Karen Marie Allen, please contact Attorney Dennis W. Moore at (504)302-7324 Anyone knowing the whereabouts of Theresa Lee Sanders, please contact Attorney Dennis Moore at (504)3027324 BENJAMIN THOMPSON or anyone knowing his whereabouts, contact Loyola Law Clinic (504) 861-5599.

IMPORTANT - property rights involved!

Anyone knowing the whereabouts of ELIAS DUANE ROBERTS please contact Faun Fenderson, Attorney at 504-528-9500 or faun@faunfenderson.com.

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

TWO CERTAIN LOTS OF GROUND, or PORTION OF GROUND, together with all buildings and improvements thereon, and all rights, ways, privileges, servitudes, advantages and appurtenances, thereunto belonging or in anywise appertaining, situated in the Parish of Jefferson, State of Louisiana, in that park known and subdivided as SUBURBAN PARK SUBDIVISION, in Block or Square No. Three (3), thereof, bounder by Hancock, Palfrey, Cook and Solon Streets, and which said lots adjoin each other, and as designated by the numbers Nine (9) and Ten (10) of said square and beginning at a distance of 75’ feet from the corner of Hancock and Solon Streets, said lots measures each 25’ feet, front on Hancock Street, the same width in the rear, by a depth of 125’ feet between equal and parallel lines. All as per plan of Suburban Park Subdivision made by J.W.T. Stephen, C.E., dated August 25, 1917, a copy of which is annexed to an act passed before Charles V. Macaluso, Notary Public, of the Parish of Orleans, Dated August 3, 1923, and also as per plan of the same subdivision, made by J.W.T. Stephens, C.E., dated June 21, 1917, a copy of which is on file in the office of Clerk of Court of the Parish of Jefferson, as plan No. 22-A in Book of Plans No. 12. Also as more particularly described as above on a plan of survey made by Gilbert & Kelly, Surveyors, dated June 6, 1941, a blue print of which is annexed to act before Hugh E. Humphrey, Notary Public, dated June 13, 1941.

NOTICE OF FILING OF TABLEAU OF DISTRIBUTION

SUCCESSION OF MARY RITA CUADRADO BORDELON

TWENTY-FOURTH JUDICIAL DISTRICT COURT PARISH OF JEFFERSON

65

Picture Perfect Properties PICTURE YOURSELF IN THE HOME OF YOUR DREAMS!

Todd Taylor, Realtor, 504 232-0362

3527 Ridgelake Dr., Metairie.

Office Space Metairie Luxury Great Location Approx 1,350 usable sq.ft.

2nd floor of 2 story office building. Parking, efficiency kitchen, storage room, mens and womens restrooms, reception area, conference rooms, private office.

Available immediately. 1 year lease $1,700/mo.

(504) 957-2360.

RE/MAX & NOMAR Award Winning Agent toddtaylorrealtor@yahoo.com • www.toddtaylorrealestate.com RE/MAX Real Estate Partners (504) 888-9900

8001 Panola St On the Street Car Line! $1,950 Luxury Rental ENTIRE TOP FLOOR of Beautiful Duplex, 1600 Sq Feet! Plenty of space for everyone! One block to the historic Street Car, restaurants and parks. Lovely renovated home with gleaming wood floors, charming balcony for entertaining, LARGE rooms, INSIDE LAUNDRY. All appliances included.

Plenty of parking and quiet neighborhood.

Adorable Kitchen has new GRANITE Counter and new appliances. Washer and Dryer Inside Unit. Small dog ok.

Specializing in luxury, historic and investment real estate.

504.722.7640 • TriciaKing.com

Each office individually owned and operated

6843 Glengary Road • $175K

With over 2,200 SF. of space, this wonderfully appointed 3 bd/2 ba Lakewood East home is looking for loving owners. Has formal LR & DR, large den, & large eat in kit. Spacious bdrms, each large enough for queen beds + furnishings. Also, prk’g for 7, a yard w/patio for cookouts, & 24 hr. neighborhood security patrol. Ready to set an appointment?

FOR SALE

6961 – 3 Boston Dr. (VLD) $25K 2234-6 Delachaise St. $89K 4123-5 Downman Blvd. (COMM) $525K 13110 Lemans St. $105K 2025-7 Painters St. $119.9K 2458 N. Tonti St. $165K 4724 Virgilian St. $118.5K 20 Lakewood Pl. $380K SOLD 4901 - 3 Willow St. $215K SOLD 24 Yosemite Dr. $245K SOLD

FOR RENT

6000 Eads St. $1,075/mo 1269 & 71 Milton St. $800/mo 2028 Pauger St., B $1,000/mo 2625 Pine St., A $3,750/mo 2124 Cadiz St. $150K U/C 1210 – 12 N. Galvez St. $480K U/C 4001Gen.PershingSt.(VLD)$110KU/C 1269 Milton St. $800/mo U/C 3712ConstanceSt.$3,300/moLEASED

NORTHSHORE FOR SALE 2 TO 4 ACRE LOTS

JUDY FISHER INC. REALTORS ®

HEART OF THE FOREST

Ideally located 10 min. north of I-12 Goodbee Exit 57

Offering Personalized Real Estate Services Since 2003

985.796.9130

504-524-JUDY (5839)

www.lapolofarms.com

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

2707 Chartres St. #7 $169,000

66

Enchanting 1 BR, 1BA condo in c. 1840 Creole Townhouse in historic Architects Row, located in the Marigny near the Riverfront park, NOCCA, walking distance to many restaurants. 3rd floor walk-up of rear bldg, offers a covered balcony with room enough to entertain, spacious feel to interior with abundant natural light, high ceilings, rustic beams, exposed brick walls throughout, attic area offers plenty of storage or possible loft area.

FOR LEASE French Country Brick Home 50275 Huckleberry Lane, Folsom, LA

Four bedrooms, three baths, jacuzzi & full shower, porches, 2 car garage, workshop. Six acre landscaped lot.

Located 10 min. north of I12 Goodbee/Madisonville Exit 57

$1950. per month 985.796.9130 lapolofarms.com

www.JudyFisher.net

985.796.9130

For photos and map visit:

www.lapolofarms.com

RETAIL FOR LEASE 3200 Severn

933 Behrman Hwy

9511 Chef Menteur Hwy

JENNIFER LANASA-EVANS ASSOCIATE BROKER

Across from Lakeside Mall

End Cap Closed Restaurant

Upscale Retail Strip

Approx 2200 sq ft 1-1/2 story $20/sq ft NNN

3450 sq ft $15/sq ft NNN 1000-1150 sq ft $15/sq ft NNN

10 spaces avail from 1042-9118 sq ft $14/sq ft Modified Gross

4641 FAIRFIELD ST • METAIRIE, LA 70006 • 504 207 7575

Jennifer@lanasa.com Cell (504) 250-9930 www.lanasa.com

REAL ESTATE LAKEVIEW/LAKESHORE

NOTICE:

All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act and the Louisiana Open Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitation or discrimination because of race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.

We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. For more information, call the Louisiana Attorney General’s Office at 1-800-273-5718

REAL ESTATE FOR SALE

CBD OFFICE SPACE

Furnished Office Space in CBD available with all ammenities. Lease by the office $500 per month per office.

If interested please email to ssa@ ocblaw.com

1/2 Dble in quiet, safe neighborhood.

2Br/1Ba furn kit w/all appliances, w/d, cent air & heat, sec. alarm, ceil fans, Ceramic tile, carpet. Garage.

Water Paid. $1250/mo. 1 Year Lse. Call 504-400-9345.

LAKEFRONT

CITY PARK/BAYOU ST. JOHN NEAR CITY PARK - DESAIX

Single house, c-a/h, 2br, 1ba, w/d hkps, lrg fncd yd, pets ok. $1100/mo.

Avail Jan 1, 2015.

504-952-5102.

ESPLANADE RIDGE LRG 2 BR, 1.5 BA

CBD

6217 Catina Street

Recently remodeled, kit, c-a/h, hi ceils, hdwd/crpt flrs, fncd bkyd. w/d hookups, off st pkg. $1150/mo. 1563 N. Galvez. Call 1-888-239-6566 or mballier@yahoo.com

LARGE ATTRACTIVE APT.

2BR, 2BA w/ appls, beautiful courtyard setting w/swimming pool, quiet neighborhood. $900/mo.

504-756-7347

UPTOWN/GARDEN DISTRICT 1205 ST CHARLES/$1095

GENTILLY

Fully Furn’d studio/effy/secure bldg/ gtd pkg/pool/gym/wifi/laundry/3 mo. min. No pets. Avail Dec. 12. Call 504442-0573 or 985-871-4324.

REAL ESTATE FOR RENT

3723 NASHVILLE

3br, lr, dr, kit, 2ba, wd flr, c-a/h, upper duplex, yd, off st prkg. No pets. $1650 • (504) 432-7955 or (504) 277-1588

COMMERCIAL RENTALS 2 ROOM OFFICE $875/MO Easy Parking! Only one vacancy.

Avail now. Desks, file cabinets incl 2273 Barataria Blvd, Marrero.

Call cell, 781-608-6115

JEFFERSON

2565 WISTERIA

1BR, furn kitchen, hdwd floors, o/s pkng. $400/mo + $500 security.

504-715-1662.

Email 1rentball@gmail.com

To Advertise in

REAL ESTATE Call (504) 483-3100

2537 RIVER ROAD

Between Labarre & Rio Vista. 2BR, 1.5 Townhome, $885 water included, w&d hkups, fridge & stove. No pets, NO smoking. B>Great landlord for great tenants! 504-887-1814

New granite in kit & bath. 12 x 24ft lr, King Master w/wall of closets. Furn Kit. Laundry on premises. Offst pkg.

NO PETS. O/A, $724-$848/mo. 504236-5776.

ALGIERS POINT HISTORIC ALGIERS POINT

High end 1-4BR. Near ferry, clean, many x-tras, hrdwd flrs, cen a/h, no dogs, no sec 8, some O/S prkng $750-$1200/mo. 504-362-7487

RESIDENTIAL RENTALS 1041 Ursulines - 2bd/2.5ba ............... $3150 1030 Orleans - 1bd/1ba .................... $2500 1022 Toulouse - 1bd/1ba .................. $2500 1750 St. Charles - 2bd/2ba .................. $2200 127 Carondelet - 1bd/1ba .................. $2000 1803 St. Roch - 3bd/1ba ........................ $950

New FQR Office open! 713 Royal MON-SAT 10-5pm Sun-1-5 Full Service Office with Agents on Duty! 522-4585

3723 NASHVILLE AVE.

3BR, lr, dr, kit, 2ba, wd flr, c-a/h.

Upper duplex, yd, off st prkg.

No pets. $1650/mo.

(504) 432-7955 or (504) 277-1588

Wayne • Nicole • Sam • Jennifer • Brett • Robert • George • Dirk • Billy • Andrew • Eric

#6,7,8,13,14,15&16 All renov units in Treme w/Parking! $975

1233 Marais 718 Frenchmen #5

FOR RENT/OTHER WATERFRONT LUXURY CONDO

Grnd flr unit w/fresh updates and more! Fab location! $950

1307 Decatur #2

2/1 2/1 Lge Gallery/Hdwd Flrs/High Ceils/W/D on site $2500

2166 Esplanade

2/2 Newly renov incl., w/d in unit, prkng for 1 car ...... $1650

1025 Dumaine #6

1/1 newly renov, w/d, central ac/heat,fireplace ........ $1,200

1025 Dumaine #4

2/1 no pets Renov, wd flrs, w/d in unit ...................... $1400

914 Rampart St

7/8 Commercial Lease- can be B&B or Office ........... $6,000

1233 Esplanade #6

2/1 Partially furn. Parking. bonus office. Also for sale ....... $1350

FOR SALE

3 BR/3.5 BA, w/50’ covered slip. 2 car garage, covered decks & porch, master suite, large kit, wet bar, wood floors, peaceful setting. Water, garbage & grasscutting incl. 7 miles to the French Quarter & 6 mi to I-10 $1,800/mo (504) 914-6185

836 N Rampart

To Advertise in

#2 Soaring ceilings,orig medallions,plaster molding,balc $379,000

929 Dumaine

#18 Jewel-box condo. Loft in the heart of FQ. Furnished. $179,500

1454 St Mary #6

2/2 Renov lower garden district condo w/pool&parking $249,500

1233 Esplanade #4

2/1 Grnd flr condo. SS appls Prkng. Common patio&pool $159,000

823 Burgundy #3

2/2 1,600 sqft, brand renovation, balcony ............ $599,000

7916 Breakwater Dr#46 1/2 Boathouse overlooking Marina & Lake! .......... $299,000 928 Gov Nicholls

REAL ESTATE

2/2 Single house in the FQ. Pool & courtyard ....... $995,000

526 Spain “A”

2/1 Grtarea.2bdw/3rdforoffice.Hdwdflrs,brckctyrd...$242,500

2248 Cambronne

3/2 Classic uptown home on large lot .................... $419,000

Call 483-3100

70 GREAT LOCATIONS

9,500

QUALITY

APARTMENTS

CALL FOR MORE LISTINGS!

2340 Dauphine Street • New Orleans, LA 70117 (504) 944-3605

7211 Broad Place • $499,000

5349 Prytania St. • $759,000

24/7 online resident

services Beautiful new renovation of 3 bedroom, 2.5 bath.

NO FLOOD with low flood insurance rates.

Viking stove, marble baths, great open entertaining area, huge front porch, master suite with walk-in closet and sitting room. French Bath fixtures in mint move-in condition. Owner/Agent.

Five (5) bedroom home just off Jefferson Ave on Prytania. Awaits your persoanl touches.

Large front porch, double parlours, renovated kitchen, high ceilings, wood floors. Best price in this great uptown neighborhood.

Michael L. Baker, ABR/M, CRB, HHS President Realty Resources, Inc. 504-523-5555 • cell 504-606-6226

Licensed by the Louisiana Real Estate Commission for more than 28 years with offices in New Orleans, LA 70130

PET friendliest spaces

FULLY

FREE

access gates

parking

enclosed

off street

METAIRIE • KENNER • RIVER RIDGE • BATON ROUGE SLIDELL • MANDEVILLE • COVINGTON • MISSISSIPPI

Visit us online at:

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

OLD METAIRIE OLD METAIRIE 1&2 BDRM. APTS SPARKLING POOL & BIKE PATH

DORIAN M. BENNETT • 504-236-7688 dorian.bennett@sothebysrealty.com

French Quarter Realty

UPTOWN/ GARDEN DISTRICT

OVER

PRIME CBD OFFICE SPACE

Renovated professional office building in the CBD. Space from 4,000 sq. ft. to individual offices. Perfect for small businesses, remote office location, individuals, or office storage. Competitive prices. Can email pictures. 612 Gravier St. Appointment only. Call (504) 5255553 or cgreen@barrylawco.com

OVER

CBD

67

PUZZLE PAGE CLASSIFIEDS John Schaff CRS

NOLArealtor.com

Your Guide to New Orleans Homes & Condos

More than just a Realtor! (c) 504.343.6683 (o) 504.895.4663 wwwNOLArealtor.com

ERA Powered, Independently Owned & Operated

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

now available

815 Bartholomew • $369,000

1224 St. Charles Avenue • $159,000 G

IN

ND

PE LE

SA

Beautiful new construction in demand area! 12 foot ceilings and spacious living area for wonderful entertaining. Home has custom cabinetry, marble countertops and spacious baths.

Energy Star rated appliances, solid bamboo floors, 16 seer heat-pump with MERV 10 anti-allergen ultr high efficiency filtration, high efficiency on-demand hot water heater, insulation above code to Energy Star rating. Move right in!

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

ANSWERS FOR LAST WEEK ON PAGE 69

68

Location! Location! Location! Wonderful condo in the Lower Garden District. Renovated in 2010 w/ new kitchen, bath and beautiful wood flooring. Fitness Room & beautiful courtyard with hot tub. Secured off-street parking. Live & play on the parade route & streetcar line. Walk to some of New Orleans’ finest restaurants, easy access to the Interstate.

Condo fee includes electricity!

THANKS TO ALL MY CLIENTS FOR A GREAT 2014!

4717 S Liberty ...................... $895,000.00 4124 Laurel .......................... $650,000.00 1307-11 Jefferson ................ $599,000.00 728 Fourth St ....................... $448,000.00 150 Lakewood Estates ......... $367,000.00 1218 Joliet ............................$299,000.00 3025 Laurel .......................... $265,000.00 1540 Orpheum ..................... $248,900.00 621 Betz ............................... $199,500.00 4361 Murano ........................ $195,000.00 621 Betz ............................... $187,500.00 1917-19 Pauger ................... $185,000.00 2819 Baronne ....................... $175,000.00 1517-19 N Dorgenois ........... $155,000.00 1525 Clio #5 ......................... $149,000.00 3626 First St ......................... $149,000.00 1525 Clio #3 ......................... $139,000.00

1208 Pauline ........................ $125,000.00 1216-18 Gallier .................... $120,000.00 933-35 N Claiborne ............. $110,000.00 729 Gladstone ...................... $109,000.00 4517 Thalia ............................ $89,900.00 3158-60 N Villere ................... $79,000.00 4214-16 S Johnson ................ $75,000.00 1829-31 Touro ........................ $75,000.00 1626-28 Touro ....................... $62,000.00 2013-15 Foucher ................... $59,900.00 3445 Magnolia ....................... $50,000.00 1735 Hermosa ....................... $45,000.00 1201 Bartholomew ................ $33,000.00 1760 Pratt .............................. $27,000.00 2807-09 Daneel ..................... $24,000.00 196 Lakeview Dr #A ................ $6,732.00 ABR, CRS, GRI, SFR, SRS

(504) 895-4663 Latter & Blum, ERA powered is independently owned and operated.

CLASSIFIEDS

Mind • Body • Spirit

ADULT

PETS

TRUCKS

PET ADOPTIONS ENERGETIC

Montana is a playful, energetic black and white boy with lots of LOVE! Contact SpayMart 504-454-8200; adopt@spaymart.org

2004 FORD F-150 SUPER CREW CAB LARIAT

Excellent condition. Fully loaded, all power with leather interior. Tool box, towing hitch.

Brand new transmission (less that 2,000 miles on it) & brand new tires (with less than 500 miles on them). 108K miles. Inspection good thru 5/2015. Saints gold in color! Must sell due to husbands death. $12,500 obo. Call (504) 505-7905.

LAID BACK KITTY

Romulus is a wonderful loving and completely laid back kitty. He is a gorgeous fluffy orange boy looking for a family to love. Meet him at our Thirft Store or contact SpayMart 504-454-8200; adopt@spaymart.org

NEED HELP? Consider the alternative...

Advertise in the gambit Classifieds Call

483-3100 Email classadv

@gambitweekly.com

SERVICES CLEANING/JANITORIAL PAT’S HOUSEKEEPING

Professional • Dependable • 15+ Yrs Exp • References • Wkly, Bi-Wkly or Monthly. Free Est. Call Pat: (504) 228-5688 or (504) 464-7627.

LAWN/LANDSCAPE TREES CUT CHEAP!

& Stump Grinding & Cheap Trash Hauling. Call (504) 292-0724.

PAINTING/PAPER HANGING HELM PAINT & DECORATING

We carry Aura Exterior Paint. The finest exterior paint ever made with a LIFETIME WARRANTY. Come see us at any of our locations; Earhart Blvd., Magazine Street, Metairie, Hammond or Mandeville or call us at (504) 861-8179. www.helmpaint.com

PROFESSIONAL ANGELS INC:

Heavenly Helper Mobile Services. Hair Services, color, foils, hc’s & styles in the convenience of your home. Errand running, grocery shopping, organizing, downsizing. Ring an Angel for appt & pricing. LIV, (504) 701-2176 To Advertise in

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

AUTOMOTIVE

EMPLOYMENT

CLASSIFIEDS

REAL ESTATE Call (504) 483-3100

69

HOME & GARDEN y a d i l o H

Gambit’s Guide to Home & Garden Professionals

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*Discounts for Firemen, Police, Military & Sr. Citizens

TIME FOR PRE SEASON HEATING CHECK UP!

Sales and Installation

MENTION THIS AD IN GAMBIT & RECEIVE $25 OFF NEW ORLEANS (504) 524-6353 KENNER (504) 467-8119

FREE SAME DAY 2nd OPINIONS

Earl’s

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PLUMBING & HEATING

L.L.C.

Complete Plumbing Service & Under Slab Repair Specialist

$25 OFF ANY PLUMBING SERVICE Good thru 12/31/14

888.8888

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

70

504-452-5184 • 985-705-7424

KITCHEN COUNTERTOPS

We Manufacture & Install in 3 Days!

Call (504) 466-5887 1801 11th St., Kenner

Showroom Hours 8am-4pm M-F Request an estimate: www.countertopfactory.com

The Holidays Are Coming!

RENEW...REFRESH...REFINISH GIV REGLAEZ A GIFT ING THIS HOCARD L SEASONIDAY !

NEW ORLEANS, LA

8180 EARHART BLVD. 70118 504-861-8179

5331 CANAL BLVD. 70124 504-485-6569

2801 MAGAZINE ST. 70115 504-891-7333

6820 VETERANS BLVD. 70003 504-888-4684

NEW ORLEANS, LA

Call Today for Your In-Home Consultation!

WWW.A1FLOORINGANDBATH.COM

We Rent Pressure Washers, Spray Guns & Wall Paper Removers (Steamer)

Fred Magee-Local Owner

www.plantationshutters.us

Worry-free & guaranteed!

Call for FREE in-home estimate!

504.722-0621 • 504.941-0348

• Knowledgeable Sales Staff • Free Do-It-Yourself Advice • Free Prompt Delivery

NEW ORLEANS, LA

Licensed and Insured Locally Owned & Operated Free Consultation Financing Available

LMP#521

THE FLOW MUST GO ON!

5107 W Napoleon Ave. Metairie, LA 70001 www.EarlsPlumbingandHeating.com

We Match Any COLOR

Ceramic • Laminate • Vinyl Hardwood • Carpet • Wallpaper

METAIRIE, LA

7am-6pm • Mon-Fri • Sat 8am-5pm

Senior Citizen Discount

Carpet, Wood Floors, Laminate, Ceramic Tile & Renovations

We RE-GLAZE :

NO MORE MOLD!

Bathtubs · Marble Walls ·Tile Walls ·Floors · Countertops Cast Iron · Fiberglass · Tin · Plastic · Cultured Marble

We REPAIR:

Rust on Porcelain Fixtures · Cracks in Fiberglass ·Chips, Gouges and Scratches

Most Jobs are Done in Hours • Our refinishing makes cleaning easier Certified Fiberglass Technician • Family Owned & Operated

(504) 466-3555

www.carpetnetworkla.com FREE ESTIMATES ALWAYS! and we ALWAYS beat our competitors prices by 10% or more!!!

SHOWROOM: 1204 Williams Boulevard, Kenner

SOUTHERN REFINISHING LLC 7 0 8 B A R ATA R I A B LV D .

348-1770

Southernrefinishing.com

$25 off Any reglazing (per household) with coupon or mention ad for discount

Holiday Helpers Gifts • Jobs • Events & More

CASELL-BERGEN GALLERY New Location!

Specializing in New Orleans art & local artists.

Limited Edition Prints Festival Posters • Original Art Archival Art Prints JOIN US FOR:

FIESTA NAVIDEÑA Sun Dec 21, 3:30 - 6:30p Featuring award-winning

Julio and Cesar

1305 Decatur Street 504.524-0671 casellbergengallery.com

Mon-Fri: 10a-6p, 10a-9p

SELEHUGE CTIO N!

FOR ALL YOUR

BLACK & GOLD

Q FOOTBALL AND Q DECORATING NEEDS COME TO

CHRISTMAS VILLAGE

D

4501 VETERANS BLVD METAIRIE • 504-888-7254

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RESERVE YOUR LIMITED EDITION MG 2015

Warehouse District Retail/Office for Lease 316 St. Joseph Street • New Orleans, LA.

2000sf of showroom and office space.

Newly refurbished.

Hot Warehouse Dist. Location close to Conv. Ctr. Potential for 2nd flr. Studio/Apt., 1.5 baths, storefront. $2,995/mth NN

Owner/Agent

Shaun Talbot

(504) 975-9763

GAMBIT > BESTOFNEWORLEANS.COM > DECEMBER 23 > 2014

Across from the Old U.S. Mint Less than a block from Frenchmen St.

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